Load a Private Key from a Microsoft PVK File

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Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.LoadPvkFile method, which loads a private key from a Microsoft PVK file, using a password if the key is encrypted. The first argument is the file path and the second is the password.

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: PVK is a legacy Microsoft private-key format, historically paired with SPC certificates for Authenticode code signing. You encounter it mainly when working with older Windows toolchains; for anything new, PKCS #8 or PEM is preferable. This loader reads PVK and participates in Chilkat's content auto-detection, decrypting with the supplied password when needed.

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bool success = false;

//  Demonstrates the PrivateKey.LoadPvkFile method, which loads a private key from a Microsoft PVK
//  file, using a password if the key is encrypted.  The 1st argument is the file path and the 2nd
//  is the password.  This is a Windows-oriented format.

Chilkat.PrivateKey privKey = new Chilkat.PrivateKey();

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

success = privKey.LoadPvkFile("qa_data/private.pvk",password);
if (success == false) {
    Debug.WriteLine(privKey.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

Debug.WriteLine("Loaded a " + privKey.KeyType + " private key.");