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[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / binutils.texi
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765a273f 1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
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2@setfilename binutils.info
3
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4@ifinfo
5@format
6START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
d6391983 7* Binutils:: The GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
ba7c8e29 8 "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", and "ranlib".
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9END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
10@end format
11@end ifinfo
c72af735 12
8b2c2275 13@ifinfo
e32341a7 14Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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15
16Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
17this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
18are preserved on all copies.
19
20@ignore
21Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
22results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
23notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
24(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
25
26@end ignore
27
28Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
29manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
30the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
31permission notice identical to this one.
32
33Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
34into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
35@end ifinfo
36
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37@synindex ky cp
38@c
df14d957 39@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
ba7c8e29 40@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", and "ranlib".
c72af735 41@c
e32341a7 42@c Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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43@c
44@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
45@c General Public License.
46@c
27e94bd5 47
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48@setchapternewpage odd
49@settitle GNU Binary Utilities
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50@c @smallbook
51@c @cropmarks
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52@titlepage
53@finalout
c72af735 54@title The GNU Binary Utilities
b6216af2 55@subtitle Version 2.2
c72af735 56@sp 1
e32341a7 57@subtitle May 1993
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58@author Roland H. Pesch
59@author Cygnus Support
60@page
61
62@tex
63\def\$#1${{#1}} % Kluge: collect RCS revision info without $...$
64\xdef\manvers{\$Revision$} % For use in headers, footers too
65{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill \manvers\par \hfill
66\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
67@end tex
68
69@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
e32341a7 70Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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71
72Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
73this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
74are preserved on all copies.
75
76Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
77manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
78the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
79permission notice identical to this one.
80
81Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
82into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
83@end titlepage
84
85@node Top, ar, (dir), (dir)
86@chapter Introduction
87
88@cindex version
89This brief manual contains preliminary documentation for the GNU binary
b6216af2 90utilities (collectively version 2.2):
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91
92@iftex
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93@table @code
94@item ar
95Create, modify, and extract from archives
96
df14d957 97@item objcopy
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98Copy and translate object files
99
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100@item nm
101List symbols from object files
102
103@item objdump
104Display information from object files
105
106@item ranlib
107Generate index to archive contents
108
109@item size
110List section sizes and total size
111
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112@item strings
113List printable strings from files
114
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115@item strip
116Discard symbols
117@end table
8b2c2275 118@end iftex
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119
120@menu
8b2c2275 121* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
df14d957 122* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
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123* ld:(ld)Overview. Combine object and archive files
124* nm:: List symbols from object files
125* objdump:: Display information from object files
126* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
127* size:: List section sizes and total size
ba7c8e29 128* strings:: List printable strings from files
8b2c2275 129* strip:: Discard symbols
b6216af2 130* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
8b2c2275 131* Index::
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132@end menu
133
df14d957 134@node ar, objcopy, Top, Top
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135@chapter ar
136
137@kindex ar
138@cindex archives
139@cindex collections of files
140@smallexample
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141ar [-]@var{p}@var{mod} [ @var{membername} ] @var{archive} @var{file}@dots{}
142ar -M [ <mri-script ]
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143@end smallexample
144
145The GNU @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
146archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
147other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
148the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
149
150The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
ec40bbb8 151group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
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152extraction.
153
154@cindex name length
155GNU @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
156length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
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157system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
158with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
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159limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
160characters (typical of formats related to coff).
161
162@cindex libraries
163@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
164are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
165subroutines.
166
167@cindex symbol index
e31e9a8d 168@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
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169object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
170Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
171makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
172An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
173allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
174their placement in the archive.
175
918c2f61 176You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
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177table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
178@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
179
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180@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
181@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
182GNU @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
183facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
184like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
185specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
186with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
187program.
188
189@menu
190* ar-cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
191* ar-scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
192@end menu
193
194@page
195@node ar-cmdline, ar-scripts, ar, ar
196@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
197
198@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 199ar [-]@var{p}@var{mod} [ @var{membername} ] @var{archive} @var{file}@dots{}
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200@end smallexample
201
202@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
203When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
204arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
205(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
206@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
c72af735 207
ec40bbb8 208Most operations can also accept further @var{file} arguments,
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209specifying particular files to operate on.
210
211GNU @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
212flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
213
214If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
215dash.
216
217@cindex operations on archive
218The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
219any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
220
221@table @code
222@item d
223@cindex deleting from archive
224@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
b703c078 225be deleted as @var{file}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
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226specify no files to delete.
227
e31e9a8d 228If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
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229as it is deleted.
230
231@item m
232@cindex moving in archive
233Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
234
235The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
236programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
237than one member.
238
239If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
ec40bbb8 240@var{file} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
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241you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
242specified place instead.
243
244@item p
245@cindex printing from archive
246@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
247output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
248name before copying its contents to standard output.
249
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250If you specify no @var{file} arguments, all the files in the archive are
251printed.
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252
253@item q
254@cindex quick append to archive
b703c078 255@emph{Quick append}; add the files @var{file}@dots{} to the end of
ec40bbb8 256@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
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257
258The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
259operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
260
261The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
262
263Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
264index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
265@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
266
267@item r
268@cindex replacement in archive
b703c078 269Insert the files @var{file}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
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270@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
271previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
272added.
c72af735 273
b703c078 274If one of the files named in @var{file}@dots{} doesn't exist, @code{ar}
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275displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
276of the archive matching that name.
277
278By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
279use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
280placement relative to some existing member.
281
282The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
283output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
284@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
285deleted) or replaced.
286
287@item t
288@cindex contents of archive
289Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
b703c078 290of the files listed in @var{file}@dots{} that are present in the
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291archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
292see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
293request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
294
ec40bbb8 295If you do not specify a @var{file}, all files in the archive
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296are listed.
297
298@cindex repeated names in archive
299@cindex name duplication in archive
300If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
e31e9a8d 301an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
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302first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
303listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
304@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
305@c recent case in fact works the other way.
306
307@item x
308@cindex extract from archive
ec40bbb8 309@emph{Extract} members (named @var{file}) from the archive. You can
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310use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
311@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
312
ec40bbb8 313If you do not specify a @var{file}, all files in the archive
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314are extracted.
315
316@end table
317
318A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
319keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
320
321@table @code
322@item a
323@cindex relative placement in archive
324Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 325archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
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326member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
327@var{archive} specification.
328
329@item b
330Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 331archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
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332member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
333@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
334
335@item c
336@cindex creating archives
337@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
338created if it didn't exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
339issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
340using this modifier.
341
342@item i
343Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 344archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
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345member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
346@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
347
348@item l
349This modifier is accepted but not used.
350@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
351@c what???---pesch@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
352
353@item o
354@cindex dates in archive
355Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
356you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
e31e9a8d 357are stamped with the time of extraction.
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358
359@item s
360@cindex writing archive index
361Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
362even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
363flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
364archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
365
366@item u
367@cindex updating an archive
b703c078 368Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
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369listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
370of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
371names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
372operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
373not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
374advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
375
376@item v
377This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
378operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
379when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
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380
381@item V
382This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
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383@end table
384
385@node ar-scripts, , ar-cmdline, ar
386@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
387
388@smallexample
389ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
390@end smallexample
391
392@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
393@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
394If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
395can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
e31e9a8d 396form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
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397directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
398input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
399errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
e31e9a8d 400issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
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401on any error.
402
403The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
404to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
405over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
406transition to GNU @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
407written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
408
409The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
410@itemize @bullet
411@item
412commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
413is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
414shown in upper case for clarity.
415
416@item
417a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
418line.
419
420@item
421empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
422
423@item
424comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
425or @samp{;} is ignored.
426
427@item
428Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
429command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
430blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
431
432@item
433@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
434at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
435of the current command.
436@end itemize
437
438Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
439@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
440
441@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
442a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
443
444@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
445to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
446archive.
447
448@table @code
449@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
450@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
451Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
452@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
453
454Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
455
456@item ADDMOD @var{file}, @var{file}, @dots{} @var{file}
457@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
458@c else like "ar q..."
459Add each named @var{file} as a module in the current archive.
460
461Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
462
463@item CLEAR
464Discard the contents of the current archive, cancelling the effect of
465any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
466effect) even if no current archive is specified.
467
468@item CREATE @var{archive}
469Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
470other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
471is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
472You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
473existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
474
475@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
476Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
477@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
478
479Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
480
481@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
482@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
483List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
484command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
485output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
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486@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
487@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
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488
489Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
490specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
491output to that file.
492
493@item END
494Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
495completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
496changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
497changes are lost.
498
499@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
500Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
501into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
b703c078 502@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
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503
504Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
505
506@ignore
507@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
508@item FULLDIR
509
510@item HELP
511@end ignore
512
513@item LIST
514Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
515regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
516tv @var{archive}}). (This single command is a GNU @code{ld}
517enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
518
519Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
520
521@item OPEN @var{archive}
522Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
523many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
524will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
525
526@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
527In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
528the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
529To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
530the current archive, must exist.
531
532Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
533
534@item VERBOSE
535Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
536When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
b703c078 537@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
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538
539@item SAVE
540Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
541file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
542command.
543
544Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
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545
546@end table
547
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548@node objcopy, nm, ar, Top
549@chapter objcopy
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550
551@smallexample
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552objcopy [ -F @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
553 [ -I @var{format} | --input-format=@var{format} ]
554 [ -O @var{format} | --output-format=@var{format} ]
555 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
556 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
b26ac613 557 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
df14d957 558 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
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559@end smallexample
560
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561The GNU @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object file to
562another. @code{objcopy} uses the GNU BFD Library to read and write the
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563object files. It can write the destination object file in a format
564different from that of the source object file. The exact behavior of
df14d957 565@code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
e31e9a8d 566
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567@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
568deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses BFD to do all its
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569translation work; it knows about all the formats BFD knows about, and
570thus is able to recognize most formats without being told explicitly.
571@xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD, the GNU linker}.
572
573@table @code
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574@item @var{infile}
575@itemx @var{outfile}
576The source and output files respectively.
df14d957 577If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
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578temporary file and destructively renames the result with
579the name of the input file.
580
581@item -I @var{format}
582@itemx --input-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 583Consider the source file's object format to be @var{format}, rather than
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584attempting to deduce it.
585
586@item -O @var{format}
587@itemx --output-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 588Write the output file using the object format @var{format}.
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589
590@item -F @var{format}
591@itemx --format=@var{format}
592Use @var{format} as the object format for both the input and the output
593file; i.e. simply transfer data from source to destination with no
594translation.
e31e9a8d 595
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596@item -S
597@itemx --strip-all
598Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
e31e9a8d 599
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600@item -g
601@itemx --strip-debug
602Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
e31e9a8d 603
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604@item -x
605@itemx --discard-all
606Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
607@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
e31e9a8d 608
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609@item -X
610@itemx --discard-locals
611Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
612(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
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613
614@item -V
918c2f61 615@itemx --version
df14d957 616Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
e31e9a8d 617
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618@item -v
619@itemx --verbose
620Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
df14d957 621archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
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622
623@item --help
624Show a summary of the options to @code{objcopy}.
e31e9a8d
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625@end table
626
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627@iftex
628@node ld
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629@chapter ld
630@cindex linker
631@kindex ld
632The GNU linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
27e94bd5 633@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the GNU linker}.
8b2c2275 634@end iftex
c72af735 635
df14d957 636@node nm, objdump, objcopy, Top
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637@chapter nm
638@cindex symbols
639@kindex nm
640
641@smallexample
68dd5295 642nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ] [ -B ]
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643 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
644 [ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
4d9b5d5a 645 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
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646 [ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
647 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
b26ac613 648 [ -V | --version ] [ --help ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
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649@end smallexample
650
b703c078 651GNU @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
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652If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
653@file{a.out}.
654
655For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
656
657@itemize @bullet
658@item
659The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
660hexadecimal by default.
661
662@item
663The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
664well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
665local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
666
667@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
668@c would be nice.
669@table @code
670@item A
671Absolute.
672
673@item B
674BSS (uninitialized data).
675
676@item C
677Common.
678
679@item D
680Initialized data.
681
682@item I
683Indirect reference.
684
685@item T
686Text (program code).
687
688@item U
689Undefined.
690@end table
691
692@item
693The symbol name.
694@end itemize
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695
696The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
697equivalent.
698
699@table @code
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700@item -A
701@itemx -o
702@itemx --print-file-name
703@cindex input file name
704@cindex file name
705@cindex source file name
706Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
707in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
708before all of its symbols.
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709
710@item -a
918c2f61 711@itemx --debug-syms
c72af735 712@cindex debugging symbols
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713Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
714listed.
715
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716@item -B
717@cindex @code{nm} format
718@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
719The same as @samp{--format=bsd}.
720
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721@item -f @var{format}
722@itemx --format=@var{format}
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723@cindex @code{nm} format
724@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
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725Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
726@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
b26ac613 727Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
6cfbdb50 728either upper or lower case.
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729
730@item -g
918c2f61 731@itemx --extern-only
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732@cindex external symbols
733Display only external symbols.
734
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735@item -n
736@itemx -v
737@itemx --numeric-sort
738Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
739by their names.
740
c72af735 741@item -p
918c2f61 742@itemx --no-sort
c72af735 743@cindex sorting symbols
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744Don't bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
745encountered.
746
747@item -P
748@itemx --portability
749Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
750Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
c72af735 751
c72af735 752@item -s
918c2f61 753@itemx --print-armap
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754@cindex symbol index, listing
755When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
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756(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
757contain definitions for which names.
c72af735 758
c72af735 759@item -r
918c2f61 760@itemx --reverse-sort
ec40bbb8 761Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
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762last come first.
763
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764@item -t @var{radix}
765@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
766Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
767@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
768
ec40bbb8 769@item --target=@var{bfdname}
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770@cindex object code format
771Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
772@xref{objdump}, for information on listing available formats.
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773
774@item -u
918c2f61 775@itemx --undefined-only
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776@cindex external symbols
777@cindex undefined symbols
778Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
779
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780@item -V
781@itemx --version
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782Show the version number of @code{nm} and exit.
783
784@item --help
785Show a summary of the options to @code{nm} and exit.
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786@end table
787
788@node objdump, ranlib, nm, Top
789@chapter objdump
790
791@cindex object file information
792@kindex objdump
793
794@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
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795objdump [ -a ] [ -b @var{bfdname} ] [ -d ] [ -f ]
796 [ -h | --header ] [ -i ] [ -j @var{section} ] [ -l ]
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797 [ -m @var{machine} ] [ -r | --reloc ] [ -s ] [ --stabs ]
798 [ -t | --syms ] [ -x ] [ --version ] [ --help ]
4d9b5d5a 799 @var{objfile}@dots{}
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800@end smallexample
801
802@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
803The options control what particular information to display. This
804information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
805compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
806program to compile and work.
807
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808@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
809specify archives, @code{objdump} shows information on each of the member
810object files.
811
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812The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
813equivalent.
814
815@table @code
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816@item -a
817@c print_arelt_descr
818@cindex archive headers
ec40bbb8 819If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
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820header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
821information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
822the object file format of each archive member.
823
c5f0c938 824@c suggest longname --target or --format or --bfd
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825@item -b @var{bfdname}
826@cindex object code format
ec40bbb8
DM
827Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
828@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
829automatically recognize many formats.
830
831For example,
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832@example
833objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
834@end example
835@noindent
ec40bbb8
DM
836displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
837@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
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838file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
839formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
840
841@item -d
842@cindex disassembling object code
843@cindex machine instructions
844Disassemble. Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine
ec40bbb8 845instructions from @var{objfile}.
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846
847@item -f
848@cindex object file header
849File header. Display summary information from the overall header of
ec40bbb8 850each of the @var{objfile} files.
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851
852@item -h
c5f0c938 853@itemx --header
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854@cindex section headers
855Header. Display summary information from the section headers of the
856object file.
857
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858@item --help
859Print a summary of the options to @code{objdump} and exit.
860
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861@item -i
862@cindex architectures available
863@cindex object formats available
864Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
ec40bbb8 865for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
c72af735 866
c5f0c938 867@c suggest longname --section
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868@item -j @var{name}
869@cindex section information
ec40bbb8 870Display information only for section @var{name}.
c72af735 871
c5f0c938 872@c suggest longname --label or --linespec
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873@item -l
874@cindex source filenames for object files
875Label the display (using debugging information) with the source filename
876and line numbers corresponding to the object code shown.
877
c5f0c938 878@c suggest longname --architecture
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879@item -m @var{machine}
880@cindex architecture
ec40bbb8 881Specify that the object files @var{objfile} are for architecture
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882@var{machine}. You can list available architectures using the @samp{-i}
883option.
884
885@item -r
c5f0c938 886@itemx --reloc
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887@cindex relocation entries, in object file
888Relocation. Print the relocation entries of the file.
889
890@item -s
891@cindex sections, full contents
892@cindex object file sections
893Display the full contents of any sections requested.
894
c5f0c938
JG
895@item --stabs
896@cindex stab
897@cindex .stab
898@cindex debug symbols
899@cindex ELF object file format
c3c93fda
JG
900Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
901contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
902ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
903@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
904section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
c5f0c938
JG
905interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
906output.
907
c72af735 908@item -t
c5f0c938 909@itemx --syms
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910@cindex symbol table entries, printing
911Symbol Table. Print the symbol table entries of the file.
912This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
913
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914@item --version
915Print the version number of @code{objdump} and exit.
916
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917@item -x
918@cindex all header information, object file
919@cindex header information, all
920Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
921relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
922@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
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923@end table
924
925@node ranlib, size, objdump, Top
926@chapter ranlib
927
928@kindex ranlib
929@cindex archive contents
930@cindex symbol index
931
932@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 933ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
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934@end smallexample
935
ec40bbb8 936@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
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937stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
938member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
939
918c2f61 940You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
c72af735 941
ec40bbb8 942An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
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943allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
944their placement in the archive.
945
946The GNU @code{ranlib} program is another form of GNU @code{ar}; running
947@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
948@xref{ar}.
949
4d9b5d5a
DM
950@table @code
951@item -v
952@itemx -V
953Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
c3f471a4 954@end table
4d9b5d5a 955
ba7c8e29 956@node size, strings, ranlib, Top
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957@chapter size
958
959@kindex size
960@cindex section sizes
961
962@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
DM
963size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
964 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
965 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
966 @var{objfile}@dots{}
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967@end smallexample
968
969The GNU @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
ec40bbb8
DM
970size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
971argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
972object file or each module in an archive.
c72af735 973
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974@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
975
c72af735 976The command line options have the following meanings:
c72af735 977
b26ac613 978@table @code
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979@item -A
980@itemx -B
ec40bbb8 981@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
68dd5295 982@cindex @code{size} display format
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983Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from GNU
984@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
ec40bbb8
DM
985or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
986@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
c72af735 987Berkeley's.
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988@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
989@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
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990@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
991
992Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
993@code{size}:
994@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 995size --format Berkeley ranlib size
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996text data bss dec hex filename
997294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
998294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
999@end smallexample
1000
1001@noindent
1002This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1003
1004@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 1005size --format SysV ranlib size
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1006ranlib :
1007section size addr
1008.text 294880 8192
1009.data 81920 303104
1010.bss 11592 385024
1011Total 388392
1012
1013
1014size :
1015section size addr
1016.text 294880 8192
1017.data 81920 303104
1018.bss 11888 385024
1019Total 388688
1020@end smallexample
1021
918c2f61 1022@item --help
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1023Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1024
1025@item -d
1026@itemx -o
1027@itemx -x
ec40bbb8 1028@itemx --radix=@var{number}
68dd5295 1029@cindex @code{size} number format
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1030@cindex radix for section sizes
1031Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
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DM
1032section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
1033(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
1034@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
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1035values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1036radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
1037octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
1038
ec40bbb8 1039@item --target=@var{bfdname}
c72af735 1040@cindex object code format
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DM
1041Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1042@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
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1043automatically recognize many formats. @xref{objdump}, for information
1044on listing available formats.
1045
1046@item -V
918c2f61 1047@itemx --version
4d9b5d5a 1048Display the version number of @code{size}.
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1049@end table
1050
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1051@node strings, strip, size, Top
1052@chapter strings
1053@kindex strings
1054@cindex listings strings
1055@cindex printing strings
1056@cindex strings, printing
1057
1058@smallexample
b26ac613 1059strings [-afov] [-@var{min-len}] [-n @var{min-len}] [-t @var{radix}] [-]
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1060 [--all] [--print-file-name] [--bytes=@var{min-len}] [--radix=@var{radix}]
1061 [--help] [--version] @var{file}@dots{}
1062@end smallexample
1063
1064For each @var{file} given, GNU @code{strings} prints the printable
1065character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1066given with the options below) and are followed by a NUL or newline
1067character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1068data sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints the
1069strings from the whole file.
1070
1071@code{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1072files.
1073
1074@table @code
1075@item -a
1076@itemx --all
1077@itemx -
1078Do not scan only the initialized data section of object files; scan
1079the whole files.
1080
1081@item -f
1082@itemx --print-file-name
1083Print the name of the file before each string.
1084
b26ac613 1085@item --help
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1086Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1087
ba7c8e29 1088@itemx -@var{min-len}
b26ac613 1089@item -n @var{min-len}
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1090@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1091Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1092long, instead of the default 4.
1093
1094@item -o
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1095Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @code{strings} have @samp{-o}
1096act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
1097ways, we simply chose one.
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1098
1099@item -t @var{radix}
1100@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1101Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
1102character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
1103octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
1104
1105@item -v
1106@itemx --version
1107Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
1108@end table
1109
1110@node strip, c++filt, strings, Top
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1111@chapter strip
1112
1113@kindex strip
1114@cindex removing symbols
1115@cindex discarding symbols
1815e42c 1116@cindex symbols, discarding
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1117
1118@smallexample
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1119strip [ -F @var{format} | --format=@var{format} | --target=@var{format} ]
1120 [ -I @var{format} | --input-format=@var{format} ]
1121 [ -O @var{format} | --output-format=@var{format} ]
1122 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
1123 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
b26ac613 1124 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
b703c078 1125 @var{objfile}@dots{}
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1126@end smallexample
1127
e31e9a8d 1128GNU @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
ec40bbb8 1129@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
b26ac613 1130At least one object file must be given.
c72af735 1131
ec40bbb8 1132@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
c72af735 1133rather than writing modified copies under different names.
c72af735 1134
c72af735 1135@table @code
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1136@item -F @var{format}
1137@itemx --format=@var{format}
1138@itemx --target=@var{format}
1139Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1140code format @var{format}, and rewrite it in the same format.
1141
1142@item --help
1143Show a summary of the options to @code{strip} and exit.
1144
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PB
1145@item -I @var{format}
1146@itemx --input-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8
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1147Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1148code format @var{format}.
918c2f61
PB
1149
1150@item -O @var{format}
1151@itemx --output-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 1152Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{format}.
918c2f61 1153
b703c078
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1154@item -s
1155@itemx --strip-all
1156Remove all symbols.
1157
918c2f61
PB
1158@item -g
1159@itemx -S
1160@itemx --strip-debug
1161Remove debugging symbols only.
1162
1163@item -x
1164@itemx --discard-all
1165Remove non-global symbols.
1166
1167@item -X
1168@itemx --discard-locals
1169Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
ec40bbb8 1170(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
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1171
1172@item -V
1173@itemx --version
ec40bbb8 1174Show the version number for @code{strip}.
918c2f61 1175
1815e42c 1176@item -v
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1177@itemx --verbose
1178Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1269d441 1179archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
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1180@end table
1181
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1182@node c++filt, Index, strip, Top
1183@chapter c++filt
1184
1185@kindex c++filt
1186@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1187
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1188@smallexample
1189c++filt [ -_ | --strip-underscores ]
1190 [ -s @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
1191 [ --help ] [ --version ] [ @var{arg}@dots{} ]
1192@end smallexample
1193
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1194The C++ language provides function overloading, which means that you can
1195write many functions with the same name (providing each takes parameters
1196of different types). All C++ function names are encoded into a
b26ac613 1197low-level assembly label (this process is known as
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1198@dfn{mangling}). The @code{c++filt} program does the inverse mapping: it
1199decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level names into user-level names so that
1200the linker can keep these overloaded functions from clashing.
1201
1202Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
1203dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
1204label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
1205name in the output.
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1206
1207A typical use of @code{c++filt} is to pipe the output of @code{nm}
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1208though it, using @code{c++filt} as a filter:
1209
1210@example
1211nm @var{objfile} | c++filt
1212@end example
1213
1214You can also use @code{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
1215
1216@example
1217c++filt @var{symbol}
1218@end example
1219
1220All results are printed on the standard output.
b6216af2 1221
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1222@table @code
1223@item -_
1224@item --strip-underscores
1225On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
1226of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
1227name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore.
1228
1229@item -s @var{format}
1230@itemx --format=@var{format}
1231GNU @code{nm} can decode three different methods of mangling, used by
1232different C++ compilers. The argument to this option selects which
1233method it uses:
1234
1235@table @code
1236@item gnu
1237the one used by the GNU compiler (the default method)
1238@item lucid
1239the one used by the Lucid compiler
1240@item arm
1241the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
1242@end table
1243
1244@item --help
1245Print a summary of the options to @code{c++filt} and exit.
1246
1247@item --version
1248Print the version number of @code{c++filt} and exit.
1249@end table
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1251@quotation
1252@emph{Warning:} @code{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
1253user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
1254a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
1255passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
1256
1257@example
b26ac613 1258c++filt @var{symbol}
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1259@end example
1260
1261@noindent
1262may in a future release become
1263
1264@example
b26ac613 1265c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
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1266@end example
1267@end quotation
1268
b6216af2 1269@node Index, , c++filt, Top
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1270@unnumbered Index
1271
1272@printindex cp
1273
1274@contents
1275@bye
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