C++

Load a Private Key from a File (Any Format)

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.LoadAnyFormatFile method, which loads a private key from a file by inspecting its contents. The first argument is the file path and the second is the password (used if the detected key is encrypted).

Note: The file path is relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the path to your own key file.

Background: This is the most convenient loader of all — point it at a key file whose format you do not know and it detects and loads it, whether PKCS #1/#8, encrypted PKCS #8, PEM, JWK, XML, or a Microsoft format. It is the pragmatic default for applications that accept keys from users or varied sources; use a format-specific loader only when you want to enforce a particular expected format.

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C++

#include <CkPrivateKey.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    bool success = false;

    //  Demonstrates the PrivateKey.LoadAnyFormatFile method, which loads a private key from a file by
    //  inspecting its contents.  The 1st argument is the file path and the 2nd is the password (used
    //  if the detected key is encrypted).

    CkPrivateKey privKey;

    //  The key password is not hard-coded in a real application; obtain it from an interactive
    //  prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    const char *password = "myKeyPassword";

    //  This is the most convenient loader when the file's exact format is unknown: Chilkat inspects
    //  the content and handles PKCS #1/#8, encrypted PKCS #8, PEM, JWK, XML, Microsoft formats, etc.
    success = privKey.LoadAnyFormatFile("qa_data/some_private_key",password);
    if (success == false) {
        std::cout << privKey.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }

    std::cout << "Loaded a " << privKey.keyType() << " private key." << "\r\n";
    }