VB.NET

Load a Private Key from a File (Any Format)

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.LoadAnyFormatFile method, which loads a private key from a file by inspecting its contents. The first argument is the file path and the second is the password (used if the detected key is encrypted).

Note: The file path is relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the path to your own key file.

Background: This is the most convenient loader of all — point it at a key file whose format you do not know and it detects and loads it, whether PKCS #1/#8, encrypted PKCS #8, PEM, JWK, XML, or a Microsoft format. It is the pragmatic default for applications that accept keys from users or varied sources; use a format-specific loader only when you want to enforce a particular expected format.

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Dim success As Boolean = False

'  Demonstrates the PrivateKey.LoadAnyFormatFile method, which loads a private key from a file by
'  inspecting its contents.  The 1st argument is the file path and the 2nd is the password (used
'  if the detected key is encrypted).

Dim privKey As New Chilkat.PrivateKey

'  The key password is not hard-coded in a real application; obtain it from an interactive
'  prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
Dim password As String = "myKeyPassword"

'  This is the most convenient loader when the file's exact format is unknown: Chilkat inspects
'  the content and handles PKCS #1/#8, encrypted PKCS #8, PEM, JWK, XML, Microsoft formats, etc.
success = privKey.LoadAnyFormatFile("qa_data/some_private_key",password)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(privKey.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


Debug.WriteLine("Loaded a " & privKey.KeyType & " private key.")