Visual Basic 6.0

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.

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Visual Basic 6.0

Dim success As Long
success = 0

'  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.

Dim privKey As New PrivateKey

'  The PEM text of an unencrypted private key.
Dim pemText As String
pemText = "-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----" & vbLf & "MIIEvAIBADANBgkq..." & vbLf & "-----END PRIVATE KEY-----"

success = privKey.LoadPem(pemText)
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print privKey.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.Print "Loaded a " & privKey.KeyType & " private key."