* configure.in (host_libs): Build itcl after tcl, tk.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / binutils.texi
... / ...
CommitLineData
1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
3@include config.texi
4
5@ifinfo
6@format
7START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
8* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities "ar", "objcopy",
9 "objdump", "nm", "nlmconv", "size",
10 "strings", "strip", and "ranlib".
11END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
12@end format
13@end ifinfo
14
15@ifinfo
16Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
17
18Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
19this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
20are preserved on all copies.
21
22@ignore
23Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
24results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
25notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
26(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
27
28@end ignore
29
30Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
31manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
32the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
33permission notice identical to this one.
34
35Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
36into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
37@end ifinfo
38
39@synindex ky cp
40@c
41@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
42@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", and "ranlib".
43@c
44@c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
45@c
46@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
47@c General Public License.
48@c
49
50@setchapternewpage odd
51@settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
52@titlepage
53@finalout
54@title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
55@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
56@sp 1
57@subtitle May 1993
58@author Roland H. Pesch
59@author Jeffrey M. Osier
60@author Cygnus Support
61@page
62
63@tex
64{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
65\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
66@end tex
67
68@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
69Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
70
71Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
72this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
73are preserved on all copies.
74
75Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
76manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
77the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
78permission notice identical to this one.
79
80Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
81into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
82@end titlepage
83
84@node Top
85@top Introduction
86
87@cindex version
88This brief manual contains preliminary documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
89utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
90
91@iftex
92@table @code
93@item ar
94Create, modify, and extract from archives
95
96@item nm
97List symbols from object files
98
99@item objcopy
100Copy and translate object files
101
102@item objdump
103Display information from object files
104
105@item ranlib
106Generate index to archive contents
107
108@item size
109List file section sizes and total size
110
111@item strings
112List printable strings from files
113
114@item strip
115Discard symbols
116
117@item c++filt
118Demangle encoded C++ symbols
119
120@item nlmconv
121Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
122@end table
123@end iftex
124
125@menu
126* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
127* nm:: List symbols from object files
128* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
129* objdump:: Display information from object files
130* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
131* size:: List section sizes and total size
132* strings:: List printable strings from files
133* strip:: Discard symbols
134* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
135* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
136* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
137* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
138* Index:: Index
139@end menu
140
141@node ar
142@chapter ar
143
144@kindex ar
145@cindex archives
146@cindex collections of files
147@smallexample
148ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
149ar -M [ <mri-script ]
150@end smallexample
151
152The @sc{gnu} @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
153archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
154other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
155the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
156
157The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
158group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
159extraction.
160
161@cindex name length
162@sc{gnu} @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
163length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
164system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
165with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
166limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
167characters (typical of formats related to coff).
168
169@cindex libraries
170@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
171are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
172subroutines.
173
174@cindex symbol index
175@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
176object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
177Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
178makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
179An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
180allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
181their placement in the archive.
182
183You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
184table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
185@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
186
187@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
188@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
189@sc{gnu} @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
190facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
191like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
192specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
193with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
194program.
195
196@menu
197* ar cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
198* ar scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
199@end menu
200
201@page
202@node ar cmdline
203@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
204
205@smallexample
206ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
207@end smallexample
208
209@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
210When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
211arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
212(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
213@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
214
215Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
216specifying particular files to operate on.
217
218@sc{gnu} @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
219flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
220
221If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
222dash.
223
224@cindex operations on archive
225The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
226any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
227
228@table @code
229@item d
230@cindex deleting from archive
231@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
232be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
233specify no files to delete.
234
235If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
236as it is deleted.
237
238@item m
239@cindex moving in archive
240Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
241
242The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
243programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
244than one member.
245
246If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
247@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
248you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
249specified place instead.
250
251@item p
252@cindex printing from archive
253@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
254output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
255name before copying its contents to standard output.
256
257If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
258printed.
259
260@item q
261@cindex quick append to archive
262@emph{Quick append}; add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
263@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
264
265The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
266operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
267
268The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
269
270Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
271index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
272@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
273
274@item r
275@cindex replacement in archive
276Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
277@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
278previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
279added.
280
281If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @code{ar}
282displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
283of the archive matching that name.
284
285By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
286use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
287placement relative to some existing member.
288
289The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
290output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
291@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
292deleted) or replaced.
293
294@item t
295@cindex contents of archive
296Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
297of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
298archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
299see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
300request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
301
302If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
303are listed.
304
305@cindex repeated names in archive
306@cindex name duplication in archive
307If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
308an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
309first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
310listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
311@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
312@c recent case in fact works the other way.
313
314@item x
315@cindex extract from archive
316@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
317use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
318@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
319
320If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
321are extracted.
322
323@end table
324
325A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
326keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
327
328@table @code
329@item a
330@cindex relative placement in archive
331Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
332archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
333member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
334@var{archive} specification.
335
336@item b
337Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
338archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
339member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
340@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
341
342@item c
343@cindex creating archives
344@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
345created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
346issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
347using this modifier.
348
349@item f
350Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @code{ar} will normally permit file
351names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
352not compatible with the native @code{ar} program on some systems. If
353this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
354names when putting them in the archive.
355
356@item i
357Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
358archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
359member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
360@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
361
362@item l
363This modifier is accepted but not used.
364@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
365@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
366
367@item o
368@cindex dates in archive
369Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
370you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
371are stamped with the time of extraction.
372
373@item s
374@cindex writing archive index
375Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
376even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
377flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
378archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
379
380@item u
381@cindex updating an archive
382Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
383listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
384of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
385names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
386operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
387not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
388advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
389
390@item v
391This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
392operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
393when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
394
395@item V
396This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
397@end table
398
399@node ar scripts
400@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
401
402@smallexample
403ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
404@end smallexample
405
406@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
407@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
408If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
409can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
410form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
411directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
412input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
413errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
414issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
415on any error.
416
417The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
418to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
419over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
420transition to @sc{gnu} @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
421written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
422
423The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
424@itemize @bullet
425@item
426commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
427is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
428shown in upper case for clarity.
429
430@item
431a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
432line.
433
434@item
435empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
436
437@item
438comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
439or @samp{;} is ignored.
440
441@item
442Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
443command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
444blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
445
446@item
447@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
448at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
449of the current command.
450@end itemize
451
452Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
453@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
454
455@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
456a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
457
458@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
459to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
460archive.
461
462@table @code
463@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
464@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
465Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
466@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
467
468Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
469
470@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
471@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
472@c else like "ar q..."
473Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
474
475Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
476
477@item CLEAR
478Discard the contents of the current archive, cancelling the effect of
479any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
480effect) even if no current archive is specified.
481
482@item CREATE @var{archive}
483Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
484other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
485is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
486You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
487existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
488
489@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
490Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
491@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
492
493Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
494
495@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
496@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
497List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
498command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
499output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
500@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
501@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
502
503Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
504specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
505output to that file.
506
507@item END
508Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
509completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
510changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
511changes are lost.
512
513@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
514Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
515into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
516@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
517
518Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
519
520@ignore
521@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
522@item FULLDIR
523
524@item HELP
525@end ignore
526
527@item LIST
528Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
529regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
530tv @var{archive}}). (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @code{ld}
531enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
532
533Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
534
535@item OPEN @var{archive}
536Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
537many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
538will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
539
540@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
541In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
542the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
543To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
544the current archive, must exist.
545
546Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
547
548@item VERBOSE
549Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
550When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
551@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
552
553@item SAVE
554Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
555file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
556command.
557
558Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
559
560@end table
561
562@iftex
563@node ld
564@chapter ld
565@cindex linker
566@kindex ld
567The @sc{gnu} linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
568@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
569@end iftex
570
571@node nm
572@chapter nm
573@cindex symbols
574@kindex nm
575
576@smallexample
577nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
578 [ -B ] [ -C | --demangle ] [ -D | --dynamic ]
579 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
580 [ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
581 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ --size-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
582 [ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
583 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
584 [ --defined-only ] [-l | --line-numbers ]
585 [ --no-demangle ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
586@end smallexample
587
588@sc{gnu} @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
589If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
590@file{a.out}.
591
592For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
593
594@itemize @bullet
595@item
596The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
597hexadecimal by default.
598
599@item
600The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
601well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
602local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
603
604@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
605@c would be nice.
606@table @code
607@item A
608The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
609linking.
610
611@item B
612The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
613
614@item C
615The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
616linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
617symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
618references. For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
619--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
620
621@item D
622The symbol is in the initialized data section.
623
624@item G
625The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
626object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
627such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
628
629@item I
630The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a GNU
631extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
632
633@item N
634The symbol is a debugging symbol.
635
636@item R
637The symbol is in a read only data section.
638
639@item S
640The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
641
642@item T
643The symbol is in the text (code) section.
644
645@item U
646The symbol is undefined.
647
648@item W
649The symbol is weak. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
650defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error. When a
651weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined, the value
652of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
653
654@item -
655The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
656next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
657the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information;
658for more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
659``stabs'' debug format}.
660
661@item ?
662The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
663@end table
664
665@item
666The symbol name.
667@end itemize
668
669The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
670equivalent.
671
672@table @code
673@item -A
674@itemx -o
675@itemx --print-file-name
676@cindex input file name
677@cindex file name
678@cindex source file name
679Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
680in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
681before all of its symbols.
682
683@item -a
684@itemx --debug-syms
685@cindex debugging symbols
686Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
687listed.
688
689@item -B
690@cindex @code{nm} format
691@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
692The same as @samp{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @code{nm}).
693
694@item -C
695@itemx --demangle
696@cindex demangling C++ symbols
697Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
698Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
699makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
700on demangling.
701
702@item --no-demangle
703Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
704
705@item -D
706@itemx --dynamic
707@cindex dynamic symbols
708Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
709only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
710libraries.
711
712@item -f @var{format}
713@itemx --format=@var{format}
714@cindex @code{nm} format
715@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
716Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
717@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
718Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
719either upper or lower case.
720
721@item -g
722@itemx --extern-only
723@cindex external symbols
724Display only external symbols.
725
726@item -l
727@itemx --line-numbers
728@cindex symbol line numbers
729For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
730line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
731address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
732number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
733information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
734
735@item -n
736@itemx -v
737@itemx --numeric-sort
738Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
739by their names.
740
741@item -p
742@itemx --no-sort
743@cindex sorting symbols
744Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
745encountered.
746
747@item -P
748@itemx --portability
749Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
750Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
751
752@item -s
753@itemx --print-armap
754@cindex symbol index, listing
755When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
756(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
757contain definitions for which names.
758
759@item -r
760@itemx --reverse-sort
761Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
762last come first.
763
764@item --size-sort
765Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
766the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
767value. The size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value.
768
769@item -t @var{radix}
770@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
771Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
772@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
773
774@item --target=@var{bfdname}
775@cindex object code format
776Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
777@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
778
779@item -u
780@itemx --undefined-only
781@cindex external symbols
782@cindex undefined symbols
783Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
784
785@item --defined-only
786@cindex external symbols
787@cindex undefined symbols
788Display only defined symbols for each object file.
789
790@item -V
791@itemx --version
792Show the version number of @code{nm} and exit.
793
794@item --help
795Show a summary of the options to @code{nm} and exit.
796@end table
797
798@node objcopy
799@chapter objcopy
800
801@smallexample
802objcopy [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
803 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
804 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
805 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
806 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
807 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
808 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
809 [ -b @var{byte} | --byte=@var{byte} ]
810 [ -i @var{interleave} | --interleave=@var{interleave} ]
811 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
812 [ --debugging ]
813 [ --gap-fill=@var{val} ] [ --pad-to=@var{address} ]
814 [ --set-start=@var{val} ] [ --adjust-start=@var{incr} ]
815 [ --adjust-vma=@var{incr} ]
816 [ --adjust-section-vma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
817 [ --adjust-warnings ] [ --no-adjust-warnings ]
818 [ --set-section-flags=@var{section}=@var{flags} ]
819 [ --add-section=@var{sectionname}=@var{filename} ]
820 [ --change-leading-char ] [ --remove-leading-char ]
821 [ --weaken ]
822 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
823 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
824@end smallexample
825
826The @sc{gnu} @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
827file to another. @code{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
828read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
829file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
830exact behavior of @code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
831
832@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
833deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
834translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
835and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
836explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
837
838@code{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
839target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
840
841@code{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
842output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @samp{-O binary}). When
843@code{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
844a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
845relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
846the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
847
848When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
849use @samp{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
850some cases @samp{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
851information which is not needed by the binary file.
852
853@table @code
854@item @var{infile}
855@itemx @var{outfile}
856The source and output files, respectively.
857If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
858temporary file and destructively renames the result with
859the name of @var{infile}.
860
861@item -I @var{bfdname}
862@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
863Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
864attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
865
866@item -O @var{bfdname}
867@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
868Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
869@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
870
871@item -F @var{bfdname}
872@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
873Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
874file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
875translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
876
877@item -R @var{sectionname}
878@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
879Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
880option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
881inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
882
883@item -S
884@itemx --strip-all
885Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
886
887@item -g
888@itemx --strip-debug
889Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
890
891@item --strip-unneeded
892Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
893
894@item -K @var{symbolname}
895@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
896Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
897be given more than once.
898
899@item -N @var{symbolname}
900@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
901Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
902may be given more than once, and may be combined with strip options
903other than @code{-K}.
904
905@item -x
906@itemx --discard-all
907Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
908@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
909
910@item -X
911@itemx --discard-locals
912Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
913(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
914
915@item -b @var{byte}
916@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
917Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
918affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
919where @var{interleave} is given by the @samp{-i} or @samp{--interleave}
920option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
921to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
922target.
923
924@item -i @var{interleave}
925@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
926Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
927copy with the @var{-b} or @samp{--byte} option. The default is 4.
928@code{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @samp{-b} or
929@samp{--byte}.
930
931@item --debugging
932Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
933because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
934conversion process can be time consuming.
935
936@item --gap-fill @var{val}
937Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This is done by increasing
938the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
939space created with @var{val}.
940
941@item --pad-to @var{address}
942Pad the output file up to the virtual address @var{address}. This is
943done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
944filled in with the value specified by @samp{--gap-fill} (default zero).
945
946@item --set-start @var{val}
947Set the address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
948formats support setting the start address.
949
950@item --adjust-start @var{incr}
951Adjust the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
952formats support setting the start address.
953
954@item --adjust-vma @var{incr}
955Adjust the address of all sections, as well as the start address, by
956adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit section
957addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not relocate
958the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a certain
959address, and this option is used to change the sections such that they
960are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
961
962@item --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
963Set or adjust the address of the named @var{section}. If @samp{=} is
964used, the section address is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is
965added to or subtracted from the section address. See the comments under
966@samp{--adjust-vma}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in the
967input file, a warning will be issued, unless @samp{--no-adjust-warnings}
968is used.
969
970@item --adjust-warnings
971If @samp{--adjust-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
972exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
973
974@item --no-adjust-warnings
975Do not issue a warning if @samp{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even if
976the named section does not exist.
977
978@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
979Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
980comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
981@samp{alloc}, @samp{load}, @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data},
982and @samp{rom}. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
983formats.
984
985@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
986Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
987contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
988size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
989works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
990
991@item --change-leading-char
992Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
993symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
994often add before every symbol. This option tells @code{objcopy} to
995change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
996object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
997character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
998character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
999appropriate.
1000
1001@item --remove-leading-char
1002If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1003character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1004most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1005remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1006if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1007different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1008@code{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1009when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1010file.
1011
1012@item --weaken
1013Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1014when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1015the @code{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1016using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1017
1018@item -V
1019@itemx --version
1020Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
1021
1022@item -v
1023@itemx --verbose
1024Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1025archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1026
1027@item --help
1028Show a summary of the options to @code{objcopy}.
1029@end table
1030
1031@node objdump
1032@chapter objdump
1033
1034@cindex object file information
1035@kindex objdump
1036
1037@smallexample
1038objdump [ -a | --archive-headers ]
1039 [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ --debugging ]
1040 [ -d | --disassemble ] [ -D | --disassemble-all ]
1041 [ --disassemble-zeroes ]
1042 [ -EB | -EL | --endian=@{big | little @} ]
1043 [ -f | --file-headers ]
1044 [ -h | --section-headers | --headers ] [ -i | --info ]
1045 [ -j @var{section} | --section=@var{section} ]
1046 [ -l | --line-numbers ] [ -S | --source ]
1047 [ -m @var{machine} | --architecture=@var{machine} ]
1048 [ -r | --reloc ] [ -R | --dynamic-reloc ]
1049 [ -s | --full-contents ] [ --stabs ]
1050 [ -t | --syms ] [ -T | --dynamic-syms ] [ -x | --all-headers ]
1051 [ -w | --wide ] [ --start-address=@var{address} ]
1052 [ --stop-address=@var{address} ]
1053 [ --prefix-addresses] [ --show-raw-insn ]
1054 [ --version ] [ --help ]
1055 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1056@end smallexample
1057
1058@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1059The options control what particular information to display. This
1060information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1061compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1062program to compile and work.
1063
1064@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1065specify archives, @code{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1066object files.
1067
1068The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1069equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-l} must be given.
1070
1071@table @code
1072@item -a
1073@itemx --archive-header
1074@cindex archive headers
1075If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1076header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1077information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1078the object file format of each archive member.
1079
1080@item -b @var{bfdname}
1081@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1082@cindex object code format
1083Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1084@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1085automatically recognize many formats.
1086
1087For example,
1088@example
1089objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1090@end example
1091@noindent
1092displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
1093@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
1094file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1095formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
1096@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1097
1098@item --debugging
1099Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1100information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1101Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1102
1103@item -d
1104@itemx --disassemble
1105@cindex disassembling object code
1106@cindex machine instructions
1107Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1108@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1109expected to contain instructions.
1110
1111@item -D
1112@itemx --disassemble-all
1113Like @samp{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1114those expected to contain instructions.
1115
1116@item --prefix-addresses
1117When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1118the older disassembly format.
1119
1120@item --disassemble-zeroes
1121Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1122option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1123any other data.
1124
1125@item -EB
1126@itemx -EL
1127@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1128@cindex endianness
1129@cindex disassembly endianness
1130Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1131disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1132does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1133
1134@item -f
1135@itemx --file-header
1136@cindex object file header
1137Display summary information from the overall header of
1138each of the @var{objfile} files.
1139
1140@item -h
1141@itemx --section-header
1142@itemx --header
1143@cindex section headers
1144Display summary information from the section headers of the
1145object file.
1146
1147File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1148using the @samp{-Ttext}, @samp{-Tdata}, or @samp{-Tbss} options to
1149@code{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1150store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1151although @code{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1152-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1153Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1154target.
1155
1156@item --help
1157Print a summary of the options to @code{objdump} and exit.
1158
1159@item -i
1160@itemx --info
1161@cindex architectures available
1162@cindex object formats available
1163Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1164for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
1165
1166@item -j @var{name}
1167@itemx --section=@var{name}
1168@cindex section information
1169Display information only for section @var{name}.
1170
1171@item -l
1172@itemx --line-numbers
1173@cindex source filenames for object files
1174Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1175source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1176Only useful with @samp{-d}, @samp{-D}, or @samp{-r}.
1177
1178@item -m @var{machine}
1179@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1180@cindex architecture
1181@cindex disassembly architecture
1182Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1183can be useful when disasembling object files which do not describe
1184architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1185architectures with the @samp{-i} option.
1186
1187@item -r
1188@itemx --reloc
1189@cindex relocation entries, in object file
1190Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @samp{-d} or
1191@samp{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1192disassembly.
1193
1194@item -R
1195@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1196@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1197Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1198meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1199libraries.
1200
1201@item -s
1202@itemx --full-contents
1203@cindex sections, full contents
1204@cindex object file sections
1205Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1206
1207@item -S
1208@itemx --source
1209@cindex source disassembly
1210@cindex disassembly, with source
1211Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1212@samp{-d}.
1213
1214@item --show-raw-insn
1215When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1216in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1217@code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1218
1219@item --stabs
1220@cindex stab
1221@cindex .stab
1222@cindex debug symbols
1223@cindex ELF object file format
1224Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1225contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1226ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1227@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1228section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1229interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
1230output. For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1231Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1232
1233@item --start-address=@var{address}
1234@cindex start-address
1235Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1236of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1237
1238@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1239@cindex stop-address
1240Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1241of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1242
1243@item -t
1244@itemx --syms
1245@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1246Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1247This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1248
1249@item -T
1250@itemx --dynamic-syms
1251@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1252Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1253meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1254libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1255program when given the @samp{-D} (@samp{--dynamic}) option.
1256
1257@item --version
1258Print the version number of @code{objdump} and exit.
1259
1260@item -x
1261@itemx --all-header
1262@cindex all header information, object file
1263@cindex header information, all
1264Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1265relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1266@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1267
1268@item -w
1269@item --wide
1270@cindex wide output, printing
1271Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1272@end table
1273
1274@node ranlib
1275@chapter ranlib
1276
1277@kindex ranlib
1278@cindex archive contents
1279@cindex symbol index
1280
1281@smallexample
1282ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
1283@end smallexample
1284
1285@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1286stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1287member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1288
1289You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1290
1291An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1292allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1293their placement in the archive.
1294
1295The @sc{gnu} @code{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @code{ar}; running
1296@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1297@xref{ar}.
1298
1299@table @code
1300@item -v
1301@itemx -V
1302Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
1303@end table
1304
1305@node size
1306@chapter size
1307
1308@kindex size
1309@cindex section sizes
1310
1311@smallexample
1312size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
1313 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
1314 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
1315 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1316@end smallexample
1317
1318The @sc{gnu} @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1319size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1320argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1321object file or each module in an archive.
1322
1323@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1324
1325The command line options have the following meanings:
1326
1327@table @code
1328@item -A
1329@itemx -B
1330@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1331@cindex @code{size} display format
1332Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1333@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
1334or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
1335@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1336Berkeley's.
1337@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1338@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1339@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1340
1341Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1342@code{size}:
1343@smallexample
1344size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1345text data bss dec hex filename
1346294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1347294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1348@end smallexample
1349
1350@noindent
1351This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1352
1353@smallexample
1354size --format=SysV ranlib size
1355ranlib :
1356section size addr
1357.text 294880 8192
1358.data 81920 303104
1359.bss 11592 385024
1360Total 388392
1361
1362
1363size :
1364section size addr
1365.text 294880 8192
1366.data 81920 303104
1367.bss 11888 385024
1368Total 388688
1369@end smallexample
1370
1371@item --help
1372Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1373
1374@item -d
1375@itemx -o
1376@itemx -x
1377@itemx --radix=@var{number}
1378@cindex @code{size} number format
1379@cindex radix for section sizes
1380Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1381section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
1382(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
1383@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1384values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1385radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
1386octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
1387
1388@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1389@cindex object code format
1390Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1391@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
1392automatically recognize many formats.
1393@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1394
1395@item -V
1396@itemx --version
1397Display the version number of @code{size}.
1398@end table
1399
1400@node strings
1401@chapter strings
1402@kindex strings
1403@cindex listings strings
1404@cindex printing strings
1405@cindex strings, printing
1406
1407@smallexample
1408strings [-afov] [-@var{min-len}] [-n @var{min-len}] [-t @var{radix}] [-]
1409 [--all] [--print-file-name] [--bytes=@var{min-len}]
1410 [--radix=@var{radix}] [--target=@var{bfdname}]
1411 [--help] [--version] @var{file}@dots{}
1412@end smallexample
1413
1414For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @code{strings} prints the printable
1415character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1416given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1417character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1418and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1419the strings from the whole file.
1420
1421@code{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1422files.
1423
1424@table @code
1425@item -a
1426@itemx --all
1427@itemx -
1428Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1429scan the whole files.
1430
1431@item -f
1432@itemx --print-file-name
1433Print the name of the file before each string.
1434
1435@item --help
1436Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1437
1438@itemx -@var{min-len}
1439@item -n @var{min-len}
1440@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1441Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1442long, instead of the default 4.
1443
1444@item -o
1445Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @code{strings} have @samp{-o}
1446act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
1447ways, we simply chose one.
1448
1449@item -t @var{radix}
1450@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1451Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
1452character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
1453octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
1454
1455@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1456@cindex object code format
1457Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1458@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1459
1460@item -v
1461@itemx --version
1462Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
1463@end table
1464
1465@node strip
1466@chapter strip
1467
1468@kindex strip
1469@cindex removing symbols
1470@cindex discarding symbols
1471@cindex symbols, discarding
1472
1473@smallexample
1474strip [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1475 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1476 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1477 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
1478 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1479 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1480 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
1481 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
1482 [ -o @var{file} ]
1483 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
1484 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1485@end smallexample
1486
1487@sc{gnu} @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
1488@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
1489At least one object file must be given.
1490
1491@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
1492rather than writing modified copies under different names.
1493
1494@table @code
1495@item -F @var{bfdname}
1496@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1497Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1498code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
1499@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1500
1501@item --help
1502Show a summary of the options to @code{strip} and exit.
1503
1504@item -I @var{bfdname}
1505@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1506Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1507code format @var{bfdname}.
1508@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1509
1510@item -O @var{bfdname}
1511@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1512Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
1513@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1514
1515@item -R @var{sectionname}
1516@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1517Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1518option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1519inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1520
1521@item -s
1522@itemx --strip-all
1523Remove all symbols.
1524
1525@item -g
1526@itemx -S
1527@itemx --strip-debug
1528Remove debugging symbols only.
1529
1530@item --strip-unneeded
1531Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1532
1533@item -K @var{symbolname}
1534@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1535Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1536be given more than once.
1537
1538@item -N @var{symbolname}
1539@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1540Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
1541given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
1542@code{-K}.
1543
1544@item -o @var{file}
1545Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
1546existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
1547argument may be specified.
1548
1549@item -x
1550@itemx --discard-all
1551Remove non-global symbols.
1552
1553@item -X
1554@itemx --discard-locals
1555Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
1556(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1557
1558@item -V
1559@itemx --version
1560Show the version number for @code{strip}.
1561
1562@item -v
1563@itemx --verbose
1564Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1565archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
1566@end table
1567
1568@node c++filt
1569@chapter c++filt
1570
1571@kindex c++filt
1572@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1573
1574@smallexample
1575c++filt [ -_ | --strip-underscores ]
1576 [ -n | --no-strip-underscores ]
1577 [ -s @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
1578 [ --help ] [ --version ] [ @var{symbol}@dots{} ]
1579@end smallexample
1580
1581The C++ language provides function overloading, which means that you can
1582write many functions with the same name (providing each takes parameters
1583of different types). All C++ function names are encoded into a
1584low-level assembly label (this process is known as
1585@dfn{mangling}). The @code{c++filt} program does the inverse mapping: it
1586decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level names into user-level names so that
1587the linker can keep these overloaded functions from clashing.
1588
1589Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
1590dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
1591label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
1592name in the output.
1593
1594You can use @code{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
1595
1596@example
1597c++filt @var{symbol}
1598@end example
1599
1600If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @code{c++filt} reads symbol
1601names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
1602standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
1603
1604@table @code
1605@item -_
1606@itemx --strip-underscores
1607On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
1608of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
1609name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
1610@code{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
1611
1612@item -n
1613@itemx --no-strip-underscores
1614Do not remove the initial underscore.
1615
1616@item -s @var{format}
1617@itemx --format=@var{format}
1618@sc{gnu} @code{nm} can decode three different methods of mangling, used by
1619different C++ compilers. The argument to this option selects which
1620method it uses:
1621
1622@table @code
1623@item gnu
1624the one used by the @sc{gnu} compiler (the default method)
1625@item lucid
1626the one used by the Lucid compiler
1627@item arm
1628the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
1629@end table
1630
1631@item --help
1632Print a summary of the options to @code{c++filt} and exit.
1633
1634@item --version
1635Print the version number of @code{c++filt} and exit.
1636@end table
1637
1638@quotation
1639@emph{Warning:} @code{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
1640user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
1641a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
1642passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
1643
1644@example
1645c++filt @var{symbol}
1646@end example
1647
1648@noindent
1649may in a future release become
1650
1651@example
1652c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
1653@end example
1654@end quotation
1655
1656@node nlmconv
1657@chapter nlmconv
1658
1659@code{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
1660Loadable Module.
1661
1662@ignore
1663@code{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
1664files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
1665object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
1666@code{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
1667format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
1668with the above formats.}.
1669@end ignore
1670
1671@quotation
1672@emph{Warning:} @code{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
1673utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
1674@end quotation
1675
1676@smallexample
1677nlmconv [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1678 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1679 [ -T @var{headerfile} | --header-file=@var{headerfile} ]
1680 [ -d | --debug] [ -l @var{linker} | --linker=@var{linker} ]
1681 [ -h | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1682 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
1683@end smallexample
1684
1685@code{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
1686@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
1687reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
1688on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
1689@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
1690Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
1691Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
1692@code{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
1693@var{infile}; see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for
1694more information.
1695
1696@code{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
1697more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
1698file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
1699In this case, @code{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
1700
1701@table @code
1702@item -I @var{bfdname}
1703@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1704Object format of the input file. @code{nlmconv} can usually determine
1705the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
1706@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1707
1708@item -O @var{bfdname}
1709@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1710Object format of the output file. @code{nlmconv} infers the output
1711format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
1712output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
1713@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1714
1715@item -T @var{headerfile}
1716@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
1717Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
1718writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
1719@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
1720Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
1721from Novell, Inc.
1722
1723@item -d
1724@itemx --debug
1725Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @code{nlmconv}.
1726
1727@item -l @var{linker}
1728@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
1729Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an abosolute or a
1730relative pathname.
1731
1732@item -h
1733@itemx --help
1734Prints a usage summary.
1735
1736@item -V
1737@itemx --version
1738Prints the version number for @code{nlmconv}.
1739@end table
1740
1741@node Selecting The Target System
1742@chapter Selecting the target system
1743
1744You can specify three aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
1745binary file utilities, each in several ways:
1746
1747@itemize @bullet
1748@item
1749the target
1750
1751@item
1752the architecture
1753
1754@item
1755the linker emulation (which applies to the linker only)
1756@end itemize
1757
1758In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
1759order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
1760listed later.
1761
1762The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
1763programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
1764@samp{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
1765values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
1766once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
1767with the same type as the target system).
1768
1769@menu
1770* Target Selection::
1771* Architecture Selection::
1772* Linker Emulation Selection::
1773@end menu
1774
1775@node Target Selection
1776@section Target Selection
1777
1778A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
1779supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
1780A target selection may also have variations for different operating
1781systems or architectures.
1782
1783The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
1784(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
1785
1786Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
1787@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
1788
1789You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
1790the same sort of name that is passed to configure to specify a target.
1791When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be fully
1792canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
1793running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
1794sources.
1795
1796Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
1797@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
1798
1799@subheading @code{objdump} Target
1800
1801Ways to specify:
1802
1803@enumerate
1804@item
1805command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--target}
1806
1807@item
1808environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
1809
1810@item
1811deduced from the input file
1812@end enumerate
1813
1814@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target
1815
1816Ways to specify:
1817
1818@enumerate
1819@item
1820command line options: @samp{-I} or @samp{--input-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
1821
1822@item
1823environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
1824
1825@item
1826deduced from the input file
1827@end enumerate
1828
1829@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Output Target
1830
1831Ways to specify:
1832
1833@enumerate
1834@item
1835command line options: @samp{-O} or @samp{--output-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
1836
1837@item
1838the input target (see ``@code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target'' above)
1839
1840@item
1841environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
1842
1843@item
1844deduced from the input file
1845@end enumerate
1846
1847@subheading @code{nm}, @code{size}, and @code{strings} Target
1848
1849Ways to specify:
1850
1851@enumerate
1852@item
1853command line option: @samp{--target}
1854
1855@item
1856environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
1857
1858@item
1859deduced from the input file
1860@end enumerate
1861
1862@subheading Linker Input Target
1863
1864Ways to specify:
1865
1866@enumerate
1867@item
1868command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--format}
1869(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
1870
1871@item
1872script command @code{TARGET}
1873(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
1874
1875@item
1876environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
1877(@pxref{Environment,,Environment,ld.info,Using LD})
1878
1879@item
1880the default target of the selected linker emulation
1881(@pxref{Linker Emulation Selection})
1882@end enumerate
1883
1884@subheading Linker Output Target
1885
1886Ways to specify:
1887
1888@enumerate
1889@item
1890command line option: @samp{-oformat}
1891(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
1892
1893@item
1894script command @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
1895(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
1896
1897@item
1898the linker input target (see ``Linker Input Target'' above)
1899@end enumerate
1900
1901@node Architecture Selection
1902@section Architecture selection
1903
1904An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
1905to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
1906processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
1907
1908The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
1909second column contains the relevant information).
1910
1911Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
1912
1913@subheading @code{objdump} Architecture
1914
1915Ways to specify:
1916
1917@enumerate
1918@item
1919command line option: @samp{-m} or @samp{--architecture}
1920
1921@item
1922deduced from the input file
1923@end enumerate
1924
1925@subheading @code{objcopy}, @code{nm}, @code{size}, @code{strings} Architecture
1926
1927Ways to specify:
1928
1929@enumerate
1930@item
1931deduced from the input file
1932@end enumerate
1933
1934@subheading Linker Input Architecture
1935
1936Ways to specify:
1937
1938@enumerate
1939@item
1940deduced from the input file
1941@end enumerate
1942
1943@subheading Linker Output Architecture
1944
1945Ways to specify:
1946
1947@enumerate
1948@item
1949script command @code{OUTPUT_ARCH}
1950(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
1951
1952@item
1953the default architecture from the linker output target
1954(@pxref{Target Selection})
1955@end enumerate
1956
1957@node Linker Emulation Selection
1958@section Linker emulation selection
1959
1960A linker @dfn{emulation} is a ``personality'' of the linker, which gives
1961the linker default values for the other aspects of the target system.
1962In particular, it consists of
1963
1964@itemize @bullet
1965@item
1966the linker script
1967
1968@item
1969the target
1970
1971@item
1972several ``hook'' functions that are run at certain stages of the linking
1973process to do special things that some targets require
1974@end itemize
1975
1976The command to list valid linker emulation values is @samp{ld -V}.
1977
1978Sample values: @samp{hp300bsd}, @samp{mipslit}, @samp{sun4}.
1979
1980Ways to specify:
1981
1982@enumerate
1983@item
1984command line option: @samp{-m}
1985(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
1986
1987@item
1988environment variable @code{LDEMULATION}
1989
1990@item
1991compiled-in @code{DEFAULT_EMULATION} from @file{Makefile},
1992which comes from @code{EMUL} in @file{config/@var{target}.mt}
1993@end enumerate
1994
1995@node Reporting Bugs
1996@chapter Reporting Bugs
1997@cindex bugs
1998@cindex reporting bugs
1999
2000Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
2001reliable.
2002
2003Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
2004it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
2005to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
2006utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
2007maintenance.
2008
2009In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
2010information that enables us to fix the bug.
2011
2012@menu
2013* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
2014* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
2015@end menu
2016
2017@node Bug Criteria
2018@section Have you found a bug?
2019@cindex bug criteria
2020
2021If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
2022
2023@itemize @bullet
2024@cindex fatal signal
2025@cindex crash
2026@item
2027If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
2028a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
2029
2030@cindex error on valid input
2031@item
2032If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
2033bug.
2034
2035@item
2036If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
2037improvement are welcome in any case.
2038@end itemize
2039
2040@node Bug Reporting
2041@section How to report bugs
2042@cindex bug reports
2043@cindex bugs, reporting
2044
2045A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
2046products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
2047organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
2048
2049You can find contact information for many support companies and
2050individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
2051distribution.
2052
2053In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2054utilities to @samp{bug-gnu-utils@@prep.ai.mit.edu}.
2055
2056The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
2057@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
2058fact or leave it out, state it!
2059
2060Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
2061problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
2062assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
2063Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
2064a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
2065that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
2066different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
2067doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
2068specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
2069and the most helpful.
2070
2071Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
2072it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
2073that the bug has not been reported previously.
2074
2075Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
2076bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
2077@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
2078bugs properly.
2079
2080To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
2081
2082@itemize @bullet
2083@item
2084The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
2085with the @samp{--version} argument.
2086
2087Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
2088the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
2089
2090@item
2091Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
2092made to the @code{BFD} library.
2093
2094@item
2095The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
2096version number.
2097
2098@item
2099What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
2100``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
2101
2102@item
2103The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
2104guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
2105of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
2106
2107If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
2108and then we might not encounter the bug.
2109
2110@item
2111A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
2112bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
2113generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
2114necessary to get them through the mail system. Making them available
2115for anonymous FTP is not as good, but may be the only reasonable choice
2116for large object files.
2117
2118If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
2119(e.g., @code{gcc}, @code{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @code{ld}), then it
2120may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
2121this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @code{gcc}, or
2122whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
2123@code{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
2124
2125@item
2126A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
2127incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
2128
2129Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
2130will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
2131not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
2132a chance to make a mistake.
2133
2134Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
2135say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
2136copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
2137the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
2138crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
2139ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
2140us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
2141to draw any conclusion from our observations.
2142
2143@item
2144If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
2145generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
2146option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
2147even discuss something in the @code{ld} source, refer to it by context,
2148not by line number.
2149
2150The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
2151sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
2152@end itemize
2153
2154Here are some things that are not necessary:
2155
2156@itemize @bullet
2157@item
2158A description of the envelope of the bug.
2159
2160Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
2161which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
2162changes will not affect it.
2163
2164This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
2165will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
2166with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
2167We recommend that you save your time for something else.
2168
2169Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
2170of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
2171output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
2172less time, and so on.
2173
2174However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
2175report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
2176
2177@item
2178A patch for the bug.
2179
2180A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
2181the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
2182a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
2183to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
2184
2185Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
2186very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
2187certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
2188will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
2189the bug is fixed.
2190
2191And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
2192patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
2193help us to understand.
2194
2195@item
2196A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
2197
2198Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
2199things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
2200@end itemize
2201
2202@node Index
2203@unnumbered Index
2204
2205@printindex cp
2206
2207@contents
2208@bye
This page took 0.029825 seconds and 4 git commands to generate.