DataFlex Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Password-Protect a PDF with AES-256 Encryption

See more PDF Protection Examples

Demonstrates the simplest way to encrypt a PDF so that it needs a password to open. The passwords come from the UserPassword and OwnerPassword properties, and Protection with the encrypt operation and an empty JSON uses the defaults: AES-256, everything encrypted, every permission granted. Protection only records the security the PDF will be saved with. Nothing is encrypted until WriteFile is called. DataFlex

Use ChilkatAx-win32.pkg

Procedure Test
    Boolean iSuccess
    Handle hoPdf
    Variant vJson
    Handle hoJson
    Variant vJson
Out    Handle hoJsonOut
    Handle hoChecker
    Variant vInfo
    Handle hoInfo
    Handle hoReader
    String sTemp1
    Integer iTemp1
    Boolean bTemp1

    Move False To iSuccess

    //  This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
    //  See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

    //  The PDF used in this example is available at two_page_memo.pdf

    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatPdf)) To hoPdf
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoPdf))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoPdf
    End
    Get ComLoadFile Of hoPdf "qa_data/pdf/two_page_memo.pdf" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  The passwords are taken from these two properties at the time Protection is called.
    //  The user password opens the PDF.  The owner password opens it too, and is the one needed
    //  later to change or remove the protection.
    Set ComUserPassword Of hoPdf To "user-secret"
    Set ComOwnerPassword Of hoPdf To "owner-secret"

    //  An empty JSON asks for the defaults: AES-256, everything encrypted, every permission granted.
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatJsonObject)) To hoJson
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoJson))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoJson
    End
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatJsonObject)) To hoJsonOut
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoJsonOut))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoJsonOut
    End
    Get pvComObject of hoJson to vJson
    Get pvComObject of hoJsonOut to vJsonOut
    Get ComProtection Of hoPdf "encrypt" vJson vJsonOut To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  Nothing has been encrypted yet.  "pending" describes the security the PDF will be saved with.
    Get ComStringOf Of hoJsonOut "pending.algorithm" To sTemp1
    Showln "algorithm: " sTemp1
    Get ComStringOf Of hoJsonOut "pending.pdfVersion" To sTemp1
    Showln "PDF version: " sTemp1
    Get ComBoolOf Of hoJsonOut "pending.userPasswordRequired" To bTemp1
    Showln "password needed to open: " bTemp1

    //  Writing the file applies it.
    Get ComWriteFile Of hoPdf "qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  PreLoadCheck reports a file's encryption without loading it, and needs no password.
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatPdf)) To hoChecker
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoChecker))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoChecker
    End
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatJsonObject)) To hoInfo
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoInfo))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoInfo
    End
    Get pvComObject of hoInfo to vInfo
    Get ComPreLoadCheck Of hoChecker "qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf" vInfo To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoChecker To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Get ComBoolOf Of hoInfo "encrypted" To bTemp1
    Showln "encrypted: " bTemp1
    Get ComBoolOf Of hoInfo "openPasswordRequired" To bTemp1
    Showln "openPasswordRequired: " bTemp1

    //  With the password, the PDF opens normally.
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatPdf)) To hoReader
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoReader))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoReader
    End
    Set ComUserPassword Of hoReader To "user-secret"
    Get ComLoadFile Of hoReader "qa_output/memo_encrypted.pdf" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoReader To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Get ComNumPages Of hoReader To iTemp1
    Showln "pages: " iTemp1

    //  Sample output:

    //  algorithm: aes-256
    //  PDF version: 1.7
    //  password needed to open: True
    //  encrypted: True
    //  openPasswordRequired: True
    //  pages: 2


End_Procedure