]> git.ipfire.org Git - thirdparty/binutils-gdb.git/blame_incremental - binutils/doc/binutils.texi
Add support to readelf to decode and display the contents of .debug_ranges
[thirdparty/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
... / ...
CommitLineData
1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
3@c Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4
5@include config.texi
6
7@ifinfo
8@format
9START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
10* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
11* ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives
12* nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files
13* objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files
14* objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files
15* ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents
16* readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
17* size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size
18* strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files
19* strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols
20* c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
21* cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
22* addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line
23* nlmconv: (binutils)nlmconv. Converts object code into an NLM
24* windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources
25* dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs
26END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
27@end format
28@end ifinfo
29
30@ifinfo
31@c man begin COPYRIGHT
32Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000,
332001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34
35Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
36under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
37or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
38with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
39Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
40section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
41
42@c man end
43@ignore
44Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
45results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
46notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
47(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
48
49@end ignore
50@end ifinfo
51
52@synindex ky cp
53@c
54@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
55@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", "readelf" and "ranlib".
56@c
57@c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001,
58@c 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59@c
60@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
61@c Free Documentation License.
62@c
63
64@setchapternewpage odd
65@settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
66@titlepage
67@finalout
68@title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
69@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
70@sp 1
71@subtitle May 1993
72@author Roland H. Pesch
73@author Jeffrey M. Osier
74@author Cygnus Support
75@page
76
77@tex
78{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
79\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
80@end tex
81
82@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
83Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998, 2000, 2001,
842002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
85
86 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
87 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
88 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
89 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
90 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
91 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
92
93@end titlepage
94
95@node Top
96@top Introduction
97
98@cindex version
99This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
100utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
101
102@iftex
103@table @code
104@item ar
105Create, modify, and extract from archives
106
107@item nm
108List symbols from object files
109
110@item objcopy
111Copy and translate object files
112
113@item objdump
114Display information from object files
115
116@item ranlib
117Generate index to archive contents
118
119@item readelf
120Display the contents of ELF format files.
121
122@item size
123List file section sizes and total size
124
125@item strings
126List printable strings from files
127
128@item strip
129Discard symbols
130
131@item c++filt
132Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
133@code{cxxfilt})
134
135@item addr2line
136Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
137
138@item nlmconv
139Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
140
141@item windres
142Manipulate Windows resources
143
144@item dlltool
145Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
146@end table
147@end iftex
148
149This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
150Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
151section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
152
153@menu
154* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
155* nm:: List symbols from object files
156* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
157* objdump:: Display information from object files
158* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
159* readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files.
160* size:: List section sizes and total size
161* strings:: List printable strings from files
162* strip:: Discard symbols
163* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
164* cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
165* addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
166* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
167* windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
168* dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
169* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
170* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
171* GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
172* Index:: Index
173@end menu
174
175@node ar
176@chapter ar
177
178@kindex ar
179@cindex archives
180@cindex collections of files
181
182@c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
183
184@smallexample
185ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
186ar -M [ <mri-script ]
187@end smallexample
188
189@c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
190
191The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
192archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
193other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
194the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
195
196The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
197group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
198extraction.
199
200@cindex name length
201@sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
202length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
203system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
204with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
205limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
206characters (typical of formats related to coff).
207
208@cindex libraries
209@command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
210are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
211subroutines.
212
213@cindex symbol index
214@command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
215object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
216Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
217makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
218An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
219allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
220their placement in the archive.
221
222You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
223table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
224@command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
225
226@cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
227@cindex @command{ar} compatibility
228@sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
229facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
230like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
231specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
232with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
233program.
234
235@c man end
236
237@menu
238* ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
239* ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
240@end menu
241
242@page
243@node ar cmdline
244@section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
245
246@smallexample
247@c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
248ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
249@c man end
250@end smallexample
251
252@cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
253When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
254arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
255(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
256@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
257
258Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
259specifying particular files to operate on.
260
261@c man begin OPTIONS ar
262
263@sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
264flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
265
266If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
267dash.
268
269@cindex operations on archive
270The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
271any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
272
273@table @samp
274@item d
275@cindex deleting from archive
276@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
277be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
278specify no files to delete.
279
280If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
281as it is deleted.
282
283@item m
284@cindex moving in archive
285Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
286
287The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
288programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
289than one member.
290
291If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
292@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
293you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
294specified place instead.
295
296@item p
297@cindex printing from archive
298@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
299output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
300name before copying its contents to standard output.
301
302If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
303printed.
304
305@item q
306@cindex quick append to archive
307@emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
308@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
309
310The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
311operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
312
313The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
314
315Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
316index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
317@command{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
318
319However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
320index, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} implements @samp{q} as a synonym for @samp{r}.
321
322@item r
323@cindex replacement in archive
324Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
325@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
326previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
327added.
328
329If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
330displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
331of the archive matching that name.
332
333By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
334use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
335placement relative to some existing member.
336
337The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
338output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
339@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
340deleted) or replaced.
341
342@item t
343@cindex contents of archive
344Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
345of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
346archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
347see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
348request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
349
350If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
351are listed.
352
353@cindex repeated names in archive
354@cindex name duplication in archive
355If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
356an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
357first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
358listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
359@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
360@c recent case in fact works the other way.
361
362@item x
363@cindex extract from archive
364@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
365use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
366@command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
367
368If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
369are extracted.
370
371@end table
372
373A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
374keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
375
376@table @samp
377@item a
378@cindex relative placement in archive
379Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
380archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
381member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
382@var{archive} specification.
383
384@item b
385Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
386archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
387member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
388@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
389
390@item c
391@cindex creating archives
392@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
393created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
394issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
395using this modifier.
396
397@item f
398Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
399names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
400not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
401this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
402names when putting them in the archive.
403
404@item i
405Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
406archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
407member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
408@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
409
410@item l
411This modifier is accepted but not used.
412@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
413@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
414
415@item N
416Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
417entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
418@var{count} of the given name from the archive.
419
420@item o
421@cindex dates in archive
422Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
423you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
424are stamped with the time of extraction.
425
426@item P
427Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
428@command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
429are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
430will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
431name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
432archive created by another tool.
433
434@item s
435@cindex writing archive index
436Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
437even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
438flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
439archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
440
441@item S
442@cindex not writing archive index
443Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
444large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
445with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
446@samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
447@samp{ranlib} on the archive.
448
449@item u
450@cindex updating an archive
451Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
452listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
453of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
454names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
455operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
456not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
457advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
458
459@item v
460This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
461operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
462when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
463
464@item V
465This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
466@end table
467
468@command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
469compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
470default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any of the other
471@samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support @option{-X32}
472which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
473
474@c man end
475
476@ignore
477@c man begin SEEALSO ar
478nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
479@c man end
480@end ignore
481
482@node ar scripts
483@section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
484
485@smallexample
486ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
487@end smallexample
488
489@cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
490@cindex scripts, @command{ar}
491If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
492can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
493form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
494directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
495input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
496errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
497issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
498on any error.
499
500The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
501to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
502over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
503transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
504written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
505
506The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
507@itemize @bullet
508@item
509commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
510is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
511shown in upper case for clarity.
512
513@item
514a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
515line.
516
517@item
518empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
519
520@item
521comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
522or @samp{;} is ignored.
523
524@item
525Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
526command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
527blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
528
529@item
530@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
531at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
532of the current command.
533@end itemize
534
535Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
536@command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
537
538@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
539a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
540
541@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
542to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
543archive.
544
545@table @code
546@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
547@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
548Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
549@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
550
551Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
552
553@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
554@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
555@c else like "ar q..."
556Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
557
558Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
559
560@item CLEAR
561Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
562any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
563effect) even if no current archive is specified.
564
565@item CREATE @var{archive}
566Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
567other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
568is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
569You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
570existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
571
572@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
573Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
574@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
575
576Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
577
578@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
579@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
580List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
581command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
582output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
583@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
584@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
585
586Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
587specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
588output to that file.
589
590@item END
591Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
592completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
593changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
594changes are lost.
595
596@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
597Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
598into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
599@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
600
601Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
602
603@ignore
604@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
605@item FULLDIR
606
607@item HELP
608@end ignore
609
610@item LIST
611Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
612regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
613tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
614enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
615
616Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
617
618@item OPEN @var{archive}
619Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
620many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
621will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
622
623@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
624In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
625the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
626To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
627the current archive, must exist.
628
629Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
630
631@item VERBOSE
632Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
633When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
634@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
635
636@item SAVE
637Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
638file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
639command.
640
641Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
642
643@end table
644
645@iftex
646@node ld
647@chapter ld
648@cindex linker
649@kindex ld
650The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
651@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
652@end iftex
653
654@node nm
655@chapter nm
656@cindex symbols
657@kindex nm
658
659@c man title nm list symbols from object files
660
661@smallexample
662@c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
663nm [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}] [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}]
664 [@option{-B}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]] [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}]
665 [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}] [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}]
666 [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}][@option{--special-syms}]
667 [@option{-n}|@option{-v}|@option{--numeric-sort}] [@option{-p}|@option{--no-sort}]
668 [@option{-r}|@option{--reverse-sort}] [@option{--size-sort}] [@option{-u}|@option{--undefined-only}]
669 [@option{-t} @var{radix}|@option{--radix=}@var{radix}] [@option{-P}|@option{--portability}]
670 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-f}@var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
671 [@option{--defined-only}] [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}] [@option{--no-demangle}]
672 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}] [@option{-X 32_64}] [@option{--help}] [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
673@c man end
674@end smallexample
675
676@c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
677@sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
678If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
679@file{a.out}.
680
681For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
682
683@itemize @bullet
684@item
685The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
686hexadecimal by default.
687
688@item
689The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
690well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
691local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
692
693@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
694@c would be nice.
695@table @code
696@item A
697The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
698linking.
699
700@item B
701The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
702
703@item C
704The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
705linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
706symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
707references.
708@ifclear man
709For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
710--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
711@end ifclear
712
713@item D
714The symbol is in the initialized data section.
715
716@item G
717The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
718object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
719such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
720
721@item I
722The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a @sc{gnu}
723extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
724
725@item N
726The symbol is a debugging symbol.
727
728@item R
729The symbol is in a read only data section.
730
731@item S
732The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
733
734@item T
735The symbol is in the text (code) section.
736
737@item U
738The symbol is undefined.
739
740@item V
741The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
742a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
743When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
744the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
745
746@item W
747The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
748weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
749defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
750When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
751the value of the symbol is determined in a system-specific manner without
752error. Uppercase indicates that a default value has been specified.
753
754@item -
755The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
756next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
757the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
758@ifclear man
759For more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
760``stabs'' debug format}.
761@end ifclear
762
763@item ?
764The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
765@end table
766
767@item
768The symbol name.
769@end itemize
770
771@c man end
772
773@c man begin OPTIONS nm
774The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
775equivalent.
776
777@table @env
778@item -A
779@itemx -o
780@itemx --print-file-name
781@cindex input file name
782@cindex file name
783@cindex source file name
784Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
785in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
786before all of its symbols.
787
788@item -a
789@itemx --debug-syms
790@cindex debugging symbols
791Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
792listed.
793
794@item -B
795@cindex @command{nm} format
796@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
797The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
798
799@item -C
800@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
801@cindex demangling in nm
802Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
803Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
804makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
805mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
806choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
807for more information on demangling.
808
809@item --no-demangle
810Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
811
812@item -D
813@itemx --dynamic
814@cindex dynamic symbols
815Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
816only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
817libraries.
818
819@item -f @var{format}
820@itemx --format=@var{format}
821@cindex @command{nm} format
822@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
823Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
824@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
825Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
826either upper or lower case.
827
828@item -g
829@itemx --extern-only
830@cindex external symbols
831Display only external symbols.
832
833@item -l
834@itemx --line-numbers
835@cindex symbol line numbers
836For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
837line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
838address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
839number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
840information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
841
842@item -n
843@itemx -v
844@itemx --numeric-sort
845Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
846by their names.
847
848@item -p
849@itemx --no-sort
850@cindex sorting symbols
851Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
852encountered.
853
854@item -P
855@itemx --portability
856Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
857Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
858
859@item -S
860@itemx --print-size
861Print size, not the value, of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output format.
862
863@item -s
864@itemx --print-armap
865@cindex symbol index, listing
866When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
867(stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
868contain definitions for which names.
869
870@item -r
871@itemx --reverse-sort
872Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
873last come first.
874
875@item --size-sort
876Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
877the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
878value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used the size of the symbol
879is printed, rather than the value, and @samp{-S} must be used in order
880both size and value to be printed.
881
882@item --special-syms
883Display symbols which have a target-specific special meaning. These
884symbols are usually used by the target for some special processing and
885are not normally helpful when included included in the normal symbol
886lists. For example for ARM targets this option would skip the mapping
887symbols used to mark transistions between ARM code, THUMB code and
888data.
889
890@item -t @var{radix}
891@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
892Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
893@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
894
895@item --target=@var{bfdname}
896@cindex object code format
897Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
898@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
899
900@item -u
901@itemx --undefined-only
902@cindex external symbols
903@cindex undefined symbols
904Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
905
906@item --defined-only
907@cindex external symbols
908@cindex undefined symbols
909Display only defined symbols for each object file.
910
911@item -V
912@itemx --version
913Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
914
915@item -X
916This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
917@command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
918@option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
919to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
920
921@item --help
922Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
923@end table
924
925@c man end
926
927@ignore
928@c man begin SEEALSO nm
929ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
930@c man end
931@end ignore
932
933@node objcopy
934@chapter objcopy
935
936@c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
937
938@smallexample
939@c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
940objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
941 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
942 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
943 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
944 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
945 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
946 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
947 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
948 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
949 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
950 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
951 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
952 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
953 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
954 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
955 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
956 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
957 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
958 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
959 [@option{--debugging}]
960 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
961 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
962 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
963 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
964 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
965 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
966 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
967 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
968 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
969 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
970 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
971 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
972 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
973 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
974 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
975 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
976 [@option{--weaken}]
977 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
978 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
979 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
980 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
981 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
982 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
983 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
984 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
985 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
986 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
987 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
988 [@option{--writable-text}]
989 [@option{--readonly-text}]
990 [@option{--pure}]
991 [@option{--impure}]
992 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
993 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
994 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
995 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
996@c man end
997@end smallexample
998
999@c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
1000The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
1001file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
1002read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
1003file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
1004exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
1005Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
1006between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
1007between any two formats may not work as expected.
1008
1009@command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
1010deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
1011translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
1012and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1013explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1014
1015@command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
1016target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1017
1018@command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1019output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1020@command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1021a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1022relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1023the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1024
1025When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1026use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1027some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1028information that is not needed by the binary file.
1029
1030Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1031files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1032@command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1033same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1034
1035@c man end
1036
1037@c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1038
1039@table @env
1040@item @var{infile}
1041@itemx @var{outfile}
1042The input and output files, respectively.
1043If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1044temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1045the name of @var{infile}.
1046
1047@item -I @var{bfdname}
1048@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1049Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1050attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1051
1052@item -O @var{bfdname}
1053@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1054Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1055@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1056
1057@item -F @var{bfdname}
1058@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1059Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1060file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1061translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1062
1063@item -B @var{bfdarch}
1064@itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1065Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1066In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1067option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1068can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1069symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1070called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1071_binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1072an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1073
1074@item -j @var{sectionname}
1075@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1076Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1077This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1078inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1079
1080@item -R @var{sectionname}
1081@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1082Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1083option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1084inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1085
1086@item -S
1087@itemx --strip-all
1088Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1089
1090@item -g
1091@itemx --strip-debug
1092Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
1093
1094@item --strip-unneeded
1095Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1096
1097@item -K @var{symbolname}
1098@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1099Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1100be given more than once.
1101
1102@item -N @var{symbolname}
1103@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1104Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1105may be given more than once.
1106
1107@item -G @var{symbolname}
1108@itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1109Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1110to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1111be given more than once.
1112
1113@item -L @var{symbolname}
1114@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1115Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1116visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1117
1118@item -W @var{symbolname}
1119@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1120Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1121
1122@item -w
1123@itemx --wildcard
1124Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1125line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1126square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1127name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1128point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1129For example:
1130
1131@smallexample
1132 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1133@end smallexample
1134
1135would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1136except for the symbol ``foo''.
1137
1138@item -x
1139@itemx --discard-all
1140Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1141@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1142
1143@item -X
1144@itemx --discard-locals
1145Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1146(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1147
1148@item -b @var{byte}
1149@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1150Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1151affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
1152where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
1153option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1154to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1155target.
1156
1157@item -i @var{interleave}
1158@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1159Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1160copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1161@command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1162@option{--byte}.
1163
1164@item -p
1165@itemx --preserve-dates
1166Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1167as those of the input file.
1168
1169@item --debugging
1170Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1171because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1172conversion process can be time consuming.
1173
1174@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1175Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1176the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1177the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1178space created with @var{val}.
1179
1180@item --pad-to @var{address}
1181Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1182done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1183filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1184
1185@item --set-start @var{val}
1186Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1187formats support setting the start address.
1188
1189@item --change-start @var{incr}
1190@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1191@cindex changing start address
1192Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1193formats support setting the start address.
1194
1195@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1196@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1197@cindex changing object addresses
1198Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1199address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1200section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1201relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1202certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1203that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1204
1205@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1206@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1207@cindex changing section address
1208Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1209@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1210@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1211section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1212above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1213be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1214
1215@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1216@cindex changing section LMA
1217Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1218address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1219program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1220is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1221especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1222different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1223@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1224section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1225above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1226will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1227
1228@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1229@cindex changing section VMA
1230Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1231address is the address where the section will be located once the
1232program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1233address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1234memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1235ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1236is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1237from the section address. See the comments under
1238@option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1239the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1240@option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1241
1242@item --change-warnings
1243@itemx --adjust-warnings
1244If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1245@option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1246exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1247
1248@item --no-change-warnings
1249@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1250Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1251@option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1252if the named section does not exist.
1253
1254@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1255Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1256comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1257@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1258@samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1259@samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1260does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1261@samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1262the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1263formats.
1264
1265@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1266Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1267contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1268size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1269works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1270
1271@item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1272Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1273changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1274the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1275the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1276executable.
1277
1278This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1279since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1280you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1281data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1282
1283@smallexample
1284 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1285 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1286 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1287@end smallexample
1288
1289@item --change-leading-char
1290Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1291symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1292often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1293change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1294object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1295character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1296character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1297appropriate.
1298
1299@item --remove-leading-char
1300If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1301character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1302most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1303remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1304if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1305different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1306@option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1307when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1308file.
1309
1310@item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1311Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1312being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1313crc fields.
1314
1315@item --srec-forceS3
1316Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1317creating S3-only record format.
1318
1319@item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1320Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1321when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1322source, and there are name collisions.
1323
1324@item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1325Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1326listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1327with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1328character. This option may be given more than once.
1329
1330@item --weaken
1331Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1332when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1333the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1334using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1335
1336@item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1337Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1338@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1339name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1340This option may be given more than once.
1341
1342@item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1343Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1344@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1345name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1346This option may be given more than once.
1347
1348@item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1349Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1350file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1351symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1352character. This option may be given more than once.
1353
1354@item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1355Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1356@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1357name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1358This option may be given more than once.
1359
1360@item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1361Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1362@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1363name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1364This option may be given more than once.
1365
1366@item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1367If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1368@var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1369a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1370new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1371being used.
1372
1373@item --writable-text
1374Mark the output text as writable. This option isn't meaningful for all
1375object file formats.
1376
1377@item --readonly-text
1378Make the output text write protected. This option isn't meaningful for all
1379object file formats.
1380
1381@item --pure
1382Mark the output file as demand paged. This option isn't meaningful for all
1383object file formats.
1384
1385@item --impure
1386Mark the output file as impure. This option isn't meaningful for all
1387object file formats.
1388
1389@item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1390Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1391
1392@item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1393Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1394
1395@item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1396Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1397@var{string}.
1398
1399@item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1400Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to @var{path-to-file}
1401and adds it to the output file.
1402
1403@item --only-keep-debug
1404Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
1405@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
1406
1407The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1408@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1409stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1410distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1411needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1412to create these files is as follows:
1413
1414@enumerate
1415@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1416@code{foo} then...
1417@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1418create a file containing the debugging info.
1419@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1420stripped executable.
1421@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1422to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1423@end enumerate
1424
1425Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1426file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1427optional. You could instead do this:
1428
1429@enumerate
1430@item Link the executable as normal.
1431@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1432@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1433@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1434@end enumerate
1435
1436ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
1437full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1438@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1439
1440@item -V
1441@itemx --version
1442Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
1443
1444@item -v
1445@itemx --verbose
1446Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1447archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1448
1449@item --help
1450Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
1451
1452@item --info
1453Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
1454@end table
1455
1456@c man end
1457
1458@ignore
1459@c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1460ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1461@c man end
1462@end ignore
1463
1464@node objdump
1465@chapter objdump
1466
1467@cindex object file information
1468@kindex objdump
1469
1470@c man title objdump display information from object files.
1471
1472@smallexample
1473@c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
1474objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1475 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1476 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1477 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1478 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1479 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1480 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1481 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1482 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1483 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
1484 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
1485 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1486 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1487 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1488 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1489 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1490 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1491 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1492 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1493 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1494 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1495 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1496 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1497 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1498 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1499 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1500 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1501 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1502 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1503 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1504 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1505 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
1506 [@option{--special-syms}]
1507 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1508 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
1509 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1510@c man end
1511@end smallexample
1512
1513@c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1514
1515@command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1516The options control what particular information to display. This
1517information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1518compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1519program to compile and work.
1520
1521@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1522specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1523object files.
1524
1525@c man end
1526
1527@c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1528
1529The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1530equivalent. At least one option from the list
1531@option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
1532
1533@table @env
1534@item -a
1535@itemx --archive-header
1536@cindex archive headers
1537If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1538header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1539information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1540the object file format of each archive member.
1541
1542@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1543@cindex section addresses in objdump
1544@cindex VMA in objdump
1545When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1546addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1547the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1548addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1549such as a.out.
1550
1551@item -b @var{bfdname}
1552@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1553@cindex object code format
1554Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1555@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1556automatically recognize many formats.
1557
1558For example,
1559@example
1560objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1561@end example
1562@noindent
1563displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1564@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
1565file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1566formats available with the @option{-i} option.
1567@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1568
1569@item -C
1570@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
1571@cindex demangling in objdump
1572Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1573Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1574makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1575mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1576choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1577for more information on demangling.
1578
1579@item -g
1580@itemx --debugging
1581Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1582information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1583Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1584Some other types are supported by @command{readelf -w}.
1585@xref{readelf}.
1586
1587@item -e
1588@itemx --debugging-tags
1589Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
1590with ctags tool.
1591
1592@item -d
1593@itemx --disassemble
1594@cindex disassembling object code
1595@cindex machine instructions
1596Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1597@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1598expected to contain instructions.
1599
1600@item -D
1601@itemx --disassemble-all
1602Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1603those expected to contain instructions.
1604
1605@item --prefix-addresses
1606When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1607the older disassembly format.
1608
1609@item -EB
1610@itemx -EL
1611@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1612@cindex endianness
1613@cindex disassembly endianness
1614Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1615disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1616does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1617
1618@item -f
1619@itemx --file-headers
1620@cindex object file header
1621Display summary information from the overall header of
1622each of the @var{objfile} files.
1623
1624@item --file-start-context
1625@cindex source code context
1626Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
1627(assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
1628context to the start of the file.
1629
1630@item -h
1631@itemx --section-headers
1632@itemx --headers
1633@cindex section headers
1634Display summary information from the section headers of the
1635object file.
1636
1637File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1638using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1639@command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1640store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1641although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1642-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1643Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1644target.
1645
1646@item -H
1647@itemx --help
1648Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
1649
1650@item -i
1651@itemx --info
1652@cindex architectures available
1653@cindex object formats available
1654Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1655for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
1656
1657@item -j @var{name}
1658@itemx --section=@var{name}
1659@cindex section information
1660Display information only for section @var{name}.
1661
1662@item -l
1663@itemx --line-numbers
1664@cindex source filenames for object files
1665Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1666source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1667Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
1668
1669@item -m @var{machine}
1670@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1671@cindex architecture
1672@cindex disassembly architecture
1673Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1674can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1675architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1676architectures with the @option{-i} option.
1677
1678@item -M @var{options}
1679@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1680Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1681some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
1682disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
1683can be placed together into a comma separated list.
1684
1685If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1686select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1687@option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
1688used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1689'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
1690@option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1691Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
1692just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1693
1694There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
1695by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1696use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
1697with the normal register names or the special register names).
1698
1699This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
1700disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
1701using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
1702useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1703compilers.
1704
1705For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1706switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1707following may be specified as a comma separated string.
1708@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
1709the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1710intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1711@option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1712address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
1713@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
1714option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
1715instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
1716suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1717
1718For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1719disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1720PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1721
1722For MIPS, this option controls the printing of register names in
1723disassembled instructions. Multiple selections from the
1724following may be specified as a comma separated string, and invalid
1725options are ignored:
1726
1727@table @code
1728@item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1729Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1730for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1731the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1732
1733@item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1734Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1735appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1736rather than names.
1737
1738@item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1739Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1740as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1741@var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1742the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1743
1744@item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1745Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1746as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1747@var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1748the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1749
1750@item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1751Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1752
1753@item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
1754Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1755as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
1756@end table
1757
1758For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1759@var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1760rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1761You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1762the @option{--help} option.
1763
1764@item -p
1765@itemx --private-headers
1766Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1767information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1768object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1769
1770@item -r
1771@itemx --reloc
1772@cindex relocation entries, in object file
1773Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1774@option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1775disassembly.
1776
1777@item -R
1778@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1779@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1780Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1781meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1782libraries.
1783
1784@item -s
1785@itemx --full-contents
1786@cindex sections, full contents
1787@cindex object file sections
1788Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
1789non-empty sections are displayed.
1790
1791@item -S
1792@itemx --source
1793@cindex source disassembly
1794@cindex disassembly, with source
1795Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1796@option{-d}.
1797
1798@item --show-raw-insn
1799When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1800in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1801@option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1802
1803@item --no-show-raw-insn
1804When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1805This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1806
1807@item -G
1808@itemx --stabs
1809@cindex stab
1810@cindex .stab
1811@cindex debug symbols
1812@cindex ELF object file format
1813Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1814contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1815ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1816@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1817section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1818interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
1819output.
1820@ifclear man
1821For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1822Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1823@end ifclear
1824
1825@item --start-address=@var{address}
1826@cindex start-address
1827Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1828of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1829
1830@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1831@cindex stop-address
1832Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1833of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1834
1835@item -t
1836@itemx --syms
1837@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1838Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1839This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1840
1841@item -T
1842@itemx --dynamic-syms
1843@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1844Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1845meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1846libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1847program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
1848
1849@item --special-syms
1850When displaying symbols include those which the target considers to be
1851special in some way and which would not normally be of interest to the
1852user.
1853
1854@item -V
1855@itemx --version
1856Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
1857
1858@item -x
1859@itemx --all-headers
1860@cindex all header information, object file
1861@cindex header information, all
1862Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1863relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1864@option{-a -f -h -p -r -t}.
1865
1866@item -w
1867@itemx --wide
1868@cindex wide output, printing
1869Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1870Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
1871
1872@item -z
1873@itemx --disassemble-zeroes
1874Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1875option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1876any other data.
1877@end table
1878
1879@c man end
1880
1881@ignore
1882@c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1883nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1884@c man end
1885@end ignore
1886
1887@node ranlib
1888@chapter ranlib
1889
1890@kindex ranlib
1891@cindex archive contents
1892@cindex symbol index
1893
1894@c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1895
1896@smallexample
1897@c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
1898ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
1899@c man end
1900@end smallexample
1901
1902@c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1903
1904@command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1905stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1906member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1907
1908You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1909
1910An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1911allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1912their placement in the archive.
1913
1914The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1915@command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1916@xref{ar}.
1917
1918@c man end
1919
1920@c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1921
1922@table @env
1923@item -v
1924@itemx -V
1925@itemx --version
1926Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
1927@end table
1928
1929@c man end
1930
1931@ignore
1932@c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1933ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1934@c man end
1935@end ignore
1936
1937@node size
1938@chapter size
1939
1940@kindex size
1941@cindex section sizes
1942
1943@c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1944
1945@smallexample
1946@c man begin SYNOPSIS size
1947size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
1948 [@option{--help}]
1949 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1950 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
1951 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1952 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
1953@c man end
1954@end smallexample
1955
1956@c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1957
1958The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1959size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1960argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1961object file or each module in an archive.
1962
1963@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1964If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1965
1966@c man end
1967
1968@c man begin OPTIONS size
1969
1970The command line options have the following meanings:
1971
1972@table @env
1973@item -A
1974@itemx -B
1975@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1976@cindex @command{size} display format
1977Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1978@command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
1979or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
1980@option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1981Berkeley's.
1982@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1983@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1984@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1985
1986Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1987@command{size}:
1988@smallexample
1989$ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1990text data bss dec hex filename
1991294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1992294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1993@end smallexample
1994
1995@noindent
1996This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1997
1998@smallexample
1999$ size --format=SysV ranlib size
2000ranlib :
2001section size addr
2002.text 294880 8192
2003.data 81920 303104
2004.bss 11592 385024
2005Total 388392
2006
2007
2008size :
2009section size addr
2010.text 294880 8192
2011.data 81920 303104
2012.bss 11888 385024
2013Total 388688
2014@end smallexample
2015
2016@item --help
2017Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
2018
2019@item -d
2020@itemx -o
2021@itemx -x
2022@itemx --radix=@var{number}
2023@cindex @command{size} number format
2024@cindex radix for section sizes
2025Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
2026section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
2027(@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
2028@option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
2029values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
2030radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
2031octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
2032
2033@item -t
2034@itemx --totals
2035Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2036
2037@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2038@cindex object code format
2039Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
2040@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
2041automatically recognize many formats.
2042@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2043
2044@item -V
2045@itemx --version
2046Display the version number of @command{size}.
2047@end table
2048
2049@c man end
2050
2051@ignore
2052@c man begin SEEALSO size
2053ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2054@c man end
2055@end ignore
2056
2057@node strings
2058@chapter strings
2059@kindex strings
2060@cindex listings strings
2061@cindex printing strings
2062@cindex strings, printing
2063
2064@c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2065
2066@smallexample
2067@c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
2068strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2069 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2070 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2071 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2072 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2073 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2074 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
2075@c man end
2076@end smallexample
2077
2078@c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2079
2080For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
2081character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
2082given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
2083character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
2084and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
2085the strings from the whole file.
2086
2087@command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
2088files.
2089
2090@c man end
2091
2092@c man begin OPTIONS strings
2093
2094@table @env
2095@item -a
2096@itemx --all
2097@itemx -
2098Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
2099scan the whole files.
2100
2101@item -f
2102@itemx --print-file-name
2103Print the name of the file before each string.
2104
2105@item --help
2106Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2107
2108@item -@var{min-len}
2109@itemx -n @var{min-len}
2110@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2111Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2112long, instead of the default 4.
2113
2114@item -o
2115Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
2116act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2117ways, we simply chose one.
2118
2119@item -t @var{radix}
2120@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2121Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2122character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2123octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2124
2125@item -e @var{encoding}
2126@itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2127Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
2128Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2129characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2130single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
213116-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2132littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
2133
2134@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2135@cindex object code format
2136Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2137@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2138
2139@item -v
2140@itemx --version
2141Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2142@end table
2143
2144@c man end
2145
2146@ignore
2147@c man begin SEEALSO strings
2148ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2149and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2150@c man end
2151@end ignore
2152
2153@node strip
2154@chapter strip
2155
2156@kindex strip
2157@cindex removing symbols
2158@cindex discarding symbols
2159@cindex symbols, discarding
2160
2161@c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2162
2163@smallexample
2164@c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2165strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2166 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2167 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2168 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
2169 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2170 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2171 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2172 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2173 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2174 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
2175 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
2176 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
2177 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2178 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
2179 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2180@c man end
2181@end smallexample
2182
2183@c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2184
2185@sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
2186@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2187At least one object file must be given.
2188
2189@command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
2190rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2191
2192@c man end
2193
2194@c man begin OPTIONS strip
2195
2196@table @env
2197@item -F @var{bfdname}
2198@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2199Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2200code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2201@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2202
2203@item --help
2204Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
2205
2206@item --info
2207Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2208
2209@item -I @var{bfdname}
2210@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2211Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2212code format @var{bfdname}.
2213@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2214
2215@item -O @var{bfdname}
2216@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2217Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2218@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2219
2220@item -R @var{sectionname}
2221@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2222Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2223option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2224inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2225
2226@item -s
2227@itemx --strip-all
2228Remove all symbols.
2229
2230@item -g
2231@itemx -S
2232@itemx -d
2233@itemx --strip-debug
2234Remove debugging symbols only.
2235
2236@item --strip-unneeded
2237Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2238
2239@item -K @var{symbolname}
2240@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2241Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2242be given more than once.
2243
2244@item -N @var{symbolname}
2245@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2246Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2247given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
2248@option{-K}.
2249
2250@item -o @var{file}
2251Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2252existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2253argument may be specified.
2254
2255@item -p
2256@itemx --preserve-dates
2257Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2258
2259@item -w
2260@itemx --wildcard
2261Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
2262line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
2263square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
2264name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
2265point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
2266For example:
2267
2268@smallexample
2269 -w -K !foo -K fo*
2270@end smallexample
2271
2272would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
2273``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
2274
2275@item -x
2276@itemx --discard-all
2277Remove non-global symbols.
2278
2279@item -X
2280@itemx --discard-locals
2281Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2282(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2283
2284@item --only-keep-debug
2285Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
2286@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
2287
2288The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
2289@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
2290stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
2291distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
2292needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
2293to create these files is as follows:
2294
2295@enumerate
2296@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
2297@code{foo} then...
2298@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
2299create a file containing the debugging info.
2300@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
2301stripped executable.
2302@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
2303to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
2304@end enumerate
2305
2306Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
2307file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
2308optional. You could instead do this:
2309
2310@enumerate
2311@item Link the executable as normal.
2312@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
2313@item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
2314@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
2315@end enumerate
2316
2317ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
2318full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
2319@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
2320
2321@item -V
2322@itemx --version
2323Show the version number for @command{strip}.
2324
2325@item -v
2326@itemx --verbose
2327Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2328archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2329@end table
2330
2331@c man end
2332
2333@ignore
2334@c man begin SEEALSO strip
2335the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2336@c man end
2337@end ignore
2338
2339@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
2340@chapter c++filt
2341
2342@kindex c++filt
2343@cindex demangling C++ symbols
2344
2345@c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2346
2347@smallexample
2348@c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
2349c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2350 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2351 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
2352 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
2353 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2354 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
2355@c man end
2356@end smallexample
2357
2358@c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2359
2360@kindex cxxfilt
2361The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2362that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2363takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2364are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
2365@dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
2366@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
2367MS-DOS this program is named @command{cxxfilt}.}
2368program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2369names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2370functions from clashing.
2371
2372Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2373dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2374label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2375name in the output.
2376
2377You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
2378
2379@example
2380c++filt @var{symbol}
2381@end example
2382
2383If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
2384names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2385standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2386
2387@c man end
2388
2389@c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2390
2391@table @env
2392@item -_
2393@itemx --strip-underscores
2394On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2395of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2396name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
2397@command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
2398
2399@item -j
2400@itemx --java
2401Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2402syntax.
2403
2404@item -n
2405@itemx --no-strip-underscores
2406Do not remove the initial underscore.
2407
2408@item -p
2409@itemx --no-params
2410When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
2411the function's parameters.
2412
2413@item -s @var{format}
2414@itemx --format=@var{format}
2415@command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2416different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
2417method it uses:
2418
2419@table @code
2420@item auto
2421Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
2422@item gnu
2423the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
2424@item lucid
2425the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
2426@item arm
2427the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2428@item hp
2429the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
2430@item edg
2431the one used by the EDG compiler
2432@item gnu-v3
2433the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2434@item java
2435the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2436@item gnat
2437the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
2438@end table
2439
2440@item --help
2441Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
2442
2443@item --version
2444Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
2445@end table
2446
2447@c man end
2448
2449@ignore
2450@c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2451the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2452@c man end
2453@end ignore
2454
2455@quotation
2456@emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
2457user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2458a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2459passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2460
2461@example
2462c++filt @var{symbol}
2463@end example
2464
2465@noindent
2466may in a future release become
2467
2468@example
2469c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2470@end example
2471@end quotation
2472
2473@node addr2line
2474@chapter addr2line
2475
2476@kindex addr2line
2477@cindex address to file name and line number
2478
2479@c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2480
2481@smallexample
2482@c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
2483addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2484 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
2485 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2486 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2487 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2488 [addr addr @dots{}]
2489@c man end
2490@end smallexample
2491
2492@c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2493
2494@command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
2495numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2496information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2497number are associated with a given address.
2498
2499The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
2500default is the file @file{a.out}.
2501
2502@command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
2503
2504In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
2505and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
2506address.
2507
2508In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
2509standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
2510address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
2511in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2512
2513The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2514line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
2515@command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
2516preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2517containing the address.
2518
2519If the file name or function name can not be determined,
2520@command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2521line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
2522
2523@c man end
2524
2525@c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2526
2527The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2528equivalent.
2529
2530@table @env
2531@item -b @var{bfdname}
2532@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2533@cindex object code format
2534Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2535@var{bfdname}.
2536
2537@item -C
2538@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2539@cindex demangling in objdump
2540Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2541Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2542makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2543mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2544choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2545for more information on demangling.
2546
2547@item -e @var{filename}
2548@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2549Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2550translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2551
2552@item -f
2553@itemx --functions
2554Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2555
2556@item -s
2557@itemx --basenames
2558Display only the base of each file name.
2559@end table
2560
2561@c man end
2562
2563@ignore
2564@c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2565Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2566@c man end
2567@end ignore
2568
2569@node nlmconv
2570@chapter nlmconv
2571
2572@command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
2573Loadable Module.
2574
2575@ignore
2576@command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
2577files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2578object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
2579@command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
2580format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2581with the above formats.}.
2582@end ignore
2583
2584@quotation
2585@emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
2586utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2587@end quotation
2588
2589@c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2590
2591@smallexample
2592@c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
2593nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2594 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2595 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2596 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2597 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2598 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
2599@c man end
2600@end smallexample
2601
2602@c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2603
2604@command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
2605@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2606reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2607on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2608@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2609Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2610Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
2611@command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
2612@var{infile};
2613@ifclear man
2614see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2615@end ifclear
2616
2617@command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
2618more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2619file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
2620In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
2621
2622@c man end
2623
2624@c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2625
2626@table @env
2627@item -I @var{bfdname}
2628@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2629Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
2630the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2631@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2632
2633@item -O @var{bfdname}
2634@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2635Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
2636format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2637output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2638@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2639
2640@item -T @var{headerfile}
2641@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2642Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2643writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2644@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2645Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2646from Novell, Inc.
2647
2648@item -d
2649@itemx --debug
2650Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
2651
2652@item -l @var{linker}
2653@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2654Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2655relative pathname.
2656
2657@item -h
2658@itemx --help
2659Prints a usage summary.
2660
2661@item -V
2662@itemx --version
2663Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
2664@end table
2665
2666@c man end
2667
2668@ignore
2669@c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2670the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2671@c man end
2672@end ignore
2673
2674@node windres
2675@chapter windres
2676
2677@command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2678
2679@quotation
2680@emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2681utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2682@end quotation
2683
2684@c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2685
2686@smallexample
2687@c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
2688windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2689@c man end
2690@end smallexample
2691
2692@c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2693
2694@command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2695an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2696
2697@table @code
2698@item rc
2699A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2700
2701@item res
2702A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2703
2704@item coff
2705A COFF object or executable.
2706@end table
2707
2708The exact description of these different formats is available in
2709documentation from Microsoft.
2710
2711When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2712format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2713@command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2714format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2715
2716When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2717but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2718@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2719will instead include the file contents.
2720
2721If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
2722guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2723A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2724file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2725@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2726@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2727
2728If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
2729in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2730
2731The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
2732to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2733your application. This will make the resources described in the
2734@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2735
2736@c man end
2737
2738@c man begin OPTIONS windres
2739
2740@table @env
2741@item -i @var{filename}
2742@itemx --input @var{filename}
2743The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2744@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2745name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2746read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2747standard input.
2748
2749@item -o @var{filename}
2750@itemx --output @var{filename}
2751The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2752@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2753for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2754non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
2755@command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
2756for compatability with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
2757accepted, but its use is not recommended.
2758
2759@item -J @var{format}
2760@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2761The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2762@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
2763guess, as described above.
2764
2765@item -O @var{format}
2766@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2767The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2768@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2769@command{windres} will guess, as described above.
2770
2771@item -F @var{target}
2772@itemx --target @var{target}
2773Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2774is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2775of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2776format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2777@ifclear man
2778@ref{Target Selection}.
2779@end ifclear
2780
2781@item --preprocessor @var{program}
2782When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2783preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2784to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2785argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2786
2787@item -I @var{directory}
2788@itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
2789Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2790@command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2791option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2792files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
2793matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as descrived in the @option{-J}
2794option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
2795@option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
2796directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
2797to disable the backward compatibility.
2798
2799@item -D @var{target}
2800@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
2801Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2802@code{rc} file.
2803
2804@item -U @var{target}
2805@itemx --undefine @var{sym}
2806Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2807@code{rc} file.
2808
2809@item -r
2810Ignored for compatibility with rc.
2811
2812@item -v
2813Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2814didn't specify one.
2815
2816@item -l @var{val}
2817@item --language @var{val}
2818Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2819@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2820the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2821
2822@item --use-temp-file
2823Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2824the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2825on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2826Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2827go the console).
2828
2829@item --no-use-temp-file
2830Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2831This is the default behaviour.
2832
2833@item -h
2834@item --help
2835Prints a usage summary.
2836
2837@item -V
2838@item --version
2839Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
2840
2841@item --yydebug
2842If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2843this will turn on parser debugging.
2844@end table
2845
2846@c man end
2847
2848@ignore
2849@c man begin SEEALSO windres
2850the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2851@c man end
2852@end ignore
2853
2854@node dlltool
2855@chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2856@cindex DLL
2857@kindex dlltool
2858
2859@command{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2860dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2861
2862@quotation
2863@emph{Warning:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2864utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2865@end quotation
2866
2867@c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2868
2869@smallexample
2870@c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
2871dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2872 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2873 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2874 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2875 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2876 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2877 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2878 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2879 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2880 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2881 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2882 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
2883 [@option{-p}|@option{--ext-prefix-alias} @var{prefix}]
2884 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
2885 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-t}|@option{--temp-prefix} @var{prefix}]
2886 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
2887 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2888 [object-file @dots{}]
2889@c man end
2890@end smallexample
2891
2892@c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2893
2894@command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2895@option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2896line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2897been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2898has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2899has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2900@option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2901dlltool.
2902
2903When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2904to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2905these files.
2906
2907The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2908exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2909is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2910to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
2911will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2912those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2913put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2914
2915In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2916have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2917section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2918asm() operator:
2919
2920@smallexample
2921 asm (".section .drectve");
2922 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2923
2924 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2925@end smallexample
2926
2927The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2928is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2929handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2930binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2931@command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2932
2933The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2934will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2935can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2936is creating or reading in a .def file.
2937
2938@command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2939exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2940and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
2941used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2942and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2943assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2944these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
2945specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2946temporary object files it used to build the library.
2947
2948Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2949also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2950that uses that DLL:
2951
2952@smallexample
2953 gcc -c dll.c
2954 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2955 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2956 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2957@end smallexample
2958
2959@c man end
2960
2961@c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
2962
2963The command line options have the following meanings:
2964
2965@table @env
2966
2967@item -d @var{filename}
2968@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2969@cindex input .def file
2970Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2971
2972@item -b @var{filename}
2973@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2974@cindex base files
2975Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2976contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2977exports file generated by dlltool.
2978
2979@item -e @var{filename}
2980@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2981Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2982
2983@item -z @var{filename}
2984@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2985Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2986
2987@item -l @var{filename}
2988@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2989Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2990
2991@item --export-all-symbols
2992Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2993files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2994are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
2995option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2996@option{--exclude-symbols} option.
2997
2998@item --no-export-all-symbols
2999Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
3000@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
3001behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
3002attributes in the source code.
3003
3004@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
3005Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
3006separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
3007contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
3008@option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
3009
3010@item --no-default-excludes
3011When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
3012exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
3013exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
3014@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
3015to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
3016when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
3017
3018@item -S @var{path}
3019@itemx --as @var{path}
3020Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
3021to create the exports file.
3022
3023@item -f @var{options}
3024@itemx --as-flags @var{options}
3025Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
3026assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
3027the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
3028and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
3029occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
3030pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
3031double quotes.
3032
3033@item -D @var{name}
3034@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
3035Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
3036when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
3037the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be used as the name of
3038the DLL.
3039
3040@item -m @var{machine}
3041@itemx -machine @var{machine}
3042Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
3043built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
3044it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
3045normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
3046contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
3047
3048@item -a
3049@itemx --add-indirect
3050Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3051should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
3052referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
3053means!
3054
3055@item -U
3056@itemx --add-underscore
3057Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3058should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
3059
3060@item -k
3061@itemx --kill-at
3062Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3063should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
3064called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
3065function in a DLL, other than by name.
3066
3067@item -A
3068@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
3069Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3070should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
3071in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
3072
3073@item -p
3074@itemx --ext-prefix-alias @var{prefix}
3075Causes @command{dlltool} to create external aliases for all DLL
3076imports with the specified prefix. The aliases are created for both
3077external and import symbols with no leading underscore.
3078
3079@item -x
3080@itemx --no-idata4
3081Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3082files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
3083with certain operating systems.
3084
3085@item -c
3086@itemx --no-idata5
3087Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3088files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
3089with certain operating systems.
3090
3091@item -i
3092@itemx --interwork
3093Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
3094file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
3095between ARM and Thumb code.
3096
3097@item -n
3098@itemx --nodelete
3099Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
3100create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
3101also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
3102file.
3103
3104@item -t @var{prefix}
3105@itemx --temp-prefix @var{prefix}
3106Makes @command{dlltool} use @var{prefix} when constructing the names of
3107temporary assembler and object files. By default, the temp file prefix
3108is generated from the pid.
3109
3110@item -v
3111@itemx --verbose
3112Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
3113
3114@item -h
3115@itemx --help
3116Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3117
3118@item -V
3119@itemx --version
3120Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
3121
3122@end table
3123
3124@c man end
3125
3126@ignore
3127@c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
3128the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3129@c man end
3130@end ignore
3131
3132@node readelf
3133@chapter readelf
3134
3135@cindex ELF file information
3136@kindex readelf
3137
3138@c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
3139
3140@smallexample
3141@c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
3142readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
3143 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
3144 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
3145 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
3146 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
3147 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
3148 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
3149 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
3150 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
3151 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
3152 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
3153 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
3154 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
3155 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
3156 [@option{-w[liaprmfFsoR]}|
3157 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]]
3158 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
3159 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
3160 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
3161 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
3162 @var{elffile}@dots{}
3163@c man end
3164@end smallexample
3165
3166@c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
3167
3168@command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
3169files. The options control what particular information to display.
3170
3171@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
317264-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
3173
3174This program performs a similar function to @command{objdump} but it
3175goes into more detail and it exists independently of the @sc{bfd}
3176library, so if there is a bug in @sc{bfd} then readelf will not be
3177affected.
3178
3179@c man end
3180
3181@c man begin OPTIONS readelf
3182
3183The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3184equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
3185given.
3186
3187@table @env
3188@item -a
3189@itemx --all
3190Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
3191@option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
3192@option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
3193@option{--version-info}.
3194
3195@item -h
3196@itemx --file-header
3197@cindex ELF file header information
3198Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
3199file.
3200
3201@item -l
3202@itemx --program-headers
3203@itemx --segments
3204@cindex ELF program header information
3205@cindex ELF segment information
3206Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
3207has any.
3208
3209@item -S
3210@itemx --sections
3211@itemx --section-headers
3212@cindex ELF section information
3213Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
3214has any.
3215
3216@item -s
3217@itemx --symbols
3218@itemx --syms
3219@cindex ELF symbol table information
3220Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3221
3222@item -e
3223@itemx --headers
3224Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
3225
3226@item -n
3227@itemx --notes
3228@cindex ELF notes
3229Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.
3230
3231@item -r
3232@itemx --relocs
3233@cindex ELF reloc information
3234Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3235
3236@item -u
3237@itemx --unwind
3238@cindex unwind information
3239Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3240the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3241
3242@item -u
3243@itemx --unwind
3244@cindex unwind information
3245Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3246the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3247
3248@item -d
3249@itemx --dynamic
3250@cindex ELF dynamic section information
3251Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3252
3253@item -V
3254@itemx --version-info
3255@cindex ELF version sections informations
3256Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3257exist.
3258
3259@item -A
3260@itemx --arch-specific
3261Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3262is any.
3263
3264@item -D
3265@itemx --use-dynamic
3266When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
3267symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
3268symbols section.
3269
3270@item -x <number>
3271@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3272Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3273
3274@item -w[liaprmfFsoR]
3275@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]
3276Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3277present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3278then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3279
3280@item -I
3281@itemx --histogram
3282Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3283of the symbol tables.
3284
3285@item -v
3286@itemx --version
3287Display the version number of readelf.
3288
3289@item -W
3290@itemx --wide
3291Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3292@command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
329364-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3294@command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3295single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3296
3297@item -H
3298@itemx --help
3299Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
3300
3301@end table
3302
3303@c man end
3304
3305@ignore
3306@c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3307objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3308@c man end
3309@end ignore
3310
3311@node Selecting The Target System
3312@chapter Selecting the Target System
3313
3314You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
3315binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3316
3317@itemize @bullet
3318@item
3319the target
3320
3321@item
3322the architecture
3323@end itemize
3324
3325In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3326order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3327listed later.
3328
3329The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3330programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
3331@option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
3332values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3333once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3334with the same type as the target system).
3335
3336@menu
3337* Target Selection::
3338* Architecture Selection::
3339@end menu
3340
3341@node Target Selection
3342@section Target Selection
3343
3344A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3345supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3346A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3347systems or architectures.
3348
3349The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3350(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3351
3352Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3353@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3354
3355You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
3356the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3357target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3358fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
3359running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3360sources.
3361
3362Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3363@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3364
3365@subheading @command{objdump} Target
3366
3367Ways to specify:
3368
3369@enumerate
3370@item
3371command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
3372
3373@item
3374environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3375
3376@item
3377deduced from the input file
3378@end enumerate
3379
3380@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
3381
3382Ways to specify:
3383
3384@enumerate
3385@item
3386command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3387
3388@item
3389environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3390
3391@item
3392deduced from the input file
3393@end enumerate
3394
3395@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
3396
3397Ways to specify:
3398
3399@enumerate
3400@item
3401command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3402
3403@item
3404the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
3405
3406@item
3407environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3408
3409@item
3410deduced from the input file
3411@end enumerate
3412
3413@subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
3414
3415Ways to specify:
3416
3417@enumerate
3418@item
3419command line option: @option{--target}
3420
3421@item
3422environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3423
3424@item
3425deduced from the input file
3426@end enumerate
3427
3428@node Architecture Selection
3429@section Architecture Selection
3430
3431An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3432to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3433processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3434
3435The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3436second column contains the relevant information).
3437
3438Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3439
3440@subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
3441
3442Ways to specify:
3443
3444@enumerate
3445@item
3446command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
3447
3448@item
3449deduced from the input file
3450@end enumerate
3451
3452@subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
3453
3454Ways to specify:
3455
3456@enumerate
3457@item
3458deduced from the input file
3459@end enumerate
3460
3461@node Reporting Bugs
3462@chapter Reporting Bugs
3463@cindex bugs
3464@cindex reporting bugs
3465
3466Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3467reliable.
3468
3469Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3470it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3471to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3472utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3473maintenance.
3474
3475In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3476information that enables us to fix the bug.
3477
3478@menu
3479* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3480* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3481@end menu
3482
3483@node Bug Criteria
3484@section Have You Found a Bug?
3485@cindex bug criteria
3486
3487If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3488
3489@itemize @bullet
3490@cindex fatal signal
3491@cindex crash
3492@item
3493If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3494a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3495
3496@cindex error on valid input
3497@item
3498If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3499bug.
3500
3501@item
3502If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3503improvement are welcome in any case.
3504@end itemize
3505
3506@node Bug Reporting
3507@section How to Report Bugs
3508@cindex bug reports
3509@cindex bugs, reporting
3510
3511A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3512products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3513organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3514
3515You can find contact information for many support companies and
3516individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3517distribution.
3518
3519In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
3520utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
3521
3522The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3523@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3524fact or leave it out, state it!
3525
3526Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3527problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3528assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3529Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3530a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3531that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3532different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3533doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3534specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3535and the most helpful.
3536
3537Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3538it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3539that the bug has not been reported previously.
3540
3541Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
3542bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3543respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3544You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
3545
3546To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3547
3548@itemize @bullet
3549@item
3550The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
3551with the @option{--version} argument.
3552
3553Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3554the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3555
3556@item
3557Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3558made to the @code{BFD} library.
3559
3560@item
3561The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3562version number.
3563
3564@item
3565What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3566``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3567
3568@item
3569The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3570guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3571of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3572
3573If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3574and then we might not encounter the bug.
3575
3576@item
3577A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3578bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3579generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
3580necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
3581@samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
3582sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3583anonymous FTP is OK.
3584
3585If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
3586(e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
3587may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
3588this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
3589whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
3590@command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
3591
3592@item
3593A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3594incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3595
3596Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3597will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3598not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3599a chance to make a mistake.
3600
3601Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
3602say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
3603copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3604the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3605crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3606ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3607us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3608to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3609
3610@item
3611If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
3612generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
3613option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
3614wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
3615context, not by line number.
3616
3617The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3618sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3619@end itemize
3620
3621Here are some things that are not necessary:
3622
3623@itemize @bullet
3624@item
3625A description of the envelope of the bug.
3626
3627Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3628which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3629changes will not affect it.
3630
3631This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3632will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3633with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3634We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3635
3636Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3637of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3638output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3639less time, and so on.
3640
3641However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3642report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3643
3644@item
3645A patch for the bug.
3646
3647A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3648the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3649a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3650to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3651
3652Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3653very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3654certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3655will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3656the bug is fixed.
3657
3658And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3659patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3660help us to understand.
3661
3662@item
3663A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3664
3665Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3666things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3667@end itemize
3668
3669@include fdl.texi
3670
3671@node Index
3672@unnumbered Index
3673
3674@printindex cp
3675
3676@contents
3677@bye