* configure.host: Correct sed patterns for last change.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
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1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
607dea97 3@c Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8c2bc687 4
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5@include config.texi
6
7@ifinfo
8@format
9START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
ad0481cd
AS
10* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
11* ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives
12* nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files
13* objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files
14* objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files
15* ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents
16* readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
17* size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size
18* strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files
19* strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols
20* c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
21* cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
22* addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line
23* nlmconv: (binutils)nlmconv. Converts object code into an NLM
24* windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources
25* dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs
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26END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
27@end format
28@end ifinfo
29
30@ifinfo
0285c67d 31@c man begin COPYRIGHT
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32Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
332000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
252b5132 34
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35Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
36under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
37or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
38with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
39Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
947ed062 40section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
252b5132 41
0285c67d 42@c man end
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43@ignore
44Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
45results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
46notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
47(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
48
49@end ignore
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50@end ifinfo
51
52@synindex ky cp
53@c
54@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
55@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", "readelf" and "ranlib".
56@c
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57@c Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
58@c 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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59@c
60@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
cf055d54 61@c Free Documentation License.
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62@c
63
64@setchapternewpage odd
65@settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
66@titlepage
67@finalout
68@title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
69@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
70@sp 1
36607f99 71@subtitle @value{UPDATED}
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72@author Roland H. Pesch
73@author Jeffrey M. Osier
74@author Cygnus Support
75@page
76
77@tex
78{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
79\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
80@end tex
81
82@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
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83Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,
842000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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86 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
87 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
88 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
89 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
90 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
947ed062 91 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
252b5132 92
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93@end titlepage
94
95@node Top
96@top Introduction
97
98@cindex version
947ed062 99This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
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100utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
101
102@iftex
103@table @code
104@item ar
105Create, modify, and extract from archives
106
107@item nm
108List symbols from object files
109
110@item objcopy
111Copy and translate object files
112
113@item objdump
114Display information from object files
115
116@item ranlib
117Generate index to archive contents
118
119@item readelf
120Display the contents of ELF format files.
121
122@item size
123List file section sizes and total size
124
125@item strings
126List printable strings from files
127
128@item strip
129Discard symbols
130
131@item c++filt
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132Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
133@code{cxxfilt})
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134
135@item addr2line
136Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
137
138@item nlmconv
139Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
140
141@item windres
142Manipulate Windows resources
143
144@item dlltool
145Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
146@end table
147@end iftex
148
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149This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
150Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
151section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
152
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153@menu
154* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
155* nm:: List symbols from object files
156* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
157* objdump:: Display information from object files
158* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
159* readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files.
160* size:: List section sizes and total size
161* strings:: List printable strings from files
162* strip:: Discard symbols
163* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
9d51cc66 164* cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
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165* addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
166* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
167* windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
168* dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
169* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
170* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
cf055d54 171* GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
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172* Index:: Index
173@end menu
174
175@node ar
176@chapter ar
177
178@kindex ar
179@cindex archives
180@cindex collections of files
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181
182@c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
183
252b5132 184@smallexample
3de39064 185ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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186ar -M [ <mri-script ]
187@end smallexample
188
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189@c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
190
c7c55b78 191The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
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192archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
193other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
194the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
195
196The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
197group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
198extraction.
199
200@cindex name length
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201@sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
202length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
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203system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
204with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
205limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
206characters (typical of formats related to coff).
207
208@cindex libraries
c7c55b78 209@command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
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210are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
211subroutines.
212
213@cindex symbol index
c7c55b78 214@command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
252b5132 215object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
c7c55b78 216Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
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217makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
218An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
219allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
220their placement in the archive.
221
222You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
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223table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
224@command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
252b5132 225
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226@cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
227@cindex @command{ar} compatibility
228@sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
252b5132 229facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
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230like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
231specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
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232with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
233program.
234
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235@c man end
236
252b5132 237@menu
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238* ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
239* ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
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240@end menu
241
242@page
243@node ar cmdline
947ed062 244@section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
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245
246@smallexample
0285c67d 247@c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
c7c55b78 248ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
0285c67d 249@c man end
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250@end smallexample
251
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252@cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
253When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
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254arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
255(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
256@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
257
258Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
259specifying particular files to operate on.
260
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261@c man begin OPTIONS ar
262
c7c55b78 263@sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
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264flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
265
266If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
267dash.
268
269@cindex operations on archive
270The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
271any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
272
c7c55b78 273@table @samp
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274@item d
275@cindex deleting from archive
276@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
277be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
278specify no files to delete.
279
c7c55b78 280If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
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281as it is deleted.
282
283@item m
284@cindex moving in archive
285Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
286
287The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
288programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
289than one member.
290
291If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
292@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
293you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
294specified place instead.
295
296@item p
297@cindex printing from archive
298@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
299output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
300name before copying its contents to standard output.
301
302If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
303printed.
304
305@item q
306@cindex quick append to archive
307@emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
308@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
309
310The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
311operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
312
c7c55b78 313The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
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314
315Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
316index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
c7c55b78 317@command{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
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318
319However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
947ed062 320index, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} implements @samp{q} as a synonym for @samp{r}.
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321
322@item r
323@cindex replacement in archive
324Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
325@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
326previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
327added.
328
c7c55b78 329If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
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330displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
331of the archive matching that name.
332
333By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
334use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
335placement relative to some existing member.
336
337The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
338output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
339@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
340deleted) or replaced.
341
342@item t
343@cindex contents of archive
344Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
345of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
346archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
347see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
348request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
349
350If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
351are listed.
352
353@cindex repeated names in archive
354@cindex name duplication in archive
355If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
356an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
357first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
358listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
359@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
360@c recent case in fact works the other way.
361
362@item x
363@cindex extract from archive
364@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
365use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
c7c55b78 366@command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
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367
368If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
369are extracted.
370
371@end table
372
373A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
374keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
375
c7c55b78 376@table @samp
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377@item a
378@cindex relative placement in archive
379Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
380archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
381member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
382@var{archive} specification.
383
384@item b
385Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
386archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
387member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
388@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
389
390@item c
391@cindex creating archives
392@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
393created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
394issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
395using this modifier.
396
397@item f
c7c55b78 398Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
252b5132 399names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
c7c55b78 400not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
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401this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
402names when putting them in the archive.
403
404@item i
405Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
406archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
407member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
408@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
409
410@item l
411This modifier is accepted but not used.
412@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
413@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
414
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415@item N
416Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
417entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
418@var{count} of the given name from the archive.
419
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420@item o
421@cindex dates in archive
422Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
423you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
424are stamped with the time of extraction.
425
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426@item P
427Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
c7c55b78 428@command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
3de39064 429are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
c7c55b78 430will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
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431name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
432archive created by another tool.
433
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434@item s
435@cindex writing archive index
436Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
437even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
438flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
439archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
440
441@item S
442@cindex not writing archive index
443Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
444large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
445with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
446@samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
447@samp{ranlib} on the archive.
448
449@item u
450@cindex updating an archive
451Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
452listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
453of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
454names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
455operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
456not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
457advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
458
459@item v
460This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
461operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
462when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
463
464@item V
c7c55b78 465This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
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466@end table
467
c7c55b78 468@command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
6e800839 469compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
947ed062 470default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any of the other
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471@samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support @option{-X32}
472which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
6e800839 473
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474@c man end
475
476@ignore
477@c man begin SEEALSO ar
478nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
479@c man end
480@end ignore
481
252b5132 482@node ar scripts
947ed062 483@section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
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484
485@smallexample
486ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
487@end smallexample
488
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489@cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
490@cindex scripts, @command{ar}
491If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
252b5132 492can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
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493form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
494directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
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495input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
496errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
c7c55b78 497issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
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498on any error.
499
c7c55b78 500The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
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501to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
502over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
c7c55b78 503transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
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504written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
505
c7c55b78 506The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
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507@itemize @bullet
508@item
509commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
510is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
511shown in upper case for clarity.
512
513@item
514a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
515line.
516
517@item
518empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
519
520@item
521comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
522or @samp{;} is ignored.
523
524@item
c7c55b78 525Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
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526command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
527blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
528
529@item
530@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
531at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
532of the current command.
533@end itemize
534
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535Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
536@command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
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537
538@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
539a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
540
541@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
542to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
543archive.
544
545@table @code
546@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
547@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
548Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
549@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
550
551Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
552
553@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
554@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
555@c else like "ar q..."
556Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
557
558Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
559
560@item CLEAR
561Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
562any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
563effect) even if no current archive is specified.
564
565@item CREATE @var{archive}
566Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
567other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
568is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
569You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
570existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
571
572@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
573Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
574@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
575
576Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
577
578@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
579@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
580List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
581command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
582output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
583@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
584@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
585
586Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
c7c55b78 587specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
252b5132
RH
588output to that file.
589
590@item END
c7c55b78 591Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
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592completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
593changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
594changes are lost.
595
596@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
597Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
598into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
599@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
600
601Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
602
603@ignore
604@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
605@item FULLDIR
606
607@item HELP
608@end ignore
609
610@item LIST
611Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
612regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
c7c55b78 613tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
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RH
614enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
615
616Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
617
618@item OPEN @var{archive}
619Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
620many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
621will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
622
623@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
624In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
625the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
626To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
627the current archive, must exist.
628
629Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
630
631@item VERBOSE
632Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
633When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
634@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
635
636@item SAVE
637Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
638file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
639command.
640
641Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
642
643@end table
644
645@iftex
646@node ld
647@chapter ld
648@cindex linker
649@kindex ld
c7c55b78 650The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
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RH
651@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
652@end iftex
653
654@node nm
655@chapter nm
656@cindex symbols
657@kindex nm
658
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NC
659@c man title nm list symbols from object files
660
252b5132 661@smallexample
0285c67d 662@c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
c7c55b78
NC
663nm [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}] [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}]
664 [@option{-B}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]] [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}]
72797995 665 [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}] [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}]
3c9458e9 666 [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}][@option{--special-syms}]
c7c55b78
NC
667 [@option{-n}|@option{-v}|@option{--numeric-sort}] [@option{-p}|@option{--no-sort}]
668 [@option{-r}|@option{--reverse-sort}] [@option{--size-sort}] [@option{-u}|@option{--undefined-only}]
669 [@option{-t} @var{radix}|@option{--radix=}@var{radix}] [@option{-P}|@option{--portability}]
670 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-f}@var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
671 [@option{--defined-only}] [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}] [@option{--no-demangle}]
672 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}] [@option{-X 32_64}] [@option{--help}] [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
0285c67d 673@c man end
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RH
674@end smallexample
675
0285c67d 676@c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
c7c55b78
NC
677@sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
678If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
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679@file{a.out}.
680
c7c55b78 681For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
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RH
682
683@itemize @bullet
684@item
685The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
686hexadecimal by default.
687
688@item
689The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
690well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
691local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
692
693@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
694@c would be nice.
695@table @code
696@item A
697The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
698linking.
699
700@item B
701The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
702
703@item C
704The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
705linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
706symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
0285c67d
NC
707references.
708@ifclear man
709For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
252b5132 710--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
0879a67a 711@end ifclear
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RH
712
713@item D
714The symbol is in the initialized data section.
715
716@item G
717The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
718object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
719such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
720
721@item I
947ed062 722The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a @sc{gnu}
252b5132
RH
723extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
724
725@item N
726The symbol is a debugging symbol.
727
728@item R
729The symbol is in a read only data section.
730
731@item S
732The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
733
734@item T
735The symbol is in the text (code) section.
736
737@item U
738The symbol is undefined.
739
fad6fcbb
NC
740@item V
741The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
742a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
743When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
744the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
745
252b5132 746@item W
fad6fcbb
NC
747The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
748weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
749defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
750When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
c87db184 751the value of the symbol is determined in a system-specific manner without
977cdf5a
NC
752error. On some systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been
753specified.
754
252b5132
RH
755
756@item -
757The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
758next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
c7c55b78
NC
759the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
760@ifclear man
761For more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
252b5132 762``stabs'' debug format}.
c7c55b78 763@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
764
765@item ?
766The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
767@end table
768
769@item
770The symbol name.
771@end itemize
772
0285c67d
NC
773@c man end
774
775@c man begin OPTIONS nm
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776The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
777equivalent.
778
c7c55b78 779@table @env
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780@item -A
781@itemx -o
782@itemx --print-file-name
783@cindex input file name
784@cindex file name
785@cindex source file name
f20a759a 786Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
252b5132
RH
787in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
788before all of its symbols.
789
790@item -a
791@itemx --debug-syms
792@cindex debugging symbols
793Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
794listed.
795
796@item -B
c7c55b78
NC
797@cindex @command{nm} format
798@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
799The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
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RH
800
801@item -C
28c309a2 802@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
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RH
803@cindex demangling in nm
804Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
805Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
806makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
807mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
808choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
809for more information on demangling.
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RH
810
811@item --no-demangle
812Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
813
814@item -D
815@itemx --dynamic
816@cindex dynamic symbols
817Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
818only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
819libraries.
820
821@item -f @var{format}
822@itemx --format=@var{format}
c7c55b78
NC
823@cindex @command{nm} format
824@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
252b5132
RH
825Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
826@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
827Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
828either upper or lower case.
829
830@item -g
831@itemx --extern-only
832@cindex external symbols
833Display only external symbols.
834
835@item -l
836@itemx --line-numbers
837@cindex symbol line numbers
838For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
839line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
840address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
841number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
842information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
843
844@item -n
845@itemx -v
846@itemx --numeric-sort
847Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
848by their names.
849
850@item -p
851@itemx --no-sort
852@cindex sorting symbols
853Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
854encountered.
855
856@item -P
857@itemx --portability
858Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
859Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
860
72797995
L
861@item -S
862@itemx --print-size
06a30c77 863Print size, not the value, of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output format.
72797995 864
252b5132
RH
865@item -s
866@itemx --print-armap
867@cindex symbol index, listing
868When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
c7c55b78 869(stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
252b5132
RH
870contain definitions for which names.
871
872@item -r
873@itemx --reverse-sort
874Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
875last come first.
876
877@item --size-sort
878Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
879the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
06a30c77 880value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used the size of the symbol
76ed1927
NC
881is printed, rather than the value, and @samp{-S} must be used in order
882both size and value to be printed.
252b5132 883
3c9458e9
NC
884@item --special-syms
885Display symbols which have a target-specific special meaning. These
886symbols are usually used by the target for some special processing and
887are not normally helpful when included included in the normal symbol
888lists. For example for ARM targets this option would skip the mapping
889symbols used to mark transistions between ARM code, THUMB code and
890data.
891
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RH
892@item -t @var{radix}
893@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
894Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
895@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
896
897@item --target=@var{bfdname}
898@cindex object code format
899Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
900@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
901
902@item -u
903@itemx --undefined-only
904@cindex external symbols
905@cindex undefined symbols
906Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
907
908@item --defined-only
909@cindex external symbols
910@cindex undefined symbols
911Display only defined symbols for each object file.
912
913@item -V
914@itemx --version
c7c55b78 915Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
252b5132 916
6e800839
GK
917@item -X
918This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
c7c55b78
NC
919@command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
920@option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
921to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
6e800839 922
252b5132 923@item --help
c7c55b78 924Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
252b5132
RH
925@end table
926
0285c67d
NC
927@c man end
928
929@ignore
930@c man begin SEEALSO nm
931ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
932@c man end
933@end ignore
934
252b5132
RH
935@node objcopy
936@chapter objcopy
937
0285c67d
NC
938@c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
939
252b5132 940@smallexample
0285c67d 941@c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
c7c55b78
NC
942objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
943 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
944 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
945 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
2593f09a
NC
946 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
947 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
c7c55b78
NC
948 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
949 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
bcf32829 950 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
c7c55b78
NC
951 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
952 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
953 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
5fe11841 954 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2593f09a
NC
955 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
956 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
c7c55b78
NC
957 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
958 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
959 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
960 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
961 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
962 [@option{--debugging}]
2593f09a
NC
963 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
964 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
965 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
966 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
c7c55b78
NC
967 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
968 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
969 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
970 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
971 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
972 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
973 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
974 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
2593f09a
NC
975 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
976 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
977 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
978 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78
NC
979 [@option{--weaken}]
980 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
981 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
bcf32829 982 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78
NC
983 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
984 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
985 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c51238bc
DA
986 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
987 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
988 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
989 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
ed1653a7
NC
990 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
991 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
4087920c
MR
992 [@option{--writable-text}]
993 [@option{--readonly-text}]
994 [@option{--pure}]
995 [@option{--impure}]
c7c55b78
NC
996 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
997 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
7c29036b 998 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
252b5132 999 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
0285c67d 1000@c man end
252b5132
RH
1001@end smallexample
1002
0285c67d 1003@c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
c7c55b78
NC
1004The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
1005file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
252b5132
RH
1006read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
1007file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
c7c55b78
NC
1008exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
1009Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
ccd13d18
L
1010between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
1011between any two formats may not work as expected.
252b5132 1012
c7c55b78
NC
1013@command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
1014deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
252b5132
RH
1015translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
1016and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1017explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1018
c7c55b78 1019@command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
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RH
1020target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1021
c7c55b78
NC
1022@command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1023output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1024@command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
252b5132
RH
1025a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1026relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1027the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1028
1029When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
c7c55b78
NC
1030use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1031some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
f20a759a 1032information that is not needed by the binary file.
252b5132 1033
947ed062
NC
1034Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1035files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
c7c55b78 1036@command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
947ed062 1037same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
18356cf2 1038
0285c67d
NC
1039@c man end
1040
1041@c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1042
c7c55b78 1043@table @env
252b5132
RH
1044@item @var{infile}
1045@itemx @var{outfile}
f20a759a 1046The input and output files, respectively.
c7c55b78 1047If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
252b5132
RH
1048temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1049the name of @var{infile}.
1050
c7c55b78 1051@item -I @var{bfdname}
252b5132
RH
1052@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1053Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1054attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1055
1056@item -O @var{bfdname}
1057@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1058Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1059@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1060
1061@item -F @var{bfdname}
1062@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1063Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1064file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1065translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1066
43a0748c
NC
1067@item -B @var{bfdarch}
1068@itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1069Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1070In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1071option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1072can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1073symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1074called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1075_binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1076an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1077
f91ea849
ILT
1078@item -j @var{sectionname}
1079@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1080Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1081This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1082inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1083
252b5132
RH
1084@item -R @var{sectionname}
1085@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1086Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1087option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1088inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1089
1090@item -S
1091@itemx --strip-all
1092Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1093
1094@item -g
1095@itemx --strip-debug
2593f09a 1096Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
252b5132
RH
1097
1098@item --strip-unneeded
1099Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1100
1101@item -K @var{symbolname}
1102@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1103Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1104be given more than once.
1105
1106@item -N @var{symbolname}
1107@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1108Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1109may be given more than once.
1110
bcf32829
JB
1111@item --strip-unneeded-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1112Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file unless it is needed
1113by a relocation. This option may be given more than once.
1114
16b2b71c
NC
1115@item -G @var{symbolname}
1116@itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1117Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1118to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1119be given more than once.
1120
252b5132
RH
1121@item -L @var{symbolname}
1122@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1123Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1124visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1125
1126@item -W @var{symbolname}
1127@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1128Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1129
5fe11841
NC
1130@item -w
1131@itemx --wildcard
1132Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1133line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1134square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1135name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1136point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1137For example:
1138
1139@smallexample
1140 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1141@end smallexample
1142
1143would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1144except for the symbol ``foo''.
1145
252b5132
RH
1146@item -x
1147@itemx --discard-all
1148Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1149@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1150
1151@item -X
1152@itemx --discard-locals
1153Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1154(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1155
1156@item -b @var{byte}
1157@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1158Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1159affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
c7c55b78 1160where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
252b5132
RH
1161option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1162to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1163target.
1164
1165@item -i @var{interleave}
1166@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1167Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
c7c55b78
NC
1168copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1169@command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1170@option{--byte}.
252b5132
RH
1171
1172@item -p
1173@itemx --preserve-dates
1174Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1175as those of the input file.
1176
1177@item --debugging
1178Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1179because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1180conversion process can be time consuming.
1181
1182@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1183Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1184the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1185the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1186space created with @var{val}.
1187
1188@item --pad-to @var{address}
1189Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1190done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
c7c55b78 1191filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
252b5132
RH
1192
1193@item --set-start @var{val}
f20a759a 1194Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
252b5132
RH
1195formats support setting the start address.
1196
1197@item --change-start @var{incr}
1198@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1199@cindex changing start address
1200Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1201formats support setting the start address.
1202
1203@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1204@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1205@cindex changing object addresses
1206Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1207address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1208section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1209relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1210certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1211that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1212
1213@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1214@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1215@cindex changing section address
1216Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1217@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1218@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
c7c55b78 1219section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
252b5132 1220above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
c7c55b78 1221be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1222
1223@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1224@cindex changing section LMA
1225Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1226address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1227program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1228is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1229especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1230different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1231@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
c7c55b78 1232section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
252b5132 1233above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
c7c55b78 1234will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1235
1236@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1237@cindex changing section VMA
1238Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1239address is the address where the section will be located once the
1240program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1241address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1242memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1243ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1244is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1245from the section address. See the comments under
c7c55b78 1246@option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
252b5132 1247the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
c7c55b78 1248@option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1249
1250@item --change-warnings
1251@itemx --adjust-warnings
c7c55b78
NC
1252If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1253@option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
252b5132
RH
1254exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1255
1256@item --no-change-warnings
1257@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
c7c55b78
NC
1258Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1259@option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
252b5132
RH
1260if the named section does not exist.
1261
1262@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1263Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1264comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
3994e2c6
ILT
1265@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1266@samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1267@samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1268does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1269@samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1270the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1271formats.
252b5132
RH
1272
1273@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1274Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1275contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1276size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1277works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1278
594ef5db
NC
1279@item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1280Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1281changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1282the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1283the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1284executable.
1285
1286This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1287since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1288you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1289data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1290
1291@smallexample
1292 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1293 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1294 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1295@end smallexample
1296
252b5132
RH
1297@item --change-leading-char
1298Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1299symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
c7c55b78 1300often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
252b5132
RH
1301change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1302object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1303character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1304character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1305appropriate.
1306
1307@item --remove-leading-char
1308If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1309character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1310most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1311remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1312if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1313different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
c7c55b78 1314@option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
252b5132
RH
1315when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1316file.
1317
420496c1
NC
1318@item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1319Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1320being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1321crc fields.
1322
1323@item --srec-forceS3
1324Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1325creating S3-only record format.
1326
57938635
AM
1327@item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1328Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1329when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1330source, and there are name collisions.
1331
92991082
JT
1332@item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1333Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1334listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1335with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1336character. This option may be given more than once.
1337
252b5132
RH
1338@item --weaken
1339Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1340when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
c7c55b78 1341the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
252b5132
RH
1342using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1343
16b2b71c 1344@item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1345Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1346@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1347name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1348This option may be given more than once.
1349
1350@item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1351Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1352@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1353name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1354This option may be given more than once.
1355
bcf32829
JB
1356@item --strip-unneeded-symbols=@var{filename}
1357Apply @option{--strip-unneeded-symbol} option to each symbol listed in
1358the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1359symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1360character. This option may be given more than once.
1361
16b2b71c 1362@item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1363Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
16b2b71c
NC
1364file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1365symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1366character. This option may be given more than once.
1367
1368@item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1369Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1370@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1371name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1372This option may be given more than once.
1373
1374@item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1375Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1376@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1377name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1378This option may be given more than once.
1379
1ae8b3d2
AO
1380@item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1381If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1382@var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1383a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1384new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1385being used.
1386
4087920c
MR
1387@item --writable-text
1388Mark the output text as writable. This option isn't meaningful for all
1389object file formats.
1390
1391@item --readonly-text
1392Make the output text write protected. This option isn't meaningful for all
1393object file formats.
1394
1395@item --pure
1396Mark the output file as demand paged. This option isn't meaningful for all
1397object file formats.
1398
1399@item --impure
1400Mark the output file as impure. This option isn't meaningful for all
1401object file formats.
1402
d7fb0dd2
NC
1403@item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1404Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1405
1406@item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1407Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1408
1409@item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1410Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1411@var{string}.
1412
ed1653a7
NC
1413@item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1414Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to @var{path-to-file}
1415and adds it to the output file.
1416
1417@item --only-keep-debug
1418Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
1419@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
1420
1421The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1422@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1423stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1424distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1425needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1426to create these files is as follows:
1427
1428@enumerate
1429@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1430@code{foo} then...
1431@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1432create a file containing the debugging info.
1433@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1434stripped executable.
1435@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1436to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1437@end enumerate
1438
1439Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1440file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1441optional. You could instead do this:
1442
1443@enumerate
1444@item Link the executable as normal.
1445@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1446@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1447@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1448@end enumerate
1449
1450ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
1451full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1452@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1453
252b5132
RH
1454@item -V
1455@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1456Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
252b5132
RH
1457
1458@item -v
1459@itemx --verbose
1460Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1461archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1462
1463@item --help
c7c55b78 1464Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
7c29036b
NC
1465
1466@item --info
1467Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
252b5132
RH
1468@end table
1469
0285c67d
NC
1470@c man end
1471
1472@ignore
1473@c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1474ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1475@c man end
1476@end ignore
1477
252b5132
RH
1478@node objdump
1479@chapter objdump
1480
1481@cindex object file information
1482@kindex objdump
1483
0285c67d
NC
1484@c man title objdump display information from object files.
1485
252b5132 1486@smallexample
0285c67d 1487@c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
c7c55b78
NC
1488objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1489 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1490 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1491 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1492 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1493 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1494 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1495 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1496 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1497 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
51cdc6e0 1498 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
c7c55b78
NC
1499 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1500 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1501 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1502 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1503 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1504 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1505 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1506 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1507 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1508 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1509 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1510 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1511 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1512 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1513 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1514 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1515 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1516 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1517 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1518 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1519 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
3c9458e9 1520 [@option{--special-syms}]
c7c55b78
NC
1521 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1522 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
252b5132 1523 @var{objfile}@dots{}
0285c67d 1524@c man end
252b5132
RH
1525@end smallexample
1526
0285c67d
NC
1527@c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1528
c7c55b78 1529@command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
252b5132
RH
1530The options control what particular information to display. This
1531information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1532compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1533program to compile and work.
1534
1535@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
c7c55b78 1536specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
252b5132
RH
1537object files.
1538
0285c67d
NC
1539@c man end
1540
1541@c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1542
252b5132 1543The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1dada9c5 1544equivalent. At least one option from the list
155e0d23 1545@option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
252b5132 1546
c7c55b78 1547@table @env
252b5132
RH
1548@item -a
1549@itemx --archive-header
1550@cindex archive headers
1551If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1552header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1553information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1554the object file format of each archive member.
1555
1556@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1557@cindex section addresses in objdump
1558@cindex VMA in objdump
1559When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1560addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1561the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1562addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1563such as a.out.
1564
1565@item -b @var{bfdname}
1566@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1567@cindex object code format
1568Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1569@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1570automatically recognize many formats.
1571
1572For example,
1573@example
1574objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1575@end example
1576@noindent
c7c55b78
NC
1577displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1578@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
252b5132 1579file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
c7c55b78 1580formats available with the @option{-i} option.
252b5132
RH
1581@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1582
1583@item -C
28c309a2 1584@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
252b5132
RH
1585@cindex demangling in objdump
1586Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1587Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
1588makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1589mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1590choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1591for more information on demangling.
252b5132 1592
947ed062
NC
1593@item -g
1594@itemx --debugging
252b5132
RH
1595Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1596information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1597Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
c1124b23
AO
1598Some other types are supported by @command{readelf -w}.
1599@xref{readelf}.
252b5132 1600
51cdc6e0
NC
1601@item -e
1602@itemx --debugging-tags
1603Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
1604with ctags tool.
1605
252b5132
RH
1606@item -d
1607@itemx --disassemble
1608@cindex disassembling object code
1609@cindex machine instructions
1610Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1611@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1612expected to contain instructions.
1613
1614@item -D
1615@itemx --disassemble-all
c7c55b78 1616Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
252b5132
RH
1617those expected to contain instructions.
1618
1619@item --prefix-addresses
1620When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1621the older disassembly format.
1622
252b5132
RH
1623@item -EB
1624@itemx -EL
1625@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1626@cindex endianness
1627@cindex disassembly endianness
1628Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1629disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1630does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1631
1632@item -f
947ed062 1633@itemx --file-headers
252b5132
RH
1634@cindex object file header
1635Display summary information from the overall header of
1636each of the @var{objfile} files.
1637
f1563258
TW
1638@item --file-start-context
1639@cindex source code context
1640Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
c7c55b78 1641(assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
f1563258
TW
1642context to the start of the file.
1643
252b5132 1644@item -h
947ed062
NC
1645@itemx --section-headers
1646@itemx --headers
252b5132
RH
1647@cindex section headers
1648Display summary information from the section headers of the
1649object file.
1650
1651File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
c7c55b78
NC
1652using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1653@command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
252b5132 1654store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
c7c55b78 1655although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
252b5132
RH
1656-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1657Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1658target.
1659
947ed062
NC
1660@item -H
1661@itemx --help
c7c55b78 1662Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
252b5132
RH
1663
1664@item -i
1665@itemx --info
1666@cindex architectures available
1667@cindex object formats available
1668Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
c7c55b78 1669for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
252b5132
RH
1670
1671@item -j @var{name}
1672@itemx --section=@var{name}
1673@cindex section information
1674Display information only for section @var{name}.
1675
1676@item -l
1677@itemx --line-numbers
1678@cindex source filenames for object files
1679Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1680source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
c7c55b78 1681Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
252b5132
RH
1682
1683@item -m @var{machine}
1684@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1685@cindex architecture
1686@cindex disassembly architecture
1687Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1688can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1689architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
c7c55b78 1690architectures with the @option{-i} option.
252b5132 1691
dd92f639
NC
1692@item -M @var{options}
1693@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1694Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
31e0f3cd
NC
1695some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
1696disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
1697can be placed together into a comma separated list.
dd92f639
NC
1698
1699If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1700select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
c7c55b78 1701@option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
58efb6c0
NC
1702used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1703'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
c7c55b78
NC
1704@option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1705Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
58efb6c0
NC
1706just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1707
1708There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
c7c55b78
NC
1709by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1710use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
947ed062 1711with the normal register names or the special register names).
dd92f639 1712
8f915f68 1713This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
c36774d6 1714disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
c7c55b78 1715using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
8f915f68
NC
1716useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1717compilers.
1718
e396998b
AM
1719For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1720switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1721following may be specified as a comma separated string.
b89e9eae 1722@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
e396998b
AM
1723the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1724intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1725@option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1726address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
b89e9eae 1727@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
e396998b 1728option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
b9e5d8e5 1729instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
e396998b
AM
1730suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1731
802a735e
AM
1732For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1733disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1734PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1735
640c0ccd
CD
1736For MIPS, this option controls the printing of register names in
1737disassembled instructions. Multiple selections from the
1738following may be specified as a comma separated string, and invalid
1739options are ignored:
1740
1741@table @code
1742@item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1743Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1744for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1745the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1746
1747@item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1748Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1749appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1750rather than names.
1751
1752@item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1753Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1754as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1755@var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1756the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1757
af7ee8bf
CD
1758@item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1759Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1760as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1761@var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1762the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1763
640c0ccd
CD
1764@item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1765Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1766
1767@item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
af7ee8bf
CD
1768Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1769as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
640c0ccd
CD
1770@end table
1771
1772For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1773@var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1774rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1775You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1776the @option{--help} option.
1777
252b5132
RH
1778@item -p
1779@itemx --private-headers
1780Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1781information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1782object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1783
1784@item -r
1785@itemx --reloc
1786@cindex relocation entries, in object file
c7c55b78
NC
1787Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1788@option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
252b5132
RH
1789disassembly.
1790
1791@item -R
1792@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1793@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1794Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1795meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1796libraries.
1797
1798@item -s
1799@itemx --full-contents
1800@cindex sections, full contents
1801@cindex object file sections
155e0d23
NC
1802Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
1803non-empty sections are displayed.
252b5132
RH
1804
1805@item -S
1806@itemx --source
1807@cindex source disassembly
1808@cindex disassembly, with source
1809Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
c7c55b78 1810@option{-d}.
252b5132
RH
1811
1812@item --show-raw-insn
1813When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1814in symbolic form. This is the default except when
c7c55b78 1815@option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
252b5132
RH
1816
1817@item --no-show-raw-insn
1818When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
c7c55b78 1819This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
252b5132 1820
1dada9c5 1821@item -G
947ed062 1822@itemx --stabs
252b5132
RH
1823@cindex stab
1824@cindex .stab
1825@cindex debug symbols
1826@cindex ELF object file format
1827Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1828contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1829ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1830@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1831section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
c7c55b78 1832interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
0285c67d
NC
1833output.
1834@ifclear man
1835For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
252b5132 1836Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
0285c67d 1837@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
1838
1839@item --start-address=@var{address}
1840@cindex start-address
1841Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
c7c55b78 1842of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
252b5132
RH
1843
1844@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1845@cindex stop-address
1846Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
c7c55b78 1847of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
252b5132
RH
1848
1849@item -t
1850@itemx --syms
1851@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1852Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1853This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1854
1855@item -T
1856@itemx --dynamic-syms
1857@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1858Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1859meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1860libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
c7c55b78 1861program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
252b5132 1862
3c9458e9
NC
1863@item --special-syms
1864When displaying symbols include those which the target considers to be
1865special in some way and which would not normally be of interest to the
1866user.
1867
947ed062
NC
1868@item -V
1869@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1870Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
252b5132
RH
1871
1872@item -x
947ed062 1873@itemx --all-headers
252b5132
RH
1874@cindex all header information, object file
1875@cindex header information, all
1876Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
c7c55b78 1877relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
04c34128 1878@option{-a -f -h -p -r -t}.
252b5132
RH
1879
1880@item -w
1881@itemx --wide
1882@cindex wide output, printing
1883Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
31104126 1884Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
aefbdd67
BE
1885
1886@item -z
2c0c15f9 1887@itemx --disassemble-zeroes
aefbdd67
BE
1888Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1889option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1890any other data.
252b5132
RH
1891@end table
1892
0285c67d
NC
1893@c man end
1894
1895@ignore
1896@c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1897nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1898@c man end
1899@end ignore
1900
252b5132
RH
1901@node ranlib
1902@chapter ranlib
1903
1904@kindex ranlib
1905@cindex archive contents
1906@cindex symbol index
1907
0285c67d
NC
1908@c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1909
252b5132 1910@smallexample
0285c67d 1911@c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
c7c55b78 1912ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
0285c67d 1913@c man end
252b5132
RH
1914@end smallexample
1915
0285c67d
NC
1916@c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1917
c7c55b78 1918@command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
252b5132
RH
1919stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1920member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1921
1922You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1923
1924An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1925allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1926their placement in the archive.
1927
c7c55b78
NC
1928The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1929@command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
252b5132
RH
1930@xref{ar}.
1931
0285c67d
NC
1932@c man end
1933
1934@c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1935
c7c55b78 1936@table @env
252b5132
RH
1937@item -v
1938@itemx -V
f20a759a 1939@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1940Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
252b5132
RH
1941@end table
1942
0285c67d
NC
1943@c man end
1944
1945@ignore
1946@c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1947ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1948@c man end
1949@end ignore
1950
252b5132
RH
1951@node size
1952@chapter size
1953
1954@kindex size
1955@cindex section sizes
1956
0285c67d
NC
1957@c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1958
252b5132 1959@smallexample
0285c67d 1960@c man begin SYNOPSIS size
c7c55b78 1961size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
15c82623
NC
1962 [@option{--help}]
1963 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1964 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
c7c55b78
NC
1965 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1966 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
0285c67d 1967@c man end
252b5132
RH
1968@end smallexample
1969
0285c67d
NC
1970@c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1971
c7c55b78 1972The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
252b5132
RH
1973size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1974argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1975object file or each module in an archive.
1976
1977@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1978If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1979
0285c67d
NC
1980@c man end
1981
1982@c man begin OPTIONS size
1983
252b5132
RH
1984The command line options have the following meanings:
1985
c7c55b78 1986@table @env
252b5132
RH
1987@item -A
1988@itemx -B
1989@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
c7c55b78 1990@cindex @command{size} display format
252b5132 1991Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
c7c55b78
NC
1992@command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
1993or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
1994@option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
252b5132
RH
1995Berkeley's.
1996@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1997@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1998@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1999
2000Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
c7c55b78 2001@command{size}:
252b5132 2002@smallexample
f20a759a 2003$ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
252b5132
RH
2004text data bss dec hex filename
2005294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
2006294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
2007@end smallexample
2008
2009@noindent
2010This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
2011
2012@smallexample
f20a759a 2013$ size --format=SysV ranlib size
252b5132
RH
2014ranlib :
2015section size addr
2016.text 294880 8192
2017.data 81920 303104
2018.bss 11592 385024
2019Total 388392
2020
2021
2022size :
2023section size addr
2024.text 294880 8192
2025.data 81920 303104
2026.bss 11888 385024
2027Total 388688
2028@end smallexample
2029
2030@item --help
2031Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
2032
2033@item -d
2034@itemx -o
2035@itemx -x
2036@itemx --radix=@var{number}
c7c55b78 2037@cindex @command{size} number format
252b5132
RH
2038@cindex radix for section sizes
2039Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
c7c55b78
NC
2040section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
2041(@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
2042@option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
252b5132 2043values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
c7c55b78
NC
2044radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
2045octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
252b5132 2046
15c82623
NC
2047@item -t
2048@itemx --totals
2049Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2050
252b5132
RH
2051@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2052@cindex object code format
2053Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
c7c55b78 2054@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
252b5132
RH
2055automatically recognize many formats.
2056@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2057
2058@item -V
2059@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2060Display the version number of @command{size}.
252b5132
RH
2061@end table
2062
0285c67d
NC
2063@c man end
2064
2065@ignore
2066@c man begin SEEALSO size
2067ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2068@c man end
2069@end ignore
2070
252b5132
RH
2071@node strings
2072@chapter strings
2073@kindex strings
2074@cindex listings strings
2075@cindex printing strings
2076@cindex strings, printing
2077
0285c67d
NC
2078@c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2079
252b5132 2080@smallexample
0285c67d 2081@c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
d132876a
NC
2082strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2083 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2084 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2085 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2086 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2087 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
c7c55b78 2088 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
0285c67d 2089@c man end
252b5132
RH
2090@end smallexample
2091
0285c67d
NC
2092@c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2093
c7c55b78 2094For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
252b5132
RH
2095character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
2096given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
2097character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
2098and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
2099the strings from the whole file.
2100
c7c55b78 2101@command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
252b5132
RH
2102files.
2103
0285c67d
NC
2104@c man end
2105
2106@c man begin OPTIONS strings
2107
c7c55b78 2108@table @env
252b5132
RH
2109@item -a
2110@itemx --all
2111@itemx -
2112Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
2113scan the whole files.
2114
2115@item -f
2116@itemx --print-file-name
2117Print the name of the file before each string.
2118
2119@item --help
2120Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2121
2122@item -@var{min-len}
2123@itemx -n @var{min-len}
2124@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2125Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2126long, instead of the default 4.
2127
2128@item -o
c7c55b78 2129Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
252b5132
RH
2130act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2131ways, we simply chose one.
2132
2133@item -t @var{radix}
2134@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2135Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2136character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2137octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2138
d132876a
NC
2139@item -e @var{encoding}
2140@itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2141Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
8745eafa
NC
2142Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2143characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2144single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
214516-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2146littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
d132876a 2147
252b5132
RH
2148@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2149@cindex object code format
2150Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2151@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2152
2153@item -v
2154@itemx --version
2155Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2156@end table
2157
0285c67d
NC
2158@c man end
2159
2160@ignore
2161@c man begin SEEALSO strings
2162ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2163and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2164@c man end
2165@end ignore
2166
252b5132
RH
2167@node strip
2168@chapter strip
2169
2170@kindex strip
2171@cindex removing symbols
2172@cindex discarding symbols
2173@cindex symbols, discarding
2174
0285c67d
NC
2175@c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2176
252b5132 2177@smallexample
0285c67d 2178@c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2593f09a
NC
2179strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2180 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2181 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2182 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
2183 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2184 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2185 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
5fe11841 2186 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2593f09a
NC
2187 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2188 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
2189 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
ed1653a7 2190 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
7c29036b
NC
2191 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2192 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
252b5132 2193 @var{objfile}@dots{}
0285c67d 2194@c man end
252b5132
RH
2195@end smallexample
2196
0285c67d
NC
2197@c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2198
c7c55b78 2199@sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
252b5132
RH
2200@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2201At least one object file must be given.
2202
c7c55b78 2203@command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
252b5132
RH
2204rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2205
0285c67d
NC
2206@c man end
2207
2208@c man begin OPTIONS strip
2209
c7c55b78 2210@table @env
252b5132
RH
2211@item -F @var{bfdname}
2212@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2213Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2214code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2215@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2216
2217@item --help
c7c55b78 2218Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
252b5132 2219
7c29036b
NC
2220@item --info
2221Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2222
947ed062 2223@item -I @var{bfdname}
252b5132
RH
2224@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2225Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2226code format @var{bfdname}.
2227@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2228
2229@item -O @var{bfdname}
2230@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2231Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2232@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2233
2234@item -R @var{sectionname}
2235@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2236Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2237option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2238inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2239
2240@item -s
2241@itemx --strip-all
2242Remove all symbols.
2243
2244@item -g
2245@itemx -S
15c82623 2246@itemx -d
252b5132
RH
2247@itemx --strip-debug
2248Remove debugging symbols only.
2249
2250@item --strip-unneeded
2251Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2252
2253@item -K @var{symbolname}
2254@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2255Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2256be given more than once.
2257
2258@item -N @var{symbolname}
2259@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2260Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2261given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
c7c55b78 2262@option{-K}.
252b5132
RH
2263
2264@item -o @var{file}
2265Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2266existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2267argument may be specified.
2268
2269@item -p
2270@itemx --preserve-dates
2271Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2272
5fe11841
NC
2273@item -w
2274@itemx --wildcard
2275Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
2276line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
2277square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
2278name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
2279point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
2280For example:
2281
2282@smallexample
2283 -w -K !foo -K fo*
2284@end smallexample
2285
2286would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
2287``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
2288
252b5132
RH
2289@item -x
2290@itemx --discard-all
2291Remove non-global symbols.
2292
2293@item -X
2294@itemx --discard-locals
2295Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2296(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2297
ed1653a7
NC
2298@item --only-keep-debug
2299Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
2300@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
2301
2302The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
2303@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
2304stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
2305distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
2306needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
2307to create these files is as follows:
2308
2309@enumerate
2310@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
2311@code{foo} then...
2312@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
2313create a file containing the debugging info.
2314@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
2315stripped executable.
2316@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
2317to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
2318@end enumerate
2319
2320Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
2321file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
2322optional. You could instead do this:
2323
2324@enumerate
2325@item Link the executable as normal.
2326@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
2327@item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
2328@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
2329@end enumerate
2330
2331ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
2332full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
2333@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
2334
252b5132
RH
2335@item -V
2336@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2337Show the version number for @command{strip}.
252b5132
RH
2338
2339@item -v
2340@itemx --verbose
2341Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2342archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2343@end table
2344
0285c67d
NC
2345@c man end
2346
2347@ignore
2348@c man begin SEEALSO strip
2349the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2350@c man end
2351@end ignore
2352
9d51cc66 2353@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
252b5132
RH
2354@chapter c++filt
2355
2356@kindex c++filt
2357@cindex demangling C++ symbols
2358
0285c67d
NC
2359@c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2360
252b5132 2361@smallexample
0285c67d 2362@c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
c7c55b78
NC
2363c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2364 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2365 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
4e48c9dd 2366 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
c7c55b78
NC
2367 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2368 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
0285c67d 2369@c man end
252b5132
RH
2370@end smallexample
2371
0285c67d
NC
2372@c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2373
9d51cc66 2374@kindex cxxfilt
252b5132
RH
2375The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2376that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2377takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2378are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
c7c55b78 2379@dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
9d51cc66 2380@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
c7c55b78 2381MS-DOS this program is named @command{cxxfilt}.}
9d51cc66
ILT
2382program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2383names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2384functions from clashing.
252b5132
RH
2385
2386Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2387dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2388label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2389name in the output.
2390
c7c55b78 2391You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
252b5132
RH
2392
2393@example
2394c++filt @var{symbol}
2395@end example
2396
c7c55b78 2397If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
252b5132
RH
2398names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2399standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2400
0285c67d
NC
2401@c man end
2402
2403@c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2404
c7c55b78 2405@table @env
252b5132
RH
2406@item -_
2407@itemx --strip-underscores
2408On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2409of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2410name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
c7c55b78 2411@command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
252b5132
RH
2412
2413@item -j
2414@itemx --java
2415Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2416syntax.
2417
2418@item -n
2419@itemx --no-strip-underscores
2420Do not remove the initial underscore.
2421
4e48c9dd
ILT
2422@item -p
2423@itemx --no-params
2424When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
2425the function's parameters.
2426
252b5132
RH
2427@item -s @var{format}
2428@itemx --format=@var{format}
947ed062
NC
2429@command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2430different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
252b5132
RH
2431method it uses:
2432
2433@table @code
947ed062
NC
2434@item auto
2435Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
252b5132 2436@item gnu
947ed062 2437the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
252b5132 2438@item lucid
947ed062 2439the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
252b5132
RH
2440@item arm
2441the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2442@item hp
947ed062 2443the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
252b5132
RH
2444@item edg
2445the one used by the EDG compiler
b5e2a4f3 2446@item gnu-v3
947ed062
NC
2447the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2448@item java
2449the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2450@item gnat
2451the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
252b5132
RH
2452@end table
2453
2454@item --help
c7c55b78 2455Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
252b5132
RH
2456
2457@item --version
c7c55b78 2458Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
252b5132
RH
2459@end table
2460
0285c67d
NC
2461@c man end
2462
2463@ignore
2464@c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2465the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2466@c man end
2467@end ignore
2468
252b5132 2469@quotation
c7c55b78 2470@emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
252b5132
RH
2471user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2472a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2473passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2474
2475@example
2476c++filt @var{symbol}
2477@end example
2478
2479@noindent
2480may in a future release become
2481
2482@example
2483c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2484@end example
2485@end quotation
2486
2487@node addr2line
2488@chapter addr2line
2489
2490@kindex addr2line
2491@cindex address to file name and line number
2492
0285c67d
NC
2493@c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2494
252b5132 2495@smallexample
0285c67d 2496@c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
c7c55b78 2497addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
bf44dd74 2498 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
c7c55b78
NC
2499 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2500 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2501 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2502 [addr addr @dots{}]
0285c67d 2503@c man end
252b5132
RH
2504@end smallexample
2505
0285c67d
NC
2506@c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2507
c7c55b78 2508@command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
252b5132
RH
2509numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2510information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2511number are associated with a given address.
2512
c7c55b78 2513The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
f20a759a 2514default is the file @file{a.out}.
252b5132 2515
c7c55b78 2516@command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
252b5132
RH
2517
2518In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
c7c55b78 2519and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
252b5132
RH
2520address.
2521
c7c55b78 2522In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
252b5132 2523standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
c7c55b78 2524address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
252b5132
RH
2525in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2526
2527The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2528line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
c7c55b78 2529@command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
252b5132
RH
2530preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2531containing the address.
2532
2533If the file name or function name can not be determined,
c7c55b78
NC
2534@command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2535line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
252b5132 2536
0285c67d
NC
2537@c man end
2538
2539@c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2540
252b5132
RH
2541The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2542equivalent.
2543
c7c55b78 2544@table @env
252b5132
RH
2545@item -b @var{bfdname}
2546@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2547@cindex object code format
2548Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2549@var{bfdname}.
2550
2551@item -C
28c309a2 2552@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
252b5132
RH
2553@cindex demangling in objdump
2554Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2555Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
2556makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2557mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2558choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2559for more information on demangling.
252b5132
RH
2560
2561@item -e @var{filename}
2562@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2563Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2564translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2565
2566@item -f
2567@itemx --functions
2568Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2569
2570@item -s
2571@itemx --basenames
2572Display only the base of each file name.
e107c42f 2573@end table
252b5132 2574
0285c67d
NC
2575@c man end
2576
2577@ignore
2578@c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2579Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2580@c man end
2581@end ignore
2582
252b5132
RH
2583@node nlmconv
2584@chapter nlmconv
2585
c7c55b78 2586@command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
252b5132
RH
2587Loadable Module.
2588
2589@ignore
c7c55b78 2590@command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
252b5132
RH
2591files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2592object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
c7c55b78 2593@command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
252b5132
RH
2594format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2595with the above formats.}.
2596@end ignore
2597
2598@quotation
c7c55b78 2599@emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
252b5132
RH
2600utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2601@end quotation
2602
0285c67d
NC
2603@c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2604
252b5132 2605@smallexample
0285c67d 2606@c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
c7c55b78
NC
2607nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2608 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2609 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2610 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2611 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
252b5132 2612 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
0285c67d 2613@c man end
252b5132
RH
2614@end smallexample
2615
0285c67d
NC
2616@c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2617
c7c55b78 2618@command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
252b5132
RH
2619@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2620reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2621on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2622@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2623Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2624Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
c7c55b78 2625@command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
0285c67d
NC
2626@var{infile};
2627@ifclear man
2628see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2629@end ifclear
252b5132 2630
c7c55b78 2631@command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
252b5132
RH
2632more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2633file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
c7c55b78 2634In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
252b5132 2635
0285c67d
NC
2636@c man end
2637
2638@c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2639
c7c55b78 2640@table @env
252b5132
RH
2641@item -I @var{bfdname}
2642@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
c7c55b78 2643Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
252b5132
RH
2644the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2645@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2646
2647@item -O @var{bfdname}
2648@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
c7c55b78 2649Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
252b5132
RH
2650format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2651output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2652@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2653
2654@item -T @var{headerfile}
2655@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2656Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2657writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2658@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2659Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2660from Novell, Inc.
2661
2662@item -d
2663@itemx --debug
c7c55b78 2664Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
252b5132
RH
2665
2666@item -l @var{linker}
2667@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2668Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2669relative pathname.
2670
2671@item -h
2672@itemx --help
2673Prints a usage summary.
2674
2675@item -V
2676@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2677Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
252b5132
RH
2678@end table
2679
0285c67d
NC
2680@c man end
2681
2682@ignore
2683@c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2684the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2685@c man end
2686@end ignore
2687
252b5132
RH
2688@node windres
2689@chapter windres
2690
c7c55b78 2691@command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
252b5132
RH
2692
2693@quotation
c7c55b78 2694@emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
252b5132
RH
2695utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2696@end quotation
2697
0285c67d
NC
2698@c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2699
252b5132 2700@smallexample
0285c67d 2701@c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
252b5132 2702windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
0285c67d 2703@c man end
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RH
2704@end smallexample
2705
0285c67d
NC
2706@c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2707
c7c55b78 2708@command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
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RH
2709an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2710
2711@table @code
2712@item rc
2713A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2714
2715@item res
2716A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2717
2718@item coff
2719A COFF object or executable.
2720@end table
2721
2722The exact description of these different formats is available in
2723documentation from Microsoft.
2724
c7c55b78 2725When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
252b5132 2726format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
c7c55b78 2727@command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
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2728format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2729
c7c55b78 2730When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
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2731but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2732@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2733will instead include the file contents.
2734
c7c55b78 2735If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
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2736guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2737A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2738file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2739@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2740@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2741
c7c55b78 2742If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
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2743in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2744
c7c55b78 2745The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
252b5132
RH
2746to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2747your application. This will make the resources described in the
2748@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2749
0285c67d
NC
2750@c man end
2751
2752@c man begin OPTIONS windres
2753
c7c55b78 2754@table @env
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RH
2755@item -i @var{filename}
2756@itemx --input @var{filename}
2757The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
c7c55b78
NC
2758@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2759name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2760read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
edbedb71 2761standard input.
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RH
2762
2763@item -o @var{filename}
2764@itemx --output @var{filename}
2765The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
c7c55b78 2766@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
252b5132 2767for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
c7c55b78 2768non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
edbedb71
NC
2769@command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
2770for compatability with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
2771accepted, but its use is not recommended.
252b5132 2772
85eb5110 2773@item -J @var{format}
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2774@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2775The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
c7c55b78 2776@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
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2777guess, as described above.
2778
2779@item -O @var{format}
2780@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2781The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2782@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
c7c55b78 2783@command{windres} will guess, as described above.
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2784
2785@item -F @var{target}
2786@itemx --target @var{target}
2787Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
c7c55b78
NC
2788is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2789of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2790format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2791@ifclear man
252b5132 2792@ref{Target Selection}.
c7c55b78 2793@end ifclear
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2794
2795@item --preprocessor @var{program}
c7c55b78 2796When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
252b5132
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2797preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2798to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2799argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2800
85eb5110
NC
2801@item -I @var{directory}
2802@itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
252b5132 2803Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
c7c55b78
NC
2804@command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2805option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
85eb5110
NC
2806files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
2807matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as descrived in the @option{-J}
2808option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
2809@option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
2810directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
2811to disable the backward compatibility.
252b5132 2812
751d21b5 2813@item -D @var{target}
ad0481cd 2814@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
c7c55b78 2815Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
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2816@code{rc} file.
2817
29b058f1
NC
2818@item -U @var{target}
2819@itemx --undefine @var{sym}
2820Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2821@code{rc} file.
2822
3126d709
CF
2823@item -r
2824Ignored for compatibility with rc.
2825
751d21b5
DD
2826@item -v
2827Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2828didn't specify one.
2829
3077f5d8 2830@item -l @var{val}
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2831@item --language @var{val}
2832Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2833@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2834the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2835
5a298d2d
NC
2836@item --use-temp-file
2837Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2838the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2839on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2840Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2841go the console).
2842
2843@item --no-use-temp-file
2844Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2845This is the default behaviour.
2846
3077f5d8 2847@item -h
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2848@item --help
2849Prints a usage summary.
2850
3077f5d8 2851@item -V
252b5132 2852@item --version
c7c55b78 2853Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
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2854
2855@item --yydebug
c7c55b78 2856If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
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2857this will turn on parser debugging.
2858@end table
2859
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NC
2860@c man end
2861
2862@ignore
2863@c man begin SEEALSO windres
2864the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2865@c man end
2866@end ignore
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2867
2868@node dlltool
2aa9814e 2869@chapter dlltool
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2870@cindex DLL
2871@kindex dlltool
2872
2aa9814e
BE
2873@command{dlltool} is used to create the files needed to create dynamic
2874link libraries (DLLs) on systems which understand PE format image
2875files such as Windows. A DLL contains an export table which contains
2876information that the runtime loader needs to resolve references from a
2877referencing program.
2878
2879The export table is generated by this program by reading in a
2880@file{.def} file or scanning the @file{.a} and @file{.o} files which
2881will be in the DLL. A @file{.o} file can contain information in
2882special @samp{.drectve} sections with export information.
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2883
2884@quotation
2aa9814e
BE
2885@emph{Note:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the
2886binary utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which
2887support DLLs.
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2888@end quotation
2889
0285c67d
NC
2890@c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2891
252b5132 2892@smallexample
0285c67d 2893@c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
c7c55b78
NC
2894dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2895 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2896 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2897 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2898 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2899 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2900 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2901 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2902 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2903 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2904 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2905 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
607dea97 2906 [@option{-p}|@option{--ext-prefix-alias} @var{prefix}]
c7c55b78 2907 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
f9346411
DS
2908 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-t}|@option{--temp-prefix} @var{prefix}]
2909 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
c7c55b78 2910 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
252b5132 2911 [object-file @dots{}]
0285c67d 2912@c man end
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2913@end smallexample
2914
0285c67d
NC
2915@c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2916
c7c55b78
NC
2917@command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2918@option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2919line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2920been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2921has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2922has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2923@option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2924dlltool.
252b5132
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2925
2926When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
c7c55b78 2927to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
252b5132
RH
2928these files.
2929
2aa9814e 2930The first file is a @file{.def} file which specifies which functions are
252b5132 2931exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
c7c55b78
NC
2932is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2933to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
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2934will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2935those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2aa9814e 2936put entries for them in the @file{.def} file it creates.
252b5132
RH
2937
2938In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
c7c55b78 2939have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
252b5132
RH
2940section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2941asm() operator:
2942
2943@smallexample
2944 asm (".section .drectve");
2945 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2946
2947 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2948@end smallexample
2949
2950The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2951is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2952handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
c7c55b78 2953binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2aa9814e 2954@command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
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2955
2956The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2957will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
c7c55b78 2958can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2aa9814e 2959is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
252b5132 2960
c7c55b78 2961@command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
252b5132 2962exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
c7c55b78 2963and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
252b5132 2964used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
c7c55b78
NC
2965and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2966assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2967these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
252b5132
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2968specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2969temporary object files it used to build the library.
2970
2971Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2972also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2973that uses that DLL:
2974
2975@smallexample
2976 gcc -c dll.c
2977 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2978 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2979 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2980@end smallexample
2981
0285c67d
NC
2982@c man end
2983
2984@c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
2985
252b5132
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2986The command line options have the following meanings:
2987
c7c55b78 2988@table @env
252b5132
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2989
2990@item -d @var{filename}
2991@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2992@cindex input .def file
2aa9814e 2993Specifies the name of a @file{.def} file to be read in and processed.
252b5132
RH
2994
2995@item -b @var{filename}
2996@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2997@cindex base files
2998Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2999contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
3000exports file generated by dlltool.
3001
3002@item -e @var{filename}
3003@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
3004Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
3005
3006@item -z @var{filename}
3007@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2aa9814e 3008Specifies the name of the @file{.def} file to be created by dlltool.
252b5132
RH
3009
3010@item -l @var{filename}
3011@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
3012Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
3013
3014@item --export-all-symbols
3015Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
3016files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
c7c55b78 3017are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
252b5132 3018option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
c7c55b78 3019@option{--exclude-symbols} option.
252b5132
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3020
3021@item --no-export-all-symbols
2aa9814e 3022Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input @file{.def} file or in
252b5132
RH
3023@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
3024behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
3025attributes in the source code.
3026
3027@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
3028Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
3029separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
3030contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
c7c55b78 3031@option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
252b5132
RH
3032
3033@item --no-default-excludes
c7c55b78 3034When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
252b5132
RH
3035exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
3036exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
c7c55b78 3037@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
252b5132 3038to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
c7c55b78 3039when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
252b5132
RH
3040
3041@item -S @var{path}
3042@itemx --as @var{path}
3043Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
3044to create the exports file.
3045
6364e0b4
NC
3046@item -f @var{options}
3047@itemx --as-flags @var{options}
3048Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
252b5132 3049assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
c7c55b78 3050the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
252b5132
RH
3051and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
3052occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
6364e0b4 3053pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
252b5132
RH
3054double quotes.
3055
3056@item -D @var{name}
3057@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2aa9814e
BE
3058Specifies the name to be stored in the @file{.def} file as the name of
3059the DLL when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not
3060present, then the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be
3061used as the name of the DLL.
252b5132
RH
3062
3063@item -m @var{machine}
3064@itemx -machine @var{machine}
3065Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
c7c55b78 3066built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
252b5132
RH
3067it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
3068normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
c36774d6 3069contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
252b5132
RH
3070
3071@item -a
3072@itemx --add-indirect
c7c55b78 3073Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3074should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
3075referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
3076means!
3077
3078@item -U
3079@itemx --add-underscore
c7c55b78 3080Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3081should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
3082
3083@item -k
3084@itemx --kill-at
c7c55b78 3085Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
d67a454c
NC
3086should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
3087called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
3088function in a DLL, other than by name.
252b5132
RH
3089
3090@item -A
3091@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
c7c55b78 3092Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3093should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
3094in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
3095
607dea97
NC
3096@item -p
3097@itemx --ext-prefix-alias @var{prefix}
3098Causes @command{dlltool} to create external aliases for all DLL
3099imports with the specified prefix. The aliases are created for both
3100external and import symbols with no leading underscore.
3101
252b5132
RH
3102@item -x
3103@itemx --no-idata4
c7c55b78
NC
3104Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3105files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
252b5132
RH
3106with certain operating systems.
3107
3108@item -c
3109@itemx --no-idata5
c7c55b78
NC
3110Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3111files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
252b5132
RH
3112with certain operating systems.
3113
3114@item -i
3115@itemx --interwork
c7c55b78 3116Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
252b5132 3117file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
c36774d6 3118between ARM and Thumb code.
252b5132
RH
3119
3120@item -n
3121@itemx --nodelete
c7c55b78 3122Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
252b5132
RH
3123create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
3124also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
f9346411
DS
3125file.
3126
3127@item -t @var{prefix}
3128@itemx --temp-prefix @var{prefix}
3129Makes @command{dlltool} use @var{prefix} when constructing the names of
3130temporary assembler and object files. By default, the temp file prefix
3131is generated from the pid.
252b5132
RH
3132
3133@item -v
3134@itemx --verbose
3135Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
3136
3137@item -h
3138@itemx --help
3139Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3140
3141@item -V
3142@itemx --version
3143Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
3144
3145@end table
3146
0285c67d
NC
3147@c man end
3148
2aa9814e
BE
3149@menu
3150* def file format:: The format of the dlltool @file{.def} file
3151@end menu
3152
3153@node def file format
3154@section The format of the @command{dlltool} @file{.def} file
3155
3156A @file{.def} file contains any number of the following commands:
3157
3158@table @asis
3159
3160@item @code{NAME} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
3161The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.exe}.
3162
3163@item @code{LIBRARY} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
3164The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.dll}.
3165
3166@item @code{EXPORTS ( ( (} @var{name1} @code{[ = } @var{name2} @code{] ) | ( } @var{name1} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) )}
3167@item @code{[} @var{integer} @code{] [ NONAME ] [ CONSTANT ] [ DATA ] [ PRIVATE ] ) *}
3168Declares @var{name1} as an exported symbol from the DLL, with optional
3169ordinal number @var{integer}, or declares @var{name1} as an alias
3170(forward) of the function @var{external-name} in the DLL
3171@var{module-name}.
3172
3173@item @code{IMPORTS ( (} @var{internal-name} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{integer} @code{) | [} @var{internal-name} @code{= ]} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) ) *}
3174Declares that @var{external-name} or the exported function whose
3175ordinal number is @var{integer} is to be imported from the file
3176@var{module-name}. If @var{internal-name} is specified then this is
3177the name that the imported function will be referred to in the body of
3178the DLL.
3179
3180@item @code{DESCRIPTION} @var{string}
3181Puts @var{string} into the output @file{.exp} file in the
3182@code{.rdata} section.
3183
3184@item @code{STACKSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
3185@item @code{HEAPSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
3186Generates @code{--stack} or @code{--heap}
3187@var{number-reserve},@var{number-commit} in the output @code{.drectve}
3188section. The linker will see this and act upon it.
3189
3190@item @code{CODE} @var{attr} @code{+}
3191@item @code{DATA} @var{attr} @code{+}
3192@item @code{SECTIONS (} @var{section-name} @var{attr}@code{ + ) *}
3193Generates @code{--attr} @var{section-name} @var{attr} in the output
3194@code{.drectve} section, where @var{attr} is one of @code{READ},
3195@code{WRITE}, @code{EXECUTE} or @code{SHARED}. The linker will see
3196this and act upon it.
3197
3198@end table
3199
0285c67d
NC
3200@ignore
3201@c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
2aa9814e 3202The Info pages for @file{binutils}.
0285c67d
NC
3203@c man end
3204@end ignore
3205
252b5132
RH
3206@node readelf
3207@chapter readelf
3208
3209@cindex ELF file information
3210@kindex readelf
3211
0285c67d
NC
3212@c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
3213
252b5132 3214@smallexample
0285c67d 3215@c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
c7c55b78
NC
3216readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
3217 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
3218 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
3219 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
3220 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
3221 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
3222 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
3223 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
3224 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
3225 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
3226 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
947ed062 3227 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
c7c55b78
NC
3228 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
3229 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
18bd398b
NC
3230 [@option{-w[liaprmfFsoR]}|
3231 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]]
947ed062 3232 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
c7c55b78 3233 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
d974e256 3234 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
c7c55b78 3235 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
252b5132 3236 @var{elffile}@dots{}
0285c67d 3237@c man end
252b5132
RH
3238@end smallexample
3239
0285c67d
NC
3240@c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
3241
c7c55b78 3242@command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
252b5132
RH
3243files. The options control what particular information to display.
3244
fb52b2f4
NC
3245@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
324664-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
252b5132 3247
9eb20dd8
NC
3248This program performs a similar function to @command{objdump} but it
3249goes into more detail and it exists independently of the @sc{bfd}
3250library, so if there is a bug in @sc{bfd} then readelf will not be
3251affected.
3252
0285c67d
NC
3253@c man end
3254
3255@c man begin OPTIONS readelf
3256
252b5132
RH
3257The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3258equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
3259given.
3260
c7c55b78 3261@table @env
252b5132
RH
3262@item -a
3263@itemx --all
c7c55b78
NC
3264Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
3265@option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
3266@option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
3267@option{--version-info}.
252b5132
RH
3268
3269@item -h
3270@itemx --file-header
3271@cindex ELF file header information
3272Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
3273file.
3274
3275@item -l
3276@itemx --program-headers
3277@itemx --segments
3278@cindex ELF program header information
3279@cindex ELF segment information
3280Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
3281has any.
3282
3283@item -S
3284@itemx --sections
3285@itemx --section-headers
3286@cindex ELF section information
3287Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
3288has any.
3289
3290@item -s
3291@itemx --symbols
3292@itemx --syms
3293@cindex ELF symbol table information
3294Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3295
3296@item -e
3297@itemx --headers
c7c55b78 3298Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
252b5132 3299
779fe533
NC
3300@item -n
3301@itemx --notes
1ec5cd37
NC
3302@cindex ELF notes
3303Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.
779fe533 3304
252b5132
RH
3305@item -r
3306@itemx --relocs
3307@cindex ELF reloc information
f5e21966
NC
3308Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3309
3310@item -u
3311@itemx --unwind
3312@cindex unwind information
3313Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3314the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
252b5132 3315
947ed062
NC
3316@item -u
3317@itemx --unwind
3318@cindex unwind information
3319Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3320the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3321
252b5132
RH
3322@item -d
3323@itemx --dynamic
3324@cindex ELF dynamic section information
3325Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3326
3327@item -V
3328@itemx --version-info
3329@cindex ELF version sections informations
3330Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3331exist.
3332
947ed062
NC
3333@item -A
3334@itemx --arch-specific
3335Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3336is any.
3337
252b5132
RH
3338@item -D
3339@itemx --use-dynamic
c7c55b78 3340When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
6dbb55b6 3341symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
252b5132
RH
3342symbols section.
3343
3344@item -x <number>
3345@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3346Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3347
18bd398b
NC
3348@item -w[liaprmfFsoR]
3349@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]
252b5132
RH
3350Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3351present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3352then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3353
947ed062
NC
3354@item -I
3355@itemx --histogram
252b5132
RH
3356Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3357of the symbol tables.
3358
3359@item -v
3360@itemx --version
3361Display the version number of readelf.
3362
d974e256
JJ
3363@item -W
3364@itemx --wide
3365Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3366@command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
336764-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3368@command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3369single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3370
252b5132
RH
3371@item -H
3372@itemx --help
c7c55b78 3373Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
252b5132
RH
3374
3375@end table
3376
0285c67d
NC
3377@c man end
3378
3379@ignore
3380@c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3381objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3382@c man end
3383@end ignore
252b5132
RH
3384
3385@node Selecting The Target System
947ed062 3386@chapter Selecting the Target System
252b5132 3387
947ed062 3388You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
252b5132
RH
3389binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3390
3391@itemize @bullet
3392@item
3393the target
3394
3395@item
3396the architecture
252b5132
RH
3397@end itemize
3398
3399In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3400order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3401listed later.
3402
3403The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3404programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
c7c55b78 3405@option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
252b5132
RH
3406values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3407once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3408with the same type as the target system).
3409
3410@menu
3411* Target Selection::
3412* Architecture Selection::
252b5132
RH
3413@end menu
3414
3415@node Target Selection
3416@section Target Selection
3417
3418A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3419supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3420A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3421systems or architectures.
3422
3423The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3424(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3425
3426Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3427@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3428
3429You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
f20a759a
ILT
3430the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3431target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3432fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
252b5132
RH
3433running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3434sources.
3435
3436Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3437@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3438
c7c55b78 3439@subheading @command{objdump} Target
252b5132
RH
3440
3441Ways to specify:
3442
3443@enumerate
3444@item
c7c55b78 3445command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3446
3447@item
3448environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3449
3450@item
3451deduced from the input file
3452@end enumerate
3453
c7c55b78 3454@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
252b5132
RH
3455
3456Ways to specify:
3457
3458@enumerate
3459@item
c7c55b78 3460command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3461
3462@item
3463environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3464
3465@item
3466deduced from the input file
3467@end enumerate
3468
c7c55b78 3469@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
252b5132
RH
3470
3471Ways to specify:
3472
3473@enumerate
3474@item
c7c55b78 3475command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3476
3477@item
c7c55b78 3478the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
252b5132
RH
3479
3480@item
3481environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3482
3483@item
3484deduced from the input file
3485@end enumerate
3486
c7c55b78 3487@subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
252b5132
RH
3488
3489Ways to specify:
3490
3491@enumerate
3492@item
c7c55b78 3493command line option: @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3494
3495@item
3496environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3497
3498@item
3499deduced from the input file
3500@end enumerate
3501
252b5132 3502@node Architecture Selection
947ed062 3503@section Architecture Selection
252b5132
RH
3504
3505An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3506to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3507processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3508
3509The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3510second column contains the relevant information).
3511
3512Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3513
c7c55b78 3514@subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
252b5132
RH
3515
3516Ways to specify:
3517
3518@enumerate
3519@item
c7c55b78 3520command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
252b5132
RH
3521
3522@item
3523deduced from the input file
3524@end enumerate
3525
c7c55b78 3526@subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
252b5132
RH
3527
3528Ways to specify:
3529
3530@enumerate
3531@item
3532deduced from the input file
3533@end enumerate
3534
252b5132
RH
3535@node Reporting Bugs
3536@chapter Reporting Bugs
3537@cindex bugs
3538@cindex reporting bugs
3539
3540Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3541reliable.
3542
3543Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3544it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3545to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3546utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3547maintenance.
3548
3549In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3550information that enables us to fix the bug.
3551
3552@menu
3553* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3554* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3555@end menu
3556
3557@node Bug Criteria
947ed062 3558@section Have You Found a Bug?
252b5132
RH
3559@cindex bug criteria
3560
3561If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3562
3563@itemize @bullet
3564@cindex fatal signal
3565@cindex crash
3566@item
3567If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3568a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3569
3570@cindex error on valid input
3571@item
3572If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3573bug.
3574
3575@item
3576If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3577improvement are welcome in any case.
3578@end itemize
3579
3580@node Bug Reporting
947ed062 3581@section How to Report Bugs
252b5132
RH
3582@cindex bug reports
3583@cindex bugs, reporting
3584
3585A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3586products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3587organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3588
3589You can find contact information for many support companies and
3590individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3591distribution.
3592
3593In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2f952d20 3594utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
252b5132
RH
3595
3596The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3597@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3598fact or leave it out, state it!
3599
3600Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3601problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3602assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3603Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3604a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3605that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3606different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3607doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3608specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3609and the most helpful.
3610
3611Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3612it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3613that the bug has not been reported previously.
3614
3615Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
947ed062
NC
3616bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3617respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3618You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
252b5132
RH
3619
3620To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3621
3622@itemize @bullet
3623@item
3624The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
c7c55b78 3625with the @option{--version} argument.
252b5132
RH
3626
3627Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3628the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3629
3630@item
3631Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3632made to the @code{BFD} library.
3633
3634@item
3635The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3636version number.
3637
3638@item
3639What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3640``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3641
3642@item
3643The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3644guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3645of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3646
3647If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3648and then we might not encounter the bug.
3649
3650@item
3651A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3652bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3653generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
757acbc5 3654necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
2f952d20 3655@samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
757acbc5
ILT
3656sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3657anonymous FTP is OK.
252b5132
RH
3658
3659If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
c7c55b78 3660(e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
252b5132 3661may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
c7c55b78 3662this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
252b5132 3663whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
c7c55b78 3664@command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
252b5132
RH
3665
3666@item
3667A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3668incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3669
3670Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3671will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3672not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3673a chance to make a mistake.
3674
3675Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
f20a759a 3676say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
252b5132
RH
3677copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3678the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3679crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3680ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3681us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3682to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3683
3684@item
3685If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
c7c55b78 3686generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
252b5132 3687option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
c7c55b78 3688wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
f20a759a 3689context, not by line number.
252b5132
RH
3690
3691The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3692sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3693@end itemize
3694
3695Here are some things that are not necessary:
3696
3697@itemize @bullet
3698@item
3699A description of the envelope of the bug.
3700
3701Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3702which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3703changes will not affect it.
3704
3705This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3706will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3707with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3708We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3709
3710Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3711of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3712output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3713less time, and so on.
3714
3715However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3716report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3717
3718@item
3719A patch for the bug.
3720
3721A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3722the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3723a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3724to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3725
3726Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3727very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3728certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3729will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3730the bug is fixed.
3731
3732And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3733patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3734help us to understand.
3735
3736@item
3737A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3738
3739Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3740things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3741@end itemize
3742
947ed062 3743@include fdl.texi
cf055d54 3744
252b5132
RH
3745@node Index
3746@unnumbered Index
3747
3748@printindex cp
3749
3750@contents
3751@bye
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