TrustedRoots Chilkat2 Java Reference Documentation

TrustedRoots

Current Version: 11.7.0

Markdown version of this page for AI tools (v 11.7.0) · all AI docs

Chilkat.TrustedRoots

Configure the trusted root certificates used by Chilkat certificate validation.

Chilkat.TrustedRoots manages a collection of trusted CA and self-signed root certificates used Chilkat-wide for PKCS7/CMS signature validation and SSL/TLS server certificate validation. It can add individual certificates, import trusted certificates from a Java keystore, load PEM CA bundles, activate or deactivate the trusted-root set, and control whether system CA roots and self-signed server certificates are trusted.

Custom trusted roots

Add root or CA certificates that should be trusted by Chilkat validation operations.

PEM CA bundles

Load one or more trusted CA certificates from PEM bundle files used by many TLS and certificate-validation workflows.

Java keystore import

Import trusted certificates from a JavaKeyStore when trust anchors are maintained in JKS-style storage.

System CA root control

Choose whether Chilkat should also trust the operating system's CA root certificates.

Self-signed certificate policy

Control whether self-signed server certificates are rejected or accepted during certificate validation.

Activate Chilkat-wide trust

Activate the configured trusted-root set so it is used by Chilkat classes that perform TLS or signature certificate validation.

Common pattern: Create a TrustedRoots object, add trusted certificates or load a PEM CA bundle, configure whether system roots and self-signed certificates should be trusted, then call Activate. Treat trusted roots as Chilkat-wide validation configuration, not as private state for a single object.

For an extended overview, see TrustedRoots Class Overview.

Object Creation

import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.ChilkatException;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.TrustedRoots;

try (TrustedRoots trustedRoots = new TrustedRoots()) {
    // ... use trustedRoots ...
} catch (ChilkatException e) {
    System.out.println(e.getMessage());          // "TrustedRoots.someMethod failed: <reason>"
    System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());    // the full log of the failed call
}
public TrustedRoots()

Creates the underlying native Chilkat object. The native library (chilkat2java) is loaded the first time any Chilkat2 object is created; see the README in the download for where it is looked for (-Dchilkat2.library.path, a classpath resource, or java.library.path).

public void close()

Releases the native object (TrustedRoots is AutoCloseable, so try-with-resources calls it). Calling it again does nothing; any other method or property accessor called afterwards throws IllegalStateException. An object that is never closed is freed by a background cleaner once it becomes unreachable, but the garbage collector does not see native memory, so closing is the normal path. Objects returned by methods are owned by the caller too.

public boolean isClosed()

Returns true once close() has been called.

Errors

A method that fails throws ChilkatException, an unchecked exception carrying getClassName(), getMethodName(), getReason() (one line, also in the message) and getLastErrorText() (the full log, captured at the moment of the failure). The object remains usable. Methods that look something up and find nothing return null instead of throwing (each such method says so), and methods that answer a question (hasMember, isUnlocked, ...) return a plain boolean. Property accessors do not throw for Chilkat reasons.

A null string or object argument throws NullPointerException naming the parameter (except where a method documents that null is accepted), and a string containing U+0000 throws IllegalArgumentException.

Use an object from one thread at a time; it may be handed from one thread to another. The one cross-thread operation is setting setAbortCurrent(true) on an object that is busy in another thread (on the classes that have AbortCurrent). Unlocking: call new Global().unlockBundle("...") once at startup.

Properties

DebugLogFilePath
// read/write
String getDebugLogFilePath()
void setDebugLogFilePath(String value)

If set to a file path, this property logs the LastErrorText of each Chilkat method or property call to the specified file. This logging helps identify the context and history of Chilkat calls leading up to any crash or hang, aiding in debugging.

Enabling the VerboseLogging property provides more detailed information. This property is mainly used for debugging rare instances where a Chilkat method call causes a hang or crash, which should generally not happen.

Possible causes of hangs include:

  • A timeout property set to 0, indicating an infinite timeout.
  • A hang occurring within an event callback in the application code.
  • An internal bug in the Chilkat code causing the hang.

More Information and Examples
Example showing how to use DebugLogFilePath.
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LastErrorHtml
// read-only
String getLastErrorHtml()

Provides HTML-formatted information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastErrorText
// read-only
String getLastErrorText()

Provides plain text information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

More Information and Examples
Concept of LastErrorTextLastErrorText Standard Information
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LastErrorXml
// read-only
String getLastErrorXml()

Provides XML-formatted information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastMethodSuccess
// read/write
boolean getLastMethodSuccess()
void setLastMethodSuccess(boolean value)

Indicates the success or failure of the most recent method call: true means success, false means failure. This property remains unchanged by property setters or getters. This method is present to address challenges in checking for null or Nothing returns in certain programming languages. Note: This property does not apply to methods that return integer values or to boolean-returning methods where the boolean does not indicate success or failure.

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NumCerts
// read-only
int getNumCerts()
Introduced in version 9.5.0.38

The number of certificates explicitly contained in this object. The count includes certificates added by AddCert, AddJavaKeyStore, and LoadCaCertsPem.

Use indexes from 0 through NumCerts - 1 with CertAt.

Scope of the count: This property does not include operating-system CA roots made available by TrustSystemCaRoots. It reports only the certificates stored in this object.

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RejectSelfSignedCerts
// read/write
boolean getRejectSelfSignedCerts()
void setRejectSelfSignedCerts(boolean value)
Introduced in version 9.5.0.80

Controls the special case in which an SSL/TLS server presents a certificate chain containing exactly one certificate and that certificate is self-signed. The default value is false.

ValueBehavior
falseDo not reject a one-certificate TLS chain solely because the certificate is self-signed.
trueReject TLS server chains consisting of one self-signed certificate.

This property applies to the TLS server-certificate case described above. It does not reject a self-signed CA certificate merely because that certificate appears as the trust anchor above a longer chain.

Security guidance: A self-signed certificate has no external issuer establishing trust. Accept it only when the certificate or its public-key fingerprint has been authenticated through a separate trusted channel.

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TrustSystemCaRoots
// read/write
boolean getTrustSystemCaRoots()
void setTrustSystemCaRoots(boolean value)
Introduced in version 9.5.0.41

Controls whether operating-system CA roots are included when this object's trust configuration is activated. The default value is true.

ValueBehavior
trueTrust explicitly added certificates and the system-provided CA roots available to Chilkat.
falseDo not automatically trust system-provided CA roots; use the explicitly configured collection and the selected self-signed-certificate policy.

On Windows, system roots come from registry-based certificate stores. On Linux, Chilkat may use a system CA bundle such as /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt when available.

System roots are not added to this object's explicit collection and therefore are not included in NumCerts or returned by CertAt.

More Information and Examples
HTTP - Verify Server is a Trusted Root CA
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VerboseLogging
// read/write
boolean getVerboseLogging()
void setVerboseLogging(boolean value)

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

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Version
// read-only
String getVersion()

Version of the component/library, such as "10.1.0"

More Information and Examples
How to get the Chilkat version at runtime.
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Methods

Activate
void activate()
Introduced in version 9.5.0.38

Activates this object's trust configuration for Chilkat-wide certificate validation. The active configuration includes:

  • Certificates explicitly added to this object by AddCert, AddJavaKeyStore, or LoadCaCertsPem.
  • Operating-system CA roots when TrustSystemCaRoots is true.
  • The self-signed TLS certificate policy selected by RejectSelfSignedCerts.

After activation, Chilkat classes that validate PKCS7/CMS signatures or SSL/TLS server certificate chains use this trust configuration. Returns true if the configuration was activated successfully; otherwise returns false.

Trust-anchor note: Activating a certificate as trusted supplies a starting point for certificate-path validation. It does not, by itself, prove that every certificate issued beneath that anchor is valid for every purpose; the applicable validation operation may also evaluate signatures, validity periods, identity, key usage, constraints, and other policy requirements.

Throws ChilkatException on failure; e.getLastErrorText() (or the object's getLastErrorText()) explains why, and the object remains usable.

More Information and Examples
HTTP - Verify Server is a Trusted Root CA
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AddCert
void addCert(Cert cert)
Introduced in version 9.5.0.41

Adds the certificate in cert to this object's explicit trusted-certificate collection. The certificate is subsequently treated as a trust anchor when this configuration is activated.

Returns true if the certificate was added successfully; otherwise returns false.

Security-sensitive operation: Calling this method is an explicit trust decision. It does not first determine whether the certificate is self-signed, belongs to a public CA, is currently valid, or is appropriate for the intended application. Add only certificates obtained and verified through a trustworthy process.

Throws ChilkatException on failure; e.getLastErrorText() (or the object's getLastErrorText()) explains why, and the object remains usable.

More Information and Examples
Use a Custom Set of Trusted Root CertificatesTrust Specific Root CA Certificates
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AddJavaKeyStore
void addJavaKeyStore(JavaKeyStore keystore)
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Adds the certificates designated as trusted entries in the keystore JavaKeyStore to this object's explicit trusted-certificate collection.

Private keys and secret keys are not imported. Returns true if the trusted certificates were added successfully; otherwise returns false.

Java keystore terminology: A trusted-certificate entry represents a certificate that the keystore owner has chosen to trust. Importing it preserves that trust decision; it does not independently validate the certificate or build a certification path for it.

Throws ChilkatException on failure; e.getLastErrorText() (or the object's getLastErrorText()) explains why, and the object remains usable.

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CertAt
void certAt(int index, Cert cert)
Introduced in version 11.0.0

Copies the certificate at zero-based index into the caller-supplied Cert object in cert.

Valid indexes are from 0 through NumCerts - 1. Returns true if the certificate was retrieved successfully; otherwise returns false, such as when the index is outside the valid range.

This method enumerates only certificates explicitly contained in this TrustedRoots object. Operating-system roots enabled through TrustSystemCaRoots are not included.

Throws ChilkatException on failure; e.getLastErrorText() (or the object's getLastErrorText()) explains why, and the object remains usable.

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Deactivate
void deactivate()
Introduced in version 9.5.0.40

Deactivates the previously activated Chilkat-wide trusted-root configuration. After deactivation, roots and single-certificate self-signed certificates are implicitly trusted.

Returns true if the active configuration was deactivated successfully; otherwise returns false.

Security warning: This is a permissive mode. It does not merely restore a conventional “trust the operating-system CA store” policy. Use Deactivate only when implicitly trusting arbitrary roots and self-signed certificates is intentional and acceptable for the application.

Throws ChilkatException on failure; e.getLastErrorText() (or the object's getLastErrorText()) explains why, and the object remains usable.

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LoadCaCertsPem
void loadCaCertsPem(String path)
Introduced in version 9.5.0.38

Loads one or more PEM-encoded certificates from the file at path and adds them to this object's explicit trusted-certificate collection. A CA bundle normally contains consecutive -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- / -----END CERTIFICATE----- blocks.

This method can load a curated application bundle, a Mozilla-derived CA bundle, or a platform bundle such as /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt when that file exists. Returns true if the bundle was loaded successfully; otherwise returns false.

Trust implication: Certificates loaded by this method are treated as trusted anchors after activation. The file is not merely a source of intermediate certificates. Review and protect the bundle as security-sensitive configuration.

Throws ChilkatException on failure; e.getLastErrorText() (or the object's getLastErrorText()) explains why, and the object remains usable.

More Information and Examples
Load CA Cert Bundle into Trusted Roots
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Events

All Chilkat methods are synchronous: the call returns when the work is done. During a long-running call, TrustedRoots reports progress through a ProgressListener, an interface with three methods, each with a default, so you override only what you need:

import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.ProgressListener;

trustedRoots.setProgressListener(new ProgressListener() {
    @Override public boolean percentDone(int pctDone) {
        System.out.println(pctDone + "%");
        return false;           // return true to abort the method in progress
    }
    @Override public void progressInfo(String name, String value) {
        System.out.println(name + ": " + value);
    }
});

For a single callback, a lambda is shorter:

trustedRoots.onPercentDone(pct -> { System.out.println(pct + "%"); return false; });
public void setProgressListener(ProgressListener listener)

Installs listener as the receiver of this object's events, replacing any listener or lambda installed before; null removes it.

public ProgressListener getProgressListener()

Returns the installed listener, or null.

public void onAbortCheck(BooleanSupplier callback)
public void onPercentDone(IntPredicate callback)
public void onProgressInfo(BiConsumer<String, String> callback)

Each installs a listener whose only callback is the given lambda (from java.util.function). Like setProgressListener, each replaces the listener installed before, so to handle more than one event, implement ProgressListener. null removes the listener.

abortCheck is called periodically during long operations; percentDone is called when an operation's completion percentage is known; progressInfo delivers named progress values. Returning true from abortCheck or percentDone aborts the running method, which then throws ChilkatException.

Callbacks run on the thread that called the method, before it returns. Inside a callback, property accessors of the object (such as setAbortCurrent(true)) and other objects may be used, but calling a method of the same object throws IllegalStateException. An exception thrown by a callback aborts the running method and is rethrown from it; the object remains usable.

AbortCheck
// ProgressListener method (default returns false), or onAbortCheck(BooleanSupplier)
boolean abortCheck()

Enables a method call to be aborted by triggering the AbortCheck event at intervals defined by the HeartbeatMs property. If HeartbeatMs is set to its default value of 0, no events will occur. For instance, set HeartbeatMs to 200 to trigger 5 AbortCheck events per second.

More Information and Examples
Chilkat Event Callback Examples

Example

import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;

final AtomicBoolean stop = new AtomicBoolean(false);   // another thread may call stop.set(true)
trustedRoots.onAbortCheck(() -> stop.get());
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PercentDone
// ProgressListener method (default returns false), or onPercentDone(IntPredicate)
boolean percentDone(int pctDone)

This provides the percentage completion for any method involving network communications or time-consuming processing, assuming the progress can be measured as a percentage. This event is triggered only when it's possible and logical to express the operation's progress as a percentage. The pctDone argument will range from 1 to 100. For methods that finish quickly, the number of PercentDone callbacks may vary, but the final callback will have pctDone equal to 100. For longer operations, callbacks will not exceed one per percentage point (e.g., 1, 2, 3, ..., 98, 99, 100).

The PercentDone callback also acts as an AbortCheck event. For fast methods where PercentDone fires, an AbortCheck event may not trigger since the PercentDone callback already provides an opportunity to abort. For longer operations, where time between PercentDone callbacks is extended, AbortCheck callbacks enable more responsive operation termination.

To abort the operation, set the abort output argument to true. This will cause the method to terminate and return a failure status or corresponding failure value.

More Information and Examples
Chilkat Event Callback Examples

Example

trustedRoots.onPercentDone(pct -> {
    // pct ranges from 0 to 100.
    System.out.println("Percent done: " + pct);
    return false;   // return true to abort the method in progress
});
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ProgressInfo
// ProgressListener method (default does nothing), or onProgressInfo(BiConsumer<String, String>)
void progressInfo(String name, String value)

This event callback provides tag name/value pairs that detail what occurs during a method call. To discover existing tag names, create code to handle the event, emit the pairs, and review them. Most tag names are self-explanatory.

Note: Some Chilkat methods don't fire any ProgressInfo events.

More Information and Examples
Chilkat Event Callback Examples

Example

trustedRoots.onProgressInfo((name, value) -> System.out.println(name + ": " + value));
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