1999-09-12 Donn Terry <donn@interix.com>
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / binutils.texi
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1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
3@include config.texi
4
5@ifinfo
6@format
7START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
ad0481cd
AS
8* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
9* ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives
10* nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files
11* objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files
12* objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files
13* ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents
14* readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
15* size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size
16* strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files
17* strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols
18* c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
19* cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
20* addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line
21* nlmconv: (binutils)nlmconv. Converts object code into an NLM
22* windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources
23* dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs
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24END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
25@end format
26@end ifinfo
27
28@ifinfo
29Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
30
31Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
32this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
33are preserved on all copies.
34
35@ignore
36Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
37results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
38notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
39(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
40
41@end ignore
42
43Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
44manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
45the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
46permission notice identical to this one.
47
48Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
49into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
50@end ifinfo
51
52@synindex ky cp
53@c
54@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
55@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", "readelf" and "ranlib".
56@c
57@c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
58@c
59@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
60@c General Public License.
61@c
62
63@setchapternewpage odd
64@settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
65@titlepage
66@finalout
67@title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
68@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
69@sp 1
70@subtitle May 1993
71@author Roland H. Pesch
72@author Jeffrey M. Osier
73@author Cygnus Support
74@page
75
76@tex
77{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
78\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
79@end tex
80
81@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
82Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
83
84Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
85this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
86are preserved on all copies.
87
88Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
89manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
90the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
91permission notice identical to this one.
92
93Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
94into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
95@end titlepage
96
97@node Top
98@top Introduction
99
100@cindex version
101This brief manual contains preliminary documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
102utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
103
104@iftex
105@table @code
106@item ar
107Create, modify, and extract from archives
108
109@item nm
110List symbols from object files
111
112@item objcopy
113Copy and translate object files
114
115@item objdump
116Display information from object files
117
118@item ranlib
119Generate index to archive contents
120
121@item readelf
122Display the contents of ELF format files.
123
124@item size
125List file section sizes and total size
126
127@item strings
128List printable strings from files
129
130@item strip
131Discard symbols
132
133@item c++filt
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134Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
135@code{cxxfilt})
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136
137@item addr2line
138Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
139
140@item nlmconv
141Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
142
143@item windres
144Manipulate Windows resources
145
146@item dlltool
147Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
148@end table
149@end iftex
150
151@menu
152* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
153* nm:: List symbols from object files
154* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
155* objdump:: Display information from object files
156* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
157* readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files.
158* size:: List section sizes and total size
159* strings:: List printable strings from files
160* strip:: Discard symbols
161* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
9d51cc66 162* cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
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163* addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
164* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
165* windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
166* dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
167* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
168* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
169* Index:: Index
170@end menu
171
172@node ar
173@chapter ar
174
175@kindex ar
176@cindex archives
177@cindex collections of files
178@smallexample
3de39064 179ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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180ar -M [ <mri-script ]
181@end smallexample
182
183The @sc{gnu} @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
184archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
185other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
186the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
187
188The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
189group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
190extraction.
191
192@cindex name length
193@sc{gnu} @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
194length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
195system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
196with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
197limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
198characters (typical of formats related to coff).
199
200@cindex libraries
201@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
202are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
203subroutines.
204
205@cindex symbol index
206@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
207object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
208Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
209makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
210An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
211allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
212their placement in the archive.
213
214You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
215table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
216@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
217
218@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
219@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
220@sc{gnu} @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
221facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
222like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
223specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
224with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
225program.
226
227@menu
228* ar cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
229* ar scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
230@end menu
231
232@page
233@node ar cmdline
234@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
235
236@smallexample
3de39064 237ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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238@end smallexample
239
240@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
241When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
242arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
243(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
244@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
245
246Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
247specifying particular files to operate on.
248
249@sc{gnu} @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
250flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
251
252If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
253dash.
254
255@cindex operations on archive
256The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
257any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
258
259@table @code
260@item d
261@cindex deleting from archive
262@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
263be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
264specify no files to delete.
265
266If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
267as it is deleted.
268
269@item m
270@cindex moving in archive
271Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
272
273The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
274programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
275than one member.
276
277If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
278@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
279you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
280specified place instead.
281
282@item p
283@cindex printing from archive
284@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
285output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
286name before copying its contents to standard output.
287
288If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
289printed.
290
291@item q
292@cindex quick append to archive
293@emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
294@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
295
296The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
297operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
298
299The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
300
301Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
302index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
303@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
304
305However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
306index, so GNU ar implements @code{q} as a synonym for @code{r}.
307
308@item r
309@cindex replacement in archive
310Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
311@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
312previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
313added.
314
315If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @code{ar}
316displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
317of the archive matching that name.
318
319By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
320use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
321placement relative to some existing member.
322
323The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
324output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
325@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
326deleted) or replaced.
327
328@item t
329@cindex contents of archive
330Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
331of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
332archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
333see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
334request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
335
336If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
337are listed.
338
339@cindex repeated names in archive
340@cindex name duplication in archive
341If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
342an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
343first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
344listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
345@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
346@c recent case in fact works the other way.
347
348@item x
349@cindex extract from archive
350@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
351use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
352@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
353
354If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
355are extracted.
356
357@end table
358
359A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
360keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
361
362@table @code
363@item a
364@cindex relative placement in archive
365Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
366archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
367member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
368@var{archive} specification.
369
370@item b
371Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
372archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
373member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
374@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
375
376@item c
377@cindex creating archives
378@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
379created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
380issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
381using this modifier.
382
383@item f
384Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @code{ar} will normally permit file
385names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
386not compatible with the native @code{ar} program on some systems. If
387this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
388names when putting them in the archive.
389
390@item i
391Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
392archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
393member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
394@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
395
396@item l
397This modifier is accepted but not used.
398@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
399@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
400
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401@item N
402Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
403entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
404@var{count} of the given name from the archive.
405
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406@item o
407@cindex dates in archive
408Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
409you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
410are stamped with the time of extraction.
411
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412@item P
413Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
414@code{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
415are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
416will cause @sc{gnu} @code{ar} to match file names using a complete path
417name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
418archive created by another tool.
419
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420@item s
421@cindex writing archive index
422Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
423even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
424flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
425archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
426
427@item S
428@cindex not writing archive index
429Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
430large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
431with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
432@samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
433@samp{ranlib} on the archive.
434
435@item u
436@cindex updating an archive
437Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
438listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
439of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
440names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
441operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
442not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
443advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
444
445@item v
446This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
447operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
448when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
449
450@item V
451This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
452@end table
453
454@node ar scripts
455@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
456
457@smallexample
458ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
459@end smallexample
460
461@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
462@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
463If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
464can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
465form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
466directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
467input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
468errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
469issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
470on any error.
471
472The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
473to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
474over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
475transition to @sc{gnu} @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
476written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
477
478The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
479@itemize @bullet
480@item
481commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
482is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
483shown in upper case for clarity.
484
485@item
486a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
487line.
488
489@item
490empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
491
492@item
493comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
494or @samp{;} is ignored.
495
496@item
497Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
498command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
499blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
500
501@item
502@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
503at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
504of the current command.
505@end itemize
506
507Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
508@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
509
510@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
511a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
512
513@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
514to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
515archive.
516
517@table @code
518@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
519@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
520Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
521@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
522
523Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
524
525@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
526@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
527@c else like "ar q..."
528Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
529
530Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
531
532@item CLEAR
533Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
534any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
535effect) even if no current archive is specified.
536
537@item CREATE @var{archive}
538Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
539other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
540is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
541You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
542existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
543
544@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
545Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
546@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
547
548Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
549
550@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
551@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
552List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
553command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
554output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
555@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
556@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
557
558Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
559specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
560output to that file.
561
562@item END
563Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
564completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
565changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
566changes are lost.
567
568@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
569Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
570into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
571@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
572
573Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
574
575@ignore
576@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
577@item FULLDIR
578
579@item HELP
580@end ignore
581
582@item LIST
583Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
584regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
c89746f6 585tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @code{ar}
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586enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
587
588Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
589
590@item OPEN @var{archive}
591Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
592many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
593will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
594
595@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
596In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
597the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
598To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
599the current archive, must exist.
600
601Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
602
603@item VERBOSE
604Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
605When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
606@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
607
608@item SAVE
609Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
610file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
611command.
612
613Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
614
615@end table
616
617@iftex
618@node ld
619@chapter ld
620@cindex linker
621@kindex ld
622The @sc{gnu} linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
623@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
624@end iftex
625
626@node nm
627@chapter nm
628@cindex symbols
629@kindex nm
630
631@smallexample
632nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
633 [ -B ] [ -C | --demangle ] [ -D | --dynamic ]
634 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
635 [ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
636 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ --size-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
637 [ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
638 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
639 [ --defined-only ] [-l | --line-numbers ]
640 [ --no-demangle ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
641@end smallexample
642
643@sc{gnu} @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
644If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
645@file{a.out}.
646
647For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
648
649@itemize @bullet
650@item
651The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
652hexadecimal by default.
653
654@item
655The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
656well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
657local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
658
659@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
660@c would be nice.
661@table @code
662@item A
663The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
664linking.
665
666@item B
667The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
668
669@item C
670The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
671linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
672symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
673references. For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
674--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
675
676@item D
677The symbol is in the initialized data section.
678
679@item G
680The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
681object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
682such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
683
684@item I
685The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a GNU
686extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
687
688@item N
689The symbol is a debugging symbol.
690
691@item R
692The symbol is in a read only data section.
693
694@item S
695The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
696
697@item T
698The symbol is in the text (code) section.
699
700@item U
701The symbol is undefined.
702
703@item W
704The symbol is weak. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
705defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error. When a
706weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined, the value
707of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
708
709@item -
710The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
711next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
712the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information;
713for more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
714``stabs'' debug format}.
715
716@item ?
717The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
718@end table
719
720@item
721The symbol name.
722@end itemize
723
724The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
725equivalent.
726
727@table @code
728@item -A
729@itemx -o
730@itemx --print-file-name
731@cindex input file name
732@cindex file name
733@cindex source file name
734Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
735in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
736before all of its symbols.
737
738@item -a
739@itemx --debug-syms
740@cindex debugging symbols
741Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
742listed.
743
744@item -B
745@cindex @code{nm} format
746@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
747The same as @samp{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @code{nm}).
748
749@item -C
750@itemx --demangle
751@cindex demangling in nm
752Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
753Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
754makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
755on demangling.
756
757@item --no-demangle
758Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
759
760@item -D
761@itemx --dynamic
762@cindex dynamic symbols
763Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
764only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
765libraries.
766
767@item -f @var{format}
768@itemx --format=@var{format}
769@cindex @code{nm} format
770@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
771Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
772@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
773Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
774either upper or lower case.
775
776@item -g
777@itemx --extern-only
778@cindex external symbols
779Display only external symbols.
780
781@item -l
782@itemx --line-numbers
783@cindex symbol line numbers
784For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
785line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
786address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
787number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
788information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
789
790@item -n
791@itemx -v
792@itemx --numeric-sort
793Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
794by their names.
795
796@item -p
797@itemx --no-sort
798@cindex sorting symbols
799Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
800encountered.
801
802@item -P
803@itemx --portability
804Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
805Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
806
807@item -s
808@itemx --print-armap
809@cindex symbol index, listing
810When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
811(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
812contain definitions for which names.
813
814@item -r
815@itemx --reverse-sort
816Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
817last come first.
818
819@item --size-sort
820Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
821the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
822value. The size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value.
823
824@item -t @var{radix}
825@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
826Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
827@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
828
829@item --target=@var{bfdname}
830@cindex object code format
831Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
832@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
833
834@item -u
835@itemx --undefined-only
836@cindex external symbols
837@cindex undefined symbols
838Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
839
840@item --defined-only
841@cindex external symbols
842@cindex undefined symbols
843Display only defined symbols for each object file.
844
845@item -V
846@itemx --version
847Show the version number of @code{nm} and exit.
848
849@item --help
850Show a summary of the options to @code{nm} and exit.
851@end table
852
853@node objcopy
854@chapter objcopy
855
856@smallexample
857objcopy [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
858 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
859 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
860 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
861 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
862 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
863 [ -L @var{symbolname} | --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
864 [ -W @var{symbolname} | --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
865 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
866 [ -b @var{byte} | --byte=@var{byte} ]
867 [ -i @var{interleave} | --interleave=@var{interleave} ]
f91ea849 868 [ -j @var{sectionname} | --only-section=@var{sectionname} ]
252b5132
RH
869 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
870 [ -p | --preserve-dates ] [ --debugging ]
871 [ --gap-fill=@var{val} ] [ --pad-to=@var{address} ]
872 [ --set-start=@var{val} ] [ --adjust-start=@var{incr} ]
873 [ --change-addresses=@var{incr} ]
874 [ --change-section-address=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
875 [ --change-section-lma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
876 [ --change-section-vma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
877 [ --change-warnings ] [ --no-change-warnings ]
878 [ --set-section-flags=@var{section}=@var{flags} ]
879 [ --add-section=@var{sectionname}=@var{filename} ]
880 [ --change-leading-char ] [ --remove-leading-char ]
881 [ --weaken ]
882 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
883 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
884@end smallexample
885
886The @sc{gnu} @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
887file to another. @code{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
888read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
889file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
890exact behavior of @code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
891
892@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
893deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
894translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
895and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
896explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
897
898@code{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
899target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
900
901@code{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
902output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @samp{-O binary}). When
903@code{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
904a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
905relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
906the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
907
908When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
909use @samp{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
910some cases @samp{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
911information which is not needed by the binary file.
912
913@table @code
914@item @var{infile}
915@itemx @var{outfile}
916The source and output files, respectively.
917If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
918temporary file and destructively renames the result with
919the name of @var{infile}.
920
921@item -I @var{bfdname}
922@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
923Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
924attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
925
926@item -O @var{bfdname}
927@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
928Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
929@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
930
931@item -F @var{bfdname}
932@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
933Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
934file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
935translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
936
f91ea849
ILT
937@item -j @var{sectionname}
938@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
939Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
940This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
941inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
942
252b5132
RH
943@item -R @var{sectionname}
944@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
945Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
946option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
947inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
948
949@item -S
950@itemx --strip-all
951Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
952
953@item -g
954@itemx --strip-debug
955Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
956
957@item --strip-unneeded
958Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
959
960@item -K @var{symbolname}
961@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
962Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
963be given more than once.
964
965@item -N @var{symbolname}
966@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
967Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
968may be given more than once.
969
970@item -L @var{symbolname}
971@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
972Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
973visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
974
975@item -W @var{symbolname}
976@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
977Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
978
979@item -x
980@itemx --discard-all
981Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
982@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
983
984@item -X
985@itemx --discard-locals
986Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
987(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
988
989@item -b @var{byte}
990@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
991Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
992affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
993where @var{interleave} is given by the @samp{-i} or @samp{--interleave}
994option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
995to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
996target.
997
998@item -i @var{interleave}
999@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1000Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1001copy with the @var{-b} or @samp{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1002@code{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @samp{-b} or
1003@samp{--byte}.
1004
1005@item -p
1006@itemx --preserve-dates
1007Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1008as those of the input file.
1009
1010@item --debugging
1011Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1012because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1013conversion process can be time consuming.
1014
1015@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1016Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1017the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1018the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1019space created with @var{val}.
1020
1021@item --pad-to @var{address}
1022Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1023done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1024filled in with the value specified by @samp{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1025
1026@item --set-start @var{val}
1027Set the address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1028formats support setting the start address.
1029
1030@item --change-start @var{incr}
1031@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1032@cindex changing start address
1033Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1034formats support setting the start address.
1035
1036@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1037@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1038@cindex changing object addresses
1039Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1040address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1041section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1042relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1043certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1044that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1045
1046@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1047@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1048@cindex changing section address
1049Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1050@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1051@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1052section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1053above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1054be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1055
1056@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1057@cindex changing section LMA
1058Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1059address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1060program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1061is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1062especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1063different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1064@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1065section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1066above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1067will be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1068
1069@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1070@cindex changing section VMA
1071Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1072address is the address where the section will be located once the
1073program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1074address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1075memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1076ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1077is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1078from the section address. See the comments under
1079@samp{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1080the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1081@samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1082
1083@item --change-warnings
1084@itemx --adjust-warnings
1085If @samp{--change-section-address} or @samp{--change-section-lma} or
1086@samp{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1087exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1088
1089@item --no-change-warnings
1090@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1091Do not issue a warning if @samp{--change-section-address} or
1092@samp{--adjust-section-lma} or @samp{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1093if the named section does not exist.
1094
1095@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1096Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1097comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1098@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{readonly},
1099@samp{code}, @samp{data}, and @samp{rom}. You can set the
1100@samp{contents} flag for a section which does not have contents, but it
1101is not meaningful to clear the @samp{contents} flag of a section which
1102does have contents--just remove the section instead. Not all flags are
1103meaningful for all object file formats.
1104
1105@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1106Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1107contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1108size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1109works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1110
1111@item --change-leading-char
1112Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1113symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1114often add before every symbol. This option tells @code{objcopy} to
1115change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1116object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1117character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1118character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1119appropriate.
1120
1121@item --remove-leading-char
1122If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1123character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1124most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1125remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1126if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1127different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1128@code{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1129when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1130file.
1131
1132@item --weaken
1133Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1134when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1135the @code{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1136using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1137
1138@item -V
1139@itemx --version
1140Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
1141
1142@item -v
1143@itemx --verbose
1144Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1145archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1146
1147@item --help
1148Show a summary of the options to @code{objcopy}.
1149@end table
1150
1151@node objdump
1152@chapter objdump
1153
1154@cindex object file information
1155@kindex objdump
1156
1157@smallexample
1158objdump [ -a | --archive-headers ]
1159 [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ --debugging ]
1160 [ -C | --demangle ] [ -d | --disassemble ]
1161 [ -D | --disassemble-all ] [ --disassemble-zeroes ]
1162 [ -EB | -EL | --endian=@{big | little @} ]
1163 [ -f | --file-headers ]
1164 [ -h | --section-headers | --headers ] [ -i | --info ]
1165 [ -j @var{section} | --section=@var{section} ]
1166 [ -l | --line-numbers ] [ -S | --source ]
1167 [ -m @var{machine} | --architecture=@var{machine} ]
dd92f639 1168 [ -M @var{options} | --disassembler-options=@var{options}]
252b5132
RH
1169 [ -p | --private-headers ]
1170 [ -r | --reloc ] [ -R | --dynamic-reloc ]
1171 [ -s | --full-contents ] [ --stabs ]
1172 [ -t | --syms ] [ -T | --dynamic-syms ] [ -x | --all-headers ]
1173 [ -w | --wide ] [ --start-address=@var{address} ]
1174 [ --stop-address=@var{address} ]
1175 [ --prefix-addresses] [ --[no-]show-raw-insn ]
1176 [ --adjust-vma=@var{offset} ]
1177 [ --version ] [ --help ]
1178 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1179@end smallexample
1180
1181@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1182The options control what particular information to display. This
1183information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1184compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1185program to compile and work.
1186
1187@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1188specify archives, @code{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1189object files.
1190
1191The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1192equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-l} must be given.
1193
1194@table @code
1195@item -a
1196@itemx --archive-header
1197@cindex archive headers
1198If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1199header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1200information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1201the object file format of each archive member.
1202
1203@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1204@cindex section addresses in objdump
1205@cindex VMA in objdump
1206When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1207addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1208the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1209addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1210such as a.out.
1211
1212@item -b @var{bfdname}
1213@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1214@cindex object code format
1215Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1216@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1217automatically recognize many formats.
1218
1219For example,
1220@example
1221objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1222@end example
1223@noindent
1224displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
1225@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
1226file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1227formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
1228@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1229
1230@item -C
1231@itemx --demangle
1232@cindex demangling in objdump
1233Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1234Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1235makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1236on demangling.
1237
1238@item --debugging
1239Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1240information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1241Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1242
1243@item -d
1244@itemx --disassemble
1245@cindex disassembling object code
1246@cindex machine instructions
1247Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1248@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1249expected to contain instructions.
1250
1251@item -D
1252@itemx --disassemble-all
1253Like @samp{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1254those expected to contain instructions.
1255
1256@item --prefix-addresses
1257When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1258the older disassembly format.
1259
1260@item --disassemble-zeroes
1261Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1262option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1263any other data.
1264
1265@item -EB
1266@itemx -EL
1267@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1268@cindex endianness
1269@cindex disassembly endianness
1270Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1271disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1272does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1273
1274@item -f
1275@itemx --file-header
1276@cindex object file header
1277Display summary information from the overall header of
1278each of the @var{objfile} files.
1279
1280@item -h
1281@itemx --section-header
1282@itemx --header
1283@cindex section headers
1284Display summary information from the section headers of the
1285object file.
1286
1287File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1288using the @samp{-Ttext}, @samp{-Tdata}, or @samp{-Tbss} options to
1289@code{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1290store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1291although @code{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1292-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1293Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1294target.
1295
1296@item --help
1297Print a summary of the options to @code{objdump} and exit.
1298
1299@item -i
1300@itemx --info
1301@cindex architectures available
1302@cindex object formats available
1303Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1304for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
1305
1306@item -j @var{name}
1307@itemx --section=@var{name}
1308@cindex section information
1309Display information only for section @var{name}.
1310
1311@item -l
1312@itemx --line-numbers
1313@cindex source filenames for object files
1314Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1315source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1316Only useful with @samp{-d}, @samp{-D}, or @samp{-r}.
1317
1318@item -m @var{machine}
1319@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1320@cindex architecture
1321@cindex disassembly architecture
1322Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1323can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1324architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1325architectures with the @samp{-i} option.
1326
dd92f639
NC
1327@item -M @var{options}
1328@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1329Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1330some targets.
1331
1332If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1333select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1334@samp{--disassembler-options=reg-name-std} (the default) will select the
1335register names as used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with
1336register 13 called 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called
1337'pc'. Specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-apcs} will
1338select the name set used by the ARM Procedure Call Standard, whilst
1339specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-raw} will just use
1340@samp{r} followed by the register number.
1341
252b5132
RH
1342@item -p
1343@itemx --private-headers
1344Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1345information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1346object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1347
1348@item -r
1349@itemx --reloc
1350@cindex relocation entries, in object file
1351Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @samp{-d} or
1352@samp{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1353disassembly.
1354
1355@item -R
1356@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1357@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1358Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1359meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1360libraries.
1361
1362@item -s
1363@itemx --full-contents
1364@cindex sections, full contents
1365@cindex object file sections
1366Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1367
1368@item -S
1369@itemx --source
1370@cindex source disassembly
1371@cindex disassembly, with source
1372Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1373@samp{-d}.
1374
1375@item --show-raw-insn
1376When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1377in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1378@code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1379
1380@item --no-show-raw-insn
1381When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1382This is the default when @code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1383
1384@item --stabs
1385@cindex stab
1386@cindex .stab
1387@cindex debug symbols
1388@cindex ELF object file format
1389Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1390contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1391ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1392@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1393section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1394interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
1395output. For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1396Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1397
1398@item --start-address=@var{address}
1399@cindex start-address
1400Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1401of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1402
1403@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1404@cindex stop-address
1405Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1406of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1407
1408@item -t
1409@itemx --syms
1410@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1411Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1412This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1413
1414@item -T
1415@itemx --dynamic-syms
1416@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1417Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1418meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1419libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1420program when given the @samp{-D} (@samp{--dynamic}) option.
1421
1422@item --version
1423Print the version number of @code{objdump} and exit.
1424
1425@item -x
1426@itemx --all-header
1427@cindex all header information, object file
1428@cindex header information, all
1429Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1430relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1431@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1432
1433@item -w
1434@itemx --wide
1435@cindex wide output, printing
1436Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1437@end table
1438
1439@node ranlib
1440@chapter ranlib
1441
1442@kindex ranlib
1443@cindex archive contents
1444@cindex symbol index
1445
1446@smallexample
1447ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
1448@end smallexample
1449
1450@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1451stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1452member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1453
1454You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1455
1456An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1457allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1458their placement in the archive.
1459
1460The @sc{gnu} @code{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @code{ar}; running
1461@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1462@xref{ar}.
1463
1464@table @code
1465@item -v
1466@itemx -V
1467Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
1468@end table
1469
1470@node size
1471@chapter size
1472
1473@kindex size
1474@cindex section sizes
1475
1476@smallexample
1477size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
1478 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
1479 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
1480 [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
1481@end smallexample
1482
1483The @sc{gnu} @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1484size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1485argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1486object file or each module in an archive.
1487
1488@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1489If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1490
1491The command line options have the following meanings:
1492
1493@table @code
1494@item -A
1495@itemx -B
1496@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1497@cindex @code{size} display format
1498Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1499@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
1500or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
1501@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1502Berkeley's.
1503@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1504@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1505@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1506
1507Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1508@code{size}:
1509@smallexample
1510size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1511text data bss dec hex filename
1512294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1513294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1514@end smallexample
1515
1516@noindent
1517This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1518
1519@smallexample
1520size --format=SysV ranlib size
1521ranlib :
1522section size addr
1523.text 294880 8192
1524.data 81920 303104
1525.bss 11592 385024
1526Total 388392
1527
1528
1529size :
1530section size addr
1531.text 294880 8192
1532.data 81920 303104
1533.bss 11888 385024
1534Total 388688
1535@end smallexample
1536
1537@item --help
1538Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1539
1540@item -d
1541@itemx -o
1542@itemx -x
1543@itemx --radix=@var{number}
1544@cindex @code{size} number format
1545@cindex radix for section sizes
1546Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1547section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
1548(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
1549@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1550values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1551radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
1552octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
1553
1554@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1555@cindex object code format
1556Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1557@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
1558automatically recognize many formats.
1559@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1560
1561@item -V
1562@itemx --version
1563Display the version number of @code{size}.
1564@end table
1565
1566@node strings
1567@chapter strings
1568@kindex strings
1569@cindex listings strings
1570@cindex printing strings
1571@cindex strings, printing
1572
1573@smallexample
1574strings [-afov] [-@var{min-len}] [-n @var{min-len}] [-t @var{radix}] [-]
1575 [--all] [--print-file-name] [--bytes=@var{min-len}]
1576 [--radix=@var{radix}] [--target=@var{bfdname}]
1577 [--help] [--version] @var{file}@dots{}
1578@end smallexample
1579
1580For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @code{strings} prints the printable
1581character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1582given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1583character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1584and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1585the strings from the whole file.
1586
1587@code{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1588files.
1589
1590@table @code
1591@item -a
1592@itemx --all
1593@itemx -
1594Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1595scan the whole files.
1596
1597@item -f
1598@itemx --print-file-name
1599Print the name of the file before each string.
1600
1601@item --help
1602Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1603
1604@item -@var{min-len}
1605@itemx -n @var{min-len}
1606@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1607Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1608long, instead of the default 4.
1609
1610@item -o
1611Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @code{strings} have @samp{-o}
1612act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
1613ways, we simply chose one.
1614
1615@item -t @var{radix}
1616@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1617Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
1618character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
1619octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
1620
1621@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1622@cindex object code format
1623Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1624@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1625
1626@item -v
1627@itemx --version
1628Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
1629@end table
1630
1631@node strip
1632@chapter strip
1633
1634@kindex strip
1635@cindex removing symbols
1636@cindex discarding symbols
1637@cindex symbols, discarding
1638
1639@smallexample
1640strip [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1641 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1642 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1643 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
1644 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1645 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1646 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
1647 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
1648 [ -o @var{file} ] [ -p | --preserve-dates ]
1649 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
1650 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1651@end smallexample
1652
1653@sc{gnu} @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
1654@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
1655At least one object file must be given.
1656
1657@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
1658rather than writing modified copies under different names.
1659
1660@table @code
1661@item -F @var{bfdname}
1662@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1663Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1664code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
1665@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1666
1667@item --help
1668Show a summary of the options to @code{strip} and exit.
1669
1670@item -I @var{bfdname}
1671@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1672Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1673code format @var{bfdname}.
1674@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1675
1676@item -O @var{bfdname}
1677@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1678Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
1679@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1680
1681@item -R @var{sectionname}
1682@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1683Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1684option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1685inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1686
1687@item -s
1688@itemx --strip-all
1689Remove all symbols.
1690
1691@item -g
1692@itemx -S
1693@itemx --strip-debug
1694Remove debugging symbols only.
1695
1696@item --strip-unneeded
1697Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1698
1699@item -K @var{symbolname}
1700@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1701Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1702be given more than once.
1703
1704@item -N @var{symbolname}
1705@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1706Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
1707given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
1708@code{-K}.
1709
1710@item -o @var{file}
1711Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
1712existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
1713argument may be specified.
1714
1715@item -p
1716@itemx --preserve-dates
1717Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
1718
1719@item -x
1720@itemx --discard-all
1721Remove non-global symbols.
1722
1723@item -X
1724@itemx --discard-locals
1725Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
1726(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1727
1728@item -V
1729@itemx --version
1730Show the version number for @code{strip}.
1731
1732@item -v
1733@itemx --verbose
1734Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1735archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
1736@end table
1737
9d51cc66 1738@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
252b5132
RH
1739@chapter c++filt
1740
1741@kindex c++filt
1742@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1743
1744@smallexample
1745c++filt [ -_ | --strip-underscores ]
1746 [ -j | --java ]
1747 [ -n | --no-strip-underscores ]
1748 [ -s @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
1749 [ --help ] [ --version ] [ @var{symbol}@dots{} ]
1750@end smallexample
1751
9d51cc66 1752@kindex cxxfilt
252b5132
RH
1753The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
1754that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
1755takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
1756are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
9d51cc66
ILT
1757@dfn{mangling}). The @code{c++filt}
1758@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
1759MS-DOS this program is named @code{cxxfilt}.}
1760program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
1761names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
1762functions from clashing.
252b5132
RH
1763
1764Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
1765dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
1766label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
1767name in the output.
1768
1769You can use @code{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
1770
1771@example
1772c++filt @var{symbol}
1773@end example
1774
1775If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @code{c++filt} reads symbol
1776names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
1777standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
1778
1779@table @code
1780@item -_
1781@itemx --strip-underscores
1782On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
1783of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
1784name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
1785@code{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
1786
1787@item -j
1788@itemx --java
1789Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
1790syntax.
1791
1792@item -n
1793@itemx --no-strip-underscores
1794Do not remove the initial underscore.
1795
1796@item -s @var{format}
1797@itemx --format=@var{format}
1798@sc{gnu} @code{nm} can decode three different methods of mangling, used by
1799different C++ compilers. The argument to this option selects which
1800method it uses:
1801
1802@table @code
1803@item gnu
1804the one used by the @sc{gnu} compiler (the default method)
1805@item lucid
1806the one used by the Lucid compiler
1807@item arm
1808the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
1809@item hp
1810the one used by the HP compiler
1811@item edg
1812the one used by the EDG compiler
1813@end table
1814
1815@item --help
1816Print a summary of the options to @code{c++filt} and exit.
1817
1818@item --version
1819Print the version number of @code{c++filt} and exit.
1820@end table
1821
1822@quotation
1823@emph{Warning:} @code{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
1824user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
1825a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
1826passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
1827
1828@example
1829c++filt @var{symbol}
1830@end example
1831
1832@noindent
1833may in a future release become
1834
1835@example
1836c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
1837@end example
1838@end quotation
1839
1840@node addr2line
1841@chapter addr2line
1842
1843@kindex addr2line
1844@cindex address to file name and line number
1845
1846@smallexample
1847addr2line [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1848 [ -C | --demangle ]
1849 [ -e @var{filename} | --exe=@var{filename} ]
1850 [ -f | --functions ] [ -s | --basename ]
1851 [ -H | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1852 [ addr addr ... ]
1853@end smallexample
1854
1855@code{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
1856numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
1857information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
1858number are associated with a given address.
1859
1860The executable to use is specified with the @code{-e} option. The
1861default is @file{a.out}.
1862
1863@code{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
1864
1865In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
1866and @code{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
1867address.
1868
1869In the second, @code{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
1870standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
1871address on standard output. In this mode, @code{addr2line} may be used
1872in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
1873
1874The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
1875line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
1876@code{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
1877preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
1878containing the address.
1879
1880If the file name or function name can not be determined,
1881@code{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
1882line number can not be determined, @code{addr2line} will print 0.
1883
1884The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1885equivalent.
1886
1887@table @code
1888@item -b @var{bfdname}
1889@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1890@cindex object code format
1891Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1892@var{bfdname}.
1893
1894@item -C
1895@itemx --demangle
1896@cindex demangling in objdump
1897Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1898Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1899makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1900on demangling.
1901
1902@item -e @var{filename}
1903@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
1904Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
1905translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
1906
1907@item -f
1908@itemx --functions
1909Display function names as well as file and line number information.
1910
1911@item -s
1912@itemx --basenames
1913Display only the base of each file name.
1914@end table
1915
1916@node nlmconv
1917@chapter nlmconv
1918
1919@code{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
1920Loadable Module.
1921
1922@ignore
1923@code{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
1924files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
1925object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
1926@code{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
1927format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
1928with the above formats.}.
1929@end ignore
1930
1931@quotation
1932@emph{Warning:} @code{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
1933utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
1934@end quotation
1935
1936@smallexample
1937nlmconv [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1938 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1939 [ -T @var{headerfile} | --header-file=@var{headerfile} ]
1940 [ -d | --debug] [ -l @var{linker} | --linker=@var{linker} ]
1941 [ -h | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1942 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
1943@end smallexample
1944
1945@code{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
1946@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
1947reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
1948on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
1949@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
1950Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
1951Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
1952@code{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
1953@var{infile}; see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for
1954more information.
1955
1956@code{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
1957more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
1958file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
1959In this case, @code{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
1960
1961@table @code
1962@item -I @var{bfdname}
1963@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1964Object format of the input file. @code{nlmconv} can usually determine
1965the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
1966@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1967
1968@item -O @var{bfdname}
1969@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1970Object format of the output file. @code{nlmconv} infers the output
1971format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
1972output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
1973@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1974
1975@item -T @var{headerfile}
1976@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
1977Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
1978writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
1979@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
1980Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
1981from Novell, Inc.
1982
1983@item -d
1984@itemx --debug
1985Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @code{nlmconv}.
1986
1987@item -l @var{linker}
1988@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
1989Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
1990relative pathname.
1991
1992@item -h
1993@itemx --help
1994Prints a usage summary.
1995
1996@item -V
1997@itemx --version
1998Prints the version number for @code{nlmconv}.
1999@end table
2000
2001@node windres
2002@chapter windres
2003
2004@code{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2005
2006@quotation
2007@emph{Warning:} @code{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2008utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2009@end quotation
2010
2011@smallexample
2012windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2013@end smallexample
2014
2015@code{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2016an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2017
2018@table @code
2019@item rc
2020A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2021
2022@item res
2023A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2024
2025@item coff
2026A COFF object or executable.
2027@end table
2028
2029The exact description of these different formats is available in
2030documentation from Microsoft.
2031
2032When @code{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2033format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2034@code{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2035format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2036
2037When @code{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2038but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2039@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2040will instead include the file contents.
2041
2042If the input or output format is not specified, @code{windres} will
2043guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2044A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2045file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2046@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2047@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2048
2049If no output file is specified, @code{windres} will print the resources
2050in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2051
2052The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @code{windres}
2053to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2054your application. This will make the resources described in the
2055@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2056
2057@table @code
2058@item -i @var{filename}
2059@itemx --input @var{filename}
2060The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2061@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2062name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @code{windres} will
2063read from standard input. @code{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2064standard input.
2065
2066@item -o @var{filename}
2067@itemx --output @var{filename}
2068The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2069@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2070for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2071non-option argument, then @code{windres} will write to standard output.
2072@code{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output.
2073
2074@item -I @var{format}
2075@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2076The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2077@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @code{windres} will
2078guess, as described above.
2079
2080@item -O @var{format}
2081@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2082The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2083@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2084@code{windres} will guess, as described above.
2085
2086@item -F @var{target}
2087@itemx --target @var{target}
2088Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2089is a BFD target name; you can use the @code{--help} option to see a list
2090of supported targets. Normally @code{windres} will use the default
2091format, which is the first one listed by the @code{--help} option.
2092@ref{Target Selection}.
2093
2094@item --preprocessor @var{program}
2095When @code{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2096preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2097to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2098argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2099
2100@item --include-dir @var{directory}
2101Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2102@code{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @code{-I}
2103option. @code{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2104files named in the @code{rc} file.
2105
751d21b5 2106@item -D @var{target}
ad0481cd 2107@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
252b5132
RH
2108Specify a @code{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2109@code{rc} file.
2110
751d21b5
DD
2111@item -v
2112Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2113didn't specify one.
2114
252b5132
RH
2115@item --language @var{val}
2116Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2117@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2118the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2119
2120@item --help
2121Prints a usage summary.
2122
2123@item --version
2124Prints the version number for @code{windres}.
2125
2126@item --yydebug
2127If @code{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2128this will turn on parser debugging.
2129@end table
2130
2131
2132@node dlltool
2133@chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2134@cindex DLL
2135@kindex dlltool
2136
2137@code{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2138dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2139
2140@quotation
2141@emph{Warning:} @code{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2142utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2143@end quotation
2144
2145@smallexample
2146dlltool [-d|--input-def @var{def-file-name}]
2147 [-b|--base-file @var{base-file-name}]
2148 [-e|--output-exp @var{exports-file-name}]
2149 [-z|--output-def @var{def-file-name}]
2150 [-l|--output-lib @var{library-file-name}]
2151 [--export-all-symbols] [--no-export-all-symbols]
2152 [--exclude-symbols @var{list}]
2153 [--no-default-excludes]
2154 [-S|--as @var{path-to-assembler}] [-f|--as-flags @var{options}]
2155 [-D|--dllname @var{name}] [-m|--machine @var{machine}]
2156 [-a|--add-indirect] [-U|--add-underscore] [-k|--kill-at]
2157 [-A|--add-stdcall-alias]
2158 [-x|--no-idata4] [-c|--no-idata5] [-i|--interwork]
2159 [-n|--nodelete] [-v|--verbose] [-h|--help] [-V|--version]
2160 [object-file @dots{}]
2161@end smallexample
2162
2163@code{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @samp{-d} and
2164@samp{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2165line. It then processes these inputs and if the @samp{-e} option has
2166been specified it creates a exports file. If the @samp{-l} option
2167has been specified it creates a library file and if the @samp{-z} option
2168has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the -e, -l
2169and -z options can be present in one invocation of dlltool.
2170
2171When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2172to have three other files. @code{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2173these files.
2174
2175The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2176exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2177is a text file and can be created by hand, or @code{dlltool} can be used
2178to create it using the @samp{-z} option. In this case @code{dlltool}
2179will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2180those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2181put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2182
2183In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2184have an @samp{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2185section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2186asm() operator:
2187
2188@smallexample
2189 asm (".section .drectve");
2190 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2191
2192 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2193@end smallexample
2194
2195The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2196is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2197handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2198binary file and it can be created by giving the @samp{-e} option to
2199@code{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2200
2201The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2202will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2203can be created by giving the @samp{-l} option to dlltool when it
2204is creating or reading in a .def file.
2205
2206@code{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2207exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2208and then assembling these. The @samp{-S} command line option can be
2209used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2210and the @samp{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2211assembler. The @samp{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2212these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @samp{-n} is
2213specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2214temporary object files it used to build the library.
2215
2216Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2217also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2218that uses that DLL:
2219
2220@smallexample
2221 gcc -c dll.c
2222 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2223 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2224 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2225@end smallexample
2226
2227The command line options have the following meanings:
2228
2229@table @code
2230
2231@item -d @var{filename}
2232@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2233@cindex input .def file
2234Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2235
2236@item -b @var{filename}
2237@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2238@cindex base files
2239Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2240contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2241exports file generated by dlltool.
2242
2243@item -e @var{filename}
2244@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2245Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2246
2247@item -z @var{filename}
2248@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2249Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2250
2251@item -l @var{filename}
2252@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2253Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2254
2255@item --export-all-symbols
2256Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2257files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2258are not exported by default; see the @code{--no-default-excludes}
2259option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2260@code{--exclude-symbols} option.
2261
2262@item --no-export-all-symbols
2263Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2264@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2265behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2266attributes in the source code.
2267
2268@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2269Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2270separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2271contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2272@code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2273
2274@item --no-default-excludes
2275When @code{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2276exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2277exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2278@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @code{--no-default-excludes} option
2279to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2280when @code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2281
2282@item -S @var{path}
2283@itemx --as @var{path}
2284Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2285to create the exports file.
2286
2287@item -f @var{switches}
2288@itemx --as-flags @var{switches}
2289Specifies any specific command line switches to be passed to the
2290assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2291the @samp{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2292and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2293occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2294pass multiple switches to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2295double quotes.
2296
2297@item -D @var{name}
2298@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2299Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2300when the @samp{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2301the filename given to the @samp{-e} option will be used as the name of
2302the DLL.
2303
2304@item -m @var{machine}
2305@itemx -machine @var{machine}
2306Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2307built. @code{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2308it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2309normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2310contents of the DLL are actually encode using THUMB instructions.
2311
2312@item -a
2313@itemx --add-indirect
2314Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2315should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2316referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2317means!
2318
2319@item -U
2320@itemx --add-underscore
2321Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2322should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2323
2324@item -k
2325@itemx --kill-at
2326Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2327should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2328called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2329function in a DLL, other than by name.
2330
2331@item -A
2332@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2333Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2334should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2335in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2336
2337@item -x
2338@itemx --no-idata4
2339Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2340files it should omit the .idata4 section. This is for compatibility
2341with certain operating systems.
2342
2343@item -c
2344@itemx --no-idata5
2345Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2346files it should omit the .idata5 section. This is for compatibility
2347with certain operating systems.
2348
2349@item -i
2350@itemx --interwork
2351Specifies that @code{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2352file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2353between ARM and THUMB code.
2354
2355@item -n
2356@itemx --nodelete
2357Makes @code{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2358create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2359also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2360file.
2361
2362@item -v
2363@itemx --verbose
2364Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2365
2366@item -h
2367@itemx --help
2368Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2369
2370@item -V
2371@itemx --version
2372Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2373
2374@end table
2375
2376@node readelf
2377@chapter readelf
2378
2379@cindex ELF file information
2380@kindex readelf
2381
2382@smallexample
2383readelf [ -a | --all ]
2384 [ -h | --file-header]
2385 [ -l | --program-headers | --segments]
2386 [ -S | --section-headers | --sections]
2387 [ -e | --headers]
2388 [ -s | --syms | --symbols]
779fe533 2389 [ -n | --notes]
252b5132
RH
2390 [ -r | --relocs]
2391 [ -d | --dynamic]
2392 [ -V | --version-info]
2393 [ -D | --use-dynamic]
2394 [ -x <number> | --hex-dump=<number>]
2395 [ -w[liapr] | --debug-dump[=info,=line,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]]
2396 [ --histogram]
2397 [ -v | --version]
2398 [ -H | --help]
2399 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2400@end smallexample
2401
2402@code{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2403files. The options control what particular information to display.
2404
2405@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2406moment, @code{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2407support examing 64 bit ELF files.
2408
2409The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2410equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
2411given.
2412
2413@table @code
2414@item -a
2415@itemx --all
2416Equivalent to specifiying @samp{--file-header},
2417@samp{--program-headers}, @samp{--sections}, @samp{--symbols},
779fe533
NC
2418@samp{--relocs}, @samp{--dynamic}, @samp{--notes} and
2419@samp{--version-info}.
252b5132
RH
2420
2421@item -h
2422@itemx --file-header
2423@cindex ELF file header information
2424Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
2425file.
2426
2427@item -l
2428@itemx --program-headers
2429@itemx --segments
2430@cindex ELF program header information
2431@cindex ELF segment information
2432Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
2433has any.
2434
2435@item -S
2436@itemx --sections
2437@itemx --section-headers
2438@cindex ELF section information
2439Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
2440has any.
2441
2442@item -s
2443@itemx --symbols
2444@itemx --syms
2445@cindex ELF symbol table information
2446Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
2447
2448@item -e
2449@itemx --headers
2450Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @samp{-h -l -S}.
2451
779fe533
NC
2452@item -n
2453@itemx --notes
2454@cindex ELF core notes
2455Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
2456
252b5132
RH
2457@item -r
2458@itemx --relocs
2459@cindex ELF reloc information
2460Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it ha one.
2461
2462@item -d
2463@itemx --dynamic
2464@cindex ELF dynamic section information
2465Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
2466
2467@item -V
2468@itemx --version-info
2469@cindex ELF version sections informations
2470Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
2471exist.
2472
2473@item -D
2474@itemx --use-dynamic
2475When displaying symbols, this option makes @code{readelf} use the
2476symblol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
2477symbols section.
2478
2479@item -x <number>
2480@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
2481Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
2482
2483@item -w[liapr]
2484@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]
2485Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
2486present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
2487then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
2488
2489@item --histogram
2490Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
2491of the symbol tables.
2492
2493@item -v
2494@itemx --version
2495Display the version number of readelf.
2496
2497@item -H
2498@itemx --help
2499Display the command line options understood by @code{readelf}.
2500
2501@end table
2502
2503
2504@node Selecting The Target System
2505@chapter Selecting the target system
2506
2507You can specify three aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
2508binary file utilities, each in several ways:
2509
2510@itemize @bullet
2511@item
2512the target
2513
2514@item
2515the architecture
2516
2517@item
2518the linker emulation (which applies to the linker only)
2519@end itemize
2520
2521In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
2522order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
2523listed later.
2524
2525The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
2526programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
2527@samp{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
2528values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
2529once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
2530with the same type as the target system).
2531
2532@menu
2533* Target Selection::
2534* Architecture Selection::
2535* Linker Emulation Selection::
2536@end menu
2537
2538@node Target Selection
2539@section Target Selection
2540
2541A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
2542supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
2543A target selection may also have variations for different operating
2544systems or architectures.
2545
2546The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
2547(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
2548
2549Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
2550@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
2551
2552You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
2553the same sort of name that is passed to configure to specify a target.
2554When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be fully
2555canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
2556running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
2557sources.
2558
2559Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
2560@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
2561
2562@subheading @code{objdump} Target
2563
2564Ways to specify:
2565
2566@enumerate
2567@item
2568command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--target}
2569
2570@item
2571environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2572
2573@item
2574deduced from the input file
2575@end enumerate
2576
2577@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target
2578
2579Ways to specify:
2580
2581@enumerate
2582@item
2583command line options: @samp{-I} or @samp{--input-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2584
2585@item
2586environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2587
2588@item
2589deduced from the input file
2590@end enumerate
2591
2592@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Output Target
2593
2594Ways to specify:
2595
2596@enumerate
2597@item
2598command line options: @samp{-O} or @samp{--output-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2599
2600@item
2601the input target (see ``@code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target'' above)
2602
2603@item
2604environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2605
2606@item
2607deduced from the input file
2608@end enumerate
2609
2610@subheading @code{nm}, @code{size}, and @code{strings} Target
2611
2612Ways to specify:
2613
2614@enumerate
2615@item
2616command line option: @samp{--target}
2617
2618@item
2619environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2620
2621@item
2622deduced from the input file
2623@end enumerate
2624
2625@subheading Linker Input Target
2626
2627Ways to specify:
2628
2629@enumerate
2630@item
2631command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--format}
2632(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2633
2634@item
2635script command @code{TARGET}
2636(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2637
2638@item
2639environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2640(@pxref{Environment,,Environment,ld.info,Using LD})
2641
2642@item
2643the default target of the selected linker emulation
2644(@pxref{Linker Emulation Selection})
2645@end enumerate
2646
2647@subheading Linker Output Target
2648
2649Ways to specify:
2650
2651@enumerate
2652@item
2653command line option: @samp{-oformat}
2654(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2655
2656@item
2657script command @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
2658(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2659
2660@item
2661the linker input target (see ``Linker Input Target'' above)
2662@end enumerate
2663
2664@node Architecture Selection
2665@section Architecture selection
2666
2667An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
2668to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
2669processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
2670
2671The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
2672second column contains the relevant information).
2673
2674Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
2675
2676@subheading @code{objdump} Architecture
2677
2678Ways to specify:
2679
2680@enumerate
2681@item
2682command line option: @samp{-m} or @samp{--architecture}
2683
2684@item
2685deduced from the input file
2686@end enumerate
2687
2688@subheading @code{objcopy}, @code{nm}, @code{size}, @code{strings} Architecture
2689
2690Ways to specify:
2691
2692@enumerate
2693@item
2694deduced from the input file
2695@end enumerate
2696
2697@subheading Linker Input Architecture
2698
2699Ways to specify:
2700
2701@enumerate
2702@item
2703deduced from the input file
2704@end enumerate
2705
2706@subheading Linker Output Architecture
2707
2708Ways to specify:
2709
2710@enumerate
2711@item
2712script command @code{OUTPUT_ARCH}
2713(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2714
2715@item
2716the default architecture from the linker output target
2717(@pxref{Target Selection})
2718@end enumerate
2719
2720@node Linker Emulation Selection
2721@section Linker emulation selection
2722
2723A linker @dfn{emulation} is a ``personality'' of the linker, which gives
2724the linker default values for the other aspects of the target system.
2725In particular, it consists of
2726
2727@itemize @bullet
2728@item
2729the linker script
2730
2731@item
2732the target
2733
2734@item
2735several ``hook'' functions that are run at certain stages of the linking
2736process to do special things that some targets require
2737@end itemize
2738
2739The command to list valid linker emulation values is @samp{ld -V}.
2740
2741Sample values: @samp{hp300bsd}, @samp{mipslit}, @samp{sun4}.
2742
2743Ways to specify:
2744
2745@enumerate
2746@item
2747command line option: @samp{-m}
2748(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2749
2750@item
2751environment variable @code{LDEMULATION}
2752
2753@item
2754compiled-in @code{DEFAULT_EMULATION} from @file{Makefile},
2755which comes from @code{EMUL} in @file{config/@var{target}.mt}
2756@end enumerate
2757
2758@node Reporting Bugs
2759@chapter Reporting Bugs
2760@cindex bugs
2761@cindex reporting bugs
2762
2763Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
2764reliable.
2765
2766Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
2767it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
2768to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
2769utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
2770maintenance.
2771
2772In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
2773information that enables us to fix the bug.
2774
2775@menu
2776* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
2777* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
2778@end menu
2779
2780@node Bug Criteria
2781@section Have you found a bug?
2782@cindex bug criteria
2783
2784If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
2785
2786@itemize @bullet
2787@cindex fatal signal
2788@cindex crash
2789@item
2790If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
2791a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
2792
2793@cindex error on valid input
2794@item
2795If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
2796bug.
2797
2798@item
2799If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
2800improvement are welcome in any case.
2801@end itemize
2802
2803@node Bug Reporting
2804@section How to report bugs
2805@cindex bug reports
2806@cindex bugs, reporting
2807
2808A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
2809products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
2810organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
2811
2812You can find contact information for many support companies and
2813individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
2814distribution.
2815
2816In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2817utilities to @samp{bug-gnu-utils@@gnu.org}.
2818
2819The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
2820@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
2821fact or leave it out, state it!
2822
2823Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
2824problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
2825assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
2826Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
2827a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
2828that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
2829different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
2830doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
2831specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
2832and the most helpful.
2833
2834Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
2835it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
2836that the bug has not been reported previously.
2837
2838Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
2839bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
2840@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
2841bugs properly.
2842
2843To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
2844
2845@itemize @bullet
2846@item
2847The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
2848with the @samp{--version} argument.
2849
2850Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
2851the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
2852
2853@item
2854Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
2855made to the @code{BFD} library.
2856
2857@item
2858The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
2859version number.
2860
2861@item
2862What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
2863``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
2864
2865@item
2866The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
2867guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
2868of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
2869
2870If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
2871and then we might not encounter the bug.
2872
2873@item
2874A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
2875bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
2876generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
757acbc5
ILT
2877necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
2878@samp{bug-gnu-utils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
2879sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
2880anonymous FTP is OK.
252b5132
RH
2881
2882If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
2883(e.g., @code{gcc}, @code{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @code{ld}), then it
2884may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
2885this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @code{gcc}, or
2886whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
2887@code{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
2888
2889@item
2890A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
2891incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
2892
2893Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
2894will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
2895not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
2896a chance to make a mistake.
2897
2898Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
2899say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
2900copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
2901the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
2902crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
2903ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
2904us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
2905to draw any conclusion from our observations.
2906
2907@item
2908If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
2909generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
2910option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
2911even discuss something in the @code{ld} source, refer to it by context,
2912not by line number.
2913
2914The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
2915sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
2916@end itemize
2917
2918Here are some things that are not necessary:
2919
2920@itemize @bullet
2921@item
2922A description of the envelope of the bug.
2923
2924Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
2925which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
2926changes will not affect it.
2927
2928This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
2929will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
2930with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
2931We recommend that you save your time for something else.
2932
2933Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
2934of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
2935output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
2936less time, and so on.
2937
2938However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
2939report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
2940
2941@item
2942A patch for the bug.
2943
2944A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
2945the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
2946a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
2947to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
2948
2949Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
2950very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
2951certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
2952will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
2953the bug is fixed.
2954
2955And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
2956patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
2957help us to understand.
2958
2959@item
2960A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
2961
2962Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
2963things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
2964@end itemize
2965
2966@node Index
2967@unnumbered Index
2968
2969@printindex cp
2970
2971@contents
2972@bye
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