PDF Security ActiveX DLL — Encrypt & Decrypt PDFs

Overview

PDF Security ActiveX DLL is a COM component for Windows developers who need to protect PDF documents inside their own applications. It applies user and owner passwords, sets document permissions, detects existing protection, and removes that protection when the owner password is available.

It is a standalone DLL. It does not install, call or depend on Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, so it can run on servers and locked-down desktops where Acrobat is not available.

Typical uses include document portals, invoice and statement delivery, contract workflows, evaluation copies, and any product that must hand out PDFs with controlled access.

Features

Key features

Encrypt with 40-bit RC4, 128-bit RC4, 128-bit AES or 256-bit AES.
Set separate user (open) and owner (permissions) passwords.
Allow or block printing, copying, editing, annotations and form filling.
Detect whether a PDF is already encrypted before processing it.
Decrypt protected PDFs when the password is supplied.

Read page count and file size without another PDF library.
Load and save files with a single method call.
Runs in 32-bit and 64-bit Windows processes.
Royalty-free distribution with a valid license.
Supports Windows XP – 11, Windows Server 2003 – 2016 (incl. R2).

Use cases

What you can build

Secure document delivery

Password-protect statements, invoices and reports before they are emailed or downloaded.

Rights management

Disable printing, copying or editing for preview and evaluation copies while keeping the original intact.

Password-aware workflows

Open a protected file with its password, then re-save it with different permissions or remove protection.

Server-side automation

Run inside ASP, ASP.NET or scheduled services on machines where Acrobat is not installed.

Sample code

C# example

C#

using PDFSecurityX;

var pdf = new PDFSecurityX.SecurityLibClass();
pdf.SetLicenseKey("YOUR-LICENSE-KEY");

// 1 = loaded, 0 = cannot load, -1 = file not found
int loaded = pdf.LoadFromFile(@"C:\docs\contract.pdf", "");
if (loaded == 1)
{
    // Vendor sample mask: printing, copying and editing disabled.
    int permissions = pdf.CreatePermissions(0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1);

    int result = pdf.Encrypt(
        @"C:\docs\contract-protected.pdf",
        2,
        permissions,
        "owner-password",
        "user-password");
}

pdf.Close();

The same methods are available from VB, Delphi, C++, PHP, Python and any COM-capable environment.

Supported languages and environments

C#
.NET
VB.NET
VB6
Delphi
C++ Builder
Visual C++
ASP
ASP.NET
PHP
Python
Java
VBScript
JavaScript
ColdFusion
Perl
PowerBuilder
VBA

More examples are available on request. Your project can use late binding, an imported type library, or P/Invoke where applicable.

Licensing: call SetLicenseKey() with the key you receive after purchase. Trial builds run with the limitation described above.

Interface reference

Main methods

The installer includes a complete interface reference and demo projects.

Method	Purpose
`SetLicenseKey(key)`	Unlock the component with your license key.
`LoadFromFile(path, password)`	Open a PDF. Returns 1 on success, 0 on failure, -1 if the file is missing.
`IsEncrypted`	Read-only flag that reports whether the loaded PDF is protected.
`PageCount / FileSize`	Read document properties after loading.
`CreatePermissions(...)`	Build the permission mask used by Encrypt().
`Encrypt(output, keyLength, permissions, ownerPwd, userPwd)`	Encrypt and save. Returns 0 failed, 1 success, 2 already encrypted.
`Decrypt(output)`	Remove protection and save. Returns 0 failed, 1 success, 2 not encrypted.
`Close()`	Release the open document.

Pricing

One-time licenses Save 40%

Royalty-free distribution. Prices in USD; taxes and VAT are handled by our Merchant of Record at checkout.

Single developer

$119.95 ~~$199.95~~

1 developer, or 1 server deployment

Royalty-free distribution
32-bit and 64-bit builds
Email support

Buy license

Development team

$239.95 ~~$399.95~~

Your development team, up to 5 server deployments

Royalty-free distribution
32-bit and 64-bit builds
Email support

Buy license

Enterprise

$455.95 ~~$759.95~~

Unlimited developers, servers and applications

Royalty-free distribution
32-bit and 64-bit builds
Email support

Buy license

Need a custom build or an upgrade? Contact us. See the refund policy.

Free trial

Download PDF Security ActiveX DLL

Install the trial, run the sample code, and evaluate the output on your own documents. The installer includes the component, demo application and documentation.

Version 3.10 · 7.11 MB
Trial limitation: Output PDFs are watermarked until licensed.
Runs on Windows XP–11 and Windows Server 2003–2016
Unlocks with your registration key after purchase

Download trial (.exe) Compare licenses

The full version and registration key are delivered by email after purchase.

FAQ

PDF Security ActiveX DLL questions

Does PDF Security ActiveX DLL need Adobe Acrobat or Reader?

No. It is a standalone component and does not install or call Adobe software.

Can I use it in a commercial application without paying per copy?

Yes. A valid license makes distribution royalty-free, with no limit on the number of applications you ship.

Does it support 64-bit applications?

Yes. The component runs in both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows processes.

What is the trial limitation?

Trial output PDFs are watermarked. Call SetLicenseKey() with a purchased key to remove the limitation.

Tutorials

See it working in code

Often used together

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PDF Encrypt ActiveX DLL

Add user and owner passwords plus permission controls to PDF files.

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PDF Decrypt ActiveX DLL

Remove owner-password restrictions and unlock PDFs your app is allowed to process.

from $77.95 ~~$129.95~~ View details →

PDF Split Merge ActiveX DLL

Split, merge and rotate PDF files by page range from Windows applications.

from $129.95 View details →

Evaluate PDF Security ActiveX DLL on your own files.

The trial is free and does not require registration. See the output before you buy.

Download trial See pricing