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1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
aef6203b 3@c Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8c2bc687 4
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5@include config.texi
6
7@ifinfo
8@format
9START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
ad0481cd
AS
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
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26END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
27@end format
28@end ifinfo
29
30@ifinfo
0285c67d 31@c man begin COPYRIGHT
2423fbe6 32Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
7b4a0685 332000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
252b5132 34
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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
947ed062 40section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
252b5132 41
0285c67d 42@c man end
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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
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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
2423fbe6 57@c Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
7b4a0685 58@c 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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59@c
60@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
cf055d54 61@c Free Documentation License.
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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
36607f99 71@subtitle @value{UPDATED}
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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
2423fbe6 83Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,
7b4a0685 842000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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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
947ed062 91 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
252b5132 92
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93@end titlepage
94
95@node Top
96@top Introduction
97
98@cindex version
947ed062 99This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
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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
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132Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
133@code{cxxfilt})
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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
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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
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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
9d51cc66 164* cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
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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
cf055d54 171* GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
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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
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181
182@c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
183
252b5132 184@smallexample
3de39064 185ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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186ar -M [ <mri-script ]
187@end smallexample
188
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189@c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
190
c7c55b78 191The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
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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
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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
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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
c7c55b78 209@command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
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210are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
211subroutines.
212
213@cindex symbol index
c7c55b78 214@command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
252b5132 215object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
c7c55b78 216Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
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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
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223table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
224@command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
252b5132 225
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226@cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
227@cindex @command{ar} compatibility
228@sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
252b5132 229facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
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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
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232with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
233program.
234
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235@c man end
236
252b5132 237@menu
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238* ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
239* ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
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240@end menu
241
242@page
243@node ar cmdline
947ed062 244@section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
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245
246@smallexample
0285c67d 247@c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
c7c55b78 248ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
0285c67d 249@c man end
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250@end smallexample
251
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252@cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
253When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
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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
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261@c man begin OPTIONS ar
262
c7c55b78 263@sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
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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
c7c55b78 273@table @samp
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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
c7c55b78 280If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
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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
c7c55b78 313The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
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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
c7c55b78 317@command{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
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318
319However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
947ed062 320index, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} implements @samp{q} as a synonym for @samp{r}.
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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
c7c55b78 329If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
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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
c7c55b78 366@command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
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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
c7c55b78 376@table @samp
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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
c7c55b78 398Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
252b5132 399names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
c7c55b78 400not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
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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
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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
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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
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426@item P
427Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
c7c55b78 428@command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
3de39064 429are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
c7c55b78 430will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
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431name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
432archive created by another tool.
433
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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
c7c55b78 465This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
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466@end table
467
c7c55b78 468@command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
6e800839 469compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
947ed062 470default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any of the other
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471@samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support @option{-X32}
472which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
6e800839 473
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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
252b5132 482@node ar scripts
947ed062 483@section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
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484
485@smallexample
486ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
487@end smallexample
488
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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
252b5132 492can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
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493form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
494directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
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495input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
496errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
c7c55b78 497issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
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498on any error.
499
c7c55b78 500The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
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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
c7c55b78 503transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
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504written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
505
c7c55b78 506The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
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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
c7c55b78 525Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
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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
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535Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
536@command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
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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
c7c55b78 587specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
252b5132
RH
588output to that file.
589
590@item END
c7c55b78 591Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
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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
c7c55b78 613tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
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RH
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
c7c55b78 650The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
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RH
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
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NC
659@c man title nm list symbols from object files
660
252b5132 661@smallexample
0285c67d 662@c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
c7c55b78
NC
663nm [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}] [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}]
664 [@option{-B}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]] [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}]
72797995 665 [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}] [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}]
3c9458e9 666 [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}][@option{--special-syms}]
c7c55b78
NC
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{}]
0285c67d 673@c man end
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RH
674@end smallexample
675
0285c67d 676@c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
c7c55b78
NC
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
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RH
679@file{a.out}.
680
c7c55b78 681For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
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RH
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
0285c67d
NC
707references.
708@ifclear man
709For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
252b5132 710--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
0879a67a 711@end ifclear
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RH
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
947ed062 722The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a @sc{gnu}
252b5132
RH
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
fad6fcbb
NC
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
252b5132 746@item W
fad6fcbb
NC
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,
c87db184 751the value of the symbol is determined in a system-specific manner without
977cdf5a
NC
752error. On some systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been
753specified.
754
252b5132
RH
755
756@item -
757The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
758next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
c7c55b78
NC
759the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
760@ifclear man
761For more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
252b5132 762``stabs'' debug format}.
c7c55b78 763@end ifclear
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RH
764
765@item ?
766The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
767@end table
768
769@item
770The symbol name.
771@end itemize
772
0285c67d
NC
773@c man end
774
775@c man begin OPTIONS nm
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RH
776The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
777equivalent.
778
c7c55b78 779@table @env
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RH
780@item -A
781@itemx -o
782@itemx --print-file-name
783@cindex input file name
784@cindex file name
785@cindex source file name
f20a759a 786Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
252b5132
RH
787in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
788before all of its symbols.
789
790@item -a
791@itemx --debug-syms
792@cindex debugging symbols
793Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
794listed.
795
796@item -B
c7c55b78
NC
797@cindex @command{nm} format
798@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
799The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
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RH
800
801@item -C
28c309a2 802@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
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RH
803@cindex demangling in nm
804Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
805Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
806makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
807mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
808choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
809for more information on demangling.
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RH
810
811@item --no-demangle
812Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
813
814@item -D
815@itemx --dynamic
816@cindex dynamic symbols
817Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
818only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
819libraries.
820
821@item -f @var{format}
822@itemx --format=@var{format}
c7c55b78
NC
823@cindex @command{nm} format
824@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
252b5132
RH
825Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
826@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
827Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
828either upper or lower case.
829
830@item -g
831@itemx --extern-only
832@cindex external symbols
833Display only external symbols.
834
835@item -l
836@itemx --line-numbers
837@cindex symbol line numbers
838For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
839line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
840address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
841number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
842information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
843
844@item -n
845@itemx -v
846@itemx --numeric-sort
847Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
848by their names.
849
850@item -p
851@itemx --no-sort
852@cindex sorting symbols
853Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
854encountered.
855
856@item -P
857@itemx --portability
858Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
859Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
860
72797995
L
861@item -S
862@itemx --print-size
06a30c77 863Print size, not the value, of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output format.
72797995 864
252b5132
RH
865@item -s
866@itemx --print-armap
867@cindex symbol index, listing
868When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
c7c55b78 869(stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
252b5132
RH
870contain definitions for which names.
871
872@item -r
873@itemx --reverse-sort
874Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
875last come first.
876
877@item --size-sort
878Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
879the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
06a30c77 880value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used the size of the symbol
76ed1927
NC
881is printed, rather than the value, and @samp{-S} must be used in order
882both size and value to be printed.
252b5132 883
3c9458e9
NC
884@item --special-syms
885Display symbols which have a target-specific special meaning. These
886symbols are usually used by the target for some special processing and
887are not normally helpful when included included in the normal symbol
888lists. For example for ARM targets this option would skip the mapping
889symbols used to mark transistions between ARM code, THUMB code and
890data.
891
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RH
892@item -t @var{radix}
893@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
894Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
895@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
896
897@item --target=@var{bfdname}
898@cindex object code format
899Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
900@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
901
902@item -u
903@itemx --undefined-only
904@cindex external symbols
905@cindex undefined symbols
906Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
907
908@item --defined-only
909@cindex external symbols
910@cindex undefined symbols
911Display only defined symbols for each object file.
912
913@item -V
914@itemx --version
c7c55b78 915Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
252b5132 916
6e800839
GK
917@item -X
918This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
c7c55b78
NC
919@command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
920@option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
921to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
6e800839 922
252b5132 923@item --help
c7c55b78 924Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
252b5132
RH
925@end table
926
0285c67d
NC
927@c man end
928
929@ignore
930@c man begin SEEALSO nm
931ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
932@c man end
933@end ignore
934
252b5132
RH
935@node objcopy
936@chapter objcopy
937
0285c67d
NC
938@c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
939
252b5132 940@smallexample
0285c67d 941@c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
c7c55b78
NC
942objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
943 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
944 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
945 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
2593f09a
NC
946 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
947 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
c7c55b78
NC
948 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
949 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
bcf32829 950 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
c7c55b78
NC
951 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
952 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
7b4a0685 953 [@option{--globalize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
c7c55b78 954 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
5fe11841 955 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2593f09a
NC
956 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
957 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
c7c55b78
NC
958 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
959 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
960 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
961 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
962 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
963 [@option{--debugging}]
2593f09a
NC
964 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
965 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
966 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
967 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
c7c55b78
NC
968 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
969 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
970 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
971 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
972 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
973 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
974 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
975 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
2593f09a
NC
976 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
977 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
978 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
979 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78
NC
980 [@option{--weaken}]
981 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
982 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
bcf32829 983 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78
NC
984 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
985 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
7b4a0685 986 [@option{--globalize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c7c55b78 987 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
c51238bc
DA
988 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
989 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
990 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
991 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
ed1653a7
NC
992 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
993 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
4087920c
MR
994 [@option{--writable-text}]
995 [@option{--readonly-text}]
996 [@option{--pure}]
997 [@option{--impure}]
c7c55b78
NC
998 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
999 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
7c29036b 1000 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
252b5132 1001 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
0285c67d 1002@c man end
252b5132
RH
1003@end smallexample
1004
0285c67d 1005@c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
c7c55b78
NC
1006The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
1007file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
252b5132
RH
1008read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
1009file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
c7c55b78
NC
1010exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
1011Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
ccd13d18
L
1012between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
1013between any two formats may not work as expected.
252b5132 1014
c7c55b78
NC
1015@command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
1016deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
252b5132
RH
1017translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
1018and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1019explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1020
c7c55b78 1021@command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
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RH
1022target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1023
c7c55b78
NC
1024@command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1025output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1026@command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
252b5132
RH
1027a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1028relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1029the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1030
1031When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
c7c55b78
NC
1032use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1033some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
f20a759a 1034information that is not needed by the binary file.
252b5132 1035
947ed062
NC
1036Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1037files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
c7c55b78 1038@command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
947ed062 1039same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
18356cf2 1040
0285c67d
NC
1041@c man end
1042
1043@c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1044
c7c55b78 1045@table @env
252b5132
RH
1046@item @var{infile}
1047@itemx @var{outfile}
f20a759a 1048The input and output files, respectively.
c7c55b78 1049If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
252b5132
RH
1050temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1051the name of @var{infile}.
1052
c7c55b78 1053@item -I @var{bfdname}
252b5132
RH
1054@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1055Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1056attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1057
1058@item -O @var{bfdname}
1059@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1060Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1061@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1062
1063@item -F @var{bfdname}
1064@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1065Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1066file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1067translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1068
43a0748c
NC
1069@item -B @var{bfdarch}
1070@itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1071Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1072In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1073option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1074can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1075symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1076called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1077_binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1078an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1079
f91ea849
ILT
1080@item -j @var{sectionname}
1081@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1082Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1083This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1084inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1085
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RH
1086@item -R @var{sectionname}
1087@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1088Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1089option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1090inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1091
1092@item -S
1093@itemx --strip-all
1094Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1095
1096@item -g
1097@itemx --strip-debug
2593f09a 1098Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
252b5132
RH
1099
1100@item --strip-unneeded
1101Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1102
1103@item -K @var{symbolname}
1104@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
e7f918ad
NC
1105When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
1106normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
252b5132
RH
1107
1108@item -N @var{symbolname}
1109@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1110Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1111may be given more than once.
1112
bcf32829
JB
1113@item --strip-unneeded-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1114Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file unless it is needed
1115by a relocation. This option may be given more than once.
1116
16b2b71c
NC
1117@item -G @var{symbolname}
1118@itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1119Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1120to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1121be given more than once.
1122
252b5132
RH
1123@item -L @var{symbolname}
1124@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1125Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1126visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1127
1128@item -W @var{symbolname}
1129@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1130Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1131
7b4a0685
NC
1132@item --globalize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1133Give symbol @var{symbolname} global scoping so that it is visible
1134outside of the file in which it is defined. This option may be given
1135more than once.
1136
5fe11841
NC
1137@item -w
1138@itemx --wildcard
1139Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1140line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1141square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1142name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1143point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1144For example:
1145
1146@smallexample
1147 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1148@end smallexample
1149
1150would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1151except for the symbol ``foo''.
1152
252b5132
RH
1153@item -x
1154@itemx --discard-all
1155Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1156@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1157
1158@item -X
1159@itemx --discard-locals
1160Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1161(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1162
1163@item -b @var{byte}
1164@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1165Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1166affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
c7c55b78 1167where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
252b5132
RH
1168option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1169to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1170target.
1171
1172@item -i @var{interleave}
1173@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1174Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
c7c55b78
NC
1175copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1176@command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1177@option{--byte}.
252b5132
RH
1178
1179@item -p
1180@itemx --preserve-dates
1181Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1182as those of the input file.
1183
1184@item --debugging
1185Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1186because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1187conversion process can be time consuming.
1188
1189@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1190Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1191the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1192the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1193space created with @var{val}.
1194
1195@item --pad-to @var{address}
1196Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1197done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
c7c55b78 1198filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
252b5132
RH
1199
1200@item --set-start @var{val}
f20a759a 1201Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
252b5132
RH
1202formats support setting the start address.
1203
1204@item --change-start @var{incr}
1205@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1206@cindex changing start address
1207Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1208formats support setting the start address.
1209
1210@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1211@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1212@cindex changing object addresses
1213Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1214address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1215section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1216relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1217certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1218that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1219
1220@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1221@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1222@cindex changing section address
1223Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1224@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1225@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
c7c55b78 1226section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
252b5132 1227above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
c7c55b78 1228be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1229
1230@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1231@cindex changing section LMA
1232Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1233address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1234program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1235is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1236especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1237different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1238@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
c7c55b78 1239section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
252b5132 1240above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
c7c55b78 1241will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1242
1243@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1244@cindex changing section VMA
1245Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1246address is the address where the section will be located once the
1247program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1248address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1249memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1250ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1251is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1252from the section address. See the comments under
c7c55b78 1253@option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
252b5132 1254the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
c7c55b78 1255@option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
252b5132
RH
1256
1257@item --change-warnings
1258@itemx --adjust-warnings
c7c55b78
NC
1259If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1260@option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
252b5132
RH
1261exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1262
1263@item --no-change-warnings
1264@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
c7c55b78
NC
1265Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1266@option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
252b5132
RH
1267if the named section does not exist.
1268
1269@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1270Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1271comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
3994e2c6
ILT
1272@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1273@samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1274@samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1275does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1276@samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1277the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1278formats.
252b5132
RH
1279
1280@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1281Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1282contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1283size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1284works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1285
594ef5db
NC
1286@item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1287Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1288changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1289the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1290the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1291executable.
1292
1293This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1294since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1295you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1296data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1297
1298@smallexample
1299 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1300 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1301 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1302@end smallexample
1303
252b5132
RH
1304@item --change-leading-char
1305Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1306symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
c7c55b78 1307often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
252b5132
RH
1308change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1309object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1310character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1311character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1312appropriate.
1313
1314@item --remove-leading-char
1315If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1316character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1317most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1318remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1319if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1320different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
c7c55b78 1321@option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
252b5132
RH
1322when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1323file.
1324
420496c1
NC
1325@item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1326Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1327being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1328crc fields.
1329
1330@item --srec-forceS3
1331Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1332creating S3-only record format.
1333
57938635
AM
1334@item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1335Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1336when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1337source, and there are name collisions.
1338
92991082
JT
1339@item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1340Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1341listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1342with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1343character. This option may be given more than once.
1344
252b5132
RH
1345@item --weaken
1346Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1347when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
c7c55b78 1348the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
252b5132
RH
1349using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1350
16b2b71c 1351@item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1352Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1353@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1354name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1355This option may be given more than once.
1356
1357@item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1358Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1359@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1360name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1361This option may be given more than once.
1362
bcf32829
JB
1363@item --strip-unneeded-symbols=@var{filename}
1364Apply @option{--strip-unneeded-symbol} option to each symbol listed in
1365the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1366symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1367character. This option may be given more than once.
1368
16b2b71c 1369@item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1370Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
16b2b71c
NC
1371file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1372symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1373character. This option may be given more than once.
1374
1375@item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1376Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1377@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1378name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1379This option may be given more than once.
1380
7b4a0685
NC
1381@item --globalize-symbols=@var{filename}
1382Apply @option{--globalize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1383@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1384name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1385This option may be given more than once.
1386
16b2b71c 1387@item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
c7c55b78 1388Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
16b2b71c
NC
1389@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1390name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1391This option may be given more than once.
1392
1ae8b3d2
AO
1393@item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1394If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1395@var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1396a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1397new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1398being used.
1399
4087920c
MR
1400@item --writable-text
1401Mark the output text as writable. This option isn't meaningful for all
1402object file formats.
1403
1404@item --readonly-text
1405Make the output text write protected. This option isn't meaningful for all
1406object file formats.
1407
1408@item --pure
1409Mark the output file as demand paged. This option isn't meaningful for all
1410object file formats.
1411
1412@item --impure
1413Mark the output file as impure. This option isn't meaningful for all
1414object file formats.
1415
d7fb0dd2
NC
1416@item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1417Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1418
1419@item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1420Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1421
1422@item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1423Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1424@var{string}.
1425
ed1653a7
NC
1426@item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1427Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to @var{path-to-file}
1428and adds it to the output file.
1429
1430@item --only-keep-debug
36d3b955
MR
1431Strip a file, removing contents of any sections that would not be
1432stripped by @option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections
1433intact.
ed1653a7
NC
1434
1435The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1436@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1437stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1438distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1439needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1440to create these files is as follows:
1441
1442@enumerate
1443@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1444@code{foo} then...
1445@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1446create a file containing the debugging info.
1447@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1448stripped executable.
1449@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1450to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1451@end enumerate
1452
1453Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1454file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1455optional. You could instead do this:
1456
1457@enumerate
1458@item Link the executable as normal.
1459@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1460@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1461@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1462@end enumerate
1463
36d3b955 1464i.e. the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
ed1653a7
NC
1465full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1466@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1467
252b5132
RH
1468@item -V
1469@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1470Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
252b5132
RH
1471
1472@item -v
1473@itemx --verbose
1474Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1475archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1476
1477@item --help
c7c55b78 1478Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
7c29036b
NC
1479
1480@item --info
1481Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
252b5132
RH
1482@end table
1483
0285c67d
NC
1484@c man end
1485
1486@ignore
1487@c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1488ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1489@c man end
1490@end ignore
1491
252b5132
RH
1492@node objdump
1493@chapter objdump
1494
1495@cindex object file information
1496@kindex objdump
1497
0285c67d
NC
1498@c man title objdump display information from object files.
1499
252b5132 1500@smallexample
0285c67d 1501@c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
c7c55b78
NC
1502objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1503 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1504 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1505 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1506 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1507 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1508 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1509 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1510 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1511 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
51cdc6e0 1512 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
c7c55b78
NC
1513 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1514 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1515 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1516 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1517 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1518 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1519 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1520 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1521 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1522 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1523 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1524 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1525 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1526 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1527 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1528 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1529 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1530 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1531 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1532 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1533 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
3c9458e9 1534 [@option{--special-syms}]
c7c55b78
NC
1535 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1536 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
252b5132 1537 @var{objfile}@dots{}
0285c67d 1538@c man end
252b5132
RH
1539@end smallexample
1540
0285c67d
NC
1541@c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1542
c7c55b78 1543@command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
252b5132
RH
1544The options control what particular information to display. This
1545information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1546compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1547program to compile and work.
1548
1549@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
c7c55b78 1550specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
252b5132
RH
1551object files.
1552
0285c67d
NC
1553@c man end
1554
1555@c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1556
252b5132 1557The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1dada9c5 1558equivalent. At least one option from the list
155e0d23 1559@option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
252b5132 1560
c7c55b78 1561@table @env
252b5132
RH
1562@item -a
1563@itemx --archive-header
1564@cindex archive headers
1565If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1566header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1567information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1568the object file format of each archive member.
1569
1570@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1571@cindex section addresses in objdump
1572@cindex VMA in objdump
1573When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1574addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1575the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1576addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1577such as a.out.
1578
1579@item -b @var{bfdname}
1580@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1581@cindex object code format
1582Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1583@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1584automatically recognize many formats.
1585
1586For example,
1587@example
1588objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1589@end example
1590@noindent
c7c55b78
NC
1591displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1592@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
252b5132 1593file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
c7c55b78 1594formats available with the @option{-i} option.
252b5132
RH
1595@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1596
1597@item -C
28c309a2 1598@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
252b5132
RH
1599@cindex demangling in objdump
1600Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1601Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
1602makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1603mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1604choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1605for more information on demangling.
252b5132 1606
947ed062
NC
1607@item -g
1608@itemx --debugging
252b5132
RH
1609Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1610information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1611Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
c1124b23
AO
1612Some other types are supported by @command{readelf -w}.
1613@xref{readelf}.
252b5132 1614
51cdc6e0
NC
1615@item -e
1616@itemx --debugging-tags
1617Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
1618with ctags tool.
1619
252b5132
RH
1620@item -d
1621@itemx --disassemble
1622@cindex disassembling object code
1623@cindex machine instructions
1624Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1625@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1626expected to contain instructions.
1627
1628@item -D
1629@itemx --disassemble-all
c7c55b78 1630Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
252b5132
RH
1631those expected to contain instructions.
1632
1633@item --prefix-addresses
1634When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1635the older disassembly format.
1636
252b5132
RH
1637@item -EB
1638@itemx -EL
1639@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1640@cindex endianness
1641@cindex disassembly endianness
1642Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1643disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1644does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1645
1646@item -f
947ed062 1647@itemx --file-headers
252b5132
RH
1648@cindex object file header
1649Display summary information from the overall header of
1650each of the @var{objfile} files.
1651
f1563258
TW
1652@item --file-start-context
1653@cindex source code context
1654Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
c7c55b78 1655(assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
f1563258
TW
1656context to the start of the file.
1657
252b5132 1658@item -h
947ed062
NC
1659@itemx --section-headers
1660@itemx --headers
252b5132
RH
1661@cindex section headers
1662Display summary information from the section headers of the
1663object file.
1664
1665File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
c7c55b78
NC
1666using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1667@command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
252b5132 1668store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
c7c55b78 1669although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
252b5132
RH
1670-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1671Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1672target.
1673
947ed062
NC
1674@item -H
1675@itemx --help
c7c55b78 1676Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
252b5132
RH
1677
1678@item -i
1679@itemx --info
1680@cindex architectures available
1681@cindex object formats available
1682Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
c7c55b78 1683for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
252b5132
RH
1684
1685@item -j @var{name}
1686@itemx --section=@var{name}
1687@cindex section information
1688Display information only for section @var{name}.
1689
1690@item -l
1691@itemx --line-numbers
1692@cindex source filenames for object files
1693Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1694source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
c7c55b78 1695Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
252b5132
RH
1696
1697@item -m @var{machine}
1698@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1699@cindex architecture
1700@cindex disassembly architecture
1701Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1702can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1703architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
c7c55b78 1704architectures with the @option{-i} option.
252b5132 1705
dd92f639
NC
1706@item -M @var{options}
1707@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1708Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
31e0f3cd
NC
1709some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
1710disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
1711can be placed together into a comma separated list.
dd92f639
NC
1712
1713If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1714select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
c7c55b78 1715@option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
58efb6c0
NC
1716used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1717'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
c7c55b78
NC
1718@option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1719Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
58efb6c0
NC
1720just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1721
1722There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
c7c55b78
NC
1723by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1724use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
947ed062 1725with the normal register names or the special register names).
dd92f639 1726
8f915f68 1727This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
c36774d6 1728disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
c7c55b78 1729using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
8f915f68
NC
1730useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1731compilers.
1732
e396998b
AM
1733For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1734switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1735following may be specified as a comma separated string.
b89e9eae 1736@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
e396998b
AM
1737the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1738intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1739@option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1740address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
b89e9eae 1741@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
e396998b 1742option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
b9e5d8e5 1743instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
e396998b
AM
1744suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1745
802a735e
AM
1746For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1747disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1748PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1749
e39893d7
FF
1750For MIPS, this option controls the printing of instruction mneumonic
1751names and register names in disassembled instructions. Multiple
1752selections from the following may be specified as a comma separated
1753string, and invalid options are ignored:
640c0ccd
CD
1754
1755@table @code
e39893d7
FF
1756@item no-aliases
1757Print the 'raw' instruction mneumonic instead of some pseudo
1758instruction mneumonic. I.E. print 'daddu' or 'or' instead of 'move',
1759'sll' instead of 'nop', etc.
1760
640c0ccd
CD
1761@item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1762Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1763for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1764the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1765
1766@item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1767Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1768appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1769rather than names.
1770
1771@item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1772Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1773as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1774@var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1775the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1776
af7ee8bf
CD
1777@item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1778Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1779as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1780@var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1781the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1782
640c0ccd
CD
1783@item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1784Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1785
1786@item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
af7ee8bf
CD
1787Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1788as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
640c0ccd
CD
1789@end table
1790
1791For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1792@var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1793rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1794You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1795the @option{--help} option.
1796
ec72cfe5
NC
1797For VAX, you can specify function entry addresses with @option{-M
1798entry:0xf00ba}. You can use this multiple times to properly
1799disassemble VAX binary files that don't contain symbol tables (like
1800ROM dumps). In these cases, the function entry mask would otherwise
1801be decoded as VAX instructions, which would probably lead the the rest
1802of the function being wrongly disassembled.
1803
252b5132
RH
1804@item -p
1805@itemx --private-headers
1806Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1807information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1808object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1809
1810@item -r
1811@itemx --reloc
1812@cindex relocation entries, in object file
c7c55b78
NC
1813Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1814@option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
252b5132
RH
1815disassembly.
1816
1817@item -R
1818@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1819@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1820Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1821meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1822libraries.
1823
1824@item -s
1825@itemx --full-contents
1826@cindex sections, full contents
1827@cindex object file sections
155e0d23
NC
1828Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
1829non-empty sections are displayed.
252b5132
RH
1830
1831@item -S
1832@itemx --source
1833@cindex source disassembly
1834@cindex disassembly, with source
1835Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
c7c55b78 1836@option{-d}.
252b5132
RH
1837
1838@item --show-raw-insn
1839When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1840in symbolic form. This is the default except when
c7c55b78 1841@option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
252b5132
RH
1842
1843@item --no-show-raw-insn
1844When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
c7c55b78 1845This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
252b5132 1846
1dada9c5 1847@item -G
947ed062 1848@itemx --stabs
252b5132
RH
1849@cindex stab
1850@cindex .stab
1851@cindex debug symbols
1852@cindex ELF object file format
1853Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1854contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1855ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1856@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1857section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
c7c55b78 1858interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
0285c67d
NC
1859output.
1860@ifclear man
1861For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
252b5132 1862Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
0285c67d 1863@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
1864
1865@item --start-address=@var{address}
1866@cindex start-address
1867Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
c7c55b78 1868of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
252b5132
RH
1869
1870@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1871@cindex stop-address
1872Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
c7c55b78 1873of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
252b5132
RH
1874
1875@item -t
1876@itemx --syms
1877@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1878Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1879This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1880
1881@item -T
1882@itemx --dynamic-syms
1883@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1884Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1885meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1886libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
c7c55b78 1887program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
252b5132 1888
3c9458e9
NC
1889@item --special-syms
1890When displaying symbols include those which the target considers to be
1891special in some way and which would not normally be of interest to the
1892user.
1893
947ed062
NC
1894@item -V
1895@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1896Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
252b5132
RH
1897
1898@item -x
947ed062 1899@itemx --all-headers
252b5132
RH
1900@cindex all header information, object file
1901@cindex header information, all
1902Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
c7c55b78 1903relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
04c34128 1904@option{-a -f -h -p -r -t}.
252b5132
RH
1905
1906@item -w
1907@itemx --wide
1908@cindex wide output, printing
1909Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
31104126 1910Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
aefbdd67
BE
1911
1912@item -z
2c0c15f9 1913@itemx --disassemble-zeroes
aefbdd67
BE
1914Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1915option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1916any other data.
252b5132
RH
1917@end table
1918
0285c67d
NC
1919@c man end
1920
1921@ignore
1922@c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1923nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1924@c man end
1925@end ignore
1926
252b5132
RH
1927@node ranlib
1928@chapter ranlib
1929
1930@kindex ranlib
1931@cindex archive contents
1932@cindex symbol index
1933
0285c67d
NC
1934@c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1935
252b5132 1936@smallexample
0285c67d 1937@c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
c7c55b78 1938ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
0285c67d 1939@c man end
252b5132
RH
1940@end smallexample
1941
0285c67d
NC
1942@c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1943
c7c55b78 1944@command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
252b5132
RH
1945stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1946member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1947
1948You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1949
1950An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1951allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1952their placement in the archive.
1953
c7c55b78
NC
1954The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1955@command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
252b5132
RH
1956@xref{ar}.
1957
0285c67d
NC
1958@c man end
1959
1960@c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1961
c7c55b78 1962@table @env
252b5132
RH
1963@item -v
1964@itemx -V
f20a759a 1965@itemx --version
c7c55b78 1966Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
252b5132
RH
1967@end table
1968
0285c67d
NC
1969@c man end
1970
1971@ignore
1972@c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1973ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1974@c man end
1975@end ignore
1976
252b5132
RH
1977@node size
1978@chapter size
1979
1980@kindex size
1981@cindex section sizes
1982
0285c67d
NC
1983@c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1984
252b5132 1985@smallexample
0285c67d 1986@c man begin SYNOPSIS size
c7c55b78 1987size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
15c82623
NC
1988 [@option{--help}]
1989 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1990 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
c7c55b78
NC
1991 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1992 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
0285c67d 1993@c man end
252b5132
RH
1994@end smallexample
1995
0285c67d
NC
1996@c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1997
c7c55b78 1998The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
252b5132
RH
1999size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
2000argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
2001object file or each module in an archive.
2002
2003@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
2004If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
2005
0285c67d
NC
2006@c man end
2007
2008@c man begin OPTIONS size
2009
252b5132
RH
2010The command line options have the following meanings:
2011
c7c55b78 2012@table @env
252b5132
RH
2013@item -A
2014@itemx -B
2015@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
c7c55b78 2016@cindex @command{size} display format
252b5132 2017Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
c7c55b78
NC
2018@command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
2019or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
2020@option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
252b5132
RH
2021Berkeley's.
2022@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
2023@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
2024@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
2025
2026Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
c7c55b78 2027@command{size}:
252b5132 2028@smallexample
f20a759a 2029$ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
252b5132
RH
2030text data bss dec hex filename
2031294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
2032294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
2033@end smallexample
2034
2035@noindent
2036This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
2037
2038@smallexample
f20a759a 2039$ size --format=SysV ranlib size
252b5132
RH
2040ranlib :
2041section size addr
2042.text 294880 8192
2043.data 81920 303104
2044.bss 11592 385024
2045Total 388392
2046
2047
2048size :
2049section size addr
2050.text 294880 8192
2051.data 81920 303104
2052.bss 11888 385024
2053Total 388688
2054@end smallexample
2055
2056@item --help
2057Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
2058
2059@item -d
2060@itemx -o
2061@itemx -x
2062@itemx --radix=@var{number}
c7c55b78 2063@cindex @command{size} number format
252b5132
RH
2064@cindex radix for section sizes
2065Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
c7c55b78
NC
2066section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
2067(@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
2068@option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
252b5132 2069values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
c7c55b78
NC
2070radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
2071octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
252b5132 2072
15c82623
NC
2073@item -t
2074@itemx --totals
2075Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2076
252b5132
RH
2077@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2078@cindex object code format
2079Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
c7c55b78 2080@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
252b5132
RH
2081automatically recognize many formats.
2082@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2083
2084@item -V
2085@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2086Display the version number of @command{size}.
252b5132
RH
2087@end table
2088
0285c67d
NC
2089@c man end
2090
2091@ignore
2092@c man begin SEEALSO size
2093ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2094@c man end
2095@end ignore
2096
252b5132
RH
2097@node strings
2098@chapter strings
2099@kindex strings
2100@cindex listings strings
2101@cindex printing strings
2102@cindex strings, printing
2103
0285c67d
NC
2104@c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2105
252b5132 2106@smallexample
0285c67d 2107@c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
d132876a
NC
2108strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2109 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2110 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2111 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2112 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2113 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
c7c55b78 2114 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
0285c67d 2115@c man end
252b5132
RH
2116@end smallexample
2117
0285c67d
NC
2118@c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2119
c7c55b78 2120For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
252b5132
RH
2121character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
2122given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
2123character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
2124and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
2125the strings from the whole file.
2126
c7c55b78 2127@command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
252b5132
RH
2128files.
2129
0285c67d
NC
2130@c man end
2131
2132@c man begin OPTIONS strings
2133
c7c55b78 2134@table @env
252b5132
RH
2135@item -a
2136@itemx --all
2137@itemx -
2138Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
2139scan the whole files.
2140
2141@item -f
2142@itemx --print-file-name
2143Print the name of the file before each string.
2144
2145@item --help
2146Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2147
2148@item -@var{min-len}
2149@itemx -n @var{min-len}
2150@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2151Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2152long, instead of the default 4.
2153
2154@item -o
c7c55b78 2155Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
252b5132
RH
2156act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2157ways, we simply chose one.
2158
2159@item -t @var{radix}
2160@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2161Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2162character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2163octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2164
d132876a
NC
2165@item -e @var{encoding}
2166@itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2167Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
8745eafa
NC
2168Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2169characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2170single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
217116-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2172littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
d132876a 2173
252b5132
RH
2174@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2175@cindex object code format
2176Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2177@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2178
2179@item -v
2180@itemx --version
2181Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2182@end table
2183
0285c67d
NC
2184@c man end
2185
2186@ignore
2187@c man begin SEEALSO strings
2188ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2189and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2190@c man end
2191@end ignore
2192
252b5132
RH
2193@node strip
2194@chapter strip
2195
2196@kindex strip
2197@cindex removing symbols
2198@cindex discarding symbols
2199@cindex symbols, discarding
2200
0285c67d
NC
2201@c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2202
252b5132 2203@smallexample
0285c67d 2204@c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2593f09a
NC
2205strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2206 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2207 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2208 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
2209 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2210 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2211 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
5fe11841 2212 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2593f09a
NC
2213 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2214 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
2215 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
ed1653a7 2216 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
7c29036b
NC
2217 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2218 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
252b5132 2219 @var{objfile}@dots{}
0285c67d 2220@c man end
252b5132
RH
2221@end smallexample
2222
0285c67d
NC
2223@c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2224
c7c55b78 2225@sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
252b5132
RH
2226@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2227At least one object file must be given.
2228
c7c55b78 2229@command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
252b5132
RH
2230rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2231
0285c67d
NC
2232@c man end
2233
2234@c man begin OPTIONS strip
2235
c7c55b78 2236@table @env
252b5132
RH
2237@item -F @var{bfdname}
2238@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2239Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2240code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2241@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2242
2243@item --help
c7c55b78 2244Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
252b5132 2245
7c29036b
NC
2246@item --info
2247Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2248
947ed062 2249@item -I @var{bfdname}
252b5132
RH
2250@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2251Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2252code format @var{bfdname}.
2253@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2254
2255@item -O @var{bfdname}
2256@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2257Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2258@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2259
2260@item -R @var{sectionname}
2261@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2262Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2263option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2264inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2265
2266@item -s
2267@itemx --strip-all
2268Remove all symbols.
2269
2270@item -g
2271@itemx -S
15c82623 2272@itemx -d
252b5132
RH
2273@itemx --strip-debug
2274Remove debugging symbols only.
2275
2276@item --strip-unneeded
2277Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2278
2279@item -K @var{symbolname}
2280@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
e7f918ad
NC
2281When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
2282normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
252b5132
RH
2283
2284@item -N @var{symbolname}
2285@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2286Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2287given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
c7c55b78 2288@option{-K}.
252b5132
RH
2289
2290@item -o @var{file}
2291Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2292existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2293argument may be specified.
2294
2295@item -p
2296@itemx --preserve-dates
2297Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2298
5fe11841
NC
2299@item -w
2300@itemx --wildcard
2301Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
2302line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
2303square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
2304name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
2305point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
2306For example:
2307
2308@smallexample
2309 -w -K !foo -K fo*
2310@end smallexample
2311
2312would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
2313``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
2314
252b5132
RH
2315@item -x
2316@itemx --discard-all
2317Remove non-global symbols.
2318
2319@item -X
2320@itemx --discard-locals
2321Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2322(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2323
ed1653a7
NC
2324@item --only-keep-debug
2325Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
2326@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
2327
2328The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
2329@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
2330stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
2331distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
2332needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
2333to create these files is as follows:
2334
2335@enumerate
2336@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
2337@code{foo} then...
2338@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
2339create a file containing the debugging info.
2340@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
2341stripped executable.
2342@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
2343to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
2344@end enumerate
2345
2346Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
2347file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
2348optional. You could instead do this:
2349
2350@enumerate
2351@item Link the executable as normal.
2352@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
2353@item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
2354@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
2355@end enumerate
2356
2357ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
2358full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
2359@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
2360
252b5132
RH
2361@item -V
2362@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2363Show the version number for @command{strip}.
252b5132
RH
2364
2365@item -v
2366@itemx --verbose
2367Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2368archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2369@end table
2370
0285c67d
NC
2371@c man end
2372
2373@ignore
2374@c man begin SEEALSO strip
2375the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2376@c man end
2377@end ignore
2378
9d51cc66 2379@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
252b5132
RH
2380@chapter c++filt
2381
2382@kindex c++filt
2383@cindex demangling C++ symbols
2384
0285c67d
NC
2385@c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2386
252b5132 2387@smallexample
0285c67d 2388@c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
c7c55b78
NC
2389c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2390 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2391 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
4e48c9dd 2392 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
c7c55b78
NC
2393 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2394 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
0285c67d 2395@c man end
252b5132
RH
2396@end smallexample
2397
0285c67d
NC
2398@c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2399
9d51cc66 2400@kindex cxxfilt
252b5132
RH
2401The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2402that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2403takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2404are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
c7c55b78 2405@dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
9d51cc66 2406@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
195a97ce 2407MS-DOS this program is named @command{CXXFILT}.}
9d51cc66
ILT
2408program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2409names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2410functions from clashing.
252b5132
RH
2411
2412Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2413dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2414label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2415name in the output.
2416
c7c55b78 2417You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
252b5132
RH
2418
2419@example
2420c++filt @var{symbol}
2421@end example
2422
c7c55b78 2423If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
252b5132
RH
2424names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2425standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2426
0285c67d
NC
2427@c man end
2428
2429@c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2430
c7c55b78 2431@table @env
252b5132
RH
2432@item -_
2433@itemx --strip-underscores
2434On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2435of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2436name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
c7c55b78 2437@command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
252b5132
RH
2438
2439@item -j
2440@itemx --java
2441Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2442syntax.
2443
2444@item -n
2445@itemx --no-strip-underscores
2446Do not remove the initial underscore.
2447
4e48c9dd
ILT
2448@item -p
2449@itemx --no-params
2450When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
2451the function's parameters.
2452
252b5132
RH
2453@item -s @var{format}
2454@itemx --format=@var{format}
947ed062
NC
2455@command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2456different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
252b5132
RH
2457method it uses:
2458
2459@table @code
947ed062
NC
2460@item auto
2461Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
252b5132 2462@item gnu
947ed062 2463the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
252b5132 2464@item lucid
947ed062 2465the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
252b5132
RH
2466@item arm
2467the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2468@item hp
947ed062 2469the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
252b5132
RH
2470@item edg
2471the one used by the EDG compiler
b5e2a4f3 2472@item gnu-v3
947ed062
NC
2473the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2474@item java
2475the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2476@item gnat
2477the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
252b5132
RH
2478@end table
2479
2480@item --help
c7c55b78 2481Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
252b5132
RH
2482
2483@item --version
c7c55b78 2484Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
252b5132
RH
2485@end table
2486
0285c67d
NC
2487@c man end
2488
2489@ignore
2490@c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2491the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2492@c man end
2493@end ignore
2494
252b5132 2495@quotation
c7c55b78 2496@emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
252b5132
RH
2497user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2498a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2499passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2500
2501@example
2502c++filt @var{symbol}
2503@end example
2504
2505@noindent
2506may in a future release become
2507
2508@example
2509c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2510@end example
2511@end quotation
2512
2513@node addr2line
2514@chapter addr2line
2515
2516@kindex addr2line
2517@cindex address to file name and line number
2518
0285c67d
NC
2519@c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2520
252b5132 2521@smallexample
0285c67d 2522@c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
c7c55b78 2523addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
bf44dd74 2524 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
c7c55b78
NC
2525 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2526 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2527 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2528 [addr addr @dots{}]
0285c67d 2529@c man end
252b5132
RH
2530@end smallexample
2531
0285c67d
NC
2532@c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2533
c7c55b78 2534@command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
252b5132
RH
2535numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2536information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2537number are associated with a given address.
2538
c7c55b78 2539The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
f20a759a 2540default is the file @file{a.out}.
252b5132 2541
c7c55b78 2542@command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
252b5132
RH
2543
2544In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
c7c55b78 2545and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
252b5132
RH
2546address.
2547
c7c55b78 2548In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
252b5132 2549standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
c7c55b78 2550address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
252b5132
RH
2551in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2552
2553The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2554line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
c7c55b78 2555@command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
252b5132
RH
2556preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2557containing the address.
2558
2559If the file name or function name can not be determined,
c7c55b78
NC
2560@command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2561line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
252b5132 2562
0285c67d
NC
2563@c man end
2564
2565@c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2566
252b5132
RH
2567The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2568equivalent.
2569
c7c55b78 2570@table @env
252b5132
RH
2571@item -b @var{bfdname}
2572@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2573@cindex object code format
2574Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2575@var{bfdname}.
2576
2577@item -C
28c309a2 2578@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
252b5132
RH
2579@cindex demangling in objdump
2580Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2581Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
28c309a2
NC
2582makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2583mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2584choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2585for more information on demangling.
252b5132
RH
2586
2587@item -e @var{filename}
2588@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2589Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2590translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2591
2592@item -f
2593@itemx --functions
2594Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2595
2596@item -s
2597@itemx --basenames
2598Display only the base of each file name.
e107c42f 2599@end table
252b5132 2600
0285c67d
NC
2601@c man end
2602
2603@ignore
2604@c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2605Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2606@c man end
2607@end ignore
2608
252b5132
RH
2609@node nlmconv
2610@chapter nlmconv
2611
c7c55b78 2612@command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
252b5132
RH
2613Loadable Module.
2614
2615@ignore
c7c55b78 2616@command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
252b5132
RH
2617files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2618object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
c7c55b78 2619@command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
252b5132
RH
2620format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2621with the above formats.}.
2622@end ignore
2623
2624@quotation
c7c55b78 2625@emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
252b5132
RH
2626utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2627@end quotation
2628
0285c67d
NC
2629@c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2630
252b5132 2631@smallexample
0285c67d 2632@c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
c7c55b78
NC
2633nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2634 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2635 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2636 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2637 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
252b5132 2638 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
0285c67d 2639@c man end
252b5132
RH
2640@end smallexample
2641
0285c67d
NC
2642@c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2643
c7c55b78 2644@command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
252b5132
RH
2645@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2646reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2647on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2648@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2649Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2650Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
c7c55b78 2651@command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
0285c67d
NC
2652@var{infile};
2653@ifclear man
2654see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2655@end ifclear
252b5132 2656
c7c55b78 2657@command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
252b5132
RH
2658more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2659file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
c7c55b78 2660In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
252b5132 2661
0285c67d
NC
2662@c man end
2663
2664@c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2665
c7c55b78 2666@table @env
252b5132
RH
2667@item -I @var{bfdname}
2668@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
c7c55b78 2669Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
252b5132
RH
2670the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2671@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2672
2673@item -O @var{bfdname}
2674@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
c7c55b78 2675Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
252b5132
RH
2676format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2677output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2678@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2679
2680@item -T @var{headerfile}
2681@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2682Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2683writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2684@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2685Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2686from Novell, Inc.
2687
2688@item -d
2689@itemx --debug
c7c55b78 2690Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
252b5132
RH
2691
2692@item -l @var{linker}
2693@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2694Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2695relative pathname.
2696
2697@item -h
2698@itemx --help
2699Prints a usage summary.
2700
2701@item -V
2702@itemx --version
c7c55b78 2703Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
252b5132
RH
2704@end table
2705
0285c67d
NC
2706@c man end
2707
2708@ignore
2709@c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2710the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2711@c man end
2712@end ignore
2713
252b5132
RH
2714@node windres
2715@chapter windres
2716
c7c55b78 2717@command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
252b5132
RH
2718
2719@quotation
c7c55b78 2720@emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
252b5132
RH
2721utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2722@end quotation
2723
0285c67d
NC
2724@c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2725
252b5132 2726@smallexample
0285c67d 2727@c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
252b5132 2728windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
0285c67d 2729@c man end
252b5132
RH
2730@end smallexample
2731
0285c67d
NC
2732@c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2733
c7c55b78 2734@command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
252b5132
RH
2735an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2736
2737@table @code
2738@item rc
2739A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2740
2741@item res
2742A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2743
2744@item coff
2745A COFF object or executable.
2746@end table
2747
2748The exact description of these different formats is available in
2749documentation from Microsoft.
2750
c7c55b78 2751When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
252b5132 2752format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
c7c55b78 2753@command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
252b5132
RH
2754format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2755
c7c55b78 2756When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
252b5132
RH
2757but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2758@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2759will instead include the file contents.
2760
c7c55b78 2761If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
252b5132
RH
2762guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2763A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2764file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2765@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2766@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2767
c7c55b78 2768If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
252b5132
RH
2769in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2770
c7c55b78 2771The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
252b5132
RH
2772to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2773your application. This will make the resources described in the
2774@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2775
0285c67d
NC
2776@c man end
2777
2778@c man begin OPTIONS windres
2779
c7c55b78 2780@table @env
252b5132
RH
2781@item -i @var{filename}
2782@itemx --input @var{filename}
2783The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
c7c55b78
NC
2784@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2785name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2786read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
edbedb71 2787standard input.
252b5132
RH
2788
2789@item -o @var{filename}
2790@itemx --output @var{filename}
2791The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
c7c55b78 2792@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
252b5132 2793for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
c7c55b78 2794non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
edbedb71
NC
2795@command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
2796for compatability with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
2797accepted, but its use is not recommended.
252b5132 2798
85eb5110 2799@item -J @var{format}
252b5132
RH
2800@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2801The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
c7c55b78 2802@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
252b5132
RH
2803guess, as described above.
2804
2805@item -O @var{format}
2806@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2807The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2808@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
c7c55b78 2809@command{windres} will guess, as described above.
252b5132
RH
2810
2811@item -F @var{target}
2812@itemx --target @var{target}
2813Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
c7c55b78
NC
2814is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2815of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2816format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2817@ifclear man
252b5132 2818@ref{Target Selection}.
c7c55b78 2819@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
2820
2821@item --preprocessor @var{program}
c7c55b78 2822When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
252b5132
RH
2823preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2824to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2825argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2826
85eb5110
NC
2827@item -I @var{directory}
2828@itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
252b5132 2829Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
c7c55b78
NC
2830@command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2831option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
85eb5110
NC
2832files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
2833matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as descrived in the @option{-J}
2834option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
2835@option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
2836directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
2837to disable the backward compatibility.
252b5132 2838
751d21b5 2839@item -D @var{target}
ad0481cd 2840@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
c7c55b78 2841Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
252b5132
RH
2842@code{rc} file.
2843
29b058f1
NC
2844@item -U @var{target}
2845@itemx --undefine @var{sym}
2846Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2847@code{rc} file.
2848
3126d709
CF
2849@item -r
2850Ignored for compatibility with rc.
2851
751d21b5
DD
2852@item -v
2853Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2854didn't specify one.
2855
3077f5d8 2856@item -l @var{val}
252b5132
RH
2857@item --language @var{val}
2858Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2859@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2860the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2861
5a298d2d
NC
2862@item --use-temp-file
2863Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2864the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2865on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2866Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2867go the console).
2868
2869@item --no-use-temp-file
2870Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2871This is the default behaviour.
2872
3077f5d8 2873@item -h
252b5132
RH
2874@item --help
2875Prints a usage summary.
2876
3077f5d8 2877@item -V
252b5132 2878@item --version
c7c55b78 2879Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
252b5132
RH
2880
2881@item --yydebug
c7c55b78 2882If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
252b5132
RH
2883this will turn on parser debugging.
2884@end table
2885
0285c67d
NC
2886@c man end
2887
2888@ignore
2889@c man begin SEEALSO windres
2890the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2891@c man end
2892@end ignore
252b5132
RH
2893
2894@node dlltool
2aa9814e 2895@chapter dlltool
252b5132
RH
2896@cindex DLL
2897@kindex dlltool
2898
2aa9814e
BE
2899@command{dlltool} is used to create the files needed to create dynamic
2900link libraries (DLLs) on systems which understand PE format image
2901files such as Windows. A DLL contains an export table which contains
2902information that the runtime loader needs to resolve references from a
2903referencing program.
2904
2905The export table is generated by this program by reading in a
2906@file{.def} file or scanning the @file{.a} and @file{.o} files which
2907will be in the DLL. A @file{.o} file can contain information in
2908special @samp{.drectve} sections with export information.
252b5132
RH
2909
2910@quotation
2aa9814e
BE
2911@emph{Note:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the
2912binary utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which
2913support DLLs.
252b5132
RH
2914@end quotation
2915
0285c67d
NC
2916@c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2917
252b5132 2918@smallexample
0285c67d 2919@c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
c7c55b78
NC
2920dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2921 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2922 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2923 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2924 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2925 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2926 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2927 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2928 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2929 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2930 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2931 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
607dea97 2932 [@option{-p}|@option{--ext-prefix-alias} @var{prefix}]
c7c55b78 2933 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
f9346411
DS
2934 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-t}|@option{--temp-prefix} @var{prefix}]
2935 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
c7c55b78 2936 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
252b5132 2937 [object-file @dots{}]
0285c67d 2938@c man end
252b5132
RH
2939@end smallexample
2940
0285c67d
NC
2941@c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2942
c7c55b78
NC
2943@command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2944@option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2945line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2946been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2947has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2948has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2949@option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2950dlltool.
252b5132
RH
2951
2952When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
c7c55b78 2953to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
252b5132
RH
2954these files.
2955
2aa9814e 2956The first file is a @file{.def} file which specifies which functions are
252b5132 2957exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
c7c55b78
NC
2958is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2959to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
252b5132
RH
2960will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2961those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2aa9814e 2962put entries for them in the @file{.def} file it creates.
252b5132
RH
2963
2964In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
c7c55b78 2965have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
252b5132
RH
2966section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2967asm() operator:
2968
2969@smallexample
2970 asm (".section .drectve");
2971 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2972
2973 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2974@end smallexample
2975
2976The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2977is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2978handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
c7c55b78 2979binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2aa9814e 2980@command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
252b5132
RH
2981
2982The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2983will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
c7c55b78 2984can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2aa9814e 2985is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
252b5132 2986
c7c55b78 2987@command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
252b5132 2988exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
c7c55b78 2989and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
252b5132 2990used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
c7c55b78
NC
2991and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2992assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2993these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
252b5132
RH
2994specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2995temporary object files it used to build the library.
2996
2997Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2998also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2999that uses that DLL:
3000
3001@smallexample
3002 gcc -c dll.c
3003 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
3004 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
3005 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
3006@end smallexample
3007
0285c67d
NC
3008@c man end
3009
3010@c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
3011
252b5132
RH
3012The command line options have the following meanings:
3013
c7c55b78 3014@table @env
252b5132
RH
3015
3016@item -d @var{filename}
3017@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
3018@cindex input .def file
2aa9814e 3019Specifies the name of a @file{.def} file to be read in and processed.
252b5132
RH
3020
3021@item -b @var{filename}
3022@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
3023@cindex base files
3024Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
3025contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
3026exports file generated by dlltool.
3027
3028@item -e @var{filename}
3029@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
3030Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
3031
3032@item -z @var{filename}
3033@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2aa9814e 3034Specifies the name of the @file{.def} file to be created by dlltool.
252b5132
RH
3035
3036@item -l @var{filename}
3037@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
3038Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
3039
3040@item --export-all-symbols
3041Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
3042files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
c7c55b78 3043are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
252b5132 3044option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
c7c55b78 3045@option{--exclude-symbols} option.
252b5132
RH
3046
3047@item --no-export-all-symbols
2aa9814e 3048Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input @file{.def} file or in
252b5132
RH
3049@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
3050behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
3051attributes in the source code.
3052
3053@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
3054Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
3055separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
3056contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
c7c55b78 3057@option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
252b5132
RH
3058
3059@item --no-default-excludes
c7c55b78 3060When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
252b5132
RH
3061exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
3062exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
c7c55b78 3063@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
252b5132 3064to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
c7c55b78 3065when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
252b5132
RH
3066
3067@item -S @var{path}
3068@itemx --as @var{path}
3069Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
3070to create the exports file.
3071
6364e0b4
NC
3072@item -f @var{options}
3073@itemx --as-flags @var{options}
3074Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
252b5132 3075assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
c7c55b78 3076the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
252b5132
RH
3077and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
3078occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
6364e0b4 3079pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
252b5132
RH
3080double quotes.
3081
3082@item -D @var{name}
3083@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2aa9814e
BE
3084Specifies the name to be stored in the @file{.def} file as the name of
3085the DLL when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not
3086present, then the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be
3087used as the name of the DLL.
252b5132
RH
3088
3089@item -m @var{machine}
3090@itemx -machine @var{machine}
3091Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
c7c55b78 3092built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
252b5132
RH
3093it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
3094normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
c36774d6 3095contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
252b5132
RH
3096
3097@item -a
3098@itemx --add-indirect
c7c55b78 3099Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3100should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
3101referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
3102means!
3103
3104@item -U
3105@itemx --add-underscore
c7c55b78 3106Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3107should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
3108
3109@item -k
3110@itemx --kill-at
c7c55b78 3111Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
d67a454c
NC
3112should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
3113called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
3114function in a DLL, other than by name.
252b5132
RH
3115
3116@item -A
3117@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
c7c55b78 3118Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
252b5132
RH
3119should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
3120in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
3121
607dea97
NC
3122@item -p
3123@itemx --ext-prefix-alias @var{prefix}
3124Causes @command{dlltool} to create external aliases for all DLL
3125imports with the specified prefix. The aliases are created for both
3126external and import symbols with no leading underscore.
3127
252b5132
RH
3128@item -x
3129@itemx --no-idata4
c7c55b78
NC
3130Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3131files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
252b5132
RH
3132with certain operating systems.
3133
3134@item -c
3135@itemx --no-idata5
c7c55b78
NC
3136Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3137files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
252b5132
RH
3138with certain operating systems.
3139
3140@item -i
3141@itemx --interwork
c7c55b78 3142Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
252b5132 3143file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
c36774d6 3144between ARM and Thumb code.
252b5132
RH
3145
3146@item -n
3147@itemx --nodelete
c7c55b78 3148Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
252b5132
RH
3149create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
3150also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
f9346411
DS
3151file.
3152
3153@item -t @var{prefix}
3154@itemx --temp-prefix @var{prefix}
3155Makes @command{dlltool} use @var{prefix} when constructing the names of
3156temporary assembler and object files. By default, the temp file prefix
3157is generated from the pid.
252b5132
RH
3158
3159@item -v
3160@itemx --verbose
3161Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
3162
3163@item -h
3164@itemx --help
3165Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3166
3167@item -V
3168@itemx --version
3169Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
3170
3171@end table
3172
0285c67d
NC
3173@c man end
3174
2aa9814e
BE
3175@menu
3176* def file format:: The format of the dlltool @file{.def} file
3177@end menu
3178
3179@node def file format
3180@section The format of the @command{dlltool} @file{.def} file
3181
3182A @file{.def} file contains any number of the following commands:
3183
3184@table @asis
3185
3186@item @code{NAME} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
3187The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.exe}.
3188
3189@item @code{LIBRARY} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
3190The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.dll}.
3191
3192@item @code{EXPORTS ( ( (} @var{name1} @code{[ = } @var{name2} @code{] ) | ( } @var{name1} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) )}
3193@item @code{[} @var{integer} @code{] [ NONAME ] [ CONSTANT ] [ DATA ] [ PRIVATE ] ) *}
3194Declares @var{name1} as an exported symbol from the DLL, with optional
3195ordinal number @var{integer}, or declares @var{name1} as an alias
3196(forward) of the function @var{external-name} in the DLL
3197@var{module-name}.
3198
3199@item @code{IMPORTS ( (} @var{internal-name} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{integer} @code{) | [} @var{internal-name} @code{= ]} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) ) *}
3200Declares that @var{external-name} or the exported function whose
3201ordinal number is @var{integer} is to be imported from the file
3202@var{module-name}. If @var{internal-name} is specified then this is
3203the name that the imported function will be referred to in the body of
3204the DLL.
3205
3206@item @code{DESCRIPTION} @var{string}
3207Puts @var{string} into the output @file{.exp} file in the
3208@code{.rdata} section.
3209
3210@item @code{STACKSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
3211@item @code{HEAPSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
3212Generates @code{--stack} or @code{--heap}
3213@var{number-reserve},@var{number-commit} in the output @code{.drectve}
3214section. The linker will see this and act upon it.
3215
3216@item @code{CODE} @var{attr} @code{+}
3217@item @code{DATA} @var{attr} @code{+}
3218@item @code{SECTIONS (} @var{section-name} @var{attr}@code{ + ) *}
3219Generates @code{--attr} @var{section-name} @var{attr} in the output
3220@code{.drectve} section, where @var{attr} is one of @code{READ},
3221@code{WRITE}, @code{EXECUTE} or @code{SHARED}. The linker will see
3222this and act upon it.
3223
3224@end table
3225
0285c67d
NC
3226@ignore
3227@c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
2aa9814e 3228The Info pages for @file{binutils}.
0285c67d
NC
3229@c man end
3230@end ignore
3231
252b5132
RH
3232@node readelf
3233@chapter readelf
3234
3235@cindex ELF file information
3236@kindex readelf
3237
0285c67d
NC
3238@c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
3239
252b5132 3240@smallexample
0285c67d 3241@c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
c7c55b78
NC
3242readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
3243 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
3244 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
3245 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
81fc812e
L
3246 [@option{-g}|@option{--section-groups}]
3247 [@option{-N}|@option{--full-section-name}]
c7c55b78
NC
3248 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
3249 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
3250 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
3251 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
3252 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
3253 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
3254 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
947ed062 3255 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
c7c55b78
NC
3256 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
3257 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
18bd398b
NC
3258 [@option{-w[liaprmfFsoR]}|
3259 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]]
947ed062 3260 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
c7c55b78 3261 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
d974e256 3262 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
c7c55b78 3263 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
252b5132 3264 @var{elffile}@dots{}
0285c67d 3265@c man end
252b5132
RH
3266@end smallexample
3267
0285c67d
NC
3268@c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
3269
c7c55b78 3270@command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
252b5132
RH
3271files. The options control what particular information to display.
3272
fb52b2f4
NC
3273@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
327464-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
252b5132 3275
9eb20dd8
NC
3276This program performs a similar function to @command{objdump} but it
3277goes into more detail and it exists independently of the @sc{bfd}
3278library, so if there is a bug in @sc{bfd} then readelf will not be
3279affected.
3280
0285c67d
NC
3281@c man end
3282
3283@c man begin OPTIONS readelf
3284
252b5132
RH
3285The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3286equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
3287given.
3288
c7c55b78 3289@table @env
252b5132
RH
3290@item -a
3291@itemx --all
c7c55b78
NC
3292Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
3293@option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
3294@option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
3295@option{--version-info}.
252b5132
RH
3296
3297@item -h
3298@itemx --file-header
3299@cindex ELF file header information
3300Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
3301file.
3302
3303@item -l
3304@itemx --program-headers
3305@itemx --segments
3306@cindex ELF program header information
3307@cindex ELF segment information
3308Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
3309has any.
3310
3311@item -S
3312@itemx --sections
3313@itemx --section-headers
3314@cindex ELF section information
3315Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
3316has any.
3317
81fc812e
L
3318@item -g
3319@itemx --section-groups
3320@cindex ELF section group information
3321Displays the information contained in the file's section groups, if it
3322has any.
3323
3324@item -N
3325@itemx --full-section-name
3326@cindex ELF section name information
3327Displays the full section name for @option{-S}.
3328
252b5132
RH
3329@item -s
3330@itemx --symbols
3331@itemx --syms
3332@cindex ELF symbol table information
3333Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3334
3335@item -e
3336@itemx --headers
c7c55b78 3337Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
252b5132 3338
779fe533
NC
3339@item -n
3340@itemx --notes
1ec5cd37
NC
3341@cindex ELF notes
3342Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.
779fe533 3343
252b5132
RH
3344@item -r
3345@itemx --relocs
3346@cindex ELF reloc information
f5e21966
NC
3347Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3348
3349@item -u
3350@itemx --unwind
3351@cindex unwind information
3352Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3353the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
252b5132
RH
3354
3355@item -d
3356@itemx --dynamic
3357@cindex ELF dynamic section information
3358Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3359
3360@item -V
3361@itemx --version-info
3362@cindex ELF version sections informations
3363Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3364exist.
3365
947ed062
NC
3366@item -A
3367@itemx --arch-specific
3368Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3369is any.
3370
252b5132
RH
3371@item -D
3372@itemx --use-dynamic
c7c55b78 3373When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
6dbb55b6 3374symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
252b5132
RH
3375symbols section.
3376
3377@item -x <number>
3378@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3379Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3380
18bd398b
NC
3381@item -w[liaprmfFsoR]
3382@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges]
252b5132
RH
3383Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3384present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3385then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3386
947ed062
NC
3387@item -I
3388@itemx --histogram
252b5132
RH
3389Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3390of the symbol tables.
3391
3392@item -v
3393@itemx --version
3394Display the version number of readelf.
3395
d974e256
JJ
3396@item -W
3397@itemx --wide
3398Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3399@command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
340064-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3401@command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3402single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3403
252b5132
RH
3404@item -H
3405@itemx --help
c7c55b78 3406Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
252b5132
RH
3407
3408@end table
3409
0285c67d
NC
3410@c man end
3411
3412@ignore
3413@c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3414objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3415@c man end
3416@end ignore
252b5132
RH
3417
3418@node Selecting The Target System
947ed062 3419@chapter Selecting the Target System
252b5132 3420
947ed062 3421You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
252b5132
RH
3422binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3423
3424@itemize @bullet
3425@item
3426the target
3427
3428@item
3429the architecture
252b5132
RH
3430@end itemize
3431
3432In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3433order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3434listed later.
3435
3436The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3437programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
c7c55b78 3438@option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
252b5132
RH
3439values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3440once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3441with the same type as the target system).
3442
3443@menu
3444* Target Selection::
3445* Architecture Selection::
252b5132
RH
3446@end menu
3447
3448@node Target Selection
3449@section Target Selection
3450
3451A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3452supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3453A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3454systems or architectures.
3455
3456The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3457(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3458
3459Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3460@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3461
3462You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
f20a759a
ILT
3463the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3464target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3465fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
252b5132
RH
3466running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3467sources.
3468
3469Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3470@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3471
c7c55b78 3472@subheading @command{objdump} Target
252b5132
RH
3473
3474Ways to specify:
3475
3476@enumerate
3477@item
c7c55b78 3478command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3479
3480@item
3481environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3482
3483@item
3484deduced from the input file
3485@end enumerate
3486
c7c55b78 3487@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
252b5132
RH
3488
3489Ways to specify:
3490
3491@enumerate
3492@item
c7c55b78 3493command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3494
3495@item
3496environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3497
3498@item
3499deduced from the input file
3500@end enumerate
3501
c7c55b78 3502@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
252b5132
RH
3503
3504Ways to specify:
3505
3506@enumerate
3507@item
c7c55b78 3508command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3509
3510@item
c7c55b78 3511the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
252b5132
RH
3512
3513@item
3514environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3515
3516@item
3517deduced from the input file
3518@end enumerate
3519
c7c55b78 3520@subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
252b5132
RH
3521
3522Ways to specify:
3523
3524@enumerate
3525@item
c7c55b78 3526command line option: @option{--target}
252b5132
RH
3527
3528@item
3529environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3530
3531@item
3532deduced from the input file
3533@end enumerate
3534
252b5132 3535@node Architecture Selection
947ed062 3536@section Architecture Selection
252b5132
RH
3537
3538An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3539to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3540processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3541
3542The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3543second column contains the relevant information).
3544
3545Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3546
c7c55b78 3547@subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
252b5132
RH
3548
3549Ways to specify:
3550
3551@enumerate
3552@item
c7c55b78 3553command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
252b5132
RH
3554
3555@item
3556deduced from the input file
3557@end enumerate
3558
c7c55b78 3559@subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
252b5132
RH
3560
3561Ways to specify:
3562
3563@enumerate
3564@item
3565deduced from the input file
3566@end enumerate
3567
252b5132
RH
3568@node Reporting Bugs
3569@chapter Reporting Bugs
3570@cindex bugs
3571@cindex reporting bugs
3572
3573Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3574reliable.
3575
3576Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3577it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3578to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3579utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3580maintenance.
3581
3582In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3583information that enables us to fix the bug.
3584
3585@menu
3586* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3587* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3588@end menu
3589
3590@node Bug Criteria
947ed062 3591@section Have You Found a Bug?
252b5132
RH
3592@cindex bug criteria
3593
3594If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3595
3596@itemize @bullet
3597@cindex fatal signal
3598@cindex crash
3599@item
3600If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3601a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3602
3603@cindex error on valid input
3604@item
3605If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3606bug.
3607
3608@item
3609If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3610improvement are welcome in any case.
3611@end itemize
3612
3613@node Bug Reporting
947ed062 3614@section How to Report Bugs
252b5132
RH
3615@cindex bug reports
3616@cindex bugs, reporting
3617
3618A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3619products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3620organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3621
3622You can find contact information for many support companies and
3623individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3624distribution.
3625
3626In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2f952d20 3627utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
252b5132
RH
3628
3629The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3630@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3631fact or leave it out, state it!
3632
3633Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3634problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3635assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3636Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3637a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3638that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3639different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3640doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3641specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3642and the most helpful.
3643
3644Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3645it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3646that the bug has not been reported previously.
3647
3648Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
947ed062
NC
3649bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3650respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3651You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
252b5132
RH
3652
3653To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3654
3655@itemize @bullet
3656@item
3657The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
c7c55b78 3658with the @option{--version} argument.
252b5132
RH
3659
3660Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3661the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3662
3663@item
3664Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3665made to the @code{BFD} library.
3666
3667@item
3668The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3669version number.
3670
3671@item
3672What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3673``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3674
3675@item
3676The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3677guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3678of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3679
3680If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3681and then we might not encounter the bug.
3682
3683@item
3684A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3685bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3686generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
757acbc5 3687necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
2f952d20 3688@samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
757acbc5
ILT
3689sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3690anonymous FTP is OK.
252b5132
RH
3691
3692If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
c7c55b78 3693(e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
252b5132 3694may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
c7c55b78 3695this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
252b5132 3696whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
c7c55b78 3697@command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
252b5132
RH
3698
3699@item
3700A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3701incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3702
3703Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3704will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3705not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3706a chance to make a mistake.
3707
3708Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
f20a759a 3709say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
252b5132
RH
3710copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3711the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3712crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3713ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3714us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3715to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3716
3717@item
3718If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
c7c55b78 3719generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
252b5132 3720option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
c7c55b78 3721wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
f20a759a 3722context, not by line number.
252b5132
RH
3723
3724The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3725sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3726@end itemize
3727
3728Here are some things that are not necessary:
3729
3730@itemize @bullet
3731@item
3732A description of the envelope of the bug.
3733
3734Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3735which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3736changes will not affect it.
3737
3738This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3739will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3740with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3741We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3742
3743Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3744of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3745output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3746less time, and so on.
3747
3748However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3749report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3750
3751@item
3752A patch for the bug.
3753
3754A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3755the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3756a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3757to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3758
3759Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3760very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3761certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3762will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3763the bug is fixed.
3764
3765And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3766patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3767help us to understand.
3768
3769@item
3770A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3771
3772Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3773things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3774@end itemize
3775
947ed062 3776@include fdl.texi
cf055d54 3777
252b5132
RH
3778@node Index
3779@unnumbered Index
3780
3781@printindex cp
3782
3783@contents
3784@bye