Improve error messages.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / binutils.texi
CommitLineData
765a273f 1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
c72af735
RP
2@setfilename binutils.info
3
9abcc3b8
RP
4@ifinfo
5@format
6START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
df14d957 7* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
e31e9a8d 8 "objdump", "nm", "size", "strip", and "ranlib".
9abcc3b8
RP
9END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
10@end format
11@end ifinfo
c72af735 12
8b2c2275 13@ifinfo
e32341a7 14Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8b2c2275
RP
15
16Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
17this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
18are preserved on all copies.
19
20@ignore
21Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
22results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
23notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
24(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
25
26@end ignore
27
28Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
29manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
30the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
31permission notice identical to this one.
32
33Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
34into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
35@end ifinfo
36
c72af735
RP
37@synindex ky cp
38@c
df14d957
ILT
39@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
40@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strip", and "ranlib".
c72af735 41@c
e32341a7 42@c Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
c72af735
RP
43@c
44@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
45@c General Public License.
46@c
27e94bd5 47
c72af735
RP
48@setchapternewpage odd
49@settitle GNU Binary Utilities
27e94bd5
RP
50@c @smallbook
51@c @cropmarks
4928b97b
RP
52@titlepage
53@finalout
c72af735 54@title The GNU Binary Utilities
b6216af2 55@subtitle Version 2.2
c72af735 56@sp 1
e32341a7 57@subtitle May 1993
c72af735
RP
58@author Roland H. Pesch
59@author Cygnus Support
60@page
61
62@tex
63\def\$#1${{#1}} % Kluge: collect RCS revision info without $...$
64\xdef\manvers{\$Revision$} % For use in headers, footers too
65{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill \manvers\par \hfill
66\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
67@end tex
68
69@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
e32341a7 70Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
c72af735
RP
71
72Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
73this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
74are preserved on all copies.
75
76Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
77manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
78the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
79permission notice identical to this one.
80
81Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
82into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
83@end titlepage
84
85@node Top, ar, (dir), (dir)
86@chapter Introduction
87
88@cindex version
89This brief manual contains preliminary documentation for the GNU binary
b6216af2 90utilities (collectively version 2.2):
8b2c2275
RP
91
92@iftex
c72af735
RP
93@table @code
94@item ar
95Create, modify, and extract from archives
96
df14d957 97@item objcopy
e31e9a8d
JO
98Copy and translate object files
99
c72af735
RP
100@item nm
101List symbols from object files
102
103@item objdump
104Display information from object files
105
106@item ranlib
107Generate index to archive contents
108
109@item size
110List section sizes and total size
111
112@item strip
113Discard symbols
114@end table
8b2c2275 115@end iftex
c72af735
RP
116
117@menu
8b2c2275 118* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
df14d957 119* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
8b2c2275
RP
120* ld:(ld)Overview. Combine object and archive files
121* nm:: List symbols from object files
122* objdump:: Display information from object files
123* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
124* size:: List section sizes and total size
125* strip:: Discard symbols
b6216af2 126* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
8b2c2275 127* Index::
c72af735
RP
128@end menu
129
df14d957 130@node ar, objcopy, Top, Top
c72af735
RP
131@chapter ar
132
133@kindex ar
134@cindex archives
135@cindex collections of files
136@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
DM
137ar [-]@var{p}@var{mod} [ @var{membername} ] @var{archive} @var{file}@dots{}
138ar -M [ <mri-script ]
c72af735
RP
139@end smallexample
140
141The GNU @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
142archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
143other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
144the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
145
146The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
ec40bbb8 147group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
c72af735
RP
148extraction.
149
150@cindex name length
151GNU @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
152length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
ec40bbb8
DM
153system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
154with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
c72af735
RP
155limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
156characters (typical of formats related to coff).
157
158@cindex libraries
159@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
160are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
161subroutines.
162
163@cindex symbol index
e31e9a8d 164@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
c72af735
RP
165object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
166Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
167makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
168An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
169allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
170their placement in the archive.
171
918c2f61 172You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
c72af735
RP
173table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
174@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
175
765a273f
RP
176@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
177@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
178GNU @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
179facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
180like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
181specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
182with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
183program.
184
185@menu
186* ar-cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
187* ar-scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
188@end menu
189
190@page
191@node ar-cmdline, ar-scripts, ar, ar
192@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
193
194@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 195ar [-]@var{p}@var{mod} [ @var{membername} ] @var{archive} @var{file}@dots{}
765a273f
RP
196@end smallexample
197
198@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
199When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
200arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
201(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
202@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
c72af735 203
ec40bbb8 204Most operations can also accept further @var{file} arguments,
c72af735
RP
205specifying particular files to operate on.
206
207GNU @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
208flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
209
210If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
211dash.
212
213@cindex operations on archive
214The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
215any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
216
217@table @code
218@item d
219@cindex deleting from archive
220@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
b703c078 221be deleted as @var{file}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
c72af735
RP
222specify no files to delete.
223
e31e9a8d 224If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
c72af735
RP
225as it is deleted.
226
227@item m
228@cindex moving in archive
229Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
230
231The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
232programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
233than one member.
234
235If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
ec40bbb8 236@var{file} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
c72af735
RP
237you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
238specified place instead.
239
240@item p
241@cindex printing from archive
242@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
243output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
244name before copying its contents to standard output.
245
ec40bbb8
DM
246If you specify no @var{file} arguments, all the files in the archive are
247printed.
c72af735
RP
248
249@item q
250@cindex quick append to archive
b703c078 251@emph{Quick append}; add the files @var{file}@dots{} to the end of
ec40bbb8 252@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
c72af735
RP
253
254The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
255operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
256
257The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
258
259Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
260index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
261@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
262
263@item r
264@cindex replacement in archive
b703c078 265Insert the files @var{file}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
ec40bbb8
DM
266@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
267previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
268added.
c72af735 269
b703c078 270If one of the files named in @var{file}@dots{} doesn't exist, @code{ar}
c72af735
RP
271displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
272of the archive matching that name.
273
274By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
275use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
276placement relative to some existing member.
277
278The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
279output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
280@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
281deleted) or replaced.
282
283@item t
284@cindex contents of archive
285Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
b703c078 286of the files listed in @var{file}@dots{} that are present in the
c72af735
RP
287archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
288see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
289request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
290
ec40bbb8 291If you do not specify a @var{file}, all files in the archive
c72af735
RP
292are listed.
293
294@cindex repeated names in archive
295@cindex name duplication in archive
296If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
e31e9a8d 297an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
c72af735
RP
298first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
299listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
300@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
301@c recent case in fact works the other way.
302
303@item x
304@cindex extract from archive
ec40bbb8 305@emph{Extract} members (named @var{file}) from the archive. You can
c72af735
RP
306use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
307@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
308
ec40bbb8 309If you do not specify a @var{file}, all files in the archive
c72af735
RP
310are extracted.
311
312@end table
313
314A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
315keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
316
317@table @code
318@item a
319@cindex relative placement in archive
320Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 321archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
c72af735
RP
322member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
323@var{archive} specification.
324
325@item b
326Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 327archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
c72af735
RP
328member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
329@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
330
331@item c
332@cindex creating archives
333@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
334created if it didn't exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
335issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
336using this modifier.
337
338@item i
339Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 340archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
c72af735
RP
341member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
342@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
343
344@item l
345This modifier is accepted but not used.
346@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
347@c what???---pesch@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
348
349@item o
350@cindex dates in archive
351Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
352you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
e31e9a8d 353are stamped with the time of extraction.
c72af735
RP
354
355@item s
356@cindex writing archive index
357Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
358even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
359flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
360archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
361
362@item u
363@cindex updating an archive
b703c078 364Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
c72af735
RP
365listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
366of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
367names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
368operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
369not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
370advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
371
372@item v
373This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
374operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
375when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
4d9b5d5a
DM
376
377@item V
378This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
765a273f
RP
379@end table
380
381@node ar-scripts, , ar-cmdline, ar
382@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
383
384@smallexample
385ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
386@end smallexample
387
388@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
389@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
390If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
391can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
e31e9a8d 392form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
765a273f
RP
393directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
394input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
395errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
e31e9a8d 396issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
765a273f
RP
397on any error.
398
399The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
400to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
401over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
402transition to GNU @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
403written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
404
405The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
406@itemize @bullet
407@item
408commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
409is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
410shown in upper case for clarity.
411
412@item
413a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
414line.
415
416@item
417empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
418
419@item
420comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
421or @samp{;} is ignored.
422
423@item
424Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
425command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
426blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
427
428@item
429@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
430at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
431of the current command.
432@end itemize
433
434Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
435@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
436
437@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
438a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
439
440@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
441to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
442archive.
443
444@table @code
445@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
446@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
447Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
448@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
449
450Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
451
452@item ADDMOD @var{file}, @var{file}, @dots{} @var{file}
453@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
454@c else like "ar q..."
455Add each named @var{file} as a module in the current archive.
456
457Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
458
459@item CLEAR
460Discard the contents of the current archive, cancelling the effect of
461any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
462effect) even if no current archive is specified.
463
464@item CREATE @var{archive}
465Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
466other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
467is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
468You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
469existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
470
471@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
472Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
473@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
474
475Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
476
477@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
478@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
479List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
480command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
481output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
b703c078
DM
482@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
483@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
765a273f
RP
484
485Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
486specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
487output to that file.
488
489@item END
490Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
491completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
492changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
493changes are lost.
494
495@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
496Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
497into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
b703c078 498@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
765a273f
RP
499
500Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
501
502@ignore
503@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
504@item FULLDIR
505
506@item HELP
507@end ignore
508
509@item LIST
510Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
511regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
512tv @var{archive}}). (This single command is a GNU @code{ld}
513enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
514
515Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
516
517@item OPEN @var{archive}
518Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
519many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
520will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
521
522@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
523In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
524the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
525To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
526the current archive, must exist.
527
528Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
529
530@item VERBOSE
531Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
532When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
b703c078 533@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
765a273f
RP
534
535@item SAVE
536Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
537file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
538command.
539
540Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
c72af735
RP
541
542@end table
543
df14d957
ILT
544@node objcopy, nm, ar, Top
545@chapter objcopy
e31e9a8d
JO
546
547@smallexample
df14d957
ILT
548objcopy [ -F @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
549 [ -I @var{format} | --input-format=@var{format} ]
550 [ -O @var{format} | --output-format=@var{format} ]
551 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
552 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
553 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ]
554 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
e31e9a8d
JO
555@end smallexample
556
df14d957
ILT
557The GNU @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object file to
558another. @code{objcopy} uses the GNU BFD Library to read and write the
918c2f61
PB
559object files. It can write the destination object file in a format
560different from that of the source object file. The exact behavior of
df14d957 561@code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
e31e9a8d 562
df14d957
ILT
563@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
564deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses BFD to do all its
e31e9a8d
JO
565translation work; it knows about all the formats BFD knows about, and
566thus is able to recognize most formats without being told explicitly.
567@xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD, the GNU linker}.
568
569@table @code
918c2f61
PB
570@item @var{infile}
571@itemx @var{outfile}
572The source and output files respectively.
df14d957 573If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
918c2f61
PB
574temporary file and destructively renames the result with
575the name of the input file.
576
577@item -I @var{format}
578@itemx --input-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 579Consider the source file's object format to be @var{format}, rather than
918c2f61
PB
580attempting to deduce it.
581
582@item -O @var{format}
583@itemx --output-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 584Write the output file using the object format @var{format}.
918c2f61
PB
585
586@item -F @var{format}
587@itemx --format=@var{format}
588Use @var{format} as the object format for both the input and the output
589file; i.e. simply transfer data from source to destination with no
590translation.
e31e9a8d 591
918c2f61
PB
592@item -S
593@itemx --strip-all
594Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
e31e9a8d 595
918c2f61
PB
596@item -g
597@itemx --strip-debug
598Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
e31e9a8d 599
918c2f61
PB
600@item -x
601@itemx --discard-all
602Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
603@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
e31e9a8d 604
918c2f61
PB
605@item -X
606@itemx --discard-locals
607Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
608(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
e31e9a8d
JO
609
610@item -V
918c2f61 611@itemx --version
df14d957 612Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
e31e9a8d 613
918c2f61
PB
614@item -v
615@itemx --verbose
616Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
df14d957 617archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
e31e9a8d
JO
618@end table
619
8b2c2275
RP
620@iftex
621@node ld
c72af735
RP
622@chapter ld
623@cindex linker
624@kindex ld
625The GNU linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
27e94bd5 626@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the GNU linker}.
8b2c2275 627@end iftex
c72af735 628
df14d957 629@node nm, objdump, objcopy, Top
c72af735
RP
630@chapter nm
631@cindex symbols
632@kindex nm
633
634@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
DM
635nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
636 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -o | --print-file-name ]
637 [ -n | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
638 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
639 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ]
640 [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
c72af735
RP
641@end smallexample
642
b703c078 643GNU @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
c72af735
RP
644
645The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
646equivalent.
647
648@table @code
b703c078 649@item @var{objfile}@dots{}
c72af735
RP
650@kindex a.out
651Object files whose symbols are to be listed. If no object files are
652listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes @samp{a.out}.
653
654@item -a
918c2f61 655@itemx --debug-syms
c72af735
RP
656@cindex debugging symbols
657Display debugger-only symbols; normally these are not listed.
658
659@item -g
918c2f61 660@itemx --extern-only
c72af735
RP
661@cindex external symbols
662Display only external symbols.
663
664@item -p
918c2f61 665@itemx --no-sort
c72af735
RP
666@cindex sorting symbols
667Don't bother to sort the symbols in any order; just print them in the
668order encountered.
669
670@item -n
918c2f61 671@itemx --numeric-sort
ec40bbb8
DM
672Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
673by their names.
c72af735
RP
674
675@item -s
918c2f61 676@itemx --print-armap
c72af735
RP
677@cindex symbol index, listing
678When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
ec40bbb8
DM
679(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
680contain definitions for which names.
c72af735
RP
681
682@item -o
918c2f61 683@itemx --print-file-name
c72af735
RP
684@cindex input file name
685@cindex file name
686@cindex source file name
687Precede each symbol by the name of the input file where it was found,
688rather than identifying the input file once only before all of its
689symbols.
690
691@item -r
918c2f61 692@itemx --reverse-sort
ec40bbb8 693Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
c72af735
RP
694last come first.
695
ec40bbb8 696@item --target=@var{bfdname}
918c2f61 697@c @item --target
c72af735
RP
698@cindex object code format
699Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
700@xref{objdump}, for information on listing available formats.
918c2f61 701@c FIXME what *does* --target/no arg do?
c72af735
RP
702
703@item -u
918c2f61 704@itemx --undefined-only
c72af735
RP
705@cindex external symbols
706@cindex undefined symbols
707Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
708
709@end table
710
711@node objdump, ranlib, nm, Top
712@chapter objdump
713
714@cindex object file information
715@kindex objdump
716
717@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
DM
718objdump [ -a ] [ -b @var{bfdname} ] [ -d ] [ -f ]
719 [ -h | --header ] [ -i ] [ -j @var{section} ] [ -l ]
720 [ -m @var{machine} ] [ -r | --reloc ] [ -s ]
721 [ --stabs ] [ -t | --syms ] [ -x ]
722 @var{objfile}@dots{}
c72af735
RP
723@end smallexample
724
725@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
726The options control what particular information to display. This
727information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
728compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
729program to compile and work.
730
731The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
732equivalent.
733
734@table @code
b703c078 735@item @var{objfile}@dots{}
c72af735
RP
736The object files to be examined. When you specify archives,
737@code{objdump} shows information on each of the member object files.
738
739@item -a
740@c print_arelt_descr
741@cindex archive headers
ec40bbb8 742If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
c72af735
RP
743header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
744information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
745the object file format of each archive member.
746
c5f0c938 747@c suggest longname --target or --format or --bfd
c72af735
RP
748@item -b @var{bfdname}
749@cindex object code format
ec40bbb8
DM
750Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
751@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
752automatically recognize many formats.
753
754For example,
c72af735
RP
755@example
756objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
757@end example
758@noindent
ec40bbb8
DM
759displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
760@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
c72af735
RP
761file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
762formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
763
764@item -d
765@cindex disassembling object code
766@cindex machine instructions
767Disassemble. Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine
ec40bbb8 768instructions from @var{objfile}.
c72af735
RP
769
770@item -f
771@cindex object file header
772File header. Display summary information from the overall header of
ec40bbb8 773each of the @var{objfile} files.
c72af735
RP
774
775@item -h
c5f0c938 776@itemx --header
c72af735
RP
777@cindex section headers
778Header. Display summary information from the section headers of the
779object file.
780
781@item -i
782@cindex architectures available
783@cindex object formats available
784Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
ec40bbb8 785for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
c72af735 786
c5f0c938 787@c suggest longname --section
c72af735
RP
788@item -j @var{name}
789@cindex section information
ec40bbb8 790Display information only for section @var{name}.
c72af735 791
c5f0c938 792@c suggest longname --label or --linespec
c72af735
RP
793@item -l
794@cindex source filenames for object files
795Label the display (using debugging information) with the source filename
796and line numbers corresponding to the object code shown.
797
c5f0c938 798@c suggest longname --architecture
c72af735
RP
799@item -m @var{machine}
800@cindex architecture
ec40bbb8 801Specify that the object files @var{objfile} are for architecture
c72af735
RP
802@var{machine}. You can list available architectures using the @samp{-i}
803option.
804
805@item -r
c5f0c938 806@itemx --reloc
c72af735
RP
807@cindex relocation entries, in object file
808Relocation. Print the relocation entries of the file.
809
810@item -s
811@cindex sections, full contents
812@cindex object file sections
813Display the full contents of any sections requested.
814
c5f0c938
JG
815@item --stabs
816@cindex stab
817@cindex .stab
818@cindex debug symbols
819@cindex ELF object file format
c3c93fda
JG
820Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
821contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
822ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
823@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
824section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
c5f0c938
JG
825interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
826output.
827
c72af735 828@item -t
c5f0c938 829@itemx --syms
c72af735
RP
830@cindex symbol table entries, printing
831Symbol Table. Print the symbol table entries of the file.
832This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
833
834@item -x
835@cindex all header information, object file
836@cindex header information, all
837Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
838relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
839@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
840
841@end table
842
843@node ranlib, size, objdump, Top
844@chapter ranlib
845
846@kindex ranlib
847@cindex archive contents
848@cindex symbol index
849
850@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 851ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
c72af735
RP
852@end smallexample
853
ec40bbb8 854@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
c72af735
RP
855stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
856member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
857
918c2f61 858You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
c72af735 859
ec40bbb8 860An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
c72af735
RP
861allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
862their placement in the archive.
863
864The GNU @code{ranlib} program is another form of GNU @code{ar}; running
865@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
866@xref{ar}.
867
4d9b5d5a
DM
868@table @code
869@item -v
870@itemx -V
871Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
c3f471a4 872@end table
4d9b5d5a 873
c72af735
RP
874@node size, strip, ranlib, Top
875@chapter size
876
877@kindex size
878@cindex section sizes
879
880@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
DM
881size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
882 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
883 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
884 @var{objfile}@dots{}
c72af735
RP
885@end smallexample
886
887The GNU @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
ec40bbb8
DM
888size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
889argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
890object file or each module in an archive.
c72af735
RP
891
892The command line options have the following meanings:
893@table @code
b703c078 894@item @var{objfile}@dots{}
c72af735
RP
895The object files to be examined.
896
897@item -A
898@itemx -B
ec40bbb8 899@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
c72af735
RP
900@cindex size display format
901Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from GNU
902@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
ec40bbb8
DM
903or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
904@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
c72af735 905Berkeley's.
918c2f61
PB
906@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
907@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
c72af735
RP
908@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
909
910Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
911@code{size}:
912@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 913size --format Berkeley ranlib size
c72af735
RP
914text data bss dec hex filename
915294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
916294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
917@end smallexample
918
919@noindent
920This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
921
922@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 923size --format SysV ranlib size
c72af735
RP
924ranlib :
925section size addr
926.text 294880 8192
927.data 81920 303104
928.bss 11592 385024
929Total 388392
930
931
932size :
933section size addr
934.text 294880 8192
935.data 81920 303104
936.bss 11888 385024
937Total 388688
938@end smallexample
939
918c2f61 940@item --help
c72af735
RP
941Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
942
943@item -d
944@itemx -o
945@itemx -x
ec40bbb8 946@itemx --radix=@var{number}
c72af735
RP
947@cindex size number format
948@cindex radix for section sizes
949Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
ec40bbb8
DM
950section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
951(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
952@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
c72af735
RP
953values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
954radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
955octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
956
ec40bbb8 957@item --target=@var{bfdname}
c72af735 958@cindex object code format
ec40bbb8
DM
959Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
960@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
c72af735
RP
961automatically recognize many formats. @xref{objdump}, for information
962on listing available formats.
963
964@item -V
918c2f61 965@itemx --version
4d9b5d5a 966Display the version number of @code{size}.
c72af735
RP
967@end table
968
b6216af2 969@node strip, c++filt, size, Top
c72af735
RP
970@chapter strip
971
972@kindex strip
973@cindex removing symbols
974@cindex discarding symbols
1815e42c 975@cindex symbols, discarding
c72af735
RP
976
977@smallexample
b703c078
DM
978strip [ -F @var{format} | --format=@var{format} | --target=@var{format} ]
979 [ -I @var{format} | --input-format=@var{format} ]
980 [ -O @var{format} | --output-format=@var{format} ]
981 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
982 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
918c2f61 983 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ]
b703c078 984 @var{objfile}@dots{}
c72af735
RP
985@end smallexample
986
e31e9a8d 987GNU @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
ec40bbb8 988@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
c72af735
RP
989
990@code{strip} will not execute unless at least one object file is listed.
991
ec40bbb8 992@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
c72af735 993rather than writing modified copies under different names.
c72af735 994
c72af735 995@table @code
918c2f61
PB
996@item -I @var{format}
997@itemx --input-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8
DM
998Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
999code format @var{format}.
918c2f61
PB
1000
1001@item -O @var{format}
1002@itemx --output-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 1003Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{format}.
918c2f61
PB
1004
1005@item -F @var{format}
1006@itemx --format=@var{format}
b703c078 1007@itemx --target=@var{format}
ec40bbb8
DM
1008Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1009code format @var{format}, and rewrite it in the same format.
918c2f61 1010
b703c078
DM
1011@item -s
1012@itemx --strip-all
1013Remove all symbols.
1014
918c2f61
PB
1015@item -g
1016@itemx -S
1017@itemx --strip-debug
1018Remove debugging symbols only.
1019
1020@item -x
1021@itemx --discard-all
1022Remove non-global symbols.
1023
1024@item -X
1025@itemx --discard-locals
1026Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
ec40bbb8 1027(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
918c2f61
PB
1028
1029@item -V
1030@itemx --version
ec40bbb8 1031Show the version number for @code{strip}.
918c2f61 1032
1815e42c 1033@item -v
918c2f61
PB
1034@itemx --verbose
1035Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1269d441 1036archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
c72af735
RP
1037@end table
1038
b6216af2
PB
1039@node c++filt, Index, strip, Top
1040@chapter c++filt
1041
1042@kindex c++filt
1043@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1044
1045The C++ language provides function overloading, which means that
e32341a7 1046you can write many function with the same name (but taking
b6216af2
PB
1047different kinds of parameters). So that the linker can keep these
1048overloaded functions from clashing, all C++ function names are
e32341a7 1049encoded (``mangled'') into a funny-looking low-level assembly label.
b6216af2 1050The @code{c++filt} program does the inverse mapping: It decodes
e32341a7 1051(``demangles'') low-level names into user-level names.
b6216af2 1052
e32341a7 1053When you use @code{c++filt} as a filter (which is usually the case),
b6216af2
PB
1054it reads from standard input. Every alphanumeric word (consisting
1055of letters, digits, underscores, dollars, or periods) seen in the
1056input is a potential label. If the label decodes into a C++ name.
1057the C++ name will replace the low-level name in the output.
1058
1059A typical use of @code{c++filt} is to pipe the output of @code{nm}
1060though it.
1061
e32341a7
RP
1062Note that on some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an
1063underscore in front of every name. (I.e. the C name @code{foo} gets the
1064low-level name @code{_foo}.) On such systems, @code{c++filt} removes
1065any initial underscore of a potential label.
b6216af2
PB
1066
1067@node Index, , c++filt, Top
c72af735
RP
1068@unnumbered Index
1069
1070@printindex cp
1071
1072@contents
1073@bye
This page took 0.10041 seconds and 4 git commands to generate.