---
title: "Encrypt String"
slug: "encrypt-string"
updated: 2025-12-08T20:21:13Z
published: 2025-12-08T20:21:13Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/encrypt-string"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Encrypt String

| Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 9.18.0 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | -- |
| **Location** | PGP |

The **Encrypt String** step allows Users to encrypt String data from a flow and assign it a Public Key.

### Prerequisites

- This step requires the [PGP module](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/pgp-module-overview#overview) to be [installed](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/installing-modules-decisions) before it will be available in the toolbox.
- Users must download [GPG](https://www.gnupg.org/download/) before utilizing this and other PGP steps.

### Considerations

In v9.18, PGP steps were moved to a legacy category, and new steps were added. While the new PGP steps use an updated encryption/decryption approach (based on **AEAD/OCB** **mode**), both categories of steps can be utilized as they have the same functionality.

---

## Properties

#### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Data | The data that will be encrypted. | String |
| Public Key String | The Public Key from a source outside of Decisions. | String |

#### Outputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EncryptString1_Output | The part of the string that was extracted. | String |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2023-09-07_16h32_30%20-%20encryptstep.png)

---

## Common Errors

### Public Key Cannot be Null

The public key field must be filled in for the step to function correctly.

#### Exception Message:

```csharp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Encrypt String 1[EncryptString] in flow [Misc Step Tests]: Exception invoking method EncryptString on class PGPSteps
 ---> DecisionsFramework.LoggedException: Exception invoking method EncryptString on class PGPSteps
 ---> System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null. (Parameter 's'
 at System.ArgumentNullException.Throw(String paramName
 at System.Text.Encoding.GetBytes(String s
 at Decsisions.PGP.Steps.BouncyCastleProcessor.EncryptString(String data, String publicKeyString
 at Decsisions.PGP.Steps.PGPSteps.EncryptString(String publicKeyString, String data
 at InvokeStub_PGPSteps.EncryptString(Object, Object, IntPtr*
 at System.Reflection.MethodInvoker.Invoke(Object obj, IntPtr* args, BindingFlags invokeAttr)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace --- at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.StepImplementations.InvokeMethodStep.Run(StepStartData data
```

---

## Step Changes

| Description | Version | Date | Developer Task |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| New steps have been added to the PGP Module. Existing steps have been added to the PGP Legacy category in the step toolbox. | [9.18](https://documentation.decisions.com/v99/docs/en/2ebf7a4c-e925-4e8f-9fd4-ff94a14910cc?isPreview=true&versionNumber=1) | December 2025 | [DT-046254] |

**Related Information**

[**Decrypt String**](https://documentation.decisions.com/step-library/docs/decrypt-string) **[Encrypt File](https://documentation.decisions.com/step-library/docs/encrypt-file)**