CertStore C Reference Documentation
CertStore
Current Version: 10.1.0
Represents a collection of certificates. The certificates may be loaded from a PFX (PKCS#12) or from a Windows-based certificate store.
Many of the methods of this class are only applicable when running on a MS Windows operating system. The methods for opening, creating, and modifying Windows-based certificate stores (registry-based, file-based, and memory-based) are (of course) Windows-only. However, the methods for loading certs from PFX (PKCS#12), are valid on all supported operating systems, including Linux, MAC OS X, Windows, etc.
Create/Dispose
HCkCertStore instance = CkCertStore_Create(); // ... CkCertStore_Dispose(instance);
Creates an instance of the HCkCertStore object and returns a handle ("void *" pointer). The handle is passed in the 1st argument for the functions listed on this page.
Objects created by calling CkCertStore_Create must be freed by calling this method. A memory leak occurs if a handle is not disposed by calling this function. Also, any handle returned by a Chilkat "C" function must also be freed by the application by calling the appropriate Dispose method, such as CkCertStore_Dispose.
Properties
AvoidWindowsPkAccess
void CkCertStore_putAvoidWindowsPkAccess(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);
Applies only when running on a Microsoft Windows operating system. If TRUE, then any method that returns a certificate will not try to also access the associated private key, assuming one exists. This is useful if the certificate was installed with high-security such that a private key access would trigger the Windows OS to display a security warning dialog. The default value of this property is FALSE.
topDebugLogFilePath
void CkCertStore_putDebugLogFilePath(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal);
const char *CkCertStore_debugLogFilePath(HCkCertStore cHandle);
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:
- a timeout related property was set to 0 to explicitly indicate that an infinite timeout is desired,
- the hang is actually a hang within an event callback (i.e. it is a hang within the application code), or
- there is an internal problem (bug) in the Chilkat code that causes the hang.
LastErrorHtml
const char *CkCertStore_lastErrorHtml(HCkCertStore cHandle);
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.
topLastErrorText
const char *CkCertStore_lastErrorText(HCkCertStore cHandle);
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.
LastErrorXml
const char *CkCertStore_lastErrorXml(HCkCertStore cHandle);
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.
topLastMethodSuccess
void CkCertStore_putLastMethodSuccess(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);
Indicate whether the last method call succeeded or failed. A value of TRUE indicates success, a value of FALSE 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 = TRUE and failure = FALSE.
- 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 TRUE. For example, a method that returns no value (such as a "void" in C++) will technically always succeed.
topNumCertificates
The number of certificates held in the certificate store.
topNumEmailCerts
(This property only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
The number of certificates that can be used for sending secure email within this store.
SmartCardPin
void CkCertStore_putSmartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal);
const char *CkCertStore_smartCardPin(HCkCertStore cHandle);
Can be set to the PIN value for a certificate / private key stored on a smart card.
topUncommonOptions
void CkCertStore_putUncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle, const char *newVal);
const char *CkCertStore_uncommonOptions(HCkCertStore cHandle);
This is a catch-all property to be used for uncommon needs. This property defaults to the empty string, and should typically remain empty.
topUtf8
void CkCertStore_putUtf8(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);
When set to TRUE, all "const char *" arguments are interpreted as utf-8 strings. If set to FALSE (the default), then "const char *" arguments are interpreted as ANSI strings. Also, when set to TRUE, and Chilkat method returning a "const char *" is returning the utf-8 representation. If set to FALSE, all "const char *" return values are ANSI strings.
topVerboseLogging
void CkCertStore_putVerboseLogging(HCkCertStore cHandle, BOOL newVal);
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.
topVersion
const char *CkCertStore_version(HCkCertStore cHandle);
Methods
AddCertificate
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Adds a certificate to the store. If the certificate is already in the store, it is updated with the new information.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
CloseCertStore
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Closes the certificate store previously opened by one of the Open* methods.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topCreateFileStore
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Creates a new file-based certificate store. Certificates may be saved to this store by calling AddCertificate.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topCreateMemoryStore
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Creates an in-memory certificate store. Certificates may be added by calling AddCertificate.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topCreateRegistryStore
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Creates a registry-based certificate store. regRoot must be "CurrentUser" or "LocalMachine". regPath is a registry path such as "Software/MyApplication/Certificates".
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topFindCertByKeyContainer
Finds a certificate by it's key container name.
Returns NULL on failure
FindCertByRfc822Name
Locates and returns a certificate by its RFC 822 name.
If multiple certificates match, then non-expired certificates will take precedence over expired certificates. In other words, Chilkat will aways return the non-expired certificate over the expired certificate.
Returns NULL on failure
topFindCertBySerial
Finds and returns the certificate that has the matching serial number.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
topFindCertBySha1Thumbprint
Finds a certificate by it's SHA-1 thumbprint. The thumbprint is a hexidecimal string.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
FindCertBySubject
Finds a certificate where one of the Subject properties (SubjectCN, SubjectE, SubjectO, SubjectOU, SubjectL, SubjectST, SubjectC) matches exactly (but case insensitive) with the passed string. A match in SubjectCN will be tried first, followed by SubjectE, and SubjectO. After that, the first match found in SubjectOU, SubjectL, SubjectST, or SubjectC, but in no guaranteed order, is returned. All matches are case insensitive.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
topFindCertBySubjectCN
Finds a certificate where the SubjectCN property (common name) matches exactly (but case insensitive) with the passed string
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
topFindCertBySubjectE
Finds a certificate where the SubjectE property (email address) matches exactly (but case insensitive) with the passed string. This function differs from FindCertForEmail in that the certificate does not need to match the ForSecureEmail property.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
FindCertBySubjectO
Finds a certificate where the SubjectO property (organization) matches exactly (but case insensitive) with the passed string.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
topFindCertForEmail
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Finds a certificate that can be used to send secure email to the passed email address. A certificate matches only if the ForSecureEmail property is TRUE, and the email address matches exactly (but case insensitive) with the SubjectE property. Returns NULL if no matches are found.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
topGetCertificate
Returns the Nth certificate in the store. The first certificate is at index 0.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
topGetEmailCert
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Returns the Nth email certificate in the store. The first certificate is at index 0. Use the NumEmailCertificates property to get the number of email certificates.
Returns NULL on failure.
Returns NULL on failure
topLoadPemFile
Loads the certificates contained within a PEM formatted file.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topLoadPemStr
Loads the certificates contained within an in-memory PEM formatted string.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topLoadPfxData
Loads a PFX from an in-memory image of a PFX file. Once loaded, the certificates within the PFX may be searched via the Find* methods. It is also possible to iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1, calling GetCertificate for each index, to retrieve each certificate within the PFX.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topLoadPfxData2
Loads a PFX from an in-memory image of a PFX file. Once loaded, the certificates within the PFX may be searched via the Find* methods. It is also possible to iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1, calling GetCertificate for each index, to retrieve each certificate within the PFX.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topLoadPfxFile
Loads a PFX file. Once loaded, the certificates within the PFX may be searched via the Find* methods. It is also possible to iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1, calling GetCertificate for each index, to retrieve each certificate within the PFX.
Note: This method does not import certificates into the Windows certificate stores. The purpose of this method is to load a .pfx/.p12 into this object so that other API methods can be called to explore or search the contents of the PFX. The Chilkat Pfx class also provides similar functionality.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
OpenCurrentUserStore
(This method is only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Opens the registry-based Current-User\Personal certificate store. Set readOnly = TRUE if only fetching certificates and not updating the certificate store (i.e. certificates will not be added or removed). Setting readOnly = TRUE causes the certificate store to be opened read-only, and will prevent "permission denied" errors caused by the need for read-write permission.
Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
OpenFileStore
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Opens a file-based certificate store.
Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topOpenLocalSystemStore
(This method is only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Opens the registry-based Local-Computer\Personal certificate store. Set readOnly = TRUE if only fetching certificates and not updating the certificate store (i.e. certificates will not be added or removed). Setting readOnly = TRUE causes the certificate store to be opened read-only, and will prevent "permission denied" errors caused by the need for read-write permission.
Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topOpenRegistryStore
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Opens an arbitrary registry-based certificate store. regRoot must be "CurrentUser" or "LocalMachine". regPath is a registry path such as "Software/MyApplication/Certificates".
Setting readOnly = TRUE causes the certificate store to be opened read-only, and will prevent "permission denied" errors caused by the need for read-write permission.
Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
topOpenSmartcard
Opens the certificate store on the smartcard currently in the reader or USB token.
The csp can be set to the name of the CSP (Cryptographic Service Provider) that should be used. If csp is an empty string, then the 1st CSP found matching one of the following names will be used:
- Microsoft Smart Card Key Storage Provider
- Microsoft Base Smart Card Crypto Provider
- Bit4id Universal Middleware Provider
- YubiHSM Key Storage Provider (starting in v9.5.0.83)
- eToken Base Cryptographic Provider
- FTSafe ePass1000 RSA Cryptographic Service Provider
- SecureStoreCSP
- EnterSafe ePass2003 CSP v2.0
- Gemalto Classic Card CSP
- PROXKey CSP India V1.0
- PROXKey CSP India V2.0
- TRUST KEY CSP V1.0
- Watchdata Brazil CSP V1.0
- Luna Cryptographic Services for Microsoft Windows
- Luna SChannel Cryptographic Services for Microsoft Windows
- Safenet RSA Full Cryptographic Provider
- nCipher Enhanced Cryptographic Provider
- SafeSign Standard Cryptographic Service Provider
- SafeSign Standard RSA and AES Cryptographic Service Provider
- MySmartLogon NFC CSP
- NFC Connector Enterprise
- ActivClient Cryptographic Service Provider
- EnterSafe ePass2003 CSP v1.0
- Oberthur Card Systems Cryptographic Provider
- Athena ASECard Crypto CSP"
(This method is only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
OpenWindowsStore
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Opens a Microsoft Windows certificate store. storeLocation must be "CurrentUser" or "LocalMachine". storeName is the name of the certificate store to open. It may be any of the following:
- AddressBook: Certificate store for other users.
- AuthRoot: Certificate store for third-party certification authorities (CAs).
- CertificationAuthority: Certificate store for intermediate certification authorities (CAs).
- Disallowed: Certificate store for revoked certificates.
- My: Certificate store for personal certificates.
- Root: Certificate store for trusted root certification authorities (CAs).
- TrustedPeople: Certificate store for directly trusted people and resources.
- TrustedPublisher: Certificate store for directly trusted publishers.
Setting readOnly = TRUE causes the certificate store to be opened read-only, and will prevent "permission denied" errors caused by the need for read-write permission.
Once loaded, the certificates within the store may be searched via the Find* methods. An application may also iterate from 0 to NumCertficates-1 and call GetCertificate to access each certificate by index.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
RemoveCertificate
(This method only available on Microsoft Windows operating systems.)
Removes the passed certificate from the store. The certificate object passed as the argument can no longer be used once removed.
Returns TRUE for success, FALSE for failure.
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