Convert the Java JKS key-store to Microsoft PFX format

Copyright © 2004, 2005 TJ

The GNU General Public License version 2 or later applies to my ExportPrvKey.class. See http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html

Here's how to get and use a code-signing Thawte digital certificate to sign your Java JAR and Microsoft CAB, EXE, DLL, VBscript, etc. code, to create trusted applets for downloading over the Internet, and to convert the Java JKS key-store to P12/Microsoft PFX (Personal Information Exchange) format to share the same certificate with Java JAR files and Microsoft CAB files.

This allows software authors to increase the range of activities the Java Security Manager will permit.

Contents

• Overview
• Download and Install Tools
• Personal Freemail account at Thawte
• Request a Free Test Certificate
• Create a New Java Key/Certificate Pair
• Generate a Certificate Signing Request
• Import Thawte Certificate to Sun Java JKS Key-store
• Convert Sun Java JKS Keystore to Microsoft PFX format
• Import Key & Certificate to Microsoft Key-store
• Sign a Java JAR File
• Sign a Microsoft CAB file
• Observations

Generate a Certificate Signing Request

keytool -certreq -keystore CodeSigning.jks -file csr.txt -alias CodeSigning

You've now got a new file csr.txt in the CodeSigning folder.

Load into Notepad by double-clicking the filename csr.txt, highlight all the text and copy to the clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C, or choosing the Edit menu, then Copy.

Paste the CSR into the Thawte form by right-clicking in the text box and choosing Paste.

Press the next button.

If you're happy with the summary, press the finish button.

Now you wait for the certificate to be issued. This usually only takes 5 minutes or so. You can check on progress by choosing view certificate status.

If you have any comments or simply find this guide a useful time-saver I'd welcome hearing from you. You can email me at codesigning@tjworld.net.

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