TKeyContainer Delphi ActiveX Reference Documentation

TKeyContainer

Current Version: 10.0.0

A class for listing, importing, exporting, and deleting private keys installed on a Windows system.

Importing the Chilkat ActiveX into Delphi

Important: When upgrading to a new version of Chilkat, make sure to re-imported ActiveX DLL into Delphi to regenerate the files described below.


Chilkat v9.5.*: If using Chilkat v9.5.*, then use "Chilkat_v9_5_0_TLB" instead of "Chilkat_TLB", and the DLLs are named ChilkatAx-9.5.0-win32.dll (or ChilkatAx-9.5.0-x64.dll).


Two things are required to use an ActiveX in Delphi:

  1. The ActiveX DLL needs to be registered via regsvr32 on the system where the Delphi application runs. See How To Register ActiveX DLLs for detailed information.
  2. See also: ActiveX Registration Tutorial
  3. The ActiveX component needs to be "imported". Use the Delphi Import Component Wizard to import the Chilkat type library. This creates the following files: Chilkat_TLB.pas and Chilkat_TLB.dcr. The Chilkat_TLB.pas should be added to your project.

To import the Chilkat type library, do the following:

  1. In the Delphi RAD Studio, select the menu item "Component" --> "Import a Type Library".
  2. Find "Chilkat ActiveX" in the list and select it. This will only appear in the list if the ChilkatAx-win32.dll (or ChilkatAx-x64.dll) has been registered w/ regsvr32.
  3. Check the "Generate Component Wrappers" checkbox.
  4. Select a directory where the unit files (.pas and .dcr) should be generated.
  5. Select "Create Unit" and then "Finish".
  6. Add the .pas to your Delphi project.

To use a Chilkat ActiveX object in your Delphi code, add "Chilkat_TLB" to the "uses" statement. For example:

uses
  Winapi.Windows, Winapi.Messages, System.SysUtils, System.Variants, System.Classes, Vcl.Graphics,
  Vcl.Controls, Vcl.Forms, Vcl.Dialogs, Vcl.StdCtrls, Chilkat_TLB;

Object Creation

var
obj: TKeyContainer;
...
begin
obj := TKeyContainer.Create(Self);
...
// When finished, free the object instance.
obj.Free();

Properties

DebugLogFilePath
property DebugLogFilePath: WideString

If set to a file path, causes each Chilkat method or property call to automatically append it's LastErrorText to the specified log file. The information is appended such that if a hang or crash occurs, it is possible to see the context in which the problem occurred, as well as a history of all Chilkat calls up to the point of the problem. The VerboseLogging property can be set to provide more detailed information.

This property is typically used for debugging the rare cases where a Chilkat method call hangs or generates an exception that halts program execution (i.e. crashes). A hang or crash should generally never happen. The typical causes of a hang are:

  1. a timeout related property was set to 0 to explicitly indicate that an infinite timeout is desired,
  2. the hang is actually a hang within an event callback (i.e. it is a hang within the application code), or
  3. there is an internal problem (bug) in the Chilkat code that causes the hang.

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LastBinaryResult
property LastBinaryResult: OleVariant readonly

The binary data returned by the last (binary data returning) method called. Only available if Chilkat.Global.KeepBinaryResult is set to 1. This provides a means for obtaining large varbinary results in the SQL Server environment (where limitations exist in getting large amounts of data returned by method calls, but where temp tables can be used for binary properties).

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LastErrorHtml
property LastErrorHtml: WideString readonly

Provides information in HTML format about the last method/property called. If a method call returns a value indicating failure, or behaves unexpectedly, examine this property to get more information.

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LastErrorText
property LastErrorText: WideString readonly

Provides information in plain-text format about the last method/property called. If a method call returns a value indicating failure, or behaves unexpectedly, examine this property to get more information.

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LastErrorXml
property LastErrorXml: WideString readonly

Provides information in XML format about the last method/property called. If a method call returns a value indicating failure, or behaves unexpectedly, examine this property to get more information.

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LastMethodSuccess
property LastMethodSuccess: Integer

Indicate whether the last method call succeeded or failed. A value of 1 indicates success, a value of 0 indicates failure. This property is automatically set for method calls. It is not modified by property accesses. The property is automatically set to indicate success for the following types of method calls:

  • Any method that returns a string.
  • Any method returning a Chilkat object, binary bytes, or a date/time.
  • Any method returning a standard boolean status value where success = 1 and failure = 0.
  • Any method returning an integer where failure is defined by a return value less than zero.

Note: Methods that do not fit the above requirements will always set this property equal to 1. For example, a method that returns no value (such as a "void" in C++) will technically always succeed.

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LastStringResult
property LastStringResult: WideString readonly

The string return value of the last (string returning) method called. Only available if Chilkat.Global.KeepStringResult is set to 1. This provides a means for obtaining large string results in the SQL Server environment (where limitations exist in getting long strings returned by method calls, but where temp tables can be used for string properties).

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LastStringResultLen
property LastStringResultLen: Integer readonly

The length, in characters, of the string contained in the LastStringResult property.

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LegacyKeySpec
property LegacyKeySpec: Integer
Introduced in version 9.5.0.83

If the storage provider is one for the legacy CryptoAPI, then this property indicate whether to work with AT_KEYEXCHANGE or AT_SIGNATURE. Possible values for this property are:

  • 1 - AT_KEYEXCHANGE
  • 2 - AT_SIGNATURE

The default value of this property is 1.

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MachineKeys
property MachineKeys: Integer
Introduced in version 9.5.0.83

If 1, work with keys for the local computer. If 0, work with keys for the current user. The default value is 0.

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VerboseLogging
property VerboseLogging: Integer

If set to 1, then the contents of LastErrorText (or LastErrorXml, or LastErrorHtml) may contain more verbose information. The default value is 0. Verbose logging should only be used for debugging. The potentially large quantity of logged information may adversely affect peformance.

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Version
property Version: WideString readonly

Version of the component/library, such as "9.5.0.94"

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Methods

DeleteKey
function DeleteKey(keyName: WideString; storageProvider: WideString): Integer;
Introduced in version 9.5.0.83

Deletes a key from the storageProvider.

Returns 1 for success, 0 for failure.

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ExportKey
function ExportKey(keyName: WideString; storageProvider: WideString; silentFlag: Integer; key: TPrivateKey): Integer;
Introduced in version 9.5.0.83

Exports a key into key. If silentFlag is 1, requests that the key service provider (KSP) not display any user interface. If the provider must display the UI to operate, the call fails

Returns 1 for success, 0 for failure.

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GenerateUuid
function GenerateUuid(): WideString;

This method is provided as a convenient way of generating unique key container names. There are no set rules for naming key containers. However, if your application is to generate a large number of keys, using a UUID for the key container name is wise to ensure uniqueness.

Returns a zero-length WideString on failure

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GetKeys
function GetKeys(storageProvider: WideString; json: TChilkatJsonObject): Integer;
Introduced in version 9.5.0.83

Loads json with a list of keys found in the given storageProvider.

Returns 1 for success, 0 for failure.

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GetStorageProviders
function GetStorageProviders(json: TChilkatJsonObject): Integer;
Introduced in version 9.5.0.83

Loads json with a list of storage providers on the Windows system.

The json will contain JSON such as this:

{
  "cng": [
    "Microsoft Software Key Storage Provider",
    "Microsoft Passport Key Storage Provider",
    "Microsoft Platform Crypto Provider",
    "Microsoft Smart Card Key Storage Provider"
  ],
  "legacy": [
    "Microsoft Base Cryptographic Provider v1.0",
    "Microsoft Base DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider",
    "Microsoft Base DSS Cryptographic Provider",
    "Microsoft Base Smart Card Crypto Provider",
    "Microsoft DH SChannel Cryptographic Provider",
    "Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider v1.0",
    "Microsoft Enhanced DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider",
    "Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider",
    "Microsoft RSA SChannel Cryptographic Provider",
    "Microsoft Strong Cryptographic Provider"
  ]
}

Returns 1 for success, 0 for failure.

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ImportKey
function ImportKey(keyName: WideString; storageProvider: WideString; allowOverwrite: Integer; allowExport: Integer; key: TPrivateKey): Integer;
Introduced in version 9.5.0.83

Imports a new key into the storageProvider. If allowOverwrite is 1, if a key already exists in the container with the specified name, the existing key will be overwritten. If allowOverwrite is 0 and the key already exists, then the method fails. If allowExport is 1, then the key is marked as exportable, which allows for it to be re-exported to a PFX.

Returns 1 for success, 0 for failure.

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