Add VAX specific disassembler option -Mentry: to specify a function entry
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
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1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
aef6203b 3@c Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 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
2423fbe6 32Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
7b4a0685 332000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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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''.
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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
2423fbe6 57@c Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
7b4a0685 58@c 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 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
2423fbe6 83Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,
7b4a0685 842000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 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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RH
679@file{a.out}.
680
c7c55b78 681For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
252b5132
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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RH
776The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
777equivalent.
778
c7c55b78 779@table @env
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RH
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}]
7b4a0685 953 [@option{--globalize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
c7c55b78 954 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
5fe11841 955 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2593f09a
NC
956 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
957 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
c7c55b78
NC
958 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
959 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
960 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
961 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
962 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
963 [@option{--debugging}]
2593f09a
NC
964 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
965 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
966 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
967 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
c7c55b78
NC
968 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
969 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
970 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
971 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
972 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
973 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
974 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
975 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
2593f09a
NC
976 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
977 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
978 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
979 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78
NC
980 [@option{--weaken}]
981 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
982 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
bcf32829 983 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78
NC
984 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
985 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
7b4a0685 986 [@option{--globalize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78 987 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c51238bc
DA
988 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
989 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
990 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
991 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
ed1653a7
NC
992 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
993 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
4087920c
MR
994 [@option{--writable-text}]
995 [@option{--readonly-text}]
996 [@option{--pure}]
997 [@option{--impure}]
c7c55b78
NC
998 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
999 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
7c29036b 1000 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
252b5132 1001 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
0285c67d 1002@c man end
252b5132
RH
1003@end smallexample
1004
0285c67d 1005@c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
c7c55b78
NC
1006The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
1007file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
252b5132
RH
1008read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
1009file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
c7c55b78
NC
1010exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
1011Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
ccd13d18
L
1012between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
1013between any two formats may not work as expected.
252b5132 1014
c7c55b78
NC
1015@command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
1016deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
252b5132
RH
1017translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
1018and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1019explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1020
c7c55b78 1021@command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
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RH
1022target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1023
c7c55b78
NC
1024@command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1025output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1026@command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
252b5132
RH
1027a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1028relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1029the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1030
1031When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
c7c55b78
NC
1032use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1033some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
f20a759a 1034information that is not needed by the binary file.
252b5132 1035
947ed062
NC
1036Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1037files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
c7c55b78 1038@command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
947ed062 1039same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
18356cf2 1040
0285c67d
NC
1041@c man end
1042
1043@c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1044
c7c55b78 1045@table @env
252b5132
RH
1046@item @var{infile}
1047@itemx @var{outfile}
f20a759a 1048The input and output files, respectively.
c7c55b78 1049If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
252b5132
RH
1050temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1051the name of @var{infile}.
1052
c7c55b78 1053@item -I @var{bfdname}
252b5132
RH
1054@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1055Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1056attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1057
1058@item -O @var{bfdname}
1059@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1060Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1061@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1062
1063@item -F @var{bfdname}
1064@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1065Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1066file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1067translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1068
43a0748c
NC
1069@item -B @var{bfdarch}
1070@itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1071Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1072In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1073option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1074can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1075symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1076called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1077_binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1078an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1079
f91ea849
ILT
1080@item -j @var{sectionname}
1081@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1082Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1083This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1084inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1085
252b5132
RH
1086@item -R @var{sectionname}
1087@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1088Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1089option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1090inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1091
1092@item -S
1093@itemx --strip-all
1094Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1095
1096@item -g
1097@itemx --strip-debug
2593f09a 1098Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
252b5132
RH
1099
1100@item --strip-unneeded
1101Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1102
1103@item -K @var{symbolname}
1104@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1105Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1106be given more than once.
1107
1108@item -N @var{symbolname}
1109@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1110Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1111may be given more than once.
1112
bcf32829
JB
1113@item --strip-unneeded-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1114Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file unless it is needed
1115by a relocation. This option may be given more than once.
1116
16b2b71c
NC
1117@item -G @var{symbolname}
1118@itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1119Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1120to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1121be given more than once.
1122
252b5132
RH
1123@item -L @var{symbolname}
1124@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1125Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1126visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1127
1128@item -W @var{symbolname}
1129@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1130Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1131
7b4a0685
NC
1132@item --globalize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1133Give symbol @var{symbolname} global scoping so that it is visible
1134outside of the file in which it is defined. This option may be given
1135more than once.
1136
5fe11841
NC
1137@item -w
1138@itemx --wildcard
1139Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1140line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1141square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1142name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1143point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1144For example:
1145
1146@smallexample
1147 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1148@end smallexample
1149
1150would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1151except for the symbol ``foo''.
1152
252b5132
RH
1153@item -x
1154@itemx --discard-all
1155Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1156@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1157
1158@item -X
1159@itemx --discard-locals
1160Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1161(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1162
1163@item -b @var{byte}
1164@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1165Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1166affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
c7c55b78 1167where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
252b5132
RH
1168option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1169to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1170target.
1171
1172@item -i @var{interleave}
1173@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1174Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
c7c55b78
NC
1175copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1176@command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1177@option{--byte}.
252b5132
RH
1178
1179@item -p
1180@itemx --preserve-dates
1181Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1182as those of the input file.
1183
1184@item --debugging
1185Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1186because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1187conversion process can be time consuming.
1188
1189@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1190Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1191the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1192the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1193space created with @var{val}.
1194
1195@item --pad-to @var{address}
1196Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1197done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
c7c55b78 1198filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
252b5132
RH
1199
1200@item --set-start @var{val}
f20a759a 1201Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
252b5132
RH
1202formats support setting the start address.
1203
1204@item --change-start @var{incr}
1205@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1206@cindex changing start address
1207Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1208formats support setting the start address.
1209
1210@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1211@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1212@cindex changing object addresses
1213Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1214address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1215section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1216relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1217certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1218that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1219
1220@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1221@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1222@cindex changing section address
1223Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1224@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1225@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
c7c55b78 1226section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
252b5132 1227above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
c7c55b78 1228be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1229
1230@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1231@cindex changing section LMA
1232Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1233address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1234program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1235is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1236especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1237different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1238@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
c7c55b78 1239section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
252b5132 1240above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
c7c55b78 1241will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1242
1243@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1244@cindex changing section VMA
1245Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1246address is the address where the section will be located once the
1247program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1248address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1249memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1250ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1251is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1252from the section address. See the comments under
c7c55b78 1253@option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
252b5132 1254the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
c7c55b78 1255@option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1256
1257@item --change-warnings
1258@itemx --adjust-warnings
c7c55b78
NC
1259If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1260@option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
252b5132
RH
1261exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1262
1263@item --no-change-warnings
1264@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
c7c55b78
NC
1265Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1266@option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
252b5132
RH
1267if the named section does not exist.
1268
1269@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1270Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1271comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
3994e2c6
ILT
1272@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1273@samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1274@samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1275does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1276@samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1277the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1278formats.
252b5132
RH
1279
1280@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1281Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1282contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1283size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1284works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1285
594ef5db
NC
1286@item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1287Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1288changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1289the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1290the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1291executable.
1292
1293This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1294since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1295you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1296data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1297
1298@smallexample
1299 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1300 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1301 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1302@end smallexample
1303
252b5132
RH
1304@item --change-leading-char
1305Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1306symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
c7c55b78 1307often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
252b5132
RH
1308change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1309object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1310character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1311character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1312appropriate.
1313
1314@item --remove-leading-char
1315If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1316character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1317most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1318remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1319if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1320different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
c7c55b78 1321@option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
252b5132
RH
1322when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1323file.
1324
420496c1
NC
1325@item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1326Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1327being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1328crc fields.
1329
1330@item --srec-forceS3
1331Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1332creating S3-only record format.
1333
57938635
AM
1334@item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1335Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1336when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1337source, and there are name collisions.
1338
92991082
JT
1339@item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1340Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1341listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1342with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1343character. This option may be given more than once.
1344
252b5132
RH
1345@item --weaken
1346Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1347when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
c7c55b78 1348the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
252b5132
RH
1349using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1350
16b2b71c 1351@item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1352Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1353@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1354name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1355This option may be given more than once.
1356
1357@item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1358Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1359@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1360name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1361This option may be given more than once.
1362
bcf32829
JB
1363@item --strip-unneeded-symbols=@var{filename}
1364Apply @option{--strip-unneeded-symbol} option to each symbol listed in
1365the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1366symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1367character. This option may be given more than once.
1368
16b2b71c 1369@item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1370Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
16b2b71c
NC
1371file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1372symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1373character. This option may be given more than once.
1374
1375@item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1376Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1377@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1378name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1379This option may be given more than once.
1380
7b4a0685
NC
1381@item --globalize-symbols=@var{filename}
1382Apply @option{--globalize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1383@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1384name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1385This option may be given more than once.
1386
16b2b71c 1387@item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1388Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1389@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1390name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1391This option may be given more than once.
1392
1ae8b3d2
AO
1393@item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1394If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1395@var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1396a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1397new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1398being used.
1399
4087920c
MR
1400@item --writable-text
1401Mark the output text as writable. This option isn't meaningful for all
1402object file formats.
1403
1404@item --readonly-text
1405Make the output text write protected. This option isn't meaningful for all
1406object file formats.
1407
1408@item --pure
1409Mark the output file as demand paged. This option isn't meaningful for all
1410object file formats.
1411
1412@item --impure
1413Mark the output file as impure. This option isn't meaningful for all
1414object file formats.
1415
d7fb0dd2
NC
1416@item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1417Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1418
1419@item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1420Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1421
1422@item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1423Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1424@var{string}.
1425
ed1653a7
NC
1426@item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1427Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to @var{path-to-file}
1428and adds it to the output file.
1429
1430@item --only-keep-debug
1431Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
1432@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
1433
1434The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1435@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1436stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1437distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1438needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1439to create these files is as follows:
1440
1441@enumerate
1442@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1443@code{foo} then...
1444@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1445create a file containing the debugging info.
1446@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1447stripped executable.
1448@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1449to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1450@end enumerate
1451
1452Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1453file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1454optional. You could instead do this:
1455
1456@enumerate
1457@item Link the executable as normal.
1458@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1459@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1460@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1461@end enumerate
1462
1463ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
1464full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1465@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1466
252b5132
RH
1467@item -V
1468@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1469Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
252b5132
RH
1470
1471@item -v
1472@itemx --verbose
1473Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1474archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1475
1476@item --help
c7c55b78 1477Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
7c29036b
NC
1478
1479@item --info
1480Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
252b5132
RH
1481@end table
1482
0285c67d
NC
1483@c man end
1484
1485@ignore
1486@c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1487ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1488@c man end
1489@end ignore
1490
252b5132
RH
1491@node objdump
1492@chapter objdump
1493
1494@cindex object file information
1495@kindex objdump
1496
0285c67d
NC
1497@c man title objdump display information from object files.
1498
252b5132 1499@smallexample
0285c67d 1500@c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
c7c55b78
NC
1501objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1502 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1503 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1504 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1505 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1506 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1507 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1508 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1509 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1510 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
51cdc6e0 1511 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
c7c55b78
NC
1512 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1513 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1514 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1515 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1516 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1517 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1518 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1519 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1520 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1521 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1522 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1523 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1524 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1525 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1526 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1527 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1528 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1529 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1530 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1531 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1532 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
3c9458e9 1533 [@option{--special-syms}]
c7c55b78
NC
1534 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1535 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
252b5132 1536 @var{objfile}@dots{}
0285c67d 1537@c man end
252b5132
RH
1538@end smallexample
1539
0285c67d
NC
1540@c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1541
c7c55b78 1542@command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
252b5132
RH
1543The options control what particular information to display. This
1544information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1545compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1546program to compile and work.
1547
1548@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
c7c55b78 1549specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
252b5132
RH
1550object files.
1551
0285c67d
NC
1552@c man end
1553
1554@c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1555
252b5132 1556The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1dada9c5 1557equivalent. At least one option from the list
155e0d23 1558@option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
252b5132 1559
c7c55b78 1560@table @env
252b5132
RH
1561@item -a
1562@itemx --archive-header
1563@cindex archive headers
1564If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1565header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1566information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1567the object file format of each archive member.
1568
1569@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1570@cindex section addresses in objdump
1571@cindex VMA in objdump
1572When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1573addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1574the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1575addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1576such as a.out.
1577
1578@item -b @var{bfdname}
1579@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1580@cindex object code format
1581Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1582@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1583automatically recognize many formats.
1584
1585For example,
1586@example
1587objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1588@end example
1589@noindent
c7c55b78
NC
1590displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1591@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
252b5132 1592file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
c7c55b78 1593formats available with the @option{-i} option.
252b5132
RH
1594@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1595
1596@item -C
28c309a2 1597@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
252b5132
RH
1598@cindex demangling in objdump
1599Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1600Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
1601makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1602mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1603choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1604for more information on demangling.
252b5132 1605
947ed062
NC
1606@item -g
1607@itemx --debugging
252b5132
RH
1608Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1609information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1610Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
c1124b23
AO
1611Some other types are supported by @command{readelf -w}.
1612@xref{readelf}.
252b5132 1613
51cdc6e0
NC
1614@item -e
1615@itemx --debugging-tags
1616Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
1617with ctags tool.
1618
252b5132
RH
1619@item -d
1620@itemx --disassemble
1621@cindex disassembling object code
1622@cindex machine instructions
1623Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1624@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1625expected to contain instructions.
1626
1627@item -D
1628@itemx --disassemble-all
c7c55b78 1629Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
252b5132
RH
1630those expected to contain instructions.
1631
1632@item --prefix-addresses
1633When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1634the older disassembly format.
1635
252b5132
RH
1636@item -EB
1637@itemx -EL
1638@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1639@cindex endianness
1640@cindex disassembly endianness
1641Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1642disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1643does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1644
1645@item -f
947ed062 1646@itemx --file-headers
252b5132
RH
1647@cindex object file header
1648Display summary information from the overall header of
1649each of the @var{objfile} files.
1650
f1563258
TW
1651@item --file-start-context
1652@cindex source code context
1653Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
c7c55b78 1654(assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
f1563258
TW
1655context to the start of the file.
1656
252b5132 1657@item -h
947ed062
NC
1658@itemx --section-headers
1659@itemx --headers
252b5132
RH
1660@cindex section headers
1661Display summary information from the section headers of the
1662object file.
1663
1664File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
c7c55b78
NC
1665using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1666@command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
252b5132 1667store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
c7c55b78 1668although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
252b5132
RH
1669-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1670Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1671target.
1672
947ed062
NC
1673@item -H
1674@itemx --help
c7c55b78 1675Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
252b5132
RH
1676
1677@item -i
1678@itemx --info
1679@cindex architectures available
1680@cindex object formats available
1681Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
c7c55b78 1682for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
252b5132
RH
1683
1684@item -j @var{name}
1685@itemx --section=@var{name}
1686@cindex section information
1687Display information only for section @var{name}.
1688
1689@item -l
1690@itemx --line-numbers
1691@cindex source filenames for object files
1692Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1693source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
c7c55b78 1694Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
252b5132
RH
1695
1696@item -m @var{machine}
1697@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1698@cindex architecture
1699@cindex disassembly architecture
1700Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1701can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1702architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
c7c55b78 1703architectures with the @option{-i} option.
252b5132 1704
dd92f639
NC
1705@item -M @var{options}
1706@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1707Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
31e0f3cd
NC
1708some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
1709disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
1710can be placed together into a comma separated list.
dd92f639
NC
1711
1712If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1713select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
c7c55b78 1714@option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
58efb6c0
NC
1715used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1716'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
c7c55b78
NC
1717@option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1718Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
58efb6c0
NC
1719just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1720
1721There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
c7c55b78
NC
1722by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1723use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
947ed062 1724with the normal register names or the special register names).
dd92f639 1725
8f915f68 1726This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
c36774d6 1727disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
c7c55b78 1728using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
8f915f68
NC
1729useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1730compilers.
1731
e396998b
AM
1732For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1733switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1734following may be specified as a comma separated string.
b89e9eae 1735@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
e396998b
AM
1736the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1737intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1738@option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1739address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
b89e9eae 1740@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
e396998b 1741option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
b9e5d8e5 1742instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
e396998b
AM
1743suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1744
802a735e
AM
1745For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1746disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1747PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1748
e39893d7
FF
1749For MIPS, this option controls the printing of instruction mneumonic
1750names and register names in disassembled instructions. Multiple
1751selections from the following may be specified as a comma separated
1752string, and invalid options are ignored:
640c0ccd
CD
1753
1754@table @code
e39893d7
FF
1755@item no-aliases
1756Print the 'raw' instruction mneumonic instead of some pseudo
1757instruction mneumonic. I.E. print 'daddu' or 'or' instead of 'move',
1758'sll' instead of 'nop', etc.
1759
640c0ccd
CD
1760@item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1761Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1762for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1763the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1764
1765@item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1766Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1767appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1768rather than names.
1769
1770@item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1771Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1772as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1773@var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1774the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1775
af7ee8bf
CD
1776@item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1777Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1778as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1779@var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1780the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1781
640c0ccd
CD
1782@item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1783Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1784
1785@item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
af7ee8bf
CD
1786Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1787as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
640c0ccd
CD
1788@end table
1789
1790For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1791@var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1792rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1793You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1794the @option{--help} option.
1795
ec72cfe5
NC
1796For VAX, you can specify function entry addresses with @option{-M
1797entry:0xf00ba}. You can use this multiple times to properly
1798disassemble VAX binary files that don't contain symbol tables (like
1799ROM dumps). In these cases, the function entry mask would otherwise
1800be decoded as VAX instructions, which would probably lead the the rest
1801of the function being wrongly disassembled.
1802
252b5132
RH
1803@item -p
1804@itemx --private-headers
1805Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1806information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1807object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1808
1809@item -r
1810@itemx --reloc
1811@cindex relocation entries, in object file
c7c55b78
NC
1812Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1813@option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
252b5132
RH
1814disassembly.
1815
1816@item -R
1817@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1818@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1819Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1820meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1821libraries.
1822
1823@item -s
1824@itemx --full-contents
1825@cindex sections, full contents
1826@cindex object file sections
155e0d23
NC
1827Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
1828non-empty sections are displayed.
252b5132
RH
1829
1830@item -S
1831@itemx --source
1832@cindex source disassembly
1833@cindex disassembly, with source
1834Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
c7c55b78 1835@option{-d}.
252b5132
RH
1836
1837@item --show-raw-insn
1838When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1839in symbolic form. This is the default except when
c7c55b78 1840@option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
252b5132
RH
1841
1842@item --no-show-raw-insn
1843When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
c7c55b78 1844This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
252b5132 1845
1dada9c5 1846@item -G
947ed062 1847@itemx --stabs
252b5132
RH
1848@cindex stab
1849@cindex .stab
1850@cindex debug symbols
1851@cindex ELF object file format
1852Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1853contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1854ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1855@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1856section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
c7c55b78 1857interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
0285c67d
NC
1858output.
1859@ifclear man
1860For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
252b5132 1861Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
0285c67d 1862@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
1863
1864@item --start-address=@var{address}
1865@cindex start-address
1866Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
c7c55b78 1867of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
252b5132
RH
1868
1869@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1870@cindex stop-address
1871Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
c7c55b78 1872of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
252b5132
RH
1873
1874@item -t
1875@itemx --syms
1876@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1877Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1878This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1879
1880@item -T
1881@itemx --dynamic-syms
1882@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1883Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1884meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1885libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
c7c55b78 1886program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
252b5132 1887
3c9458e9
NC
1888@item --special-syms
1889When displaying symbols include those which the target considers to be
1890special in some way and which would not normally be of interest to the
1891user.
1892
947ed062
NC
1893@item -V
1894@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1895Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
252b5132
RH
1896
1897@item -x
947ed062 1898@itemx --all-headers
252b5132
RH
1899@cindex all header information, object file
1900@cindex header information, all
1901Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
c7c55b78 1902relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
04c34128 1903@option{-a -f -h -p -r -t}.
252b5132
RH
1904
1905@item -w
1906@itemx --wide
1907@cindex wide output, printing
1908Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
31104126 1909Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
aefbdd67
BE
1910
1911@item -z
2c0c15f9 1912@itemx --disassemble-zeroes
aefbdd67
BE
1913Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1914option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1915any other data.
252b5132
RH
1916@end table
1917
0285c67d
NC
1918@c man end
1919
1920@ignore
1921@c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1922nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1923@c man end
1924@end ignore
1925
252b5132
RH
1926@node ranlib
1927@chapter ranlib
1928
1929@kindex ranlib
1930@cindex archive contents
1931@cindex symbol index
1932
0285c67d
NC
1933@c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1934
252b5132 1935@smallexample
0285c67d 1936@c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
c7c55b78 1937ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
0285c67d 1938@c man end
252b5132
RH
1939@end smallexample
1940
0285c67d
NC
1941@c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1942
c7c55b78 1943@command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
252b5132
RH
1944stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1945member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1946
1947You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1948
1949An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1950allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1951their placement in the archive.
1952
c7c55b78
NC
1953The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1954@command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
252b5132
RH
1955@xref{ar}.
1956
0285c67d
NC
1957@c man end
1958
1959@c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1960
c7c55b78 1961@table @env
252b5132
RH
1962@item -v
1963@itemx -V
f20a759a 1964@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1965Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
252b5132
RH
1966@end table
1967
0285c67d
NC
1968@c man end
1969
1970@ignore
1971@c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1972ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1973@c man end
1974@end ignore
1975
252b5132
RH
1976@node size
1977@chapter size
1978
1979@kindex size
1980@cindex section sizes
1981
0285c67d
NC
1982@c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1983
252b5132 1984@smallexample
0285c67d 1985@c man begin SYNOPSIS size
c7c55b78 1986size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
15c82623
NC
1987 [@option{--help}]
1988 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1989 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
c7c55b78
NC
1990 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1991 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
0285c67d 1992@c man end
252b5132
RH
1993@end smallexample
1994
0285c67d
NC
1995@c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1996
c7c55b78 1997The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
252b5132
RH
1998size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1999argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
2000object file or each module in an archive.
2001
2002@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
2003If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
2004
0285c67d
NC
2005@c man end
2006
2007@c man begin OPTIONS size
2008
252b5132
RH
2009The command line options have the following meanings:
2010
c7c55b78 2011@table @env
252b5132
RH
2012@item -A
2013@itemx -B
2014@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
c7c55b78 2015@cindex @command{size} display format
252b5132 2016Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
c7c55b78
NC
2017@command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
2018or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
2019@option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
252b5132
RH
2020Berkeley's.
2021@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
2022@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
2023@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
2024
2025Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
c7c55b78 2026@command{size}:
252b5132 2027@smallexample
f20a759a 2028$ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
252b5132
RH
2029text data bss dec hex filename
2030294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
2031294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
2032@end smallexample
2033
2034@noindent
2035This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
2036
2037@smallexample
f20a759a 2038$ size --format=SysV ranlib size
252b5132
RH
2039ranlib :
2040section size addr
2041.text 294880 8192
2042.data 81920 303104
2043.bss 11592 385024
2044Total 388392
2045
2046
2047size :
2048section size addr
2049.text 294880 8192
2050.data 81920 303104
2051.bss 11888 385024
2052Total 388688
2053@end smallexample
2054
2055@item --help
2056Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
2057
2058@item -d
2059@itemx -o
2060@itemx -x
2061@itemx --radix=@var{number}
c7c55b78 2062@cindex @command{size} number format
252b5132
RH
2063@cindex radix for section sizes
2064Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
c7c55b78
NC
2065section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
2066(@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
2067@option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
252b5132 2068values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
c7c55b78
NC
2069radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
2070octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
252b5132 2071
15c82623
NC
2072@item -t
2073@itemx --totals
2074Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2075
252b5132
RH
2076@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2077@cindex object code format
2078Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
c7c55b78 2079@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
252b5132
RH
2080automatically recognize many formats.
2081@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2082
2083@item -V
2084@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2085Display the version number of @command{size}.
252b5132
RH
2086@end table
2087
0285c67d
NC
2088@c man end
2089
2090@ignore
2091@c man begin SEEALSO size
2092ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2093@c man end
2094@end ignore
2095
252b5132
RH
2096@node strings
2097@chapter strings
2098@kindex strings
2099@cindex listings strings
2100@cindex printing strings
2101@cindex strings, printing
2102
0285c67d
NC
2103@c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2104
252b5132 2105@smallexample
0285c67d 2106@c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
d132876a
NC
2107strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2108 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2109 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2110 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2111 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2112 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
c7c55b78 2113 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
0285c67d 2114@c man end
252b5132
RH
2115@end smallexample
2116
0285c67d
NC
2117@c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2118
c7c55b78 2119For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
252b5132
RH
2120character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
2121given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
2122character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
2123and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
2124the strings from the whole file.
2125
c7c55b78 2126@command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
252b5132
RH
2127files.
2128
0285c67d
NC
2129@c man end
2130
2131@c man begin OPTIONS strings
2132
c7c55b78 2133@table @env
252b5132
RH
2134@item -a
2135@itemx --all
2136@itemx -
2137Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
2138scan the whole files.
2139
2140@item -f
2141@itemx --print-file-name
2142Print the name of the file before each string.
2143
2144@item --help
2145Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2146
2147@item -@var{min-len}
2148@itemx -n @var{min-len}
2149@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2150Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2151long, instead of the default 4.
2152
2153@item -o
c7c55b78 2154Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
252b5132
RH
2155act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2156ways, we simply chose one.
2157
2158@item -t @var{radix}
2159@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2160Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2161character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2162octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2163
d132876a
NC
2164@item -e @var{encoding}
2165@itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2166Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
8745eafa
NC
2167Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2168characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2169single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
217016-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2171littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
d132876a 2172
252b5132
RH
2173@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2174@cindex object code format
2175Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2176@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2177
2178@item -v
2179@itemx --version
2180Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2181@end table
2182
0285c67d
NC
2183@c man end
2184
2185@ignore
2186@c man begin SEEALSO strings
2187ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2188and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2189@c man end
2190@end ignore
2191
252b5132
RH
2192@node strip
2193@chapter strip
2194
2195@kindex strip
2196@cindex removing symbols
2197@cindex discarding symbols
2198@cindex symbols, discarding
2199
0285c67d
NC
2200@c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2201
252b5132 2202@smallexample
0285c67d 2203@c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2593f09a
NC
2204strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2205 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2206 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2207 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
2208 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2209 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2210 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
5fe11841 2211 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2593f09a
NC
2212 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2213 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
2214 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
ed1653a7 2215 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
7c29036b
NC
2216 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2217 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
252b5132 2218 @var{objfile}@dots{}
0285c67d 2219@c man end
252b5132
RH
2220@end smallexample
2221
0285c67d
NC
2222@c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2223
c7c55b78 2224@sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
252b5132
RH
2225@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2226At least one object file must be given.
2227
c7c55b78 2228@command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
252b5132
RH
2229rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2230
0285c67d
NC
2231@c man end
2232
2233@c man begin OPTIONS strip
2234
c7c55b78 2235@table @env
252b5132
RH
2236@item -F @var{bfdname}
2237@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2238Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2239code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2240@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2241
2242@item --help
c7c55b78 2243Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
252b5132 2244
7c29036b
NC
2245@item --info
2246Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2247
947ed062 2248@item -I @var{bfdname}
252b5132
RH
2249@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2250Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2251code format @var{bfdname}.
2252@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2253
2254@item -O @var{bfdname}
2255@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2256Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2257@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2258
2259@item -R @var{sectionname}
2260@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2261Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2262option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2263inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2264
2265@item -s
2266@itemx --strip-all
2267Remove all symbols.
2268
2269@item -g
2270@itemx -S
15c82623 2271@itemx -d
252b5132
RH
2272@itemx --strip-debug
2273Remove debugging symbols only.
2274
2275@item --strip-unneeded
2276Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2277
2278@item -K @var{symbolname}
2279@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2280Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2281be given more than once.
2282
2283@item -N @var{symbolname}
2284@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2285Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2286given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
c7c55b78 2287@option{-K}.
252b5132
RH
2288
2289@item -o @var{file}
2290Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2291existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2292argument may be specified.
2293
2294@item -p
2295@itemx --preserve-dates
2296Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2297
5fe11841
NC
2298@item -w
2299@itemx --wildcard
2300Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
2301line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
2302square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
2303name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
2304point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
2305For example:
2306
2307@smallexample
2308 -w -K !foo -K fo*
2309@end smallexample
2310
2311would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
2312``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
2313
252b5132
RH
2314@item -x
2315@itemx --discard-all
2316Remove non-global symbols.
2317
2318@item -X
2319@itemx --discard-locals
2320Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2321(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2322
ed1653a7
NC
2323@item --only-keep-debug
2324Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
2325@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
2326
2327The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
2328@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
2329stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
2330distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
2331needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
2332to create these files is as follows:
2333
2334@enumerate
2335@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
2336@code{foo} then...
2337@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
2338create a file containing the debugging info.
2339@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
2340stripped executable.
2341@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
2342to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
2343@end enumerate
2344
2345Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
2346file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
2347optional. You could instead do this:
2348
2349@enumerate
2350@item Link the executable as normal.
2351@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
2352@item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
2353@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
2354@end enumerate
2355
2356ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
2357full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
2358@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
2359
252b5132
RH
2360@item -V
2361@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2362Show the version number for @command{strip}.
252b5132
RH
2363
2364@item -v
2365@itemx --verbose
2366Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2367archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2368@end table
2369
0285c67d
NC
2370@c man end
2371
2372@ignore
2373@c man begin SEEALSO strip
2374the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2375@c man end
2376@end ignore
2377
9d51cc66 2378@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
252b5132
RH
2379@chapter c++filt
2380
2381@kindex c++filt
2382@cindex demangling C++ symbols
2383
0285c67d
NC
2384@c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2385
252b5132 2386@smallexample
0285c67d 2387@c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
c7c55b78
NC
2388c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2389 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2390 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
4e48c9dd 2391 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
c7c55b78
NC
2392 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2393 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
0285c67d 2394@c man end
252b5132
RH
2395@end smallexample
2396
0285c67d
NC
2397@c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2398
9d51cc66 2399@kindex cxxfilt
252b5132
RH
2400The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2401that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2402takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2403are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
c7c55b78 2404@dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
9d51cc66 2405@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
195a97ce 2406MS-DOS this program is named @command{CXXFILT}.}
9d51cc66
ILT
2407program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2408names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2409functions from clashing.
252b5132
RH
2410
2411Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2412dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2413label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2414name in the output.
2415
c7c55b78 2416You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
252b5132
RH
2417
2418@example
2419c++filt @var{symbol}
2420@end example
2421
c7c55b78 2422If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
252b5132
RH
2423names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2424standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2425
0285c67d
NC
2426@c man end
2427
2428@c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2429
c7c55b78 2430@table @env
252b5132
RH
2431@item -_
2432@itemx --strip-underscores
2433On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2434of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2435name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
c7c55b78 2436@command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
252b5132
RH
2437
2438@item -j
2439@itemx --java
2440Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2441syntax.
2442
2443@item -n
2444@itemx --no-strip-underscores
2445Do not remove the initial underscore.
2446
4e48c9dd
ILT
2447@item -p
2448@itemx --no-params
2449When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
2450the function's parameters.
2451
252b5132
RH
2452@item -s @var{format}
2453@itemx --format=@var{format}
947ed062
NC
2454@command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2455different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
252b5132
RH
2456method it uses:
2457
2458@table @code
947ed062
NC
2459@item auto
2460Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
252b5132 2461@item gnu
947ed062 2462the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
252b5132 2463@item lucid
947ed062 2464the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
252b5132
RH
2465@item arm
2466the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2467@item hp
947ed062 2468the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
252b5132
RH
2469@item edg
2470the one used by the EDG compiler
b5e2a4f3 2471@item gnu-v3
947ed062
NC
2472the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2473@item java
2474the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2475@item gnat
2476the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
252b5132
RH
2477@end table
2478
2479@item --help
c7c55b78 2480Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
252b5132
RH
2481
2482@item --version
c7c55b78 2483Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
252b5132
RH
2484@end table
2485
0285c67d
NC
2486@c man end
2487
2488@ignore
2489@c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2490the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2491@c man end
2492@end ignore
2493
252b5132 2494@quotation
c7c55b78 2495@emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
252b5132
RH
2496user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2497a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2498passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2499
2500@example
2501c++filt @var{symbol}
2502@end example
2503
2504@noindent
2505may in a future release become
2506
2507@example
2508c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2509@end example
2510@end quotation
2511
2512@node addr2line
2513@chapter addr2line
2514
2515@kindex addr2line
2516@cindex address to file name and line number
2517
0285c67d
NC
2518@c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2519
252b5132 2520@smallexample
0285c67d 2521@c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
c7c55b78 2522addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
bf44dd74 2523 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
c7c55b78
NC
2524 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2525 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2526 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2527 [addr addr @dots{}]
0285c67d 2528@c man end
252b5132
RH
2529@end smallexample
2530
0285c67d
NC
2531@c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2532
c7c55b78 2533@command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
252b5132
RH
2534numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2535information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2536number are associated with a given address.
2537
c7c55b78 2538The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
f20a759a 2539default is the file @file{a.out}.
252b5132 2540
c7c55b78 2541@command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
252b5132
RH
2542
2543In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
c7c55b78 2544and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
252b5132
RH
2545address.
2546
c7c55b78 2547In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
252b5132 2548standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
c7c55b78 2549address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
252b5132
RH
2550in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2551
2552The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2553line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
c7c55b78 2554@command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
252b5132
RH
2555preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2556containing the address.
2557
2558If the file name or function name can not be determined,
c7c55b78
NC
2559@command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2560line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
252b5132 2561
0285c67d
NC
2562@c man end
2563
2564@c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2565
252b5132
RH
2566The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2567equivalent.
2568
c7c55b78 2569@table @env
252b5132
RH
2570@item -b @var{bfdname}
2571@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2572@cindex object code format
2573Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2574@var{bfdname}.
2575
2576@item -C
28c309a2 2577@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
252b5132
RH
2578@cindex demangling in objdump
2579Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2580Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
2581makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2582mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2583choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2584for more information on demangling.
252b5132
RH
2585
2586@item -e @var{filename}
2587@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2588Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2589translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2590
2591@item -f
2592@itemx --functions
2593Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2594
2595@item -s
2596@itemx --basenames
2597Display only the base of each file name.
e107c42f 2598@end table
252b5132 2599
0285c67d
NC
2600@c man end
2601
2602@ignore
2603@c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2604Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2605@c man end
2606@end ignore
2607
252b5132
RH
2608@node nlmconv
2609@chapter nlmconv
2610
c7c55b78 2611@command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
252b5132
RH
2612Loadable Module.
2613
2614@ignore
c7c55b78 2615@command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
252b5132
RH
2616files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2617object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
c7c55b78 2618@command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
252b5132
RH
2619format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2620with the above formats.}.
2621@end ignore
2622
2623@quotation
c7c55b78 2624@emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
252b5132
RH
2625utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2626@end quotation
2627
0285c67d
NC
2628@c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2629
252b5132 2630@smallexample
0285c67d 2631@c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
c7c55b78
NC
2632nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2633 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2634 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2635 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2636 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
252b5132 2637 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
0285c67d 2638@c man end
252b5132
RH
2639@end smallexample
2640
0285c67d
NC
2641@c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2642
c7c55b78 2643@command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
252b5132
RH
2644@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2645reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2646on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2647@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2648Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2649Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
c7c55b78 2650@command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
0285c67d
NC
2651@var{infile};
2652@ifclear man
2653see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2654@end ifclear
252b5132 2655
c7c55b78 2656@command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
252b5132
RH
2657more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2658file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
c7c55b78 2659In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
252b5132 2660
0285c67d
NC
2661@c man end
2662
2663@c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2664
c7c55b78 2665@table @env
252b5132
RH
2666@item -I @var{bfdname}
2667@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
c7c55b78 2668Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
252b5132
RH
2669the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2670@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2671
2672@item -O @var{bfdname}
2673@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
c7c55b78 2674Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
252b5132
RH
2675format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2676output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2677@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2678
2679@item -T @var{headerfile}
2680@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2681Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2682writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2683@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2684Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2685from Novell, Inc.
2686
2687@item -d
2688@itemx --debug
c7c55b78 2689Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
252b5132
RH
2690
2691@item -l @var{linker}
2692@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2693Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2694relative pathname.
2695
2696@item -h
2697@itemx --help
2698Prints a usage summary.
2699
2700@item -V
2701@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2702Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
252b5132
RH
2703@end table
2704
0285c67d
NC
2705@c man end
2706
2707@ignore
2708@c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2709the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2710@c man end
2711@end ignore
2712
252b5132
RH
2713@node windres
2714@chapter windres
2715
c7c55b78 2716@command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
252b5132
RH
2717
2718@quotation
c7c55b78 2719@emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
252b5132
RH
2720utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2721@end quotation
2722
0285c67d
NC
2723@c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2724
252b5132 2725@smallexample
0285c67d 2726@c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
252b5132 2727windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
0285c67d 2728@c man end
252b5132
RH
2729@end smallexample
2730
0285c67d
NC
2731@c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2732
c7c55b78 2733@command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
252b5132
RH
2734an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2735
2736@table @code
2737@item rc
2738A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2739
2740@item res
2741A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2742
2743@item coff
2744A COFF object or executable.
2745@end table
2746
2747The exact description of these different formats is available in
2748documentation from Microsoft.
2749
c7c55b78 2750When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
252b5132 2751format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
c7c55b78 2752@command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
252b5132
RH
2753format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2754
c7c55b78 2755When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
252b5132
RH
2756but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2757@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2758will instead include the file contents.
2759
c7c55b78 2760If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
252b5132
RH
2761guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2762A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2763file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2764@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2765@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2766
c7c55b78 2767If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
252b5132
RH
2768in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2769
c7c55b78 2770The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
252b5132
RH
2771to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2772your application. This will make the resources described in the
2773@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2774
0285c67d
NC
2775@c man end
2776
2777@c man begin OPTIONS windres
2778
c7c55b78 2779@table @env
252b5132
RH
2780@item -i @var{filename}
2781@itemx --input @var{filename}
2782The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
c7c55b78
NC
2783@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2784name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2785read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
edbedb71 2786standard input.
252b5132
RH
2787
2788@item -o @var{filename}
2789@itemx --output @var{filename}
2790The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
c7c55b78 2791@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
252b5132 2792for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
c7c55b78 2793non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
edbedb71
NC
2794@command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
2795for compatability with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
2796accepted, but its use is not recommended.
252b5132 2797
85eb5110 2798@item -J @var{format}
252b5132
RH
2799@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2800The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
c7c55b78 2801@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
252b5132
RH
2802guess, as described above.
2803
2804@item -O @var{format}
2805@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2806The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2807@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
c7c55b78 2808@command{windres} will guess, as described above.
252b5132
RH
2809
2810@item -F @var{target}
2811@itemx --target @var{target}
2812Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
c7c55b78
NC
2813is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2814of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2815format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2816@ifclear man
252b5132 2817@ref{Target Selection}.
c7c55b78 2818@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
2819
2820@item --preprocessor @var{program}
c7c55b78 2821When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
252b5132
RH
2822preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2823to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2824argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2825
85eb5110
NC
2826@item -I @var{directory}
2827@itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
252b5132 2828Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
c7c55b78
NC
2829@command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2830option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
85eb5110
NC
2831files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
2832matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as descrived in the @option{-J}
2833option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
2834@option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
2835directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
2836to disable the backward compatibility.
252b5132 2837
751d21b5 2838@item -D @var{target}
ad0481cd 2839@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
c7c55b78 2840Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
252b5132
RH
2841@code{rc} file.
2842
29b058f1
NC
2843@item -U @var{target}
2844@itemx --undefine @var{sym}
2845Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2846@code{rc} file.
2847
3126d709
CF
2848@item -r
2849Ignored for compatibility with rc.
2850
751d21b5
DD
2851@item -v
2852Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2853didn't specify one.
2854
3077f5d8 2855@item -l @var{val}
252b5132
RH
2856@item --language @var{val}
2857Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2858@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2859the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2860
5a298d2d
NC
2861@item --use-temp-file
2862Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2863the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2864on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2865Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2866go the console).
2867
2868@item --no-use-temp-file
2869Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2870This is the default behaviour.
2871
3077f5d8 2872@item -h
252b5132
RH
2873@item --help
2874Prints a usage summary.
2875
3077f5d8 2876@item -V
252b5132 2877@item --version
c7c55b78 2878Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
252b5132
RH
2879
2880@item --yydebug
c7c55b78 2881If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
252b5132
RH
2882this will turn on parser debugging.
2883@end table
2884
0285c67d
NC
2885@c man end
2886
2887@ignore
2888@c man begin SEEALSO windres
2889the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2890@c man end
2891@end ignore
252b5132
RH
2892
2893@node dlltool
2aa9814e 2894@chapter dlltool
252b5132
RH
2895@cindex DLL
2896@kindex dlltool
2897
2aa9814e
BE
2898@command{dlltool} is used to create the files needed to create dynamic
2899link libraries (DLLs) on systems which understand PE format image
2900files such as Windows. A DLL contains an export table which contains
2901information that the runtime loader needs to resolve references from a
2902referencing program.
2903
2904The export table is generated by this program by reading in a
2905@file{.def} file or scanning the @file{.a} and @file{.o} files which
2906will be in the DLL. A @file{.o} file can contain information in
2907special @samp{.drectve} sections with export information.
252b5132
RH
2908
2909@quotation
2aa9814e
BE
2910@emph{Note:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the
2911binary utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which
2912support DLLs.
252b5132
RH
2913@end quotation
2914
0285c67d
NC
2915@c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2916
252b5132 2917@smallexample
0285c67d 2918@c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
c7c55b78
NC
2919dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2920 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2921 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2922 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2923 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2924 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2925 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2926 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2927 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2928 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2929 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2930 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
607dea97 2931 [@option{-p}|@option{--ext-prefix-alias} @var{prefix}]
c7c55b78 2932 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
f9346411
DS
2933 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-t}|@option{--temp-prefix} @var{prefix}]
2934 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
c7c55b78 2935 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
252b5132 2936 [object-file @dots{}]
0285c67d 2937@c man end
252b5132
RH
2938@end smallexample
2939
0285c67d
NC
2940@c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2941
c7c55b78
NC
2942@command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2943@option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2944line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2945been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2946has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2947has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2948@option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2949dlltool.
252b5132
RH
2950
2951When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
c7c55b78 2952to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
252b5132
RH
2953these files.
2954
2aa9814e 2955The first file is a @file{.def} file which specifies which functions are
252b5132 2956exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
c7c55b78
NC
2957is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2958to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
252b5132
RH
2959will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2960those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2aa9814e 2961put entries for them in the @file{.def} file it creates.
252b5132
RH
2962
2963In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
c7c55b78 2964have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
252b5132
RH
2965section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2966asm() operator:
2967
2968@smallexample
2969 asm (".section .drectve");
2970 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2971
2972 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2973@end smallexample
2974
2975The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2976is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2977handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
c7c55b78 2978binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2aa9814e 2979@command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
252b5132
RH
2980
2981The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2982will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
c7c55b78 2983can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2aa9814e 2984is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
252b5132 2985
c7c55b78 2986@command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
252b5132 2987exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
c7c55b78 2988and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
252b5132 2989used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
c7c55b78
NC
2990and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2991assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2992these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
252b5132
RH
2993specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2994temporary object files it used to build the library.
2995
2996Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2997also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2998that uses that DLL:
2999
3000@smallexample
3001 gcc -c dll.c
3002 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
3003 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
3004 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
3005@end smallexample
3006
0285c67d
NC
3007@c man end
3008
3009@c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
3010
252b5132
RH
3011The command line options have the following meanings:
3012
c7c55b78 3013@table @env
252b5132
RH
3014
3015@item -d @var{filename}
3016@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
3017@cindex input .def file
2aa9814e 3018Specifies the name of a @file{.def} file to be read in and processed.
252b5132
RH
3019
3020@item -b @var{filename}
3021@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
3022@cindex base files
3023Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
3024contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
3025exports file generated by dlltool.
3026
3027@item -e @var{filename}
3028@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
3029Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
3030
3031@item -z @var{filename}
3032@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2aa9814e 3033Specifies the name of the @file{.def} file to be created by dlltool.
252b5132
RH
3034
3035@item -l @var{filename}
3036@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
3037Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
3038
3039@item --export-all-symbols
3040Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
3041files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
c7c55b78 3042are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
252b5132 3043option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
c7c55b78 3044@option{--exclude-symbols} option.
252b5132
RH
3045
3046@item --no-export-all-symbols
2aa9814e 3047Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input @file{.def} file or in
252b5132
RH
3048@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
3049behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
3050attributes in the source code.
3051
3052@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
3053Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
3054separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
3055contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
c7c55b78 3056@option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
252b5132
RH
3057
3058@item --no-default-excludes
c7c55b78 3059When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
252b5132
RH
3060exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
3061exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
c7c55b78 3062@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
252b5132 3063to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
c7c55b78 3064when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
252b5132
RH
3065
3066@item -S @var{path}
3067@itemx --as @var{path}
3068Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
3069to create the exports file.
3070
6364e0b4
NC
3071@item -f @var{options}
3072@itemx --as-flags @var{options}
3073Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
252b5132 3074assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
c7c55b78 3075the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
252b5132
RH
3076and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
3077occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
6364e0b4 3078pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
252b5132
RH
3079double quotes.
3080
3081@item -D @var{name}
3082@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2aa9814e
BE
3083Specifies the name to be stored in the @file{.def} file as the name of
3084the DLL when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not
3085present, then the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be
3086used as the name of the DLL.
252b5132
RH
3087
3088@item -m @var{machine}
3089@itemx -machine @var{machine}
3090Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
c7c55b78 3091built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
252b5132
RH
3092it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
3093normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
c36774d6 3094contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
252b5132
RH
3095
3096@item -a
3097@itemx --add-indirect
c7c55b78 3098Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3099should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
3100referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
3101means!
3102
3103@item -U
3104@itemx --add-underscore
c7c55b78 3105Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3106should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
3107
3108@item -k
3109@itemx --kill-at
c7c55b78 3110Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
d67a454c
NC
3111should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
3112called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
3113function in a DLL, other than by name.
252b5132
RH
3114
3115@item -A
3116@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
c7c55b78 3117Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3118should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
3119in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
3120
607dea97
NC
3121@item -p
3122@itemx --ext-prefix-alias @var{prefix}
3123Causes @command{dlltool} to create external aliases for all DLL
3124imports with the specified prefix. The aliases are created for both
3125external and import symbols with no leading underscore.
3126
252b5132
RH
3127@item -x
3128@itemx --no-idata4
c7c55b78
NC
3129Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3130files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
252b5132
RH
3131with certain operating systems.
3132
3133@item -c
3134@itemx --no-idata5
c7c55b78
NC
3135Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3136files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
252b5132
RH
3137with certain operating systems.
3138
3139@item -i
3140@itemx --interwork
c7c55b78 3141Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
252b5132 3142file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
c36774d6 3143between ARM and Thumb code.
252b5132
RH
3144
3145@item -n
3146@itemx --nodelete
c7c55b78 3147Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
252b5132
RH
3148create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
3149also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
f9346411
DS
3150file.
3151
3152@item -t @var{prefix}
3153@itemx --temp-prefix @var{prefix}
3154Makes @command{dlltool} use @var{prefix} when constructing the names of
3155temporary assembler and object files. By default, the temp file prefix
3156is generated from the pid.
252b5132
RH
3157
3158@item -v
3159@itemx --verbose
3160Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
3161
3162@item -h
3163@itemx --help
3164Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3165
3166@item -V
3167@itemx --version
3168Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
3169
3170@end table
3171
0285c67d
NC
3172@c man end
3173
2aa9814e
BE
3174@menu
3175* def file format:: The format of the dlltool @file{.def} file
3176@end menu
3177
3178@node def file format
3179@section The format of the @command{dlltool} @file{.def} file
3180
3181A @file{.def} file contains any number of the following commands:
3182
3183@table @asis
3184
3185@item @code{NAME} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
3186The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.exe}.
3187
3188@item @code{LIBRARY} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
3189The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.dll}.
3190
3191@item @code{EXPORTS ( ( (} @var{name1} @code{[ = } @var{name2} @code{] ) | ( } @var{name1} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) )}
3192@item @code{[} @var{integer} @code{] [ NONAME ] [ CONSTANT ] [ DATA ] [ PRIVATE ] ) *}
3193Declares @var{name1} as an exported symbol from the DLL, with optional
3194ordinal number @var{integer}, or declares @var{name1} as an alias
3195(forward) of the function @var{external-name} in the DLL
3196@var{module-name}.
3197
3198@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{) ) *}
3199Declares that @var{external-name} or the exported function whose
3200ordinal number is @var{integer} is to be imported from the file
3201@var{module-name}. If @var{internal-name} is specified then this is
3202the name that the imported function will be referred to in the body of
3203the DLL.
3204
3205@item @code{DESCRIPTION} @var{string}
3206Puts @var{string} into the output @file{.exp} file in the
3207@code{.rdata} section.
3208
3209@item @code{STACKSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
3210@item @code{HEAPSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
3211Generates @code{--stack} or @code{--heap}
3212@var{number-reserve},@var{number-commit} in the output @code{.drectve}
3213section. The linker will see this and act upon it.
3214
3215@item @code{CODE} @var{attr} @code{+}
3216@item @code{DATA} @var{attr} @code{+}
3217@item @code{SECTIONS (} @var{section-name} @var{attr}@code{ + ) *}
3218Generates @code{--attr} @var{section-name} @var{attr} in the output
3219@code{.drectve} section, where @var{attr} is one of @code{READ},
3220@code{WRITE}, @code{EXECUTE} or @code{SHARED}. The linker will see
3221this and act upon it.
3222
3223@end table
3224
0285c67d
NC
3225@ignore
3226@c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
2aa9814e 3227The Info pages for @file{binutils}.
0285c67d
NC
3228@c man end
3229@end ignore
3230
252b5132
RH
3231@node readelf
3232@chapter readelf
3233
3234@cindex ELF file information
3235@kindex readelf
3236
0285c67d
NC
3237@c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
3238
252b5132 3239@smallexample
0285c67d 3240@c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
c7c55b78
NC
3241readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
3242 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
3243 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
3244 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
3245 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
3246 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
3247 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
3248 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
3249 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
3250 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
3251 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
947ed062 3252 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
c7c55b78
NC
3253 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
3254 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
18bd398b
NC
3255 [@option{-w[liaprmfFsoR]}|
3256 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]]
947ed062 3257 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
c7c55b78 3258 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
d974e256 3259 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
c7c55b78 3260 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
252b5132 3261 @var{elffile}@dots{}
0285c67d 3262@c man end
252b5132
RH
3263@end smallexample
3264
0285c67d
NC
3265@c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
3266
c7c55b78 3267@command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
252b5132
RH
3268files. The options control what particular information to display.
3269
fb52b2f4
NC
3270@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
327164-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
252b5132 3272
9eb20dd8
NC
3273This program performs a similar function to @command{objdump} but it
3274goes into more detail and it exists independently of the @sc{bfd}
3275library, so if there is a bug in @sc{bfd} then readelf will not be
3276affected.
3277
0285c67d
NC
3278@c man end
3279
3280@c man begin OPTIONS readelf
3281
252b5132
RH
3282The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3283equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
3284given.
3285
c7c55b78 3286@table @env
252b5132
RH
3287@item -a
3288@itemx --all
c7c55b78
NC
3289Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
3290@option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
3291@option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
3292@option{--version-info}.
252b5132
RH
3293
3294@item -h
3295@itemx --file-header
3296@cindex ELF file header information
3297Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
3298file.
3299
3300@item -l
3301@itemx --program-headers
3302@itemx --segments
3303@cindex ELF program header information
3304@cindex ELF segment information
3305Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
3306has any.
3307
3308@item -S
3309@itemx --sections
3310@itemx --section-headers
3311@cindex ELF section information
3312Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
3313has any.
3314
3315@item -s
3316@itemx --symbols
3317@itemx --syms
3318@cindex ELF symbol table information
3319Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3320
3321@item -e
3322@itemx --headers
c7c55b78 3323Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
252b5132 3324
779fe533
NC
3325@item -n
3326@itemx --notes
1ec5cd37
NC
3327@cindex ELF notes
3328Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.
779fe533 3329
252b5132
RH
3330@item -r
3331@itemx --relocs
3332@cindex ELF reloc information
f5e21966
NC
3333Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3334
3335@item -u
3336@itemx --unwind
3337@cindex unwind information
3338Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3339the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
252b5132 3340
947ed062
NC
3341@item -u
3342@itemx --unwind
3343@cindex unwind information
3344Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3345the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3346
252b5132
RH
3347@item -d
3348@itemx --dynamic
3349@cindex ELF dynamic section information
3350Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3351
3352@item -V
3353@itemx --version-info
3354@cindex ELF version sections informations
3355Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3356exist.
3357
947ed062
NC
3358@item -A
3359@itemx --arch-specific
3360Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3361is any.
3362
252b5132
RH
3363@item -D
3364@itemx --use-dynamic
c7c55b78 3365When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
6dbb55b6 3366symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
252b5132
RH
3367symbols section.
3368
3369@item -x <number>
3370@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3371Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3372
18bd398b
NC
3373@item -w[liaprmfFsoR]
3374@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]
252b5132
RH
3375Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3376present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3377then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3378
947ed062
NC
3379@item -I
3380@itemx --histogram
252b5132
RH
3381Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3382of the symbol tables.
3383
3384@item -v
3385@itemx --version
3386Display the version number of readelf.
3387
d974e256
JJ
3388@item -W
3389@itemx --wide
3390Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3391@command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
339264-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3393@command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3394single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3395
252b5132
RH
3396@item -H
3397@itemx --help
c7c55b78 3398Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
252b5132
RH
3399
3400@end table
3401
0285c67d
NC
3402@c man end
3403
3404@ignore
3405@c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3406objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3407@c man end
3408@end ignore
252b5132
RH
3409
3410@node Selecting The Target System
947ed062 3411@chapter Selecting the Target System
252b5132 3412
947ed062 3413You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
252b5132
RH
3414binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3415
3416@itemize @bullet
3417@item
3418the target
3419
3420@item
3421the architecture
252b5132
RH
3422@end itemize
3423
3424In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3425order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3426listed later.
3427
3428The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3429programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
c7c55b78 3430@option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
252b5132
RH
3431values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3432once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3433with the same type as the target system).
3434
3435@menu
3436* Target Selection::
3437* Architecture Selection::
252b5132
RH
3438@end menu
3439
3440@node Target Selection
3441@section Target Selection
3442
3443A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3444supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3445A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3446systems or architectures.
3447
3448The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3449(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3450
3451Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3452@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3453
3454You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
f20a759a
ILT
3455the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3456target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3457fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
252b5132
RH
3458running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3459sources.
3460
3461Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3462@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3463
c7c55b78 3464@subheading @command{objdump} Target
252b5132
RH
3465
3466Ways to specify:
3467
3468@enumerate
3469@item
c7c55b78 3470command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3471
3472@item
3473environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3474
3475@item
3476deduced from the input file
3477@end enumerate
3478
c7c55b78 3479@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
252b5132
RH
3480
3481Ways to specify:
3482
3483@enumerate
3484@item
c7c55b78 3485command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3486
3487@item
3488environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3489
3490@item
3491deduced from the input file
3492@end enumerate
3493
c7c55b78 3494@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
252b5132
RH
3495
3496Ways to specify:
3497
3498@enumerate
3499@item
c7c55b78 3500command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3501
3502@item
c7c55b78 3503the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
252b5132
RH
3504
3505@item
3506environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3507
3508@item
3509deduced from the input file
3510@end enumerate
3511
c7c55b78 3512@subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
252b5132
RH
3513
3514Ways to specify:
3515
3516@enumerate
3517@item
c7c55b78 3518command line option: @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3519
3520@item
3521environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3522
3523@item
3524deduced from the input file
3525@end enumerate
3526
252b5132 3527@node Architecture Selection
947ed062 3528@section Architecture Selection
252b5132
RH
3529
3530An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3531to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3532processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3533
3534The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3535second column contains the relevant information).
3536
3537Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3538
c7c55b78 3539@subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
252b5132
RH
3540
3541Ways to specify:
3542
3543@enumerate
3544@item
c7c55b78 3545command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
252b5132
RH
3546
3547@item
3548deduced from the input file
3549@end enumerate
3550
c7c55b78 3551@subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
252b5132
RH
3552
3553Ways to specify:
3554
3555@enumerate
3556@item
3557deduced from the input file
3558@end enumerate
3559
252b5132
RH
3560@node Reporting Bugs
3561@chapter Reporting Bugs
3562@cindex bugs
3563@cindex reporting bugs
3564
3565Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3566reliable.
3567
3568Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3569it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3570to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3571utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3572maintenance.
3573
3574In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3575information that enables us to fix the bug.
3576
3577@menu
3578* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3579* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3580@end menu
3581
3582@node Bug Criteria
947ed062 3583@section Have You Found a Bug?
252b5132
RH
3584@cindex bug criteria
3585
3586If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3587
3588@itemize @bullet
3589@cindex fatal signal
3590@cindex crash
3591@item
3592If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3593a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3594
3595@cindex error on valid input
3596@item
3597If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3598bug.
3599
3600@item
3601If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3602improvement are welcome in any case.
3603@end itemize
3604
3605@node Bug Reporting
947ed062 3606@section How to Report Bugs
252b5132
RH
3607@cindex bug reports
3608@cindex bugs, reporting
3609
3610A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3611products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3612organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3613
3614You can find contact information for many support companies and
3615individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3616distribution.
3617
3618In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2f952d20 3619utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
252b5132
RH
3620
3621The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3622@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3623fact or leave it out, state it!
3624
3625Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3626problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3627assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3628Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3629a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3630that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3631different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3632doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3633specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3634and the most helpful.
3635
3636Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3637it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3638that the bug has not been reported previously.
3639
3640Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
947ed062
NC
3641bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3642respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3643You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
252b5132
RH
3644
3645To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3646
3647@itemize @bullet
3648@item
3649The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
c7c55b78 3650with the @option{--version} argument.
252b5132
RH
3651
3652Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3653the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3654
3655@item
3656Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3657made to the @code{BFD} library.
3658
3659@item
3660The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3661version number.
3662
3663@item
3664What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3665``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3666
3667@item
3668The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3669guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3670of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3671
3672If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3673and then we might not encounter the bug.
3674
3675@item
3676A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3677bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3678generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
757acbc5 3679necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
2f952d20 3680@samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
757acbc5
ILT
3681sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3682anonymous FTP is OK.
252b5132
RH
3683
3684If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
c7c55b78 3685(e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
252b5132 3686may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
c7c55b78 3687this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
252b5132 3688whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
c7c55b78 3689@command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
252b5132
RH
3690
3691@item
3692A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3693incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3694
3695Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3696will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3697not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3698a chance to make a mistake.
3699
3700Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
f20a759a 3701say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
252b5132
RH
3702copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3703the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3704crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3705ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3706us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3707to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3708
3709@item
3710If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
c7c55b78 3711generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
252b5132 3712option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
c7c55b78 3713wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
f20a759a 3714context, not by line number.
252b5132
RH
3715
3716The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3717sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3718@end itemize
3719
3720Here are some things that are not necessary:
3721
3722@itemize @bullet
3723@item
3724A description of the envelope of the bug.
3725
3726Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3727which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3728changes will not affect it.
3729
3730This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3731will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3732with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3733We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3734
3735Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3736of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3737output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3738less time, and so on.
3739
3740However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3741report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3742
3743@item
3744A patch for the bug.
3745
3746A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3747the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3748a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3749to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3750
3751Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3752very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3753certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3754will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3755the bug is fixed.
3756
3757And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3758patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3759help us to understand.
3760
3761@item
3762A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3763
3764Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3765things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3766@end itemize
3767
947ed062 3768@include fdl.texi
cf055d54 3769
252b5132
RH
3770@node Index
3771@unnumbered Index
3772
3773@printindex cp
3774
3775@contents
3776@bye
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