THotPDF.CryptKeyLength Property

 

THotPDF.CryptKeyLength

THotPDF

 

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Determines PDF file encryption method.

 

type

THPDFKeyType = ( k40,  k128,  aes128,  aes256,  aesgcm );

 

Delphi syntax:

property CryptKeyLength: THPDFKeyType;

 

C++ syntax:

__property THPDFKeyType CryptKeyLength;

 

Description

Use CryptKeyLength to choose the standard security handler revision and cipher used when ActivateProtection is enabled.

For AES password encryption, set EncryptMetadata to false before BeginDoc to write /EncryptMetadata false, leave XMP /Metadata streams cleartext, and use the matching AES-128 key derivation or AES-256 /Perms metadata flag. The default is true for compatibility.

 

Value                Meaning


k40                        Standard security handler V=1, R=2, RC4 with a 40-bit key (PDF 1.1+).

k128                        Standard security handler V=2, R=3, RC4 with a 128-bit key (PDF 1.4+).

aes128                  Standard security handler V=4, R=4 with crypt filter StdCF (CFM=AESV2). AES-128 in CBC mode with PKCS#7 padding and a 16-byte random initialization vector per ISO 32000-1 7.6.2 / 7.4.4.2 (PDF 1.6+). Since HotPDF v2.4.0 this option encrypts strings and streams with a real AES implementation; earlier builds emitted the AES dictionary but did not actually encrypt content.

aes256                  Standard security handler V=5 with crypt filter StdCF (CFM=AESV3). AES-256 in CBC mode with PKCS#7 padding and a 16-byte random initialization vector per Adobe Extension Level 3 / ISO 32000-2 7.6.4 (PDF 1.7+, accepted by Acrobat 9 and later, Foxit, Chrome and the Apple/macOS viewers). Available since HotPDF v2.17.0. Selecting aes256 raises the output version to PDF 1.7 when it is lower, unless StrictVersionLock is set, in which case a lower version falls back to AES-128 (before v2.760.0 the default PDF 1.6 output silently fell back to AES-128). The default revision is R=5 with SHA-256 password hashing. Set UseAES256R6 to true to switch to R=6 with the ISO 32000-2 algorithm 2.B "hash dance" (SHA-256 / SHA-384 / SHA-512 + AES-128 mixer); R=6 is required by Acrobat DC and PDF/A-4 validators. Available since HotPDF v2.22.0.

aesgcm              Standard security handler V=6, R=7 with crypt filter StdCF (CFM=AESV4). AES-256-GCM uses a unique 12-byte initialization vector and a 16-byte authentication tag for every encrypted string and stream, with empty additional authenticated data, as defined by ISO/TS 32003:2023. This option requires PDF 2.0 and emits the ISO developer extension at extension level 32003. Available since HotPDF v2.475.0.

 

Public-Key Security Handler (ISO 32000-1 7.6.4, ISO 32000-2 7.6.5)

For certificate-based encryption (one document, multiple recipients) call EnablePubKeyEncryption(seed, KeyType, EncryptMetadata) instead of setting UserPassword / OwnerPassword. Public-key encryption supports k40, k128, aes128 and aes256 (aes256 raises the output to PDF 2.0, and certificate or key-agreement recipients require it); aesgcm is limited to the password-based standard security handler. Caller must build one PKCS#7 envelopedData blob per recipient (Windows CryptoAPI, OpenSSL, or pycryptodome) and append each blob through AddPubKeyRecipient; the file encryption key derives as described in ISO 32000-1 7.6.4.3 (SHA-1 of seed concatenated with the envelope binaries). Available since HotPDF v2.33.0.

 

Code Example

HPDF.Version := pdf20;                     // Select PDF 2.0
HPDF.CryptKeyLength := aesgcm;             // Select AES-256-GCM
HPDF.OwnerPassword := 'password';          // Set owner password (required to change security settings)
HPDF.UserPassword := 'user';               // Set user password (required to open the document)
HPDF.ProtectOptions := [prPrint, prPrint12bit]; // Allow full-quality printing only
HPDF.EncryptMetadata := false;             // Keep XMP metadata cleartext
HPDF.ActivateProtection := true;           // Enable PDF security

 

See also: ActivateProtection, OwnerPassword, ProtectOptions, UserPassword