Delphi ActiveX

Load a Private Key from a Microsoft PVK File

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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var
success: Integer;
privKey: TPrivateKey;
password: WideString;

begin
success := 0;

//  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.

privKey := TPrivateKey.Create(Self);

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

success := privKey.LoadPvkFile('qa_data/private.pvk',password);
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(privKey.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

Memo1.Lines.Add('Loaded a ' + privKey.KeyType + ' private key.');