ElGamal Control

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Encrypt and decrypt data with the ElGamal asymmetric key encryption algorithm for public-key cryptography.

Syntax

ElGamal

Remarks

The ElGamal control is used to encrypt/decrypt data with the ElGamal asymmetric key encryption algorithm for public-key cryptography.

To begin, you must either specify an existing key or create a new key. Existing public or private keys may be specified by setting Key. To create a new key pair, call CreateKey.

After specifying a key, specify the data you wish to encrypt or decrypt. Call the Encrypt or Decrypt method to perform the operation.

Input and Output Properties

The control will determine the source and destination of the input and output based on which properties are set.

The order in which the input properties are checked is as follows:

• InputFile
• InputMessage

When a valid source is found, the search stops. The order in which the output properties are checked is as follows:

• OutputFile
• OutputMessage: The output data is written to this property if no other destination is specified.

An ElGamal key is made up of a number of individual parameters.

The public key consists of the following parameters:

• KeyP
• KeyG
• KeyY

The control also includes the KeyPublicKey property which holds the PEM formatted public key for ease of use. This is helpful if you are in control of both signature creation and verification process. When sending the public key to a recipient, note that not all implementations will support using the PEM formatted value in KeyPublicKey, in which case the individual parameters must be sent.

The private key consists of the following parameters:

• KeyP
• KeyG
• KeyY
• KeyX

The control also includes the KeyPrivateKey property which holds the PEM formatted private key for ease of use. This is helpful for storing the private key more easily.

Property List

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The following is the full list of the properties of the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

Method List

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The following is the full list of the methods of the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

Event List

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The following is the full list of the events fired by the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

Config Settings

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The following is a list of config settings for the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

InputFile Property (ElGamal Control)

The file to process.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.InputFile[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property specifies the file to be processed. Set this property to the full or relative path to the file which will be processed.

Input and Output Properties

The control will determine the source and destination of the input and output based on which properties are set.

The order in which the input properties are checked is as follows:

• InputFile
• InputMessage

When a valid source is found, the search stops. The order in which the output properties are checked is as follows:

• OutputFile
• OutputMessage: The output data is written to this property if no other destination is specified.

Data Type

String

InputMessage Property (ElGamal Control)

The message to process.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.InputMessage[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property specifies the message to be processed.

Input and Output Properties

The control will determine the source and destination of the input and output based on which properties are set.

The order in which the input properties are checked is as follows:

• InputFile
• InputMessage

When a valid source is found, the search stops. The order in which the output properties are checked is as follows:

• OutputFile
• OutputMessage: The output data is written to this property if no other destination is specified.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .InputMessageB.

Data Type

Binary String

KeyG Property (ElGamal Control)

Represents the G parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.KeyG[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

Represents the G parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .KeyGB.

Data Type

Binary String

KeyP Property (ElGamal Control)

Represents the P parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.KeyP[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

Represents the P parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .KeyPB.

Data Type

Binary String

KeyPrivateKey Property (ElGamal Control)

This property is a PEM formatted private key.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.KeyPrivateKey[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property is a PEM formatted private key. The purpose of this property is to allow easier management of the private key parameters by using only a single value.

Data Type

String

KeyPublicKey Property (ElGamal Control)

This property is a PEM formatted public key.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.KeyPublicKey[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property is a PEM formatted public key. The purpose of this property is to allow easier management of the public key parameters by using only a single value.

Data Type

String

KeyX Property (ElGamal Control)

Represents the X parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.KeyX[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

Represents the X parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .KeyXB.

Data Type

Binary String

KeyY Property (ElGamal Control)

Represents the Y parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.KeyY[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

Represents the Y parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .KeyYB.

Data Type

Binary String

OutputFile Property (ElGamal Control)

The output file when encrypting or decrypting.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.OutputFile[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property specifies the file to which the output will be written when Encrypt or Decrypt is called. This may be set to an absolute or relative path.

This property is only applicable to Encrypt and Decrypt.

Input and Output Properties

The control will determine the source and destination of the input and output based on which properties are set.

The order in which the input properties are checked is as follows:

• InputFile
• InputMessage

When a valid source is found, the search stops. The order in which the output properties are checked is as follows:

• OutputFile
• OutputMessage: The output data is written to this property if no other destination is specified.

Data Type

String

OutputMessage Property (ElGamal Control)

The output message after processing.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.OutputMessage

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property will be populated with the output from the operation if OutputFile is not set.

Input and Output Properties

The control will determine the source and destination of the input and output based on which properties are set.

The order in which the input properties are checked is as follows:

• InputFile
• InputMessage

When a valid source is found, the search stops. The order in which the output properties are checked is as follows:

• OutputFile
• OutputMessage: The output data is written to this property if no other destination is specified.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .OutputMessageB.

This property is read-only and not available at design time.

Data Type

Binary String

Overwrite Property (ElGamal Control)

Indicates whether or not the control should overwrite files.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.Overwrite[=boolean]

Default Value

False

Remarks

This property indicates whether or not the control will overwrite OutputFile. If Overwrite is False, an error will be thrown whenever OutputFile exists before an operation. The default value is False.

Data Type

Boolean

RecipientKeyG Property (ElGamal Control)

Represents the G parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.RecipientKeyG[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

Represents the G parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .RecipientKeyGB.

Data Type

Binary String

RecipientKeyP Property (ElGamal Control)

Represents the P parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.RecipientKeyP[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

Represents the P parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .RecipientKeyPB.

Data Type

Binary String

RecipientKeyPublicKey Property (ElGamal Control)

This property is a PEM formatted public key.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.RecipientKeyPublicKey[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property is a PEM formatted public key. The purpose of this property is to allow easier management of the public key parameters by using only a single value.

Data Type

String

RecipientKeyY Property (ElGamal Control)

Represents the Y parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.RecipientKeyY[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

Represents the Y parameter for the ElGamal algorithm.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .RecipientKeyYB.

Data Type

Binary String

UseHex Property (ElGamal Control)

Whether input or output is hex encoded.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.UseHex[=boolean]

Default Value

False

Remarks

This property specifies whether the encrypted data is hex encoded.

If set to True, when Encrypt is called the control will perform the encryption as normal and then hex encode the output. OutputMessage or OutputFile will hold hex encoded data.

If set to True, when Decrypt is called the control will expect InputMessage or InputFile to hold hex encoded data. The control will then hex decode the data and perform decryption as normal.

Data Type

Boolean

Config Method (ElGamal Control)

Sets or retrieves a configuration setting.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.Config ConfigurationString

Remarks

Config is a generic method available in every control. It is used to set and retrieve configuration settings for the control.

These settings are similar in functionality to properties, but they are rarely used. In order to avoid "polluting" the property namespace of the control, access to these internal properties is provided through the Config method.

To set a configuration setting named PROPERTY, you must call Config("PROPERTY=VALUE"), where VALUE is the value of the setting expressed as a string. For boolean values, use the strings "True", "False", "0", "1", "Yes", or "No" (case does not matter).

To read (query) the value of a configuration setting, you must call Config("PROPERTY"). The value will be returned as a string.

CreateKey Method (ElGamal Control)

Creates a new key.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.CreateKey 

Remarks

This method creates a new public and private key.

When calling CreateKey the Key property is populated with a new private and public key.

An ElGamal key is made up of a number of individual parameters.

The public key consists of the following parameters:

• KeyP
• KeyG
• KeyY

The control also includes the KeyPublicKey property which holds the PEM formatted public key for ease of use. This is helpful if you are in control of both signature creation and verification process. When sending the public key to a recipient, note that not all implementations will support using the PEM formatted value in KeyPublicKey, in which case the individual parameters must be sent.

The private key consists of the following parameters:

• KeyP
• KeyG
• KeyY
• KeyX

The control also includes the KeyPrivateKey property which holds the PEM formatted private key for ease of use. This is helpful for storing the private key more easily.

Decrypt Method (ElGamal Control)

Decrypts the input data using the specified private key.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.Decrypt 

Remarks

This method decrypts the input data using the private key specified in Key. Alternatively, a certificate may be specified by setting Certificate.

Input and Output Properties

The control will determine the source and destination of the input and output based on which properties are set.

The order in which the input properties are checked is as follows:

• InputFile
• InputMessage

When a valid source is found, the search stops. The order in which the output properties are checked is as follows:

• OutputFile
• OutputMessage: The output data is written to this property if no other destination is specified.

Key Size and the Maximum Length of Data

RSA has an upper limit to the amount of data that can be encrypted or decrypted, also known as message length. This can typically be calculated as the size of the key minus the size of the RSA header and padding.

When not using OAEP, the following formula and table can be referenced. (RSA Key Bytes) - (Header Bytes) = Length of data, where Header Bytes is always 11.

When using OAEP, the following formula and table can be referenced. (RSA Key Bytes) - (2 * Hash Length Bytes) - 2 = Length of data. The table below assumes SHA-256 for the hash, so Hash Length Bytes is 32.

Encrypt Method (ElGamal Control)

Encrypts the input data using the recipient's public key.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.Encrypt 

Remarks

This method encrypts the input data using the public key specified in RecipientKey. Alternatively, a certificate may be specified by setting RecipientCert.

Input and Output Properties

The control will determine the source and destination of the input and output based on which properties are set.

The order in which the input properties are checked is as follows:

• InputFile
• InputMessage

When a valid source is found, the search stops. The order in which the output properties are checked is as follows:

• OutputFile
• OutputMessage: The output data is written to this property if no other destination is specified.

Key Size and the Maximum Length of Data

RSA has an upper limit to the amount of data that can be encrypted or decrypted, also known as message length. This can typically be calculated as the size of the key minus the size of the RSA header and padding.

When not using OAEP, the following formula and table can be referenced. (RSA Key Bytes) - (Header Bytes) = Length of data, where Header Bytes is always 11.

When using OAEP, the following formula and table can be referenced. (RSA Key Bytes) - (2 * Hash Length Bytes) - 2 = Length of data. The table below assumes SHA-256 for the hash, so Hash Length Bytes is 32.

Reset Method (ElGamal Control)

Resets the control.

Syntax

elgamalcontrol.Reset 

Remarks

When called, the control will reset all of its properties to their default values.

Error Event (ElGamal Control)

Fired when information is available about errors during data delivery.

Syntax

Sub elgamalcontrol_Error(ErrorCode As Integer, Description As String)

Remarks

The Error event is fired in case of exceptional conditions during message processing. Normally the control fails with an error.

The ErrorCode parameter contains an error code, and the Description parameter contains a textual description of the error. For a list of valid error codes and their descriptions, please refer to the Error Codes section.

Config Settings (ElGamal Control)

The control accepts one or more of the following configuration settings. Configuration settings are similar in functionality to properties, but they are rarely used. In order to avoid "polluting" the property namespace of the control, access to these internal properties is provided through the Config method.

ElGamal Config Settings

Base Config Settings

Trappable Errors (ElGamal Control)

ElGamal Errors