C++

Load a Private Key from PEM Text

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.LoadPem method, which loads a private key from PEM text. The only argument is the PEM string. It has no password argument, so it cannot load an encrypted PEM — use LoadEncryptedPem for that.

Background: PEM is the Base64 text format (delimited by -----BEGIN----- lines) that most tooling uses for keys. This method is for the plain, unencrypted case where the key material sits in the clear inside the PEM — convenient, but it means the file itself is the only thing protecting the key. When the PEM is password-protected (a BEGIN ENCRYPTED PRIVATE KEY block or a legacy encrypted header), reach for the Encrypted loader instead.

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C++

#include <CkPrivateKey.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    bool success = false;

    //  Demonstrates the PrivateKey.LoadPem method, which loads a private key from PEM text.  The only
    //  argument is the PEM string.  This method has no password argument, so it cannot load an
    //  encrypted PEM -- use LoadEncryptedPem for that.

    CkPrivateKey privKey;

    //  The PEM text of an unencrypted private key.
    const char *pemText = "-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----\nMIIEvAIBADANBgkq...\n-----END PRIVATE KEY-----";

    success = privKey.LoadPem(pemText);
    if (success == false) {
        std::cout << privKey.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }

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