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Java

Load a Private Key from a File (Any Format)

See more Private Key Examples

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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Java
import com.chilkatsoft.*;

public class ChilkatExample {

  static {
    try {
        System.loadLibrary("chilkat");
    } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError e) {
      System.err.println("Native code library failed to load.\n" + e);
      System.exit(1);
    }
  }

  public static void main(String argv[])
  {
    boolean 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 = new CkPrivateKey();

    //  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";

    //  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) {
        System.out.println(privKey.lastErrorText());
        return;
        }

    System.out.println("Loaded a " + privKey.keyType() + " private key.");
  }
}