1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
|
\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
@setfilename binutils.info
@ifinfo
@format
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* Binutils:: The GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
"objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", and "ranlib".
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
@end format
@end ifinfo
@ifinfo
Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
are preserved on all copies.
@ignore
Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
@end ignore
Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
permission notice identical to this one.
Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
@end ifinfo
@synindex ky cp
@c
@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", and "ranlib".
@c
@c Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c
@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
@c General Public License.
@c
@setchapternewpage odd
@settitle GNU Binary Utilities
@c @smallbook
@c @cropmarks
@titlepage
@finalout
@title The GNU Binary Utilities
@subtitle Version 2.2
@sp 1
@subtitle May 1993
@author Roland H. Pesch
@author Jeffrey M. Osier
@author Cygnus Support
@page
@tex
{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
@end tex
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
are preserved on all copies.
Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
permission notice identical to this one.
Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
@end titlepage
@node Top
@top
@chapter Introduction
@cindex version
This brief manual contains preliminary documentation for the GNU binary
utilities (collectively version 2.2):
@iftex
@table @code
@item ar
Create, modify, and extract from archives
@item nm
List symbols from object files
@item objcopy
Copy and translate object files
@item objdump
Display information from object files
@item ranlib
Generate index to archive contents
@item size
List file section sizes and total size
@item strings
List printable strings from files
@item strip
Discard symbols
@item c++filt
Demangle encoded C++ symbols
@item nlmconv
Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
@end table
@end iftex
@menu
* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
* nm:: List symbols from object files
* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
* objdump:: Display information from object files
* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
* size:: List section sizes and total size
* strings:: List printable strings from files
* strip:: Discard symbols
* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
* Index::
@end menu
@node ar
@chapter ar
@kindex ar
@cindex archives
@cindex collections of files
@smallexample
ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
ar -M [ <mri-script ]
@end smallexample
The GNU @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
extraction.
@cindex name length
GNU @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
characters (typical of formats related to coff).
@cindex libraries
@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
subroutines.
@cindex symbol index
@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
their placement in the archive.
You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
GNU @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
program.
@menu
* ar cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
* ar scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
@end menu
@page
@node ar cmdline
@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
@smallexample
ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
@end smallexample
@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
specifying particular files to operate on.
GNU @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
dash.
@cindex operations on archive
The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
@table @code
@item d
@cindex deleting from archive
@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
specify no files to delete.
If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
as it is deleted.
@item m
@cindex moving in archive
Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
than one member.
If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
specified place instead.
@item p
@cindex printing from archive
@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
name before copying its contents to standard output.
If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
printed.
@item q
@cindex quick append to archive
@emph{Quick append}; add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
@item r
@cindex replacement in archive
Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
added.
If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @code{ar}
displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
of the archive matching that name.
By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
placement relative to some existing member.
The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
deleted) or replaced.
@item t
@cindex contents of archive
Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
are listed.
@cindex repeated names in archive
@cindex name duplication in archive
If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
@c recent case in fact works the other way.
@item x
@cindex extract from archive
@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
are extracted.
@end table
A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
@table @code
@item a
@cindex relative placement in archive
Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
@var{archive} specification.
@item b
Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
@item c
@cindex creating archives
@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
using this modifier.
@item i
Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
@item l
This modifier is accepted but not used.
@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
@c what???---pesch@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
@item o
@cindex dates in archive
Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
are stamped with the time of extraction.
@item s
@cindex writing archive index
Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
@item u
@cindex updating an archive
Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
@item v
This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
@item V
This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
@end table
@node ar scripts
@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
@smallexample
ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
@end smallexample
@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
on any error.
The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
transition to GNU @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
@itemize @bullet
@item
commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
shown in upper case for clarity.
@item
a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
line.
@item
empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
@item
comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
or @samp{;} is ignored.
@item
Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
@item
@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
of the current command.
@end itemize
Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
archive.
@table @code
@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
@c else like "ar q..."
Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
@item CLEAR
Discard the contents of the current archive, cancelling the effect of
any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
effect) even if no current archive is specified.
@item CREATE @var{archive}
Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
output to that file.
@item END
Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
changes are lost.
@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
@ignore
@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
@item FULLDIR
@item HELP
@end ignore
@item LIST
Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
tv @var{archive}}). (This single command is a GNU @code{ld}
enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
@item OPEN @var{archive}
Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
the current archive, must exist.
Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
@item VERBOSE
Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
@item SAVE
Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
command.
Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
@end table
@iftex
@node ld
@chapter ld
@cindex linker
@kindex ld
The GNU linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the GNU linker}.
@end iftex
@node nm
@chapter nm
@cindex symbols
@kindex nm
@smallexample
nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
[ -B ] [ -C | --demangle ]
[ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
[ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
[ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
[ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
[ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
[ -V | --version ] [ --help ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
@end smallexample
GNU @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
@file{a.out}.
For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
@itemize @bullet
@item
The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
hexadecimal by default.
@item
The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
@c would be nice.
@table @code
@item A
Absolute.
@item B
BSS (uninitialized data).
@item C
Common.
@item D
Initialized data.
@item I
Indirect reference.
@item T
Text (program code).
@item U
Undefined.
@end table
@item
The symbol name.
@end itemize
The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
equivalent.
@table @code
@item -A
@itemx -o
@itemx --print-file-name
@cindex input file name
@cindex file name
@cindex source file name
Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
before all of its symbols.
@item -a
@itemx --debug-syms
@cindex debugging symbols
Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
listed.
@item -B
@cindex @code{nm} format
@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
The same as @samp{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @code{nm}).
@item -C
@itemx --demangle
@cindex demangling C++ symbols
Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
on demangling.
@item -f @var{format}
@itemx --format=@var{format}
@cindex @code{nm} format
@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
either upper or lower case.
@item -g
@itemx --extern-only
@cindex external symbols
Display only external symbols.
@item -n
@itemx -v
@itemx --numeric-sort
Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
by their names.
@item -p
@itemx --no-sort
@cindex sorting symbols
Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
encountered.
@item -P
@itemx --portability
Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
@item -s
@itemx --print-armap
@cindex symbol index, listing
When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
contain definitions for which names.
@item -r
@itemx --reverse-sort
Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
last come first.
@item -t @var{radix}
@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
@item --target=@var{bfdname}
@cindex object code format
Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -u
@itemx --undefined-only
@cindex external symbols
@cindex undefined symbols
Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
@item -V
@itemx --version
Show the version number of @code{nm} and exit.
@item --help
Show a summary of the options to @code{nm} and exit.
@end table
@node objcopy
@chapter objcopy
@smallexample
objcopy [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
[ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
[ -b @var{byte} | --byte=@var{byte} ] [ -v | --verbose ]
[ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
@var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
@end smallexample
The GNU @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object file to
another. @code{objcopy} uses the GNU BFD Library to read and write the
object files. It can write the destination object file in a format
different from that of the source object file. The exact behavior of
@code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses BFD to do all its
translation work; it knows about all the formats BFD knows about, and
thus is able to recognize most formats without being told explicitly.
@xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
@table @code
@item @var{infile}
@itemx @var{outfile}
The source and output files respectively.
If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
temporary file and destructively renames the result with
the name of the input file.
@item -I @var{bfdname}
@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -O @var{bfdname}
@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -F @var{bfdname}
@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -S
@itemx --strip-all
Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
@item -g
@itemx --strip-debug
Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
@item -x
@itemx --discard-all
Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
@item -X
@itemx --discard-locals
Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
@item -b @var{byte}
@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to 3. This option is
useful for creating files to program 4 ROMs to create 32-bit words. It
is typically used with an @code{srec} output target.
@item -V
@itemx --version
Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
@item -v
@itemx --verbose
Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
@item --help
Show a summary of the options to @code{objcopy}.
@end table
@node objdump
@chapter objdump
@cindex object file information
@kindex objdump
@smallexample
objdump [ -a | --archive-headers ] [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -d | --disassemble ] [ -f | --file-headers ]
[ -h | --section-headers | --headers ] [ -i | --info ]
[ -j @var{section} | --section=@var{section} ] [ -l | --line-numbers ]
[ -m @var{machine} | --architecture=@var{machine} ] [ -r | --reloc ]
[ -s | --full-contents ] [ --stabs ] [ -t | --syms ]
[ -x | --all-headers ] [ --version ] [ --help ]
@var{objfile}@dots{}
@end smallexample
@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
The options control what particular information to display. This
information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
program to compile and work.
@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
specify archives, @code{objdump} shows information on each of the member
object files.
The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-l} must be given.
@table @code
@item -a
@itemx --archive-header
@cindex archive headers
If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
the object file format of each archive member.
@item -b @var{bfdname}
@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
@cindex object code format
Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
automatically recognize many formats.
For example,
@example
objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
@end example
@noindent
displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -d
@itemx --disassemble
@cindex disassembling object code
@cindex machine instructions
Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine
instructions from @var{objfile}.
@item -f
@itemx --file-header
@cindex object file header
Display summary information from the overall header of
each of the @var{objfile} files.
@item -h
@itemx --section-header
@itemx --header
@cindex section headers
Display summary information from the section headers of the
object file.
File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
using the @samp{-Ttext}, @samp{-Tdata}, or @samp{-Tbss} options to
@code{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
although @code{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
target.
@item --help
Print a summary of the options to @code{objdump} and exit.
@item -i
@itemx --info
@cindex architectures available
@cindex object formats available
Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
@item -j @var{name}
@itemx --section=@var{name}
@cindex section information
Display information only for section @var{name}.
@item -l
@itemx --line-numbers
@cindex source filenames for object files
Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename
and source line numbers corresponding to the object code shown.
Only useful with @samp{-d}.
@item -m @var{machine}
@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
@cindex architecture
Specify that the object files @var{objfile} are for architecture
@var{machine}. You can list available architectures using the @samp{-i}
option.
@item -r
@itemx --reloc
@cindex relocation entries, in object file
Print the relocation entries of the file.
@item -s
@itemx --full-contents
@cindex sections, full contents
@cindex object file sections
Display the full contents of any sections requested.
@item --stabs
@cindex stab
@cindex .stab
@cindex debug symbols
@cindex ELF object file format
Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
output.
@item -t
@itemx --syms
@cindex symbol table entries, printing
Print the symbol table entries of the file.
This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
@item --version
Print the version number of @code{objdump} and exit.
@item -x
@itemx --all-header
@cindex all header information, object file
@cindex header information, all
Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
@end table
@node ranlib
@chapter ranlib
@kindex ranlib
@cindex archive contents
@cindex symbol index
@smallexample
ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
@end smallexample
@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
their placement in the archive.
The GNU @code{ranlib} program is another form of GNU @code{ar}; running
@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
@xref{ar}.
@table @code
@item -v
@itemx -V
Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
@end table
@node size
@chapter size
@kindex size
@cindex section sizes
@smallexample
size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
[ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
[ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
@var{objfile}@dots{}
@end smallexample
The GNU @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
object file or each module in an archive.
@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
The command line options have the following meanings:
@table @code
@item -A
@itemx -B
@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
@cindex @code{size} display format
Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from GNU
@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
Berkeley's.
@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
@code{size}:
@smallexample
size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
text data bss dec hex filename
294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
@end smallexample
@noindent
This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
@smallexample
size --format=SysV ranlib size
ranlib :
section size addr
.text 294880 8192
.data 81920 303104
.bss 11592 385024
Total 388392
size :
section size addr
.text 294880 8192
.data 81920 303104
.bss 11888 385024
Total 388688
@end smallexample
@item --help
Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
@item -d
@itemx -o
@itemx -x
@itemx --radix=@var{number}
@cindex @code{size} number format
@cindex radix for section sizes
Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
@item --target=@var{bfdname}
@cindex object code format
Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
automatically recognize many formats.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -V
@itemx --version
Display the version number of @code{size}.
@end table
@node strings
@chapter strings
@kindex strings
@cindex listings strings
@cindex printing strings
@cindex strings, printing
@smallexample
strings [-afov] [-@var{min-len}] [-n @var{min-len}] [-t @var{radix}] [-]
[--all] [--print-file-name] [--bytes=@var{min-len}]
[--radix=@var{radix}] [--target=@var{bfdname}]
[--help] [--version] @var{file}@dots{}
@end smallexample
For each @var{file} given, GNU @code{strings} prints the printable
character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
given with the options below) and are followed by a NUL or newline
character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
data sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints the
strings from the whole file.
@code{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
files.
@table @code
@item -a
@itemx --all
@itemx -
Do not scan only the initialized data section of object files; scan
the whole files.
@item -f
@itemx --print-file-name
Print the name of the file before each string.
@item --help
Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
@itemx -@var{min-len}
@item -n @var{min-len}
@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
long, instead of the default 4.
@item -o
Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @code{strings} have @samp{-o}
act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
ways, we simply chose one.
@item -t @var{radix}
@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
@item --target=@var{bfdname}
@cindex object code format
Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -v
@itemx --version
Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
@end table
@node strip
@chapter strip
@kindex strip
@cindex removing symbols
@cindex discarding symbols
@cindex symbols, discarding
@smallexample
strip [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
[ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
[ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
@var{objfile}@dots{}
@end smallexample
GNU @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
At least one object file must be given.
@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
rather than writing modified copies under different names.
@table @code
@item -F @var{bfdname}
@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item --help
Show a summary of the options to @code{strip} and exit.
@item -I @var{bfdname}
@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
code format @var{bfdname}.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -O @var{bfdname}
@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -s
@itemx --strip-all
Remove all symbols.
@item -g
@itemx -S
@itemx --strip-debug
Remove debugging symbols only.
@item -x
@itemx --discard-all
Remove non-global symbols.
@item -X
@itemx --discard-locals
Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
@item -V
@itemx --version
Show the version number for @code{strip}.
@item -v
@itemx --verbose
Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
@end table
@node c++filt
@chapter c++filt
@kindex c++filt
@cindex demangling C++ symbols
@smallexample
c++filt [ -_ | --strip-underscores ]
[ -s @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
[ --help ] [ --version ] [ @var{symbol}@dots{} ]
@end smallexample
The C++ language provides function overloading, which means that you can
write many functions with the same name (providing each takes parameters
of different types). All C++ function names are encoded into a
low-level assembly label (this process is known as
@dfn{mangling}). The @code{c++filt} program does the inverse mapping: it
decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level names into user-level names so that
the linker can keep these overloaded functions from clashing.
Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
name in the output.
You can use @code{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
@example
c++filt @var{symbol}
@end example
If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @code{c++filt} reads symbol
names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
@table @code
@item -_
@itemx --strip-underscores
On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore.
@item -s @var{format}
@itemx --format=@var{format}
GNU @code{nm} can decode three different methods of mangling, used by
different C++ compilers. The argument to this option selects which
method it uses:
@table @code
@item gnu
the one used by the GNU compiler (the default method)
@item lucid
the one used by the Lucid compiler
@item arm
the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
@end table
@item --help
Print a summary of the options to @code{c++filt} and exit.
@item --version
Print the version number of @code{c++filt} and exit.
@end table
@quotation
@emph{Warning:} @code{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
@example
c++filt @var{symbol}
@end example
@noindent
may in a future release become
@example
c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
@end example
@end quotation
@node nlmconv
@chapter nlmconv
@code{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
Loadable Module. @code{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
@code{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
with the above formats.}.
@quotation
@emph{Warning:} @code{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
@end quotation
@smallexample
nlmconv [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
[ -T @var{headerfile} | --header-file=@var{headerfile} ]
[ -h | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
@var{infile} @var{outfile}
@end smallexample
@code{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
@code{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
@var{infile}; see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for
more information.
@table @code
@item -I @var{bfdname}
@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
Object format of the input file. @code{nlmconv} can usually determine
the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -O @var{bfdname}
@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
Object format of the output file. @code{nlmconv} infers the output
format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
@item -T @var{headerfile}
@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
from Novell, Inc.
@item -h
@itemx --help
Prints a usage summary.
@item -V
@itemx --version
Prints the version number for @code{nlmconv}.
@end table
@node Selecting The Target System
@chapter Selecting the target system
You can specify three aspects of the target system to the GNU binary
file utilities, each in several ways. The three aspects of the target
system that you can specify are
@itemize @bullet
@item
the target,
@item
the architecture, and
@item
the linker emulation (which applies to the linker only).
@end itemize
In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
order of decreasing precedence. In other words, the ways listed earlier
override the ways listed later.
The commands to list valid values only list the values that the programs
you are running were configured for. If they were configured with
@samp{--with-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
once because some of them can only be compiled ``native'' (on hosts with
the same type as the target system).
@menu
* Target Selection::
* Architecture Selection::
* Linker Emulation Selection::
@end menu
@node Target Selection
@section Target selection
A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
It may also have variations for different operating systems or architectures.
Command to list valid values: @samp{objdump -i} (first column).
Sample values: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips}, @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
@menu
* objdump Target::
* objcopy strip Input Target::
* objcopy strip Output Target::
* nm size strings Target::
* Linker Input Target::
* Linker Output Target::
@end menu
@node objdump Target
@subsection @code{objdump} target
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{-b}, @samp{--target}
@item
environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
@item
deduced from the input file
@end enumerate
@node objcopy strip Input Target
@subsection @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} input target
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{-I}, @samp{--input-target}, @samp{-F}, @samp{--target}
@item
environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
@item
deduced from the input file
@end enumerate
@node objcopy strip Output Target
@subsection @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} output target
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{-O}, @samp{-F}, @samp{--output-target}, @samp{--target}
@item
the input target (@pxref{objcopy strip Input Target})
@item
environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
@item
deduced from the input file
@end enumerate
@node nm size strings Target
@subsection @code{nm}, @code{size}, and @code{strings} target
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{--target}
@item
environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
@item
deduced from the input file
@end enumerate
@node Linker Input Target
@subsection Linker input target
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{-b}, @samp{-format}
(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
@item
script command @code{TARGET}
(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
@item
environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
(@pxref{Environment,,Environment,ld.info,Using LD})
@item
the default target of the selected linker emulation
(@pxref{Linker Emulation Selection})
@end enumerate
@node Linker Output Target
@subsection Linker output target
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{-oformat}
(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
@item
script command @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
@item
the linker input target (@pxref{Linker Input Target})
@end enumerate
@node Architecture Selection
@section Architecture selection
An @dfn{architecture} is a type of CPU on which an object file is to
run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
processor family from the name of the particular CPU.
Command to list valid values: @samp{objdump -i} (second column).
Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
@menu
* objdump Architecture::
* objcopy nm size strings Architecture::
* Linker Input Architecture::
* Linker Output Architecture::
@end menu
@node objdump Architecture
@subsection @code{objdump} architecture
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{-m}, @samp{--architecture}
@item
deduced from the input file
@end enumerate
@node objcopy nm size strings Architecture
@subsection @code{objcopy}, @code{nm}, @code{size}, @code{strings} architecture
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
deduced from the input file
@end enumerate
@node Linker Input Architecture
@subsection Linker input architecture
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
deduced from the input file
@end enumerate
@node Linker Output Architecture
@subsection Linker output architecture
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
script command @code{OUTPUT_ARCH}
(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
@item
the default architecture from the linker output target
(@pxref{Linker Output Target})
@end enumerate
@node Linker Emulation Selection
@section Linker emulation selection
A linker @dfn{emulation} is a ``personality'' of the linker, which gives
the linker default values for the other aspects of the target system.
In particular, it consists of
@itemize @bullet
@item
the linker script,
@item
the target, and
@item
several ``hook'' functions that are run at certain stages of the linking
process to do special things that some targets require.
@end itemize
Command to list valid values: @samp{ld -V}.
Sample values: @samp{hp300bsd}, @samp{mipslit}, @samp{sun4}.
Ways to specify:
@enumerate
@item
command line option @samp{-m}
(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
@item
environment variable @code{LDEMULATION}
@item
compiled-in @code{DEFAULT_EMULATION} from @file{Makefile},
which comes from @code{EMUL} in @file{config/@var{target}.mt}
@end enumerate
@node Index
@unnumbered Index
@printindex cp
@contents
@bye
|