Unicode C++ Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Password-Protect a PDF with AES-256 Encryption

See more PDF Protection Examples

Demonstrates the simplest way to encrypt a PDF so that it needs a password to open. The passwords come from the UserPassword and OwnerPassword properties, and Protection with the encrypt operation and an empty JSON uses the defaults: AES-256, everything encrypted, every permission granted. Protection only records the security the PDF will be saved with. Nothing is encrypted until WriteFile is called. Unicode C++

#include <CkPdfW.h>
#include <CkJsonObjectW.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    bool success = false;

    //  This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
    //  See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

    //  The PDF used in this example is available at two_page_memo.pdf

    CkPdfW pdf;
    success = pdf.LoadFile(L"qa_data/pdf/two_page_memo.pdf");
    if (success == false) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",pdf.lastErrorText());
        return;
    }

    //  The passwords are taken from these two properties at the time Protection is called.
    //  The user password opens the PDF.  The owner password opens it too, and is the one needed
    //  later to change or remove the protection.
    pdf.put_UserPassword(L"user-secret");
    pdf.put_OwnerPassword(L"owner-secret");

    //  An empty JSON asks for the defaults: AES-256, everything encrypted, every permission granted.
    CkJsonObjectW json;
    CkJsonObjectW jsonOut;
    success = pdf.Protection(L"encrypt",json,jsonOut);
    if (success == false) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",pdf.lastErrorText());
        return;
    }

    //  Nothing has been encrypted yet.  "pending" describes the security the PDF will be saved with.
    wprintf(L"algorithm: %s\n",jsonOut.stringOf(L"pending.algorithm"));
    wprintf(L"PDF version: %s\n",jsonOut.stringOf(L"pending.pdfVersion"));
    wprintf(L"password needed to open: %d\n",jsonOut.BoolOf(L"pending.userPasswordRequired"));

    //  Writing the file applies it.
    success = pdf.WriteFile(L"qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf");
    if (success == false) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",pdf.lastErrorText());
        return;
    }

    //  PreLoadCheck reports a file's encryption without loading it, and needs no password.
    CkPdfW checker;
    CkJsonObjectW info;
    success = checker.PreLoadCheck(L"qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf",info);
    if (success == false) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",checker.lastErrorText());
        return;
    }

    wprintf(L"encrypted: %d\n",info.BoolOf(L"encrypted"));
    wprintf(L"openPasswordRequired: %d\n",info.BoolOf(L"openPasswordRequired"));

    //  With the password, the PDF opens normally.
    CkPdfW reader;
    reader.put_UserPassword(L"user-secret");
    success = reader.LoadFile(L"qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf");
    if (success == false) {
        wprintf(L"%s\n",reader.lastErrorText());
        return;
    }

    wprintf(L"pages: %d\n",reader.get_NumPages());

    //  Sample output:

    //  algorithm: aes-256
    //  PDF version: 1.7
    //  password needed to open: True
    //  encrypted: True
    //  openPasswordRequired: True
    //  pages: 2
    }