Add support to the ARC disassembler for selecting instruction classes.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
1 \input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2 @setfilename binutils.info
3 @settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
4 @finalout
5 @synindex ky cp
6
7 @c man begin INCLUDE
8 @include bfdver.texi
9 @c man end
10
11 @copying
12 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
13 Copyright @copyright{} 1991-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
14
15 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
16 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3
17 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
18 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
19 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
20 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
21
22 @c man end
23 @end copying
24
25 @dircategory Software development
26 @direntry
27 * Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
28 @end direntry
29
30 @dircategory Individual utilities
31 @direntry
32 * addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line.
33 * ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives.
34 * c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols.
35 * cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt.
36 * dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
37 * nlmconv: (binutils)nlmconv. Converts object code into an NLM.
38 * nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files.
39 * objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files.
40 * objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files.
41 * ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents.
42 * readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
43 * size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size.
44 * strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files.
45 * strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols.
46 * elfedit: (binutils)elfedit. Update the ELF header of ELF files.
47 * windmc: (binutils)windmc. Generator for Windows message resources.
48 * windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources.
49 @end direntry
50
51 @titlepage
52 @title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
53 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
54 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
55 @end ifset
56 @subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
57 @sp 1
58 @subtitle @value{UPDATED}
59 @author Roland H. Pesch
60 @author Jeffrey M. Osier
61 @author Cygnus Support
62 @page
63
64 @tex
65 {\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
66 Texinfo \texinfoversion\par }
67 @end tex
68
69 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
70 @insertcopying
71 @end titlepage
72 @contents
73
74 @node Top
75 @top Introduction
76
77 @cindex version
78 This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
79 utilities
80 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
81 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
82 @end ifset
83 version @value{VERSION}:
84
85 @iftex
86 @table @code
87 @item ar
88 Create, modify, and extract from archives
89
90 @item nm
91 List symbols from object files
92
93 @item objcopy
94 Copy and translate object files
95
96 @item objdump
97 Display information from object files
98
99 @item ranlib
100 Generate index to archive contents
101
102 @item readelf
103 Display the contents of ELF format files.
104
105 @item size
106 List file section sizes and total size
107
108 @item strings
109 List printable strings from files
110
111 @item strip
112 Discard symbols
113
114 @item elfedit
115 Update the ELF header of ELF files.
116
117 @item c++filt
118 Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
119 @code{cxxfilt})
120
121 @item addr2line
122 Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
123
124 @item nlmconv
125 Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
126
127 @item windres
128 Manipulate Windows resources
129
130 @item windmc
131 Generator for Windows message resources
132
133 @item dlltool
134 Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
135 @end table
136 @end iftex
137
138 This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
139 Documentation License version 1.3. A copy of the license is included
140 in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
141
142 @menu
143 * ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
144 * nm:: List symbols from object files
145 * objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
146 * objdump:: Display information from object files
147 * ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
148 * size:: List section sizes and total size
149 * strings:: List printable strings from files
150 * strip:: Discard symbols
151 * c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
152 * cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
153 * addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
154 * nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
155 * windmc:: Generator for Windows message resources
156 * windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
157 * dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
158 * readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files
159 * elfedit:: Update the ELF header of ELF files
160 * Common Options:: Command-line options for all utilities
161 * Selecting the Target System:: How these utilities determine the target
162 * Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
163 * GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
164 * Binutils Index:: Binutils Index
165 @end menu
166
167 @node ar
168 @chapter ar
169
170 @kindex ar
171 @cindex archives
172 @cindex collections of files
173
174 @c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
175
176 @smallexample
177 ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod}] [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{--target} @var{bfdname}] [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
178 ar -M [ <mri-script ]
179 @end smallexample
180
181 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
182
183 The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
184 archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
185 other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
186 the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
187
188 The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
189 group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
190 extraction.
191
192 @cindex name length
193 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
194 length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
195 system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
196 with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
197 limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
198 characters (typical of formats related to coff).
199
200 @cindex libraries
201 @command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
202 are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
203 subroutines.
204
205 @cindex symbol index
206 @command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
207 object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
208 Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
209 makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
210 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
211 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
212 their placement in the archive.
213
214 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
215 table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
216 @command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
217
218 @cindex thin archives
219 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} can optionally create a @emph{thin} archive,
220 which contains a symbol index and references to the original copies
221 of the member files of the archive. This is useful for building
222 libraries for use within a local build tree, where the relocatable
223 objects are expected to remain available, and copying the contents of
224 each object would only waste time and space.
225
226 An archive can either be @emph{thin} or it can be normal. It cannot
227 be both at the same time. Once an archive is created its format
228 cannot be changed without first deleting it and then creating a new
229 archive in its place.
230
231 Thin archives are also @emph{flattened}, so that adding one thin
232 archive to another thin archive does not nest it, as would happen with
233 a normal archive. Instead the elements of the first archive are added
234 individually to the second archive.
235
236 The paths to the elements of the archive are stored relative to the
237 archive itself.
238
239 @cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
240 @cindex @command{ar} compatibility
241 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
242 facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
243 like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
244 specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
245 with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
246 program.
247
248 @c man end
249
250 @menu
251 * ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
252 * ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
253 @end menu
254
255 @page
256 @node ar cmdline
257 @section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
258
259 @smallexample
260 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
261 ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod}] [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{--target} @var{bfdname}] [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
262 @c man end
263 @end smallexample
264
265 @cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
266 When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
267 arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
268 (optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
269 @emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
270
271 Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
272 specifying particular files to operate on.
273
274 @c man begin OPTIONS ar
275
276 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
277 flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
278
279 If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
280 dash.
281
282 @cindex operations on archive
283 The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
284 any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
285
286 @table @samp
287 @item d
288 @cindex deleting from archive
289 @emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
290 be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
291 specify no files to delete.
292
293 If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
294 as it is deleted.
295
296 @item m
297 @cindex moving in archive
298 Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
299
300 The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
301 programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
302 than one member.
303
304 If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
305 @var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
306 you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
307 specified place instead.
308
309 @item p
310 @cindex printing from archive
311 @emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
312 output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
313 name before copying its contents to standard output.
314
315 If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
316 printed.
317
318 @item q
319 @cindex quick append to archive
320 @emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
321 @var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
322
323 The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
324 operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
325
326 The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
327
328 Since the point of this operation is speed, implementations of
329 @command{ar} have the option of not updating the archive's symbol
330 table if one exists. Too many different systems however assume that
331 symbol tables are always up-to-date, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will
332 rebuild the table even with a quick append.
333
334 Note - @sc{gnu} @command{ar} treats the command @samp{qs} as a
335 synonym for @samp{r} - replacing already existing files in the
336 archive and appending new ones at the end.
337
338 @item r
339 @cindex replacement in archive
340 Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
341 @emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
342 previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
343 added.
344
345 If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
346 displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
347 of the archive matching that name.
348
349 By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
350 use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
351 placement relative to some existing member.
352
353 The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
354 output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
355 @samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
356 deleted) or replaced.
357
358 @item s
359 @cindex ranlib
360 Add an index to the archive, or update it if it already exists. Note
361 this command is an exception to the rule that there can only be one
362 command letter, as it is possible to use it as either a command or a
363 modifier. In either case it does the same thing.
364
365 @item t
366 @cindex contents of archive
367 Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
368 of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
369 archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
370 see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
371 request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
372
373 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
374 are listed.
375
376 @cindex repeated names in archive
377 @cindex name duplication in archive
378 If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
379 an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
380 first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
381 listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
382 @c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
383 @c recent case in fact works the other way.
384
385 @item x
386 @cindex extract from archive
387 @emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
388 use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
389 @command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
390
391 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
392 are extracted.
393
394 Files cannot be extracted from a thin archive.
395
396 @item --help
397 Displays the list of command line options supported by @command{ar}
398 and then exits.
399
400 @item --version
401 Displays the version information of @command{ar} and then exits.
402
403 @end table
404
405 A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
406 keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
407
408 @table @samp
409 @item a
410 @cindex relative placement in archive
411 Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
412 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
413 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
414 @var{archive} specification.
415
416 @item b
417 Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
418 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
419 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
420 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
421
422 @item c
423 @cindex creating archives
424 @emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
425 created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
426 issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
427 using this modifier.
428
429 @item D
430 @cindex deterministic archives
431 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
432 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When adding files and the archive
433 index use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps, and use consistent file modes
434 for all files. When this option is used, if @command{ar} is used with
435 identical options and identical input files, multiple runs will create
436 identical output files regardless of the input files' owners, groups,
437 file modes, or modification times.
438
439 If @file{binutils} was configured with
440 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
441 It can be disabled with the @samp{U} modifier, below.
442
443 @item f
444 Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
445 names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
446 not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
447 this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
448 names when putting them in the archive.
449
450 @item i
451 Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
452 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
453 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
454 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
455
456 @item l
457 This modifier is accepted but not used.
458 @c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
459 @c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
460
461 @item N
462 Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
463 entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
464 @var{count} of the given name from the archive.
465
466 @item o
467 @cindex dates in archive
468 Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
469 you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
470 are stamped with the time of extraction.
471
472 @item P
473 Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
474 @command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
475 are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
476 will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
477 name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
478 archive created by another tool.
479
480 @item s
481 @cindex writing archive index
482 Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
483 even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
484 flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
485 archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
486
487 @item S
488 @cindex not writing archive index
489 Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
490 large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
491 with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
492 @samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
493 @samp{ranlib} on the archive.
494
495 @item T
496 @cindex creating thin archive
497 Make the specified @var{archive} a @emph{thin} archive. If it already
498 exists and is a regular archive, the existing members must be present
499 in the same directory as @var{archive}.
500
501 @item u
502 @cindex updating an archive
503 Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
504 listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
505 of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
506 names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
507 operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
508 not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
509 advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
510
511 @item U
512 @cindex deterministic archives
513 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
514 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the inverse
515 of the @samp{D} modifier, above: added files and the archive index will
516 get their actual UID, GID, timestamp, and file mode values.
517
518 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
519 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
520
521 @item v
522 This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
523 operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
524 when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
525
526 @item V
527 This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
528 @end table
529
530 @command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
531 compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
532 default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any of the other
533 @samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support @option{-X32}
534 which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
535
536 The optional command line switch @option{--plugin} @var{name} causes
537 @command{ar} to load the plugin called @var{name} which adds support
538 for more file formats. This option is only available if the toolchain
539 has been built with plugin support enabled.
540
541 The optional command line switch @option{--target} @var{bfdname}
542 specifies that the archive members are in an object code format
543 different from your system's default format. See
544 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
545
546 @c man end
547
548 @ignore
549 @c man begin SEEALSO ar
550 nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
551 @c man end
552 @end ignore
553
554 @node ar scripts
555 @section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
556
557 @smallexample
558 ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
559 @end smallexample
560
561 @cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
562 @cindex scripts, @command{ar}
563 If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
564 can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
565 form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
566 directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
567 input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
568 errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
569 issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
570 on any error.
571
572 The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
573 to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
574 over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
575 transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
576 written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
577
578 The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
579 @itemize @bullet
580 @item
581 commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
582 is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
583 shown in upper case for clarity.
584
585 @item
586 a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
587 line.
588
589 @item
590 empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
591
592 @item
593 comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
594 or @samp{;} is ignored.
595
596 @item
597 Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
598 command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
599 blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
600
601 @item
602 @samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
603 at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
604 of the current command.
605 @end itemize
606
607 Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
608 @command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
609
610 @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
611 a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
612
613 @code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
614 to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
615 archive.
616
617 @table @code
618 @item ADDLIB @var{archive}
619 @itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
620 Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
621 @var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
622
623 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
624
625 @item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
626 @c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
627 @c else like "ar q..."
628 Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
629
630 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
631
632 @item CLEAR
633 Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
634 any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
635 effect) even if no current archive is specified.
636
637 @item CREATE @var{archive}
638 Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
639 other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
640 is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
641 You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
642 existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
643
644 @item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
645 Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
646 @samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
647
648 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
649
650 @item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
651 @itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
652 List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
653 command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
654 output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
655 @var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
656 @samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
657
658 Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
659 specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
660 output to that file.
661
662 @item END
663 Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
664 completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
665 changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
666 changes are lost.
667
668 @item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
669 Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
670 into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
671 @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
672
673 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
674
675 @ignore
676 @c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
677 @item FULLDIR
678
679 @item HELP
680 @end ignore
681
682 @item LIST
683 Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
684 regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
685 tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
686 enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
687
688 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
689
690 @item OPEN @var{archive}
691 Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
692 many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
693 will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
694
695 @item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
696 In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
697 the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
698 To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
699 the current archive, must exist.
700
701 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
702
703 @item VERBOSE
704 Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
705 When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
706 @samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
707
708 @item SAVE
709 Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
710 file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
711 command.
712
713 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
714
715 @end table
716
717 @iftex
718 @node ld
719 @chapter ld
720 @cindex linker
721 @kindex ld
722 The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
723 @xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
724 @end iftex
725
726 @node nm
727 @chapter nm
728 @cindex symbols
729 @kindex nm
730
731 @c man title nm list symbols from object files
732
733 @smallexample
734 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
735 nm [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}] [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}]
736 [@option{-B}|@option{--format=bsd}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
737 [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}] [@option{-f}@var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
738 [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}] [@option{-h}|@option{--help}]
739 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}] [@option{-n}|@option{-v}|@option{--numeric-sort}]
740 [@option{-P}|@option{--portability}] [@option{-p}|@option{--no-sort}]
741 [@option{-r}|@option{--reverse-sort}] [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}]
742 [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}] [@option{-t} @var{radix}|@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
743 [@option{-u}|@option{--undefined-only}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
744 [@option{-X 32_64}] [@option{--defined-only}] [@option{--no-demangle}]
745 [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{--size-sort}] [@option{--special-syms}]
746 [@option{--synthetic}] [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
747 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
748 @c man end
749 @end smallexample
750
751 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
752 @sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
753 If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
754 @file{a.out}.
755
756 For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
757
758 @itemize @bullet
759 @item
760 The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
761 hexadecimal by default.
762
763 @item
764 The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
765 well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
766 usually local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external). There
767 are however a few lowercase symbols that are shown for special global
768 symbols (@code{u}, @code{v} and @code{w}).
769
770 @c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
771 @c would be nice.
772 @table @code
773 @item A
774 The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
775 linking.
776
777 @item B
778 @itemx b
779 The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
780
781 @item C
782 The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
783 linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
784 symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
785 references.
786 @ifclear man
787 For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
788 --warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
789 @end ifclear
790
791 @item D
792 @itemx d
793 The symbol is in the initialized data section.
794
795 @item G
796 @itemx g
797 The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
798 object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
799 such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
800
801 @item i
802 For PE format files this indicates that the symbol is in a section
803 specific to the implementation of DLLs. For ELF format files this
804 indicates that the symbol is an indirect function. This is a GNU
805 extension to the standard set of ELF symbol types. It indicates a
806 symbol which if referenced by a relocation does not evaluate to its
807 address, but instead must be invoked at runtime. The runtime
808 execution will then return the value to be used in the relocation.
809
810 @item I
811 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol.
812
813 @item N
814 The symbol is a debugging symbol.
815
816 @item p
817 The symbols is in a stack unwind section.
818
819 @item R
820 @itemx r
821 The symbol is in a read only data section.
822
823 @item S
824 @itemx s
825 The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
826
827 @item T
828 @itemx t
829 The symbol is in the text (code) section.
830
831 @item U
832 The symbol is undefined.
833
834 @item u
835 The symbol is a unique global symbol. This is a GNU extension to the
836 standard set of ELF symbol bindings. For such a symbol the dynamic linker
837 will make sure that in the entire process there is just one symbol with
838 this name and type in use.
839
840 @item V
841 @itemx v
842 The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
843 a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
844 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
845 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error. On some
846 systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been specified.
847
848 @item W
849 @itemx w
850 The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
851 weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
852 defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
853 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
854 the value of the symbol is determined in a system-specific manner without
855 error. On some systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been
856 specified.
857
858 @item -
859 The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
860 next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
861 the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
862
863 @item ?
864 The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
865 @end table
866
867 @item
868 The symbol name.
869 @end itemize
870
871 @c man end
872
873 @c man begin OPTIONS nm
874 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
875 equivalent.
876
877 @table @env
878 @item -A
879 @itemx -o
880 @itemx --print-file-name
881 @cindex input file name
882 @cindex file name
883 @cindex source file name
884 Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
885 in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
886 before all of its symbols.
887
888 @item -a
889 @itemx --debug-syms
890 @cindex debugging symbols
891 Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
892 listed.
893
894 @item -B
895 @cindex @command{nm} format
896 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
897 The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
898
899 @item -C
900 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
901 @cindex demangling in nm
902 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
903 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
904 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
905 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
906 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
907 for more information on demangling.
908
909 @item --no-demangle
910 Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
911
912 @item -D
913 @itemx --dynamic
914 @cindex dynamic symbols
915 Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
916 only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
917 libraries.
918
919 @item -f @var{format}
920 @itemx --format=@var{format}
921 @cindex @command{nm} format
922 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
923 Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
924 @code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
925 Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
926 either upper or lower case.
927
928 @item -g
929 @itemx --extern-only
930 @cindex external symbols
931 Display only external symbols.
932
933 @item -h
934 @itemx --help
935 Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
936
937 @item -l
938 @itemx --line-numbers
939 @cindex symbol line numbers
940 For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
941 line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
942 address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
943 number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
944 information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
945
946 @item -n
947 @itemx -v
948 @itemx --numeric-sort
949 Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
950 by their names.
951
952 @item -p
953 @itemx --no-sort
954 @cindex sorting symbols
955 Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
956 encountered.
957
958 @item -P
959 @itemx --portability
960 Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
961 Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
962
963 @item -r
964 @itemx --reverse-sort
965 Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
966 last come first.
967
968 @item -S
969 @itemx --print-size
970 Print both value and size of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output style.
971 This option has no effect for object formats that do not record symbol
972 sizes, unless @samp{--size-sort} is also used in which case a
973 calculated size is displayed.
974
975 @item -s
976 @itemx --print-armap
977 @cindex symbol index, listing
978 When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
979 (stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
980 contain definitions for which names.
981
982 @item -t @var{radix}
983 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
984 Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
985 @samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
986
987 @item -u
988 @itemx --undefined-only
989 @cindex external symbols
990 @cindex undefined symbols
991 Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
992
993 @item -V
994 @itemx --version
995 Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
996
997 @item -X
998 This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
999 @command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
1000 @option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
1001 to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
1002
1003 @item --defined-only
1004 @cindex external symbols
1005 @cindex undefined symbols
1006 Display only defined symbols for each object file.
1007
1008 @item --plugin @var{name}
1009 @cindex load plugin
1010 Load the plugin called @var{name} to add support for extra target
1011 types. This option is only available if the toolchain has been built
1012 with plugin support enabled.
1013
1014 @item --size-sort
1015 Sort symbols by size. For ELF objects symbol sizes are read from the
1016 ELF, for other object types the symbol sizes are computed as the
1017 difference between the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol
1018 with the next higher value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used
1019 the size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value, and
1020 @samp{-S} must be used in order both size and value to be printed.
1021
1022 @item --special-syms
1023 Display symbols which have a target-specific special meaning. These
1024 symbols are usually used by the target for some special processing and
1025 are not normally helpful when included in the normal symbol lists.
1026 For example for ARM targets this option would skip the mapping symbols
1027 used to mark transitions between ARM code, THUMB code and data.
1028
1029 @item --synthetic
1030 Include synthetic symbols in the output. These are special symbols
1031 created by the linker for various purposes. They are not shown by
1032 default since they are not part of the binary's original source code.
1033
1034 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
1035 @cindex object code format
1036 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1037 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1038
1039 @end table
1040
1041 @c man end
1042
1043 @ignore
1044 @c man begin SEEALSO nm
1045 ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1046 @c man end
1047 @end ignore
1048
1049 @node objcopy
1050 @chapter objcopy
1051
1052 @c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
1053
1054 @smallexample
1055 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
1056 objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
1057 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
1058 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
1059 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
1060 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
1061 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
1062 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1063 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1064 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1065 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1066 [@option{--localize-hidden}]
1067 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1068 [@option{--globalize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1069 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1070 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
1071 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
1072 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
1073 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
1074 [@option{-i} [@var{breadth}]|@option{--interleave}[=@var{breadth}]]
1075 [@option{--interleave-width=}@var{width}]
1076 [@option{-j} @var{sectionpattern}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1077 [@option{-R} @var{sectionpattern}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1078 [@option{--remove-relocations=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1079 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
1080 [@option{-D}|@option{--enable-deterministic-archives}]
1081 [@option{-U}|@option{--disable-deterministic-archives}]
1082 [@option{--debugging}]
1083 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
1084 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
1085 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
1086 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
1087 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
1088 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1089 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1090 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1091 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
1092 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{sectionpattern}=@var{flags}]
1093 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1094 [@option{--dump-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1095 [@option{--update-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1096 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
1097 [@option{--long-section-names} @{enable,disable,keep@}]
1098 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
1099 [@option{--reverse-bytes=}@var{num}]
1100 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
1101 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
1102 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
1103 [@option{--weaken}]
1104 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1105 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1106 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1107 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1108 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1109 [@option{--globalize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1110 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1111 [@option{--add-symbol} @var{name}=[@var{section}:]@var{value}[,@var{flags}]
1112 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
1113 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
1114 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
1115 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
1116 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
1117 [@option{--keep-file-symbols}]
1118 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
1119 [@option{--strip-dwo}]
1120 [@option{--extract-dwo}]
1121 [@option{--extract-symbol}]
1122 [@option{--writable-text}]
1123 [@option{--readonly-text}]
1124 [@option{--pure}]
1125 [@option{--impure}]
1126 [@option{--file-alignment=}@var{num}]
1127 [@option{--heap=}@var{size}]
1128 [@option{--image-base=}@var{address}]
1129 [@option{--section-alignment=}@var{num}]
1130 [@option{--stack=}@var{size}]
1131 [@option{--subsystem=}@var{which}:@var{major}.@var{minor}]
1132 [@option{--compress-debug-sections}]
1133 [@option{--decompress-debug-sections}]
1134 [@option{--elf-stt-common=@var{val}}]
1135 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
1136 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1137 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
1138 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
1139 @c man end
1140 @end smallexample
1141
1142 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
1143 The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
1144 file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
1145 read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
1146 file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
1147 exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
1148 Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
1149 between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
1150 between any two formats may not work as expected.
1151
1152 @command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
1153 deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
1154 translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
1155 and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1156 explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1157
1158 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
1159 target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1160
1161 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1162 output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1163 @command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1164 a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1165 relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1166 the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1167
1168 When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1169 use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1170 some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1171 information that is not needed by the binary file.
1172
1173 Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1174 files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1175 @command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1176 same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1177 (However, see the @option{--reverse-bytes} option.)
1178
1179 @c man end
1180
1181 @c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1182
1183 @table @env
1184 @item @var{infile}
1185 @itemx @var{outfile}
1186 The input and output files, respectively.
1187 If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1188 temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1189 the name of @var{infile}.
1190
1191 @item -I @var{bfdname}
1192 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1193 Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1194 attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1195
1196 @item -O @var{bfdname}
1197 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1198 Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1199 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1200
1201 @item -F @var{bfdname}
1202 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1203 Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1204 file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1205 translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1206
1207 @item -B @var{bfdarch}
1208 @itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1209 Useful when transforming a architecture-less input file into an object file.
1210 In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1211 option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1212 can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1213 symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1214 called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1215 _binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1216 an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1217
1218 @item -j @var{sectionpattern}
1219 @itemx --only-section=@var{sectionpattern}
1220 Copy only the indicated sections from the input file to the output file.
1221 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1222 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. Wildcard
1223 characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
1224
1225 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1226 point (!) then matching sections will not be copied, even if earlier
1227 use of @option{--only-section} on the same command line would
1228 otherwise copy it. For example:
1229
1230 @smallexample
1231 --only-section=.text.* --only-section=!.text.foo
1232 @end smallexample
1233
1234 will copy all sectinos maching '.text.*' but not the section
1235 '.text.foo'.
1236
1237 @item -R @var{sectionpattern}
1238 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionpattern}
1239 Remove any section matching @var{sectionpattern} from the output file.
1240 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1241 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. Wildcard
1242 characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}. Using both the
1243 @option{-j} and @option{-R} options together results in undefined
1244 behaviour.
1245
1246 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1247 point (!) then matching sections will not be removed even if an
1248 earlier use of @option{--remove-section} on the same command line
1249 would otherwise remove it. For example:
1250
1251 @smallexample
1252 --remove-section=.text.* --remove-section=!.text.foo
1253 @end smallexample
1254
1255 will remove all sections matching the pattern '.text.*', but will not
1256 remove the section '.text.foo'.
1257
1258 @item --remove-relocations=@var{sectionpattern}
1259 Remove relocations from the output file for any section matching
1260 @var{sectionpattern}. This option may be given more than once. Note
1261 that using this option inappropriately may make the output file
1262 unusable. Wildcard characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
1263 For example:
1264
1265 @smallexample
1266 --remove-relocations=.text.*
1267 @end smallexample
1268
1269 will remove the relocations for all sections matching the patter
1270 '.text.*'.
1271
1272 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1273 point (!) then matching sections will not have their relocation
1274 removed even if an earlier use of @option{--remove-relocations} on the
1275 same command line would otherwise cause the relocations to be removed.
1276 For example:
1277
1278 @smallexample
1279 --remove-relocations=.text.* --remove-relocations=!.text.foo
1280 @end smallexample
1281
1282 will remove all relocations for sections matching the pattern
1283 '.text.*', but will not remove relocations for the section
1284 '.text.foo'.
1285
1286 @item -S
1287 @itemx --strip-all
1288 Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1289
1290 @item -g
1291 @itemx --strip-debug
1292 Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
1293
1294 @item --strip-unneeded
1295 Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1296
1297 @item -K @var{symbolname}
1298 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1299 When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
1300 normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
1301
1302 @item -N @var{symbolname}
1303 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1304 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1305 may be given more than once.
1306
1307 @item --strip-unneeded-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1308 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file unless it is needed
1309 by a relocation. This option may be given more than once.
1310
1311 @item -G @var{symbolname}
1312 @itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1313 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1314 to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1315 be given more than once.
1316
1317 @item --localize-hidden
1318 In an ELF object, mark all symbols that have hidden or internal visibility
1319 as local. This option applies on top of symbol-specific localization options
1320 such as @option{-L}.
1321
1322 @item -L @var{symbolname}
1323 @itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1324 Convert a global or weak symbol called @var{symbolname} into a local
1325 symbol, so that it is not visible externally. This option may be
1326 given more than once. Note - unique symbols are not converted.
1327
1328 @item -W @var{symbolname}
1329 @itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1330 Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1331
1332 @item --globalize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1333 Give symbol @var{symbolname} global scoping so that it is visible
1334 outside of the file in which it is defined. This option may be given
1335 more than once.
1336
1337 @item -w
1338 @itemx --wildcard
1339 Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1340 line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1341 square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1342 name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1343 point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1344 For example:
1345
1346 @smallexample
1347 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1348 @end smallexample
1349
1350 would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1351 except for the symbol ``foo''.
1352
1353 @item -x
1354 @itemx --discard-all
1355 Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1356 @c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1357
1358 @item -X
1359 @itemx --discard-locals
1360 Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1361 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1362
1363 @item -b @var{byte}
1364 @itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1365 If interleaving has been enabled via the @option{--interleave} option
1366 then start the range of bytes to keep at the @var{byte}th byte.
1367 @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{breadth}-1, where
1368 @var{breadth} is the value given by the @option{--interleave} option.
1369
1370 @item -i [@var{breadth}]
1371 @itemx --interleave[=@var{breadth}]
1372 Only copy a range out of every @var{breadth} bytes. (Header data is
1373 not affected). Select which byte in the range begins the copy with
1374 the @option{--byte} option. Select the width of the range with the
1375 @option{--interleave-width} option.
1376
1377 This option is useful for creating files to program @sc{rom}. It is
1378 typically used with an @code{srec} output target. Note that
1379 @command{objcopy} will complain if you do not specify the
1380 @option{--byte} option as well.
1381
1382 The default interleave breadth is 4, so with @option{--byte} set to 0,
1383 @command{objcopy} would copy the first byte out of every four bytes
1384 from the input to the output.
1385
1386 @item --interleave-width=@var{width}
1387 When used with the @option{--interleave} option, copy @var{width}
1388 bytes at a time. The start of the range of bytes to be copied is set
1389 by the @option{--byte} option, and the extent of the range is set with
1390 the @option{--interleave} option.
1391
1392 The default value for this option is 1. The value of @var{width} plus
1393 the @var{byte} value set by the @option{--byte} option must not exceed
1394 the interleave breadth set by the @option{--interleave} option.
1395
1396 This option can be used to create images for two 16-bit flashes interleaved
1397 in a 32-bit bus by passing @option{-b 0 -i 4 --interleave-width=2}
1398 and @option{-b 2 -i 4 --interleave-width=2} to two @command{objcopy}
1399 commands. If the input was '12345678' then the outputs would be
1400 '1256' and '3478' respectively.
1401
1402 @item -p
1403 @itemx --preserve-dates
1404 Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1405 as those of the input file.
1406
1407 @item -D
1408 @itemx --enable-deterministic-archives
1409 @cindex deterministic archives
1410 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
1411 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When copying archive members
1412 and writing the archive index, use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps,
1413 and use consistent file modes for all files.
1414
1415 If @file{binutils} was configured with
1416 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
1417 It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, below.
1418
1419 @item -U
1420 @itemx --disable-deterministic-archives
1421 @cindex deterministic archives
1422 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
1423 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
1424 inverse of the @option{-D} option, above: when copying archive members
1425 and writing the archive index, use their actual UID, GID, timestamp,
1426 and file mode values.
1427
1428 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
1429 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
1430
1431 @item --debugging
1432 Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1433 because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1434 conversion process can be time consuming.
1435
1436 @item --gap-fill @var{val}
1437 Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1438 the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1439 the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1440 space created with @var{val}.
1441
1442 @item --pad-to @var{address}
1443 Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1444 done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1445 filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1446
1447 @item --set-start @var{val}
1448 Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1449 formats support setting the start address.
1450
1451 @item --change-start @var{incr}
1452 @itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1453 @cindex changing start address
1454 Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1455 formats support setting the start address.
1456
1457 @item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1458 @itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1459 @cindex changing object addresses
1460 Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1461 address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1462 section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1463 relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1464 certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1465 that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1466
1467 @item --change-section-address @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1468 @itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1469 @cindex changing section address
1470 Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of any section
1471 matching @var{sectionpattern}. If @samp{=} is used, the section
1472 address is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or
1473 subtracted from the section address. See the comments under
1474 @option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{sectionpattern} does not
1475 match any sections in the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1476 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1477
1478 @item --change-section-lma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1479 @cindex changing section LMA
1480 Set or change the LMA address of any sections matching
1481 @var{sectionpattern}. The LMA address is the address where the
1482 section will be loaded into memory at program load time. Normally
1483 this is the same as the VMA address, which is the address of the
1484 section at program run time, but on some systems, especially those
1485 where a program is held in ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=}
1486 is used, the section address is set to @var{val}. Otherwise,
1487 @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the section address. See the
1488 comments under @option{--change-addresses}, above. If
1489 @var{sectionpattern} does not match any sections in the input file, a
1490 warning will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1491
1492 @item --change-section-vma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1493 @cindex changing section VMA
1494 Set or change the VMA address of any section matching
1495 @var{sectionpattern}. The VMA address is the address where the
1496 section will be located once the program has started executing.
1497 Normally this is the same as the LMA address, which is the address
1498 where the section will be loaded into memory, but on some systems,
1499 especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1500 different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1501 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1502 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1503 above. If @var{sectionpattern} does not match any sections in the
1504 input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1505 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1506
1507 @item --change-warnings
1508 @itemx --adjust-warnings
1509 If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1510 @option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the section pattern does not
1511 match any sections, issue a warning. This is the default.
1512
1513 @item --no-change-warnings
1514 @itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1515 Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1516 @option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1517 if the section pattern does not match any sections.
1518
1519 @item --set-section-flags @var{sectionpattern}=@var{flags}
1520 Set the flags for any sections matching @var{sectionpattern}. The
1521 @var{flags} argument is a comma separated string of flag names. The
1522 recognized names are @samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load},
1523 @samp{noload}, @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom},
1524 @samp{share}, and @samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag
1525 for a section which does not have contents, but it is not meaningful
1526 to clear the @samp{contents} flag of a section which does have
1527 contents--just remove the section instead. Not all flags are
1528 meaningful for all object file formats.
1529
1530 @item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1531 Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1532 contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1533 size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1534 works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1535 Note - it may be necessary to use the @option{--set-section-flags}
1536 option to set the attributes of the newly created section.
1537
1538 @item --dump-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1539 Place the contents of section named @var{sectionname} into the file
1540 @var{filename}, overwriting any contents that may have been there
1541 previously. This option is the inverse of @option{--add-section}.
1542 This option is similar to the @option{--only-section} option except
1543 that it does not create a formatted file, it just dumps the contents
1544 as raw binary data, without applying any relocations. The option can
1545 be specified more than once.
1546
1547 @item --update-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1548 Replace the existing contents of a section named @var{sectionname}
1549 with the contents of file @var{filename}. The size of the section
1550 will be adjusted to the size of the file. The section flags for
1551 @var{sectionname} will be unchanged. For ELF format files the section
1552 to segment mapping will also remain unchanged, something which is not
1553 possible using @option{--remove-section} followed by
1554 @option{--add-section}. The option can be specified more than once.
1555
1556 Note - it is possible to use @option{--rename-section} and
1557 @option{--update-section} to both update and rename a section from one
1558 command line. In this case, pass the original section name to
1559 @option{--update-section}, and the original and new section names to
1560 @option{--rename-section}.
1561
1562 @item --add-symbol @var{name}=[@var{section}:]@var{value}[,@var{flags}]
1563 Add a new symbol named @var{name} while copying the file. This option may be
1564 specified multiple times. If the @var{section} is given, the symbol will be
1565 associated with and relative to that section, otherwise it will be an ABS
1566 symbol. Specifying an undefined section will result in a fatal error. There
1567 is no check for the value, it will be taken as specified. Symbol flags can
1568 be specified and not all flags will be meaningful for all object file
1569 formats. By default, the symbol will be global. The special flag
1570 'before=@var{othersym}' will insert the new symbol in front of the specified
1571 @var{othersym}, otherwise the symbol(s) will be added at the end of the
1572 symbol table in the order they appear.
1573
1574 @item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1575 Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1576 changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1577 the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1578 the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1579 executable.
1580
1581 This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1582 since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1583 you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1584 data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1585
1586 @smallexample
1587 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1588 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1589 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1590 @end smallexample
1591
1592 @item --long-section-names @{enable,disable,keep@}
1593 Controls the handling of long section names when processing @code{COFF}
1594 and @code{PE-COFF} object formats. The default behaviour, @samp{keep},
1595 is to preserve long section names if any are present in the input file.
1596 The @samp{enable} and @samp{disable} options forcibly enable or disable
1597 the use of long section names in the output object; when @samp{disable}
1598 is in effect, any long section names in the input object will be truncated.
1599 The @samp{enable} option will only emit long section names if any are
1600 present in the inputs; this is mostly the same as @samp{keep}, but it
1601 is left undefined whether the @samp{enable} option might force the
1602 creation of an empty string table in the output file.
1603
1604 @item --change-leading-char
1605 Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1606 symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1607 often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1608 change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1609 object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1610 character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1611 character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1612 appropriate.
1613
1614 @item --remove-leading-char
1615 If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1616 character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1617 most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1618 remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1619 if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1620 different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1621 @option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1622 when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1623 file.
1624
1625 @item --reverse-bytes=@var{num}
1626 Reverse the bytes in a section with output contents. A section length must
1627 be evenly divisible by the value given in order for the swap to be able to
1628 take place. Reversing takes place before the interleaving is performed.
1629
1630 This option is used typically in generating ROM images for problematic
1631 target systems. For example, on some target boards, the 32-bit words
1632 fetched from 8-bit ROMs are re-assembled in little-endian byte order
1633 regardless of the CPU byte order. Depending on the programming model, the
1634 endianness of the ROM may need to be modified.
1635
1636 Consider a simple file with a section containing the following eight
1637 bytes: @code{12345678}.
1638
1639 Using @samp{--reverse-bytes=2} for the above example, the bytes in the
1640 output file would be ordered @code{21436587}.
1641
1642 Using @samp{--reverse-bytes=4} for the above example, the bytes in the
1643 output file would be ordered @code{43218765}.
1644
1645 By using @samp{--reverse-bytes=2} for the above example, followed by
1646 @samp{--reverse-bytes=4} on the output file, the bytes in the second
1647 output file would be ordered @code{34127856}.
1648
1649 @item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1650 Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1651 being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1652 crc fields.
1653
1654 @item --srec-forceS3
1655 Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1656 creating S3-only record format.
1657
1658 @item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1659 Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1660 when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1661 source, and there are name collisions.
1662
1663 @item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1664 Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1665 listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1666 with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1667 character. This option may be given more than once.
1668
1669 @item --weaken
1670 Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1671 when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1672 the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1673 using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1674
1675 @item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1676 Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1677 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1678 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1679 This option may be given more than once.
1680
1681 @item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1682 Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1683 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1684 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1685 This option may be given more than once.
1686
1687 @item --strip-unneeded-symbols=@var{filename}
1688 Apply @option{--strip-unneeded-symbol} option to each symbol listed in
1689 the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1690 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1691 character. This option may be given more than once.
1692
1693 @item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1694 Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1695 file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1696 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1697 character. This option may be given more than once.
1698
1699 @item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1700 Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1701 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1702 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1703 This option may be given more than once.
1704
1705 @item --globalize-symbols=@var{filename}
1706 Apply @option{--globalize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1707 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1708 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1709 This option may be given more than once.
1710
1711 @item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1712 Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1713 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1714 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1715 This option may be given more than once.
1716
1717 @item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1718 If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1719 @var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1720 a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1721 new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1722 being used. For ELF based architectures if the @var{index}
1723 alternative does not exist then the value is treated as an absolute
1724 number to be stored in the e_machine field of the ELF header.
1725
1726 @item --writable-text
1727 Mark the output text as writable. This option isn't meaningful for all
1728 object file formats.
1729
1730 @item --readonly-text
1731 Make the output text write protected. This option isn't meaningful for all
1732 object file formats.
1733
1734 @item --pure
1735 Mark the output file as demand paged. This option isn't meaningful for all
1736 object file formats.
1737
1738 @item --impure
1739 Mark the output file as impure. This option isn't meaningful for all
1740 object file formats.
1741
1742 @item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1743 Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1744
1745 @item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1746 Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1747
1748 @item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1749 Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1750 @var{string}.
1751
1752 @item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1753 Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to
1754 @var{path-to-file} and adds it to the output file. Note: the file at
1755 @var{path-to-file} must exist. Part of the process of adding the
1756 .gnu_debuglink section involves embedding a checksum of the contents
1757 of the debug info file into the section.
1758
1759 If the debug info file is built in one location but it is going to be
1760 installed at a later time into a different location then do not use
1761 the path to the installed location. The @option{--add-gnu-debuglink}
1762 option will fail because the installed file does not exist yet.
1763 Instead put the debug info file in the current directory and use the
1764 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} option without any directory components,
1765 like this:
1766
1767 @smallexample
1768 objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug
1769 @end smallexample
1770
1771 At debug time the debugger will attempt to look for the separate debug
1772 info file in a set of known locations. The exact set of these
1773 locations varies depending upon the distribution being used, but it
1774 typically includes:
1775
1776 @table @code
1777
1778 @item * The same directory as the executable.
1779
1780 @item * A sub-directory of the directory containing the executable
1781 called .debug
1782
1783 @item * A global debug directory such as /usr/lib/debug.
1784 @end table
1785
1786 As long as the debug info file has been installed into one of these
1787 locations before the debugger is run everything should work
1788 correctly.
1789
1790 @item --keep-file-symbols
1791 When stripping a file, perhaps with @option{--strip-debug} or
1792 @option{--strip-unneeded}, retain any symbols specifying source file names,
1793 which would otherwise get stripped.
1794
1795 @item --only-keep-debug
1796 Strip a file, removing contents of any sections that would not be
1797 stripped by @option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections
1798 intact. In ELF files, this preserves all note sections in the output.
1799
1800 Note - the section headers of the stripped sections are preserved,
1801 including their sizes, but the contents of the section are discarded.
1802 The section headers are preserved so that other tools can match up the
1803 debuginfo file with the real executable, even if that executable has
1804 been relocated to a different address space.
1805
1806 The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1807 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1808 stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1809 distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1810 needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1811 to create these files is as follows:
1812
1813 @enumerate
1814 @item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1815 @code{foo} then...
1816 @item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1817 create a file containing the debugging info.
1818 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1819 stripped executable.
1820 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1821 to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1822 @end enumerate
1823
1824 Note---the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1825 file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1826 optional. You could instead do this:
1827
1828 @enumerate
1829 @item Link the executable as normal.
1830 @item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1831 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1832 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1833 @end enumerate
1834
1835 i.e., the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
1836 full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1837 @option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1838
1839 Note---this switch is only intended for use on fully linked files. It
1840 does not make sense to use it on object files where the debugging
1841 information may be incomplete. Besides the gnu_debuglink feature
1842 currently only supports the presence of one filename containing
1843 debugging information, not multiple filenames on a one-per-object-file
1844 basis.
1845
1846 @item --strip-dwo
1847 Remove the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections, leaving the
1848 remaining debugging sections and all symbols intact.
1849 This option is intended for use by the compiler as part of
1850 the @option{-gsplit-dwarf} option, which splits debug information
1851 between the .o file and a separate .dwo file. The compiler
1852 generates all debug information in the same file, then uses
1853 the @option{--extract-dwo} option to copy the .dwo sections to
1854 the .dwo file, then the @option{--strip-dwo} option to remove
1855 those sections from the original .o file.
1856
1857 @item --extract-dwo
1858 Extract the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections. See the
1859 @option{--strip-dwo} option for more information.
1860
1861 @item --file-alignment @var{num}
1862 Specify the file alignment. Sections in the file will always begin at
1863 file offsets which are multiples of this number. This defaults to
1864 512.
1865 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1866
1867 @item --heap @var{reserve}
1868 @itemx --heap @var{reserve},@var{commit}
1869 Specify the number of bytes of memory to reserve (and optionally commit)
1870 to be used as heap for this program.
1871 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1872
1873 @item --image-base @var{value}
1874 Use @var{value} as the base address of your program or dll. This is
1875 the lowest memory location that will be used when your program or dll
1876 is loaded. To reduce the need to relocate and improve performance of
1877 your dlls, each should have a unique base address and not overlap any
1878 other dlls. The default is 0x400000 for executables, and 0x10000000
1879 for dlls.
1880 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1881
1882 @item --section-alignment @var{num}
1883 Sets the section alignment. Sections in memory will always begin at
1884 addresses which are a multiple of this number. Defaults to 0x1000.
1885 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1886
1887 @item --stack @var{reserve}
1888 @itemx --stack @var{reserve},@var{commit}
1889 Specify the number of bytes of memory to reserve (and optionally commit)
1890 to be used as stack for this program.
1891 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1892
1893 @item --subsystem @var{which}
1894 @itemx --subsystem @var{which}:@var{major}
1895 @itemx --subsystem @var{which}:@var{major}.@var{minor}
1896 Specifies the subsystem under which your program will execute. The
1897 legal values for @var{which} are @code{native}, @code{windows},
1898 @code{console}, @code{posix}, @code{efi-app}, @code{efi-bsd},
1899 @code{efi-rtd}, @code{sal-rtd}, and @code{xbox}. You may optionally set
1900 the subsystem version also. Numeric values are also accepted for
1901 @var{which}.
1902 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1903
1904 @item --extract-symbol
1905 Keep the file's section flags and symbols but remove all section data.
1906 Specifically, the option:
1907
1908 @itemize
1909 @item removes the contents of all sections;
1910 @item sets the size of every section to zero; and
1911 @item sets the file's start address to zero.
1912 @end itemize
1913
1914 This option is used to build a @file{.sym} file for a VxWorks kernel.
1915 It can also be a useful way of reducing the size of a @option{--just-symbols}
1916 linker input file.
1917
1918 @item --compress-debug-sections
1919 Compress DWARF debug sections using zlib with SHF_COMPRESSED from the
1920 ELF ABI. Note - if compression would actually make a section
1921 @emph{larger}, then it is not compressed.
1922
1923 @item --compress-debug-sections=none
1924 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib
1925 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu
1926 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi
1927 For ELF files, these options control how DWARF debug sections are
1928 compressed. @option{--compress-debug-sections=none} is equivalent
1929 to @option{--decompress-debug-sections}.
1930 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib} and
1931 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi} are equivalent to
1932 @option{--compress-debug-sections}.
1933 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu} compresses DWARF debug
1934 sections using zlib. The debug sections are renamed to begin with
1935 @samp{.zdebug} instead of @samp{.debug}. Note - if compression would
1936 actually make a section @emph{larger}, then it is not compressed nor
1937 renamed.
1938
1939 @item --decompress-debug-sections
1940 Decompress DWARF debug sections using zlib. The original section
1941 names of the compressed sections are restored.
1942
1943 @item --elf-stt-common=yes
1944 @itemx --elf-stt-common=no
1945 For ELF files, these options control whether common symbols should be
1946 converted to the @code{STT_COMMON} or @code{STT_OBJECT} type.
1947 @option{--elf-stt-common=yes} converts common symbol type to
1948 @code{STT_COMMON}. @option{--elf-stt-common=no} converts common symbol
1949 type to @code{STT_OBJECT}.
1950
1951 @item -V
1952 @itemx --version
1953 Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
1954
1955 @item -v
1956 @itemx --verbose
1957 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1958 archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1959
1960 @item --help
1961 Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
1962
1963 @item --info
1964 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
1965 @end table
1966
1967 @c man end
1968
1969 @ignore
1970 @c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1971 ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1972 @c man end
1973 @end ignore
1974
1975 @node objdump
1976 @chapter objdump
1977
1978 @cindex object file information
1979 @kindex objdump
1980
1981 @c man title objdump display information from object files.
1982
1983 @smallexample
1984 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
1985 objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1986 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1987 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1988 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1989 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1990 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1991 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1992 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1993 [@option{-F}|@option{--file-offsets}]
1994 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1995 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
1996 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
1997 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1998 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1999 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
2000 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
2001 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
2002 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
2003 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
2004 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
2005 [@option{-P} @var{options}|@option{--private=}@var{options}]
2006 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
2007 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
2008 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
2009 [@option{-W[lLiaprmfFsoRt]}|
2010 @option{--dwarf}[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames]
2011 [=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
2012 [=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev]
2013 [=trace_aranges,=gdb_index]
2014 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
2015 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
2016 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
2017 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
2018 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
2019 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
2020 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
2021 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
2022 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
2023 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
2024 [@option{--dwarf-depth=@var{n}}]
2025 [@option{--dwarf-start=@var{n}}]
2026 [@option{--special-syms}]
2027 [@option{--prefix=}@var{prefix}]
2028 [@option{--prefix-strip=}@var{level}]
2029 [@option{--insn-width=}@var{width}]
2030 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2031 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
2032 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2033 @c man end
2034 @end smallexample
2035
2036 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
2037
2038 @command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
2039 The options control what particular information to display. This
2040 information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
2041 compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
2042 program to compile and work.
2043
2044 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
2045 specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
2046 object files.
2047
2048 @c man end
2049
2050 @c man begin OPTIONS objdump
2051
2052 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2053 equivalent. At least one option from the list
2054 @option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-P,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
2055
2056 @table @env
2057 @item -a
2058 @itemx --archive-header
2059 @cindex archive headers
2060 If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
2061 header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
2062 information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
2063 the object file format of each archive member.
2064
2065 @item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
2066 @cindex section addresses in objdump
2067 @cindex VMA in objdump
2068 When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
2069 addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
2070 the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
2071 addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
2072 such as a.out.
2073
2074 @item -b @var{bfdname}
2075 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2076 @cindex object code format
2077 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2078 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
2079 automatically recognize many formats.
2080
2081 For example,
2082 @example
2083 objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
2084 @end example
2085 @noindent
2086 displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
2087 @file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
2088 file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
2089 formats available with the @option{-i} option.
2090 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2091
2092 @item -C
2093 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2094 @cindex demangling in objdump
2095 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2096 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2097 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2098 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2099 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2100 for more information on demangling.
2101
2102 @item -g
2103 @itemx --debugging
2104 Display debugging information. This attempts to parse STABS and IEEE
2105 debugging format information stored in the file and print it out using
2106 a C like syntax. If neither of these formats are found this option
2107 falls back on the @option{-W} option to print any DWARF information in
2108 the file.
2109
2110 @item -e
2111 @itemx --debugging-tags
2112 Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
2113 with ctags tool.
2114
2115 @item -d
2116 @itemx --disassemble
2117 @cindex disassembling object code
2118 @cindex machine instructions
2119 Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
2120 @var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
2121 expected to contain instructions.
2122
2123 @item -D
2124 @itemx --disassemble-all
2125 Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
2126 those expected to contain instructions.
2127
2128 This option also has a subtle effect on the disassembly of
2129 instructions in code sections. When option @option{-d} is in effect
2130 objdump will assume that any symbols present in a code section occur
2131 on the boundary between instructions and it will refuse to disassemble
2132 across such a boundary. When option @option{-D} is in effect however
2133 this assumption is supressed. This means that it is possible for the
2134 output of @option{-d} and @option{-D} to differ if, for example, data
2135 is stored in code sections.
2136
2137 If the target is an ARM architecture this switch also has the effect
2138 of forcing the disassembler to decode pieces of data found in code
2139 sections as if they were instructions.
2140
2141 @item --prefix-addresses
2142 When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
2143 the older disassembly format.
2144
2145 @item -EB
2146 @itemx -EL
2147 @itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
2148 @cindex endianness
2149 @cindex disassembly endianness
2150 Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
2151 disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
2152 does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
2153
2154 @item -f
2155 @itemx --file-headers
2156 @cindex object file header
2157 Display summary information from the overall header of
2158 each of the @var{objfile} files.
2159
2160 @item -F
2161 @itemx --file-offsets
2162 @cindex object file offsets
2163 When disassembling sections, whenever a symbol is displayed, also
2164 display the file offset of the region of data that is about to be
2165 dumped. If zeroes are being skipped, then when disassembly resumes,
2166 tell the user how many zeroes were skipped and the file offset of the
2167 location from where the disassembly resumes. When dumping sections,
2168 display the file offset of the location from where the dump starts.
2169
2170 @item --file-start-context
2171 @cindex source code context
2172 Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
2173 (assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
2174 context to the start of the file.
2175
2176 @item -h
2177 @itemx --section-headers
2178 @itemx --headers
2179 @cindex section headers
2180 Display summary information from the section headers of the
2181 object file.
2182
2183 File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
2184 using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
2185 @command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
2186 store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
2187 although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
2188 -h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
2189 Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
2190 target.
2191
2192 Note, in some cases it is possible for a section to have both the
2193 READONLY and the NOREAD attributes set. In such cases the NOREAD
2194 attribute takes precedence, but @command{objdump} will report both
2195 since the exact setting of the flag bits might be important.
2196
2197 @item -H
2198 @itemx --help
2199 Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
2200
2201 @item -i
2202 @itemx --info
2203 @cindex architectures available
2204 @cindex object formats available
2205 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
2206 for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
2207
2208 @item -j @var{name}
2209 @itemx --section=@var{name}
2210 @cindex section information
2211 Display information only for section @var{name}.
2212
2213 @item -l
2214 @itemx --line-numbers
2215 @cindex source filenames for object files
2216 Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
2217 source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
2218 Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
2219
2220 @item -m @var{machine}
2221 @itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
2222 @cindex architecture
2223 @cindex disassembly architecture
2224 Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
2225 can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
2226 architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
2227 architectures with the @option{-i} option.
2228
2229 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch has an
2230 additional effect. It restricts the disassembly to only those
2231 instructions supported by the architecture specified by @var{machine}.
2232 If it is necessary to use this switch because the input file does not
2233 contain any architecture information, but it is also desired to
2234 disassemble all the instructions use @option{-marm}.
2235
2236 @item -M @var{options}
2237 @itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
2238 Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
2239 some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
2240 disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
2241 can be placed together into a comma separated list.
2242
2243 For the ARC architecture the option can be used to specify the extra
2244 instruction classes that should be disassembled. A comma separated
2245 list of one or more of the following values should be used:
2246
2247 @table @code
2248 @item dsp
2249 Recognize DSP instructions.
2250 @item spfp
2251 Recognize FPX SP instructions.
2252 @item dpfp
2253 Recognize FPX DP instructions.
2254 @item quarkse_em
2255 Recognize FPU QuarkSE-EM instructions.
2256 @item fpuda
2257 Recognize double assist FPU instructions.
2258 @item fpus
2259 Recognize single precision FPU instructions.
2260 @item fpud
2261 Recognize double precision FPU instructions.
2262 @end table
2263
2264 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
2265 select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
2266 @option{-M reg-names-std} (the default) will select the register names as
2267 used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
2268 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
2269 @option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
2270 Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
2271 just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
2272
2273 There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
2274 by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
2275 use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
2276 with the normal register names or the special register names).
2277
2278 This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
2279 disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
2280 using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
2281 useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
2282 compilers.
2283
2284 For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
2285 switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
2286 following may be specified as a comma separated string.
2287 @table @code
2288 @item x86-64
2289 @itemx i386
2290 @itemx i8086
2291 Select disassembly for the given architecture.
2292
2293 @item intel
2294 @itemx att
2295 Select between intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode.
2296
2297 @item amd64
2298 @itemx intel64
2299 Select between AMD64 ISA and Intel64 ISA.
2300
2301 @item intel-mnemonic
2302 @itemx att-mnemonic
2303 Select between intel mnemonic mode and AT&T mnemonic mode.
2304 Note: @code{intel-mnemonic} implies @code{intel} and
2305 @code{att-mnemonic} implies @code{att}.
2306
2307 @item addr64
2308 @itemx addr32
2309 @itemx addr16
2310 @itemx data32
2311 @itemx data16
2312 Specify the default address size and operand size. These four options
2313 will be overridden if @code{x86-64}, @code{i386} or @code{i8086}
2314 appear later in the option string.
2315
2316 @item suffix
2317 When in AT&T mode, instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic
2318 suffix even when the suffix could be inferred by the operands.
2319 @end table
2320
2321 For PowerPC, @option{booke} controls the disassembly of BookE
2322 instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select PowerPC and
2323 PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively. @option{e300} selects
2324 disassembly for the e300 family. @option{440} selects disassembly for
2325 the PowerPC 440. @option{ppcps} selects disassembly for the paired
2326 single instructions of the PPC750CL.
2327
2328 For MIPS, this option controls the printing of instruction mnemonic
2329 names and register names in disassembled instructions. Multiple
2330 selections from the following may be specified as a comma separated
2331 string, and invalid options are ignored:
2332
2333 @table @code
2334 @item no-aliases
2335 Print the 'raw' instruction mnemonic instead of some pseudo
2336 instruction mnemonic. I.e., print 'daddu' or 'or' instead of 'move',
2337 'sll' instead of 'nop', etc.
2338
2339 @item msa
2340 Disassemble MSA instructions.
2341
2342 @item virt
2343 Disassemble the virtualization ASE instructions.
2344
2345 @item xpa
2346 Disassemble the eXtended Physical Address (XPA) ASE instructions.
2347
2348 @item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
2349 Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
2350 for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
2351 the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
2352
2353 @item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
2354 Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
2355 appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
2356 rather than names.
2357
2358 @item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
2359 Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
2360 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
2361 @var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
2362 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
2363
2364 @item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
2365 Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
2366 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
2367 @var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
2368 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
2369
2370 @item reg-names=@var{ABI}
2371 Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
2372
2373 @item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
2374 Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
2375 as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
2376 @end table
2377
2378 For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
2379 @var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
2380 rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
2381 You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
2382 the @option{--help} option.
2383
2384 For VAX, you can specify function entry addresses with @option{-M
2385 entry:0xf00ba}. You can use this multiple times to properly
2386 disassemble VAX binary files that don't contain symbol tables (like
2387 ROM dumps). In these cases, the function entry mask would otherwise
2388 be decoded as VAX instructions, which would probably lead the rest
2389 of the function being wrongly disassembled.
2390
2391 For ARC, @option{dsp} controls the printing of DSP instructions,
2392 @option{spfp} selects the printing of FPX single precision FP
2393 instructions, @option{dpfp} selects the printing of FPX double
2394 precision FP instructions, @option{quarkse_em} selects the printing of
2395 special QuarkSE-EM instructions, @option{fpuda} selects the printing
2396 of double precision assist instructions, @option{fpus} selects the
2397 printing of FPU single precision FP instructions, while @option{fpud}
2398 selects the printing of FPU souble precision FP instructions.
2399
2400 @item -p
2401 @itemx --private-headers
2402 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
2403 information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
2404 object file formats, no additional information is printed.
2405
2406 @item -P @var{options}
2407 @itemx --private=@var{options}
2408 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The
2409 argument @var{options} is a comma separated list that depends on the
2410 format (the lists of options is displayed with the help).
2411
2412 For XCOFF, the available options are:
2413 @table @code
2414 @item header
2415 @item aout
2416 @item sections
2417 @item syms
2418 @item relocs
2419 @item lineno,
2420 @item loader
2421 @item except
2422 @item typchk
2423 @item traceback
2424 @item toc
2425 @item ldinfo
2426 @end table
2427
2428 Not all object formats support this option. In particular the ELF
2429 format does not use it.
2430
2431 @item -r
2432 @itemx --reloc
2433 @cindex relocation entries, in object file
2434 Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
2435 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
2436 disassembly.
2437
2438 @item -R
2439 @itemx --dynamic-reloc
2440 @cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
2441 Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
2442 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
2443 libraries. As for @option{-r}, if used with @option{-d} or
2444 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
2445 disassembly.
2446
2447 @item -s
2448 @itemx --full-contents
2449 @cindex sections, full contents
2450 @cindex object file sections
2451 Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
2452 non-empty sections are displayed.
2453
2454 @item -S
2455 @itemx --source
2456 @cindex source disassembly
2457 @cindex disassembly, with source
2458 Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
2459 @option{-d}.
2460
2461 @item --prefix=@var{prefix}
2462 @cindex Add prefix to absolute paths
2463 Specify @var{prefix} to add to the absolute paths when used with
2464 @option{-S}.
2465
2466 @item --prefix-strip=@var{level}
2467 @cindex Strip absolute paths
2468 Indicate how many initial directory names to strip off the hardwired
2469 absolute paths. It has no effect without @option{--prefix=}@var{prefix}.
2470
2471 @item --show-raw-insn
2472 When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
2473 in symbolic form. This is the default except when
2474 @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
2475
2476 @item --no-show-raw-insn
2477 When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
2478 This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
2479
2480 @item --insn-width=@var{width}
2481 @cindex Instruction width
2482 Display @var{width} bytes on a single line when disassembling
2483 instructions.
2484
2485 @item -W[lLiaprmfFsoRt]
2486 @itemx --dwarf[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames]
2487 @itemx --dwarf[=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
2488 @itemx --dwarf[=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev]
2489 @itemx --dwarf[=trace_aranges,=gdb_index]
2490 @cindex DWARF
2491 @cindex debug symbols
2492 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
2493 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
2494 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
2495
2496 Note that there is no single letter option to display the content of
2497 trace sections or .gdb_index.
2498
2499 Note: the output from the @option{=info} option can also be affected
2500 by the options @option{--dwarf-depth}, the @option{--dwarf-start} and
2501 the @option{--dwarf-check}.
2502
2503 @item --dwarf-depth=@var{n}
2504 Limit the dump of the @code{.debug_info} section to @var{n} children.
2505 This is only useful with @option{--dwarf=info}. The default is
2506 to print all DIEs; the special value 0 for @var{n} will also have this
2507 effect.
2508
2509 With a non-zero value for @var{n}, DIEs at or deeper than @var{n}
2510 levels will not be printed. The range for @var{n} is zero-based.
2511
2512 @item --dwarf-start=@var{n}
2513 Print only DIEs beginning with the DIE numbered @var{n}. This is only
2514 useful with @option{--dwarf=info}.
2515
2516 If specified, this option will suppress printing of any header
2517 information and all DIEs before the DIE numbered @var{n}. Only
2518 siblings and children of the specified DIE will be printed.
2519
2520 This can be used in conjunction with @option{--dwarf-depth}.
2521
2522 @item --dwarf-check
2523 Enable additional checks for consistency of Dwarf information.
2524
2525 @item -G
2526 @itemx --stabs
2527 @cindex stab
2528 @cindex .stab
2529 @cindex debug symbols
2530 @cindex ELF object file format
2531 Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
2532 contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
2533 ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
2534 @code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
2535 section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
2536 interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
2537 output.
2538
2539 @item --start-address=@var{address}
2540 @cindex start-address
2541 Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
2542 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
2543
2544 @item --stop-address=@var{address}
2545 @cindex stop-address
2546 Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
2547 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
2548
2549 @item -t
2550 @itemx --syms
2551 @cindex symbol table entries, printing
2552 Print the symbol table entries of the file.
2553 This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program,
2554 although the display format is different. The format of the output
2555 depends upon the format of the file being dumped, but there are two main
2556 types. One looks like this:
2557
2558 @smallexample
2559 [ 4](sec 3)(fl 0x00)(ty 0)(scl 3) (nx 1) 0x00000000 .bss
2560 [ 6](sec 1)(fl 0x00)(ty 0)(scl 2) (nx 0) 0x00000000 fred
2561 @end smallexample
2562
2563 where the number inside the square brackets is the number of the entry
2564 in the symbol table, the @var{sec} number is the section number, the
2565 @var{fl} value are the symbol's flag bits, the @var{ty} number is the
2566 symbol's type, the @var{scl} number is the symbol's storage class and
2567 the @var{nx} value is the number of auxilary entries associated with
2568 the symbol. The last two fields are the symbol's value and its name.
2569
2570 The other common output format, usually seen with ELF based files,
2571 looks like this:
2572
2573 @smallexample
2574 00000000 l d .bss 00000000 .bss
2575 00000000 g .text 00000000 fred
2576 @end smallexample
2577
2578 Here the first number is the symbol's value (sometimes refered to as
2579 its address). The next field is actually a set of characters and
2580 spaces indicating the flag bits that are set on the symbol. These
2581 characters are described below. Next is the section with which the
2582 symbol is associated or @emph{*ABS*} if the section is absolute (ie
2583 not connected with any section), or @emph{*UND*} if the section is
2584 referenced in the file being dumped, but not defined there.
2585
2586 After the section name comes another field, a number, which for common
2587 symbols is the alignment and for other symbol is the size. Finally
2588 the symbol's name is displayed.
2589
2590 The flag characters are divided into 7 groups as follows:
2591 @table @code
2592 @item l
2593 @itemx g
2594 @itemx u
2595 @itemx !
2596 The symbol is a local (l), global (g), unique global (u), neither
2597 global nor local (a space) or both global and local (!). A
2598 symbol can be neither local or global for a variety of reasons, e.g.,
2599 because it is used for debugging, but it is probably an indication of
2600 a bug if it is ever both local and global. Unique global symbols are
2601 a GNU extension to the standard set of ELF symbol bindings. For such
2602 a symbol the dynamic linker will make sure that in the entire process
2603 there is just one symbol with this name and type in use.
2604
2605 @item w
2606 The symbol is weak (w) or strong (a space).
2607
2608 @item C
2609 The symbol denotes a constructor (C) or an ordinary symbol (a space).
2610
2611 @item W
2612 The symbol is a warning (W) or a normal symbol (a space). A warning
2613 symbol's name is a message to be displayed if the symbol following the
2614 warning symbol is ever referenced.
2615
2616 @item I
2617 @item i
2618 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol (I), a function
2619 to be evaluated during reloc processing (i) or a normal symbol (a
2620 space).
2621
2622 @item d
2623 @itemx D
2624 The symbol is a debugging symbol (d) or a dynamic symbol (D) or a
2625 normal symbol (a space).
2626
2627 @item F
2628 @item f
2629 @item O
2630 The symbol is the name of a function (F) or a file (f) or an object
2631 (O) or just a normal symbol (a space).
2632 @end table
2633
2634 @item -T
2635 @itemx --dynamic-syms
2636 @cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
2637 Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
2638 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
2639 libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
2640 program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
2641
2642 @item --special-syms
2643 When displaying symbols include those which the target considers to be
2644 special in some way and which would not normally be of interest to the
2645 user.
2646
2647 @item -V
2648 @itemx --version
2649 Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
2650
2651 @item -x
2652 @itemx --all-headers
2653 @cindex all header information, object file
2654 @cindex header information, all
2655 Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
2656 relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
2657 @option{-a -f -h -p -r -t}.
2658
2659 @item -w
2660 @itemx --wide
2661 @cindex wide output, printing
2662 Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
2663 Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
2664
2665 @item -z
2666 @itemx --disassemble-zeroes
2667 Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
2668 option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
2669 any other data.
2670 @end table
2671
2672 @c man end
2673
2674 @ignore
2675 @c man begin SEEALSO objdump
2676 nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2677 @c man end
2678 @end ignore
2679
2680 @node ranlib
2681 @chapter ranlib
2682
2683 @kindex ranlib
2684 @cindex archive contents
2685 @cindex symbol index
2686
2687 @c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
2688
2689 @smallexample
2690 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
2691 ranlib [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{-DhHvVt}] @var{archive}
2692 @c man end
2693 @end smallexample
2694
2695 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
2696
2697 @command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
2698 stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
2699 member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
2700
2701 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
2702
2703 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
2704 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
2705 their placement in the archive.
2706
2707 The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
2708 @command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
2709 @xref{ar}.
2710
2711 @c man end
2712
2713 @c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
2714
2715 @table @env
2716 @item -h
2717 @itemx -H
2718 @itemx --help
2719 Show usage information for @command{ranlib}.
2720
2721 @item -v
2722 @itemx -V
2723 @itemx --version
2724 Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
2725
2726 @item -D
2727 @cindex deterministic archives
2728 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
2729 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. The symbol map archive member's
2730 header will show zero for the UID, GID, and timestamp. When this
2731 option is used, multiple runs will produce identical output files.
2732
2733 If @file{binutils} was configured with
2734 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by
2735 default. It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, described
2736 below.
2737
2738 @item -t
2739 Update the timestamp of the symbol map of an archive.
2740
2741 @item -U
2742 @cindex deterministic archives
2743 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
2744 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
2745 inverse of the @samp{-D} option, above: the archive index will get
2746 actual UID, GID, timestamp, and file mode values.
2747
2748 If @file{binutils} was configured @emph{without}
2749 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by
2750 default.
2751
2752 @end table
2753
2754 @c man end
2755
2756 @ignore
2757 @c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
2758 ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2759 @c man end
2760 @end ignore
2761
2762 @node size
2763 @chapter size
2764
2765 @kindex size
2766 @cindex section sizes
2767
2768 @c man title size list section sizes and total size.
2769
2770 @smallexample
2771 @c man begin SYNOPSIS size
2772 size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
2773 [@option{--help}]
2774 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
2775 [@option{--common}]
2776 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
2777 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2778 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
2779 @c man end
2780 @end smallexample
2781
2782 @c man begin DESCRIPTION size
2783
2784 The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
2785 size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
2786 argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
2787 object file or each module in an archive.
2788
2789 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
2790 If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
2791
2792 @c man end
2793
2794 @c man begin OPTIONS size
2795
2796 The command line options have the following meanings:
2797
2798 @table @env
2799 @item -A
2800 @itemx -B
2801 @itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
2802 @cindex @command{size} display format
2803 Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
2804 @command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
2805 or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
2806 @option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
2807 Berkeley's.
2808 @c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
2809 @c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
2810 @c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
2811
2812 Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
2813 @command{size}:
2814 @smallexample
2815 $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
2816 text data bss dec hex filename
2817 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
2818 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
2819 @end smallexample
2820
2821 @noindent
2822 This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
2823
2824 @smallexample
2825 $ size --format=SysV ranlib size
2826 ranlib :
2827 section size addr
2828 .text 294880 8192
2829 .data 81920 303104
2830 .bss 11592 385024
2831 Total 388392
2832
2833
2834 size :
2835 section size addr
2836 .text 294880 8192
2837 .data 81920 303104
2838 .bss 11888 385024
2839 Total 388688
2840 @end smallexample
2841
2842 @item --help
2843 Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
2844
2845 @item -d
2846 @itemx -o
2847 @itemx -x
2848 @itemx --radix=@var{number}
2849 @cindex @command{size} number format
2850 @cindex radix for section sizes
2851 Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
2852 section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
2853 (@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
2854 @option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
2855 values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
2856 radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
2857 octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
2858
2859 @item --common
2860 Print total size of common symbols in each file. When using Berkeley
2861 format these are included in the bss size.
2862
2863 @item -t
2864 @itemx --totals
2865 Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2866
2867 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
2868 @cindex object code format
2869 Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
2870 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
2871 automatically recognize many formats.
2872 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2873
2874 @item -V
2875 @itemx --version
2876 Display the version number of @command{size}.
2877 @end table
2878
2879 @c man end
2880
2881 @ignore
2882 @c man begin SEEALSO size
2883 ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2884 @c man end
2885 @end ignore
2886
2887 @node strings
2888 @chapter strings
2889 @kindex strings
2890 @cindex listings strings
2891 @cindex printing strings
2892 @cindex strings, printing
2893
2894 @c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2895
2896 @smallexample
2897 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
2898 strings [@option{-afovV}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2899 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2900 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2901 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2902 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2903 [@option{-T} @var{bfdname}] [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2904 [@option{-w}] [@option{--include-all-whitespace}]
2905 [@option{-s}] [@option{--output-separator}@var{sep_string}]
2906 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
2907 @c man end
2908 @end smallexample
2909
2910 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2911
2912 For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the
2913 printable character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or
2914 the number given with the options below) and are followed by an
2915 unprintable character.
2916
2917 Depending upon how the strings program was configured it will default
2918 to either displaying all the printable sequences that it can find in
2919 each file, or only those sequences that are in loadable, initialized
2920 data sections. If the file type in unrecognizable, or if strings is
2921 reading from stdin then it will always display all of the printable
2922 sequences that it can find.
2923
2924 For backwards compatibility any file that occurs after a command line
2925 option of just @option{-} will also be scanned in full, regardless of
2926 the presence of any @option{-d} option.
2927
2928 @command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of
2929 non-text files.
2930
2931 @c man end
2932
2933 @c man begin OPTIONS strings
2934
2935 @table @env
2936 @item -a
2937 @itemx --all
2938 @itemx -
2939 Scan the whole file, regardless of what sections it contains or
2940 whether those sections are loaded or initialized. Normally this is
2941 the default behaviour, but strings can be configured so that the
2942 @option{-d} is the default instead.
2943
2944 The @option{-} option is position dependent and forces strings to
2945 perform full scans of any file that is mentioned after the @option{-}
2946 on the command line, even if the @option{-d} option has been
2947 specified.
2948
2949 @item -d
2950 @itemx --data
2951 Only print strings from initialized, loaded data sections in the
2952 file. This may reduce the amount of garbage in the output, but it
2953 also exposes the strings program to any security flaws that may be
2954 present in the BFD library used to scan and load sections. Strings
2955 can be configured so that this option is the default behaviour. In
2956 such cases the @option{-a} option can be used to avoid using the BFD
2957 library and instead just print all of the strings found in the file.
2958
2959 @item -f
2960 @itemx --print-file-name
2961 Print the name of the file before each string.
2962
2963 @item --help
2964 Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2965
2966 @item -@var{min-len}
2967 @itemx -n @var{min-len}
2968 @itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2969 Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2970 long, instead of the default 4.
2971
2972 @item -o
2973 Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
2974 act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2975 ways, we simply chose one.
2976
2977 @item -t @var{radix}
2978 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2979 Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2980 character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2981 octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2982
2983 @item -e @var{encoding}
2984 @itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2985 Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
2986 Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2987 characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2988 single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
2989 16-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2990 littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings. (@samp{l}
2991 and @samp{b} apply to, for example, Unicode UTF-16/UCS-2 encodings).
2992
2993 @item -T @var{bfdname}
2994 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2995 @cindex object code format
2996 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2997 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2998
2999 @item -v
3000 @itemx -V
3001 @itemx --version
3002 Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
3003
3004 @item -w
3005 @itemx --include-all-whitespace
3006 By default tab and space characters are included in the strings that
3007 are displayed, but other whitespace characters, such a newlines and
3008 carriage returns, are not. The @option{-w} option changes this so
3009 that all whitespace characters are considered to be part of a string.
3010
3011 @item -s
3012 @itemx --output-separator
3013 By default, output strings are delimited by a new-line. This option
3014 allows you to supply any string to be used as the output record
3015 separator. Useful with --include-all-whitespace where strings
3016 may contain new-lines internally.
3017 @end table
3018
3019 @c man end
3020
3021 @ignore
3022 @c man begin SEEALSO strings
3023 ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
3024 and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3025 @c man end
3026 @end ignore
3027
3028 @node strip
3029 @chapter strip
3030
3031 @kindex strip
3032 @cindex removing symbols
3033 @cindex discarding symbols
3034 @cindex symbols, discarding
3035
3036 @c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
3037
3038 @smallexample
3039 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
3040 strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
3041 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3042 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3043 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
3044 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
3045 [@option{--strip-dwo}]
3046 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
3047 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
3048 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
3049 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
3050 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
3051 [@option{--remove-relocations=}@var{sectionpattern}]
3052 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
3053 [@option{-D}|@option{--enable-deterministic-archives}]
3054 [@option{-U}|@option{--disable-deterministic-archives}]
3055 [@option{--keep-file-symbols}]
3056 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
3057 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3058 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
3059 @var{objfile}@dots{}
3060 @c man end
3061 @end smallexample
3062
3063 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
3064
3065 @sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
3066 @var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
3067 At least one object file must be given.
3068
3069 @command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
3070 rather than writing modified copies under different names.
3071
3072 @c man end
3073
3074 @c man begin OPTIONS strip
3075
3076 @table @env
3077 @item -F @var{bfdname}
3078 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3079 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
3080 code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
3081 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3082
3083 @item --help
3084 Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
3085
3086 @item --info
3087 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
3088
3089 @item -I @var{bfdname}
3090 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
3091 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
3092 code format @var{bfdname}.
3093 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3094
3095 @item -O @var{bfdname}
3096 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
3097 Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
3098 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3099
3100 @item -R @var{sectionname}
3101 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
3102 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file, in
3103 addition to whatever sections would otherwise be removed. This
3104 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
3105 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. The wildcard
3106 character @samp{*} may be given at the end of @var{sectionname}. If
3107 so, then any section starting with @var{sectionname} will be removed.
3108
3109 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
3110 point (!) then matching sections will not be removed even if an
3111 earlier use of @option{--remove-section} on the same command line
3112 would otherwise remove it. For example:
3113
3114 @smallexample
3115 --remove-section=.text.* --remove-section=!.text.foo
3116 @end smallexample
3117
3118 will remove all sections matching the pattern '.text.*', but will not
3119 remove the section '.text.foo'.
3120
3121 @item --remove-relocations=@var{sectionpattern}
3122 Remove relocations from the output file for any section matching
3123 @var{sectionpattern}. This option may be given more than once. Note
3124 that using this option inappropriately may make the output file
3125 unusable. Wildcard characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
3126 For example:
3127
3128 @smallexample
3129 --remove-relocations=.text.*
3130 @end smallexample
3131
3132 will remove the relocations for all sections matching the patter
3133 '.text.*'.
3134
3135 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
3136 point (!) then matching sections will not have their relocation
3137 removed even if an earlier use of @option{--remove-relocations} on the
3138 same command line would otherwise cause the relocations to be removed.
3139 For example:
3140
3141 @smallexample
3142 --remove-relocations=.text.* --remove-relocations=!.text.foo
3143 @end smallexample
3144
3145 will remove all relocations for sections matching the pattern
3146 '.text.*', but will not remove relocations for the section
3147 '.text.foo'.
3148
3149 @item -s
3150 @itemx --strip-all
3151 Remove all symbols.
3152
3153 @item -g
3154 @itemx -S
3155 @itemx -d
3156 @itemx --strip-debug
3157 Remove debugging symbols only.
3158
3159 @item --strip-dwo
3160 Remove the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections, leaving the
3161 remaining debugging sections and all symbols intact.
3162 See the description of this option in the @command{objcopy} section
3163 for more information.
3164
3165 @item --strip-unneeded
3166 Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
3167
3168 @item -K @var{symbolname}
3169 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
3170 When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
3171 normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
3172
3173 @item -N @var{symbolname}
3174 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
3175 Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
3176 given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
3177 @option{-K}.
3178
3179 @item -o @var{file}
3180 Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
3181 existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
3182 argument may be specified.
3183
3184 @item -p
3185 @itemx --preserve-dates
3186 Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
3187
3188 @item -D
3189 @itemx --enable-deterministic-archives
3190 @cindex deterministic archives
3191 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
3192 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When copying archive members
3193 and writing the archive index, use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps,
3194 and use consistent file modes for all files.
3195
3196 If @file{binutils} was configured with
3197 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
3198 It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, below.
3199
3200 @item -U
3201 @itemx --disable-deterministic-archives
3202 @cindex deterministic archives
3203 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
3204 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
3205 inverse of the @option{-D} option, above: when copying archive members
3206 and writing the archive index, use their actual UID, GID, timestamp,
3207 and file mode values.
3208
3209 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
3210 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
3211
3212 @item -w
3213 @itemx --wildcard
3214 Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
3215 line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
3216 square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
3217 name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
3218 point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
3219 For example:
3220
3221 @smallexample
3222 -w -K !foo -K fo*
3223 @end smallexample
3224
3225 would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
3226 ``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
3227
3228 @item -x
3229 @itemx --discard-all
3230 Remove non-global symbols.
3231
3232 @item -X
3233 @itemx --discard-locals
3234 Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
3235 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
3236
3237 @item --keep-file-symbols
3238 When stripping a file, perhaps with @option{--strip-debug} or
3239 @option{--strip-unneeded}, retain any symbols specifying source file names,
3240 which would otherwise get stripped.
3241
3242 @item --only-keep-debug
3243 Strip a file, emptying the contents of any sections that would not be
3244 stripped by @option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections
3245 intact. In ELF files, this preserves all the note sections in the
3246 output as well.
3247
3248 Note - the section headers of the stripped sections are preserved,
3249 including their sizes, but the contents of the section are discarded.
3250 The section headers are preserved so that other tools can match up the
3251 debuginfo file with the real executable, even if that executable has
3252 been relocated to a different address space.
3253
3254 The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
3255 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
3256 stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
3257 distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
3258 needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
3259 to create these files is as follows:
3260
3261 @enumerate
3262 @item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
3263 @code{foo} then...
3264 @item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
3265 create a file containing the debugging info.
3266 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
3267 stripped executable.
3268 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
3269 to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
3270 @end enumerate
3271
3272 Note---the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
3273 file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
3274 optional. You could instead do this:
3275
3276 @enumerate
3277 @item Link the executable as normal.
3278 @item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
3279 @item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
3280 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
3281 @end enumerate
3282
3283 i.e., the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
3284 full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
3285 @option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
3286
3287 Note---this switch is only intended for use on fully linked files. It
3288 does not make sense to use it on object files where the debugging
3289 information may be incomplete. Besides the gnu_debuglink feature
3290 currently only supports the presence of one filename containing
3291 debugging information, not multiple filenames on a one-per-object-file
3292 basis.
3293
3294 @item -V
3295 @itemx --version
3296 Show the version number for @command{strip}.
3297
3298 @item -v
3299 @itemx --verbose
3300 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
3301 archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
3302 @end table
3303
3304 @c man end
3305
3306 @ignore
3307 @c man begin SEEALSO strip
3308 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3309 @c man end
3310 @end ignore
3311
3312 @node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
3313 @chapter c++filt
3314
3315 @kindex c++filt
3316 @cindex demangling C++ symbols
3317
3318 @c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
3319
3320 @smallexample
3321 @c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
3322 c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscore}]
3323 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscore}]
3324 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
3325 [@option{-t}|@option{--types}]
3326 [@option{-i}|@option{--no-verbose}]
3327 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
3328 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
3329 @c man end
3330 @end smallexample
3331
3332 @c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
3333
3334 @kindex cxxfilt
3335 The C++ and Java languages provide function overloading, which means
3336 that you can write many functions with the same name, providing that
3337 each function takes parameters of different types. In order to be
3338 able to distinguish these similarly named functions C++ and Java
3339 encode them into a low-level assembler name which uniquely identifies
3340 each different version. This process is known as @dfn{mangling}. The
3341 @command{c++filt}
3342 @footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
3343 MS-DOS this program is named @command{CXXFILT}.}
3344 program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
3345 names into user-level names so that they can be read.
3346
3347 Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
3348 dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential mangled name.
3349 If the name decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the
3350 low-level name in the output, otherwise the original word is output.
3351 In this way you can pass an entire assembler source file, containing
3352 mangled names, through @command{c++filt} and see the same source file
3353 containing demangled names.
3354
3355 You can also use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols by
3356 passing them on the command line:
3357
3358 @example
3359 c++filt @var{symbol}
3360 @end example
3361
3362 If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
3363 names from the standard input instead. All the results are printed on
3364 the standard output. The difference between reading names from the
3365 command line versus reading names from the standard input is that
3366 command line arguments are expected to be just mangled names and no
3367 checking is performed to separate them from surrounding text. Thus
3368 for example:
3369
3370 @smallexample
3371 c++filt -n _Z1fv
3372 @end smallexample
3373
3374 will work and demangle the name to ``f()'' whereas:
3375
3376 @smallexample
3377 c++filt -n _Z1fv,
3378 @end smallexample
3379
3380 will not work. (Note the extra comma at the end of the mangled
3381 name which makes it invalid). This command however will work:
3382
3383 @smallexample
3384 echo _Z1fv, | c++filt -n
3385 @end smallexample
3386
3387 and will display ``f(),'', i.e., the demangled name followed by a
3388 trailing comma. This behaviour is because when the names are read
3389 from the standard input it is expected that they might be part of an
3390 assembler source file where there might be extra, extraneous
3391 characters trailing after a mangled name. For example:
3392
3393 @smallexample
3394 .type _Z1fv, @@function
3395 @end smallexample
3396
3397 @c man end
3398
3399 @c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
3400
3401 @table @env
3402 @item -_
3403 @itemx --strip-underscore
3404 On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
3405 of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
3406 name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
3407 @command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
3408
3409 @item -n
3410 @itemx --no-strip-underscore
3411 Do not remove the initial underscore.
3412
3413 @item -p
3414 @itemx --no-params
3415 When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
3416 the function's parameters.
3417
3418 @item -t
3419 @itemx --types
3420 Attempt to demangle types as well as function names. This is disabled
3421 by default since mangled types are normally only used internally in
3422 the compiler, and they can be confused with non-mangled names. For example,
3423 a function called ``a'' treated as a mangled type name would be
3424 demangled to ``signed char''.
3425
3426 @item -i
3427 @itemx --no-verbose
3428 Do not include implementation details (if any) in the demangled
3429 output.
3430
3431 @item -s @var{format}
3432 @itemx --format=@var{format}
3433 @command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
3434 different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
3435 method it uses:
3436
3437 @table @code
3438 @item auto
3439 Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
3440 @item gnu
3441 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
3442 @item lucid
3443 the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
3444 @item arm
3445 the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
3446 @item hp
3447 the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
3448 @item edg
3449 the one used by the EDG compiler
3450 @item gnu-v3
3451 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
3452 @item java
3453 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
3454 @item gnat
3455 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
3456 @end table
3457
3458 @item --help
3459 Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
3460
3461 @item --version
3462 Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
3463 @end table
3464
3465 @c man end
3466
3467 @ignore
3468 @c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
3469 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3470 @c man end
3471 @end ignore
3472
3473 @quotation
3474 @emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
3475 user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
3476 a command-line option may be required in the future to decode a name
3477 passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
3478
3479 @example
3480 c++filt @var{symbol}
3481 @end example
3482
3483 @noindent
3484 may in a future release become
3485
3486 @example
3487 c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
3488 @end example
3489 @end quotation
3490
3491 @node addr2line
3492 @chapter addr2line
3493
3494 @kindex addr2line
3495 @cindex address to file name and line number
3496
3497 @c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
3498
3499 @smallexample
3500 @c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
3501 addr2line [@option{-a}|@option{--addresses}]
3502 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
3503 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
3504 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
3505 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
3506 [@option{-i}|@option{--inlines}]
3507 [@option{-p}|@option{--pretty-print}]
3508 [@option{-j}|@option{--section=}@var{name}]
3509 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3510 [addr addr @dots{}]
3511 @c man end
3512 @end smallexample
3513
3514 @c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
3515
3516 @command{addr2line} translates addresses into file names and line numbers.
3517 Given an address in an executable or an offset in a section of a relocatable
3518 object, it uses the debugging information to figure out which file name and
3519 line number are associated with it.
3520
3521 The executable or relocatable object to use is specified with the @option{-e}
3522 option. The default is the file @file{a.out}. The section in the relocatable
3523 object to use is specified with the @option{-j} option.
3524
3525 @command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
3526
3527 In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
3528 and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
3529 address.
3530
3531 In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
3532 standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
3533 address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
3534 in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
3535
3536 The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. By default
3537 each input address generates one line of output.
3538
3539 Two options can generate additional lines before each
3540 @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line (in that order).
3541
3542 If the @option{-a} option is used then a line with the input address
3543 is displayed.
3544
3545 If the @option{-f} option is used, then a line with the
3546 @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} is displayed. This is the name of the function
3547 containing the address.
3548
3549 One option can generate additional lines after the
3550 @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line.
3551
3552 If the @option{-i} option is used and the code at the given address is
3553 present there because of inlining by the compiler then additional
3554 lines are displayed afterwards. One or two extra lines (if the
3555 @option{-f} option is used) are displayed for each inlined function.
3556
3557 Alternatively if the @option{-p} option is used then each input
3558 address generates a single, long, output line containing the address,
3559 the function name, the file name and the line number. If the
3560 @option{-i} option has also been used then any inlined functions will
3561 be displayed in the same manner, but on separate lines, and prefixed
3562 by the text @samp{(inlined by)}.
3563
3564 If the file name or function name can not be determined,
3565 @command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
3566 line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
3567
3568 @c man end
3569
3570 @c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
3571
3572 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3573 equivalent.
3574
3575 @table @env
3576 @item -a
3577 @itemx --addresses
3578 Display the address before the function name, file and line number
3579 information. The address is printed with a @samp{0x} prefix to easily
3580 identify it.
3581
3582 @item -b @var{bfdname}
3583 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3584 @cindex object code format
3585 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
3586 @var{bfdname}.
3587
3588 @item -C
3589 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
3590 @cindex demangling in objdump
3591 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
3592 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
3593 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
3594 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
3595 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
3596 for more information on demangling.
3597
3598 @item -e @var{filename}
3599 @itemx --exe=@var{filename}
3600 Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
3601 translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
3602
3603 @item -f
3604 @itemx --functions
3605 Display function names as well as file and line number information.
3606
3607 @item -s
3608 @itemx --basenames
3609 Display only the base of each file name.
3610
3611 @item -i
3612 @itemx --inlines
3613 If the address belongs to a function that was inlined, the source
3614 information for all enclosing scopes back to the first non-inlined
3615 function will also be printed. For example, if @code{main} inlines
3616 @code{callee1} which inlines @code{callee2}, and address is from
3617 @code{callee2}, the source information for @code{callee1} and @code{main}
3618 will also be printed.
3619
3620 @item -j
3621 @itemx --section
3622 Read offsets relative to the specified section instead of absolute addresses.
3623
3624 @item -p
3625 @itemx --pretty-print
3626 Make the output more human friendly: each location are printed on one line.
3627 If option @option{-i} is specified, lines for all enclosing scopes are
3628 prefixed with @samp{(inlined by)}.
3629 @end table
3630
3631 @c man end
3632
3633 @ignore
3634 @c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
3635 Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3636 @c man end
3637 @end ignore
3638
3639 @node nlmconv
3640 @chapter nlmconv
3641
3642 @command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
3643 Loadable Module.
3644
3645 @ignore
3646 @command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
3647 files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
3648 object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
3649 @command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
3650 format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
3651 with the above formats.}.
3652 @end ignore
3653
3654 @quotation
3655 @emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
3656 utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
3657 @end quotation
3658
3659 @c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
3660
3661 @smallexample
3662 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
3663 nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3664 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3665 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
3666 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
3667 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3668 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
3669 @c man end
3670 @end smallexample
3671
3672 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
3673
3674 @command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
3675 @var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
3676 reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
3677 on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
3678 @samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
3679 Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
3680 Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
3681 @command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
3682 @var{infile};
3683 @ifclear man
3684 see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
3685 @end ifclear
3686
3687 @command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
3688 more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
3689 file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
3690 In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
3691
3692 @c man end
3693
3694 @c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
3695
3696 @table @env
3697 @item -I @var{bfdname}
3698 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
3699 Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
3700 the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
3701 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3702
3703 @item -O @var{bfdname}
3704 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
3705 Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
3706 format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
3707 output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
3708 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3709
3710 @item -T @var{headerfile}
3711 @itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
3712 Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
3713 writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
3714 @samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
3715 Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
3716 from Novell, Inc.
3717
3718 @item -d
3719 @itemx --debug
3720 Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
3721
3722 @item -l @var{linker}
3723 @itemx --linker=@var{linker}
3724 Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
3725 relative pathname.
3726
3727 @item -h
3728 @itemx --help
3729 Prints a usage summary.
3730
3731 @item -V
3732 @itemx --version
3733 Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
3734 @end table
3735
3736 @c man end
3737
3738 @ignore
3739 @c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
3740 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3741 @c man end
3742 @end ignore
3743
3744 @node windmc
3745 @chapter windmc
3746
3747 @command{windmc} may be used to generator Windows message resources.
3748
3749 @quotation
3750 @emph{Warning:} @command{windmc} is not always built as part of the binary
3751 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
3752 @end quotation
3753
3754 @c man title windmc generates Windows message resources.
3755
3756 @smallexample
3757 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windmc
3758 windmc [options] input-file
3759 @c man end
3760 @end smallexample
3761
3762 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windmc
3763
3764 @command{windmc} reads message definitions from an input file (.mc) and
3765 translate them into a set of output files. The output files may be of
3766 four kinds:
3767
3768 @table @code
3769 @item h
3770 A C header file containing the message definitions.
3771
3772 @item rc
3773 A resource file compilable by the @command{windres} tool.
3774
3775 @item bin
3776 One or more binary files containing the resource data for a specific
3777 message language.
3778
3779 @item dbg
3780 A C include file that maps message id's to their symbolic name.
3781 @end table
3782
3783 The exact description of these different formats is available in
3784 documentation from Microsoft.
3785
3786 When @command{windmc} converts from the @code{mc} format to the @code{bin}
3787 format, @code{rc}, @code{h}, and optional @code{dbg} it is acting like the
3788 Windows Message Compiler.
3789
3790 @c man end
3791
3792 @c man begin OPTIONS windmc
3793
3794 @table @env
3795 @item -a
3796 @itemx --ascii_in
3797 Specifies that the input file specified is ASCII. This is the default
3798 behaviour.
3799
3800 @item -A
3801 @itemx --ascii_out
3802 Specifies that messages in the output @code{bin} files should be in ASCII
3803 format.
3804
3805 @item -b
3806 @itemx --binprefix
3807 Specifies that @code{bin} filenames should have to be prefixed by the
3808 basename of the source file.
3809
3810 @item -c
3811 @itemx --customflag
3812 Sets the customer bit in all message id's.
3813
3814 @item -C @var{codepage}
3815 @itemx --codepage_in @var{codepage}
3816 Sets the default codepage to be used to convert input file to UTF16. The
3817 default is ocdepage 1252.
3818
3819 @item -d
3820 @itemx --decimal_values
3821 Outputs the constants in the header file in decimal. Default is using
3822 hexadecimal output.
3823
3824 @item -e @var{ext}
3825 @itemx --extension @var{ext}
3826 The extension for the header file. The default is .h extension.
3827
3828 @item -F @var{target}
3829 @itemx --target @var{target}
3830 Specify the BFD format to use for a bin file as output. This
3831 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
3832 of supported targets. Normally @command{windmc} will use the default
3833 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
3834 @ifclear man
3835 @ref{Target Selection}.
3836 @end ifclear
3837
3838 @item -h @var{path}
3839 @itemx --headerdir @var{path}
3840 The target directory of the generated header file. The default is the
3841 current directory.
3842
3843 @item -H
3844 @itemx --help
3845 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3846
3847 @item -m @var{characters}
3848 @itemx --maxlength @var{characters}
3849 Instructs @command{windmc} to generate a warning if the length
3850 of any message exceeds the number specified.
3851
3852 @item -n
3853 @itemx --nullterminate
3854 Terminate message text in @code{bin} files by zero. By default they are
3855 terminated by CR/LF.
3856
3857 @item -o
3858 @itemx --hresult_use
3859 Not yet implemented. Instructs @code{windmc} to generate an OLE2 header
3860 file, using HRESULT definitions. Status codes are used if the flag is not
3861 specified.
3862
3863 @item -O @var{codepage}
3864 @itemx --codepage_out @var{codepage}
3865 Sets the default codepage to be used to output text files. The default
3866 is ocdepage 1252.
3867
3868 @item -r @var{path}
3869 @itemx --rcdir @var{path}
3870 The target directory for the generated @code{rc} script and the generated
3871 @code{bin} files that the resource compiler script includes. The default
3872 is the current directory.
3873
3874 @item -u
3875 @itemx --unicode_in
3876 Specifies that the input file is UTF16.
3877
3878 @item -U
3879 @itemx --unicode_out
3880 Specifies that messages in the output @code{bin} file should be in UTF16
3881 format. This is the default behaviour.
3882
3883 @item -v
3884 @item --verbose
3885 Enable verbose mode.
3886
3887 @item -V
3888 @item --version
3889 Prints the version number for @command{windmc}.
3890
3891 @item -x @var{path}
3892 @itemx --xdgb @var{path}
3893 The path of the @code{dbg} C include file that maps message id's to the
3894 symbolic name. No such file is generated without specifying the switch.
3895 @end table
3896
3897 @c man end
3898
3899 @ignore
3900 @c man begin SEEALSO windmc
3901 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3902 @c man end
3903 @end ignore
3904
3905 @node windres
3906 @chapter windres
3907
3908 @command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
3909
3910 @quotation
3911 @emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
3912 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
3913 @end quotation
3914
3915 @c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
3916
3917 @smallexample
3918 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
3919 windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
3920 @c man end
3921 @end smallexample
3922
3923 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
3924
3925 @command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
3926 an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
3927
3928 @table @code
3929 @item rc
3930 A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
3931
3932 @item res
3933 A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
3934
3935 @item coff
3936 A COFF object or executable.
3937 @end table
3938
3939 The exact description of these different formats is available in
3940 documentation from Microsoft.
3941
3942 When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
3943 format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
3944 @command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
3945 format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
3946
3947 When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
3948 but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
3949 @code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
3950 will instead include the file contents.
3951
3952 If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
3953 guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
3954 A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
3955 file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
3956 @code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
3957 @file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
3958
3959 If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
3960 in @code{rc} format to standard output.
3961
3962 The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
3963 to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
3964 your application. This will make the resources described in the
3965 @code{rc} file available to Windows.
3966
3967 @c man end
3968
3969 @c man begin OPTIONS windres
3970
3971 @table @env
3972 @item -i @var{filename}
3973 @itemx --input @var{filename}
3974 The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
3975 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
3976 name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
3977 read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
3978 standard input.
3979
3980 @item -o @var{filename}
3981 @itemx --output @var{filename}
3982 The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
3983 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
3984 for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
3985 non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
3986 @command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
3987 for compatibility with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
3988 accepted, but its use is not recommended.
3989
3990 @item -J @var{format}
3991 @itemx --input-format @var{format}
3992 The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
3993 @samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
3994 guess, as described above.
3995
3996 @item -O @var{format}
3997 @itemx --output-format @var{format}
3998 The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
3999 @samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
4000 @command{windres} will guess, as described above.
4001
4002 @item -F @var{target}
4003 @itemx --target @var{target}
4004 Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
4005 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
4006 of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
4007 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
4008 @ifclear man
4009 @ref{Target Selection}.
4010 @end ifclear
4011
4012 @item --preprocessor @var{program}
4013 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
4014 preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
4015 to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
4016 argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
4017
4018 @item --preprocessor-arg @var{option}
4019 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through
4020 the C preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify additional
4021 text to be passed to preprocessor on its command line.
4022 This option can be used multiple times to add multiple options to the
4023 preprocessor command line.
4024
4025 @item -I @var{directory}
4026 @itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
4027 Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4028 @command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
4029 option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
4030 files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
4031 matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as described in the @option{-J}
4032 option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
4033 @option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
4034 directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
4035 to disable the backward compatibility.
4036
4037 @item -D @var{target}
4038 @itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
4039 Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
4040 @code{rc} file.
4041
4042 @item -U @var{target}
4043 @itemx --undefine @var{sym}
4044 Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
4045 @code{rc} file.
4046
4047 @item -r
4048 Ignored for compatibility with rc.
4049
4050 @item -v
4051 Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
4052 didn't specify one.
4053
4054 @item -c @var{val}
4055 @item --codepage @var{val}
4056 Specify the default codepage to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4057 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal prefixed by @samp{0x} or decimal
4058 codepage code. The valid range is from zero up to 0xffff, but the
4059 validity of the codepage is host and configuration dependent.
4060
4061 @item -l @var{val}
4062 @item --language @var{val}
4063 Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4064 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
4065 the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
4066
4067 @item --use-temp-file
4068 Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
4069 the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
4070 on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
4071 Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
4072 go the console).
4073
4074 @item --no-use-temp-file
4075 Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
4076 This is the default behaviour.
4077
4078 @item -h
4079 @item --help
4080 Prints a usage summary.
4081
4082 @item -V
4083 @item --version
4084 Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
4085
4086 @item --yydebug
4087 If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
4088 this will turn on parser debugging.
4089 @end table
4090
4091 @c man end
4092
4093 @ignore
4094 @c man begin SEEALSO windres
4095 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4096 @c man end
4097 @end ignore
4098
4099 @node dlltool
4100 @chapter dlltool
4101 @cindex DLL
4102 @kindex dlltool
4103
4104 @command{dlltool} is used to create the files needed to create dynamic
4105 link libraries (DLLs) on systems which understand PE format image
4106 files such as Windows. A DLL contains an export table which contains
4107 information that the runtime loader needs to resolve references from a
4108 referencing program.
4109
4110 The export table is generated by this program by reading in a
4111 @file{.def} file or scanning the @file{.a} and @file{.o} files which
4112 will be in the DLL. A @file{.o} file can contain information in
4113 special @samp{.drectve} sections with export information.
4114
4115 @quotation
4116 @emph{Note:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the
4117 binary utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which
4118 support DLLs.
4119 @end quotation
4120
4121 @c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
4122
4123 @smallexample
4124 @c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
4125 dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
4126 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
4127 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
4128 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
4129 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
4130 [@option{-y}|@option{--output-delaylib} @var{library-file-name}]
4131 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
4132 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
4133 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
4134 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
4135 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
4136 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}]
4137 [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{--add-stdcall-underscore}]
4138 [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}] [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
4139 [@option{-p}|@option{--ext-prefix-alias} @var{prefix}]
4140 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}]
4141 [@option{--use-nul-prefixed-import-tables}]
4142 [@option{-I}|@option{--identify} @var{library-file-name}] [@option{--identify-strict}]
4143 [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
4144 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-t}|@option{--temp-prefix} @var{prefix}]
4145 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
4146 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
4147 [@option{--no-leading-underscore}] [@option{--leading-underscore}]
4148 [object-file @dots{}]
4149 @c man end
4150 @end smallexample
4151
4152 @c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
4153
4154 @command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
4155 @option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
4156 line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
4157 been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
4158 has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
4159 has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
4160 @option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
4161 dlltool.
4162
4163 When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
4164 to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
4165 these files.
4166
4167 The first file is a @file{.def} file which specifies which functions are
4168 exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
4169 is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
4170 to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
4171 will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
4172 those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
4173 put entries for them in the @file{.def} file it creates.
4174
4175 In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
4176 have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
4177 section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
4178 asm() operator:
4179
4180 @smallexample
4181 asm (".section .drectve");
4182 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
4183
4184 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
4185 @end smallexample
4186
4187 The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
4188 is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
4189 handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
4190 binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
4191 @command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
4192
4193 The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
4194 will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL (an `import
4195 library'). This file can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to
4196 dlltool when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
4197
4198 If the @option{-y} option is specified, dlltool generates a delay-import
4199 library that can be used instead of the normal import library to allow
4200 a program to link to the dll only as soon as an imported function is
4201 called for the first time. The resulting executable will need to be
4202 linked to the static delayimp library containing __delayLoadHelper2(),
4203 which in turn will import LoadLibraryA and GetProcAddress from kernel32.
4204
4205 @command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
4206 exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
4207 and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
4208 used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
4209 and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
4210 assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
4211 these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
4212 specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
4213 temporary object files it used to build the library.
4214
4215 Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
4216 also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
4217 that uses that DLL:
4218
4219 @smallexample
4220 gcc -c dll.c
4221 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
4222 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
4223 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
4224 @end smallexample
4225
4226
4227 @command{dlltool} may also be used to query an existing import library
4228 to determine the name of the DLL to which it is associated. See the
4229 description of the @option{-I} or @option{--identify} option.
4230
4231 @c man end
4232
4233 @c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
4234
4235 The command line options have the following meanings:
4236
4237 @table @env
4238
4239 @item -d @var{filename}
4240 @itemx --input-def @var{filename}
4241 @cindex input .def file
4242 Specifies the name of a @file{.def} file to be read in and processed.
4243
4244 @item -b @var{filename}
4245 @itemx --base-file @var{filename}
4246 @cindex base files
4247 Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
4248 contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
4249 exports file generated by dlltool.
4250
4251 @item -e @var{filename}
4252 @itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
4253 Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
4254
4255 @item -z @var{filename}
4256 @itemx --output-def @var{filename}
4257 Specifies the name of the @file{.def} file to be created by dlltool.
4258
4259 @item -l @var{filename}
4260 @itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
4261 Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
4262
4263 @item -y @var{filename}
4264 @itemx --output-delaylib @var{filename}
4265 Specifies the name of the delay-import library file to be created by dlltool.
4266
4267 @item --export-all-symbols
4268 Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
4269 files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
4270 are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
4271 option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
4272 @option{--exclude-symbols} option.
4273
4274 @item --no-export-all-symbols
4275 Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input @file{.def} file or in
4276 @samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
4277 behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
4278 attributes in the source code.
4279
4280 @item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
4281 Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
4282 separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
4283 contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
4284 @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
4285
4286 @item --no-default-excludes
4287 When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
4288 exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
4289 exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
4290 @samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
4291 to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
4292 when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
4293
4294 @item -S @var{path}
4295 @itemx --as @var{path}
4296 Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
4297 to create the exports file.
4298
4299 @item -f @var{options}
4300 @itemx --as-flags @var{options}
4301 Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
4302 assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
4303 the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
4304 and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
4305 occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
4306 pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
4307 double quotes.
4308
4309 @item -D @var{name}
4310 @itemx --dll-name @var{name}
4311 Specifies the name to be stored in the @file{.def} file as the name of
4312 the DLL when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not
4313 present, then the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be
4314 used as the name of the DLL.
4315
4316 @item -m @var{machine}
4317 @itemx -machine @var{machine}
4318 Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
4319 built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
4320 it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
4321 normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
4322 contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
4323
4324 @item -a
4325 @itemx --add-indirect
4326 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4327 should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
4328 referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
4329 means!
4330
4331 @item -U
4332 @itemx --add-underscore
4333 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4334 should prepend an underscore to the names of @emph{all} exported symbols.
4335
4336 @item --no-leading-underscore
4337 @item --leading-underscore
4338 Specifies whether standard symbol should be forced to be prefixed, or
4339 not.
4340
4341 @item --add-stdcall-underscore
4342 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4343 should prepend an underscore to the names of exported @emph{stdcall}
4344 functions. Variable names and non-stdcall function names are not modified.
4345 This option is useful when creating GNU-compatible import libs for third
4346 party DLLs that were built with MS-Windows tools.
4347
4348 @item -k
4349 @itemx --kill-at
4350 Specifies that @samp{@@<number>} suffixes should be omitted from the names
4351 of stdcall functions that will be imported from the DLL. This is
4352 useful when creating an import library for a DLL which exports stdcall
4353 functions but without the usual @samp{@@<number>} symbol name suffix.
4354
4355 This does not change the naming of symbols provided by the import library
4356 to programs linked against it, but only the entries in the import table
4357 (ie the .idata section).
4358
4359 @item -A
4360 @itemx --add-stdcall-alias
4361 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4362 should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
4363 in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
4364
4365 @item -p
4366 @itemx --ext-prefix-alias @var{prefix}
4367 Causes @command{dlltool} to create external aliases for all DLL
4368 imports with the specified prefix. The aliases are created for both
4369 external and import symbols with no leading underscore.
4370
4371 @item -x
4372 @itemx --no-idata4
4373 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4374 files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
4375 with certain operating systems.
4376
4377 @item --use-nul-prefixed-import-tables
4378 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4379 files it should prefix the @code{.idata4} and @code{.idata5} by zero an
4380 element. This emulates old gnu import library generation of
4381 @code{dlltool}. By default this option is turned off.
4382
4383 @item -c
4384 @itemx --no-idata5
4385 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4386 files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
4387 with certain operating systems.
4388
4389 @item -I @var{filename}
4390 @itemx --identify @var{filename}
4391 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should inspect the import library
4392 indicated by @var{filename} and report, on @code{stdout}, the name(s)
4393 of the associated DLL(s). This can be performed in addition to any
4394 other operations indicated by the other options and arguments.
4395 @command{dlltool} fails if the import library does not exist or is not
4396 actually an import library. See also @option{--identify-strict}.
4397
4398 @item --identify-strict
4399 Modifies the behavior of the @option{--identify} option, such
4400 that an error is reported if @var{filename} is associated with
4401 more than one DLL.
4402
4403 @item -i
4404 @itemx --interwork
4405 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
4406 file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
4407 between ARM and Thumb code.
4408
4409 @item -n
4410 @itemx --nodelete
4411 Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
4412 create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
4413 also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
4414 file.
4415
4416 @item -t @var{prefix}
4417 @itemx --temp-prefix @var{prefix}
4418 Makes @command{dlltool} use @var{prefix} when constructing the names of
4419 temporary assembler and object files. By default, the temp file prefix
4420 is generated from the pid.
4421
4422 @item -v
4423 @itemx --verbose
4424 Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
4425
4426 @item -h
4427 @itemx --help
4428 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
4429
4430 @item -V
4431 @itemx --version
4432 Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
4433
4434 @end table
4435
4436 @c man end
4437
4438 @menu
4439 * def file format:: The format of the dlltool @file{.def} file
4440 @end menu
4441
4442 @node def file format
4443 @section The format of the @command{dlltool} @file{.def} file
4444
4445 A @file{.def} file contains any number of the following commands:
4446
4447 @table @asis
4448
4449 @item @code{NAME} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
4450 The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.exe}.
4451
4452 @item @code{LIBRARY} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
4453 The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.dll}.
4454 Note: If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote. Otherwise
4455 this will fail due a necessary hack for libtool (see PR binutils/13710 for more
4456 details).
4457
4458 @item @code{EXPORTS ( ( (} @var{name1} @code{[ = } @var{name2} @code{] ) | ( } @var{name1} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) ) [ == } @var{its_name} @code{]}
4459 @item @code{[} @var{integer} @code{] [ NONAME ] [ CONSTANT ] [ DATA ] [ PRIVATE ] ) *}
4460 Declares @var{name1} as an exported symbol from the DLL, with optional
4461 ordinal number @var{integer}, or declares @var{name1} as an alias
4462 (forward) of the function @var{external-name} in the DLL.
4463 If @var{its_name} is specified, this name is used as string in export table.
4464 @var{module-name}.
4465 Note: The @code{EXPORTS} has to be the last command in .def file, as keywords
4466 are treated - beside @code{LIBRARY} - as simple name-identifiers.
4467 If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote it.
4468
4469 @item @code{IMPORTS ( (} @var{internal-name} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{integer} @code{) | [} @var{internal-name} @code{= ]} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) [ == ) @var{its_name} @code{]} *}
4470 Declares that @var{external-name} or the exported function whose
4471 ordinal number is @var{integer} is to be imported from the file
4472 @var{module-name}. If @var{internal-name} is specified then this is
4473 the name that the imported function will be referred to in the body of
4474 the DLL.
4475 If @var{its_name} is specified, this name is used as string in import table.
4476 Note: The @code{IMPORTS} has to be the last command in .def file, as keywords
4477 are treated - beside @code{LIBRARY} - as simple name-identifiers.
4478 If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote it.
4479
4480 @item @code{DESCRIPTION} @var{string}
4481 Puts @var{string} into the output @file{.exp} file in the
4482 @code{.rdata} section.
4483
4484 @item @code{STACKSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
4485 @item @code{HEAPSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
4486 Generates @code{--stack} or @code{--heap}
4487 @var{number-reserve},@var{number-commit} in the output @code{.drectve}
4488 section. The linker will see this and act upon it.
4489
4490 @item @code{CODE} @var{attr} @code{+}
4491 @item @code{DATA} @var{attr} @code{+}
4492 @item @code{SECTIONS (} @var{section-name} @var{attr}@code{ + ) *}
4493 Generates @code{--attr} @var{section-name} @var{attr} in the output
4494 @code{.drectve} section, where @var{attr} is one of @code{READ},
4495 @code{WRITE}, @code{EXECUTE} or @code{SHARED}. The linker will see
4496 this and act upon it.
4497
4498 @end table
4499
4500 @ignore
4501 @c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
4502 The Info pages for @file{binutils}.
4503 @c man end
4504 @end ignore
4505
4506 @node readelf
4507 @chapter readelf
4508
4509 @cindex ELF file information
4510 @kindex readelf
4511
4512 @c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
4513
4514 @smallexample
4515 @c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
4516 readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
4517 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
4518 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
4519 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
4520 [@option{-g}|@option{--section-groups}]
4521 [@option{-t}|@option{--section-details}]
4522 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
4523 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
4524 [@option{--dyn-syms}]
4525 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
4526 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
4527 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
4528 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
4529 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
4530 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
4531 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
4532 [@option{-x} <number or name>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number or name>]
4533 [@option{-p} <number or name>|@option{--string-dump=}<number or name>]
4534 [@option{-R} <number or name>|@option{--relocated-dump=}<number or name>]
4535 [@option{-z}|@option{--decompress}]
4536 [@option{-c}|@option{--archive-index}]
4537 [@option{-w[lLiaprmfFsoRt]}|
4538 @option{--debug-dump}[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index]]
4539 [@option{--dwarf-depth=@var{n}}]
4540 [@option{--dwarf-start=@var{n}}]
4541 [@option{-I}|@option{--histogram}]
4542 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
4543 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
4544 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
4545 @var{elffile}@dots{}
4546 @c man end
4547 @end smallexample
4548
4549 @c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
4550
4551 @command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
4552 files. The options control what particular information to display.
4553
4554 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
4555 64-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
4556
4557 This program performs a similar function to @command{objdump} but it
4558 goes into more detail and it exists independently of the @sc{bfd}
4559 library, so if there is a bug in @sc{bfd} then readelf will not be
4560 affected.
4561
4562 @c man end
4563
4564 @c man begin OPTIONS readelf
4565
4566 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
4567 equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
4568 given.
4569
4570 @table @env
4571 @item -a
4572 @itemx --all
4573 Equivalent to specifying @option{--file-header},
4574 @option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
4575 @option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
4576 @option{--version-info}.
4577
4578 @item -h
4579 @itemx --file-header
4580 @cindex ELF file header information
4581 Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
4582 file.
4583
4584 @item -l
4585 @itemx --program-headers
4586 @itemx --segments
4587 @cindex ELF program header information
4588 @cindex ELF segment information
4589 Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
4590 has any.
4591
4592 @item -S
4593 @itemx --sections
4594 @itemx --section-headers
4595 @cindex ELF section information
4596 Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
4597 has any.
4598
4599 @item -g
4600 @itemx --section-groups
4601 @cindex ELF section group information
4602 Displays the information contained in the file's section groups, if it
4603 has any.
4604
4605 @item -t
4606 @itemx --section-details
4607 @cindex ELF section information
4608 Displays the detailed section information. Implies @option{-S}.
4609
4610 @item -s
4611 @itemx --symbols
4612 @itemx --syms
4613 @cindex ELF symbol table information
4614 Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
4615
4616 @item --dyn-syms
4617 @cindex ELF dynamic symbol table information
4618 Displays the entries in dynamic symbol table section of the file, if it
4619 has one.
4620
4621 @item -e
4622 @itemx --headers
4623 Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
4624
4625 @item -n
4626 @itemx --notes
4627 @cindex ELF notes
4628 Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.
4629
4630 @item -r
4631 @itemx --relocs
4632 @cindex ELF reloc information
4633 Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
4634
4635 @item -u
4636 @itemx --unwind
4637 @cindex unwind information
4638 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
4639 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files, as well as ARM unwind tables
4640 (@code{.ARM.exidx} / @code{.ARM.extab}) are currently supported.
4641
4642 @item -d
4643 @itemx --dynamic
4644 @cindex ELF dynamic section information
4645 Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
4646
4647 @item -V
4648 @itemx --version-info
4649 @cindex ELF version sections information
4650 Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
4651 exist.
4652
4653 @item -A
4654 @itemx --arch-specific
4655 Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
4656 is any.
4657
4658 @item -D
4659 @itemx --use-dynamic
4660 When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
4661 symbol hash tables in the file's dynamic section, rather than the
4662 symbol table sections.
4663
4664 @item -x <number or name>
4665 @itemx --hex-dump=<number or name>
4666 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal bytes.
4667 A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
4668 any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.
4669
4670 @item -R <number or name>
4671 @itemx --relocated-dump=<number or name>
4672 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal
4673 bytes. A number identifies a particular section by index in the
4674 section table; any other string identifies all sections with that name
4675 in the object file. The contents of the section will be relocated
4676 before they are displayed.
4677
4678 @item -p <number or name>
4679 @itemx --string-dump=<number or name>
4680 Displays the contents of the indicated section as printable strings.
4681 A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
4682 any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.
4683
4684 @item -z
4685 @itemx --decompress
4686 Requests that the section(s) being dumped by @option{x}, @option{R} or
4687 @option{p} options are decompressed before being displayed. If the
4688 section(s) are not compressed then they are displayed as is.
4689
4690 @item -c
4691 @itemx --archive-index
4692 @cindex Archive file symbol index information
4693 Displays the file symbol index information contained in the header part
4694 of binary archives. Performs the same function as the @option{t}
4695 command to @command{ar}, but without using the BFD library. @xref{ar}.
4696
4697 @item -w[lLiaprmfFsoRt]
4698 @itemx --debug-dump[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index]
4699 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
4700 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
4701 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
4702
4703 Note that there is no single letter option to display the content of
4704 trace sections or .gdb_index.
4705
4706 Note: the @option{=decodedline} option will display the interpreted
4707 contents of a .debug_line section whereas the @option{=rawline} option
4708 dumps the contents in a raw format.
4709
4710 Note: the @option{=frames-interp} option will display the interpreted
4711 contents of a .debug_frame section whereas the @option{=frames} option
4712 dumps the contents in a raw format.
4713
4714 Note: the output from the @option{=info} option can also be affected
4715 by the options @option{--dwarf-depth} and @option{--dwarf-start}.
4716
4717 @item --dwarf-depth=@var{n}
4718 Limit the dump of the @code{.debug_info} section to @var{n} children.
4719 This is only useful with @option{--debug-dump=info}. The default is
4720 to print all DIEs; the special value 0 for @var{n} will also have this
4721 effect.
4722
4723 With a non-zero value for @var{n}, DIEs at or deeper than @var{n}
4724 levels will not be printed. The range for @var{n} is zero-based.
4725
4726 @item --dwarf-start=@var{n}
4727 Print only DIEs beginning with the DIE numbered @var{n}. This is only
4728 useful with @option{--debug-dump=info}.
4729
4730 If specified, this option will suppress printing of any header
4731 information and all DIEs before the DIE numbered @var{n}. Only
4732 siblings and children of the specified DIE will be printed.
4733
4734 This can be used in conjunction with @option{--dwarf-depth}.
4735
4736 @item -I
4737 @itemx --histogram
4738 Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
4739 of the symbol tables.
4740
4741 @item -v
4742 @itemx --version
4743 Display the version number of readelf.
4744
4745 @item -W
4746 @itemx --wide
4747 Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
4748 @command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
4749 64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
4750 @command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
4751 single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
4752
4753 @item -H
4754 @itemx --help
4755 Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
4756
4757 @end table
4758
4759 @c man end
4760
4761 @ignore
4762 @c man begin SEEALSO readelf
4763 objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4764 @c man end
4765 @end ignore
4766
4767 @node elfedit
4768 @chapter elfedit
4769
4770 @cindex Update ELF header
4771 @kindex elfedit
4772
4773 @c man title elfedit Update the ELF header of ELF files.
4774
4775 @smallexample
4776 @c man begin SYNOPSIS elfedit
4777 elfedit [@option{--input-mach=}@var{machine}]
4778 [@option{--input-type=}@var{type}]
4779 [@option{--input-osabi=}@var{osabi}]
4780 @option{--output-mach=}@var{machine}
4781 @option{--output-type=}@var{type}
4782 @option{--output-osabi=}@var{osabi}
4783 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
4784 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}]
4785 @var{elffile}@dots{}
4786 @c man end
4787 @end smallexample
4788
4789 @c man begin DESCRIPTION elfedit
4790
4791 @command{elfedit} updates the ELF header of ELF files which have
4792 the matching ELF machine and file types. The options control how and
4793 which fields in the ELF header should be updated.
4794
4795 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the ELF files to be updated. 32-bit and
4796 64-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
4797 @c man end
4798
4799 @c man begin OPTIONS elfedit
4800
4801 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
4802 equivalent. At least one of the @option{--output-mach},
4803 @option{--output-type} and @option{--output-osabi} options must be given.
4804
4805 @table @env
4806
4807 @item --input-mach=@var{machine}
4808 Set the matching input ELF machine type to @var{machine}. If
4809 @option{--input-mach} isn't specified, it will match any ELF
4810 machine types.
4811
4812 The supported ELF machine types are, @var{i386}, @var{IAMCU}, @var{L1OM},
4813 @var{K1OM} and @var{x86-64}.
4814
4815 @item --output-mach=@var{machine}
4816 Change the ELF machine type in the ELF header to @var{machine}. The
4817 supported ELF machine types are the same as @option{--input-mach}.
4818
4819 @item --input-type=@var{type}
4820 Set the matching input ELF file type to @var{type}. If
4821 @option{--input-type} isn't specified, it will match any ELF file types.
4822
4823 The supported ELF file types are, @var{rel}, @var{exec} and @var{dyn}.
4824
4825 @item --output-type=@var{type}
4826 Change the ELF file type in the ELF header to @var{type}. The
4827 supported ELF types are the same as @option{--input-type}.
4828
4829 @item --input-osabi=@var{osabi}
4830 Set the matching input ELF file OSABI to @var{osabi}. If
4831 @option{--input-osabi} isn't specified, it will match any ELF OSABIs.
4832
4833 The supported ELF OSABIs are, @var{none}, @var{HPUX}, @var{NetBSD},
4834 @var{GNU}, @var{Linux} (alias for @var{GNU}),
4835 @var{Solaris}, @var{AIX}, @var{Irix},
4836 @var{FreeBSD}, @var{TRU64}, @var{Modesto}, @var{OpenBSD}, @var{OpenVMS},
4837 @var{NSK}, @var{AROS} and @var{FenixOS}.
4838
4839 @item --output-osabi=@var{osabi}
4840 Change the ELF OSABI in the ELF header to @var{osabi}. The
4841 supported ELF OSABI are the same as @option{--input-osabi}.
4842
4843 @item -v
4844 @itemx --version
4845 Display the version number of @command{elfedit}.
4846
4847 @item -h
4848 @itemx --help
4849 Display the command line options understood by @command{elfedit}.
4850
4851 @end table
4852
4853 @c man end
4854
4855 @ignore
4856 @c man begin SEEALSO elfedit
4857 readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4858 @c man end
4859 @end ignore
4860
4861 @node Common Options
4862 @chapter Common Options
4863
4864 The following command-line options are supported by all of the
4865 programs described in this manual.
4866
4867 @c man begin OPTIONS
4868 @table @env
4869 @include at-file.texi
4870 @c man end
4871
4872 @item --help
4873 Display the command-line options supported by the program.
4874
4875 @item --version
4876 Display the version number of the program.
4877
4878 @c man begin OPTIONS
4879 @end table
4880 @c man end
4881
4882 @node Selecting the Target System
4883 @chapter Selecting the Target System
4884
4885 You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
4886 binary file utilities, each in several ways:
4887
4888 @itemize @bullet
4889 @item
4890 the target
4891
4892 @item
4893 the architecture
4894 @end itemize
4895
4896 In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
4897 order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
4898 listed later.
4899
4900 The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
4901 programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
4902 @option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
4903 values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
4904 once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
4905 with the same type as the target system).
4906
4907 @menu
4908 * Target Selection::
4909 * Architecture Selection::
4910 @end menu
4911
4912 @node Target Selection
4913 @section Target Selection
4914
4915 A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
4916 supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
4917 A target selection may also have variations for different operating
4918 systems or architectures.
4919
4920 The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
4921 (the first column of output contains the relevant information).
4922
4923 Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
4924 @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
4925
4926 You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
4927 the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
4928 target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
4929 fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
4930 running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
4931 sources.
4932
4933 Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
4934 @samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
4935
4936 @subheading @command{objdump} Target
4937
4938 Ways to specify:
4939
4940 @enumerate
4941 @item
4942 command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
4943
4944 @item
4945 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4946
4947 @item
4948 deduced from the input file
4949 @end enumerate
4950
4951 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
4952
4953 Ways to specify:
4954
4955 @enumerate
4956 @item
4957 command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
4958
4959 @item
4960 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4961
4962 @item
4963 deduced from the input file
4964 @end enumerate
4965
4966 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
4967
4968 Ways to specify:
4969
4970 @enumerate
4971 @item
4972 command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
4973
4974 @item
4975 the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
4976
4977 @item
4978 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4979
4980 @item
4981 deduced from the input file
4982 @end enumerate
4983
4984 @subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
4985
4986 Ways to specify:
4987
4988 @enumerate
4989 @item
4990 command line option: @option{--target}
4991
4992 @item
4993 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4994
4995 @item
4996 deduced from the input file
4997 @end enumerate
4998
4999 @node Architecture Selection
5000 @section Architecture Selection
5001
5002 An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
5003 to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
5004 processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
5005
5006 The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
5007 second column contains the relevant information).
5008
5009 Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
5010
5011 @subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
5012
5013 Ways to specify:
5014
5015 @enumerate
5016 @item
5017 command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
5018
5019 @item
5020 deduced from the input file
5021 @end enumerate
5022
5023 @subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
5024
5025 Ways to specify:
5026
5027 @enumerate
5028 @item
5029 deduced from the input file
5030 @end enumerate
5031
5032 @node Reporting Bugs
5033 @chapter Reporting Bugs
5034 @cindex bugs
5035 @cindex reporting bugs
5036
5037 Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
5038 reliable.
5039
5040 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
5041 it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
5042 to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
5043 utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
5044 maintenance.
5045
5046 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
5047 information that enables us to fix the bug.
5048
5049 @menu
5050 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
5051 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
5052 @end menu
5053
5054 @node Bug Criteria
5055 @section Have You Found a Bug?
5056 @cindex bug criteria
5057
5058 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
5059
5060 @itemize @bullet
5061 @cindex fatal signal
5062 @cindex crash
5063 @item
5064 If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
5065 a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
5066
5067 @cindex error on valid input
5068 @item
5069 If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
5070 bug.
5071
5072 @item
5073 If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
5074 improvement are welcome in any case.
5075 @end itemize
5076
5077 @node Bug Reporting
5078 @section How to Report Bugs
5079 @cindex bug reports
5080 @cindex bugs, reporting
5081
5082 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
5083 products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
5084 organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
5085
5086 You can find contact information for many support companies and
5087 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
5088 distribution.
5089
5090 @ifset BUGURL
5091 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
5092 utilities to @value{BUGURL}.
5093 @end ifset
5094
5095 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
5096 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
5097 fact or leave it out, state it!
5098
5099 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
5100 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
5101 assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
5102 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
5103 a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
5104 that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
5105 different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
5106 doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
5107 specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
5108 and the most helpful.
5109
5110 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
5111 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
5112 that the bug has not been reported previously.
5113
5114 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
5115 bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
5116 respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
5117 You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
5118
5119 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
5120
5121 @itemize @bullet
5122 @item
5123 The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
5124 with the @option{--version} argument.
5125
5126 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
5127 the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
5128
5129 @item
5130 Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
5131 made to the @code{BFD} library.
5132
5133 @item
5134 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
5135 version number.
5136
5137 @item
5138 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
5139 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
5140
5141 @item
5142 The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
5143 guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
5144 of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
5145
5146 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
5147 and then we might not encounter the bug.
5148
5149 @item
5150 A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
5151 bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
5152 generally most helpful to send the actual object files.
5153
5154 If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
5155 (e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
5156 may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
5157 this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
5158 whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
5159 @command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
5160
5161 @item
5162 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
5163 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
5164
5165 Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
5166 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
5167 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
5168 a chance to make a mistake.
5169
5170 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
5171 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
5172 copy of the utility is out of sync, or you have encountered a bug in
5173 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
5174 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
5175 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
5176 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
5177 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
5178
5179 @item
5180 If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
5181 generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
5182 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
5183 wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
5184 context, not by line number.
5185
5186 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
5187 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
5188 @end itemize
5189
5190 Here are some things that are not necessary:
5191
5192 @itemize @bullet
5193 @item
5194 A description of the envelope of the bug.
5195
5196 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
5197 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
5198 changes will not affect it.
5199
5200 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
5201 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
5202 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
5203 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
5204
5205 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
5206 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
5207 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
5208 less time, and so on.
5209
5210 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
5211 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
5212
5213 @item
5214 A patch for the bug.
5215
5216 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
5217 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
5218 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
5219 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
5220
5221 Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
5222 very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
5223 certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
5224 will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
5225 the bug is fixed.
5226
5227 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
5228 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
5229 help us to understand.
5230
5231 @item
5232 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
5233
5234 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
5235 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
5236 @end itemize
5237
5238 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5239 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5240
5241 @include fdl.texi
5242
5243 @node Binutils Index
5244 @unnumbered Binutils Index
5245
5246 @printindex cp
5247
5248 @bye
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