Unicode C

Add an S/MIME Detached Signature

Demonstrates the Chilkat Mime.AddDetachedSignature method, which creates an S/MIME detached signature. The only argument is the signing Cert, which must have access to its private key. On success the entity becomes a multipart/signed with the content and a separate signature part.

Note: The file paths are relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the paths appropriate to your own environment.

Background: A detached signature (multipart/signed) keeps the original content readable alongside a separate signature part — so recipients whose software does not understand S/MIME still see the message, they just cannot verify it. That backward compatibility makes detached the usual choice for signed email. The signer proves authorship with a certificate that carries its private key.

Chilkat Unicode C Downloads

Download Chilkat for Unicode C

Unicode C

#include <C_CkMimeW.h>
#include <C_CkCertW.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    BOOL success;
    HCkMimeW mime;
    const wchar_t *pfxPassword;
    HCkCertW cert;

    success = FALSE;

    mime = CkMimeW_Create();
    success = CkMimeW_SetBodyFromPlainText(mime,L"This message will be signed.");
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkMimeW_lastErrorText(mime));
        CkMimeW_Dispose(mime);
        return;
    }

    //  Load the signing certificate (which must have access to its private key) from a PFX file.
    //  The PFX password should come from a secure source rather than being hard-coded.
    pfxPassword = L"myPfxPassword";
    cert = CkCertW_Create();
    success = CkCertW_LoadPfxFile(cert,L"qa_data/signer.pfx",pfxPassword);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkCertW_lastErrorText(cert));
        CkMimeW_Dispose(mime);
        CkCertW_Dispose(cert);
        return;
    }

    //  Create an S/MIME detached signature.  The object becomes a multipart/signed entity with the
    //  original content and a separate signature part.
    success = CkMimeW_AddDetachedSignature(mime,cert);
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkMimeW_lastErrorText(mime));
        CkMimeW_Dispose(mime);
        CkCertW_Dispose(cert);
        return;
    }

    success = CkMimeW_SaveMime(mime,L"qa_output/signed.eml");
    if (success == FALSE) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",CkMimeW_lastErrorText(mime));
        CkMimeW_Dispose(mime);
        CkCertW_Dispose(cert);
        return;
    }

    wprintf(L"Detached signature added.\n");


    CkMimeW_Dispose(mime);
    CkCertW_Dispose(cert);

    }