Using Armory on the BCH chain

[Magilla Gorilla]

I am a noob when it comes to some of these matters and having a bit of trouble separating my coins.

*For simplicity’s sake, I have used an arbitrary number of 10 BTC to illustrate my issue.

•   Work = work computer
•   Home = home computer
•   Prior to the BCH fork I had 10* BTC spread across 5 addresses.
•   Addresses A, B, C, D, and E.
•   Assume 2 BTC per address.
•   I have a paper copy of the public AND private keys for each. None have been moved post-fork prior to yesterday.
•   Work has Bitcoin Core v0.14.2 and Armory 0.96.3[/size]

Per my (mis)interpretation of Goatpig’s Aug 6 post and some posts from everyone that followed, I have done the following:

1.   Home - Uninstalled Bitcoin Core, deleted the block folder and uninstalled Armory.

2.   Home - Installed Bitcoin ABC and let it download the full chain (1+day). Installed Armory 0.96.3

My intent was to transfer my BTC from Work to my Electrum wallet and transfer the BCH on Home to an exchange. Per previous posts I interpreted this as the easiest method to ensure I don’t mix or corrupt data from each side of the fork.

To follow Goatpig’s process as closely as I could my intent was to transfer the BTC first then the BCH.

3.   Yesterday I transferred 1.5 BTC from Work to Electrum. Using the “coin control” feature I specifically made the transfer from Address E. The change of 0.5 BTC went to a newly created address in my Armory wallet. The other addresses remain unchanged (I printed paper copies again).

4.   I went to Home and opened the newly installed Armory. It ran its opening scans and was then online (I trust the BCH chain?). I “Import or Restore Wallet” using the Root Key. I then had the same wallet on both Home and Work. While importing the wallet it got stuck on “scan transaction history”. I’ve restarted, let Bitcoin ABC run until its up-to-date and still no luck. It constantly gets stuck with only a few seconds left on the “scan transaction history” stage.

I assumed the Home wallet would run against the BCH chain since that is all there is on that machine. Shouldn’t Home Armory see all my pre-fork coins and allow me to transfer on that chain?

I can see the remaining 8.5 BTC on Work and the transferred 1.5 BTC in my Electrum Wallet.

How do I separate the coins since the Armory on Home will not open the wallet thus allowing me to transfer the pre-fork coins on the BCH network?

Please assist. I would like the least risky method to split the coins…not necessarily the easiest / quickest.

Goatpig, if you wish we can correspond via email and I will compensate you for your time.

Thank you in advance.

Magilla Gorilla

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[Ente]

[..] having a bit of trouble separating my coins.
[..]

Sounds good to me (although I chose the other approach and didn't install a bcash node).
- Are you sure both your bcash node and Armory are fully synchronized? Like, please check in bitcoind (or however it's called) what block it is at. And that Armory shows the same blockheight at the lower right corner.
- Check if the Armory Root Key import worked: compare some bitcoin addresses at "home" and "work", shouldn't matter if some "receive" or "used" addresses. If you find at least one address the same on both, you should be fine here.
- Run Armory via commandline, observe it it shows you errors, "scanning" or the like. And if it receives new blocks from time to time.

Don't worry, I see no hint that any funds would be in actual danger here.

Ente

[HCP]

4.   I went to Home and opened the newly installed Armory. It ran its opening scans and was then online (I trust the BCH chain?). I “Import or Restore Wallet” using the Root Key. I then had the same wallet on both Home and Work. While importing the wallet it got stuck on “scan transaction history”. I’ve restarted, let Bitcoin ABC run until its up-to-date and still no luck. It constantly gets stuck with only a few seconds left on the “scan transaction history” stage.

I suspect we're going to need to see the Armory logs to understand what is happening... armorylog.txt and dbLog.txt (or export logs from within Armory).

Copy/Paste the contents of your log files to https://pastebin.com/ click the "create new paste" button and then cop/paste the generated URL for your paste here.

[PeZ]

I'm trying to move my BCH out of my Armory addresses. I have spent some bitcoin, so I deleted some blocks to get Armory back in time. I followed the instructions on the first post and sent a test of amount to be safe. The change ended up in an empty address. How am I going to move the change out if Armory doesn't know the offline transaction was processed?
[EDIT]
I used the "Max" option to clear out the Cash, other than the change in one address. Will there be any way to recover it? Control doesn't allow you to select zero balance addresses.

[goatpig]

I used the "Max" option to clear out the Cash, other than the change in one address. Will there be any way to recover it? Control doesn't allow you to select zero balance addresses.

These are post fork coins now, you need the BCH chain.

[Magilla Gorilla]

Ente,

Thank you for the quick response. In response to your questions:

1.   I am uncertain if the BCH node and Armory are fully synchronized. Now that I have imported my wallet, Armory will not open and gets stuck during the “Scanning Transaction History” process. I trust this means it cannot synch for some reason. Based on my dblog attached in a post a few minutes ago, it appears to consistently get stuck after scanning block #496043 to #504744.

2.   I am unable to view the Bitcoin addresses at Home since Armory will not open. During the “Scanning Transaction History” it gets permanently stuck with “xx seconds” left.

3.   I am uncertain how to run via command line. Since you are looking to see errors, if they could be viewed in my dblog or armorylog…those are now posted. If you can let me know how to run via commandline I will do so and let you know any errors shown.

Since I have paper copies of the public and private keys and my only objective is to split the coins and sell or store the BCH elsewhere….would it be just as easy to create a BCH wallet elsewhere and manually import (ie type in / copy and paste) my keys into that BCH wallet?

[Magilla Gorilla]

GOATPIG - Based on the dialog under the "Export Log File...." selection within Armory, I assume making my logs public does not put my BTC / BCH private keys nor my wallet Root Key at risk. I understand that my TXs or perhaps public address privacy could be impaired....but still not anything putting my BTC at risk. Please verify my assumption is correct.

[goatpig]

Logs leak some of your privacy, they do not carry anything that can reveal you private keys.

[Magilla Gorilla]

Goatpig - thank you for confirmation that posting my Logs does not jeopardize my BTC / BCH (via private keys, root key or otherwise).

Per HCP's request for logs regarding my post #161

dbLog
https://pastebin.com/nJCQLbL1

armorylog
https://pastebin.com/PtujAYbe

You may see that  Armory completed its scans and showed as online the one time I ran it before my wallet was "restored". Once the wallet was restored the "Scanning Transaction History" process always got stuck with only "xx seconds left". Based on my cursory understanding of the logs it always seems to get stuck on the same blocks.

[Ente]

I see 16 entries of

BitcoindError: bitcoind not found

So, is it at default folder path, and is it running? AFAIK you can also open Bitcoin-qt (the GUI shortcut).
Oh, and you need to allow api connections to bitcoind too, in bitcoin.conf.

If you checked all this already, nevermind. Also I don't know what the current state of Armory regarding "automatically find bitcoind path" and "automatically start bitoind" is.

edit: armorylog seems to find and scan the bcash blocks fine.
Also, nevermind me mixing up bitcoin and bcash here :-)

Ente

[PeZ]

I always ran bitcoin-qt and Armory separately, and I don't mess with the Armory settings by using a shortcut...

"D:\Program Files (x86)\Armory\ArmoryQt.exe" --datadir="D:\ArmoryData" --satoshi-datadir="D:\BitcoinData"

I renamed the database folder in ArmoryData to database.old to save it.

Substitute Qt with DB if you are following the instructions.

You don't want Bitcoind running if you are following the first page instructions.

[Magilla Gorilla]

The discussion is getting beyond my scope of knowledge so I apologize if I cant keep up with some of the questions / instructions.

I sincerely appreciate all of your assistance.


ENTE
I am uncertain if bitcoind is in the default path and whether or not its running. In Armory Settings (from the dropdown File menu) the checkbox is selected for "Let Armory run Bitcoin Core/bitcoind in the background". Where is the default location Armory is looking for bitcoind? Should I specifically select a location within settings for the "Bitcoin Install Dir:" or "Bitcoin Home Dir:"?

API connections are a new concept to me as well as how to adjust with bitcoin.conf.

I agree that it seems to scan the bcash blocks just fine. Before importing the wallet Armory would show as online and kept up with the Bcash blocks as they were created.

PeZ
I am following the first page instructions and uncertain if bitcoind is running in the background. I am not running it intentionally (ie opening the .exe).


Another thought...
Since I am having difficulty getting the new Armory to run after i import my wallet, is there any risk to taking the following route to extract my BCH:
1. Transfer my existing BTC (at pre-fork addresses) to a new address in a new wallet created in Armory or my Nano S.
2. Install a BCH wallet such as Electron Cash.
3. In the BCH wallet, sweep the private keys from my old BTC addresses that existed pre-fork and send to a newly created BCH address.
Once i have transferred all BTC out of the current wallet and away from the existing addresses, is there any risk in exposing those public and private keys to the BCH network?


I would prefer to transfer the BCC from Armory per GOATPIG's page 1 instructions but remain unable to get Armory to load my wallet on the BCH chain. To start on a somewhat clean-slate, I am contemplating uninstalling ABC and Armory from Home and then re-install to see if that makes a difference; though I am sure you will tell me I'll end up at the same spot.

[zurswierding]

What is the easiest way to claim post fork BCC from an Armory wallet?  I have moved the coins post fork.  Is it as simple as running armory with a complete BCC node and then sending using the BCC signer?

Thanks for any help,

Zurs

[goatpig]

Is it as simple as running armory with a complete BCC node and then sending using the BCC signer?

Yes.

[droark]

What is the easiest way to claim post fork BCC from an Armory wallet?  I have moved the coins post fork.  Is it as simple as running armory with a complete BCC node and then sending using the BCC signer?

Yes. That said, I highly recommend keeping the Armory database separate from the Core DB, otherwise you'll have problems. This link explains how to set up the paths, which you'll need for both the Armory DB and the Bcash chain.

[PeZ]

ENTE
I am uncertain if bitcoind is in the default path and whether or not its running. In Armory Settings (from the dropdown File menu) the checkbox is selected for "Let Armory run Bitcoin Core/bitcoind in the background". Where is the default location Armory is looking for bitcoind? Should I specifically select a location within settings for the "Bitcoin Install Dir:" or "Bitcoin Home Dir:"?

This is what I do/did. I had previously emptied my BTC from my main wallet. Some BCH got stuck as change when I transferred it away, so I installed Bitcoin ABC in a separate directory.
Uncheck the box that lets Armory run bitcoin core. It will find it, if it is running - as long as your firewall is not blocking it.
Keep separate directories for Bitcoin ABC data and Bitcoin Core data and copy the Armory wallet to another directory, but remove the database directory for when you use it with Bitcoin ABC.
If you want to run Bitcoin, do it with a shortcut e.g. "D:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bitcoin-qt.exe" -datadir="D:\BitcoinData" -disablewallet
When synced, run Armory with the shortcut that I mention in the previous post. Follow the directions on the first page.
Not sure if this is the easiest method, but it worked. I am using Windoze, but other OS's should have something similar.

[rob40021]

OK this is what I did but didn't work

I'm a noob

so I created a second windows user and the downloaded and synced bch abc installed new armory pointed the directory at bch abc when i imported wallet with BTC it comes up with a balance of zero so I'm confused (which is easily done)

[talktothe]

Hey PeZ, when you did this does the transaction completed or you should copy the tx raw data and transmit to online service?
I have fully sinced bitcoin ABC and i want to execute the transaction through armory with the BCH signer.

Also do you see the correct BCH balance on armory when running against bitcoin ABC.

Thanks

ENTE
I am uncertain if bitcoind is in the default path and whether or not its running. In Armory Settings (from the dropdown File menu) the checkbox is selected for "Let Armory run Bitcoin Core/bitcoind in the background". Where is the default location Armory is looking for bitcoind? Should I specifically select a location within settings for the "Bitcoin Install Dir:" or "Bitcoin Home Dir:"?

This is what I do/did. I had previously emptied my BTC from my main wallet. Some BCH got stuck as change when I transferred it away, so I installed Bitcoin ABC in a separate directory.
Uncheck the box that lets Armory run bitcoin core. It will find it, if it is running - as long as your firewall is not blocking it.
Keep separate directories for Bitcoin ABC data and Bitcoin Core data and copy the Armory wallet to another directory, but remove the database directory for when you use it with Bitcoin ABC.
If you want to run Bitcoin, do it with a shortcut e.g. "D:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bitcoin-qt.exe" -datadir="D:\BitcoinData" -disablewallet
When synced, run Armory with the shortcut that I mention in the previous post. Follow the directions on the first page.
Not sure if this is the easiest method, but it worked. I am using Windoze, but other OS's should have something similar.

[PeZ]

Hey PeZ, when you did this does the transaction completed or you should copy the tx raw data and transmit to online service?
I have fully sinced bitcoin ABC and i want to execute the transaction through armory with the BCH signer.

Also do you see the correct BCH balance on armory when running against bitcoin ABC.
Thanks

With both Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin ABC, I unchecked RBF, used 1 S/B fee and copied the Hex data and used http://blockdozer.com/insight/tx/send to submit the transaction. I don't know if it is required, but I would empty the wallet of BTC before messing with the BCH contents.

Yes, when you use Bitcoin ABC you would see the BCH contents, but my wallet was completely empty of BTC.

[relik]

Just read the news about BCH chain introducing new type of address:
https://news.bitcoin.com/bitcoin-cash-community-prepares-for-change-the-address-day/
Is Armory supporting it (or planning to support it in any upcoming release)?