CkPython

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.

Chilkat CkPython Downloads

Download Chilkat for CkPython

CkPython

import sys
import chilkat

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.

privKey = chilkat.CkPrivateKey()

#  The PEM text of an unencrypted private key.
pemText = "-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----\nMIIEvAIBADANBgkq...\n-----END PRIVATE KEY-----"

success = privKey.LoadPem(pemText)
if (success == False):
    print(privKey.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

print("Loaded a " + privKey.keyType() + " private key.")