-inform DER|PEM

This specifies the CRL input format. DER format is DER encoded CRL structure.PEM (the default) is a base64 encoded version of the DER form with header and footer lines.

-outform DER|PEM

This specifies the PKCS#7 structure output format. DER format is DER encoded PKCS#7 structure.PEM (the default) is a base64 encoded version of the DER form with header and footer lines.

-in filename

This specifies the input filename to read a CRL from or standard input if this option is not specified.

-out filename

specifies the output filename to write the PKCS#7 structure to or standard output by default.

-certfile filename

specifies a filename containing one or more certificates in PEM format. All certificates in the file will be added to the PKCS#7 structure. This option can be used more than once to read certificates form multiple files.

-nocrl

normally a CRL is included in the output file. With this option no CRL is included in the output file and a CRL is not read from the input file.

 openssl crl2pkcs7 -in crl.pem -certfile cert.pem -out p7.pem

Creates a PKCS#7 structure in DER format with no CRL from several different certificates:

 openssl crl2pkcs7 -nocrl -certfile newcert.pem
        -certfile demoCA/cacert.pem -outform DER -out p7.der

This utility can be used to send certificates and CAs to Netscape as part of the certificate enrollment process. This involves sending the DER encoded output as MIME type application/x-x509-user-cert.

The PEM encoded form with the header and footer lines removed can be used to install user certificates and CAs in MSIE using the Xenroll control.