Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Progress 4GL Reference

> ## SYMMETRIC-ENCRYPTION-KEY attribute

> The default encryption key (a binary value) to use with the ENCRYPT and DECRYPT functions. The default value is the Unknown value (`?`).

> Data type: RAW

> Access: Writeable

> Applies to: SECURITY-POLICY system handle

> You may specify this key as a MEMPTR, CHARACTER, or LONGCHAR value, but Progress treats it as a RAW.

> If the value of this attribute is the Unknown value (`?`), you must provide the encryption key as an argument to the ENCRYPT and DECRYPT functions.

> Progress compares the size of the specified encryption key to the key size specified by the cryptographic algorithm. If the key sizes are inconsistent, Progress generates a run-time error.

> Progress obscures this attribute value to protect it against unauthorized access. You are responsible for generating, storing, and transporting this value.

> You can generate an encryption key, based on the PKCS#5/RFC 2898 standard, by using either the GENERATE-PBE-KEY function or the GENERATE-RANDOM-KEY function.

> Note: Do not use the GENERATE-RANDOM-KEY function to assign a key value to this attribute directly. Doing so will render the key irretrievable (as this attribute is write-only).

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