Add new switch to objcopy: --add-gnu-debuglink=<file>
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
1 \input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2 @setfilename binutils.info
3 @c Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4
5 @include config.texi
6
7 @ifinfo
8 @format
9 START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
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
26 END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
27 @end format
28 @end ifinfo
29
30 @ifinfo
31 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
32 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000,
33 2001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34
35 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
36 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
37 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
38 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
39 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
40 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
41
42 @c man end
43 @ignore
44 Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
45 results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
46 notice 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
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
57 @c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001,
58 @c 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59 @c
60 @c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
61 @c Free Documentation License.
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
71 @subtitle May 1993
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
83 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998, 2000, 2001,
84 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
85
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
91 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
92
93 @end titlepage
94
95 @node Top
96 @top Introduction
97
98 @cindex version
99 This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
100 utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
101
102 @iftex
103 @table @code
104 @item ar
105 Create, modify, and extract from archives
106
107 @item nm
108 List symbols from object files
109
110 @item objcopy
111 Copy and translate object files
112
113 @item objdump
114 Display information from object files
115
116 @item ranlib
117 Generate index to archive contents
118
119 @item readelf
120 Display the contents of ELF format files.
121
122 @item size
123 List file section sizes and total size
124
125 @item strings
126 List printable strings from files
127
128 @item strip
129 Discard symbols
130
131 @item c++filt
132 Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
133 @code{cxxfilt})
134
135 @item addr2line
136 Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
137
138 @item nlmconv
139 Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
140
141 @item windres
142 Manipulate Windows resources
143
144 @item dlltool
145 Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
146 @end table
147 @end iftex
148
149 This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
150 Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
151 section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
152
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
164 * cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
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
171 * GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
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
181
182 @c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
183
184 @smallexample
185 ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
186 ar -M [ <mri-script ]
187 @end smallexample
188
189 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
190
191 The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
192 archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
193 other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
194 the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
195
196 The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
197 group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
198 extraction.
199
200 @cindex name length
201 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
202 length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
203 system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
204 with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
205 limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
206 characters (typical of formats related to coff).
207
208 @cindex libraries
209 @command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
210 are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
211 subroutines.
212
213 @cindex symbol index
214 @command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
215 object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
216 Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
217 makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
218 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
219 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
220 their placement in the archive.
221
222 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
223 table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
224 @command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
225
226 @cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
227 @cindex @command{ar} compatibility
228 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
229 facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
230 like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
231 specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
232 with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
233 program.
234
235 @c man end
236
237 @menu
238 * ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
239 * ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
240 @end menu
241
242 @page
243 @node ar cmdline
244 @section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
245
246 @smallexample
247 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
248 ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
249 @c man end
250 @end smallexample
251
252 @cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
253 When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
254 arguments 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
258 Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
259 specifying particular files to operate on.
260
261 @c man begin OPTIONS ar
262
263 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
264 flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
265
266 If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
267 dash.
268
269 @cindex operations on archive
270 The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
271 any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
272
273 @table @samp
274 @item d
275 @cindex deleting from archive
276 @emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
277 be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
278 specify no files to delete.
279
280 If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
281 as it is deleted.
282
283 @item m
284 @cindex moving in archive
285 Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
286
287 The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
288 programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
289 than one member.
290
291 If 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;
293 you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
294 specified place instead.
295
296 @item p
297 @cindex printing from archive
298 @emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
299 output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
300 name before copying its contents to standard output.
301
302 If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
303 printed.
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
310 The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
311 operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
312
313 The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
314
315 Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
316 index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
317 @command{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
318
319 However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
320 index, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} implements @samp{q} as a synonym for @samp{r}.
321
322 @item r
323 @cindex replacement in archive
324 Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
325 @emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
326 previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
327 added.
328
329 If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
330 displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
331 of the archive matching that name.
332
333 By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
334 use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
335 placement relative to some existing member.
336
337 The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
338 output 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
340 deleted) or replaced.
341
342 @item t
343 @cindex contents of archive
344 Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
345 of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
346 archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
347 see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
348 request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
349
350 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
351 are listed.
352
353 @cindex repeated names in archive
354 @cindex name duplication in archive
355 If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
356 an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
357 first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
358 listing---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
365 use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
366 @command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
367
368 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
369 are extracted.
370
371 @end table
372
373 A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
374 keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
375
376 @table @samp
377 @item a
378 @cindex relative placement in archive
379 Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
380 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
381 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
382 @var{archive} specification.
383
384 @item b
385 Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
386 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
387 member 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
393 created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
394 issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
395 using this modifier.
396
397 @item f
398 Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
399 names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
400 not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
401 this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
402 names when putting them in the archive.
403
404 @item i
405 Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
406 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
407 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
408 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
409
410 @item l
411 This modifier is accepted but not used.
412 @c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
413 @c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
414
415 @item N
416 Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
417 entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
418 @var{count} of the given name from the archive.
419
420 @item o
421 @cindex dates in archive
422 Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
423 you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
424 are stamped with the time of extraction.
425
426 @item P
427 Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
428 @command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
429 are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
430 will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
431 name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
432 archive created by another tool.
433
434 @item s
435 @cindex writing archive index
436 Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
437 even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
438 flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
439 archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
440
441 @item S
442 @cindex not writing archive index
443 Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
444 large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
445 with 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
451 Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
452 listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
453 of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
454 names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
455 operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
456 not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
457 advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
458
459 @item v
460 This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
461 operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
462 when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
463
464 @item V
465 This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
466 @end table
467
468 @command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
469 compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
470 default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any of the other
471 @samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support @option{-X32}
472 which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
473
474 @c man end
475
476 @ignore
477 @c man begin SEEALSO ar
478 nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
479 @c man end
480 @end ignore
481
482 @node ar scripts
483 @section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
484
485 @smallexample
486 ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
487 @end smallexample
488
489 @cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
490 @cindex scripts, @command{ar}
491 If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
492 can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
493 form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
494 directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
495 input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
496 errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
497 issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
498 on any error.
499
500 The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
501 to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
502 over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
503 transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
504 written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
505
506 The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
507 @itemize @bullet
508 @item
509 commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
510 is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
511 shown in upper case for clarity.
512
513 @item
514 a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
515 line.
516
517 @item
518 empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
519
520 @item
521 comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
522 or @samp{;} is ignored.
523
524 @item
525 Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
526 command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
527 blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
528
529 @item
530 @samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
531 at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
532 of the current command.
533 @end itemize
534
535 Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
536 @command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
537
538 @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
539 a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
540
541 @code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
542 to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
543 archive.
544
545 @table @code
546 @item ADDLIB @var{archive}
547 @itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
548 Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
549 @var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
550
551 Requires 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..."
556 Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
557
558 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
559
560 @item CLEAR
561 Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
562 any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
563 effect) even if no current archive is specified.
564
565 @item CREATE @var{archive}
566 Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
567 other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
568 is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
569 You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
570 existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
571
572 @item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
573 Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
574 @samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
575
576 Requires 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}
580 List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
581 command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
582 output 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
586 Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
587 specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
588 output to that file.
589
590 @item END
591 Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
592 completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
593 changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
594 changes are lost.
595
596 @item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
597 Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
598 into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
599 @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
600
601 Requires 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
611 Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
612 regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
613 tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
614 enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
615
616 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
617
618 @item OPEN @var{archive}
619 Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
620 many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
621 will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
622
623 @item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
624 In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
625 the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
626 To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
627 the current archive, must exist.
628
629 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
630
631 @item VERBOSE
632 Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
633 When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
634 @samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
635
636 @item SAVE
637 Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
638 file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
639 command.
640
641 Requires 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
650 The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
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
659 @c man title nm list symbols from object files
660
661 @smallexample
662 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
663 nm [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}] [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}]
664 [@option{-B}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]] [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}]
665 [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}] [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}]
666 [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}]
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{}]
673 @c man end
674 @end smallexample
675
676 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
677 @sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
678 If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
679 @file{a.out}.
680
681 For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
682
683 @itemize @bullet
684 @item
685 The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
686 hexadecimal by default.
687
688 @item
689 The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
690 well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
691 local; 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
697 The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
698 linking.
699
700 @item B
701 The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
702
703 @item C
704 The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
705 linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
706 symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
707 references.
708 @ifclear man
709 For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
710 --warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
711 @end ifclear
712
713 @item D
714 The symbol is in the initialized data section.
715
716 @item G
717 The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
718 object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
719 such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
720
721 @item I
722 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a @sc{gnu}
723 extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
724
725 @item N
726 The symbol is a debugging symbol.
727
728 @item R
729 The symbol is in a read only data section.
730
731 @item S
732 The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
733
734 @item T
735 The symbol is in the text (code) section.
736
737 @item U
738 The symbol is undefined.
739
740 @item V
741 The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
742 a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
743 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
744 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
745
746 @item W
747 The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
748 weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
749 defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
750 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
751 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
752
753 @item -
754 The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
755 next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
756 the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
757 @ifclear man
758 For more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
759 ``stabs'' debug format}.
760 @end ifclear
761
762 @item ?
763 The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
764 @end table
765
766 @item
767 The symbol name.
768 @end itemize
769
770 @c man end
771
772 @c man begin OPTIONS nm
773 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
774 equivalent.
775
776 @table @env
777 @item -A
778 @itemx -o
779 @itemx --print-file-name
780 @cindex input file name
781 @cindex file name
782 @cindex source file name
783 Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
784 in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
785 before all of its symbols.
786
787 @item -a
788 @itemx --debug-syms
789 @cindex debugging symbols
790 Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
791 listed.
792
793 @item -B
794 @cindex @command{nm} format
795 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
796 The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
797
798 @item -C
799 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
800 @cindex demangling in nm
801 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
802 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
803 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
804 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
805 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
806 for more information on demangling.
807
808 @item --no-demangle
809 Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
810
811 @item -D
812 @itemx --dynamic
813 @cindex dynamic symbols
814 Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
815 only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
816 libraries.
817
818 @item -f @var{format}
819 @itemx --format=@var{format}
820 @cindex @command{nm} format
821 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
822 Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
823 @code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
824 Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
825 either upper or lower case.
826
827 @item -g
828 @itemx --extern-only
829 @cindex external symbols
830 Display only external symbols.
831
832 @item -l
833 @itemx --line-numbers
834 @cindex symbol line numbers
835 For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
836 line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
837 address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
838 number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
839 information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
840
841 @item -n
842 @itemx -v
843 @itemx --numeric-sort
844 Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
845 by their names.
846
847 @item -p
848 @itemx --no-sort
849 @cindex sorting symbols
850 Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
851 encountered.
852
853 @item -P
854 @itemx --portability
855 Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
856 Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
857
858 @item -S
859 @itemx --print-size
860 Print size, not the value, of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output format.
861
862 @item -s
863 @itemx --print-armap
864 @cindex symbol index, listing
865 When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
866 (stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
867 contain definitions for which names.
868
869 @item -r
870 @itemx --reverse-sort
871 Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
872 last come first.
873
874 @item --size-sort
875 Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
876 the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
877 value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used the size of the symbol
878 is printed, rather than the value, and @samp{-S} must be used in order
879 both size and value to be printed.
880
881 @item -t @var{radix}
882 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
883 Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
884 @samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
885
886 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
887 @cindex object code format
888 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
889 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
890
891 @item -u
892 @itemx --undefined-only
893 @cindex external symbols
894 @cindex undefined symbols
895 Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
896
897 @item --defined-only
898 @cindex external symbols
899 @cindex undefined symbols
900 Display only defined symbols for each object file.
901
902 @item -V
903 @itemx --version
904 Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
905
906 @item -X
907 This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
908 @command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
909 @option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
910 to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
911
912 @item --help
913 Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
914 @end table
915
916 @c man end
917
918 @ignore
919 @c man begin SEEALSO nm
920 ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
921 @c man end
922 @end ignore
923
924 @node objcopy
925 @chapter objcopy
926
927 @c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
928
929 @smallexample
930 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
931 objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
932 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
933 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
934 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
935 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
936 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
937 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
938 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
939 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
940 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
941 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
942 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
943 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
944 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
945 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
946 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
947 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
948 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
949 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
950 [@option{--debugging}]
951 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
952 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
953 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
954 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
955 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
956 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
957 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
958 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
959 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
960 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
961 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
962 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
963 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
964 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
965 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
966 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
967 [@option{--weaken}]
968 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
969 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
970 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
971 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
972 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
973 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
974 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
975 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
976 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
977 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
978 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
979 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
980 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
981 @c man end
982 @end smallexample
983
984 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
985 The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
986 file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
987 read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
988 file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
989 exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
990 Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
991 between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
992 between any two formats may not work as expected.
993
994 @command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
995 deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
996 translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
997 and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
998 explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
999
1000 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
1001 target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1002
1003 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1004 output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1005 @command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1006 a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1007 relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1008 the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1009
1010 When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1011 use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1012 some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1013 information that is not needed by the binary file.
1014
1015 Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1016 files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1017 @command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1018 same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1019
1020 @c man end
1021
1022 @c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1023
1024 @table @env
1025 @item @var{infile}
1026 @itemx @var{outfile}
1027 The input and output files, respectively.
1028 If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1029 temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1030 the name of @var{infile}.
1031
1032 @item -I @var{bfdname}
1033 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1034 Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1035 attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1036
1037 @item -O @var{bfdname}
1038 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1039 Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1040 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1041
1042 @item -F @var{bfdname}
1043 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1044 Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1045 file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1046 translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1047
1048 @item -B @var{bfdarch}
1049 @itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1050 Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1051 In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1052 option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1053 can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1054 symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1055 called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1056 _binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1057 an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1058
1059 @item -j @var{sectionname}
1060 @itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1061 Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1062 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1063 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1064
1065 @item -R @var{sectionname}
1066 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1067 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1068 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1069 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1070
1071 @item -S
1072 @itemx --strip-all
1073 Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1074
1075 @item -g
1076 @itemx --strip-debug
1077 Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
1078
1079 @item --strip-unneeded
1080 Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1081
1082 @item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1083 Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to @var{path-to-file}
1084 and adds it to the output file.
1085
1086 @item -K @var{symbolname}
1087 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1088 Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1089 be given more than once.
1090
1091 @item -N @var{symbolname}
1092 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1093 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1094 may be given more than once.
1095
1096 @item -G @var{symbolname}
1097 @itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1098 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1099 to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1100 be given more than once.
1101
1102 @item -L @var{symbolname}
1103 @itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1104 Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1105 visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1106
1107 @item -W @var{symbolname}
1108 @itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1109 Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1110
1111 @item -x
1112 @itemx --discard-all
1113 Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1114 @c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1115
1116 @item -X
1117 @itemx --discard-locals
1118 Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1119 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1120
1121 @item -b @var{byte}
1122 @itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1123 Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1124 affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
1125 where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
1126 option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1127 to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1128 target.
1129
1130 @item -i @var{interleave}
1131 @itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1132 Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1133 copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1134 @command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1135 @option{--byte}.
1136
1137 @item -p
1138 @itemx --preserve-dates
1139 Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1140 as those of the input file.
1141
1142 @item --debugging
1143 Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1144 because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1145 conversion process can be time consuming.
1146
1147 @item --gap-fill @var{val}
1148 Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1149 the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1150 the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1151 space created with @var{val}.
1152
1153 @item --pad-to @var{address}
1154 Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1155 done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1156 filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1157
1158 @item --set-start @var{val}
1159 Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1160 formats support setting the start address.
1161
1162 @item --change-start @var{incr}
1163 @itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1164 @cindex changing start address
1165 Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1166 formats support setting the start address.
1167
1168 @item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1169 @itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1170 @cindex changing object addresses
1171 Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1172 address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1173 section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1174 relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1175 certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1176 that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1177
1178 @item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1179 @itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1180 @cindex changing section address
1181 Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1182 @var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1183 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1184 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1185 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1186 be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1187
1188 @item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1189 @cindex changing section LMA
1190 Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1191 address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1192 program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1193 is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1194 especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1195 different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1196 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1197 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1198 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1199 will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1200
1201 @item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1202 @cindex changing section VMA
1203 Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1204 address is the address where the section will be located once the
1205 program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1206 address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1207 memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1208 ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1209 is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1210 from the section address. See the comments under
1211 @option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1212 the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1213 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1214
1215 @item --change-warnings
1216 @itemx --adjust-warnings
1217 If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1218 @option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1219 exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1220
1221 @item --no-change-warnings
1222 @itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1223 Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1224 @option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1225 if the named section does not exist.
1226
1227 @item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1228 Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1229 comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1230 @samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1231 @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1232 @samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1233 does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1234 @samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1235 the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1236 formats.
1237
1238 @item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1239 Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1240 contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1241 size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1242 works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1243
1244 @item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1245 Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1246 changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1247 the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1248 the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1249 executable.
1250
1251 This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1252 since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1253 you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1254 data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1255
1256 @smallexample
1257 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1258 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1259 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1260 @end smallexample
1261
1262 @item --change-leading-char
1263 Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1264 symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1265 often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1266 change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1267 object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1268 character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1269 character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1270 appropriate.
1271
1272 @item --remove-leading-char
1273 If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1274 character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1275 most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1276 remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1277 if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1278 different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1279 @option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1280 when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1281 file.
1282
1283 @item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1284 Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1285 being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1286 crc fields.
1287
1288 @item --srec-forceS3
1289 Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1290 creating S3-only record format.
1291
1292 @item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1293 Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1294 when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1295 source, and there are name collisions.
1296
1297 @item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1298 Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1299 listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1300 with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1301 character. This option may be given more than once.
1302
1303 @item --weaken
1304 Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1305 when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1306 the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1307 using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1308
1309 @item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1310 Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1311 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1312 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1313 This option may be given more than once.
1314
1315 @item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1316 Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1317 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1318 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1319 This option may be given more than once.
1320
1321 @item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1322 Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1323 file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1324 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1325 character. This option may be given more than once.
1326
1327 @item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1328 Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1329 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1330 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1331 This option may be given more than once.
1332
1333 @item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1334 Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1335 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1336 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1337 This option may be given more than once.
1338
1339 @item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1340 If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1341 @var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1342 a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1343 new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1344 being used.
1345
1346 @item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1347 Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1348
1349 @item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1350 Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1351
1352 @item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1353 Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1354 @var{string}.
1355
1356 @item -V
1357 @itemx --version
1358 Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
1359
1360 @item -v
1361 @itemx --verbose
1362 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1363 archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1364
1365 @item --help
1366 Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
1367
1368 @item --info
1369 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
1370 @end table
1371
1372 @c man end
1373
1374 @ignore
1375 @c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1376 ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1377 @c man end
1378 @end ignore
1379
1380 @node objdump
1381 @chapter objdump
1382
1383 @cindex object file information
1384 @kindex objdump
1385
1386 @c man title objdump display information from object files.
1387
1388 @smallexample
1389 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
1390 objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1391 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1392 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1393 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1394 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1395 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1396 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1397 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1398 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1399 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
1400 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1401 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1402 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1403 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1404 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1405 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1406 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1407 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1408 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1409 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1410 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1411 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1412 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1413 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1414 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1415 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1416 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1417 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1418 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1419 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1420 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
1421 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1422 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
1423 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1424 @c man end
1425 @end smallexample
1426
1427 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1428
1429 @command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1430 The options control what particular information to display. This
1431 information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1432 compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1433 program to compile and work.
1434
1435 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1436 specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1437 object files.
1438
1439 @c man end
1440
1441 @c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1442
1443 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1444 equivalent. At least one option from the list
1445 @option{-a,-d,-D,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
1446
1447 @table @env
1448 @item -a
1449 @itemx --archive-header
1450 @cindex archive headers
1451 If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1452 header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1453 information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1454 the object file format of each archive member.
1455
1456 @item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1457 @cindex section addresses in objdump
1458 @cindex VMA in objdump
1459 When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1460 addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1461 the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1462 addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1463 such as a.out.
1464
1465 @item -b @var{bfdname}
1466 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1467 @cindex object code format
1468 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1469 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1470 automatically recognize many formats.
1471
1472 For example,
1473 @example
1474 objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1475 @end example
1476 @noindent
1477 displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1478 @file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
1479 file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1480 formats available with the @option{-i} option.
1481 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1482
1483 @item -C
1484 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
1485 @cindex demangling in objdump
1486 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1487 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1488 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1489 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1490 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1491 for more information on demangling.
1492
1493 @item -g
1494 @itemx --debugging
1495 Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1496 information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1497 Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1498 Some other types are supported by @command{readelf -w}.
1499 @xref{readelf}.
1500
1501 @item -d
1502 @itemx --disassemble
1503 @cindex disassembling object code
1504 @cindex machine instructions
1505 Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1506 @var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1507 expected to contain instructions.
1508
1509 @item -D
1510 @itemx --disassemble-all
1511 Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1512 those expected to contain instructions.
1513
1514 @item --prefix-addresses
1515 When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1516 the older disassembly format.
1517
1518 @item -EB
1519 @itemx -EL
1520 @itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1521 @cindex endianness
1522 @cindex disassembly endianness
1523 Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1524 disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1525 does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1526
1527 @item -f
1528 @itemx --file-headers
1529 @cindex object file header
1530 Display summary information from the overall header of
1531 each of the @var{objfile} files.
1532
1533 @item --file-start-context
1534 @cindex source code context
1535 Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
1536 (assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
1537 context to the start of the file.
1538
1539 @item -h
1540 @itemx --section-headers
1541 @itemx --headers
1542 @cindex section headers
1543 Display summary information from the section headers of the
1544 object file.
1545
1546 File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1547 using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1548 @command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1549 store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1550 although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1551 -h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1552 Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1553 target.
1554
1555 @item -H
1556 @itemx --help
1557 Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
1558
1559 @item -i
1560 @itemx --info
1561 @cindex architectures available
1562 @cindex object formats available
1563 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1564 for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
1565
1566 @item -j @var{name}
1567 @itemx --section=@var{name}
1568 @cindex section information
1569 Display information only for section @var{name}.
1570
1571 @item -l
1572 @itemx --line-numbers
1573 @cindex source filenames for object files
1574 Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1575 source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1576 Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
1577
1578 @item -m @var{machine}
1579 @itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1580 @cindex architecture
1581 @cindex disassembly architecture
1582 Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1583 can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1584 architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1585 architectures with the @option{-i} option.
1586
1587 @item -M @var{options}
1588 @itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1589 Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1590 some targets.
1591
1592 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1593 select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1594 @option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
1595 used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1596 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
1597 @option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1598 Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
1599 just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1600
1601 There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
1602 by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1603 use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
1604 with the normal register names or the special register names).
1605
1606 This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
1607 disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
1608 using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
1609 useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1610 compilers.
1611
1612 For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1613 switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1614 following may be specified as a comma separated string.
1615 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
1616 the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1617 intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1618 @option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1619 address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
1620 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
1621 option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
1622 instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
1623 suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1624
1625 For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1626 disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1627 PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1628
1629 For MIPS, this option controls the printing of register names in
1630 disassembled instructions. Multiple selections from the
1631 following may be specified as a comma separated string, and invalid
1632 options are ignored:
1633
1634 @table @code
1635 @item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1636 Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1637 for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1638 the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1639
1640 @item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1641 Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1642 appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1643 rather than names.
1644
1645 @item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1646 Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1647 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1648 @var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1649 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1650
1651 @item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1652 Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1653 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1654 @var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1655 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1656
1657 @item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1658 Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1659
1660 @item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
1661 Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1662 as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
1663 @end table
1664
1665 For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1666 @var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1667 rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1668 You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1669 the @option{--help} option.
1670
1671 @item -p
1672 @itemx --private-headers
1673 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1674 information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1675 object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1676
1677 @item -r
1678 @itemx --reloc
1679 @cindex relocation entries, in object file
1680 Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1681 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1682 disassembly.
1683
1684 @item -R
1685 @itemx --dynamic-reloc
1686 @cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1687 Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1688 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1689 libraries.
1690
1691 @item -s
1692 @itemx --full-contents
1693 @cindex sections, full contents
1694 @cindex object file sections
1695 Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1696
1697 @item -S
1698 @itemx --source
1699 @cindex source disassembly
1700 @cindex disassembly, with source
1701 Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1702 @option{-d}.
1703
1704 @item --show-raw-insn
1705 When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1706 in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1707 @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1708
1709 @item --no-show-raw-insn
1710 When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1711 This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1712
1713 @item -G
1714 @itemx --stabs
1715 @cindex stab
1716 @cindex .stab
1717 @cindex debug symbols
1718 @cindex ELF object file format
1719 Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1720 contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1721 ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1722 @code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1723 section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1724 interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
1725 output.
1726 @ifclear man
1727 For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1728 Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1729 @end ifclear
1730
1731 @item --start-address=@var{address}
1732 @cindex start-address
1733 Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1734 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1735
1736 @item --stop-address=@var{address}
1737 @cindex stop-address
1738 Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1739 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1740
1741 @item -t
1742 @itemx --syms
1743 @cindex symbol table entries, printing
1744 Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1745 This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1746
1747 @item -T
1748 @itemx --dynamic-syms
1749 @cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1750 Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1751 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1752 libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1753 program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
1754
1755 @item -V
1756 @itemx --version
1757 Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
1758
1759 @item -x
1760 @itemx --all-headers
1761 @cindex all header information, object file
1762 @cindex header information, all
1763 Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1764 relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1765 @option{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1766
1767 @item -w
1768 @itemx --wide
1769 @cindex wide output, printing
1770 Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1771 Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
1772
1773 @item -z
1774 @itemx --disassemble-zeroes
1775 Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1776 option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1777 any other data.
1778 @end table
1779
1780 @c man end
1781
1782 @ignore
1783 @c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1784 nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1785 @c man end
1786 @end ignore
1787
1788 @node ranlib
1789 @chapter ranlib
1790
1791 @kindex ranlib
1792 @cindex archive contents
1793 @cindex symbol index
1794
1795 @c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1796
1797 @smallexample
1798 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
1799 ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
1800 @c man end
1801 @end smallexample
1802
1803 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1804
1805 @command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1806 stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1807 member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1808
1809 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1810
1811 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1812 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1813 their placement in the archive.
1814
1815 The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1816 @command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1817 @xref{ar}.
1818
1819 @c man end
1820
1821 @c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1822
1823 @table @env
1824 @item -v
1825 @itemx -V
1826 @itemx --version
1827 Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
1828 @end table
1829
1830 @c man end
1831
1832 @ignore
1833 @c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1834 ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1835 @c man end
1836 @end ignore
1837
1838 @node size
1839 @chapter size
1840
1841 @kindex size
1842 @cindex section sizes
1843
1844 @c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1845
1846 @smallexample
1847 @c man begin SYNOPSIS size
1848 size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
1849 [@option{--help}]
1850 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1851 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
1852 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1853 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
1854 @c man end
1855 @end smallexample
1856
1857 @c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1858
1859 The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1860 size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1861 argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1862 object file or each module in an archive.
1863
1864 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1865 If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1866
1867 @c man end
1868
1869 @c man begin OPTIONS size
1870
1871 The command line options have the following meanings:
1872
1873 @table @env
1874 @item -A
1875 @itemx -B
1876 @itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1877 @cindex @command{size} display format
1878 Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1879 @command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
1880 or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
1881 @option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1882 Berkeley's.
1883 @c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1884 @c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1885 @c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1886
1887 Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1888 @command{size}:
1889 @smallexample
1890 $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1891 text data bss dec hex filename
1892 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1893 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1894 @end smallexample
1895
1896 @noindent
1897 This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1898
1899 @smallexample
1900 $ size --format=SysV ranlib size
1901 ranlib :
1902 section size addr
1903 .text 294880 8192
1904 .data 81920 303104
1905 .bss 11592 385024
1906 Total 388392
1907
1908
1909 size :
1910 section size addr
1911 .text 294880 8192
1912 .data 81920 303104
1913 .bss 11888 385024
1914 Total 388688
1915 @end smallexample
1916
1917 @item --help
1918 Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1919
1920 @item -d
1921 @itemx -o
1922 @itemx -x
1923 @itemx --radix=@var{number}
1924 @cindex @command{size} number format
1925 @cindex radix for section sizes
1926 Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1927 section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
1928 (@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
1929 @option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1930 values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1931 radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
1932 octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
1933
1934 @item -t
1935 @itemx --totals
1936 Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
1937
1938 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
1939 @cindex object code format
1940 Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1941 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
1942 automatically recognize many formats.
1943 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1944
1945 @item -V
1946 @itemx --version
1947 Display the version number of @command{size}.
1948 @end table
1949
1950 @c man end
1951
1952 @ignore
1953 @c man begin SEEALSO size
1954 ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1955 @c man end
1956 @end ignore
1957
1958 @node strings
1959 @chapter strings
1960 @kindex strings
1961 @cindex listings strings
1962 @cindex printing strings
1963 @cindex strings, printing
1964
1965 @c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
1966
1967 @smallexample
1968 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
1969 strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
1970 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
1971 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
1972 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
1973 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
1974 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
1975 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
1976 @c man end
1977 @end smallexample
1978
1979 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
1980
1981 For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
1982 character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1983 given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1984 character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1985 and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1986 the strings from the whole file.
1987
1988 @command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1989 files.
1990
1991 @c man end
1992
1993 @c man begin OPTIONS strings
1994
1995 @table @env
1996 @item -a
1997 @itemx --all
1998 @itemx -
1999 Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
2000 scan the whole files.
2001
2002 @item -f
2003 @itemx --print-file-name
2004 Print the name of the file before each string.
2005
2006 @item --help
2007 Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2008
2009 @item -@var{min-len}
2010 @itemx -n @var{min-len}
2011 @itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2012 Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2013 long, instead of the default 4.
2014
2015 @item -o
2016 Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
2017 act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2018 ways, we simply chose one.
2019
2020 @item -t @var{radix}
2021 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2022 Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2023 character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2024 octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2025
2026 @item -e @var{encoding}
2027 @itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2028 Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
2029 Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2030 characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2031 single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
2032 16-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2033 littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
2034
2035 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
2036 @cindex object code format
2037 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2038 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2039
2040 @item -v
2041 @itemx --version
2042 Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2043 @end table
2044
2045 @c man end
2046
2047 @ignore
2048 @c man begin SEEALSO strings
2049 ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2050 and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2051 @c man end
2052 @end ignore
2053
2054 @node strip
2055 @chapter strip
2056
2057 @kindex strip
2058 @cindex removing symbols
2059 @cindex discarding symbols
2060 @cindex symbols, discarding
2061
2062 @c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2063
2064 @smallexample
2065 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2066 strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2067 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2068 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2069 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
2070 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2071 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2072 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2073 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2074 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
2075 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
2076 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2077 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
2078 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2079 @c man end
2080 @end smallexample
2081
2082 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2083
2084 @sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
2085 @var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2086 At least one object file must be given.
2087
2088 @command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
2089 rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2090
2091 @c man end
2092
2093 @c man begin OPTIONS strip
2094
2095 @table @env
2096 @item -F @var{bfdname}
2097 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2098 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2099 code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2100 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2101
2102 @item --help
2103 Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
2104
2105 @item --info
2106 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2107
2108 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2109 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2110 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2111 code format @var{bfdname}.
2112 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2113
2114 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2115 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2116 Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2117 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2118
2119 @item -R @var{sectionname}
2120 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2121 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2122 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2123 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2124
2125 @item -s
2126 @itemx --strip-all
2127 Remove all symbols.
2128
2129 @item -g
2130 @itemx -S
2131 @itemx -d
2132 @itemx --strip-debug
2133 Remove debugging symbols only.
2134
2135 @item --strip-unneeded
2136 Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2137
2138 @item -K @var{symbolname}
2139 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2140 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2141 be given more than once.
2142
2143 @item -N @var{symbolname}
2144 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2145 Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2146 given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
2147 @option{-K}.
2148
2149 @item -o @var{file}
2150 Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2151 existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2152 argument may be specified.
2153
2154 @item -p
2155 @itemx --preserve-dates
2156 Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2157
2158 @item -x
2159 @itemx --discard-all
2160 Remove non-global symbols.
2161
2162 @item -X
2163 @itemx --discard-locals
2164 Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2165 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2166
2167 @item -V
2168 @itemx --version
2169 Show the version number for @command{strip}.
2170
2171 @item -v
2172 @itemx --verbose
2173 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2174 archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2175 @end table
2176
2177 @c man end
2178
2179 @ignore
2180 @c man begin SEEALSO strip
2181 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2182 @c man end
2183 @end ignore
2184
2185 @node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
2186 @chapter c++filt
2187
2188 @kindex c++filt
2189 @cindex demangling C++ symbols
2190
2191 @c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2192
2193 @smallexample
2194 @c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
2195 c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2196 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2197 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
2198 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2199 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
2200 @c man end
2201 @end smallexample
2202
2203 @c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2204
2205 @kindex cxxfilt
2206 The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2207 that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2208 takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2209 are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
2210 @dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
2211 @footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
2212 MS-DOS this program is named @command{cxxfilt}.}
2213 program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2214 names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2215 functions from clashing.
2216
2217 Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2218 dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2219 label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2220 name in the output.
2221
2222 You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
2223
2224 @example
2225 c++filt @var{symbol}
2226 @end example
2227
2228 If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
2229 names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2230 standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2231
2232 @c man end
2233
2234 @c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2235
2236 @table @env
2237 @item -_
2238 @itemx --strip-underscores
2239 On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2240 of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2241 name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
2242 @command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
2243
2244 @item -j
2245 @itemx --java
2246 Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2247 syntax.
2248
2249 @item -n
2250 @itemx --no-strip-underscores
2251 Do not remove the initial underscore.
2252
2253 @item -s @var{format}
2254 @itemx --format=@var{format}
2255 @command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2256 different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
2257 method it uses:
2258
2259 @table @code
2260 @item auto
2261 Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
2262 @item gnu
2263 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
2264 @item lucid
2265 the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
2266 @item arm
2267 the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2268 @item hp
2269 the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
2270 @item edg
2271 the one used by the EDG compiler
2272 @item gnu-v3
2273 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2274 @item java
2275 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2276 @item gnat
2277 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
2278 @end table
2279
2280 @item --help
2281 Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
2282
2283 @item --version
2284 Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
2285 @end table
2286
2287 @c man end
2288
2289 @ignore
2290 @c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2291 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2292 @c man end
2293 @end ignore
2294
2295 @quotation
2296 @emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
2297 user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2298 a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2299 passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2300
2301 @example
2302 c++filt @var{symbol}
2303 @end example
2304
2305 @noindent
2306 may in a future release become
2307
2308 @example
2309 c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2310 @end example
2311 @end quotation
2312
2313 @node addr2line
2314 @chapter addr2line
2315
2316 @kindex addr2line
2317 @cindex address to file name and line number
2318
2319 @c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2320
2321 @smallexample
2322 @c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
2323 addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2324 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
2325 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2326 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2327 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2328 [addr addr @dots{}]
2329 @c man end
2330 @end smallexample
2331
2332 @c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2333
2334 @command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
2335 numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2336 information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2337 number are associated with a given address.
2338
2339 The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
2340 default is the file @file{a.out}.
2341
2342 @command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
2343
2344 In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
2345 and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
2346 address.
2347
2348 In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
2349 standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
2350 address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
2351 in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2352
2353 The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2354 line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
2355 @command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
2356 preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2357 containing the address.
2358
2359 If the file name or function name can not be determined,
2360 @command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2361 line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
2362
2363 @c man end
2364
2365 @c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2366
2367 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2368 equivalent.
2369
2370 @table @env
2371 @item -b @var{bfdname}
2372 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2373 @cindex object code format
2374 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2375 @var{bfdname}.
2376
2377 @item -C
2378 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2379 @cindex demangling in objdump
2380 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2381 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2382 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2383 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2384 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2385 for more information on demangling.
2386
2387 @item -e @var{filename}
2388 @itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2389 Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2390 translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2391
2392 @item -f
2393 @itemx --functions
2394 Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2395
2396 @item -s
2397 @itemx --basenames
2398 Display only the base of each file name.
2399 @end table
2400
2401 @c man end
2402
2403 @ignore
2404 @c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2405 Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2406 @c man end
2407 @end ignore
2408
2409 @node nlmconv
2410 @chapter nlmconv
2411
2412 @command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
2413 Loadable Module.
2414
2415 @ignore
2416 @command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
2417 files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2418 object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
2419 @command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
2420 format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2421 with the above formats.}.
2422 @end ignore
2423
2424 @quotation
2425 @emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
2426 utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2427 @end quotation
2428
2429 @c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2430
2431 @smallexample
2432 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
2433 nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2434 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2435 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2436 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2437 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2438 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
2439 @c man end
2440 @end smallexample
2441
2442 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2443
2444 @command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
2445 @var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2446 reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2447 on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2448 @samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2449 Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2450 Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
2451 @command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
2452 @var{infile};
2453 @ifclear man
2454 see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2455 @end ifclear
2456
2457 @command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
2458 more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2459 file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
2460 In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
2461
2462 @c man end
2463
2464 @c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2465
2466 @table @env
2467 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2468 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2469 Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
2470 the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2471 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2472
2473 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2474 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2475 Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
2476 format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2477 output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2478 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2479
2480 @item -T @var{headerfile}
2481 @itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2482 Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2483 writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2484 @samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2485 Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2486 from Novell, Inc.
2487
2488 @item -d
2489 @itemx --debug
2490 Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
2491
2492 @item -l @var{linker}
2493 @itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2494 Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2495 relative pathname.
2496
2497 @item -h
2498 @itemx --help
2499 Prints a usage summary.
2500
2501 @item -V
2502 @itemx --version
2503 Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
2504 @end table
2505
2506 @c man end
2507
2508 @ignore
2509 @c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2510 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2511 @c man end
2512 @end ignore
2513
2514 @node windres
2515 @chapter windres
2516
2517 @command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2518
2519 @quotation
2520 @emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2521 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2522 @end quotation
2523
2524 @c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2525
2526 @smallexample
2527 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
2528 windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2529 @c man end
2530 @end smallexample
2531
2532 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2533
2534 @command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2535 an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2536
2537 @table @code
2538 @item rc
2539 A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2540
2541 @item res
2542 A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2543
2544 @item coff
2545 A COFF object or executable.
2546 @end table
2547
2548 The exact description of these different formats is available in
2549 documentation from Microsoft.
2550
2551 When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2552 format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2553 @command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2554 format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2555
2556 When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2557 but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2558 @code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2559 will instead include the file contents.
2560
2561 If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
2562 guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2563 A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2564 file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2565 @code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2566 @file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2567
2568 If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
2569 in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2570
2571 The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
2572 to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2573 your application. This will make the resources described in the
2574 @code{rc} file available to Windows.
2575
2576 @c man end
2577
2578 @c man begin OPTIONS windres
2579
2580 @table @env
2581 @item -i @var{filename}
2582 @itemx --input @var{filename}
2583 The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2584 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2585 name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2586 read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2587 standard input.
2588
2589 @item -o @var{filename}
2590 @itemx --output @var{filename}
2591 The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2592 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2593 for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2594 non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
2595 @command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
2596 for compatability with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
2597 accepted, but its use is not recommended.
2598
2599 @item -J @var{format}
2600 @itemx --input-format @var{format}
2601 The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2602 @samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
2603 guess, as described above.
2604
2605 @item -O @var{format}
2606 @itemx --output-format @var{format}
2607 The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2608 @samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2609 @command{windres} will guess, as described above.
2610
2611 @item -F @var{target}
2612 @itemx --target @var{target}
2613 Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2614 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2615 of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2616 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2617 @ifclear man
2618 @ref{Target Selection}.
2619 @end ifclear
2620
2621 @item --preprocessor @var{program}
2622 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2623 preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2624 to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2625 argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2626
2627 @item -I @var{directory}
2628 @itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
2629 Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2630 @command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2631 option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2632 files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
2633 matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as descrived in the @option{-J}
2634 option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
2635 @option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
2636 directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
2637 to disable the backward compatibility.
2638
2639 @item -D @var{target}
2640 @itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
2641 Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2642 @code{rc} file.
2643
2644 @item -U @var{target}
2645 @itemx --undefine @var{sym}
2646 Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2647 @code{rc} file.
2648
2649 @item -r
2650 Ignored for compatibility with rc.
2651
2652 @item -v
2653 Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2654 didn't specify one.
2655
2656 @item -l @var{val}
2657 @item --language @var{val}
2658 Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2659 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2660 the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2661
2662 @item --use-temp-file
2663 Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2664 the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2665 on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2666 Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2667 go the console).
2668
2669 @item --no-use-temp-file
2670 Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2671 This is the default behaviour.
2672
2673 @item -h
2674 @item --help
2675 Prints a usage summary.
2676
2677 @item -V
2678 @item --version
2679 Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
2680
2681 @item --yydebug
2682 If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2683 this will turn on parser debugging.
2684 @end table
2685
2686 @c man end
2687
2688 @ignore
2689 @c man begin SEEALSO windres
2690 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2691 @c man end
2692 @end ignore
2693
2694 @node dlltool
2695 @chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2696 @cindex DLL
2697 @kindex dlltool
2698
2699 @command{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2700 dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2701
2702 @quotation
2703 @emph{Warning:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2704 utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2705 @end quotation
2706
2707 @c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2708
2709 @smallexample
2710 @c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
2711 dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2712 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2713 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2714 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2715 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2716 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2717 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2718 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2719 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2720 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2721 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2722 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
2723 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
2724 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
2725 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2726 [object-file @dots{}]
2727 @c man end
2728 @end smallexample
2729
2730 @c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2731
2732 @command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2733 @option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2734 line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2735 been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2736 has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2737 has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2738 @option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2739 dlltool.
2740
2741 When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2742 to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2743 these files.
2744
2745 The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2746 exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2747 is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2748 to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
2749 will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2750 those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2751 put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2752
2753 In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2754 have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2755 section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2756 asm() operator:
2757
2758 @smallexample
2759 asm (".section .drectve");
2760 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2761
2762 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2763 @end smallexample
2764
2765 The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2766 is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2767 handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2768 binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2769 @command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2770
2771 The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2772 will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2773 can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2774 is creating or reading in a .def file.
2775
2776 @command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2777 exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2778 and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
2779 used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2780 and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2781 assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2782 these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
2783 specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2784 temporary object files it used to build the library.
2785
2786 Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2787 also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2788 that uses that DLL:
2789
2790 @smallexample
2791 gcc -c dll.c
2792 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2793 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2794 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2795 @end smallexample
2796
2797 @c man end
2798
2799 @c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
2800
2801 The command line options have the following meanings:
2802
2803 @table @env
2804
2805 @item -d @var{filename}
2806 @itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2807 @cindex input .def file
2808 Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2809
2810 @item -b @var{filename}
2811 @itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2812 @cindex base files
2813 Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2814 contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2815 exports file generated by dlltool.
2816
2817 @item -e @var{filename}
2818 @itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2819 Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2820
2821 @item -z @var{filename}
2822 @itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2823 Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2824
2825 @item -l @var{filename}
2826 @itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2827 Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2828
2829 @item --export-all-symbols
2830 Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2831 files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2832 are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
2833 option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2834 @option{--exclude-symbols} option.
2835
2836 @item --no-export-all-symbols
2837 Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2838 @samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2839 behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2840 attributes in the source code.
2841
2842 @item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2843 Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2844 separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2845 contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2846 @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2847
2848 @item --no-default-excludes
2849 When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2850 exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2851 exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2852 @samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
2853 to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2854 when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2855
2856 @item -S @var{path}
2857 @itemx --as @var{path}
2858 Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2859 to create the exports file.
2860
2861 @item -f @var{options}
2862 @itemx --as-flags @var{options}
2863 Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
2864 assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2865 the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2866 and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2867 occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2868 pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2869 double quotes.
2870
2871 @item -D @var{name}
2872 @itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2873 Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2874 when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2875 the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be used as the name of
2876 the DLL.
2877
2878 @item -m @var{machine}
2879 @itemx -machine @var{machine}
2880 Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2881 built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2882 it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2883 normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2884 contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
2885
2886 @item -a
2887 @itemx --add-indirect
2888 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2889 should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2890 referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2891 means!
2892
2893 @item -U
2894 @itemx --add-underscore
2895 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2896 should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2897
2898 @item -k
2899 @itemx --kill-at
2900 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2901 should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2902 called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2903 function in a DLL, other than by name.
2904
2905 @item -A
2906 @itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2907 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2908 should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2909 in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2910
2911 @item -x
2912 @itemx --no-idata4
2913 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2914 files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
2915 with certain operating systems.
2916
2917 @item -c
2918 @itemx --no-idata5
2919 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2920 files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
2921 with certain operating systems.
2922
2923 @item -i
2924 @itemx --interwork
2925 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2926 file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2927 between ARM and Thumb code.
2928
2929 @item -n
2930 @itemx --nodelete
2931 Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2932 create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2933 also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2934 file.
2935
2936 @item -v
2937 @itemx --verbose
2938 Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2939
2940 @item -h
2941 @itemx --help
2942 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2943
2944 @item -V
2945 @itemx --version
2946 Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2947
2948 @end table
2949
2950 @c man end
2951
2952 @ignore
2953 @c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
2954 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2955 @c man end
2956 @end ignore
2957
2958 @node readelf
2959 @chapter readelf
2960
2961 @cindex ELF file information
2962 @kindex readelf
2963
2964 @c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
2965
2966 @smallexample
2967 @c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
2968 readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
2969 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
2970 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
2971 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
2972 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
2973 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
2974 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
2975 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
2976 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
2977 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
2978 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
2979 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
2980 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
2981 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
2982 [@option{-w[liaprmfFso]}|
2983 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]]
2984 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
2985 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
2986 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
2987 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
2988 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2989 @c man end
2990 @end smallexample
2991
2992 @c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
2993
2994 @command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2995 files. The options control what particular information to display.
2996
2997 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2998 moment, @command{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2999 support examining 64 bit ELF files.
3000
3001 @c man end
3002
3003 @c man begin OPTIONS readelf
3004
3005 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3006 equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
3007 given.
3008
3009 @table @env
3010 @item -a
3011 @itemx --all
3012 Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
3013 @option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
3014 @option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
3015 @option{--version-info}.
3016
3017 @item -h
3018 @itemx --file-header
3019 @cindex ELF file header information
3020 Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
3021 file.
3022
3023 @item -l
3024 @itemx --program-headers
3025 @itemx --segments
3026 @cindex ELF program header information
3027 @cindex ELF segment information
3028 Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
3029 has any.
3030
3031 @item -S
3032 @itemx --sections
3033 @itemx --section-headers
3034 @cindex ELF section information
3035 Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
3036 has any.
3037
3038 @item -s
3039 @itemx --symbols
3040 @itemx --syms
3041 @cindex ELF symbol table information
3042 Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3043
3044 @item -e
3045 @itemx --headers
3046 Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
3047
3048 @item -n
3049 @itemx --notes
3050 @cindex ELF core notes
3051 Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
3052
3053 @item -r
3054 @itemx --relocs
3055 @cindex ELF reloc information
3056 Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3057
3058 @item -u
3059 @itemx --unwind
3060 @cindex unwind information
3061 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3062 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3063
3064 @item -u
3065 @itemx --unwind
3066 @cindex unwind information
3067 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3068 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3069
3070 @item -d
3071 @itemx --dynamic
3072 @cindex ELF dynamic section information
3073 Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3074
3075 @item -V
3076 @itemx --version-info
3077 @cindex ELF version sections informations
3078 Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3079 exist.
3080
3081 @item -A
3082 @itemx --arch-specific
3083 Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3084 is any.
3085
3086 @item -D
3087 @itemx --use-dynamic
3088 When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
3089 symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
3090 symbols section.
3091
3092 @item -x <number>
3093 @itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3094 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3095
3096 @item -w[liaprmfFso]
3097 @itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
3098 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3099 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3100 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3101
3102 @item -I
3103 @itemx --histogram
3104 Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3105 of the symbol tables.
3106
3107 @item -v
3108 @itemx --version
3109 Display the version number of readelf.
3110
3111 @item -W
3112 @itemx --wide
3113 Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3114 @command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
3115 64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3116 @command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3117 single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3118
3119 @item -H
3120 @itemx --help
3121 Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
3122
3123 @end table
3124
3125 @c man end
3126
3127 @ignore
3128 @c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3129 objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3130 @c man end
3131 @end ignore
3132
3133 @node Selecting The Target System
3134 @chapter Selecting the Target System
3135
3136 You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
3137 binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3138
3139 @itemize @bullet
3140 @item
3141 the target
3142
3143 @item
3144 the architecture
3145 @end itemize
3146
3147 In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3148 order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3149 listed later.
3150
3151 The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3152 programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
3153 @option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
3154 values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3155 once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3156 with the same type as the target system).
3157
3158 @menu
3159 * Target Selection::
3160 * Architecture Selection::
3161 @end menu
3162
3163 @node Target Selection
3164 @section Target Selection
3165
3166 A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3167 supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3168 A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3169 systems or architectures.
3170
3171 The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3172 (the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3173
3174 Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3175 @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3176
3177 You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
3178 the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3179 target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3180 fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
3181 running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3182 sources.
3183
3184 Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3185 @samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3186
3187 @subheading @command{objdump} Target
3188
3189 Ways to specify:
3190
3191 @enumerate
3192 @item
3193 command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
3194
3195 @item
3196 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3197
3198 @item
3199 deduced from the input file
3200 @end enumerate
3201
3202 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
3203
3204 Ways to specify:
3205
3206 @enumerate
3207 @item
3208 command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3209
3210 @item
3211 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3212
3213 @item
3214 deduced from the input file
3215 @end enumerate
3216
3217 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
3218
3219 Ways to specify:
3220
3221 @enumerate
3222 @item
3223 command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3224
3225 @item
3226 the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
3227
3228 @item
3229 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3230
3231 @item
3232 deduced from the input file
3233 @end enumerate
3234
3235 @subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
3236
3237 Ways to specify:
3238
3239 @enumerate
3240 @item
3241 command line option: @option{--target}
3242
3243 @item
3244 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3245
3246 @item
3247 deduced from the input file
3248 @end enumerate
3249
3250 @node Architecture Selection
3251 @section Architecture Selection
3252
3253 An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3254 to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3255 processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3256
3257 The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3258 second column contains the relevant information).
3259
3260 Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3261
3262 @subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
3263
3264 Ways to specify:
3265
3266 @enumerate
3267 @item
3268 command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
3269
3270 @item
3271 deduced from the input file
3272 @end enumerate
3273
3274 @subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
3275
3276 Ways to specify:
3277
3278 @enumerate
3279 @item
3280 deduced from the input file
3281 @end enumerate
3282
3283 @node Reporting Bugs
3284 @chapter Reporting Bugs
3285 @cindex bugs
3286 @cindex reporting bugs
3287
3288 Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3289 reliable.
3290
3291 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3292 it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3293 to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3294 utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3295 maintenance.
3296
3297 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3298 information that enables us to fix the bug.
3299
3300 @menu
3301 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3302 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3303 @end menu
3304
3305 @node Bug Criteria
3306 @section Have You Found a Bug?
3307 @cindex bug criteria
3308
3309 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3310
3311 @itemize @bullet
3312 @cindex fatal signal
3313 @cindex crash
3314 @item
3315 If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3316 a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3317
3318 @cindex error on valid input
3319 @item
3320 If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3321 bug.
3322
3323 @item
3324 If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3325 improvement are welcome in any case.
3326 @end itemize
3327
3328 @node Bug Reporting
3329 @section How to Report Bugs
3330 @cindex bug reports
3331 @cindex bugs, reporting
3332
3333 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3334 products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3335 organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3336
3337 You can find contact information for many support companies and
3338 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3339 distribution.
3340
3341 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
3342 utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
3343
3344 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3345 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3346 fact or leave it out, state it!
3347
3348 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3349 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3350 assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3351 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3352 a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3353 that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3354 different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3355 doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3356 specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3357 and the most helpful.
3358
3359 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3360 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3361 that the bug has not been reported previously.
3362
3363 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
3364 bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3365 respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3366 You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
3367
3368 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3369
3370 @itemize @bullet
3371 @item
3372 The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
3373 with the @option{--version} argument.
3374
3375 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3376 the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3377
3378 @item
3379 Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3380 made to the @code{BFD} library.
3381
3382 @item
3383 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3384 version number.
3385
3386 @item
3387 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3388 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3389
3390 @item
3391 The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3392 guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3393 of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3394
3395 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3396 and then we might not encounter the bug.
3397
3398 @item
3399 A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3400 bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3401 generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
3402 necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
3403 @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
3404 sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3405 anonymous FTP is OK.
3406
3407 If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
3408 (e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
3409 may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
3410 this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
3411 whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
3412 @command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
3413
3414 @item
3415 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3416 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3417
3418 Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3419 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3420 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3421 a chance to make a mistake.
3422
3423 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
3424 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
3425 copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3426 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3427 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3428 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3429 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3430 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3431
3432 @item
3433 If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
3434 generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
3435 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
3436 wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
3437 context, not by line number.
3438
3439 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3440 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3441 @end itemize
3442
3443 Here are some things that are not necessary:
3444
3445 @itemize @bullet
3446 @item
3447 A description of the envelope of the bug.
3448
3449 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3450 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3451 changes will not affect it.
3452
3453 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3454 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3455 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3456 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3457
3458 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3459 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3460 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3461 less time, and so on.
3462
3463 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3464 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3465
3466 @item
3467 A patch for the bug.
3468
3469 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3470 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3471 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3472 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3473
3474 Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3475 very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3476 certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3477 will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3478 the bug is fixed.
3479
3480 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3481 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3482 help us to understand.
3483
3484 @item
3485 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3486
3487 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3488 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3489 @end itemize
3490
3491 @include fdl.texi
3492
3493 @node Index
3494 @unnumbered Index
3495
3496 @printindex cp
3497
3498 @contents
3499 @bye
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