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CryptoSys API .NET Class Library Interface

A class library DLL is a cleaner, simpler interface for programmers in the .NET languages C# and VB.NET (VB2005+). Our class library diCrSysAPINet.dll provides an interface for .NET programmers to the CryptoSys API. Just add a reference to this library file in your project, use the CryptoSysAPI namespace and you are away.

The C# source code for the class library is available so you can change or add to it if you want. If you want to link statically instead in your C# project, then just include the CryptoSysAPI.cs module from the source code in your project and don't bother adding any references to the class library.

How to use

Make sure CryptoSys API is installed on your system.
Copy the dotnet diCrSysAPINet.dll library file into a convenient folder (Hint: the original is included in the main installation for all versions and should be in the folder C:\Program Files\CryptoSys\DotNet or C:\Program Files (x86)\CryptoSys\DotNet on a 64-bit system, unless you installed it in a different directory).
In your application, add a reference to the library:
1. Project > Add Reference.
2. In the .NET tab, click on the Browse button to find and select the library file diCrSysAPINet.dll.
3. Click on OK and the wizard will add the reference of the API library to your project.
Add the line (for C#)
```
using CryptoSysAPI;
```
or (for VB.NET)
```
Imports CryptoSysAPI
```
to your code.

Use the API methods at will, e.g. in C#

using System;
using CryptoSysPKI;
class Program {
    static void Main() {
        int n = General.Version();
        Console.WriteLine("Version = {0}", n);
    }
}

or in VB.NET

Imports CryptoSysAPI
Module Module1
    Sub Main()
        Dim n As Integer
        n = General.Version()
        Console.WriteLine("Version = {0}", n)
    End Sub
End Module

See the example test code, TestAPIcsharp.cs and TestAPIvbnet.vb, provided in the distribution download for more examples in both C# and VB.NET, as well as the Examples for CryptoSys API page.

For more detailed instructions, see Using with .NET: C# and VB.NET in the main manual

Help Documentation

A supplementary CHM file CryptoSysAPI.NET.chm is included in the distribution. Please browse the on-line version (uses Frames and JavaScript).

CryptoSys API Examples VB6 to VB.NET

CryptoSys API Examples VB6 to VB.NET is a conversion of most of the VB6 examples in the CryptoSys API manual to VB.NET. It shows how to convert VB6 code to the equivalent VB.NET code.

CryptoSys API Core

To use the .NET class library, you need to download and install a version of the core CryptoSys API DLL, unless you already have a copy installed.

Structure

+--------------+               +-------------------+          +-----------------+
| Your         | (References)  |                   | (Calls)  |                 |
| .NET project | ------------->| diCrSysAPINet.dll | -------->| diCryptoSys.dll |
|              |               | [class library]   |          | [Core Win32 DLL]|
+--------------+               +-------------------+          +-----------------+
using CryptoSysAPI;
OR                 
Imports CryptoSysAPI

References

Francesco Balena and Giuseppe Dimauro, Practical Guidelines and Best Practices for Microsoft Visual Basic and Visual C# Developers, Microsoft Press, 2005, ISBN 0735621721.

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This page last updated 15 August 2025