* aout-target.h (minimum_alignment): 8 byte alignment is right.
[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
8a6d5d4f 7* Binutils:: The GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
e31e9a8d 8 "objdump", "nm", "size", "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
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39@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
40@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strip", and "ranlib".
c72af735 41@c
e32341a7 42@c Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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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
112@item strip
113Discard symbols
114@end table
8b2c2275 115@end iftex
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116
117@menu
8b2c2275 118* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
df14d957 119* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
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120* ld:(ld)Overview. Combine object and archive files
121* nm:: List symbols from object files
122* objdump:: Display information from object files
123* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
124* size:: List section sizes and total size
125* strip:: Discard symbols
b6216af2 126* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
8b2c2275 127* Index::
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128@end menu
129
df14d957 130@node ar, objcopy, Top, Top
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131@chapter ar
132
133@kindex ar
134@cindex archives
135@cindex collections of files
136@smallexample
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137ar [-]@var{p}@var{mod} [ @var{membername} ] @var{archive} @var{file}@dots{}
138ar -M [ <mri-script ]
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139@end smallexample
140
141The GNU @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
142archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
143other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
144the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
145
146The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
ec40bbb8 147group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
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148extraction.
149
150@cindex name length
151GNU @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
152length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
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153system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
154with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
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155limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
156characters (typical of formats related to coff).
157
158@cindex libraries
159@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
160are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
161subroutines.
162
163@cindex symbol index
e31e9a8d 164@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
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165object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
166Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
167makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
168An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
169allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
170their placement in the archive.
171
918c2f61 172You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
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173table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
174@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
175
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176@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
177@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
178GNU @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
179facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
180like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
181specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
182with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
183program.
184
185@menu
186* ar-cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
187* ar-scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
188@end menu
189
190@page
191@node ar-cmdline, ar-scripts, ar, ar
192@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
193
194@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 195ar [-]@var{p}@var{mod} [ @var{membername} ] @var{archive} @var{file}@dots{}
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196@end smallexample
197
198@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
199When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
200arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
201(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
202@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
c72af735 203
ec40bbb8 204Most operations can also accept further @var{file} arguments,
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205specifying particular files to operate on.
206
207GNU @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
208flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
209
210If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
211dash.
212
213@cindex operations on archive
214The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
215any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
216
217@table @code
218@item d
219@cindex deleting from archive
220@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
b703c078 221be deleted as @var{file}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
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222specify no files to delete.
223
e31e9a8d 224If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
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225as it is deleted.
226
227@item m
228@cindex moving in archive
229Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
230
231The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
232programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
233than one member.
234
235If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
ec40bbb8 236@var{file} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
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237you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
238specified place instead.
239
240@item p
241@cindex printing from archive
242@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
243output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
244name before copying its contents to standard output.
245
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246If you specify no @var{file} arguments, all the files in the archive are
247printed.
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248
249@item q
250@cindex quick append to archive
b703c078 251@emph{Quick append}; add the files @var{file}@dots{} to the end of
ec40bbb8 252@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
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253
254The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
255operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
256
257The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
258
259Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
260index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
261@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
262
263@item r
264@cindex replacement in archive
b703c078 265Insert the files @var{file}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
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266@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
267previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
268added.
c72af735 269
b703c078 270If one of the files named in @var{file}@dots{} doesn't exist, @code{ar}
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271displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
272of the archive matching that name.
273
274By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
275use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
276placement relative to some existing member.
277
278The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
279output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
280@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
281deleted) or replaced.
282
283@item t
284@cindex contents of archive
285Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
b703c078 286of the files listed in @var{file}@dots{} that are present in the
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287archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
288see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
289request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
290
ec40bbb8 291If you do not specify a @var{file}, all files in the archive
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292are listed.
293
294@cindex repeated names in archive
295@cindex name duplication in archive
296If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
e31e9a8d 297an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
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298first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
299listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
300@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
301@c recent case in fact works the other way.
302
303@item x
304@cindex extract from archive
ec40bbb8 305@emph{Extract} members (named @var{file}) from the archive. You can
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306use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
307@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
308
ec40bbb8 309If you do not specify a @var{file}, all files in the archive
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310are extracted.
311
312@end table
313
314A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
315keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
316
317@table @code
318@item a
319@cindex relative placement in archive
320Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 321archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
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322member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
323@var{archive} specification.
324
325@item b
326Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 327archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
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328member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
329@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
330
331@item c
332@cindex creating archives
333@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
334created if it didn't exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
335issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
336using this modifier.
337
338@item i
339Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
ec40bbb8 340archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
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341member must be present as the @var{membername} argument, before the
342@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
343
344@item l
345This modifier is accepted but not used.
346@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
347@c what???---pesch@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
348
349@item o
350@cindex dates in archive
351Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
352you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
e31e9a8d 353are stamped with the time of extraction.
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354
355@item s
356@cindex writing archive index
357Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
358even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
359flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
360archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
361
362@item u
363@cindex updating an archive
b703c078 364Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
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365listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
366of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
367names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
368operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
369not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
370advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
371
372@item v
373This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
374operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
375when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
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376
377@item V
378This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
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379@end table
380
381@node ar-scripts, , ar-cmdline, ar
382@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
383
384@smallexample
385ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
386@end smallexample
387
388@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
389@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
390If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
391can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
e31e9a8d 392form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
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393directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
394input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
395errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
e31e9a8d 396issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
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397on any error.
398
399The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
400to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
401over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
402transition to GNU @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
403written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
404
405The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
406@itemize @bullet
407@item
408commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
409is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
410shown in upper case for clarity.
411
412@item
413a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
414line.
415
416@item
417empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
418
419@item
420comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
421or @samp{;} is ignored.
422
423@item
424Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
425command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
426blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
427
428@item
429@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
430at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
431of the current command.
432@end itemize
433
434Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
435@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
436
437@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
438a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
439
440@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
441to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
442archive.
443
444@table @code
445@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
446@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
447Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
448@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
449
450Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
451
452@item ADDMOD @var{file}, @var{file}, @dots{} @var{file}
453@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
454@c else like "ar q..."
455Add each named @var{file} as a module in the current archive.
456
457Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
458
459@item CLEAR
460Discard the contents of the current archive, cancelling the effect of
461any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
462effect) even if no current archive is specified.
463
464@item CREATE @var{archive}
465Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
466other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
467is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
468You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
469existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
470
471@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
472Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
473@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
474
475Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
476
477@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
478@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
479List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
480command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
481output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
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482@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
483@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
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484
485Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
486specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
487output to that file.
488
489@item END
490Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
491completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
492changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
493changes are lost.
494
495@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
496Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
497into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
b703c078 498@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
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499
500Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
501
502@ignore
503@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
504@item FULLDIR
505
506@item HELP
507@end ignore
508
509@item LIST
510Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
511regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
512tv @var{archive}}). (This single command is a GNU @code{ld}
513enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
514
515Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
516
517@item OPEN @var{archive}
518Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
519many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
520will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
521
522@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
523In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
524the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
525To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
526the current archive, must exist.
527
528Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
529
530@item VERBOSE
531Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
532When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
b703c078 533@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
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534
535@item SAVE
536Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
537file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
538command.
539
540Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
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541
542@end table
543
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544@node objcopy, nm, ar, Top
545@chapter objcopy
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546
547@smallexample
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548objcopy [ -F @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
549 [ -I @var{format} | --input-format=@var{format} ]
550 [ -O @var{format} | --output-format=@var{format} ]
551 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
552 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
553 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ]
554 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
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555@end smallexample
556
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557The GNU @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object file to
558another. @code{objcopy} uses the GNU BFD Library to read and write the
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559object files. It can write the destination object file in a format
560different from that of the source object file. The exact behavior of
df14d957 561@code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
e31e9a8d 562
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563@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
564deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses BFD to do all its
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565translation work; it knows about all the formats BFD knows about, and
566thus is able to recognize most formats without being told explicitly.
567@xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD, the GNU linker}.
568
569@table @code
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570@item @var{infile}
571@itemx @var{outfile}
572The source and output files respectively.
df14d957 573If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
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574temporary file and destructively renames the result with
575the name of the input file.
576
577@item -I @var{format}
578@itemx --input-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 579Consider the source file's object format to be @var{format}, rather than
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580attempting to deduce it.
581
582@item -O @var{format}
583@itemx --output-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 584Write the output file using the object format @var{format}.
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585
586@item -F @var{format}
587@itemx --format=@var{format}
588Use @var{format} as the object format for both the input and the output
589file; i.e. simply transfer data from source to destination with no
590translation.
e31e9a8d 591
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592@item -S
593@itemx --strip-all
594Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
e31e9a8d 595
918c2f61
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596@item -g
597@itemx --strip-debug
598Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
e31e9a8d 599
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600@item -x
601@itemx --discard-all
602Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
603@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
e31e9a8d 604
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605@item -X
606@itemx --discard-locals
607Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
608(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
e31e9a8d
JO
609
610@item -V
918c2f61 611@itemx --version
df14d957 612Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
e31e9a8d 613
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614@item -v
615@itemx --verbose
616Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
df14d957 617archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
e31e9a8d
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618@end table
619
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620@iftex
621@node ld
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622@chapter ld
623@cindex linker
624@kindex ld
625The GNU linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
27e94bd5 626@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the GNU linker}.
8b2c2275 627@end iftex
c72af735 628
df14d957 629@node nm, objdump, objcopy, Top
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630@chapter nm
631@cindex symbols
632@kindex nm
633
634@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 635nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
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636 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
637 [ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
4d9b5d5a 638 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
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639 [ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
640 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
641 [ -V | --version ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
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642@end smallexample
643
b703c078 644GNU @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
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645If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
646@file{a.out}.
647
648For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
649
650@itemize @bullet
651@item
652The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
653hexadecimal by default.
654
655@item
656The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
657well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
658local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
659
660@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
661@c would be nice.
662@table @code
663@item A
664Absolute.
665
666@item B
667BSS (uninitialized data).
668
669@item C
670Common.
671
672@item D
673Initialized data.
674
675@item I
676Indirect reference.
677
678@item T
679Text (program code).
680
681@item U
682Undefined.
683@end table
684
685@item
686The symbol name.
687@end itemize
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688
689The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
690equivalent.
691
692@table @code
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693@item -A
694@itemx -o
695@itemx --print-file-name
696@cindex input file name
697@cindex file name
698@cindex source file name
699Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
700in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
701before all of its symbols.
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702
703@item -a
918c2f61 704@itemx --debug-syms
c72af735 705@cindex debugging symbols
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706Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
707listed.
708
709@item -f @var{format}
710@itemx --format=@var{format}
711Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
712@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
713Only the first character of @var{format} is significant, it can be
714either upper or lower case.
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715
716@item -g
918c2f61 717@itemx --extern-only
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718@cindex external symbols
719Display only external symbols.
720
721@item -p
918c2f61 722@itemx --no-sort
c72af735 723@cindex sorting symbols
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724Don't bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
725encountered.
726
727@item -P
728@itemx --portability
729Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
730Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
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731
732@item -n
6cfbdb50 733@itemx -v
918c2f61 734@itemx --numeric-sort
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735Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
736by their names.
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737
738@item -s
918c2f61 739@itemx --print-armap
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740@cindex symbol index, listing
741When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
ec40bbb8
DM
742(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
743contain definitions for which names.
c72af735 744
c72af735 745@item -r
918c2f61 746@itemx --reverse-sort
ec40bbb8 747Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
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748last come first.
749
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750@item -t @var{radix}
751@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
752Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
753@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
754
ec40bbb8 755@item --target=@var{bfdname}
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756@cindex object code format
757Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
758@xref{objdump}, for information on listing available formats.
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759
760@item -u
918c2f61 761@itemx --undefined-only
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762@cindex external symbols
763@cindex undefined symbols
764Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
765
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766@item -V
767@itemx --version
768Show the version number of @code{nm}.
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769@end table
770
771@node objdump, ranlib, nm, Top
772@chapter objdump
773
774@cindex object file information
775@kindex objdump
776
777@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
DM
778objdump [ -a ] [ -b @var{bfdname} ] [ -d ] [ -f ]
779 [ -h | --header ] [ -i ] [ -j @var{section} ] [ -l ]
780 [ -m @var{machine} ] [ -r | --reloc ] [ -s ]
781 [ --stabs ] [ -t | --syms ] [ -x ]
782 @var{objfile}@dots{}
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783@end smallexample
784
785@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
786The options control what particular information to display. This
787information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
788compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
789program to compile and work.
790
791The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
792equivalent.
793
794@table @code
b703c078 795@item @var{objfile}@dots{}
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796The object files to be examined. When you specify archives,
797@code{objdump} shows information on each of the member object files.
798
799@item -a
800@c print_arelt_descr
801@cindex archive headers
ec40bbb8 802If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
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803header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
804information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
805the object file format of each archive member.
806
c5f0c938 807@c suggest longname --target or --format or --bfd
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808@item -b @var{bfdname}
809@cindex object code format
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DM
810Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
811@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
812automatically recognize many formats.
813
814For example,
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815@example
816objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
817@end example
818@noindent
ec40bbb8
DM
819displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
820@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
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821file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
822formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
823
824@item -d
825@cindex disassembling object code
826@cindex machine instructions
827Disassemble. Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine
ec40bbb8 828instructions from @var{objfile}.
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829
830@item -f
831@cindex object file header
832File header. Display summary information from the overall header of
ec40bbb8 833each of the @var{objfile} files.
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834
835@item -h
c5f0c938 836@itemx --header
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837@cindex section headers
838Header. Display summary information from the section headers of the
839object file.
840
841@item -i
842@cindex architectures available
843@cindex object formats available
844Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
ec40bbb8 845for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
c72af735 846
c5f0c938 847@c suggest longname --section
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RP
848@item -j @var{name}
849@cindex section information
ec40bbb8 850Display information only for section @var{name}.
c72af735 851
c5f0c938 852@c suggest longname --label or --linespec
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853@item -l
854@cindex source filenames for object files
855Label the display (using debugging information) with the source filename
856and line numbers corresponding to the object code shown.
857
c5f0c938 858@c suggest longname --architecture
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859@item -m @var{machine}
860@cindex architecture
ec40bbb8 861Specify that the object files @var{objfile} are for architecture
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862@var{machine}. You can list available architectures using the @samp{-i}
863option.
864
865@item -r
c5f0c938 866@itemx --reloc
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RP
867@cindex relocation entries, in object file
868Relocation. Print the relocation entries of the file.
869
870@item -s
871@cindex sections, full contents
872@cindex object file sections
873Display the full contents of any sections requested.
874
c5f0c938
JG
875@item --stabs
876@cindex stab
877@cindex .stab
878@cindex debug symbols
879@cindex ELF object file format
c3c93fda
JG
880Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
881contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
882ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
883@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
884section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
c5f0c938
JG
885interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
886output.
887
c72af735 888@item -t
c5f0c938 889@itemx --syms
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890@cindex symbol table entries, printing
891Symbol Table. Print the symbol table entries of the file.
892This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
893
894@item -x
895@cindex all header information, object file
896@cindex header information, all
897Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
898relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
899@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
900
901@end table
902
903@node ranlib, size, objdump, Top
904@chapter ranlib
905
906@kindex ranlib
907@cindex archive contents
908@cindex symbol index
909
910@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 911ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
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912@end smallexample
913
ec40bbb8 914@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
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915stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
916member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
917
918c2f61 918You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
c72af735 919
ec40bbb8 920An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
c72af735
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921allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
922their placement in the archive.
923
924The GNU @code{ranlib} program is another form of GNU @code{ar}; running
925@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
926@xref{ar}.
927
4d9b5d5a
DM
928@table @code
929@item -v
930@itemx -V
931Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
c3f471a4 932@end table
4d9b5d5a 933
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934@node size, strip, ranlib, Top
935@chapter size
936
937@kindex size
938@cindex section sizes
939
940@smallexample
4d9b5d5a
DM
941size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
942 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
943 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
944 @var{objfile}@dots{}
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945@end smallexample
946
947The GNU @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
ec40bbb8
DM
948size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
949argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
950object file or each module in an archive.
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951
952The command line options have the following meanings:
953@table @code
b703c078 954@item @var{objfile}@dots{}
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955The object files to be examined.
956
957@item -A
958@itemx -B
ec40bbb8 959@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
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960@cindex size display format
961Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from GNU
962@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
ec40bbb8
DM
963or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
964@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
c72af735 965Berkeley's.
918c2f61
PB
966@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
967@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
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968@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
969
970Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
971@code{size}:
972@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 973size --format Berkeley ranlib size
c72af735
RP
974text data bss dec hex filename
975294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
976294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
977@end smallexample
978
979@noindent
980This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
981
982@smallexample
4d9b5d5a 983size --format SysV ranlib size
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984ranlib :
985section size addr
986.text 294880 8192
987.data 81920 303104
988.bss 11592 385024
989Total 388392
990
991
992size :
993section size addr
994.text 294880 8192
995.data 81920 303104
996.bss 11888 385024
997Total 388688
998@end smallexample
999
918c2f61 1000@item --help
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1001Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1002
1003@item -d
1004@itemx -o
1005@itemx -x
ec40bbb8 1006@itemx --radix=@var{number}
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1007@cindex size number format
1008@cindex radix for section sizes
1009Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
ec40bbb8
DM
1010section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
1011(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
1012@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
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1013values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1014radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
1015octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
1016
ec40bbb8 1017@item --target=@var{bfdname}
c72af735 1018@cindex object code format
ec40bbb8
DM
1019Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1020@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
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1021automatically recognize many formats. @xref{objdump}, for information
1022on listing available formats.
1023
1024@item -V
918c2f61 1025@itemx --version
4d9b5d5a 1026Display the version number of @code{size}.
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1027@end table
1028
b6216af2 1029@node strip, c++filt, size, Top
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1030@chapter strip
1031
1032@kindex strip
1033@cindex removing symbols
1034@cindex discarding symbols
1815e42c 1035@cindex symbols, discarding
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1036
1037@smallexample
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1038strip [ -F @var{format} | --format=@var{format} | --target=@var{format} ]
1039 [ -I @var{format} | --input-format=@var{format} ]
1040 [ -O @var{format} | --output-format=@var{format} ]
1041 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
1042 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
918c2f61 1043 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ]
b703c078 1044 @var{objfile}@dots{}
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1045@end smallexample
1046
e31e9a8d 1047GNU @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
ec40bbb8 1048@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
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1049
1050@code{strip} will not execute unless at least one object file is listed.
1051
ec40bbb8 1052@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
c72af735 1053rather than writing modified copies under different names.
c72af735 1054
c72af735 1055@table @code
918c2f61
PB
1056@item -I @var{format}
1057@itemx --input-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8
DM
1058Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1059code format @var{format}.
918c2f61
PB
1060
1061@item -O @var{format}
1062@itemx --output-format=@var{format}
ec40bbb8 1063Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{format}.
918c2f61
PB
1064
1065@item -F @var{format}
1066@itemx --format=@var{format}
b703c078 1067@itemx --target=@var{format}
ec40bbb8
DM
1068Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1069code format @var{format}, and rewrite it in the same format.
918c2f61 1070
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1071@item -s
1072@itemx --strip-all
1073Remove all symbols.
1074
918c2f61
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1075@item -g
1076@itemx -S
1077@itemx --strip-debug
1078Remove debugging symbols only.
1079
1080@item -x
1081@itemx --discard-all
1082Remove non-global symbols.
1083
1084@item -X
1085@itemx --discard-locals
1086Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
ec40bbb8 1087(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
918c2f61
PB
1088
1089@item -V
1090@itemx --version
ec40bbb8 1091Show the version number for @code{strip}.
918c2f61 1092
1815e42c 1093@item -v
918c2f61
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1094@itemx --verbose
1095Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1269d441 1096archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
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1097@end table
1098
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PB
1099@node c++filt, Index, strip, Top
1100@chapter c++filt
1101
1102@kindex c++filt
1103@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1104
1105The C++ language provides function overloading, which means that
e32341a7 1106you can write many function with the same name (but taking
b6216af2
PB
1107different kinds of parameters). So that the linker can keep these
1108overloaded functions from clashing, all C++ function names are
e32341a7 1109encoded (``mangled'') into a funny-looking low-level assembly label.
b6216af2 1110The @code{c++filt} program does the inverse mapping: It decodes
e32341a7 1111(``demangles'') low-level names into user-level names.
b6216af2 1112
e32341a7 1113When you use @code{c++filt} as a filter (which is usually the case),
b6216af2
PB
1114it reads from standard input. Every alphanumeric word (consisting
1115of letters, digits, underscores, dollars, or periods) seen in the
1116input is a potential label. If the label decodes into a C++ name.
1117the C++ name will replace the low-level name in the output.
1118
1119A typical use of @code{c++filt} is to pipe the output of @code{nm}
1120though it.
1121
e32341a7
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1122Note that on some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an
1123underscore in front of every name. (I.e. the C name @code{foo} gets the
1124low-level name @code{_foo}.) On such systems, @code{c++filt} removes
1125any initial underscore of a potential label.
b6216af2
PB
1126
1127@node Index, , c++filt, Top
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1128@unnumbered Index
1129
1130@printindex cp
1131
1132@contents
1133@bye
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