On the Subject of the Columnar CM

The numbers shown on screen 1 will be referred to as the Columnar Key.

If the Submit Button is white, follow the instructions under Encrypt Instructions. Otherwise follow the instructions under Decrypt Instructions.

Encrypt Instructions

• Write the encrypted word underneath the Columnar Key so that it fits in the columns of the key.
• Rearrange the columns so that the numbers are in ascending order.
• Read the letters top to bottom, left to right to get a decrypted word.

Decrypt Instructions

• Put X dashes under the Columnar Key so that it fits in the columns of the key. X is equal to the encrypted word’s length.
• In ascending order, take the encrypted word and replace all the dashes under the Columnar Key with the letters.
• Read the letters in reading order to get a decrypted word.

Example 1

Encrypted Word: TETRHEA
Columnar Key: 43152
Using Encrypt Rules

4	3	1	5	2
T	E	T	R	H
E	A

1	2	3	4	5
T	H	E	T	R
		A	E

Decrypted Word: THEATER

Example 2

Encrypted Word: OTNUAMNI
Columnar Key: 312
Using Decrypt Rules

3	1	2
-	-	-
-	-	-
-	-

3	1	2
-	O	-
-	T	-
-	N

3	1	2
-	O	U
-	T	A
-	N

3	1	2
M	O	U
N	T	A
I	N

OTNUAMNI → MOUNTAIN