Update description of the -plugin option used by the linker, ar and nm.
[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{} 1991-2017 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 @end table
396
397 A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
398 keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
399
400 @table @samp
401 @item a
402 @cindex relative placement in archive
403 Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
404 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
405 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
406 @var{archive} specification.
407
408 @item b
409 Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
410 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
411 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
412 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
413
414 @item c
415 @cindex creating archives
416 @emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
417 created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
418 issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
419 using this modifier.
420
421 @item D
422 @cindex deterministic archives
423 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
424 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When adding files and the archive
425 index use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps, and use consistent file modes
426 for all files. When this option is used, if @command{ar} is used with
427 identical options and identical input files, multiple runs will create
428 identical output files regardless of the input files' owners, groups,
429 file modes, or modification times.
430
431 If @file{binutils} was configured with
432 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
433 It can be disabled with the @samp{U} modifier, below.
434
435 @item f
436 Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
437 names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
438 not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
439 this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
440 names when putting them in the archive.
441
442 @item i
443 Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
444 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
445 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
446 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
447
448 @item l
449 This modifier is accepted but not used.
450 @c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
451 @c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
452
453 @item N
454 Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
455 entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
456 @var{count} of the given name from the archive.
457
458 @item o
459 @cindex dates in archive
460 Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
461 you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
462 are stamped with the time of extraction.
463
464 @item P
465 Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
466 @command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
467 are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
468 will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
469 name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
470 archive created by another tool.
471
472 @item s
473 @cindex writing archive index
474 Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
475 even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
476 flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
477 archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
478
479 @item S
480 @cindex not writing archive index
481 Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
482 large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
483 with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
484 @samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
485 @samp{ranlib} on the archive.
486
487 @item T
488 @cindex creating thin archive
489 Make the specified @var{archive} a @emph{thin} archive. If it already
490 exists and is a regular archive, the existing members must be present
491 in the same directory as @var{archive}.
492
493 @item u
494 @cindex updating an archive
495 Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
496 listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
497 of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
498 names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
499 operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
500 not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
501 advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
502
503 @item U
504 @cindex deterministic archives
505 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
506 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the inverse
507 of the @samp{D} modifier, above: added files and the archive index will
508 get their actual UID, GID, timestamp, and file mode values.
509
510 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
511 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
512
513 @item v
514 This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
515 operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
516 when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
517
518 @item V
519 This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
520 @end table
521
522 The @command{ar} program also supports some command line options which
523 are neither modifiers nor actions, but which do change its behaviour
524 in specific ways:
525
526 @table @samp
527 @item --help
528 Displays the list of command line options supported by @command{ar}
529 and then exits.
530
531 @item --version
532 Displays the version information of @command{ar} and then exits.
533
534 @item -X32_64
535 @command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
536 compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
537 default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any
538 of the other @samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support
539 @option{-X32} which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
540
541 @item --plugin @var{name}
542 @cindex plugins
543 The optional command line switch @option{--plugin @var{name}} causes
544 @command{ar} to load the plugin called @var{name} which adds support
545 for more file formats, including object files with link-time
546 optimization information.
547
548 This option is only available if the toolchain has been built with
549 plugin support enabled.
550
551 If @option{--plugin} is not provided, but plugin support has been
552 enabled then @command{ar} iterates over the files in
553 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} in alphabetic order and the first
554 plugin that claims the object in question is used.
555
556 Please note that this plugin search directory is @emph{not} the one
557 used by @command{ld}'s @option{-plugin} option. In order to make
558 @command{ar} use the linker plugin it must be copied into the
559 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} directory. For GCC based compilations
560 the linker plugin is called @file{liblto_plugin.so.0.0.0}. For Clang
561 based compilations it is called @file{LLVMgold.so}. The GCC plugin
562 is always backwards compatible with earlier versions, so it is
563 sufficient to just copy the newest one.
564
565 @item --target @var{target}
566 The optional command line switch @option{--target @var{bfdname}}
567 specifies that the archive members are in an object code format
568 different from your system's default format. See
569 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
570 @end table
571 @c man end
572
573 @ignore
574 @c man begin SEEALSO ar
575 nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
576 @c man end
577 @end ignore
578
579 @node ar scripts
580 @section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
581
582 @smallexample
583 ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
584 @end smallexample
585
586 @cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
587 @cindex scripts, @command{ar}
588 If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
589 can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
590 form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
591 directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
592 input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
593 errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
594 issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
595 on any error.
596
597 The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
598 to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
599 over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
600 transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
601 written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
602
603 The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
604 @itemize @bullet
605 @item
606 commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
607 is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
608 shown in upper case for clarity.
609
610 @item
611 a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
612 line.
613
614 @item
615 empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
616
617 @item
618 comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
619 or @samp{;} is ignored.
620
621 @item
622 Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
623 command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
624 blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
625
626 @item
627 @samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
628 at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
629 of the current command.
630 @end itemize
631
632 Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
633 @command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
634
635 @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
636 a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
637
638 @code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
639 to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
640 archive.
641
642 @table @code
643 @item ADDLIB @var{archive}
644 @itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
645 Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
646 @var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
647
648 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
649
650 @item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
651 @c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
652 @c else like "ar q..."
653 Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
654
655 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
656
657 @item CLEAR
658 Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
659 any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
660 effect) even if no current archive is specified.
661
662 @item CREATE @var{archive}
663 Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
664 other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
665 is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
666 You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
667 existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
668
669 @item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
670 Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
671 @samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
672
673 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
674
675 @item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
676 @itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
677 List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
678 command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
679 output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
680 @var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
681 @samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
682
683 Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
684 specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
685 output to that file.
686
687 @item END
688 Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
689 completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
690 changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
691 changes are lost.
692
693 @item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
694 Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
695 into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
696 @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
697
698 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
699
700 @ignore
701 @c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
702 @item FULLDIR
703
704 @item HELP
705 @end ignore
706
707 @item LIST
708 Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
709 regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
710 tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
711 enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
712
713 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
714
715 @item OPEN @var{archive}
716 Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
717 many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
718 will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
719
720 @item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
721 In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
722 the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
723 To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
724 the current archive, must exist.
725
726 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
727
728 @item VERBOSE
729 Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
730 When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
731 @samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
732
733 @item SAVE
734 Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
735 file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
736 command.
737
738 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
739
740 @end table
741
742 @iftex
743 @node ld
744 @chapter ld
745 @cindex linker
746 @kindex ld
747 The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
748 @xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
749 @end iftex
750
751 @node nm
752 @chapter nm
753 @cindex symbols
754 @kindex nm
755
756 @c man title nm list symbols from object files
757
758 @smallexample
759 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
760 nm [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}] [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}]
761 [@option{-B}|@option{--format=bsd}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
762 [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}] [@option{-f}@var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
763 [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}] [@option{-h}|@option{--help}]
764 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}] [@option{-n}|@option{-v}|@option{--numeric-sort}]
765 [@option{-P}|@option{--portability}] [@option{-p}|@option{--no-sort}]
766 [@option{-r}|@option{--reverse-sort}] [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}]
767 [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}] [@option{-t} @var{radix}|@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
768 [@option{-u}|@option{--undefined-only}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
769 [@option{-X 32_64}] [@option{--defined-only}] [@option{--no-demangle}]
770 [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{--size-sort}] [@option{--special-syms}]
771 [@option{--synthetic}] [@option{--with-symbol-versions}] [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
772 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
773 @c man end
774 @end smallexample
775
776 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
777 @sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
778 If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
779 @file{a.out}.
780
781 For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
782
783 @itemize @bullet
784 @item
785 The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
786 hexadecimal by default.
787
788 @item
789 The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
790 well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
791 usually local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external). There
792 are however a few lowercase symbols that are shown for special global
793 symbols (@code{u}, @code{v} and @code{w}).
794
795 @c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
796 @c would be nice.
797 @table @code
798 @item A
799 The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
800 linking.
801
802 @item B
803 @itemx b
804 The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
805
806 @item C
807 The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
808 linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
809 symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
810 references.
811 @ifclear man
812 For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
813 --warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
814 @end ifclear
815
816 @item D
817 @itemx d
818 The symbol is in the initialized data section.
819
820 @item G
821 @itemx g
822 The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
823 object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
824 such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
825
826 @item i
827 For PE format files this indicates that the symbol is in a section
828 specific to the implementation of DLLs. For ELF format files this
829 indicates that the symbol is an indirect function. This is a GNU
830 extension to the standard set of ELF symbol types. It indicates a
831 symbol which if referenced by a relocation does not evaluate to its
832 address, but instead must be invoked at runtime. The runtime
833 execution will then return the value to be used in the relocation.
834
835 @item I
836 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol.
837
838 @item N
839 The symbol is a debugging symbol.
840
841 @item p
842 The symbols is in a stack unwind section.
843
844 @item R
845 @itemx r
846 The symbol is in a read only data section.
847
848 @item S
849 @itemx s
850 The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
851
852 @item T
853 @itemx t
854 The symbol is in the text (code) section.
855
856 @item U
857 The symbol is undefined.
858
859 @item u
860 The symbol is a unique global symbol. This is a GNU extension to the
861 standard set of ELF symbol bindings. For such a symbol the dynamic linker
862 will make sure that in the entire process there is just one symbol with
863 this name and type in use.
864
865 @item V
866 @itemx v
867 The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
868 a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
869 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
870 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error. On some
871 systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been specified.
872
873 @item W
874 @itemx w
875 The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
876 weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
877 defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
878 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
879 the value of the symbol is determined in a system-specific manner without
880 error. On some systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been
881 specified.
882
883 @item -
884 The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
885 next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
886 the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
887
888 @item ?
889 The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
890 @end table
891
892 @item
893 The symbol name.
894 @end itemize
895
896 @c man end
897
898 @c man begin OPTIONS nm
899 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
900 equivalent.
901
902 @table @env
903 @item -A
904 @itemx -o
905 @itemx --print-file-name
906 @cindex input file name
907 @cindex file name
908 @cindex source file name
909 Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
910 in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
911 before all of its symbols.
912
913 @item -a
914 @itemx --debug-syms
915 @cindex debugging symbols
916 Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
917 listed.
918
919 @item -B
920 @cindex @command{nm} format
921 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
922 The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
923
924 @item -C
925 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
926 @cindex demangling in nm
927 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
928 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
929 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
930 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
931 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
932 for more information on demangling.
933
934 @item --no-demangle
935 Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
936
937 @item -D
938 @itemx --dynamic
939 @cindex dynamic symbols
940 Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
941 only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
942 libraries.
943
944 @item -f @var{format}
945 @itemx --format=@var{format}
946 @cindex @command{nm} format
947 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
948 Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
949 @code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
950 Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
951 either upper or lower case.
952
953 @item -g
954 @itemx --extern-only
955 @cindex external symbols
956 Display only external symbols.
957
958 @item -h
959 @itemx --help
960 Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
961
962 @item -l
963 @itemx --line-numbers
964 @cindex symbol line numbers
965 For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
966 line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
967 address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
968 number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
969 information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
970
971 @item -n
972 @itemx -v
973 @itemx --numeric-sort
974 Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
975 by their names.
976
977 @item -p
978 @itemx --no-sort
979 @cindex sorting symbols
980 Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
981 encountered.
982
983 @item -P
984 @itemx --portability
985 Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
986 Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
987
988 @item -r
989 @itemx --reverse-sort
990 Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
991 last come first.
992
993 @item -S
994 @itemx --print-size
995 Print both value and size of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output style.
996 This option has no effect for object formats that do not record symbol
997 sizes, unless @samp{--size-sort} is also used in which case a
998 calculated size is displayed.
999
1000 @item -s
1001 @itemx --print-armap
1002 @cindex symbol index, listing
1003 When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
1004 (stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
1005 contain definitions for which names.
1006
1007 @item -t @var{radix}
1008 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1009 Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
1010 @samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
1011
1012 @item -u
1013 @itemx --undefined-only
1014 @cindex external symbols
1015 @cindex undefined symbols
1016 Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
1017
1018 @item -V
1019 @itemx --version
1020 Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
1021
1022 @item -X
1023 This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
1024 @command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
1025 @option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
1026 to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
1027
1028 @item --defined-only
1029 @cindex external symbols
1030 @cindex undefined symbols
1031 Display only defined symbols for each object file.
1032
1033 @item --plugin @var{name}
1034 @cindex plugins
1035 Load the plugin called @var{name} to add support for extra target
1036 types. This option is only available if the toolchain has been built
1037 with plugin support enabled.
1038
1039 If @option{--plugin} is not provided, but plugin support has been
1040 enabled then @command{nm} iterates over the files in
1041 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} in alphabetic order and the first
1042 plugin that claims the object in question is used.
1043
1044 Please note that this plugin search directory is @emph{not} the one
1045 used by @command{ld}'s @option{-plugin} option. In order to make
1046 @command{nm} use the linker plugin it must be copied into the
1047 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} directory. For GCC based compilations
1048 the linker plugin is called @file{liblto_plugin.so.0.0.0}. For Clang
1049 based compilations it is called @file{LLVMgold.so}. The GCC plugin
1050 is always backwards compatible with earlier versions, so it is
1051 sufficient to just copy the newest one.
1052
1053 @item --size-sort
1054 Sort symbols by size. For ELF objects symbol sizes are read from the
1055 ELF, for other object types the symbol sizes are computed as the
1056 difference between the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol
1057 with the next higher value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used
1058 the size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value, and
1059 @samp{-S} must be used in order both size and value to be printed.
1060
1061 @item --special-syms
1062 Display symbols which have a target-specific special meaning. These
1063 symbols are usually used by the target for some special processing and
1064 are not normally helpful when included in the normal symbol lists.
1065 For example for ARM targets this option would skip the mapping symbols
1066 used to mark transitions between ARM code, THUMB code and data.
1067
1068 @item --synthetic
1069 Include synthetic symbols in the output. These are special symbols
1070 created by the linker for various purposes. They are not shown by
1071 default since they are not part of the binary's original source code.
1072
1073 @item --with-symbol-versions
1074 Enables the display of symbol version information if any exists. The
1075 version string is displayed as a suffix to the symbol name, preceeded by
1076 an @@ character. For example @samp{foo@@VER_1}. If the version is
1077 the default version to be used when resolving unversioned references
1078 to the symbol then it is displayed as a suffix preceeded by two @@
1079 characters. For example @samp{foo@@@@VER_2}.
1080
1081 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
1082 @cindex object code format
1083 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1084 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1085
1086 @end table
1087
1088 @c man end
1089
1090 @ignore
1091 @c man begin SEEALSO nm
1092 ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1093 @c man end
1094 @end ignore
1095
1096 @node objcopy
1097 @chapter objcopy
1098
1099 @c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
1100
1101 @smallexample
1102 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
1103 objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
1104 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
1105 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
1106 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
1107 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
1108 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
1109 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1110 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1111 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1112 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1113 [@option{--localize-hidden}]
1114 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1115 [@option{--globalize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1116 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1117 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
1118 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
1119 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
1120 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
1121 [@option{-i} [@var{breadth}]|@option{--interleave}[=@var{breadth}]]
1122 [@option{--interleave-width=}@var{width}]
1123 [@option{-j} @var{sectionpattern}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1124 [@option{-R} @var{sectionpattern}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1125 [@option{--remove-relocations=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1126 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
1127 [@option{-D}|@option{--enable-deterministic-archives}]
1128 [@option{-U}|@option{--disable-deterministic-archives}]
1129 [@option{--debugging}]
1130 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
1131 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
1132 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
1133 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
1134 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
1135 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1136 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1137 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1138 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
1139 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{sectionpattern}=@var{flags}]
1140 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1141 [@option{--dump-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1142 [@option{--update-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1143 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
1144 [@option{--long-section-names} @{enable,disable,keep@}]
1145 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
1146 [@option{--reverse-bytes=}@var{num}]
1147 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
1148 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
1149 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
1150 [@option{--weaken}]
1151 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1152 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1153 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1154 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1155 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1156 [@option{--globalize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1157 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1158 [@option{--add-symbol} @var{name}=[@var{section}:]@var{value}[,@var{flags}]
1159 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
1160 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
1161 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
1162 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
1163 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
1164 [@option{--keep-file-symbols}]
1165 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
1166 [@option{--strip-dwo}]
1167 [@option{--extract-dwo}]
1168 [@option{--extract-symbol}]
1169 [@option{--writable-text}]
1170 [@option{--readonly-text}]
1171 [@option{--pure}]
1172 [@option{--impure}]
1173 [@option{--file-alignment=}@var{num}]
1174 [@option{--heap=}@var{size}]
1175 [@option{--image-base=}@var{address}]
1176 [@option{--section-alignment=}@var{num}]
1177 [@option{--stack=}@var{size}]
1178 [@option{--subsystem=}@var{which}:@var{major}.@var{minor}]
1179 [@option{--compress-debug-sections}]
1180 [@option{--decompress-debug-sections}]
1181 [@option{--elf-stt-common=@var{val}}]
1182 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
1183 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1184 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
1185 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
1186 @c man end
1187 @end smallexample
1188
1189 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
1190 The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
1191 file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
1192 read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
1193 file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
1194 exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
1195 Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
1196 between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
1197 between any two formats may not work as expected.
1198
1199 @command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
1200 deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
1201 translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
1202 and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1203 explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1204
1205 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
1206 target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1207
1208 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1209 output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1210 @command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1211 a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1212 relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1213 the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1214
1215 When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1216 use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1217 some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1218 information that is not needed by the binary file.
1219
1220 Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1221 files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1222 @command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1223 same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1224 (However, see the @option{--reverse-bytes} option.)
1225
1226 @c man end
1227
1228 @c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1229
1230 @table @env
1231 @item @var{infile}
1232 @itemx @var{outfile}
1233 The input and output files, respectively.
1234 If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1235 temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1236 the name of @var{infile}.
1237
1238 @item -I @var{bfdname}
1239 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1240 Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1241 attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1242
1243 @item -O @var{bfdname}
1244 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1245 Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1246 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1247
1248 @item -F @var{bfdname}
1249 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1250 Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1251 file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1252 translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1253
1254 @item -B @var{bfdarch}
1255 @itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1256 Useful when transforming a architecture-less input file into an object file.
1257 In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1258 option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1259 can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1260 symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1261 called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1262 _binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1263 an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1264
1265 @item -j @var{sectionpattern}
1266 @itemx --only-section=@var{sectionpattern}
1267 Copy only the indicated sections from the input file to the output file.
1268 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1269 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. Wildcard
1270 characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
1271
1272 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1273 point (!) then matching sections will not be copied, even if earlier
1274 use of @option{--only-section} on the same command line would
1275 otherwise copy it. For example:
1276
1277 @smallexample
1278 --only-section=.text.* --only-section=!.text.foo
1279 @end smallexample
1280
1281 will copy all sectinos maching '.text.*' but not the section
1282 '.text.foo'.
1283
1284 @item -R @var{sectionpattern}
1285 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionpattern}
1286 Remove any section matching @var{sectionpattern} from the output file.
1287 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1288 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. Wildcard
1289 characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}. Using both the
1290 @option{-j} and @option{-R} options together results in undefined
1291 behaviour.
1292
1293 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1294 point (!) then matching sections will not be removed even if an
1295 earlier use of @option{--remove-section} on the same command line
1296 would otherwise remove it. For example:
1297
1298 @smallexample
1299 --remove-section=.text.* --remove-section=!.text.foo
1300 @end smallexample
1301
1302 will remove all sections matching the pattern '.text.*', but will not
1303 remove the section '.text.foo'.
1304
1305 @item --remove-relocations=@var{sectionpattern}
1306 Remove relocations from the output file for any section matching
1307 @var{sectionpattern}. This option may be given more than once. Note
1308 that using this option inappropriately may make the output file
1309 unusable. Wildcard characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
1310 For example:
1311
1312 @smallexample
1313 --remove-relocations=.text.*
1314 @end smallexample
1315
1316 will remove the relocations for all sections matching the patter
1317 '.text.*'.
1318
1319 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1320 point (!) then matching sections will not have their relocation
1321 removed even if an earlier use of @option{--remove-relocations} on the
1322 same command line would otherwise cause the relocations to be removed.
1323 For example:
1324
1325 @smallexample
1326 --remove-relocations=.text.* --remove-relocations=!.text.foo
1327 @end smallexample
1328
1329 will remove all relocations for sections matching the pattern
1330 '.text.*', but will not remove relocations for the section
1331 '.text.foo'.
1332
1333 @item -S
1334 @itemx --strip-all
1335 Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1336
1337 @item -g
1338 @itemx --strip-debug
1339 Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
1340
1341 @item --strip-unneeded
1342 Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1343
1344 @item -K @var{symbolname}
1345 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1346 When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
1347 normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
1348
1349 @item -N @var{symbolname}
1350 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1351 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1352 may be given more than once.
1353
1354 @item --strip-unneeded-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1355 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file unless it is needed
1356 by a relocation. This option may be given more than once.
1357
1358 @item -G @var{symbolname}
1359 @itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1360 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1361 to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1362 be given more than once.
1363
1364 @item --localize-hidden
1365 In an ELF object, mark all symbols that have hidden or internal visibility
1366 as local. This option applies on top of symbol-specific localization options
1367 such as @option{-L}.
1368
1369 @item -L @var{symbolname}
1370 @itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1371 Convert a global or weak symbol called @var{symbolname} into a local
1372 symbol, so that it is not visible externally. This option may be
1373 given more than once. Note - unique symbols are not converted.
1374
1375 @item -W @var{symbolname}
1376 @itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1377 Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1378
1379 @item --globalize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1380 Give symbol @var{symbolname} global scoping so that it is visible
1381 outside of the file in which it is defined. This option may be given
1382 more than once.
1383
1384 @item -w
1385 @itemx --wildcard
1386 Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1387 line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1388 square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1389 name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1390 point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1391 For example:
1392
1393 @smallexample
1394 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1395 @end smallexample
1396
1397 would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1398 except for the symbol ``foo''.
1399
1400 @item -x
1401 @itemx --discard-all
1402 Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1403 @c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1404
1405 @item -X
1406 @itemx --discard-locals
1407 Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1408 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1409
1410 @item -b @var{byte}
1411 @itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1412 If interleaving has been enabled via the @option{--interleave} option
1413 then start the range of bytes to keep at the @var{byte}th byte.
1414 @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{breadth}-1, where
1415 @var{breadth} is the value given by the @option{--interleave} option.
1416
1417 @item -i [@var{breadth}]
1418 @itemx --interleave[=@var{breadth}]
1419 Only copy a range out of every @var{breadth} bytes. (Header data is
1420 not affected). Select which byte in the range begins the copy with
1421 the @option{--byte} option. Select the width of the range with the
1422 @option{--interleave-width} option.
1423
1424 This option is useful for creating files to program @sc{rom}. It is
1425 typically used with an @code{srec} output target. Note that
1426 @command{objcopy} will complain if you do not specify the
1427 @option{--byte} option as well.
1428
1429 The default interleave breadth is 4, so with @option{--byte} set to 0,
1430 @command{objcopy} would copy the first byte out of every four bytes
1431 from the input to the output.
1432
1433 @item --interleave-width=@var{width}
1434 When used with the @option{--interleave} option, copy @var{width}
1435 bytes at a time. The start of the range of bytes to be copied is set
1436 by the @option{--byte} option, and the extent of the range is set with
1437 the @option{--interleave} option.
1438
1439 The default value for this option is 1. The value of @var{width} plus
1440 the @var{byte} value set by the @option{--byte} option must not exceed
1441 the interleave breadth set by the @option{--interleave} option.
1442
1443 This option can be used to create images for two 16-bit flashes interleaved
1444 in a 32-bit bus by passing @option{-b 0 -i 4 --interleave-width=2}
1445 and @option{-b 2 -i 4 --interleave-width=2} to two @command{objcopy}
1446 commands. If the input was '12345678' then the outputs would be
1447 '1256' and '3478' respectively.
1448
1449 @item -p
1450 @itemx --preserve-dates
1451 Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1452 as those of the input file.
1453
1454 @item -D
1455 @itemx --enable-deterministic-archives
1456 @cindex deterministic archives
1457 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
1458 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When copying archive members
1459 and writing the archive index, use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps,
1460 and use consistent file modes for all files.
1461
1462 If @file{binutils} was configured with
1463 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
1464 It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, below.
1465
1466 @item -U
1467 @itemx --disable-deterministic-archives
1468 @cindex deterministic archives
1469 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
1470 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
1471 inverse of the @option{-D} option, above: when copying archive members
1472 and writing the archive index, use their actual UID, GID, timestamp,
1473 and file mode values.
1474
1475 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
1476 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
1477
1478 @item --debugging
1479 Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1480 because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1481 conversion process can be time consuming.
1482
1483 @item --gap-fill @var{val}
1484 Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1485 the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1486 the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1487 space created with @var{val}.
1488
1489 @item --pad-to @var{address}
1490 Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1491 done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1492 filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1493
1494 @item --set-start @var{val}
1495 Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1496 formats support setting the start address.
1497
1498 @item --change-start @var{incr}
1499 @itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1500 @cindex changing start address
1501 Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1502 formats support setting the start address.
1503
1504 @item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1505 @itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1506 @cindex changing object addresses
1507 Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1508 address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1509 section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1510 relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1511 certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1512 that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1513
1514 @item --change-section-address @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1515 @itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1516 @cindex changing section address
1517 Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of any section
1518 matching @var{sectionpattern}. If @samp{=} is used, the section
1519 address is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or
1520 subtracted from the section address. See the comments under
1521 @option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{sectionpattern} does not
1522 match any sections in the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1523 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1524
1525 @item --change-section-lma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1526 @cindex changing section LMA
1527 Set or change the LMA address of any sections matching
1528 @var{sectionpattern}. The LMA address is the address where the
1529 section will be loaded into memory at program load time. Normally
1530 this is the same as the VMA address, which is the address of the
1531 section at program run time, but on some systems, especially those
1532 where a program is held in ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=}
1533 is used, the section address is set to @var{val}. Otherwise,
1534 @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the section address. See the
1535 comments under @option{--change-addresses}, above. If
1536 @var{sectionpattern} does not match any sections in the input file, a
1537 warning will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1538
1539 @item --change-section-vma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1540 @cindex changing section VMA
1541 Set or change the VMA address of any section matching
1542 @var{sectionpattern}. The VMA address is the address where the
1543 section will be located once the program has started executing.
1544 Normally this is the same as the LMA address, which is the address
1545 where the section will be loaded into memory, but on some systems,
1546 especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1547 different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1548 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1549 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1550 above. If @var{sectionpattern} does not match any sections in the
1551 input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1552 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1553
1554 @item --change-warnings
1555 @itemx --adjust-warnings
1556 If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1557 @option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the section pattern does not
1558 match any sections, issue a warning. This is the default.
1559
1560 @item --no-change-warnings
1561 @itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1562 Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1563 @option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1564 if the section pattern does not match any sections.
1565
1566 @item --set-section-flags @var{sectionpattern}=@var{flags}
1567 Set the flags for any sections matching @var{sectionpattern}. The
1568 @var{flags} argument is a comma separated string of flag names. The
1569 recognized names are @samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load},
1570 @samp{noload}, @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom},
1571 @samp{share}, and @samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag
1572 for a section which does not have contents, but it is not meaningful
1573 to clear the @samp{contents} flag of a section which does have
1574 contents--just remove the section instead. Not all flags are
1575 meaningful for all object file formats.
1576
1577 @item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1578 Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1579 contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1580 size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1581 works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1582 Note - it may be necessary to use the @option{--set-section-flags}
1583 option to set the attributes of the newly created section.
1584
1585 @item --dump-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1586 Place the contents of section named @var{sectionname} into the file
1587 @var{filename}, overwriting any contents that may have been there
1588 previously. This option is the inverse of @option{--add-section}.
1589 This option is similar to the @option{--only-section} option except
1590 that it does not create a formatted file, it just dumps the contents
1591 as raw binary data, without applying any relocations. The option can
1592 be specified more than once.
1593
1594 @item --update-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1595 Replace the existing contents of a section named @var{sectionname}
1596 with the contents of file @var{filename}. The size of the section
1597 will be adjusted to the size of the file. The section flags for
1598 @var{sectionname} will be unchanged. For ELF format files the section
1599 to segment mapping will also remain unchanged, something which is not
1600 possible using @option{--remove-section} followed by
1601 @option{--add-section}. The option can be specified more than once.
1602
1603 Note - it is possible to use @option{--rename-section} and
1604 @option{--update-section} to both update and rename a section from one
1605 command line. In this case, pass the original section name to
1606 @option{--update-section}, and the original and new section names to
1607 @option{--rename-section}.
1608
1609 @item --add-symbol @var{name}=[@var{section}:]@var{value}[,@var{flags}]
1610 Add a new symbol named @var{name} while copying the file. This option may be
1611 specified multiple times. If the @var{section} is given, the symbol will be
1612 associated with and relative to that section, otherwise it will be an ABS
1613 symbol. Specifying an undefined section will result in a fatal error. There
1614 is no check for the value, it will be taken as specified. Symbol flags can
1615 be specified and not all flags will be meaningful for all object file
1616 formats. By default, the symbol will be global. The special flag
1617 'before=@var{othersym}' will insert the new symbol in front of the specified
1618 @var{othersym}, otherwise the symbol(s) will be added at the end of the
1619 symbol table in the order they appear.
1620
1621 @item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1622 Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1623 changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1624 the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1625 the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1626 executable.
1627
1628 This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1629 since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1630 you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1631 data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1632
1633 @smallexample
1634 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1635 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1636 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1637 @end smallexample
1638
1639 @item --long-section-names @{enable,disable,keep@}
1640 Controls the handling of long section names when processing @code{COFF}
1641 and @code{PE-COFF} object formats. The default behaviour, @samp{keep},
1642 is to preserve long section names if any are present in the input file.
1643 The @samp{enable} and @samp{disable} options forcibly enable or disable
1644 the use of long section names in the output object; when @samp{disable}
1645 is in effect, any long section names in the input object will be truncated.
1646 The @samp{enable} option will only emit long section names if any are
1647 present in the inputs; this is mostly the same as @samp{keep}, but it
1648 is left undefined whether the @samp{enable} option might force the
1649 creation of an empty string table in the output file.
1650
1651 @item --change-leading-char
1652 Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1653 symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1654 often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1655 change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1656 object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1657 character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1658 character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1659 appropriate.
1660
1661 @item --remove-leading-char
1662 If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1663 character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1664 most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1665 remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1666 if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1667 different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1668 @option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1669 when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1670 file.
1671
1672 @item --reverse-bytes=@var{num}
1673 Reverse the bytes in a section with output contents. A section length must
1674 be evenly divisible by the value given in order for the swap to be able to
1675 take place. Reversing takes place before the interleaving is performed.
1676
1677 This option is used typically in generating ROM images for problematic
1678 target systems. For example, on some target boards, the 32-bit words
1679 fetched from 8-bit ROMs are re-assembled in little-endian byte order
1680 regardless of the CPU byte order. Depending on the programming model, the
1681 endianness of the ROM may need to be modified.
1682
1683 Consider a simple file with a section containing the following eight
1684 bytes: @code{12345678}.
1685
1686 Using @samp{--reverse-bytes=2} for the above example, the bytes in the
1687 output file would be ordered @code{21436587}.
1688
1689 Using @samp{--reverse-bytes=4} for the above example, the bytes in the
1690 output file would be ordered @code{43218765}.
1691
1692 By using @samp{--reverse-bytes=2} for the above example, followed by
1693 @samp{--reverse-bytes=4} on the output file, the bytes in the second
1694 output file would be ordered @code{34127856}.
1695
1696 @item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1697 Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1698 being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1699 crc fields.
1700
1701 @item --srec-forceS3
1702 Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1703 creating S3-only record format.
1704
1705 @item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1706 Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1707 when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1708 source, and there are name collisions.
1709
1710 @item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1711 Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1712 listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1713 with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1714 character. This option may be given more than once.
1715
1716 @item --weaken
1717 Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1718 when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1719 the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1720 using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1721
1722 @item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1723 Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1724 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1725 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1726 This option may be given more than once.
1727
1728 @item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1729 Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1730 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1731 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1732 This option may be given more than once.
1733
1734 @item --strip-unneeded-symbols=@var{filename}
1735 Apply @option{--strip-unneeded-symbol} option to each symbol listed in
1736 the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1737 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1738 character. This option may be given more than once.
1739
1740 @item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1741 Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1742 file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1743 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1744 character. This option may be given more than once.
1745
1746 @item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1747 Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1748 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1749 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1750 This option may be given more than once.
1751
1752 @item --globalize-symbols=@var{filename}
1753 Apply @option{--globalize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1754 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1755 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1756 This option may be given more than once.
1757
1758 @item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1759 Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1760 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1761 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1762 This option may be given more than once.
1763
1764 @item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1765 If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1766 @var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1767 a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1768 new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1769 being used. For ELF based architectures if the @var{index}
1770 alternative does not exist then the value is treated as an absolute
1771 number to be stored in the e_machine field of the ELF header.
1772
1773 @item --writable-text
1774 Mark the output text as writable. This option isn't meaningful for all
1775 object file formats.
1776
1777 @item --readonly-text
1778 Make the output text write protected. This option isn't meaningful for all
1779 object file formats.
1780
1781 @item --pure
1782 Mark the output file as demand paged. This option isn't meaningful for all
1783 object file formats.
1784
1785 @item --impure
1786 Mark the output file as impure. This option isn't meaningful for all
1787 object file formats.
1788
1789 @item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1790 Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1791
1792 @item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1793 Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1794
1795 @item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1796 Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1797 @var{string}.
1798
1799 @item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1800 Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to
1801 @var{path-to-file} and adds it to the output file. Note: the file at
1802 @var{path-to-file} must exist. Part of the process of adding the
1803 .gnu_debuglink section involves embedding a checksum of the contents
1804 of the debug info file into the section.
1805
1806 If the debug info file is built in one location but it is going to be
1807 installed at a later time into a different location then do not use
1808 the path to the installed location. The @option{--add-gnu-debuglink}
1809 option will fail because the installed file does not exist yet.
1810 Instead put the debug info file in the current directory and use the
1811 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} option without any directory components,
1812 like this:
1813
1814 @smallexample
1815 objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug
1816 @end smallexample
1817
1818 At debug time the debugger will attempt to look for the separate debug
1819 info file in a set of known locations. The exact set of these
1820 locations varies depending upon the distribution being used, but it
1821 typically includes:
1822
1823 @table @code
1824
1825 @item * The same directory as the executable.
1826
1827 @item * A sub-directory of the directory containing the executable
1828 called .debug
1829
1830 @item * A global debug directory such as /usr/lib/debug.
1831 @end table
1832
1833 As long as the debug info file has been installed into one of these
1834 locations before the debugger is run everything should work
1835 correctly.
1836
1837 @item --keep-file-symbols
1838 When stripping a file, perhaps with @option{--strip-debug} or
1839 @option{--strip-unneeded}, retain any symbols specifying source file names,
1840 which would otherwise get stripped.
1841
1842 @item --only-keep-debug
1843 Strip a file, removing contents of any sections that would not be
1844 stripped by @option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections
1845 intact. In ELF files, this preserves all note sections in the output.
1846
1847 Note - the section headers of the stripped sections are preserved,
1848 including their sizes, but the contents of the section are discarded.
1849 The section headers are preserved so that other tools can match up the
1850 debuginfo file with the real executable, even if that executable has
1851 been relocated to a different address space.
1852
1853 The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1854 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1855 stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1856 distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1857 needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1858 to create these files is as follows:
1859
1860 @enumerate
1861 @item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1862 @code{foo} then...
1863 @item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1864 create a file containing the debugging info.
1865 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1866 stripped executable.
1867 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1868 to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1869 @end enumerate
1870
1871 Note---the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1872 file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1873 optional. You could instead do this:
1874
1875 @enumerate
1876 @item Link the executable as normal.
1877 @item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1878 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1879 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1880 @end enumerate
1881
1882 i.e., the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
1883 full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1884 @option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1885
1886 Note---this switch is only intended for use on fully linked files. It
1887 does not make sense to use it on object files where the debugging
1888 information may be incomplete. Besides the gnu_debuglink feature
1889 currently only supports the presence of one filename containing
1890 debugging information, not multiple filenames on a one-per-object-file
1891 basis.
1892
1893 @item --strip-dwo
1894 Remove the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections, leaving the
1895 remaining debugging sections and all symbols intact.
1896 This option is intended for use by the compiler as part of
1897 the @option{-gsplit-dwarf} option, which splits debug information
1898 between the .o file and a separate .dwo file. The compiler
1899 generates all debug information in the same file, then uses
1900 the @option{--extract-dwo} option to copy the .dwo sections to
1901 the .dwo file, then the @option{--strip-dwo} option to remove
1902 those sections from the original .o file.
1903
1904 @item --extract-dwo
1905 Extract the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections. See the
1906 @option{--strip-dwo} option for more information.
1907
1908 @item --file-alignment @var{num}
1909 Specify the file alignment. Sections in the file will always begin at
1910 file offsets which are multiples of this number. This defaults to
1911 512.
1912 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1913
1914 @item --heap @var{reserve}
1915 @itemx --heap @var{reserve},@var{commit}
1916 Specify the number of bytes of memory to reserve (and optionally commit)
1917 to be used as heap for this program.
1918 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1919
1920 @item --image-base @var{value}
1921 Use @var{value} as the base address of your program or dll. This is
1922 the lowest memory location that will be used when your program or dll
1923 is loaded. To reduce the need to relocate and improve performance of
1924 your dlls, each should have a unique base address and not overlap any
1925 other dlls. The default is 0x400000 for executables, and 0x10000000
1926 for dlls.
1927 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1928
1929 @item --section-alignment @var{num}
1930 Sets the section alignment. Sections in memory will always begin at
1931 addresses which are a multiple of this number. Defaults to 0x1000.
1932 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1933
1934 @item --stack @var{reserve}
1935 @itemx --stack @var{reserve},@var{commit}
1936 Specify the number of bytes of memory to reserve (and optionally commit)
1937 to be used as stack for this program.
1938 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1939
1940 @item --subsystem @var{which}
1941 @itemx --subsystem @var{which}:@var{major}
1942 @itemx --subsystem @var{which}:@var{major}.@var{minor}
1943 Specifies the subsystem under which your program will execute. The
1944 legal values for @var{which} are @code{native}, @code{windows},
1945 @code{console}, @code{posix}, @code{efi-app}, @code{efi-bsd},
1946 @code{efi-rtd}, @code{sal-rtd}, and @code{xbox}. You may optionally set
1947 the subsystem version also. Numeric values are also accepted for
1948 @var{which}.
1949 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1950
1951 @item --extract-symbol
1952 Keep the file's section flags and symbols but remove all section data.
1953 Specifically, the option:
1954
1955 @itemize
1956 @item removes the contents of all sections;
1957 @item sets the size of every section to zero; and
1958 @item sets the file's start address to zero.
1959 @end itemize
1960
1961 This option is used to build a @file{.sym} file for a VxWorks kernel.
1962 It can also be a useful way of reducing the size of a @option{--just-symbols}
1963 linker input file.
1964
1965 @item --compress-debug-sections
1966 Compress DWARF debug sections using zlib with SHF_COMPRESSED from the
1967 ELF ABI. Note - if compression would actually make a section
1968 @emph{larger}, then it is not compressed.
1969
1970 @item --compress-debug-sections=none
1971 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib
1972 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu
1973 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi
1974 For ELF files, these options control how DWARF debug sections are
1975 compressed. @option{--compress-debug-sections=none} is equivalent
1976 to @option{--decompress-debug-sections}.
1977 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib} and
1978 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi} are equivalent to
1979 @option{--compress-debug-sections}.
1980 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu} compresses DWARF debug
1981 sections using zlib. The debug sections are renamed to begin with
1982 @samp{.zdebug} instead of @samp{.debug}. Note - if compression would
1983 actually make a section @emph{larger}, then it is not compressed nor
1984 renamed.
1985
1986 @item --decompress-debug-sections
1987 Decompress DWARF debug sections using zlib. The original section
1988 names of the compressed sections are restored.
1989
1990 @item --elf-stt-common=yes
1991 @itemx --elf-stt-common=no
1992 For ELF files, these options control whether common symbols should be
1993 converted to the @code{STT_COMMON} or @code{STT_OBJECT} type.
1994 @option{--elf-stt-common=yes} converts common symbol type to
1995 @code{STT_COMMON}. @option{--elf-stt-common=no} converts common symbol
1996 type to @code{STT_OBJECT}.
1997
1998 @item -V
1999 @itemx --version
2000 Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
2001
2002 @item -v
2003 @itemx --verbose
2004 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2005 archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
2006
2007 @item --help
2008 Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
2009
2010 @item --info
2011 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2012 @end table
2013
2014 @c man end
2015
2016 @ignore
2017 @c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
2018 ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2019 @c man end
2020 @end ignore
2021
2022 @node objdump
2023 @chapter objdump
2024
2025 @cindex object file information
2026 @kindex objdump
2027
2028 @c man title objdump display information from object files.
2029
2030 @smallexample
2031 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
2032 objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
2033 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
2034 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
2035 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
2036 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
2037 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
2038 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
2039 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
2040 [@option{-F}|@option{--file-offsets}]
2041 [@option{--file-start-context}]
2042 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
2043 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
2044 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
2045 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
2046 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
2047 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
2048 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
2049 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
2050 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
2051 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
2052 [@option{-P} @var{options}|@option{--private=}@var{options}]
2053 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
2054 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
2055 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
2056 [@option{-W[lLiaprmfFsoRt]}|
2057 @option{--dwarf}[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames]
2058 [=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
2059 [=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev]
2060 [=trace_aranges,=gdb_index]
2061 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
2062 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
2063 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
2064 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
2065 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
2066 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
2067 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
2068 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
2069 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
2070 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
2071 [@option{--dwarf-depth=@var{n}}]
2072 [@option{--dwarf-start=@var{n}}]
2073 [@option{--special-syms}]
2074 [@option{--prefix=}@var{prefix}]
2075 [@option{--prefix-strip=}@var{level}]
2076 [@option{--insn-width=}@var{width}]
2077 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2078 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
2079 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2080 @c man end
2081 @end smallexample
2082
2083 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
2084
2085 @command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
2086 The options control what particular information to display. This
2087 information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
2088 compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
2089 program to compile and work.
2090
2091 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
2092 specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
2093 object files.
2094
2095 @c man end
2096
2097 @c man begin OPTIONS objdump
2098
2099 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2100 equivalent. At least one option from the list
2101 @option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-P,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
2102
2103 @table @env
2104 @item -a
2105 @itemx --archive-header
2106 @cindex archive headers
2107 If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
2108 header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
2109 information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
2110 the object file format of each archive member.
2111
2112 @item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
2113 @cindex section addresses in objdump
2114 @cindex VMA in objdump
2115 When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
2116 addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
2117 the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
2118 addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
2119 such as a.out.
2120
2121 @item -b @var{bfdname}
2122 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2123 @cindex object code format
2124 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2125 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
2126 automatically recognize many formats.
2127
2128 For example,
2129 @example
2130 objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
2131 @end example
2132 @noindent
2133 displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
2134 @file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
2135 file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
2136 formats available with the @option{-i} option.
2137 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2138
2139 @item -C
2140 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2141 @cindex demangling in objdump
2142 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2143 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2144 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2145 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2146 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2147 for more information on demangling.
2148
2149 @item -g
2150 @itemx --debugging
2151 Display debugging information. This attempts to parse STABS and IEEE
2152 debugging format information stored in the file and print it out using
2153 a C like syntax. If neither of these formats are found this option
2154 falls back on the @option{-W} option to print any DWARF information in
2155 the file.
2156
2157 @item -e
2158 @itemx --debugging-tags
2159 Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
2160 with ctags tool.
2161
2162 @item -d
2163 @itemx --disassemble
2164 @cindex disassembling object code
2165 @cindex machine instructions
2166 Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
2167 @var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
2168 expected to contain instructions.
2169
2170 @item -D
2171 @itemx --disassemble-all
2172 Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
2173 those expected to contain instructions.
2174
2175 This option also has a subtle effect on the disassembly of
2176 instructions in code sections. When option @option{-d} is in effect
2177 objdump will assume that any symbols present in a code section occur
2178 on the boundary between instructions and it will refuse to disassemble
2179 across such a boundary. When option @option{-D} is in effect however
2180 this assumption is supressed. This means that it is possible for the
2181 output of @option{-d} and @option{-D} to differ if, for example, data
2182 is stored in code sections.
2183
2184 If the target is an ARM architecture this switch also has the effect
2185 of forcing the disassembler to decode pieces of data found in code
2186 sections as if they were instructions.
2187
2188 @item --prefix-addresses
2189 When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
2190 the older disassembly format.
2191
2192 @item -EB
2193 @itemx -EL
2194 @itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
2195 @cindex endianness
2196 @cindex disassembly endianness
2197 Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
2198 disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
2199 does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
2200
2201 @item -f
2202 @itemx --file-headers
2203 @cindex object file header
2204 Display summary information from the overall header of
2205 each of the @var{objfile} files.
2206
2207 @item -F
2208 @itemx --file-offsets
2209 @cindex object file offsets
2210 When disassembling sections, whenever a symbol is displayed, also
2211 display the file offset of the region of data that is about to be
2212 dumped. If zeroes are being skipped, then when disassembly resumes,
2213 tell the user how many zeroes were skipped and the file offset of the
2214 location from where the disassembly resumes. When dumping sections,
2215 display the file offset of the location from where the dump starts.
2216
2217 @item --file-start-context
2218 @cindex source code context
2219 Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
2220 (assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
2221 context to the start of the file.
2222
2223 @item -h
2224 @itemx --section-headers
2225 @itemx --headers
2226 @cindex section headers
2227 Display summary information from the section headers of the
2228 object file.
2229
2230 File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
2231 using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
2232 @command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
2233 store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
2234 although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
2235 -h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
2236 Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
2237 target.
2238
2239 Note, in some cases it is possible for a section to have both the
2240 READONLY and the NOREAD attributes set. In such cases the NOREAD
2241 attribute takes precedence, but @command{objdump} will report both
2242 since the exact setting of the flag bits might be important.
2243
2244 @item -H
2245 @itemx --help
2246 Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
2247
2248 @item -i
2249 @itemx --info
2250 @cindex architectures available
2251 @cindex object formats available
2252 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
2253 for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
2254
2255 @item -j @var{name}
2256 @itemx --section=@var{name}
2257 @cindex section information
2258 Display information only for section @var{name}.
2259
2260 @item -l
2261 @itemx --line-numbers
2262 @cindex source filenames for object files
2263 Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
2264 source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
2265 Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
2266
2267 @item -m @var{machine}
2268 @itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
2269 @cindex architecture
2270 @cindex disassembly architecture
2271 Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
2272 can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
2273 architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
2274 architectures with the @option{-i} option.
2275
2276 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch has an
2277 additional effect. It restricts the disassembly to only those
2278 instructions supported by the architecture specified by @var{machine}.
2279 If it is necessary to use this switch because the input file does not
2280 contain any architecture information, but it is also desired to
2281 disassemble all the instructions use @option{-marm}.
2282
2283 @item -M @var{options}
2284 @itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
2285 Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
2286 some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
2287 disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
2288 can be placed together into a comma separated list.
2289
2290 For ARC, @option{dsp} controls the printing of DSP instructions,
2291 @option{spfp} selects the printing of FPX single precision FP
2292 instructions, @option{dpfp} selects the printing of FPX double
2293 precision FP instructions, @option{quarkse_em} selects the printing of
2294 special QuarkSE-EM instructions, @option{fpuda} selects the printing
2295 of double precision assist instructions, @option{fpus} selects the
2296 printing of FPU single precision FP instructions, while @option{fpud}
2297 selects the printing of FPU souble precision FP instructions.
2298
2299 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
2300 select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
2301 @option{-M reg-names-std} (the default) will select the register names as
2302 used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
2303 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
2304 @option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
2305 Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
2306 just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
2307
2308 There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
2309 by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
2310 use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
2311 with the normal register names or the special register names).
2312
2313 This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
2314 disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
2315 using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
2316 useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
2317 compilers.
2318
2319 For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
2320 switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
2321 following may be specified as a comma separated string.
2322 @table @code
2323 @item x86-64
2324 @itemx i386
2325 @itemx i8086
2326 Select disassembly for the given architecture.
2327
2328 @item intel
2329 @itemx att
2330 Select between intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode.
2331
2332 @item amd64
2333 @itemx intel64
2334 Select between AMD64 ISA and Intel64 ISA.
2335
2336 @item intel-mnemonic
2337 @itemx att-mnemonic
2338 Select between intel mnemonic mode and AT&T mnemonic mode.
2339 Note: @code{intel-mnemonic} implies @code{intel} and
2340 @code{att-mnemonic} implies @code{att}.
2341
2342 @item addr64
2343 @itemx addr32
2344 @itemx addr16
2345 @itemx data32
2346 @itemx data16
2347 Specify the default address size and operand size. These four options
2348 will be overridden if @code{x86-64}, @code{i386} or @code{i8086}
2349 appear later in the option string.
2350
2351 @item suffix
2352 When in AT&T mode, instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic
2353 suffix even when the suffix could be inferred by the operands.
2354 @end table
2355
2356 For PowerPC, @option{booke} controls the disassembly of BookE
2357 instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select PowerPC and
2358 PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively. @option{e300} selects
2359 disassembly for the e300 family. @option{440} selects disassembly for
2360 the PowerPC 440. @option{ppcps} selects disassembly for the paired
2361 single instructions of the PPC750CL.
2362
2363 For MIPS, this option controls the printing of instruction mnemonic
2364 names and register names in disassembled instructions. Multiple
2365 selections from the following may be specified as a comma separated
2366 string, and invalid options are ignored:
2367
2368 @table @code
2369 @item no-aliases
2370 Print the 'raw' instruction mnemonic instead of some pseudo
2371 instruction mnemonic. I.e., print 'daddu' or 'or' instead of 'move',
2372 'sll' instead of 'nop', etc.
2373
2374 @item msa
2375 Disassemble MSA instructions.
2376
2377 @item virt
2378 Disassemble the virtualization ASE instructions.
2379
2380 @item xpa
2381 Disassemble the eXtended Physical Address (XPA) ASE instructions.
2382
2383 @item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
2384 Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
2385 for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
2386 the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
2387
2388 @item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
2389 Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
2390 appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
2391 rather than names.
2392
2393 @item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
2394 Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
2395 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
2396 @var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
2397 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
2398
2399 @item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
2400 Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
2401 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
2402 @var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
2403 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
2404
2405 @item reg-names=@var{ABI}
2406 Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
2407
2408 @item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
2409 Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
2410 as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
2411 @end table
2412
2413 For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
2414 @var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
2415 rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
2416 You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
2417 the @option{--help} option.
2418
2419 For VAX, you can specify function entry addresses with @option{-M
2420 entry:0xf00ba}. You can use this multiple times to properly
2421 disassemble VAX binary files that don't contain symbol tables (like
2422 ROM dumps). In these cases, the function entry mask would otherwise
2423 be decoded as VAX instructions, which would probably lead the rest
2424 of the function being wrongly disassembled.
2425
2426 @item -p
2427 @itemx --private-headers
2428 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
2429 information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
2430 object file formats, no additional information is printed.
2431
2432 @item -P @var{options}
2433 @itemx --private=@var{options}
2434 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The
2435 argument @var{options} is a comma separated list that depends on the
2436 format (the lists of options is displayed with the help).
2437
2438 For XCOFF, the available options are:
2439 @table @code
2440 @item header
2441 @item aout
2442 @item sections
2443 @item syms
2444 @item relocs
2445 @item lineno,
2446 @item loader
2447 @item except
2448 @item typchk
2449 @item traceback
2450 @item toc
2451 @item ldinfo
2452 @end table
2453
2454 Not all object formats support this option. In particular the ELF
2455 format does not use it.
2456
2457 @item -r
2458 @itemx --reloc
2459 @cindex relocation entries, in object file
2460 Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
2461 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
2462 disassembly.
2463
2464 @item -R
2465 @itemx --dynamic-reloc
2466 @cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
2467 Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
2468 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
2469 libraries. As for @option{-r}, if used with @option{-d} or
2470 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
2471 disassembly.
2472
2473 @item -s
2474 @itemx --full-contents
2475 @cindex sections, full contents
2476 @cindex object file sections
2477 Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
2478 non-empty sections are displayed.
2479
2480 @item -S
2481 @itemx --source
2482 @cindex source disassembly
2483 @cindex disassembly, with source
2484 Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
2485 @option{-d}.
2486
2487 @item --prefix=@var{prefix}
2488 @cindex Add prefix to absolute paths
2489 Specify @var{prefix} to add to the absolute paths when used with
2490 @option{-S}.
2491
2492 @item --prefix-strip=@var{level}
2493 @cindex Strip absolute paths
2494 Indicate how many initial directory names to strip off the hardwired
2495 absolute paths. It has no effect without @option{--prefix=}@var{prefix}.
2496
2497 @item --show-raw-insn
2498 When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
2499 in symbolic form. This is the default except when
2500 @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
2501
2502 @item --no-show-raw-insn
2503 When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
2504 This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
2505
2506 @item --insn-width=@var{width}
2507 @cindex Instruction width
2508 Display @var{width} bytes on a single line when disassembling
2509 instructions.
2510
2511 @item -W[lLiaprmfFsoRt]
2512 @itemx --dwarf[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames]
2513 @itemx --dwarf[=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
2514 @itemx --dwarf[=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev]
2515 @itemx --dwarf[=trace_aranges,=gdb_index]
2516 @cindex DWARF
2517 @cindex debug symbols
2518 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
2519 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
2520 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
2521
2522 Note that there is no single letter option to display the content of
2523 trace sections or .gdb_index.
2524
2525 Note: the output from the @option{=info} option can also be affected
2526 by the options @option{--dwarf-depth}, the @option{--dwarf-start} and
2527 the @option{--dwarf-check}.
2528
2529 @item --dwarf-depth=@var{n}
2530 Limit the dump of the @code{.debug_info} section to @var{n} children.
2531 This is only useful with @option{--dwarf=info}. The default is
2532 to print all DIEs; the special value 0 for @var{n} will also have this
2533 effect.
2534
2535 With a non-zero value for @var{n}, DIEs at or deeper than @var{n}
2536 levels will not be printed. The range for @var{n} is zero-based.
2537
2538 @item --dwarf-start=@var{n}
2539 Print only DIEs beginning with the DIE numbered @var{n}. This is only
2540 useful with @option{--dwarf=info}.
2541
2542 If specified, this option will suppress printing of any header
2543 information and all DIEs before the DIE numbered @var{n}. Only
2544 siblings and children of the specified DIE will be printed.
2545
2546 This can be used in conjunction with @option{--dwarf-depth}.
2547
2548 @item --dwarf-check
2549 Enable additional checks for consistency of Dwarf information.
2550
2551 @item -G
2552 @itemx --stabs
2553 @cindex stab
2554 @cindex .stab
2555 @cindex debug symbols
2556 @cindex ELF object file format
2557 Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
2558 contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
2559 ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
2560 @code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
2561 section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
2562 interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
2563 output.
2564
2565 @item --start-address=@var{address}
2566 @cindex start-address
2567 Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
2568 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
2569
2570 @item --stop-address=@var{address}
2571 @cindex stop-address
2572 Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
2573 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
2574
2575 @item -t
2576 @itemx --syms
2577 @cindex symbol table entries, printing
2578 Print the symbol table entries of the file.
2579 This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program,
2580 although the display format is different. The format of the output
2581 depends upon the format of the file being dumped, but there are two main
2582 types. One looks like this:
2583
2584 @smallexample
2585 [ 4](sec 3)(fl 0x00)(ty 0)(scl 3) (nx 1) 0x00000000 .bss
2586 [ 6](sec 1)(fl 0x00)(ty 0)(scl 2) (nx 0) 0x00000000 fred
2587 @end smallexample
2588
2589 where the number inside the square brackets is the number of the entry
2590 in the symbol table, the @var{sec} number is the section number, the
2591 @var{fl} value are the symbol's flag bits, the @var{ty} number is the
2592 symbol's type, the @var{scl} number is the symbol's storage class and
2593 the @var{nx} value is the number of auxilary entries associated with
2594 the symbol. The last two fields are the symbol's value and its name.
2595
2596 The other common output format, usually seen with ELF based files,
2597 looks like this:
2598
2599 @smallexample
2600 00000000 l d .bss 00000000 .bss
2601 00000000 g .text 00000000 fred
2602 @end smallexample
2603
2604 Here the first number is the symbol's value (sometimes refered to as
2605 its address). The next field is actually a set of characters and
2606 spaces indicating the flag bits that are set on the symbol. These
2607 characters are described below. Next is the section with which the
2608 symbol is associated or @emph{*ABS*} if the section is absolute (ie
2609 not connected with any section), or @emph{*UND*} if the section is
2610 referenced in the file being dumped, but not defined there.
2611
2612 After the section name comes another field, a number, which for common
2613 symbols is the alignment and for other symbol is the size. Finally
2614 the symbol's name is displayed.
2615
2616 The flag characters are divided into 7 groups as follows:
2617 @table @code
2618 @item l
2619 @itemx g
2620 @itemx u
2621 @itemx !
2622 The symbol is a local (l), global (g), unique global (u), neither
2623 global nor local (a space) or both global and local (!). A
2624 symbol can be neither local or global for a variety of reasons, e.g.,
2625 because it is used for debugging, but it is probably an indication of
2626 a bug if it is ever both local and global. Unique global symbols are
2627 a GNU extension to the standard set of ELF symbol bindings. For such
2628 a symbol the dynamic linker will make sure that in the entire process
2629 there is just one symbol with this name and type in use.
2630
2631 @item w
2632 The symbol is weak (w) or strong (a space).
2633
2634 @item C
2635 The symbol denotes a constructor (C) or an ordinary symbol (a space).
2636
2637 @item W
2638 The symbol is a warning (W) or a normal symbol (a space). A warning
2639 symbol's name is a message to be displayed if the symbol following the
2640 warning symbol is ever referenced.
2641
2642 @item I
2643 @item i
2644 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol (I), a function
2645 to be evaluated during reloc processing (i) or a normal symbol (a
2646 space).
2647
2648 @item d
2649 @itemx D
2650 The symbol is a debugging symbol (d) or a dynamic symbol (D) or a
2651 normal symbol (a space).
2652
2653 @item F
2654 @item f
2655 @item O
2656 The symbol is the name of a function (F) or a file (f) or an object
2657 (O) or just a normal symbol (a space).
2658 @end table
2659
2660 @item -T
2661 @itemx --dynamic-syms
2662 @cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
2663 Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
2664 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
2665 libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
2666 program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
2667
2668 The output format is similar to that produced by the @option{--syms}
2669 option, except that an extra field is inserted before the symbol's
2670 name, giving the version information associated with the symbol.
2671 If the version is the default version to be used when resolving
2672 unversioned references to the symbol then it's displayed as is,
2673 otherwise it's put into parentheses.
2674
2675 @item --special-syms
2676 When displaying symbols include those which the target considers to be
2677 special in some way and which would not normally be of interest to the
2678 user.
2679
2680 @item -V
2681 @itemx --version
2682 Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
2683
2684 @item -x
2685 @itemx --all-headers
2686 @cindex all header information, object file
2687 @cindex header information, all
2688 Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
2689 relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
2690 @option{-a -f -h -p -r -t}.
2691
2692 @item -w
2693 @itemx --wide
2694 @cindex wide output, printing
2695 Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
2696 Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
2697
2698 @item -z
2699 @itemx --disassemble-zeroes
2700 Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
2701 option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
2702 any other data.
2703 @end table
2704
2705 @c man end
2706
2707 @ignore
2708 @c man begin SEEALSO objdump
2709 nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2710 @c man end
2711 @end ignore
2712
2713 @node ranlib
2714 @chapter ranlib
2715
2716 @kindex ranlib
2717 @cindex archive contents
2718 @cindex symbol index
2719
2720 @c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
2721
2722 @smallexample
2723 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
2724 ranlib [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{-DhHvVt}] @var{archive}
2725 @c man end
2726 @end smallexample
2727
2728 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
2729
2730 @command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
2731 stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
2732 member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
2733
2734 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
2735
2736 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
2737 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
2738 their placement in the archive.
2739
2740 The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
2741 @command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
2742 @xref{ar}.
2743
2744 @c man end
2745
2746 @c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
2747
2748 @table @env
2749 @item -h
2750 @itemx -H
2751 @itemx --help
2752 Show usage information for @command{ranlib}.
2753
2754 @item -v
2755 @itemx -V
2756 @itemx --version
2757 Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
2758
2759 @item -D
2760 @cindex deterministic archives
2761 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
2762 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. The symbol map archive member's
2763 header will show zero for the UID, GID, and timestamp. When this
2764 option is used, multiple runs will produce identical output files.
2765
2766 If @file{binutils} was configured with
2767 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by
2768 default. It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, described
2769 below.
2770
2771 @item -t
2772 Update the timestamp of the symbol map of an archive.
2773
2774 @item -U
2775 @cindex deterministic archives
2776 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
2777 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
2778 inverse of the @samp{-D} option, above: the archive index will get
2779 actual UID, GID, timestamp, and file mode values.
2780
2781 If @file{binutils} was configured @emph{without}
2782 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by
2783 default.
2784
2785 @end table
2786
2787 @c man end
2788
2789 @ignore
2790 @c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
2791 ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2792 @c man end
2793 @end ignore
2794
2795 @node size
2796 @chapter size
2797
2798 @kindex size
2799 @cindex section sizes
2800
2801 @c man title size list section sizes and total size.
2802
2803 @smallexample
2804 @c man begin SYNOPSIS size
2805 size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
2806 [@option{--help}]
2807 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
2808 [@option{--common}]
2809 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
2810 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2811 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
2812 @c man end
2813 @end smallexample
2814
2815 @c man begin DESCRIPTION size
2816
2817 The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
2818 size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
2819 argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
2820 object file or each module in an archive.
2821
2822 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
2823 If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
2824
2825 @c man end
2826
2827 @c man begin OPTIONS size
2828
2829 The command line options have the following meanings:
2830
2831 @table @env
2832 @item -A
2833 @itemx -B
2834 @itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
2835 @cindex @command{size} display format
2836 Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
2837 @command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
2838 or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
2839 @option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
2840 Berkeley's.
2841 @c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
2842 @c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
2843 @c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
2844
2845 Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
2846 @command{size}:
2847 @smallexample
2848 $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
2849 text data bss dec hex filename
2850 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
2851 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
2852 @end smallexample
2853
2854 @noindent
2855 This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
2856
2857 @smallexample
2858 $ size --format=SysV ranlib size
2859 ranlib :
2860 section size addr
2861 .text 294880 8192
2862 .data 81920 303104
2863 .bss 11592 385024
2864 Total 388392
2865
2866
2867 size :
2868 section size addr
2869 .text 294880 8192
2870 .data 81920 303104
2871 .bss 11888 385024
2872 Total 388688
2873 @end smallexample
2874
2875 @item --help
2876 Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
2877
2878 @item -d
2879 @itemx -o
2880 @itemx -x
2881 @itemx --radix=@var{number}
2882 @cindex @command{size} number format
2883 @cindex radix for section sizes
2884 Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
2885 section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
2886 (@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
2887 @option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
2888 values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
2889 radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
2890 octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
2891
2892 @item --common
2893 Print total size of common symbols in each file. When using Berkeley
2894 format these are included in the bss size.
2895
2896 @item -t
2897 @itemx --totals
2898 Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2899
2900 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
2901 @cindex object code format
2902 Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
2903 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
2904 automatically recognize many formats.
2905 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2906
2907 @item -V
2908 @itemx --version
2909 Display the version number of @command{size}.
2910 @end table
2911
2912 @c man end
2913
2914 @ignore
2915 @c man begin SEEALSO size
2916 ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2917 @c man end
2918 @end ignore
2919
2920 @node strings
2921 @chapter strings
2922 @kindex strings
2923 @cindex listings strings
2924 @cindex printing strings
2925 @cindex strings, printing
2926
2927 @c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2928
2929 @smallexample
2930 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
2931 strings [@option{-afovV}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2932 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2933 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2934 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2935 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2936 [@option{-T} @var{bfdname}] [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2937 [@option{-w}] [@option{--include-all-whitespace}]
2938 [@option{-s}] [@option{--output-separator}@var{sep_string}]
2939 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
2940 @c man end
2941 @end smallexample
2942
2943 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2944
2945 For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the
2946 printable character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or
2947 the number given with the options below) and are followed by an
2948 unprintable character.
2949
2950 Depending upon how the strings program was configured it will default
2951 to either displaying all the printable sequences that it can find in
2952 each file, or only those sequences that are in loadable, initialized
2953 data sections. If the file type in unrecognizable, or if strings is
2954 reading from stdin then it will always display all of the printable
2955 sequences that it can find.
2956
2957 For backwards compatibility any file that occurs after a command line
2958 option of just @option{-} will also be scanned in full, regardless of
2959 the presence of any @option{-d} option.
2960
2961 @command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of
2962 non-text files.
2963
2964 @c man end
2965
2966 @c man begin OPTIONS strings
2967
2968 @table @env
2969 @item -a
2970 @itemx --all
2971 @itemx -
2972 Scan the whole file, regardless of what sections it contains or
2973 whether those sections are loaded or initialized. Normally this is
2974 the default behaviour, but strings can be configured so that the
2975 @option{-d} is the default instead.
2976
2977 The @option{-} option is position dependent and forces strings to
2978 perform full scans of any file that is mentioned after the @option{-}
2979 on the command line, even if the @option{-d} option has been
2980 specified.
2981
2982 @item -d
2983 @itemx --data
2984 Only print strings from initialized, loaded data sections in the
2985 file. This may reduce the amount of garbage in the output, but it
2986 also exposes the strings program to any security flaws that may be
2987 present in the BFD library used to scan and load sections. Strings
2988 can be configured so that this option is the default behaviour. In
2989 such cases the @option{-a} option can be used to avoid using the BFD
2990 library and instead just print all of the strings found in the file.
2991
2992 @item -f
2993 @itemx --print-file-name
2994 Print the name of the file before each string.
2995
2996 @item --help
2997 Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2998
2999 @item -@var{min-len}
3000 @itemx -n @var{min-len}
3001 @itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
3002 Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
3003 long, instead of the default 4.
3004
3005 @item -o
3006 Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
3007 act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
3008 ways, we simply chose one.
3009
3010 @item -t @var{radix}
3011 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
3012 Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
3013 character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
3014 octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
3015
3016 @item -e @var{encoding}
3017 @itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
3018 Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
3019 Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
3020 characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
3021 single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
3022 16-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
3023 littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings. (@samp{l}
3024 and @samp{b} apply to, for example, Unicode UTF-16/UCS-2 encodings).
3025
3026 @item -T @var{bfdname}
3027 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3028 @cindex object code format
3029 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
3030 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3031
3032 @item -v
3033 @itemx -V
3034 @itemx --version
3035 Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
3036
3037 @item -w
3038 @itemx --include-all-whitespace
3039 By default tab and space characters are included in the strings that
3040 are displayed, but other whitespace characters, such a newlines and
3041 carriage returns, are not. The @option{-w} option changes this so
3042 that all whitespace characters are considered to be part of a string.
3043
3044 @item -s
3045 @itemx --output-separator
3046 By default, output strings are delimited by a new-line. This option
3047 allows you to supply any string to be used as the output record
3048 separator. Useful with --include-all-whitespace where strings
3049 may contain new-lines internally.
3050 @end table
3051
3052 @c man end
3053
3054 @ignore
3055 @c man begin SEEALSO strings
3056 ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
3057 and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3058 @c man end
3059 @end ignore
3060
3061 @node strip
3062 @chapter strip
3063
3064 @kindex strip
3065 @cindex removing symbols
3066 @cindex discarding symbols
3067 @cindex symbols, discarding
3068
3069 @c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
3070
3071 @smallexample
3072 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
3073 strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
3074 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3075 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3076 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
3077 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
3078 [@option{--strip-dwo}]
3079 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
3080 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
3081 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
3082 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
3083 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
3084 [@option{--remove-relocations=}@var{sectionpattern}]
3085 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
3086 [@option{-D}|@option{--enable-deterministic-archives}]
3087 [@option{-U}|@option{--disable-deterministic-archives}]
3088 [@option{--keep-file-symbols}]
3089 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
3090 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3091 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
3092 @var{objfile}@dots{}
3093 @c man end
3094 @end smallexample
3095
3096 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
3097
3098 @sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
3099 @var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
3100 At least one object file must be given.
3101
3102 @command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
3103 rather than writing modified copies under different names.
3104
3105 @c man end
3106
3107 @c man begin OPTIONS strip
3108
3109 @table @env
3110 @item -F @var{bfdname}
3111 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3112 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
3113 code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
3114 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3115
3116 @item --help
3117 Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
3118
3119 @item --info
3120 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
3121
3122 @item -I @var{bfdname}
3123 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
3124 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
3125 code format @var{bfdname}.
3126 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3127
3128 @item -O @var{bfdname}
3129 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
3130 Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
3131 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3132
3133 @item -R @var{sectionname}
3134 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
3135 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file, in
3136 addition to whatever sections would otherwise be removed. This
3137 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
3138 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. The wildcard
3139 character @samp{*} may be given at the end of @var{sectionname}. If
3140 so, then any section starting with @var{sectionname} will be removed.
3141
3142 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
3143 point (!) then matching sections will not be removed even if an
3144 earlier use of @option{--remove-section} on the same command line
3145 would otherwise remove it. For example:
3146
3147 @smallexample
3148 --remove-section=.text.* --remove-section=!.text.foo
3149 @end smallexample
3150
3151 will remove all sections matching the pattern '.text.*', but will not
3152 remove the section '.text.foo'.
3153
3154 @item --remove-relocations=@var{sectionpattern}
3155 Remove relocations from the output file for any section matching
3156 @var{sectionpattern}. This option may be given more than once. Note
3157 that using this option inappropriately may make the output file
3158 unusable. Wildcard characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
3159 For example:
3160
3161 @smallexample
3162 --remove-relocations=.text.*
3163 @end smallexample
3164
3165 will remove the relocations for all sections matching the patter
3166 '.text.*'.
3167
3168 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
3169 point (!) then matching sections will not have their relocation
3170 removed even if an earlier use of @option{--remove-relocations} on the
3171 same command line would otherwise cause the relocations to be removed.
3172 For example:
3173
3174 @smallexample
3175 --remove-relocations=.text.* --remove-relocations=!.text.foo
3176 @end smallexample
3177
3178 will remove all relocations for sections matching the pattern
3179 '.text.*', but will not remove relocations for the section
3180 '.text.foo'.
3181
3182 @item -s
3183 @itemx --strip-all
3184 Remove all symbols.
3185
3186 @item -g
3187 @itemx -S
3188 @itemx -d
3189 @itemx --strip-debug
3190 Remove debugging symbols only.
3191
3192 @item --strip-dwo
3193 Remove the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections, leaving the
3194 remaining debugging sections and all symbols intact.
3195 See the description of this option in the @command{objcopy} section
3196 for more information.
3197
3198 @item --strip-unneeded
3199 Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
3200
3201 @item -K @var{symbolname}
3202 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
3203 When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
3204 normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
3205
3206 @item -N @var{symbolname}
3207 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
3208 Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
3209 given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
3210 @option{-K}.
3211
3212 @item -o @var{file}
3213 Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
3214 existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
3215 argument may be specified.
3216
3217 @item -p
3218 @itemx --preserve-dates
3219 Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
3220
3221 @item -D
3222 @itemx --enable-deterministic-archives
3223 @cindex deterministic archives
3224 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
3225 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When copying archive members
3226 and writing the archive index, use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps,
3227 and use consistent file modes for all files.
3228
3229 If @file{binutils} was configured with
3230 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
3231 It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, below.
3232
3233 @item -U
3234 @itemx --disable-deterministic-archives
3235 @cindex deterministic archives
3236 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
3237 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
3238 inverse of the @option{-D} option, above: when copying archive members
3239 and writing the archive index, use their actual UID, GID, timestamp,
3240 and file mode values.
3241
3242 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
3243 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
3244
3245 @item -w
3246 @itemx --wildcard
3247 Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
3248 line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
3249 square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
3250 name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
3251 point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
3252 For example:
3253
3254 @smallexample
3255 -w -K !foo -K fo*
3256 @end smallexample
3257
3258 would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
3259 ``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
3260
3261 @item -x
3262 @itemx --discard-all
3263 Remove non-global symbols.
3264
3265 @item -X
3266 @itemx --discard-locals
3267 Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
3268 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
3269
3270 @item --keep-file-symbols
3271 When stripping a file, perhaps with @option{--strip-debug} or
3272 @option{--strip-unneeded}, retain any symbols specifying source file names,
3273 which would otherwise get stripped.
3274
3275 @item --only-keep-debug
3276 Strip a file, emptying the contents of any sections that would not be
3277 stripped by @option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections
3278 intact. In ELF files, this preserves all the note sections in the
3279 output as well.
3280
3281 Note - the section headers of the stripped sections are preserved,
3282 including their sizes, but the contents of the section are discarded.
3283 The section headers are preserved so that other tools can match up the
3284 debuginfo file with the real executable, even if that executable has
3285 been relocated to a different address space.
3286
3287 The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
3288 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
3289 stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
3290 distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
3291 needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
3292 to create these files is as follows:
3293
3294 @enumerate
3295 @item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
3296 @code{foo} then...
3297 @item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
3298 create a file containing the debugging info.
3299 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
3300 stripped executable.
3301 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
3302 to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
3303 @end enumerate
3304
3305 Note---the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
3306 file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
3307 optional. You could instead do this:
3308
3309 @enumerate
3310 @item Link the executable as normal.
3311 @item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
3312 @item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
3313 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
3314 @end enumerate
3315
3316 i.e., the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
3317 full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
3318 @option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
3319
3320 Note---this switch is only intended for use on fully linked files. It
3321 does not make sense to use it on object files where the debugging
3322 information may be incomplete. Besides the gnu_debuglink feature
3323 currently only supports the presence of one filename containing
3324 debugging information, not multiple filenames on a one-per-object-file
3325 basis.
3326
3327 @item -V
3328 @itemx --version
3329 Show the version number for @command{strip}.
3330
3331 @item -v
3332 @itemx --verbose
3333 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
3334 archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
3335 @end table
3336
3337 @c man end
3338
3339 @ignore
3340 @c man begin SEEALSO strip
3341 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3342 @c man end
3343 @end ignore
3344
3345 @node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
3346 @chapter c++filt
3347
3348 @kindex c++filt
3349 @cindex demangling C++ symbols
3350
3351 @c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
3352
3353 @smallexample
3354 @c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
3355 c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscore}]
3356 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscore}]
3357 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
3358 [@option{-t}|@option{--types}]
3359 [@option{-i}|@option{--no-verbose}]
3360 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
3361 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
3362 @c man end
3363 @end smallexample
3364
3365 @c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
3366
3367 @kindex cxxfilt
3368 The C++ and Java languages provide function overloading, which means
3369 that you can write many functions with the same name, providing that
3370 each function takes parameters of different types. In order to be
3371 able to distinguish these similarly named functions C++ and Java
3372 encode them into a low-level assembler name which uniquely identifies
3373 each different version. This process is known as @dfn{mangling}. The
3374 @command{c++filt}
3375 @footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
3376 MS-DOS this program is named @command{CXXFILT}.}
3377 program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
3378 names into user-level names so that they can be read.
3379
3380 Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
3381 dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential mangled name.
3382 If the name decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the
3383 low-level name in the output, otherwise the original word is output.
3384 In this way you can pass an entire assembler source file, containing
3385 mangled names, through @command{c++filt} and see the same source file
3386 containing demangled names.
3387
3388 You can also use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols by
3389 passing them on the command line:
3390
3391 @example
3392 c++filt @var{symbol}
3393 @end example
3394
3395 If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
3396 names from the standard input instead. All the results are printed on
3397 the standard output. The difference between reading names from the
3398 command line versus reading names from the standard input is that
3399 command line arguments are expected to be just mangled names and no
3400 checking is performed to separate them from surrounding text. Thus
3401 for example:
3402
3403 @smallexample
3404 c++filt -n _Z1fv
3405 @end smallexample
3406
3407 will work and demangle the name to ``f()'' whereas:
3408
3409 @smallexample
3410 c++filt -n _Z1fv,
3411 @end smallexample
3412
3413 will not work. (Note the extra comma at the end of the mangled
3414 name which makes it invalid). This command however will work:
3415
3416 @smallexample
3417 echo _Z1fv, | c++filt -n
3418 @end smallexample
3419
3420 and will display ``f(),'', i.e., the demangled name followed by a
3421 trailing comma. This behaviour is because when the names are read
3422 from the standard input it is expected that they might be part of an
3423 assembler source file where there might be extra, extraneous
3424 characters trailing after a mangled name. For example:
3425
3426 @smallexample
3427 .type _Z1fv, @@function
3428 @end smallexample
3429
3430 @c man end
3431
3432 @c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
3433
3434 @table @env
3435 @item -_
3436 @itemx --strip-underscore
3437 On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
3438 of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
3439 name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
3440 @command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
3441
3442 @item -n
3443 @itemx --no-strip-underscore
3444 Do not remove the initial underscore.
3445
3446 @item -p
3447 @itemx --no-params
3448 When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
3449 the function's parameters.
3450
3451 @item -t
3452 @itemx --types
3453 Attempt to demangle types as well as function names. This is disabled
3454 by default since mangled types are normally only used internally in
3455 the compiler, and they can be confused with non-mangled names. For example,
3456 a function called ``a'' treated as a mangled type name would be
3457 demangled to ``signed char''.
3458
3459 @item -i
3460 @itemx --no-verbose
3461 Do not include implementation details (if any) in the demangled
3462 output.
3463
3464 @item -s @var{format}
3465 @itemx --format=@var{format}
3466 @command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
3467 different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
3468 method it uses:
3469
3470 @table @code
3471 @item auto
3472 Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
3473 @item gnu
3474 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
3475 @item lucid
3476 the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
3477 @item arm
3478 the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
3479 @item hp
3480 the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
3481 @item edg
3482 the one used by the EDG compiler
3483 @item gnu-v3
3484 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
3485 @item java
3486 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
3487 @item gnat
3488 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
3489 @end table
3490
3491 @item --help
3492 Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
3493
3494 @item --version
3495 Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
3496 @end table
3497
3498 @c man end
3499
3500 @ignore
3501 @c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
3502 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3503 @c man end
3504 @end ignore
3505
3506 @quotation
3507 @emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
3508 user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
3509 a command-line option may be required in the future to decode a name
3510 passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
3511
3512 @example
3513 c++filt @var{symbol}
3514 @end example
3515
3516 @noindent
3517 may in a future release become
3518
3519 @example
3520 c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
3521 @end example
3522 @end quotation
3523
3524 @node addr2line
3525 @chapter addr2line
3526
3527 @kindex addr2line
3528 @cindex address to file name and line number
3529
3530 @c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
3531
3532 @smallexample
3533 @c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
3534 addr2line [@option{-a}|@option{--addresses}]
3535 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
3536 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
3537 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
3538 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
3539 [@option{-i}|@option{--inlines}]
3540 [@option{-p}|@option{--pretty-print}]
3541 [@option{-j}|@option{--section=}@var{name}]
3542 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3543 [addr addr @dots{}]
3544 @c man end
3545 @end smallexample
3546
3547 @c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
3548
3549 @command{addr2line} translates addresses into file names and line numbers.
3550 Given an address in an executable or an offset in a section of a relocatable
3551 object, it uses the debugging information to figure out which file name and
3552 line number are associated with it.
3553
3554 The executable or relocatable object to use is specified with the @option{-e}
3555 option. The default is the file @file{a.out}. The section in the relocatable
3556 object to use is specified with the @option{-j} option.
3557
3558 @command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
3559
3560 In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
3561 and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
3562 address.
3563
3564 In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
3565 standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
3566 address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
3567 in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
3568
3569 The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. By default
3570 each input address generates one line of output.
3571
3572 Two options can generate additional lines before each
3573 @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line (in that order).
3574
3575 If the @option{-a} option is used then a line with the input address
3576 is displayed.
3577
3578 If the @option{-f} option is used, then a line with the
3579 @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} is displayed. This is the name of the function
3580 containing the address.
3581
3582 One option can generate additional lines after the
3583 @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line.
3584
3585 If the @option{-i} option is used and the code at the given address is
3586 present there because of inlining by the compiler then additional
3587 lines are displayed afterwards. One or two extra lines (if the
3588 @option{-f} option is used) are displayed for each inlined function.
3589
3590 Alternatively if the @option{-p} option is used then each input
3591 address generates a single, long, output line containing the address,
3592 the function name, the file name and the line number. If the
3593 @option{-i} option has also been used then any inlined functions will
3594 be displayed in the same manner, but on separate lines, and prefixed
3595 by the text @samp{(inlined by)}.
3596
3597 If the file name or function name can not be determined,
3598 @command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
3599 line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
3600
3601 @c man end
3602
3603 @c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
3604
3605 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3606 equivalent.
3607
3608 @table @env
3609 @item -a
3610 @itemx --addresses
3611 Display the address before the function name, file and line number
3612 information. The address is printed with a @samp{0x} prefix to easily
3613 identify it.
3614
3615 @item -b @var{bfdname}
3616 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3617 @cindex object code format
3618 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
3619 @var{bfdname}.
3620
3621 @item -C
3622 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
3623 @cindex demangling in objdump
3624 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
3625 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
3626 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
3627 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
3628 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
3629 for more information on demangling.
3630
3631 @item -e @var{filename}
3632 @itemx --exe=@var{filename}
3633 Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
3634 translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
3635
3636 @item -f
3637 @itemx --functions
3638 Display function names as well as file and line number information.
3639
3640 @item -s
3641 @itemx --basenames
3642 Display only the base of each file name.
3643
3644 @item -i
3645 @itemx --inlines
3646 If the address belongs to a function that was inlined, the source
3647 information for all enclosing scopes back to the first non-inlined
3648 function will also be printed. For example, if @code{main} inlines
3649 @code{callee1} which inlines @code{callee2}, and address is from
3650 @code{callee2}, the source information for @code{callee1} and @code{main}
3651 will also be printed.
3652
3653 @item -j
3654 @itemx --section
3655 Read offsets relative to the specified section instead of absolute addresses.
3656
3657 @item -p
3658 @itemx --pretty-print
3659 Make the output more human friendly: each location are printed on one line.
3660 If option @option{-i} is specified, lines for all enclosing scopes are
3661 prefixed with @samp{(inlined by)}.
3662 @end table
3663
3664 @c man end
3665
3666 @ignore
3667 @c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
3668 Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3669 @c man end
3670 @end ignore
3671
3672 @node nlmconv
3673 @chapter nlmconv
3674
3675 @command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
3676 Loadable Module.
3677
3678 @ignore
3679 @command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
3680 files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
3681 object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
3682 @command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
3683 format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
3684 with the above formats.}.
3685 @end ignore
3686
3687 @quotation
3688 @emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
3689 utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
3690 @end quotation
3691
3692 @c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
3693
3694 @smallexample
3695 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
3696 nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3697 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3698 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
3699 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
3700 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3701 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
3702 @c man end
3703 @end smallexample
3704
3705 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
3706
3707 @command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
3708 @var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
3709 reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
3710 on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
3711 @samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
3712 Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
3713 Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
3714 @command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
3715 @var{infile};
3716 @ifclear man
3717 see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
3718 @end ifclear
3719
3720 @command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
3721 more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
3722 file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
3723 In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
3724
3725 @c man end
3726
3727 @c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
3728
3729 @table @env
3730 @item -I @var{bfdname}
3731 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
3732 Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
3733 the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
3734 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3735
3736 @item -O @var{bfdname}
3737 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
3738 Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
3739 format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
3740 output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
3741 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3742
3743 @item -T @var{headerfile}
3744 @itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
3745 Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
3746 writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
3747 @samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
3748 Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
3749 from Novell, Inc.
3750
3751 @item -d
3752 @itemx --debug
3753 Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
3754
3755 @item -l @var{linker}
3756 @itemx --linker=@var{linker}
3757 Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
3758 relative pathname.
3759
3760 @item -h
3761 @itemx --help
3762 Prints a usage summary.
3763
3764 @item -V
3765 @itemx --version
3766 Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
3767 @end table
3768
3769 @c man end
3770
3771 @ignore
3772 @c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
3773 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3774 @c man end
3775 @end ignore
3776
3777 @node windmc
3778 @chapter windmc
3779
3780 @command{windmc} may be used to generator Windows message resources.
3781
3782 @quotation
3783 @emph{Warning:} @command{windmc} is not always built as part of the binary
3784 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
3785 @end quotation
3786
3787 @c man title windmc generates Windows message resources.
3788
3789 @smallexample
3790 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windmc
3791 windmc [options] input-file
3792 @c man end
3793 @end smallexample
3794
3795 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windmc
3796
3797 @command{windmc} reads message definitions from an input file (.mc) and
3798 translate them into a set of output files. The output files may be of
3799 four kinds:
3800
3801 @table @code
3802 @item h
3803 A C header file containing the message definitions.
3804
3805 @item rc
3806 A resource file compilable by the @command{windres} tool.
3807
3808 @item bin
3809 One or more binary files containing the resource data for a specific
3810 message language.
3811
3812 @item dbg
3813 A C include file that maps message id's to their symbolic name.
3814 @end table
3815
3816 The exact description of these different formats is available in
3817 documentation from Microsoft.
3818
3819 When @command{windmc} converts from the @code{mc} format to the @code{bin}
3820 format, @code{rc}, @code{h}, and optional @code{dbg} it is acting like the
3821 Windows Message Compiler.
3822
3823 @c man end
3824
3825 @c man begin OPTIONS windmc
3826
3827 @table @env
3828 @item -a
3829 @itemx --ascii_in
3830 Specifies that the input file specified is ASCII. This is the default
3831 behaviour.
3832
3833 @item -A
3834 @itemx --ascii_out
3835 Specifies that messages in the output @code{bin} files should be in ASCII
3836 format.
3837
3838 @item -b
3839 @itemx --binprefix
3840 Specifies that @code{bin} filenames should have to be prefixed by the
3841 basename of the source file.
3842
3843 @item -c
3844 @itemx --customflag
3845 Sets the customer bit in all message id's.
3846
3847 @item -C @var{codepage}
3848 @itemx --codepage_in @var{codepage}
3849 Sets the default codepage to be used to convert input file to UTF16. The
3850 default is ocdepage 1252.
3851
3852 @item -d
3853 @itemx --decimal_values
3854 Outputs the constants in the header file in decimal. Default is using
3855 hexadecimal output.
3856
3857 @item -e @var{ext}
3858 @itemx --extension @var{ext}
3859 The extension for the header file. The default is .h extension.
3860
3861 @item -F @var{target}
3862 @itemx --target @var{target}
3863 Specify the BFD format to use for a bin file as output. This
3864 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
3865 of supported targets. Normally @command{windmc} will use the default
3866 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
3867 @ifclear man
3868 @ref{Target Selection}.
3869 @end ifclear
3870
3871 @item -h @var{path}
3872 @itemx --headerdir @var{path}
3873 The target directory of the generated header file. The default is the
3874 current directory.
3875
3876 @item -H
3877 @itemx --help
3878 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3879
3880 @item -m @var{characters}
3881 @itemx --maxlength @var{characters}
3882 Instructs @command{windmc} to generate a warning if the length
3883 of any message exceeds the number specified.
3884
3885 @item -n
3886 @itemx --nullterminate
3887 Terminate message text in @code{bin} files by zero. By default they are
3888 terminated by CR/LF.
3889
3890 @item -o
3891 @itemx --hresult_use
3892 Not yet implemented. Instructs @code{windmc} to generate an OLE2 header
3893 file, using HRESULT definitions. Status codes are used if the flag is not
3894 specified.
3895
3896 @item -O @var{codepage}
3897 @itemx --codepage_out @var{codepage}
3898 Sets the default codepage to be used to output text files. The default
3899 is ocdepage 1252.
3900
3901 @item -r @var{path}
3902 @itemx --rcdir @var{path}
3903 The target directory for the generated @code{rc} script and the generated
3904 @code{bin} files that the resource compiler script includes. The default
3905 is the current directory.
3906
3907 @item -u
3908 @itemx --unicode_in
3909 Specifies that the input file is UTF16.
3910
3911 @item -U
3912 @itemx --unicode_out
3913 Specifies that messages in the output @code{bin} file should be in UTF16
3914 format. This is the default behaviour.
3915
3916 @item -v
3917 @item --verbose
3918 Enable verbose mode.
3919
3920 @item -V
3921 @item --version
3922 Prints the version number for @command{windmc}.
3923
3924 @item -x @var{path}
3925 @itemx --xdgb @var{path}
3926 The path of the @code{dbg} C include file that maps message id's to the
3927 symbolic name. No such file is generated without specifying the switch.
3928 @end table
3929
3930 @c man end
3931
3932 @ignore
3933 @c man begin SEEALSO windmc
3934 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3935 @c man end
3936 @end ignore
3937
3938 @node windres
3939 @chapter windres
3940
3941 @command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
3942
3943 @quotation
3944 @emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
3945 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
3946 @end quotation
3947
3948 @c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
3949
3950 @smallexample
3951 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
3952 windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
3953 @c man end
3954 @end smallexample
3955
3956 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
3957
3958 @command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
3959 an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
3960
3961 @table @code
3962 @item rc
3963 A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
3964
3965 @item res
3966 A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
3967
3968 @item coff
3969 A COFF object or executable.
3970 @end table
3971
3972 The exact description of these different formats is available in
3973 documentation from Microsoft.
3974
3975 When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
3976 format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
3977 @command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
3978 format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
3979
3980 When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
3981 but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
3982 @code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
3983 will instead include the file contents.
3984
3985 If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
3986 guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
3987 A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
3988 file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
3989 @code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
3990 @file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
3991
3992 If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
3993 in @code{rc} format to standard output.
3994
3995 The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
3996 to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
3997 your application. This will make the resources described in the
3998 @code{rc} file available to Windows.
3999
4000 @c man end
4001
4002 @c man begin OPTIONS windres
4003
4004 @table @env
4005 @item -i @var{filename}
4006 @itemx --input @var{filename}
4007 The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
4008 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
4009 name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
4010 read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
4011 standard input.
4012
4013 @item -o @var{filename}
4014 @itemx --output @var{filename}
4015 The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
4016 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
4017 for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
4018 non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
4019 @command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
4020 for compatibility with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
4021 accepted, but its use is not recommended.
4022
4023 @item -J @var{format}
4024 @itemx --input-format @var{format}
4025 The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
4026 @samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
4027 guess, as described above.
4028
4029 @item -O @var{format}
4030 @itemx --output-format @var{format}
4031 The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
4032 @samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
4033 @command{windres} will guess, as described above.
4034
4035 @item -F @var{target}
4036 @itemx --target @var{target}
4037 Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
4038 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
4039 of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
4040 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
4041 @ifclear man
4042 @ref{Target Selection}.
4043 @end ifclear
4044
4045 @item --preprocessor @var{program}
4046 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
4047 preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
4048 to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
4049 argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
4050
4051 @item --preprocessor-arg @var{option}
4052 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through
4053 the C preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify additional
4054 text to be passed to preprocessor on its command line.
4055 This option can be used multiple times to add multiple options to the
4056 preprocessor command line.
4057
4058 @item -I @var{directory}
4059 @itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
4060 Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4061 @command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
4062 option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
4063 files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
4064 matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as described in the @option{-J}
4065 option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
4066 @option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
4067 directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
4068 to disable the backward compatibility.
4069
4070 @item -D @var{target}
4071 @itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
4072 Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
4073 @code{rc} file.
4074
4075 @item -U @var{target}
4076 @itemx --undefine @var{sym}
4077 Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
4078 @code{rc} file.
4079
4080 @item -r
4081 Ignored for compatibility with rc.
4082
4083 @item -v
4084 Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
4085 didn't specify one.
4086
4087 @item -c @var{val}
4088 @item --codepage @var{val}
4089 Specify the default codepage to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4090 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal prefixed by @samp{0x} or decimal
4091 codepage code. The valid range is from zero up to 0xffff, but the
4092 validity of the codepage is host and configuration dependent.
4093
4094 @item -l @var{val}
4095 @item --language @var{val}
4096 Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4097 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
4098 the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
4099
4100 @item --use-temp-file
4101 Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
4102 the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
4103 on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
4104 Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
4105 go the console).
4106
4107 @item --no-use-temp-file
4108 Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
4109 This is the default behaviour.
4110
4111 @item -h
4112 @item --help
4113 Prints a usage summary.
4114
4115 @item -V
4116 @item --version
4117 Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
4118
4119 @item --yydebug
4120 If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
4121 this will turn on parser debugging.
4122 @end table
4123
4124 @c man end
4125
4126 @ignore
4127 @c man begin SEEALSO windres
4128 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4129 @c man end
4130 @end ignore
4131
4132 @node dlltool
4133 @chapter dlltool
4134 @cindex DLL
4135 @kindex dlltool
4136
4137 @command{dlltool} is used to create the files needed to create dynamic
4138 link libraries (DLLs) on systems which understand PE format image
4139 files such as Windows. A DLL contains an export table which contains
4140 information that the runtime loader needs to resolve references from a
4141 referencing program.
4142
4143 The export table is generated by this program by reading in a
4144 @file{.def} file or scanning the @file{.a} and @file{.o} files which
4145 will be in the DLL. A @file{.o} file can contain information in
4146 special @samp{.drectve} sections with export information.
4147
4148 @quotation
4149 @emph{Note:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the
4150 binary utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which
4151 support DLLs.
4152 @end quotation
4153
4154 @c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
4155
4156 @smallexample
4157 @c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
4158 dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
4159 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
4160 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
4161 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
4162 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
4163 [@option{-y}|@option{--output-delaylib} @var{library-file-name}]
4164 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
4165 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
4166 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
4167 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
4168 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
4169 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}]
4170 [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{--add-stdcall-underscore}]
4171 [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}] [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
4172 [@option{-p}|@option{--ext-prefix-alias} @var{prefix}]
4173 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}]
4174 [@option{--use-nul-prefixed-import-tables}]
4175 [@option{-I}|@option{--identify} @var{library-file-name}] [@option{--identify-strict}]
4176 [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
4177 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-t}|@option{--temp-prefix} @var{prefix}]
4178 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
4179 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
4180 [@option{--no-leading-underscore}] [@option{--leading-underscore}]
4181 [object-file @dots{}]
4182 @c man end
4183 @end smallexample
4184
4185 @c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
4186
4187 @command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
4188 @option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
4189 line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
4190 been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
4191 has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
4192 has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
4193 @option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
4194 dlltool.
4195
4196 When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
4197 to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
4198 these files.
4199
4200 The first file is a @file{.def} file which specifies which functions are
4201 exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
4202 is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
4203 to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
4204 will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
4205 those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
4206 put entries for them in the @file{.def} file it creates.
4207
4208 In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
4209 have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
4210 section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
4211 asm() operator:
4212
4213 @smallexample
4214 asm (".section .drectve");
4215 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
4216
4217 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
4218 @end smallexample
4219
4220 The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
4221 is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
4222 handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
4223 binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
4224 @command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
4225
4226 The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
4227 will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL (an `import
4228 library'). This file can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to
4229 dlltool when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
4230
4231 If the @option{-y} option is specified, dlltool generates a delay-import
4232 library that can be used instead of the normal import library to allow
4233 a program to link to the dll only as soon as an imported function is
4234 called for the first time. The resulting executable will need to be
4235 linked to the static delayimp library containing __delayLoadHelper2(),
4236 which in turn will import LoadLibraryA and GetProcAddress from kernel32.
4237
4238 @command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
4239 exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
4240 and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
4241 used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
4242 and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
4243 assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
4244 these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
4245 specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
4246 temporary object files it used to build the library.
4247
4248 Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
4249 also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
4250 that uses that DLL:
4251
4252 @smallexample
4253 gcc -c dll.c
4254 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
4255 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
4256 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
4257 @end smallexample
4258
4259
4260 @command{dlltool} may also be used to query an existing import library
4261 to determine the name of the DLL to which it is associated. See the
4262 description of the @option{-I} or @option{--identify} option.
4263
4264 @c man end
4265
4266 @c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
4267
4268 The command line options have the following meanings:
4269
4270 @table @env
4271
4272 @item -d @var{filename}
4273 @itemx --input-def @var{filename}
4274 @cindex input .def file
4275 Specifies the name of a @file{.def} file to be read in and processed.
4276
4277 @item -b @var{filename}
4278 @itemx --base-file @var{filename}
4279 @cindex base files
4280 Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
4281 contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
4282 exports file generated by dlltool.
4283
4284 @item -e @var{filename}
4285 @itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
4286 Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
4287
4288 @item -z @var{filename}
4289 @itemx --output-def @var{filename}
4290 Specifies the name of the @file{.def} file to be created by dlltool.
4291
4292 @item -l @var{filename}
4293 @itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
4294 Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
4295
4296 @item -y @var{filename}
4297 @itemx --output-delaylib @var{filename}
4298 Specifies the name of the delay-import library file to be created by dlltool.
4299
4300 @item --export-all-symbols
4301 Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
4302 files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
4303 are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
4304 option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
4305 @option{--exclude-symbols} option.
4306
4307 @item --no-export-all-symbols
4308 Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input @file{.def} file or in
4309 @samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
4310 behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
4311 attributes in the source code.
4312
4313 @item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
4314 Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
4315 separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
4316 contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
4317 @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
4318
4319 @item --no-default-excludes
4320 When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
4321 exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
4322 exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
4323 @samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
4324 to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
4325 when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
4326
4327 @item -S @var{path}
4328 @itemx --as @var{path}
4329 Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
4330 to create the exports file.
4331
4332 @item -f @var{options}
4333 @itemx --as-flags @var{options}
4334 Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
4335 assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
4336 the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
4337 and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
4338 occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
4339 pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
4340 double quotes.
4341
4342 @item -D @var{name}
4343 @itemx --dll-name @var{name}
4344 Specifies the name to be stored in the @file{.def} file as the name of
4345 the DLL when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not
4346 present, then the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be
4347 used as the name of the DLL.
4348
4349 @item -m @var{machine}
4350 @itemx -machine @var{machine}
4351 Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
4352 built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
4353 it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
4354 normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
4355 contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
4356
4357 @item -a
4358 @itemx --add-indirect
4359 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4360 should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
4361 referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
4362 means!
4363
4364 @item -U
4365 @itemx --add-underscore
4366 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4367 should prepend an underscore to the names of @emph{all} exported symbols.
4368
4369 @item --no-leading-underscore
4370 @item --leading-underscore
4371 Specifies whether standard symbol should be forced to be prefixed, or
4372 not.
4373
4374 @item --add-stdcall-underscore
4375 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4376 should prepend an underscore to the names of exported @emph{stdcall}
4377 functions. Variable names and non-stdcall function names are not modified.
4378 This option is useful when creating GNU-compatible import libs for third
4379 party DLLs that were built with MS-Windows tools.
4380
4381 @item -k
4382 @itemx --kill-at
4383 Specifies that @samp{@@<number>} suffixes should be omitted from the names
4384 of stdcall functions that will be imported from the DLL. This is
4385 useful when creating an import library for a DLL which exports stdcall
4386 functions but without the usual @samp{@@<number>} symbol name suffix.
4387
4388 This does not change the naming of symbols provided by the import library
4389 to programs linked against it, but only the entries in the import table
4390 (ie the .idata section).
4391
4392 @item -A
4393 @itemx --add-stdcall-alias
4394 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4395 should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
4396 in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
4397
4398 @item -p
4399 @itemx --ext-prefix-alias @var{prefix}
4400 Causes @command{dlltool} to create external aliases for all DLL
4401 imports with the specified prefix. The aliases are created for both
4402 external and import symbols with no leading underscore.
4403
4404 @item -x
4405 @itemx --no-idata4
4406 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4407 files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
4408 with certain operating systems.
4409
4410 @item --use-nul-prefixed-import-tables
4411 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4412 files it should prefix the @code{.idata4} and @code{.idata5} by zero an
4413 element. This emulates old gnu import library generation of
4414 @code{dlltool}. By default this option is turned off.
4415
4416 @item -c
4417 @itemx --no-idata5
4418 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4419 files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
4420 with certain operating systems.
4421
4422 @item -I @var{filename}
4423 @itemx --identify @var{filename}
4424 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should inspect the import library
4425 indicated by @var{filename} and report, on @code{stdout}, the name(s)
4426 of the associated DLL(s). This can be performed in addition to any
4427 other operations indicated by the other options and arguments.
4428 @command{dlltool} fails if the import library does not exist or is not
4429 actually an import library. See also @option{--identify-strict}.
4430
4431 @item --identify-strict
4432 Modifies the behavior of the @option{--identify} option, such
4433 that an error is reported if @var{filename} is associated with
4434 more than one DLL.
4435
4436 @item -i
4437 @itemx --interwork
4438 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
4439 file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
4440 between ARM and Thumb code.
4441
4442 @item -n
4443 @itemx --nodelete
4444 Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
4445 create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
4446 also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
4447 file.
4448
4449 @item -t @var{prefix}
4450 @itemx --temp-prefix @var{prefix}
4451 Makes @command{dlltool} use @var{prefix} when constructing the names of
4452 temporary assembler and object files. By default, the temp file prefix
4453 is generated from the pid.
4454
4455 @item -v
4456 @itemx --verbose
4457 Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
4458
4459 @item -h
4460 @itemx --help
4461 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
4462
4463 @item -V
4464 @itemx --version
4465 Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
4466
4467 @end table
4468
4469 @c man end
4470
4471 @menu
4472 * def file format:: The format of the dlltool @file{.def} file
4473 @end menu
4474
4475 @node def file format
4476 @section The format of the @command{dlltool} @file{.def} file
4477
4478 A @file{.def} file contains any number of the following commands:
4479
4480 @table @asis
4481
4482 @item @code{NAME} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
4483 The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.exe}.
4484
4485 @item @code{LIBRARY} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
4486 The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.dll}.
4487 Note: If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote. Otherwise
4488 this will fail due a necessary hack for libtool (see PR binutils/13710 for more
4489 details).
4490
4491 @item @code{EXPORTS ( ( (} @var{name1} @code{[ = } @var{name2} @code{] ) | ( } @var{name1} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) ) [ == } @var{its_name} @code{]}
4492 @item @code{[} @var{integer} @code{] [ NONAME ] [ CONSTANT ] [ DATA ] [ PRIVATE ] ) *}
4493 Declares @var{name1} as an exported symbol from the DLL, with optional
4494 ordinal number @var{integer}, or declares @var{name1} as an alias
4495 (forward) of the function @var{external-name} in the DLL.
4496 If @var{its_name} is specified, this name is used as string in export table.
4497 @var{module-name}.
4498 Note: The @code{EXPORTS} has to be the last command in .def file, as keywords
4499 are treated - beside @code{LIBRARY} - as simple name-identifiers.
4500 If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote it.
4501
4502 @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{]} *}
4503 Declares that @var{external-name} or the exported function whose
4504 ordinal number is @var{integer} is to be imported from the file
4505 @var{module-name}. If @var{internal-name} is specified then this is
4506 the name that the imported function will be referred to in the body of
4507 the DLL.
4508 If @var{its_name} is specified, this name is used as string in import table.
4509 Note: The @code{IMPORTS} has to be the last command in .def file, as keywords
4510 are treated - beside @code{LIBRARY} - as simple name-identifiers.
4511 If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote it.
4512
4513 @item @code{DESCRIPTION} @var{string}
4514 Puts @var{string} into the output @file{.exp} file in the
4515 @code{.rdata} section.
4516
4517 @item @code{STACKSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
4518 @item @code{HEAPSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
4519 Generates @code{--stack} or @code{--heap}
4520 @var{number-reserve},@var{number-commit} in the output @code{.drectve}
4521 section. The linker will see this and act upon it.
4522
4523 @item @code{CODE} @var{attr} @code{+}
4524 @item @code{DATA} @var{attr} @code{+}
4525 @item @code{SECTIONS (} @var{section-name} @var{attr}@code{ + ) *}
4526 Generates @code{--attr} @var{section-name} @var{attr} in the output
4527 @code{.drectve} section, where @var{attr} is one of @code{READ},
4528 @code{WRITE}, @code{EXECUTE} or @code{SHARED}. The linker will see
4529 this and act upon it.
4530
4531 @end table
4532
4533 @ignore
4534 @c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
4535 The Info pages for @file{binutils}.
4536 @c man end
4537 @end ignore
4538
4539 @node readelf
4540 @chapter readelf
4541
4542 @cindex ELF file information
4543 @kindex readelf
4544
4545 @c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
4546
4547 @smallexample
4548 @c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
4549 readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
4550 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
4551 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
4552 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
4553 [@option{-g}|@option{--section-groups}]
4554 [@option{-t}|@option{--section-details}]
4555 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
4556 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
4557 [@option{--dyn-syms}]
4558 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
4559 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
4560 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
4561 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
4562 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
4563 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
4564 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
4565 [@option{-x} <number or name>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number or name>]
4566 [@option{-p} <number or name>|@option{--string-dump=}<number or name>]
4567 [@option{-R} <number or name>|@option{--relocated-dump=}<number or name>]
4568 [@option{-z}|@option{--decompress}]
4569 [@option{-c}|@option{--archive-index}]
4570 [@option{-w[lLiaprmfFsoRt]}|
4571 @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]]
4572 [@option{--dwarf-depth=@var{n}}]
4573 [@option{--dwarf-start=@var{n}}]
4574 [@option{-I}|@option{--histogram}]
4575 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
4576 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
4577 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
4578 @var{elffile}@dots{}
4579 @c man end
4580 @end smallexample
4581
4582 @c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
4583
4584 @command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
4585 files. The options control what particular information to display.
4586
4587 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
4588 64-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
4589
4590 This program performs a similar function to @command{objdump} but it
4591 goes into more detail and it exists independently of the @sc{bfd}
4592 library, so if there is a bug in @sc{bfd} then readelf will not be
4593 affected.
4594
4595 @c man end
4596
4597 @c man begin OPTIONS readelf
4598
4599 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
4600 equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
4601 given.
4602
4603 @table @env
4604 @item -a
4605 @itemx --all
4606 Equivalent to specifying @option{--file-header},
4607 @option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
4608 @option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
4609 @option{--version-info}.
4610
4611 @item -h
4612 @itemx --file-header
4613 @cindex ELF file header information
4614 Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
4615 file.
4616
4617 @item -l
4618 @itemx --program-headers
4619 @itemx --segments
4620 @cindex ELF program header information
4621 @cindex ELF segment information
4622 Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
4623 has any.
4624
4625 @item -S
4626 @itemx --sections
4627 @itemx --section-headers
4628 @cindex ELF section information
4629 Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
4630 has any.
4631
4632 @item -g
4633 @itemx --section-groups
4634 @cindex ELF section group information
4635 Displays the information contained in the file's section groups, if it
4636 has any.
4637
4638 @item -t
4639 @itemx --section-details
4640 @cindex ELF section information
4641 Displays the detailed section information. Implies @option{-S}.
4642
4643 @item -s
4644 @itemx --symbols
4645 @itemx --syms
4646 @cindex ELF symbol table information
4647 Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
4648 If a symbol has version information associated with it then this is
4649 displayed as well. The version string is displayed as a suffix to the
4650 symbol name, preceeded by an @@ character. For example
4651 @samp{foo@@VER_1}. If the version is the default version to be used
4652 when resolving unversioned references to the symbol then it is
4653 displayed as a suffix preceeded by two @@ characters. For example
4654 @samp{foo@@@@VER_2}.
4655
4656 @item --dyn-syms
4657 @cindex ELF dynamic symbol table information
4658 Displays the entries in dynamic symbol table section of the file, if it
4659 has one. The output format is the same as the format used by the
4660 @option{--syms} option.
4661
4662 @item -e
4663 @itemx --headers
4664 Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
4665
4666 @item -n
4667 @itemx --notes
4668 @cindex ELF notes
4669 Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.
4670
4671 @item -r
4672 @itemx --relocs
4673 @cindex ELF reloc information
4674 Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
4675
4676 @item -u
4677 @itemx --unwind
4678 @cindex unwind information
4679 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
4680 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files, as well as ARM unwind tables
4681 (@code{.ARM.exidx} / @code{.ARM.extab}) are currently supported.
4682
4683 @item -d
4684 @itemx --dynamic
4685 @cindex ELF dynamic section information
4686 Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
4687
4688 @item -V
4689 @itemx --version-info
4690 @cindex ELF version sections information
4691 Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
4692 exist.
4693
4694 @item -A
4695 @itemx --arch-specific
4696 Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
4697 is any.
4698
4699 @item -D
4700 @itemx --use-dynamic
4701 When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
4702 symbol hash tables in the file's dynamic section, rather than the
4703 symbol table sections.
4704
4705 @item -x <number or name>
4706 @itemx --hex-dump=<number or name>
4707 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal bytes.
4708 A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
4709 any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.
4710
4711 @item -R <number or name>
4712 @itemx --relocated-dump=<number or name>
4713 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal
4714 bytes. A number identifies a particular section by index in the
4715 section table; any other string identifies all sections with that name
4716 in the object file. The contents of the section will be relocated
4717 before they are displayed.
4718
4719 @item -p <number or name>
4720 @itemx --string-dump=<number or name>
4721 Displays the contents of the indicated section as printable strings.
4722 A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
4723 any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.
4724
4725 @item -z
4726 @itemx --decompress
4727 Requests that the section(s) being dumped by @option{x}, @option{R} or
4728 @option{p} options are decompressed before being displayed. If the
4729 section(s) are not compressed then they are displayed as is.
4730
4731 @item -c
4732 @itemx --archive-index
4733 @cindex Archive file symbol index information
4734 Displays the file symbol index information contained in the header part
4735 of binary archives. Performs the same function as the @option{t}
4736 command to @command{ar}, but without using the BFD library. @xref{ar}.
4737
4738 @item -w[lLiaprmfFsoRt]
4739 @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]
4740 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
4741 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
4742 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
4743
4744 Note that there is no single letter option to display the content of
4745 trace sections or .gdb_index.
4746
4747 Note: the @option{=decodedline} option will display the interpreted
4748 contents of a .debug_line section whereas the @option{=rawline} option
4749 dumps the contents in a raw format.
4750
4751 Note: the @option{=frames-interp} option will display the interpreted
4752 contents of a .debug_frame section whereas the @option{=frames} option
4753 dumps the contents in a raw format.
4754
4755 Note: the output from the @option{=info} option can also be affected
4756 by the options @option{--dwarf-depth} and @option{--dwarf-start}.
4757
4758 @item --dwarf-depth=@var{n}
4759 Limit the dump of the @code{.debug_info} section to @var{n} children.
4760 This is only useful with @option{--debug-dump=info}. The default is
4761 to print all DIEs; the special value 0 for @var{n} will also have this
4762 effect.
4763
4764 With a non-zero value for @var{n}, DIEs at or deeper than @var{n}
4765 levels will not be printed. The range for @var{n} is zero-based.
4766
4767 @item --dwarf-start=@var{n}
4768 Print only DIEs beginning with the DIE numbered @var{n}. This is only
4769 useful with @option{--debug-dump=info}.
4770
4771 If specified, this option will suppress printing of any header
4772 information and all DIEs before the DIE numbered @var{n}. Only
4773 siblings and children of the specified DIE will be printed.
4774
4775 This can be used in conjunction with @option{--dwarf-depth}.
4776
4777 @item -I
4778 @itemx --histogram
4779 Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
4780 of the symbol tables.
4781
4782 @item -v
4783 @itemx --version
4784 Display the version number of readelf.
4785
4786 @item -W
4787 @itemx --wide
4788 Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
4789 @command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
4790 64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
4791 @command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
4792 single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
4793
4794 @item -H
4795 @itemx --help
4796 Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
4797
4798 @end table
4799
4800 @c man end
4801
4802 @ignore
4803 @c man begin SEEALSO readelf
4804 objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4805 @c man end
4806 @end ignore
4807
4808 @node elfedit
4809 @chapter elfedit
4810
4811 @cindex Update ELF header
4812 @kindex elfedit
4813
4814 @c man title elfedit Update the ELF header of ELF files.
4815
4816 @smallexample
4817 @c man begin SYNOPSIS elfedit
4818 elfedit [@option{--input-mach=}@var{machine}]
4819 [@option{--input-type=}@var{type}]
4820 [@option{--input-osabi=}@var{osabi}]
4821 @option{--output-mach=}@var{machine}
4822 @option{--output-type=}@var{type}
4823 @option{--output-osabi=}@var{osabi}
4824 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
4825 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}]
4826 @var{elffile}@dots{}
4827 @c man end
4828 @end smallexample
4829
4830 @c man begin DESCRIPTION elfedit
4831
4832 @command{elfedit} updates the ELF header of ELF files which have
4833 the matching ELF machine and file types. The options control how and
4834 which fields in the ELF header should be updated.
4835
4836 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the ELF files to be updated. 32-bit and
4837 64-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
4838 @c man end
4839
4840 @c man begin OPTIONS elfedit
4841
4842 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
4843 equivalent. At least one of the @option{--output-mach},
4844 @option{--output-type} and @option{--output-osabi} options must be given.
4845
4846 @table @env
4847
4848 @item --input-mach=@var{machine}
4849 Set the matching input ELF machine type to @var{machine}. If
4850 @option{--input-mach} isn't specified, it will match any ELF
4851 machine types.
4852
4853 The supported ELF machine types are, @var{i386}, @var{IAMCU}, @var{L1OM},
4854 @var{K1OM} and @var{x86-64}.
4855
4856 @item --output-mach=@var{machine}
4857 Change the ELF machine type in the ELF header to @var{machine}. The
4858 supported ELF machine types are the same as @option{--input-mach}.
4859
4860 @item --input-type=@var{type}
4861 Set the matching input ELF file type to @var{type}. If
4862 @option{--input-type} isn't specified, it will match any ELF file types.
4863
4864 The supported ELF file types are, @var{rel}, @var{exec} and @var{dyn}.
4865
4866 @item --output-type=@var{type}
4867 Change the ELF file type in the ELF header to @var{type}. The
4868 supported ELF types are the same as @option{--input-type}.
4869
4870 @item --input-osabi=@var{osabi}
4871 Set the matching input ELF file OSABI to @var{osabi}. If
4872 @option{--input-osabi} isn't specified, it will match any ELF OSABIs.
4873
4874 The supported ELF OSABIs are, @var{none}, @var{HPUX}, @var{NetBSD},
4875 @var{GNU}, @var{Linux} (alias for @var{GNU}),
4876 @var{Solaris}, @var{AIX}, @var{Irix},
4877 @var{FreeBSD}, @var{TRU64}, @var{Modesto}, @var{OpenBSD}, @var{OpenVMS},
4878 @var{NSK}, @var{AROS} and @var{FenixOS}.
4879
4880 @item --output-osabi=@var{osabi}
4881 Change the ELF OSABI in the ELF header to @var{osabi}. The
4882 supported ELF OSABI are the same as @option{--input-osabi}.
4883
4884 @item -v
4885 @itemx --version
4886 Display the version number of @command{elfedit}.
4887
4888 @item -h
4889 @itemx --help
4890 Display the command line options understood by @command{elfedit}.
4891
4892 @end table
4893
4894 @c man end
4895
4896 @ignore
4897 @c man begin SEEALSO elfedit
4898 readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4899 @c man end
4900 @end ignore
4901
4902 @node Common Options
4903 @chapter Common Options
4904
4905 The following command-line options are supported by all of the
4906 programs described in this manual.
4907
4908 @c man begin OPTIONS
4909 @table @env
4910 @include at-file.texi
4911 @c man end
4912
4913 @item --help
4914 Display the command-line options supported by the program.
4915
4916 @item --version
4917 Display the version number of the program.
4918
4919 @c man begin OPTIONS
4920 @end table
4921 @c man end
4922
4923 @node Selecting the Target System
4924 @chapter Selecting the Target System
4925
4926 You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
4927 binary file utilities, each in several ways:
4928
4929 @itemize @bullet
4930 @item
4931 the target
4932
4933 @item
4934 the architecture
4935 @end itemize
4936
4937 In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
4938 order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
4939 listed later.
4940
4941 The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
4942 programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
4943 @option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
4944 values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
4945 once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
4946 with the same type as the target system).
4947
4948 @menu
4949 * Target Selection::
4950 * Architecture Selection::
4951 @end menu
4952
4953 @node Target Selection
4954 @section Target Selection
4955
4956 A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
4957 supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
4958 A target selection may also have variations for different operating
4959 systems or architectures.
4960
4961 The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
4962 (the first column of output contains the relevant information).
4963
4964 Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
4965 @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
4966
4967 You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
4968 the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
4969 target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
4970 fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
4971 running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
4972 sources.
4973
4974 Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
4975 @samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
4976
4977 @subheading @command{objdump} Target
4978
4979 Ways to specify:
4980
4981 @enumerate
4982 @item
4983 command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
4984
4985 @item
4986 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4987
4988 @item
4989 deduced from the input file
4990 @end enumerate
4991
4992 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
4993
4994 Ways to specify:
4995
4996 @enumerate
4997 @item
4998 command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
4999
5000 @item
5001 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
5002
5003 @item
5004 deduced from the input file
5005 @end enumerate
5006
5007 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
5008
5009 Ways to specify:
5010
5011 @enumerate
5012 @item
5013 command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
5014
5015 @item
5016 the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
5017
5018 @item
5019 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
5020
5021 @item
5022 deduced from the input file
5023 @end enumerate
5024
5025 @subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
5026
5027 Ways to specify:
5028
5029 @enumerate
5030 @item
5031 command line option: @option{--target}
5032
5033 @item
5034 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
5035
5036 @item
5037 deduced from the input file
5038 @end enumerate
5039
5040 @node Architecture Selection
5041 @section Architecture Selection
5042
5043 An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
5044 to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
5045 processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
5046
5047 The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
5048 second column contains the relevant information).
5049
5050 Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
5051
5052 @subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
5053
5054 Ways to specify:
5055
5056 @enumerate
5057 @item
5058 command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
5059
5060 @item
5061 deduced from the input file
5062 @end enumerate
5063
5064 @subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
5065
5066 Ways to specify:
5067
5068 @enumerate
5069 @item
5070 deduced from the input file
5071 @end enumerate
5072
5073 @node Reporting Bugs
5074 @chapter Reporting Bugs
5075 @cindex bugs
5076 @cindex reporting bugs
5077
5078 Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
5079 reliable.
5080
5081 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
5082 it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
5083 to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
5084 utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
5085 maintenance.
5086
5087 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
5088 information that enables us to fix the bug.
5089
5090 @menu
5091 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
5092 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
5093 @end menu
5094
5095 @node Bug Criteria
5096 @section Have You Found a Bug?
5097 @cindex bug criteria
5098
5099 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
5100
5101 @itemize @bullet
5102 @cindex fatal signal
5103 @cindex crash
5104 @item
5105 If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
5106 a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
5107
5108 @cindex error on valid input
5109 @item
5110 If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
5111 bug.
5112
5113 @item
5114 If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
5115 improvement are welcome in any case.
5116 @end itemize
5117
5118 @node Bug Reporting
5119 @section How to Report Bugs
5120 @cindex bug reports
5121 @cindex bugs, reporting
5122
5123 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
5124 products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
5125 organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
5126
5127 You can find contact information for many support companies and
5128 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
5129 distribution.
5130
5131 @ifset BUGURL
5132 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
5133 utilities to @value{BUGURL}.
5134 @end ifset
5135
5136 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
5137 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
5138 fact or leave it out, state it!
5139
5140 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
5141 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
5142 assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
5143 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
5144 a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
5145 that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
5146 different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
5147 doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
5148 specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
5149 and the most helpful.
5150
5151 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
5152 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
5153 that the bug has not been reported previously.
5154
5155 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
5156 bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
5157 respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
5158 You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
5159
5160 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
5161
5162 @itemize @bullet
5163 @item
5164 The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
5165 with the @option{--version} argument.
5166
5167 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
5168 the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
5169
5170 @item
5171 Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
5172 made to the @code{BFD} library.
5173
5174 @item
5175 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
5176 version number.
5177
5178 @item
5179 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
5180 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
5181
5182 @item
5183 The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
5184 guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
5185 of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
5186
5187 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
5188 and then we might not encounter the bug.
5189
5190 @item
5191 A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
5192 bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
5193 generally most helpful to send the actual object files.
5194
5195 If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
5196 (e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
5197 may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
5198 this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
5199 whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
5200 @command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
5201
5202 @item
5203 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
5204 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
5205
5206 Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
5207 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
5208 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
5209 a chance to make a mistake.
5210
5211 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
5212 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
5213 copy of the utility is out of sync, or you have encountered a bug in
5214 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
5215 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
5216 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
5217 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
5218 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
5219
5220 @item
5221 If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
5222 generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
5223 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
5224 wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
5225 context, not by line number.
5226
5227 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
5228 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
5229 @end itemize
5230
5231 Here are some things that are not necessary:
5232
5233 @itemize @bullet
5234 @item
5235 A description of the envelope of the bug.
5236
5237 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
5238 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
5239 changes will not affect it.
5240
5241 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
5242 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
5243 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
5244 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
5245
5246 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
5247 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
5248 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
5249 less time, and so on.
5250
5251 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
5252 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
5253
5254 @item
5255 A patch for the bug.
5256
5257 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
5258 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
5259 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
5260 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
5261
5262 Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
5263 very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
5264 certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
5265 will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
5266 the bug is fixed.
5267
5268 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
5269 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
5270 help us to understand.
5271
5272 @item
5273 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
5274
5275 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
5276 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
5277 @end itemize
5278
5279 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5280 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5281
5282 @include fdl.texi
5283
5284 @node Binutils Index
5285 @unnumbered Binutils Index
5286
5287 @printindex cp
5288
5289 @bye
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