Calling a Web Service protected by a certificate

From: Christian Staffe (x_at_y.z)
Date: 10/29/04 

Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 13:57:51 +0200

Hi,

We have a web application protected by a certificate. In order to allow
customers to connect to the web site, we generate a .pfx file that we send
to them and that they need to install in Internet Explorer (import
certificate). At this time they are allowed to connect to the web site.

Now, we are providing additional web services that will be consumed by a fat
client deployed on customer's desktops. To connect to the web service in the
client, we need to add a X509 version of the certificate to the
"ClientCertificates" collections of the web reference. I have managed to do
it by exporting the certificate in a X509 format using IE and then use the
X509Certificate.CreateFromCertFile to load it into a X509Certificate object
and add it then to the collection.

I would like to implement a process similar to what IE is doing, that is,
displaying a dialog box with the list of certificates registered on the
machine, so that the user can choose which one to use and then build a X509
version of it. How to do this ? Any pointer ? Is it necessary to do some
CAPICOM programming here ?

Christian

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