Visual Basic 6.0

Save a Private Key as a Traditional DER File

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.SavePkcs1File method, which saves the key using the traditional/preferred unencrypted DER representation. The only argument is the destination path.

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: This writes the older, algorithm-specific DER structure — useful for compatibility with tools that predate or do not accept PKCS #8. For new work, PKCS #8 (SavePkcs8File) is more interoperable. The output is unencrypted, so protect the file accordingly.

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Visual Basic 6.0

Dim success As Long
success = 0

'  Load a private key to export.
Dim privKey As New PrivateKey
success = privKey.LoadPemFile("qa_data/private.pem")
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print privKey.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

'  Save using the traditional/preferred unencrypted DER representation.
success = privKey.SavePkcs1File("qa_output/private_pkcs1.der")
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print privKey.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.Print "Saved."