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1 \input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2 @setfilename binutils.info
3 @c Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4
5 @include config.texi
6
7 @ifinfo
8 @format
9 START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
10 * Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
11 * ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives
12 * nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files
13 * objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files
14 * objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files
15 * ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents
16 * readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
17 * size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size
18 * strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files
19 * strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols
20 * c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
21 * cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
22 * addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line
23 * nlmconv: (binutils)nlmconv. Converts object code into an NLM
24 * windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources
25 * dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs
26 END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
27 @end format
28 @end ifinfo
29
30 @ifinfo
31 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
32 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000,
33 2001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34
35 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
36 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
37 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
38 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
39 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
40 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
41
42 @c man end
43 @ignore
44 Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
45 results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
46 notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
47 (this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
48
49 @end ignore
50 @end ifinfo
51
52 @synindex ky cp
53 @c
54 @c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
55 @c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", "readelf" and "ranlib".
56 @c
57 @c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001,
58 @c 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59 @c
60 @c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
61 @c Free Documentation License.
62 @c
63
64 @setchapternewpage odd
65 @settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
66 @titlepage
67 @finalout
68 @title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
69 @subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
70 @sp 1
71 @subtitle May 1993
72 @author Roland H. Pesch
73 @author Jeffrey M. Osier
74 @author Cygnus Support
75 @page
76
77 @tex
78 {\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
79 \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
80 @end tex
81
82 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
83 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998, 2000, 2001,
84 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
85
86 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
87 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
88 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
89 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
90 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
91 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
92
93 @end titlepage
94
95 @node Top
96 @top Introduction
97
98 @cindex version
99 This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
100 utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
101
102 @iftex
103 @table @code
104 @item ar
105 Create, modify, and extract from archives
106
107 @item nm
108 List symbols from object files
109
110 @item objcopy
111 Copy and translate object files
112
113 @item objdump
114 Display information from object files
115
116 @item ranlib
117 Generate index to archive contents
118
119 @item readelf
120 Display the contents of ELF format files.
121
122 @item size
123 List file section sizes and total size
124
125 @item strings
126 List printable strings from files
127
128 @item strip
129 Discard symbols
130
131 @item c++filt
132 Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
133 @code{cxxfilt})
134
135 @item addr2line
136 Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
137
138 @item nlmconv
139 Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
140
141 @item windres
142 Manipulate Windows resources
143
144 @item dlltool
145 Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
146 @end table
147 @end iftex
148
149 This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
150 Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
151 section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
152
153 @menu
154 * ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
155 * nm:: List symbols from object files
156 * objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
157 * objdump:: Display information from object files
158 * ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
159 * readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files.
160 * size:: List section sizes and total size
161 * strings:: List printable strings from files
162 * strip:: Discard symbols
163 * c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
164 * cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
165 * addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
166 * nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
167 * windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
168 * dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
169 * Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
170 * Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
171 * GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
172 * Index:: Index
173 @end menu
174
175 @node ar
176 @chapter ar
177
178 @kindex ar
179 @cindex archives
180 @cindex collections of files
181
182 @c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
183
184 @smallexample
185 ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
186 ar -M [ <mri-script ]
187 @end smallexample
188
189 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
190
191 The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
192 archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
193 other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
194 the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
195
196 The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
197 group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
198 extraction.
199
200 @cindex name length
201 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
202 length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
203 system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
204 with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
205 limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
206 characters (typical of formats related to coff).
207
208 @cindex libraries
209 @command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
210 are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
211 subroutines.
212
213 @cindex symbol index
214 @command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
215 object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
216 Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
217 makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
218 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
219 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
220 their placement in the archive.
221
222 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
223 table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
224 @command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
225
226 @cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
227 @cindex @command{ar} compatibility
228 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
229 facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
230 like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
231 specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
232 with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
233 program.
234
235 @c man end
236
237 @menu
238 * ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
239 * ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
240 @end menu
241
242 @page
243 @node ar cmdline
244 @section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
245
246 @smallexample
247 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
248 ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
249 @c man end
250 @end smallexample
251
252 @cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
253 When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
254 arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
255 (optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
256 @emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
257
258 Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
259 specifying particular files to operate on.
260
261 @c man begin OPTIONS ar
262
263 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
264 flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
265
266 If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
267 dash.
268
269 @cindex operations on archive
270 The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
271 any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
272
273 @table @samp
274 @item d
275 @cindex deleting from archive
276 @emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
277 be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
278 specify no files to delete.
279
280 If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
281 as it is deleted.
282
283 @item m
284 @cindex moving in archive
285 Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
286
287 The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
288 programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
289 than one member.
290
291 If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
292 @var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
293 you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
294 specified place instead.
295
296 @item p
297 @cindex printing from archive
298 @emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
299 output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
300 name before copying its contents to standard output.
301
302 If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
303 printed.
304
305 @item q
306 @cindex quick append to archive
307 @emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
308 @var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
309
310 The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
311 operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
312
313 The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
314
315 Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
316 index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
317 @command{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
318
319 However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
320 index, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} implements @samp{q} as a synonym for @samp{r}.
321
322 @item r
323 @cindex replacement in archive
324 Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
325 @emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
326 previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
327 added.
328
329 If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
330 displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
331 of the archive matching that name.
332
333 By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
334 use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
335 placement relative to some existing member.
336
337 The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
338 output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
339 @samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
340 deleted) or replaced.
341
342 @item t
343 @cindex contents of archive
344 Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
345 of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
346 archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
347 see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
348 request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
349
350 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
351 are listed.
352
353 @cindex repeated names in archive
354 @cindex name duplication in archive
355 If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
356 an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
357 first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
358 listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
359 @c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
360 @c recent case in fact works the other way.
361
362 @item x
363 @cindex extract from archive
364 @emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
365 use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
366 @command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
367
368 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
369 are extracted.
370
371 @end table
372
373 A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
374 keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
375
376 @table @samp
377 @item a
378 @cindex relative placement in archive
379 Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
380 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
381 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
382 @var{archive} specification.
383
384 @item b
385 Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
386 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
387 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
388 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
389
390 @item c
391 @cindex creating archives
392 @emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
393 created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
394 issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
395 using this modifier.
396
397 @item f
398 Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
399 names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
400 not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
401 this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
402 names when putting them in the archive.
403
404 @item i
405 Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
406 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
407 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
408 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
409
410 @item l
411 This modifier is accepted but not used.
412 @c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
413 @c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
414
415 @item N
416 Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
417 entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
418 @var{count} of the given name from the archive.
419
420 @item o
421 @cindex dates in archive
422 Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
423 you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
424 are stamped with the time of extraction.
425
426 @item P
427 Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
428 @command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
429 are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
430 will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
431 name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
432 archive created by another tool.
433
434 @item s
435 @cindex writing archive index
436 Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
437 even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
438 flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
439 archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
440
441 @item S
442 @cindex not writing archive index
443 Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
444 large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
445 with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
446 @samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
447 @samp{ranlib} on the archive.
448
449 @item u
450 @cindex updating an archive
451 Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
452 listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
453 of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
454 names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
455 operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
456 not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
457 advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
458
459 @item v
460 This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
461 operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
462 when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
463
464 @item V
465 This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
466 @end table
467
468 @command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
469 compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
470 default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any of the other
471 @samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support @option{-X32}
472 which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
473
474 @c man end
475
476 @ignore
477 @c man begin SEEALSO ar
478 nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
479 @c man end
480 @end ignore
481
482 @node ar scripts
483 @section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
484
485 @smallexample
486 ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
487 @end smallexample
488
489 @cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
490 @cindex scripts, @command{ar}
491 If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
492 can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
493 form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
494 directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
495 input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
496 errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
497 issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
498 on any error.
499
500 The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
501 to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
502 over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
503 transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
504 written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
505
506 The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
507 @itemize @bullet
508 @item
509 commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
510 is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
511 shown in upper case for clarity.
512
513 @item
514 a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
515 line.
516
517 @item
518 empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
519
520 @item
521 comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
522 or @samp{;} is ignored.
523
524 @item
525 Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
526 command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
527 blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
528
529 @item
530 @samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
531 at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
532 of the current command.
533 @end itemize
534
535 Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
536 @command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
537
538 @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
539 a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
540
541 @code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
542 to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
543 archive.
544
545 @table @code
546 @item ADDLIB @var{archive}
547 @itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
548 Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
549 @var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
550
551 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
552
553 @item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
554 @c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
555 @c else like "ar q..."
556 Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
557
558 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
559
560 @item CLEAR
561 Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
562 any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
563 effect) even if no current archive is specified.
564
565 @item CREATE @var{archive}
566 Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
567 other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
568 is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
569 You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
570 existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
571
572 @item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
573 Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
574 @samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
575
576 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
577
578 @item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
579 @itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
580 List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
581 command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
582 output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
583 @var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
584 @samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
585
586 Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
587 specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
588 output to that file.
589
590 @item END
591 Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
592 completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
593 changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
594 changes are lost.
595
596 @item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
597 Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
598 into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
599 @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
600
601 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
602
603 @ignore
604 @c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
605 @item FULLDIR
606
607 @item HELP
608 @end ignore
609
610 @item LIST
611 Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
612 regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
613 tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
614 enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
615
616 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
617
618 @item OPEN @var{archive}
619 Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
620 many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
621 will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
622
623 @item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
624 In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
625 the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
626 To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
627 the current archive, must exist.
628
629 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
630
631 @item VERBOSE
632 Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
633 When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
634 @samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
635
636 @item SAVE
637 Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
638 file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
639 command.
640
641 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
642
643 @end table
644
645 @iftex
646 @node ld
647 @chapter ld
648 @cindex linker
649 @kindex ld
650 The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
651 @xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
652 @end iftex
653
654 @node nm
655 @chapter nm
656 @cindex symbols
657 @kindex nm
658
659 @c man title nm list symbols from object files
660
661 @smallexample
662 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
663 nm [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}] [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}]
664 [@option{-B}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]] [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}]
665 [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}] [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}]
666 [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}]
667 [@option{-n}|@option{-v}|@option{--numeric-sort}] [@option{-p}|@option{--no-sort}]
668 [@option{-r}|@option{--reverse-sort}] [@option{--size-sort}] [@option{-u}|@option{--undefined-only}]
669 [@option{-t} @var{radix}|@option{--radix=}@var{radix}] [@option{-P}|@option{--portability}]
670 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-f}@var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
671 [@option{--defined-only}] [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}] [@option{--no-demangle}]
672 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}] [@option{-X 32_64}] [@option{--help}] [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
673 @c man end
674 @end smallexample
675
676 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
677 @sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
678 If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
679 @file{a.out}.
680
681 For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
682
683 @itemize @bullet
684 @item
685 The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
686 hexadecimal by default.
687
688 @item
689 The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
690 well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
691 local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
692
693 @c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
694 @c would be nice.
695 @table @code
696 @item A
697 The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
698 linking.
699
700 @item B
701 The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
702
703 @item C
704 The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
705 linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
706 symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
707 references.
708 @ifclear man
709 For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
710 --warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
711 @end ifclear
712
713 @item D
714 The symbol is in the initialized data section.
715
716 @item G
717 The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
718 object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
719 such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
720
721 @item I
722 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a @sc{gnu}
723 extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
724
725 @item N
726 The symbol is a debugging symbol.
727
728 @item R
729 The symbol is in a read only data section.
730
731 @item S
732 The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
733
734 @item T
735 The symbol is in the text (code) section.
736
737 @item U
738 The symbol is undefined.
739
740 @item V
741 The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
742 a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
743 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
744 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
745
746 @item W
747 The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
748 weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
749 defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
750 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
751 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
752
753 @item -
754 The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
755 next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
756 the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
757 @ifclear man
758 For more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
759 ``stabs'' debug format}.
760 @end ifclear
761
762 @item ?
763 The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
764 @end table
765
766 @item
767 The symbol name.
768 @end itemize
769
770 @c man end
771
772 @c man begin OPTIONS nm
773 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
774 equivalent.
775
776 @table @env
777 @item -A
778 @itemx -o
779 @itemx --print-file-name
780 @cindex input file name
781 @cindex file name
782 @cindex source file name
783 Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
784 in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
785 before all of its symbols.
786
787 @item -a
788 @itemx --debug-syms
789 @cindex debugging symbols
790 Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
791 listed.
792
793 @item -B
794 @cindex @command{nm} format
795 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
796 The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
797
798 @item -C
799 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
800 @cindex demangling in nm
801 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
802 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
803 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
804 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
805 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
806 for more information on demangling.
807
808 @item --no-demangle
809 Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
810
811 @item -D
812 @itemx --dynamic
813 @cindex dynamic symbols
814 Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
815 only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
816 libraries.
817
818 @item -f @var{format}
819 @itemx --format=@var{format}
820 @cindex @command{nm} format
821 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
822 Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
823 @code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
824 Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
825 either upper or lower case.
826
827 @item -g
828 @itemx --extern-only
829 @cindex external symbols
830 Display only external symbols.
831
832 @item -l
833 @itemx --line-numbers
834 @cindex symbol line numbers
835 For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
836 line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
837 address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
838 number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
839 information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
840
841 @item -n
842 @itemx -v
843 @itemx --numeric-sort
844 Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
845 by their names.
846
847 @item -p
848 @itemx --no-sort
849 @cindex sorting symbols
850 Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
851 encountered.
852
853 @item -P
854 @itemx --portability
855 Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
856 Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
857
858 @item -S
859 @itemx --print-size
860 Print size, not the value, of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output format.
861
862 @item -s
863 @itemx --print-armap
864 @cindex symbol index, listing
865 When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
866 (stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
867 contain definitions for which names.
868
869 @item -r
870 @itemx --reverse-sort
871 Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
872 last come first.
873
874 @item --size-sort
875 Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
876 the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
877 value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used the size of the symbol
878 is printed, rather than the value, and @samp{-S} must be used in order
879 both size and value to be printed.
880
881 @item -t @var{radix}
882 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
883 Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
884 @samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
885
886 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
887 @cindex object code format
888 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
889 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
890
891 @item -u
892 @itemx --undefined-only
893 @cindex external symbols
894 @cindex undefined symbols
895 Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
896
897 @item --defined-only
898 @cindex external symbols
899 @cindex undefined symbols
900 Display only defined symbols for each object file.
901
902 @item -V
903 @itemx --version
904 Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
905
906 @item -X
907 This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
908 @command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
909 @option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
910 to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
911
912 @item --help
913 Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
914 @end table
915
916 @c man end
917
918 @ignore
919 @c man begin SEEALSO nm
920 ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
921 @c man end
922 @end ignore
923
924 @node objcopy
925 @chapter objcopy
926
927 @c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
928
929 @smallexample
930 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
931 objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
932 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
933 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
934 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
935 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}] [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
936 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
937 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
938 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
939 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
940 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
941 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
942 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
943 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
944 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
945 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
946 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
947 [@option{--debugging}]
948 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}] [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
949 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}] [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
950 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
951 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
952 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
953 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
954 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
955 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
956 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
957 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
958 [@option{--change-leading-char} ] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
959 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival} ] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
960 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new} ]
961 [@option{--weaken}]
962 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
963 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
964 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
965 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
966 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
967 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
968 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
969 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
970 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
971 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
972 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
973 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
974 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
975 @c man end
976 @end smallexample
977
978 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
979 The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
980 file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
981 read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
982 file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
983 exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
984 Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
985 between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
986 between any two formats may not work as expected.
987
988 @command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
989 deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
990 translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
991 and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
992 explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
993
994 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
995 target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
996
997 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
998 output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
999 @command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1000 a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1001 relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1002 the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1003
1004 When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1005 use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1006 some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1007 information that is not needed by the binary file.
1008
1009 Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1010 files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1011 @command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1012 same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1013
1014 @c man end
1015
1016 @c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1017
1018 @table @env
1019 @item @var{infile}
1020 @itemx @var{outfile}
1021 The input and output files, respectively.
1022 If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1023 temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1024 the name of @var{infile}.
1025
1026 @item -I @var{bfdname}
1027 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1028 Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1029 attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1030
1031 @item -O @var{bfdname}
1032 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1033 Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1034 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1035
1036 @item -F @var{bfdname}
1037 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1038 Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1039 file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1040 translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1041
1042 @item -B @var{bfdarch}
1043 @itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1044 Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1045 In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1046 option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1047 can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1048 symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1049 called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1050 _binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1051 an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1052
1053 @item -j @var{sectionname}
1054 @itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1055 Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1056 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1057 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1058
1059 @item -R @var{sectionname}
1060 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1061 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1062 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1063 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1064
1065 @item -S
1066 @itemx --strip-all
1067 Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1068
1069 @item -g
1070 @itemx --strip-debug
1071 Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
1072
1073 @item --strip-unneeded
1074 Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1075
1076 @item -K @var{symbolname}
1077 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1078 Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1079 be given more than once.
1080
1081 @item -N @var{symbolname}
1082 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1083 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1084 may be given more than once.
1085
1086 @item -G @var{symbolname}
1087 @itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1088 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1089 to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1090 be given more than once.
1091
1092 @item -L @var{symbolname}
1093 @itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1094 Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1095 visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1096
1097 @item -W @var{symbolname}
1098 @itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1099 Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1100
1101 @item -x
1102 @itemx --discard-all
1103 Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1104 @c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1105
1106 @item -X
1107 @itemx --discard-locals
1108 Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1109 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1110
1111 @item -b @var{byte}
1112 @itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1113 Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1114 affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
1115 where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
1116 option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1117 to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1118 target.
1119
1120 @item -i @var{interleave}
1121 @itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1122 Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1123 copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1124 @command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1125 @option{--byte}.
1126
1127 @item -p
1128 @itemx --preserve-dates
1129 Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1130 as those of the input file.
1131
1132 @item --debugging
1133 Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1134 because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1135 conversion process can be time consuming.
1136
1137 @item --gap-fill @var{val}
1138 Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1139 the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1140 the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1141 space created with @var{val}.
1142
1143 @item --pad-to @var{address}
1144 Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1145 done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1146 filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1147
1148 @item --set-start @var{val}
1149 Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1150 formats support setting the start address.
1151
1152 @item --change-start @var{incr}
1153 @itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1154 @cindex changing start address
1155 Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1156 formats support setting the start address.
1157
1158 @item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1159 @itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1160 @cindex changing object addresses
1161 Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1162 address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1163 section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1164 relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1165 certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1166 that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1167
1168 @item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1169 @itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1170 @cindex changing section address
1171 Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1172 @var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1173 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1174 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1175 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1176 be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1177
1178 @item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1179 @cindex changing section LMA
1180 Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1181 address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1182 program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1183 is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1184 especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1185 different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1186 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1187 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1188 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1189 will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1190
1191 @item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1192 @cindex changing section VMA
1193 Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1194 address is the address where the section will be located once the
1195 program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1196 address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1197 memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1198 ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1199 is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1200 from the section address. See the comments under
1201 @option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1202 the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1203 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1204
1205 @item --change-warnings
1206 @itemx --adjust-warnings
1207 If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1208 @option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1209 exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1210
1211 @item --no-change-warnings
1212 @itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1213 Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1214 @option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1215 if the named section does not exist.
1216
1217 @item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1218 Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1219 comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1220 @samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1221 @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1222 @samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1223 does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1224 @samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1225 the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1226 formats.
1227
1228 @item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1229 Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1230 contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1231 size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1232 works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1233
1234 @item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1235 Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1236 changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1237 the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1238 the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1239 executable.
1240
1241 This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1242 since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1243 you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1244 data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1245
1246 @smallexample
1247 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1248 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1249 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1250 @end smallexample
1251
1252 @item --change-leading-char
1253 Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1254 symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1255 often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1256 change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1257 object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1258 character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1259 character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1260 appropriate.
1261
1262 @item --remove-leading-char
1263 If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1264 character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1265 most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1266 remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1267 if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1268 different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1269 @option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1270 when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1271 file.
1272
1273 @item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1274 Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1275 being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1276 crc fields.
1277
1278 @item --srec-forceS3
1279 Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1280 creating S3-only record format.
1281
1282 @item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1283 Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1284 when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1285 source, and there are name collisions.
1286
1287 @item --weaken
1288 Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1289 when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1290 the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1291 using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1292
1293 @item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1294 Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1295 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1296 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1297 This option may be given more than once.
1298
1299 @item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1300 Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1301 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1302 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1303 This option may be given more than once.
1304
1305 @item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1306 Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1307 file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1308 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1309 character. This option may be given more than once.
1310
1311 @item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1312 Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1313 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1314 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1315 This option may be given more than once.
1316
1317 @item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1318 Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1319 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1320 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1321 This option may be given more than once.
1322
1323 @item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1324 If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1325 @var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1326 a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1327 new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1328 being used.
1329
1330 @item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1331 Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1332
1333 @item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1334 Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1335
1336 @item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1337 Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1338 @var{string}.
1339
1340 @item -V
1341 @itemx --version
1342 Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
1343
1344 @item -v
1345 @itemx --verbose
1346 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1347 archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1348
1349 @item --help
1350 Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
1351
1352 @item --info
1353 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
1354 @end table
1355
1356 @c man end
1357
1358 @ignore
1359 @c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1360 ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1361 @c man end
1362 @end ignore
1363
1364 @node objdump
1365 @chapter objdump
1366
1367 @cindex object file information
1368 @kindex objdump
1369
1370 @c man title objdump display information from object files.
1371
1372 @smallexample
1373 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
1374 objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1375 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1376 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1377 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1378 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1379 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1380 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1381 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1382 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1383 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
1384 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1385 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1386 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1387 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1388 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1389 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1390 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1391 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1392 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1393 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1394 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1395 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1396 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1397 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1398 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1399 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1400 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1401 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1402 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1403 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1404 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
1405 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1406 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
1407 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1408 @c man end
1409 @end smallexample
1410
1411 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1412
1413 @command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1414 The options control what particular information to display. This
1415 information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1416 compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1417 program to compile and work.
1418
1419 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1420 specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1421 object files.
1422
1423 @c man end
1424
1425 @c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1426
1427 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1428 equivalent. At least one option from the list
1429 @option{-a,-d,-D,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
1430
1431 @table @env
1432 @item -a
1433 @itemx --archive-header
1434 @cindex archive headers
1435 If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1436 header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1437 information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1438 the object file format of each archive member.
1439
1440 @item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1441 @cindex section addresses in objdump
1442 @cindex VMA in objdump
1443 When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1444 addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1445 the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1446 addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1447 such as a.out.
1448
1449 @item -b @var{bfdname}
1450 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1451 @cindex object code format
1452 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1453 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1454 automatically recognize many formats.
1455
1456 For example,
1457 @example
1458 objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1459 @end example
1460 @noindent
1461 displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1462 @file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
1463 file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1464 formats available with the @option{-i} option.
1465 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1466
1467 @item -C
1468 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
1469 @cindex demangling in objdump
1470 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1471 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1472 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1473 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1474 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1475 for more information on demangling.
1476
1477 @item -g
1478 @itemx --debugging
1479 Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1480 information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1481 Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1482
1483 @item -d
1484 @itemx --disassemble
1485 @cindex disassembling object code
1486 @cindex machine instructions
1487 Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1488 @var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1489 expected to contain instructions.
1490
1491 @item -D
1492 @itemx --disassemble-all
1493 Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1494 those expected to contain instructions.
1495
1496 @item --prefix-addresses
1497 When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1498 the older disassembly format.
1499
1500 @item -EB
1501 @itemx -EL
1502 @itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1503 @cindex endianness
1504 @cindex disassembly endianness
1505 Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1506 disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1507 does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1508
1509 @item -f
1510 @itemx --file-headers
1511 @cindex object file header
1512 Display summary information from the overall header of
1513 each of the @var{objfile} files.
1514
1515 @item --file-start-context
1516 @cindex source code context
1517 Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
1518 (assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
1519 context to the start of the file.
1520
1521 @item -h
1522 @itemx --section-headers
1523 @itemx --headers
1524 @cindex section headers
1525 Display summary information from the section headers of the
1526 object file.
1527
1528 File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1529 using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1530 @command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1531 store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1532 although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1533 -h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1534 Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1535 target.
1536
1537 @item -H
1538 @itemx --help
1539 Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
1540
1541 @item -i
1542 @itemx --info
1543 @cindex architectures available
1544 @cindex object formats available
1545 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1546 for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
1547
1548 @item -j @var{name}
1549 @itemx --section=@var{name}
1550 @cindex section information
1551 Display information only for section @var{name}.
1552
1553 @item -l
1554 @itemx --line-numbers
1555 @cindex source filenames for object files
1556 Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1557 source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1558 Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
1559
1560 @item -m @var{machine}
1561 @itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1562 @cindex architecture
1563 @cindex disassembly architecture
1564 Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1565 can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1566 architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1567 architectures with the @option{-i} option.
1568
1569 @item -M @var{options}
1570 @itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1571 Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1572 some targets.
1573
1574 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1575 select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1576 @option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
1577 used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1578 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
1579 @option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1580 Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
1581 just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1582
1583 There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
1584 by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1585 use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
1586 with the normal register names or the special register names).
1587
1588 This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
1589 disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
1590 using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
1591 useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1592 compilers.
1593
1594 For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1595 switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1596 following may be specified as a comma separated string.
1597 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
1598 the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1599 intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1600 @option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1601 address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
1602 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
1603 option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
1604 instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
1605 suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1606
1607 For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1608 disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1609 PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1610
1611 For MIPS, this option controls the printing of register names in
1612 disassembled instructions. Multiple selections from the
1613 following may be specified as a comma separated string, and invalid
1614 options are ignored:
1615
1616 @table @code
1617 @item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1618 Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1619 for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1620 the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1621
1622 @item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1623 Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1624 appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1625 rather than names.
1626
1627 @item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1628 Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1629 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1630 @var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1631 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1632
1633 @item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1634 Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1635 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1636 @var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1637 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1638
1639 @item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1640 Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1641
1642 @item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
1643 Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1644 as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
1645 @end table
1646
1647 For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1648 @var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1649 rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1650 You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1651 the @option{--help} option.
1652
1653 @item -p
1654 @itemx --private-headers
1655 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1656 information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1657 object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1658
1659 @item -r
1660 @itemx --reloc
1661 @cindex relocation entries, in object file
1662 Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1663 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1664 disassembly.
1665
1666 @item -R
1667 @itemx --dynamic-reloc
1668 @cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1669 Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1670 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1671 libraries.
1672
1673 @item -s
1674 @itemx --full-contents
1675 @cindex sections, full contents
1676 @cindex object file sections
1677 Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1678
1679 @item -S
1680 @itemx --source
1681 @cindex source disassembly
1682 @cindex disassembly, with source
1683 Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1684 @option{-d}.
1685
1686 @item --show-raw-insn
1687 When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1688 in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1689 @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1690
1691 @item --no-show-raw-insn
1692 When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1693 This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1694
1695 @item -G
1696 @itemx --stabs
1697 @cindex stab
1698 @cindex .stab
1699 @cindex debug symbols
1700 @cindex ELF object file format
1701 Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1702 contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1703 ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1704 @code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1705 section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1706 interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
1707 output.
1708 @ifclear man
1709 For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1710 Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1711 @end ifclear
1712
1713 @item --start-address=@var{address}
1714 @cindex start-address
1715 Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1716 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1717
1718 @item --stop-address=@var{address}
1719 @cindex stop-address
1720 Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1721 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1722
1723 @item -t
1724 @itemx --syms
1725 @cindex symbol table entries, printing
1726 Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1727 This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1728
1729 @item -T
1730 @itemx --dynamic-syms
1731 @cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1732 Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1733 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1734 libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1735 program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
1736
1737 @item -V
1738 @itemx --version
1739 Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
1740
1741 @item -x
1742 @itemx --all-headers
1743 @cindex all header information, object file
1744 @cindex header information, all
1745 Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1746 relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1747 @option{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1748
1749 @item -w
1750 @itemx --wide
1751 @cindex wide output, printing
1752 Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1753 Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
1754
1755 @item -z
1756 @itemx --disassemble-zeroes
1757 Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1758 option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1759 any other data.
1760 @end table
1761
1762 @c man end
1763
1764 @ignore
1765 @c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1766 nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1767 @c man end
1768 @end ignore
1769
1770 @node ranlib
1771 @chapter ranlib
1772
1773 @kindex ranlib
1774 @cindex archive contents
1775 @cindex symbol index
1776
1777 @c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1778
1779 @smallexample
1780 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
1781 ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
1782 @c man end
1783 @end smallexample
1784
1785 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1786
1787 @command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1788 stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1789 member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1790
1791 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1792
1793 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1794 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1795 their placement in the archive.
1796
1797 The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1798 @command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1799 @xref{ar}.
1800
1801 @c man end
1802
1803 @c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1804
1805 @table @env
1806 @item -v
1807 @itemx -V
1808 @itemx --version
1809 Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
1810 @end table
1811
1812 @c man end
1813
1814 @ignore
1815 @c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1816 ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1817 @c man end
1818 @end ignore
1819
1820 @node size
1821 @chapter size
1822
1823 @kindex size
1824 @cindex section sizes
1825
1826 @c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1827
1828 @smallexample
1829 @c man begin SYNOPSIS size
1830 size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
1831 [@option{--help}]
1832 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1833 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
1834 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1835 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
1836 @c man end
1837 @end smallexample
1838
1839 @c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1840
1841 The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1842 size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1843 argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1844 object file or each module in an archive.
1845
1846 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1847 If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1848
1849 @c man end
1850
1851 @c man begin OPTIONS size
1852
1853 The command line options have the following meanings:
1854
1855 @table @env
1856 @item -A
1857 @itemx -B
1858 @itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1859 @cindex @command{size} display format
1860 Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1861 @command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
1862 or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
1863 @option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1864 Berkeley's.
1865 @c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1866 @c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1867 @c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1868
1869 Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1870 @command{size}:
1871 @smallexample
1872 $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1873 text data bss dec hex filename
1874 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1875 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1876 @end smallexample
1877
1878 @noindent
1879 This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1880
1881 @smallexample
1882 $ size --format=SysV ranlib size
1883 ranlib :
1884 section size addr
1885 .text 294880 8192
1886 .data 81920 303104
1887 .bss 11592 385024
1888 Total 388392
1889
1890
1891 size :
1892 section size addr
1893 .text 294880 8192
1894 .data 81920 303104
1895 .bss 11888 385024
1896 Total 388688
1897 @end smallexample
1898
1899 @item --help
1900 Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1901
1902 @item -d
1903 @itemx -o
1904 @itemx -x
1905 @itemx --radix=@var{number}
1906 @cindex @command{size} number format
1907 @cindex radix for section sizes
1908 Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1909 section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
1910 (@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
1911 @option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1912 values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1913 radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
1914 octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
1915
1916 @item -t
1917 @itemx --totals
1918 Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
1919
1920 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
1921 @cindex object code format
1922 Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1923 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
1924 automatically recognize many formats.
1925 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1926
1927 @item -V
1928 @itemx --version
1929 Display the version number of @command{size}.
1930 @end table
1931
1932 @c man end
1933
1934 @ignore
1935 @c man begin SEEALSO size
1936 ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1937 @c man end
1938 @end ignore
1939
1940 @node strings
1941 @chapter strings
1942 @kindex strings
1943 @cindex listings strings
1944 @cindex printing strings
1945 @cindex strings, printing
1946
1947 @c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
1948
1949 @smallexample
1950 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
1951 strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
1952 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
1953 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
1954 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
1955 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
1956 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
1957 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
1958 @c man end
1959 @end smallexample
1960
1961 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
1962
1963 For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
1964 character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1965 given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1966 character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1967 and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1968 the strings from the whole file.
1969
1970 @command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1971 files.
1972
1973 @c man end
1974
1975 @c man begin OPTIONS strings
1976
1977 @table @env
1978 @item -a
1979 @itemx --all
1980 @itemx -
1981 Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1982 scan the whole files.
1983
1984 @item -f
1985 @itemx --print-file-name
1986 Print the name of the file before each string.
1987
1988 @item --help
1989 Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1990
1991 @item -@var{min-len}
1992 @itemx -n @var{min-len}
1993 @itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1994 Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1995 long, instead of the default 4.
1996
1997 @item -o
1998 Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
1999 act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2000 ways, we simply chose one.
2001
2002 @item -t @var{radix}
2003 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2004 Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2005 character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2006 octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2007
2008 @item -e @var{encoding}
2009 @itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2010 Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
2011 Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2012 characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2013 single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
2014 16-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2015 littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
2016
2017 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
2018 @cindex object code format
2019 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2020 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2021
2022 @item -v
2023 @itemx --version
2024 Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2025 @end table
2026
2027 @c man end
2028
2029 @ignore
2030 @c man begin SEEALSO strings
2031 ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2032 and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2033 @c man end
2034 @end ignore
2035
2036 @node strip
2037 @chapter strip
2038
2039 @kindex strip
2040 @cindex removing symbols
2041 @cindex discarding symbols
2042 @cindex symbols, discarding
2043
2044 @c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2045
2046 @smallexample
2047 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2048 strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2049 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2050 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2051 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}] [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2052 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname} ]
2053 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname} ]
2054 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all} ] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2055 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname} ]
2056 [@option{-o} @var{file} ] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
2057 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2058 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
2059 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2060 @c man end
2061 @end smallexample
2062
2063 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2064
2065 @sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
2066 @var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2067 At least one object file must be given.
2068
2069 @command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
2070 rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2071
2072 @c man end
2073
2074 @c man begin OPTIONS strip
2075
2076 @table @env
2077 @item -F @var{bfdname}
2078 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2079 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2080 code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2081 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2082
2083 @item --help
2084 Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
2085
2086 @item --info
2087 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2088
2089 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2090 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2091 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2092 code format @var{bfdname}.
2093 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2094
2095 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2096 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2097 Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2098 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2099
2100 @item -R @var{sectionname}
2101 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2102 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2103 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2104 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2105
2106 @item -s
2107 @itemx --strip-all
2108 Remove all symbols.
2109
2110 @item -g
2111 @itemx -S
2112 @itemx -d
2113 @itemx --strip-debug
2114 Remove debugging symbols only.
2115
2116 @item --strip-unneeded
2117 Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2118
2119 @item -K @var{symbolname}
2120 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2121 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2122 be given more than once.
2123
2124 @item -N @var{symbolname}
2125 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2126 Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2127 given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
2128 @option{-K}.
2129
2130 @item -o @var{file}
2131 Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2132 existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2133 argument may be specified.
2134
2135 @item -p
2136 @itemx --preserve-dates
2137 Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2138
2139 @item -x
2140 @itemx --discard-all
2141 Remove non-global symbols.
2142
2143 @item -X
2144 @itemx --discard-locals
2145 Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2146 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2147
2148 @item -V
2149 @itemx --version
2150 Show the version number for @command{strip}.
2151
2152 @item -v
2153 @itemx --verbose
2154 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2155 archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2156 @end table
2157
2158 @c man end
2159
2160 @ignore
2161 @c man begin SEEALSO strip
2162 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2163 @c man end
2164 @end ignore
2165
2166 @node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
2167 @chapter c++filt
2168
2169 @kindex c++filt
2170 @cindex demangling C++ symbols
2171
2172 @c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2173
2174 @smallexample
2175 @c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
2176 c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2177 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2178 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
2179 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2180 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
2181 @c man end
2182 @end smallexample
2183
2184 @c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2185
2186 @kindex cxxfilt
2187 The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2188 that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2189 takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2190 are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
2191 @dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
2192 @footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
2193 MS-DOS this program is named @command{cxxfilt}.}
2194 program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2195 names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2196 functions from clashing.
2197
2198 Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2199 dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2200 label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2201 name in the output.
2202
2203 You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
2204
2205 @example
2206 c++filt @var{symbol}
2207 @end example
2208
2209 If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
2210 names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2211 standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2212
2213 @c man end
2214
2215 @c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2216
2217 @table @env
2218 @item -_
2219 @itemx --strip-underscores
2220 On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2221 of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2222 name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
2223 @command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
2224
2225 @item -j
2226 @itemx --java
2227 Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2228 syntax.
2229
2230 @item -n
2231 @itemx --no-strip-underscores
2232 Do not remove the initial underscore.
2233
2234 @item -s @var{format}
2235 @itemx --format=@var{format}
2236 @command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2237 different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
2238 method it uses:
2239
2240 @table @code
2241 @item auto
2242 Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
2243 @item gnu
2244 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
2245 @item lucid
2246 the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
2247 @item arm
2248 the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2249 @item hp
2250 the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
2251 @item edg
2252 the one used by the EDG compiler
2253 @item gnu-v3
2254 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2255 @item java
2256 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2257 @item gnat
2258 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
2259 @end table
2260
2261 @item --help
2262 Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
2263
2264 @item --version
2265 Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
2266 @end table
2267
2268 @c man end
2269
2270 @ignore
2271 @c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2272 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2273 @c man end
2274 @end ignore
2275
2276 @quotation
2277 @emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
2278 user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2279 a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2280 passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2281
2282 @example
2283 c++filt @var{symbol}
2284 @end example
2285
2286 @noindent
2287 may in a future release become
2288
2289 @example
2290 c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2291 @end example
2292 @end quotation
2293
2294 @node addr2line
2295 @chapter addr2line
2296
2297 @kindex addr2line
2298 @cindex address to file name and line number
2299
2300 @c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2301
2302 @smallexample
2303 @c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
2304 addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2305 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
2306 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2307 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2308 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2309 [addr addr @dots{}]
2310 @c man end
2311 @end smallexample
2312
2313 @c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2314
2315 @command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
2316 numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2317 information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2318 number are associated with a given address.
2319
2320 The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
2321 default is the file @file{a.out}.
2322
2323 @command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
2324
2325 In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
2326 and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
2327 address.
2328
2329 In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
2330 standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
2331 address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
2332 in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2333
2334 The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2335 line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
2336 @command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
2337 preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2338 containing the address.
2339
2340 If the file name or function name can not be determined,
2341 @command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2342 line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
2343
2344 @c man end
2345
2346 @c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2347
2348 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2349 equivalent.
2350
2351 @table @env
2352 @item -b @var{bfdname}
2353 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2354 @cindex object code format
2355 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2356 @var{bfdname}.
2357
2358 @item -C
2359 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2360 @cindex demangling in objdump
2361 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2362 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2363 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2364 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2365 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2366 for more information on demangling.
2367
2368 @item -e @var{filename}
2369 @itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2370 Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2371 translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2372
2373 @item -f
2374 @itemx --functions
2375 Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2376
2377 @item -s
2378 @itemx --basenames
2379 Display only the base of each file name.
2380 @end table
2381
2382 @c man end
2383
2384 @ignore
2385 @c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2386 Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2387 @c man end
2388 @end ignore
2389
2390 @node nlmconv
2391 @chapter nlmconv
2392
2393 @command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
2394 Loadable Module.
2395
2396 @ignore
2397 @command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
2398 files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2399 object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
2400 @command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
2401 format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2402 with the above formats.}.
2403 @end ignore
2404
2405 @quotation
2406 @emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
2407 utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2408 @end quotation
2409
2410 @c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2411
2412 @smallexample
2413 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
2414 nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2415 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2416 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2417 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2418 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2419 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
2420 @c man end
2421 @end smallexample
2422
2423 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2424
2425 @command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
2426 @var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2427 reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2428 on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2429 @samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2430 Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2431 Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
2432 @command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
2433 @var{infile};
2434 @ifclear man
2435 see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2436 @end ifclear
2437
2438 @command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
2439 more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2440 file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
2441 In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
2442
2443 @c man end
2444
2445 @c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2446
2447 @table @env
2448 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2449 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2450 Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
2451 the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2452 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2453
2454 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2455 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2456 Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
2457 format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2458 output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2459 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2460
2461 @item -T @var{headerfile}
2462 @itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2463 Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2464 writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2465 @samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2466 Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2467 from Novell, Inc.
2468
2469 @item -d
2470 @itemx --debug
2471 Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
2472
2473 @item -l @var{linker}
2474 @itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2475 Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2476 relative pathname.
2477
2478 @item -h
2479 @itemx --help
2480 Prints a usage summary.
2481
2482 @item -V
2483 @itemx --version
2484 Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
2485 @end table
2486
2487 @c man end
2488
2489 @ignore
2490 @c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2491 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2492 @c man end
2493 @end ignore
2494
2495 @node windres
2496 @chapter windres
2497
2498 @command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2499
2500 @quotation
2501 @emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2502 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2503 @end quotation
2504
2505 @c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2506
2507 @smallexample
2508 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
2509 windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2510 @c man end
2511 @end smallexample
2512
2513 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2514
2515 @command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2516 an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2517
2518 @table @code
2519 @item rc
2520 A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2521
2522 @item res
2523 A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2524
2525 @item coff
2526 A COFF object or executable.
2527 @end table
2528
2529 The exact description of these different formats is available in
2530 documentation from Microsoft.
2531
2532 When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2533 format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2534 @command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2535 format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2536
2537 When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2538 but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2539 @code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2540 will instead include the file contents.
2541
2542 If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
2543 guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2544 A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2545 file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2546 @code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2547 @file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2548
2549 If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
2550 in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2551
2552 The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
2553 to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2554 your application. This will make the resources described in the
2555 @code{rc} file available to Windows.
2556
2557 @c man end
2558
2559 @c man begin OPTIONS windres
2560
2561 @table @env
2562 @item -i @var{filename}
2563 @itemx --input @var{filename}
2564 The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2565 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2566 name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2567 read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2568 standard input.
2569
2570 @item -o @var{filename}
2571 @itemx --output @var{filename}
2572 The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2573 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2574 for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2575 non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
2576 @command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output.
2577
2578 @item -I @var{format}
2579 @itemx --input-format @var{format}
2580 The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2581 @samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
2582 guess, as described above.
2583
2584 @item -O @var{format}
2585 @itemx --output-format @var{format}
2586 The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2587 @samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2588 @command{windres} will guess, as described above.
2589
2590 @item -F @var{target}
2591 @itemx --target @var{target}
2592 Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2593 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2594 of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2595 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2596 @ifclear man
2597 @ref{Target Selection}.
2598 @end ifclear
2599
2600 @item --preprocessor @var{program}
2601 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2602 preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2603 to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2604 argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2605
2606 @item --include-dir @var{directory}
2607 Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2608 @command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2609 option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2610 files named in the @code{rc} file.
2611
2612 @item -D @var{target}
2613 @itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
2614 Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2615 @code{rc} file.
2616
2617 @item -v
2618 Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2619 didn't specify one.
2620
2621 @item --language @var{val}
2622 Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2623 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2624 the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2625
2626 @item --use-temp-file
2627 Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2628 the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2629 on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2630 Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2631 go the console).
2632
2633 @item --no-use-temp-file
2634 Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2635 This is the default behaviour.
2636
2637 @item --help
2638 Prints a usage summary.
2639
2640 @item --version
2641 Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
2642
2643 @item --yydebug
2644 If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2645 this will turn on parser debugging.
2646 @end table
2647
2648 @c man end
2649
2650 @ignore
2651 @c man begin SEEALSO windres
2652 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2653 @c man end
2654 @end ignore
2655
2656 @node dlltool
2657 @chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2658 @cindex DLL
2659 @kindex dlltool
2660
2661 @command{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2662 dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2663
2664 @quotation
2665 @emph{Warning:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2666 utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2667 @end quotation
2668
2669 @c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2670
2671 @smallexample
2672 @c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
2673 dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2674 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2675 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2676 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2677 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2678 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2679 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2680 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2681 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2682 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2683 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2684 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
2685 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
2686 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
2687 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2688 [object-file @dots{}]
2689 @c man end
2690 @end smallexample
2691
2692 @c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2693
2694 @command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2695 @option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2696 line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2697 been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2698 has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2699 has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2700 @option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2701 dlltool.
2702
2703 When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2704 to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2705 these files.
2706
2707 The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2708 exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2709 is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2710 to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
2711 will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2712 those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2713 put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2714
2715 In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2716 have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2717 section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2718 asm() operator:
2719
2720 @smallexample
2721 asm (".section .drectve");
2722 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2723
2724 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2725 @end smallexample
2726
2727 The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2728 is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2729 handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2730 binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2731 @command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2732
2733 The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2734 will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2735 can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2736 is creating or reading in a .def file.
2737
2738 @command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2739 exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2740 and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
2741 used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2742 and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2743 assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2744 these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
2745 specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2746 temporary object files it used to build the library.
2747
2748 Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2749 also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2750 that uses that DLL:
2751
2752 @smallexample
2753 gcc -c dll.c
2754 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2755 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2756 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2757 @end smallexample
2758
2759 @c man end
2760
2761 @c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
2762
2763 The command line options have the following meanings:
2764
2765 @table @env
2766
2767 @item -d @var{filename}
2768 @itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2769 @cindex input .def file
2770 Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2771
2772 @item -b @var{filename}
2773 @itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2774 @cindex base files
2775 Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2776 contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2777 exports file generated by dlltool.
2778
2779 @item -e @var{filename}
2780 @itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2781 Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2782
2783 @item -z @var{filename}
2784 @itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2785 Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2786
2787 @item -l @var{filename}
2788 @itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2789 Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2790
2791 @item --export-all-symbols
2792 Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2793 files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2794 are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
2795 option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2796 @option{--exclude-symbols} option.
2797
2798 @item --no-export-all-symbols
2799 Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2800 @samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2801 behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2802 attributes in the source code.
2803
2804 @item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2805 Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2806 separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2807 contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2808 @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2809
2810 @item --no-default-excludes
2811 When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2812 exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2813 exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2814 @samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
2815 to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2816 when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2817
2818 @item -S @var{path}
2819 @itemx --as @var{path}
2820 Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2821 to create the exports file.
2822
2823 @item -f @var{options}
2824 @itemx --as-flags @var{options}
2825 Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
2826 assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2827 the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2828 and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2829 occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2830 pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2831 double quotes.
2832
2833 @item -D @var{name}
2834 @itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2835 Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2836 when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2837 the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be used as the name of
2838 the DLL.
2839
2840 @item -m @var{machine}
2841 @itemx -machine @var{machine}
2842 Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2843 built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2844 it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2845 normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2846 contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
2847
2848 @item -a
2849 @itemx --add-indirect
2850 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2851 should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2852 referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2853 means!
2854
2855 @item -U
2856 @itemx --add-underscore
2857 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2858 should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2859
2860 @item -k
2861 @itemx --kill-at
2862 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2863 should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2864 called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2865 function in a DLL, other than by name.
2866
2867 @item -A
2868 @itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2869 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2870 should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2871 in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2872
2873 @item -x
2874 @itemx --no-idata4
2875 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2876 files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
2877 with certain operating systems.
2878
2879 @item -c
2880 @itemx --no-idata5
2881 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2882 files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
2883 with certain operating systems.
2884
2885 @item -i
2886 @itemx --interwork
2887 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2888 file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2889 between ARM and Thumb code.
2890
2891 @item -n
2892 @itemx --nodelete
2893 Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2894 create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2895 also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2896 file.
2897
2898 @item -v
2899 @itemx --verbose
2900 Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2901
2902 @item -h
2903 @itemx --help
2904 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2905
2906 @item -V
2907 @itemx --version
2908 Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2909
2910 @end table
2911
2912 @c man end
2913
2914 @ignore
2915 @c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
2916 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2917 @c man end
2918 @end ignore
2919
2920 @node readelf
2921 @chapter readelf
2922
2923 @cindex ELF file information
2924 @kindex readelf
2925
2926 @c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
2927
2928 @smallexample
2929 @c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
2930 readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
2931 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
2932 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
2933 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
2934 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
2935 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
2936 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
2937 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
2938 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
2939 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
2940 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
2941 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
2942 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
2943 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
2944 [@option{-w[liaprmfFso]}|
2945 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]]
2946 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
2947 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
2948 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
2949 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
2950 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2951 @c man end
2952 @end smallexample
2953
2954 @c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
2955
2956 @command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2957 files. The options control what particular information to display.
2958
2959 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2960 moment, @command{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2961 support examining 64 bit ELF files.
2962
2963 @c man end
2964
2965 @c man begin OPTIONS readelf
2966
2967 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2968 equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
2969 given.
2970
2971 @table @env
2972 @item -a
2973 @itemx --all
2974 Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
2975 @option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
2976 @option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
2977 @option{--version-info}.
2978
2979 @item -h
2980 @itemx --file-header
2981 @cindex ELF file header information
2982 Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
2983 file.
2984
2985 @item -l
2986 @itemx --program-headers
2987 @itemx --segments
2988 @cindex ELF program header information
2989 @cindex ELF segment information
2990 Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
2991 has any.
2992
2993 @item -S
2994 @itemx --sections
2995 @itemx --section-headers
2996 @cindex ELF section information
2997 Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
2998 has any.
2999
3000 @item -s
3001 @itemx --symbols
3002 @itemx --syms
3003 @cindex ELF symbol table information
3004 Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3005
3006 @item -e
3007 @itemx --headers
3008 Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
3009
3010 @item -n
3011 @itemx --notes
3012 @cindex ELF core notes
3013 Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
3014
3015 @item -r
3016 @itemx --relocs
3017 @cindex ELF reloc information
3018 Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3019
3020 @item -u
3021 @itemx --unwind
3022 @cindex unwind information
3023 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3024 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3025
3026 @item -u
3027 @itemx --unwind
3028 @cindex unwind information
3029 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3030 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3031
3032 @item -d
3033 @itemx --dynamic
3034 @cindex ELF dynamic section information
3035 Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3036
3037 @item -V
3038 @itemx --version-info
3039 @cindex ELF version sections informations
3040 Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3041 exist.
3042
3043 @item -A
3044 @itemx --arch-specific
3045 Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3046 is any.
3047
3048 @item -D
3049 @itemx --use-dynamic
3050 When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
3051 symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
3052 symbols section.
3053
3054 @item -x <number>
3055 @itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3056 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3057
3058 @item -w[liaprmfFso]
3059 @itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
3060 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3061 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3062 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3063
3064 @item -I
3065 @itemx --histogram
3066 Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3067 of the symbol tables.
3068
3069 @item -v
3070 @itemx --version
3071 Display the version number of readelf.
3072
3073 @item -W
3074 @itemx --wide
3075 Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3076 @command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
3077 64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3078 @command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3079 single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3080
3081 @item -H
3082 @itemx --help
3083 Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
3084
3085 @end table
3086
3087 @c man end
3088
3089 @ignore
3090 @c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3091 objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3092 @c man end
3093 @end ignore
3094
3095 @node Selecting The Target System
3096 @chapter Selecting the Target System
3097
3098 You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
3099 binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3100
3101 @itemize @bullet
3102 @item
3103 the target
3104
3105 @item
3106 the architecture
3107 @end itemize
3108
3109 In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3110 order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3111 listed later.
3112
3113 The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3114 programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
3115 @option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
3116 values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3117 once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3118 with the same type as the target system).
3119
3120 @menu
3121 * Target Selection::
3122 * Architecture Selection::
3123 @end menu
3124
3125 @node Target Selection
3126 @section Target Selection
3127
3128 A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3129 supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3130 A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3131 systems or architectures.
3132
3133 The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3134 (the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3135
3136 Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3137 @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3138
3139 You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
3140 the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3141 target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3142 fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
3143 running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3144 sources.
3145
3146 Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3147 @samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3148
3149 @subheading @command{objdump} Target
3150
3151 Ways to specify:
3152
3153 @enumerate
3154 @item
3155 command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
3156
3157 @item
3158 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3159
3160 @item
3161 deduced from the input file
3162 @end enumerate
3163
3164 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
3165
3166 Ways to specify:
3167
3168 @enumerate
3169 @item
3170 command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3171
3172 @item
3173 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3174
3175 @item
3176 deduced from the input file
3177 @end enumerate
3178
3179 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
3180
3181 Ways to specify:
3182
3183 @enumerate
3184 @item
3185 command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3186
3187 @item
3188 the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
3189
3190 @item
3191 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3192
3193 @item
3194 deduced from the input file
3195 @end enumerate
3196
3197 @subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
3198
3199 Ways to specify:
3200
3201 @enumerate
3202 @item
3203 command line option: @option{--target}
3204
3205 @item
3206 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3207
3208 @item
3209 deduced from the input file
3210 @end enumerate
3211
3212 @node Architecture Selection
3213 @section Architecture Selection
3214
3215 An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3216 to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3217 processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3218
3219 The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3220 second column contains the relevant information).
3221
3222 Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3223
3224 @subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
3225
3226 Ways to specify:
3227
3228 @enumerate
3229 @item
3230 command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
3231
3232 @item
3233 deduced from the input file
3234 @end enumerate
3235
3236 @subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
3237
3238 Ways to specify:
3239
3240 @enumerate
3241 @item
3242 deduced from the input file
3243 @end enumerate
3244
3245 @node Reporting Bugs
3246 @chapter Reporting Bugs
3247 @cindex bugs
3248 @cindex reporting bugs
3249
3250 Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3251 reliable.
3252
3253 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3254 it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3255 to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3256 utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3257 maintenance.
3258
3259 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3260 information that enables us to fix the bug.
3261
3262 @menu
3263 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3264 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3265 @end menu
3266
3267 @node Bug Criteria
3268 @section Have You Found a Bug?
3269 @cindex bug criteria
3270
3271 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3272
3273 @itemize @bullet
3274 @cindex fatal signal
3275 @cindex crash
3276 @item
3277 If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3278 a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3279
3280 @cindex error on valid input
3281 @item
3282 If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3283 bug.
3284
3285 @item
3286 If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3287 improvement are welcome in any case.
3288 @end itemize
3289
3290 @node Bug Reporting
3291 @section How to Report Bugs
3292 @cindex bug reports
3293 @cindex bugs, reporting
3294
3295 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3296 products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3297 organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3298
3299 You can find contact information for many support companies and
3300 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3301 distribution.
3302
3303 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
3304 utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
3305
3306 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3307 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3308 fact or leave it out, state it!
3309
3310 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3311 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3312 assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3313 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3314 a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3315 that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3316 different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3317 doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3318 specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3319 and the most helpful.
3320
3321 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3322 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3323 that the bug has not been reported previously.
3324
3325 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
3326 bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3327 respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3328 You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
3329
3330 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3331
3332 @itemize @bullet
3333 @item
3334 The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
3335 with the @option{--version} argument.
3336
3337 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3338 the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3339
3340 @item
3341 Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3342 made to the @code{BFD} library.
3343
3344 @item
3345 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3346 version number.
3347
3348 @item
3349 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3350 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3351
3352 @item
3353 The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3354 guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3355 of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3356
3357 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3358 and then we might not encounter the bug.
3359
3360 @item
3361 A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3362 bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3363 generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
3364 necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
3365 @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
3366 sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3367 anonymous FTP is OK.
3368
3369 If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
3370 (e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
3371 may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
3372 this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
3373 whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
3374 @command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
3375
3376 @item
3377 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3378 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3379
3380 Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3381 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3382 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3383 a chance to make a mistake.
3384
3385 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
3386 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
3387 copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3388 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3389 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3390 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3391 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3392 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3393
3394 @item
3395 If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
3396 generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
3397 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
3398 wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
3399 context, not by line number.
3400
3401 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3402 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3403 @end itemize
3404
3405 Here are some things that are not necessary:
3406
3407 @itemize @bullet
3408 @item
3409 A description of the envelope of the bug.
3410
3411 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3412 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3413 changes will not affect it.
3414
3415 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3416 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3417 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3418 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3419
3420 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3421 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3422 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3423 less time, and so on.
3424
3425 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3426 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3427
3428 @item
3429 A patch for the bug.
3430
3431 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3432 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3433 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3434 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3435
3436 Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3437 very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3438 certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3439 will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3440 the bug is fixed.
3441
3442 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3443 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3444 help us to understand.
3445
3446 @item
3447 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3448
3449 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3450 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3451 @end itemize
3452
3453 @include fdl.texi
3454
3455 @node Index
3456 @unnumbered Index
3457
3458 @printindex cp
3459
3460 @contents
3461 @bye