* objcopy.c (redefine_list_append): Add an argument that
[binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
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{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename} ]
962 [@option{--weaken}]
963 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
964 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
965 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
966 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
967 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
968 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
969 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
970 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
971 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
972 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
973 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
974 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
975 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
976 @c man end
977 @end smallexample
978
979 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
980 The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
981 file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
982 read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
983 file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
984 exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
985 Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
986 between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
987 between any two formats may not work as expected.
988
989 @command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
990 deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
991 translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
992 and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
993 explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
994
995 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
996 target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
997
998 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
999 output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1000 @command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1001 a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1002 relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1003 the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1004
1005 When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1006 use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1007 some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1008 information that is not needed by the binary file.
1009
1010 Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1011 files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1012 @command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1013 same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1014
1015 @c man end
1016
1017 @c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1018
1019 @table @env
1020 @item @var{infile}
1021 @itemx @var{outfile}
1022 The input and output files, respectively.
1023 If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1024 temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1025 the name of @var{infile}.
1026
1027 @item -I @var{bfdname}
1028 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1029 Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1030 attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1031
1032 @item -O @var{bfdname}
1033 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1034 Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1035 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1036
1037 @item -F @var{bfdname}
1038 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1039 Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1040 file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1041 translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1042
1043 @item -B @var{bfdarch}
1044 @itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1045 Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1046 In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1047 option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1048 can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1049 symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1050 called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1051 _binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1052 an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1053
1054 @item -j @var{sectionname}
1055 @itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1056 Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1057 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1058 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1059
1060 @item -R @var{sectionname}
1061 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1062 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1063 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1064 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1065
1066 @item -S
1067 @itemx --strip-all
1068 Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1069
1070 @item -g
1071 @itemx --strip-debug
1072 Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
1073
1074 @item --strip-unneeded
1075 Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1076
1077 @item -K @var{symbolname}
1078 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1079 Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1080 be given more than once.
1081
1082 @item -N @var{symbolname}
1083 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1084 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1085 may be given more than once.
1086
1087 @item -G @var{symbolname}
1088 @itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1089 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1090 to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1091 be given more than once.
1092
1093 @item -L @var{symbolname}
1094 @itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1095 Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1096 visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1097
1098 @item -W @var{symbolname}
1099 @itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1100 Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1101
1102 @item -x
1103 @itemx --discard-all
1104 Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1105 @c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1106
1107 @item -X
1108 @itemx --discard-locals
1109 Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1110 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1111
1112 @item -b @var{byte}
1113 @itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1114 Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1115 affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
1116 where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
1117 option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1118 to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1119 target.
1120
1121 @item -i @var{interleave}
1122 @itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1123 Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1124 copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1125 @command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1126 @option{--byte}.
1127
1128 @item -p
1129 @itemx --preserve-dates
1130 Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1131 as those of the input file.
1132
1133 @item --debugging
1134 Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1135 because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1136 conversion process can be time consuming.
1137
1138 @item --gap-fill @var{val}
1139 Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1140 the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1141 the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1142 space created with @var{val}.
1143
1144 @item --pad-to @var{address}
1145 Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1146 done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1147 filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1148
1149 @item --set-start @var{val}
1150 Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1151 formats support setting the start address.
1152
1153 @item --change-start @var{incr}
1154 @itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1155 @cindex changing start address
1156 Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1157 formats support setting the start address.
1158
1159 @item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1160 @itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1161 @cindex changing object addresses
1162 Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1163 address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1164 section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1165 relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1166 certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1167 that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1168
1169 @item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1170 @itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1171 @cindex changing section address
1172 Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1173 @var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1174 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1175 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1176 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1177 be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1178
1179 @item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1180 @cindex changing section LMA
1181 Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1182 address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1183 program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1184 is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1185 especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1186 different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1187 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1188 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1189 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1190 will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1191
1192 @item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1193 @cindex changing section VMA
1194 Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1195 address is the address where the section will be located once the
1196 program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1197 address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1198 memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1199 ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1200 is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1201 from the section address. See the comments under
1202 @option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1203 the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1204 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1205
1206 @item --change-warnings
1207 @itemx --adjust-warnings
1208 If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1209 @option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1210 exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1211
1212 @item --no-change-warnings
1213 @itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1214 Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1215 @option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1216 if the named section does not exist.
1217
1218 @item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1219 Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1220 comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1221 @samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1222 @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1223 @samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1224 does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1225 @samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1226 the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1227 formats.
1228
1229 @item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1230 Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1231 contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1232 size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1233 works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1234
1235 @item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1236 Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1237 changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1238 the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1239 the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1240 executable.
1241
1242 This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1243 since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1244 you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1245 data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1246
1247 @smallexample
1248 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1249 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1250 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1251 @end smallexample
1252
1253 @item --change-leading-char
1254 Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1255 symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1256 often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1257 change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1258 object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1259 character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1260 character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1261 appropriate.
1262
1263 @item --remove-leading-char
1264 If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1265 character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1266 most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1267 remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1268 if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1269 different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1270 @option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1271 when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1272 file.
1273
1274 @item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1275 Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1276 being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1277 crc fields.
1278
1279 @item --srec-forceS3
1280 Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1281 creating S3-only record format.
1282
1283 @item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1284 Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1285 when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1286 source, and there are name collisions.
1287
1288 @item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1289 Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1290 listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1291 with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1292 character. This option may be given more than once.
1293
1294 @item --weaken
1295 Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1296 when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1297 the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1298 using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1299
1300 @item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1301 Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1302 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1303 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1304 This option may be given more than once.
1305
1306 @item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1307 Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1308 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1309 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1310 This option may be given more than once.
1311
1312 @item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1313 Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1314 file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1315 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1316 character. This option may be given more than once.
1317
1318 @item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1319 Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1320 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1321 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1322 This option may be given more than once.
1323
1324 @item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1325 Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1326 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1327 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1328 This option may be given more than once.
1329
1330 @item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1331 If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1332 @var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1333 a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1334 new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1335 being used.
1336
1337 @item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1338 Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1339
1340 @item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1341 Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1342
1343 @item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1344 Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1345 @var{string}.
1346
1347 @item -V
1348 @itemx --version
1349 Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
1350
1351 @item -v
1352 @itemx --verbose
1353 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1354 archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1355
1356 @item --help
1357 Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
1358
1359 @item --info
1360 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
1361 @end table
1362
1363 @c man end
1364
1365 @ignore
1366 @c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1367 ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1368 @c man end
1369 @end ignore
1370
1371 @node objdump
1372 @chapter objdump
1373
1374 @cindex object file information
1375 @kindex objdump
1376
1377 @c man title objdump display information from object files.
1378
1379 @smallexample
1380 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
1381 objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1382 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1383 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1384 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1385 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1386 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1387 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1388 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1389 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1390 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
1391 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1392 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1393 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1394 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1395 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1396 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1397 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1398 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1399 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1400 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1401 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1402 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1403 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1404 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1405 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1406 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1407 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1408 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1409 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1410 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1411 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
1412 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1413 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
1414 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1415 @c man end
1416 @end smallexample
1417
1418 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1419
1420 @command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1421 The options control what particular information to display. This
1422 information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1423 compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1424 program to compile and work.
1425
1426 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1427 specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1428 object files.
1429
1430 @c man end
1431
1432 @c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1433
1434 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1435 equivalent. At least one option from the list
1436 @option{-a,-d,-D,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
1437
1438 @table @env
1439 @item -a
1440 @itemx --archive-header
1441 @cindex archive headers
1442 If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1443 header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1444 information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1445 the object file format of each archive member.
1446
1447 @item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1448 @cindex section addresses in objdump
1449 @cindex VMA in objdump
1450 When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1451 addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1452 the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1453 addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1454 such as a.out.
1455
1456 @item -b @var{bfdname}
1457 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1458 @cindex object code format
1459 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1460 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1461 automatically recognize many formats.
1462
1463 For example,
1464 @example
1465 objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1466 @end example
1467 @noindent
1468 displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1469 @file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
1470 file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1471 formats available with the @option{-i} option.
1472 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1473
1474 @item -C
1475 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
1476 @cindex demangling in objdump
1477 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1478 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1479 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1480 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1481 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1482 for more information on demangling.
1483
1484 @item -g
1485 @itemx --debugging
1486 Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1487 information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1488 Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1489 Some other types are supported by @command{readelf -w}.
1490 @xref{readelf}.
1491
1492 @item -d
1493 @itemx --disassemble
1494 @cindex disassembling object code
1495 @cindex machine instructions
1496 Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1497 @var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1498 expected to contain instructions.
1499
1500 @item -D
1501 @itemx --disassemble-all
1502 Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1503 those expected to contain instructions.
1504
1505 @item --prefix-addresses
1506 When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1507 the older disassembly format.
1508
1509 @item -EB
1510 @itemx -EL
1511 @itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1512 @cindex endianness
1513 @cindex disassembly endianness
1514 Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1515 disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1516 does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1517
1518 @item -f
1519 @itemx --file-headers
1520 @cindex object file header
1521 Display summary information from the overall header of
1522 each of the @var{objfile} files.
1523
1524 @item --file-start-context
1525 @cindex source code context
1526 Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
1527 (assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
1528 context to the start of the file.
1529
1530 @item -h
1531 @itemx --section-headers
1532 @itemx --headers
1533 @cindex section headers
1534 Display summary information from the section headers of the
1535 object file.
1536
1537 File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1538 using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1539 @command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1540 store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1541 although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1542 -h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1543 Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1544 target.
1545
1546 @item -H
1547 @itemx --help
1548 Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
1549
1550 @item -i
1551 @itemx --info
1552 @cindex architectures available
1553 @cindex object formats available
1554 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1555 for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
1556
1557 @item -j @var{name}
1558 @itemx --section=@var{name}
1559 @cindex section information
1560 Display information only for section @var{name}.
1561
1562 @item -l
1563 @itemx --line-numbers
1564 @cindex source filenames for object files
1565 Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1566 source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1567 Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
1568
1569 @item -m @var{machine}
1570 @itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1571 @cindex architecture
1572 @cindex disassembly architecture
1573 Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1574 can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1575 architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1576 architectures with the @option{-i} option.
1577
1578 @item -M @var{options}
1579 @itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1580 Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1581 some targets.
1582
1583 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1584 select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1585 @option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
1586 used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1587 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
1588 @option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1589 Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
1590 just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1591
1592 There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
1593 by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1594 use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
1595 with the normal register names or the special register names).
1596
1597 This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
1598 disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
1599 using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
1600 useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1601 compilers.
1602
1603 For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1604 switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1605 following may be specified as a comma separated string.
1606 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
1607 the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1608 intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1609 @option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1610 address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
1611 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
1612 option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
1613 instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
1614 suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1615
1616 For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1617 disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1618 PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1619
1620 For MIPS, this option controls the printing of register names in
1621 disassembled instructions. Multiple selections from the
1622 following may be specified as a comma separated string, and invalid
1623 options are ignored:
1624
1625 @table @code
1626 @item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1627 Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1628 for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1629 the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1630
1631 @item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1632 Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1633 appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1634 rather than names.
1635
1636 @item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1637 Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1638 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1639 @var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1640 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1641
1642 @item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1643 Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1644 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1645 @var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1646 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1647
1648 @item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1649 Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1650
1651 @item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
1652 Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1653 as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
1654 @end table
1655
1656 For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1657 @var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1658 rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1659 You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1660 the @option{--help} option.
1661
1662 @item -p
1663 @itemx --private-headers
1664 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1665 information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1666 object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1667
1668 @item -r
1669 @itemx --reloc
1670 @cindex relocation entries, in object file
1671 Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1672 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1673 disassembly.
1674
1675 @item -R
1676 @itemx --dynamic-reloc
1677 @cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1678 Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1679 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1680 libraries.
1681
1682 @item -s
1683 @itemx --full-contents
1684 @cindex sections, full contents
1685 @cindex object file sections
1686 Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1687
1688 @item -S
1689 @itemx --source
1690 @cindex source disassembly
1691 @cindex disassembly, with source
1692 Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1693 @option{-d}.
1694
1695 @item --show-raw-insn
1696 When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1697 in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1698 @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1699
1700 @item --no-show-raw-insn
1701 When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1702 This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1703
1704 @item -G
1705 @itemx --stabs
1706 @cindex stab
1707 @cindex .stab
1708 @cindex debug symbols
1709 @cindex ELF object file format
1710 Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1711 contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1712 ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1713 @code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1714 section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1715 interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
1716 output.
1717 @ifclear man
1718 For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1719 Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1720 @end ifclear
1721
1722 @item --start-address=@var{address}
1723 @cindex start-address
1724 Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1725 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1726
1727 @item --stop-address=@var{address}
1728 @cindex stop-address
1729 Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1730 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1731
1732 @item -t
1733 @itemx --syms
1734 @cindex symbol table entries, printing
1735 Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1736 This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1737
1738 @item -T
1739 @itemx --dynamic-syms
1740 @cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1741 Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1742 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1743 libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1744 program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
1745
1746 @item -V
1747 @itemx --version
1748 Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
1749
1750 @item -x
1751 @itemx --all-headers
1752 @cindex all header information, object file
1753 @cindex header information, all
1754 Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1755 relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1756 @option{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1757
1758 @item -w
1759 @itemx --wide
1760 @cindex wide output, printing
1761 Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1762 Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
1763
1764 @item -z
1765 @itemx --disassemble-zeroes
1766 Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1767 option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1768 any other data.
1769 @end table
1770
1771 @c man end
1772
1773 @ignore
1774 @c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1775 nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1776 @c man end
1777 @end ignore
1778
1779 @node ranlib
1780 @chapter ranlib
1781
1782 @kindex ranlib
1783 @cindex archive contents
1784 @cindex symbol index
1785
1786 @c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1787
1788 @smallexample
1789 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
1790 ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
1791 @c man end
1792 @end smallexample
1793
1794 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1795
1796 @command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1797 stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1798 member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1799
1800 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1801
1802 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1803 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1804 their placement in the archive.
1805
1806 The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1807 @command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1808 @xref{ar}.
1809
1810 @c man end
1811
1812 @c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1813
1814 @table @env
1815 @item -v
1816 @itemx -V
1817 @itemx --version
1818 Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
1819 @end table
1820
1821 @c man end
1822
1823 @ignore
1824 @c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1825 ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1826 @c man end
1827 @end ignore
1828
1829 @node size
1830 @chapter size
1831
1832 @kindex size
1833 @cindex section sizes
1834
1835 @c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1836
1837 @smallexample
1838 @c man begin SYNOPSIS size
1839 size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
1840 [@option{--help}]
1841 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1842 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
1843 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1844 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
1845 @c man end
1846 @end smallexample
1847
1848 @c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1849
1850 The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1851 size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1852 argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1853 object file or each module in an archive.
1854
1855 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1856 If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1857
1858 @c man end
1859
1860 @c man begin OPTIONS size
1861
1862 The command line options have the following meanings:
1863
1864 @table @env
1865 @item -A
1866 @itemx -B
1867 @itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1868 @cindex @command{size} display format
1869 Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1870 @command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
1871 or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
1872 @option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1873 Berkeley's.
1874 @c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1875 @c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1876 @c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1877
1878 Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1879 @command{size}:
1880 @smallexample
1881 $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1882 text data bss dec hex filename
1883 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1884 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1885 @end smallexample
1886
1887 @noindent
1888 This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1889
1890 @smallexample
1891 $ size --format=SysV ranlib size
1892 ranlib :
1893 section size addr
1894 .text 294880 8192
1895 .data 81920 303104
1896 .bss 11592 385024
1897 Total 388392
1898
1899
1900 size :
1901 section size addr
1902 .text 294880 8192
1903 .data 81920 303104
1904 .bss 11888 385024
1905 Total 388688
1906 @end smallexample
1907
1908 @item --help
1909 Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1910
1911 @item -d
1912 @itemx -o
1913 @itemx -x
1914 @itemx --radix=@var{number}
1915 @cindex @command{size} number format
1916 @cindex radix for section sizes
1917 Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1918 section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
1919 (@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
1920 @option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1921 values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1922 radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
1923 octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
1924
1925 @item -t
1926 @itemx --totals
1927 Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
1928
1929 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
1930 @cindex object code format
1931 Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1932 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
1933 automatically recognize many formats.
1934 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1935
1936 @item -V
1937 @itemx --version
1938 Display the version number of @command{size}.
1939 @end table
1940
1941 @c man end
1942
1943 @ignore
1944 @c man begin SEEALSO size
1945 ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1946 @c man end
1947 @end ignore
1948
1949 @node strings
1950 @chapter strings
1951 @kindex strings
1952 @cindex listings strings
1953 @cindex printing strings
1954 @cindex strings, printing
1955
1956 @c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
1957
1958 @smallexample
1959 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
1960 strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
1961 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
1962 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
1963 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
1964 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
1965 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
1966 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
1967 @c man end
1968 @end smallexample
1969
1970 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
1971
1972 For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
1973 character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1974 given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1975 character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1976 and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1977 the strings from the whole file.
1978
1979 @command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1980 files.
1981
1982 @c man end
1983
1984 @c man begin OPTIONS strings
1985
1986 @table @env
1987 @item -a
1988 @itemx --all
1989 @itemx -
1990 Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1991 scan the whole files.
1992
1993 @item -f
1994 @itemx --print-file-name
1995 Print the name of the file before each string.
1996
1997 @item --help
1998 Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1999
2000 @item -@var{min-len}
2001 @itemx -n @var{min-len}
2002 @itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2003 Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2004 long, instead of the default 4.
2005
2006 @item -o
2007 Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
2008 act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2009 ways, we simply chose one.
2010
2011 @item -t @var{radix}
2012 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2013 Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2014 character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2015 octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2016
2017 @item -e @var{encoding}
2018 @itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2019 Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
2020 Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2021 characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2022 single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
2023 16-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2024 littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
2025
2026 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
2027 @cindex object code format
2028 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2029 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2030
2031 @item -v
2032 @itemx --version
2033 Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2034 @end table
2035
2036 @c man end
2037
2038 @ignore
2039 @c man begin SEEALSO strings
2040 ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2041 and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2042 @c man end
2043 @end ignore
2044
2045 @node strip
2046 @chapter strip
2047
2048 @kindex strip
2049 @cindex removing symbols
2050 @cindex discarding symbols
2051 @cindex symbols, discarding
2052
2053 @c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2054
2055 @smallexample
2056 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2057 strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2058 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2059 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2060 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}] [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2061 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname} ]
2062 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname} ]
2063 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all} ] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2064 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname} ]
2065 [@option{-o} @var{file} ] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
2066 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2067 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
2068 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2069 @c man end
2070 @end smallexample
2071
2072 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2073
2074 @sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
2075 @var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2076 At least one object file must be given.
2077
2078 @command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
2079 rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2080
2081 @c man end
2082
2083 @c man begin OPTIONS strip
2084
2085 @table @env
2086 @item -F @var{bfdname}
2087 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2088 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2089 code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2090 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2091
2092 @item --help
2093 Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
2094
2095 @item --info
2096 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2097
2098 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2099 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2100 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2101 code format @var{bfdname}.
2102 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2103
2104 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2105 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2106 Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2107 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2108
2109 @item -R @var{sectionname}
2110 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2111 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2112 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2113 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2114
2115 @item -s
2116 @itemx --strip-all
2117 Remove all symbols.
2118
2119 @item -g
2120 @itemx -S
2121 @itemx -d
2122 @itemx --strip-debug
2123 Remove debugging symbols only.
2124
2125 @item --strip-unneeded
2126 Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2127
2128 @item -K @var{symbolname}
2129 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2130 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2131 be given more than once.
2132
2133 @item -N @var{symbolname}
2134 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2135 Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2136 given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
2137 @option{-K}.
2138
2139 @item -o @var{file}
2140 Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2141 existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2142 argument may be specified.
2143
2144 @item -p
2145 @itemx --preserve-dates
2146 Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2147
2148 @item -x
2149 @itemx --discard-all
2150 Remove non-global symbols.
2151
2152 @item -X
2153 @itemx --discard-locals
2154 Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2155 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2156
2157 @item -V
2158 @itemx --version
2159 Show the version number for @command{strip}.
2160
2161 @item -v
2162 @itemx --verbose
2163 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2164 archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2165 @end table
2166
2167 @c man end
2168
2169 @ignore
2170 @c man begin SEEALSO strip
2171 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2172 @c man end
2173 @end ignore
2174
2175 @node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
2176 @chapter c++filt
2177
2178 @kindex c++filt
2179 @cindex demangling C++ symbols
2180
2181 @c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2182
2183 @smallexample
2184 @c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
2185 c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2186 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2187 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
2188 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2189 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
2190 @c man end
2191 @end smallexample
2192
2193 @c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2194
2195 @kindex cxxfilt
2196 The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2197 that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2198 takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2199 are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
2200 @dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
2201 @footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
2202 MS-DOS this program is named @command{cxxfilt}.}
2203 program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2204 names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2205 functions from clashing.
2206
2207 Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2208 dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2209 label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2210 name in the output.
2211
2212 You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
2213
2214 @example
2215 c++filt @var{symbol}
2216 @end example
2217
2218 If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
2219 names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2220 standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2221
2222 @c man end
2223
2224 @c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2225
2226 @table @env
2227 @item -_
2228 @itemx --strip-underscores
2229 On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2230 of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2231 name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
2232 @command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
2233
2234 @item -j
2235 @itemx --java
2236 Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2237 syntax.
2238
2239 @item -n
2240 @itemx --no-strip-underscores
2241 Do not remove the initial underscore.
2242
2243 @item -s @var{format}
2244 @itemx --format=@var{format}
2245 @command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2246 different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
2247 method it uses:
2248
2249 @table @code
2250 @item auto
2251 Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
2252 @item gnu
2253 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
2254 @item lucid
2255 the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
2256 @item arm
2257 the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2258 @item hp
2259 the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
2260 @item edg
2261 the one used by the EDG compiler
2262 @item gnu-v3
2263 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2264 @item java
2265 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2266 @item gnat
2267 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
2268 @end table
2269
2270 @item --help
2271 Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
2272
2273 @item --version
2274 Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
2275 @end table
2276
2277 @c man end
2278
2279 @ignore
2280 @c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2281 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2282 @c man end
2283 @end ignore
2284
2285 @quotation
2286 @emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
2287 user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2288 a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2289 passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2290
2291 @example
2292 c++filt @var{symbol}
2293 @end example
2294
2295 @noindent
2296 may in a future release become
2297
2298 @example
2299 c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2300 @end example
2301 @end quotation
2302
2303 @node addr2line
2304 @chapter addr2line
2305
2306 @kindex addr2line
2307 @cindex address to file name and line number
2308
2309 @c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2310
2311 @smallexample
2312 @c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
2313 addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2314 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
2315 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2316 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2317 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2318 [addr addr @dots{}]
2319 @c man end
2320 @end smallexample
2321
2322 @c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2323
2324 @command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
2325 numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2326 information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2327 number are associated with a given address.
2328
2329 The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
2330 default is the file @file{a.out}.
2331
2332 @command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
2333
2334 In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
2335 and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
2336 address.
2337
2338 In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
2339 standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
2340 address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
2341 in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2342
2343 The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2344 line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
2345 @command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
2346 preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2347 containing the address.
2348
2349 If the file name or function name can not be determined,
2350 @command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2351 line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
2352
2353 @c man end
2354
2355 @c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2356
2357 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2358 equivalent.
2359
2360 @table @env
2361 @item -b @var{bfdname}
2362 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2363 @cindex object code format
2364 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2365 @var{bfdname}.
2366
2367 @item -C
2368 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2369 @cindex demangling in objdump
2370 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2371 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2372 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2373 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2374 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2375 for more information on demangling.
2376
2377 @item -e @var{filename}
2378 @itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2379 Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2380 translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2381
2382 @item -f
2383 @itemx --functions
2384 Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2385
2386 @item -s
2387 @itemx --basenames
2388 Display only the base of each file name.
2389 @end table
2390
2391 @c man end
2392
2393 @ignore
2394 @c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2395 Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2396 @c man end
2397 @end ignore
2398
2399 @node nlmconv
2400 @chapter nlmconv
2401
2402 @command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
2403 Loadable Module.
2404
2405 @ignore
2406 @command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
2407 files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2408 object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
2409 @command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
2410 format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2411 with the above formats.}.
2412 @end ignore
2413
2414 @quotation
2415 @emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
2416 utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2417 @end quotation
2418
2419 @c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2420
2421 @smallexample
2422 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
2423 nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2424 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2425 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2426 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2427 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2428 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
2429 @c man end
2430 @end smallexample
2431
2432 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2433
2434 @command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
2435 @var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2436 reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2437 on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2438 @samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2439 Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2440 Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
2441 @command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
2442 @var{infile};
2443 @ifclear man
2444 see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2445 @end ifclear
2446
2447 @command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
2448 more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2449 file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
2450 In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
2451
2452 @c man end
2453
2454 @c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2455
2456 @table @env
2457 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2458 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2459 Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
2460 the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2461 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2462
2463 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2464 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2465 Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
2466 format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2467 output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2468 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2469
2470 @item -T @var{headerfile}
2471 @itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2472 Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2473 writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2474 @samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2475 Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2476 from Novell, Inc.
2477
2478 @item -d
2479 @itemx --debug
2480 Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
2481
2482 @item -l @var{linker}
2483 @itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2484 Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2485 relative pathname.
2486
2487 @item -h
2488 @itemx --help
2489 Prints a usage summary.
2490
2491 @item -V
2492 @itemx --version
2493 Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
2494 @end table
2495
2496 @c man end
2497
2498 @ignore
2499 @c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2500 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2501 @c man end
2502 @end ignore
2503
2504 @node windres
2505 @chapter windres
2506
2507 @command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2508
2509 @quotation
2510 @emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2511 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2512 @end quotation
2513
2514 @c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2515
2516 @smallexample
2517 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
2518 windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2519 @c man end
2520 @end smallexample
2521
2522 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2523
2524 @command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2525 an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2526
2527 @table @code
2528 @item rc
2529 A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2530
2531 @item res
2532 A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2533
2534 @item coff
2535 A COFF object or executable.
2536 @end table
2537
2538 The exact description of these different formats is available in
2539 documentation from Microsoft.
2540
2541 When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2542 format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2543 @command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2544 format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2545
2546 When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2547 but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2548 @code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2549 will instead include the file contents.
2550
2551 If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
2552 guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2553 A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2554 file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2555 @code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2556 @file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2557
2558 If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
2559 in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2560
2561 The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
2562 to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2563 your application. This will make the resources described in the
2564 @code{rc} file available to Windows.
2565
2566 @c man end
2567
2568 @c man begin OPTIONS windres
2569
2570 @table @env
2571 @item -i @var{filename}
2572 @itemx --input @var{filename}
2573 The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2574 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2575 name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2576 read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2577 standard input.
2578
2579 @item -o @var{filename}
2580 @itemx --output @var{filename}
2581 The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2582 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2583 for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2584 non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
2585 @command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
2586 for compatability with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
2587 accepted, but its use is not recommended.
2588
2589 @item -J @var{format}
2590 @itemx --input-format @var{format}
2591 The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2592 @samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
2593 guess, as described above.
2594
2595 @item -O @var{format}
2596 @itemx --output-format @var{format}
2597 The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2598 @samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2599 @command{windres} will guess, as described above.
2600
2601 @item -F @var{target}
2602 @itemx --target @var{target}
2603 Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2604 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2605 of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2606 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2607 @ifclear man
2608 @ref{Target Selection}.
2609 @end ifclear
2610
2611 @item --preprocessor @var{program}
2612 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2613 preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2614 to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2615 argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2616
2617 @item -I @var{directory}
2618 @itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
2619 Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2620 @command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2621 option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2622 files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
2623 matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as descrived in the @option{-J}
2624 option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
2625 @option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
2626 directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
2627 to disable the backward compatibility.
2628
2629 @item -D @var{target}
2630 @itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
2631 Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2632 @code{rc} file.
2633
2634 @item -U @var{target}
2635 @itemx --undefine @var{sym}
2636 Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2637 @code{rc} file.
2638
2639 @item -r
2640 Ignored for compatibility with rc.
2641
2642 @item -v
2643 Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2644 didn't specify one.
2645
2646 @item -l @var{val}
2647 @item --language @var{val}
2648 Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2649 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2650 the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2651
2652 @item --use-temp-file
2653 Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2654 the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2655 on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2656 Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2657 go the console).
2658
2659 @item --no-use-temp-file
2660 Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2661 This is the default behaviour.
2662
2663 @item -h
2664 @item --help
2665 Prints a usage summary.
2666
2667 @item -V
2668 @item --version
2669 Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
2670
2671 @item --yydebug
2672 If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2673 this will turn on parser debugging.
2674 @end table
2675
2676 @c man end
2677
2678 @ignore
2679 @c man begin SEEALSO windres
2680 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2681 @c man end
2682 @end ignore
2683
2684 @node dlltool
2685 @chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2686 @cindex DLL
2687 @kindex dlltool
2688
2689 @command{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2690 dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2691
2692 @quotation
2693 @emph{Warning:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2694 utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2695 @end quotation
2696
2697 @c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2698
2699 @smallexample
2700 @c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
2701 dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2702 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2703 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2704 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2705 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2706 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2707 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2708 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2709 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2710 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2711 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2712 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
2713 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
2714 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
2715 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2716 [object-file @dots{}]
2717 @c man end
2718 @end smallexample
2719
2720 @c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2721
2722 @command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2723 @option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2724 line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2725 been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2726 has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2727 has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2728 @option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2729 dlltool.
2730
2731 When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2732 to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2733 these files.
2734
2735 The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2736 exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2737 is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2738 to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
2739 will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2740 those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2741 put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2742
2743 In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2744 have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2745 section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2746 asm() operator:
2747
2748 @smallexample
2749 asm (".section .drectve");
2750 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2751
2752 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2753 @end smallexample
2754
2755 The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2756 is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2757 handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2758 binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2759 @command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2760
2761 The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2762 will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2763 can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2764 is creating or reading in a .def file.
2765
2766 @command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2767 exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2768 and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
2769 used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2770 and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2771 assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2772 these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
2773 specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2774 temporary object files it used to build the library.
2775
2776 Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2777 also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2778 that uses that DLL:
2779
2780 @smallexample
2781 gcc -c dll.c
2782 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2783 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2784 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2785 @end smallexample
2786
2787 @c man end
2788
2789 @c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
2790
2791 The command line options have the following meanings:
2792
2793 @table @env
2794
2795 @item -d @var{filename}
2796 @itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2797 @cindex input .def file
2798 Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2799
2800 @item -b @var{filename}
2801 @itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2802 @cindex base files
2803 Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2804 contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2805 exports file generated by dlltool.
2806
2807 @item -e @var{filename}
2808 @itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2809 Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2810
2811 @item -z @var{filename}
2812 @itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2813 Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2814
2815 @item -l @var{filename}
2816 @itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2817 Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2818
2819 @item --export-all-symbols
2820 Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2821 files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2822 are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
2823 option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2824 @option{--exclude-symbols} option.
2825
2826 @item --no-export-all-symbols
2827 Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2828 @samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2829 behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2830 attributes in the source code.
2831
2832 @item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2833 Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2834 separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2835 contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2836 @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2837
2838 @item --no-default-excludes
2839 When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2840 exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2841 exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2842 @samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
2843 to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2844 when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2845
2846 @item -S @var{path}
2847 @itemx --as @var{path}
2848 Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2849 to create the exports file.
2850
2851 @item -f @var{options}
2852 @itemx --as-flags @var{options}
2853 Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
2854 assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2855 the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2856 and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2857 occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2858 pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2859 double quotes.
2860
2861 @item -D @var{name}
2862 @itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2863 Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2864 when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2865 the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be used as the name of
2866 the DLL.
2867
2868 @item -m @var{machine}
2869 @itemx -machine @var{machine}
2870 Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2871 built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2872 it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2873 normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2874 contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
2875
2876 @item -a
2877 @itemx --add-indirect
2878 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2879 should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2880 referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2881 means!
2882
2883 @item -U
2884 @itemx --add-underscore
2885 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2886 should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2887
2888 @item -k
2889 @itemx --kill-at
2890 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2891 should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2892 called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2893 function in a DLL, other than by name.
2894
2895 @item -A
2896 @itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2897 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2898 should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2899 in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2900
2901 @item -x
2902 @itemx --no-idata4
2903 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2904 files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
2905 with certain operating systems.
2906
2907 @item -c
2908 @itemx --no-idata5
2909 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2910 files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
2911 with certain operating systems.
2912
2913 @item -i
2914 @itemx --interwork
2915 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2916 file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2917 between ARM and Thumb code.
2918
2919 @item -n
2920 @itemx --nodelete
2921 Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2922 create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2923 also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2924 file.
2925
2926 @item -v
2927 @itemx --verbose
2928 Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2929
2930 @item -h
2931 @itemx --help
2932 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2933
2934 @item -V
2935 @itemx --version
2936 Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2937
2938 @end table
2939
2940 @c man end
2941
2942 @ignore
2943 @c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
2944 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2945 @c man end
2946 @end ignore
2947
2948 @node readelf
2949 @chapter readelf
2950
2951 @cindex ELF file information
2952 @kindex readelf
2953
2954 @c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
2955
2956 @smallexample
2957 @c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
2958 readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
2959 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
2960 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
2961 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
2962 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
2963 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
2964 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
2965 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
2966 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
2967 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
2968 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
2969 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
2970 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
2971 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
2972 [@option{-w[liaprmfFso]}|
2973 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]]
2974 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
2975 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
2976 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
2977 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
2978 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2979 @c man end
2980 @end smallexample
2981
2982 @c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
2983
2984 @command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2985 files. The options control what particular information to display.
2986
2987 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2988 moment, @command{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2989 support examining 64 bit ELF files.
2990
2991 @c man end
2992
2993 @c man begin OPTIONS readelf
2994
2995 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2996 equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
2997 given.
2998
2999 @table @env
3000 @item -a
3001 @itemx --all
3002 Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
3003 @option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
3004 @option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
3005 @option{--version-info}.
3006
3007 @item -h
3008 @itemx --file-header
3009 @cindex ELF file header information
3010 Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
3011 file.
3012
3013 @item -l
3014 @itemx --program-headers
3015 @itemx --segments
3016 @cindex ELF program header information
3017 @cindex ELF segment information
3018 Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
3019 has any.
3020
3021 @item -S
3022 @itemx --sections
3023 @itemx --section-headers
3024 @cindex ELF section information
3025 Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
3026 has any.
3027
3028 @item -s
3029 @itemx --symbols
3030 @itemx --syms
3031 @cindex ELF symbol table information
3032 Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3033
3034 @item -e
3035 @itemx --headers
3036 Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
3037
3038 @item -n
3039 @itemx --notes
3040 @cindex ELF core notes
3041 Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
3042
3043 @item -r
3044 @itemx --relocs
3045 @cindex ELF reloc information
3046 Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3047
3048 @item -u
3049 @itemx --unwind
3050 @cindex unwind information
3051 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3052 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3053
3054 @item -u
3055 @itemx --unwind
3056 @cindex unwind information
3057 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3058 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3059
3060 @item -d
3061 @itemx --dynamic
3062 @cindex ELF dynamic section information
3063 Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3064
3065 @item -V
3066 @itemx --version-info
3067 @cindex ELF version sections informations
3068 Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3069 exist.
3070
3071 @item -A
3072 @itemx --arch-specific
3073 Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3074 is any.
3075
3076 @item -D
3077 @itemx --use-dynamic
3078 When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
3079 symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
3080 symbols section.
3081
3082 @item -x <number>
3083 @itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3084 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3085
3086 @item -w[liaprmfFso]
3087 @itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
3088 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3089 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3090 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3091
3092 @item -I
3093 @itemx --histogram
3094 Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3095 of the symbol tables.
3096
3097 @item -v
3098 @itemx --version
3099 Display the version number of readelf.
3100
3101 @item -W
3102 @itemx --wide
3103 Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3104 @command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
3105 64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3106 @command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3107 single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3108
3109 @item -H
3110 @itemx --help
3111 Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
3112
3113 @end table
3114
3115 @c man end
3116
3117 @ignore
3118 @c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3119 objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3120 @c man end
3121 @end ignore
3122
3123 @node Selecting The Target System
3124 @chapter Selecting the Target System
3125
3126 You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
3127 binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3128
3129 @itemize @bullet
3130 @item
3131 the target
3132
3133 @item
3134 the architecture
3135 @end itemize
3136
3137 In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3138 order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3139 listed later.
3140
3141 The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3142 programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
3143 @option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
3144 values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3145 once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3146 with the same type as the target system).
3147
3148 @menu
3149 * Target Selection::
3150 * Architecture Selection::
3151 @end menu
3152
3153 @node Target Selection
3154 @section Target Selection
3155
3156 A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3157 supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3158 A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3159 systems or architectures.
3160
3161 The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3162 (the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3163
3164 Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3165 @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3166
3167 You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
3168 the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3169 target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3170 fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
3171 running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3172 sources.
3173
3174 Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3175 @samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3176
3177 @subheading @command{objdump} Target
3178
3179 Ways to specify:
3180
3181 @enumerate
3182 @item
3183 command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
3184
3185 @item
3186 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3187
3188 @item
3189 deduced from the input file
3190 @end enumerate
3191
3192 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
3193
3194 Ways to specify:
3195
3196 @enumerate
3197 @item
3198 command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3199
3200 @item
3201 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3202
3203 @item
3204 deduced from the input file
3205 @end enumerate
3206
3207 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
3208
3209 Ways to specify:
3210
3211 @enumerate
3212 @item
3213 command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3214
3215 @item
3216 the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
3217
3218 @item
3219 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3220
3221 @item
3222 deduced from the input file
3223 @end enumerate
3224
3225 @subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
3226
3227 Ways to specify:
3228
3229 @enumerate
3230 @item
3231 command line option: @option{--target}
3232
3233 @item
3234 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3235
3236 @item
3237 deduced from the input file
3238 @end enumerate
3239
3240 @node Architecture Selection
3241 @section Architecture Selection
3242
3243 An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3244 to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3245 processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3246
3247 The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3248 second column contains the relevant information).
3249
3250 Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3251
3252 @subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
3253
3254 Ways to specify:
3255
3256 @enumerate
3257 @item
3258 command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
3259
3260 @item
3261 deduced from the input file
3262 @end enumerate
3263
3264 @subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
3265
3266 Ways to specify:
3267
3268 @enumerate
3269 @item
3270 deduced from the input file
3271 @end enumerate
3272
3273 @node Reporting Bugs
3274 @chapter Reporting Bugs
3275 @cindex bugs
3276 @cindex reporting bugs
3277
3278 Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3279 reliable.
3280
3281 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3282 it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3283 to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3284 utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3285 maintenance.
3286
3287 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3288 information that enables us to fix the bug.
3289
3290 @menu
3291 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3292 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3293 @end menu
3294
3295 @node Bug Criteria
3296 @section Have You Found a Bug?
3297 @cindex bug criteria
3298
3299 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3300
3301 @itemize @bullet
3302 @cindex fatal signal
3303 @cindex crash
3304 @item
3305 If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3306 a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3307
3308 @cindex error on valid input
3309 @item
3310 If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3311 bug.
3312
3313 @item
3314 If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3315 improvement are welcome in any case.
3316 @end itemize
3317
3318 @node Bug Reporting
3319 @section How to Report Bugs
3320 @cindex bug reports
3321 @cindex bugs, reporting
3322
3323 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3324 products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3325 organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3326
3327 You can find contact information for many support companies and
3328 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3329 distribution.
3330
3331 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
3332 utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
3333
3334 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3335 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3336 fact or leave it out, state it!
3337
3338 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3339 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3340 assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3341 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3342 a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3343 that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3344 different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3345 doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3346 specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3347 and the most helpful.
3348
3349 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3350 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3351 that the bug has not been reported previously.
3352
3353 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
3354 bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3355 respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3356 You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
3357
3358 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3359
3360 @itemize @bullet
3361 @item
3362 The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
3363 with the @option{--version} argument.
3364
3365 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3366 the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3367
3368 @item
3369 Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3370 made to the @code{BFD} library.
3371
3372 @item
3373 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3374 version number.
3375
3376 @item
3377 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3378 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3379
3380 @item
3381 The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3382 guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3383 of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3384
3385 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3386 and then we might not encounter the bug.
3387
3388 @item
3389 A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3390 bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3391 generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
3392 necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
3393 @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
3394 sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3395 anonymous FTP is OK.
3396
3397 If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
3398 (e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
3399 may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
3400 this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
3401 whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
3402 @command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
3403
3404 @item
3405 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3406 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3407
3408 Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3409 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3410 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3411 a chance to make a mistake.
3412
3413 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
3414 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
3415 copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3416 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3417 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3418 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3419 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3420 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3421
3422 @item
3423 If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
3424 generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
3425 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
3426 wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
3427 context, not by line number.
3428
3429 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3430 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3431 @end itemize
3432
3433 Here are some things that are not necessary:
3434
3435 @itemize @bullet
3436 @item
3437 A description of the envelope of the bug.
3438
3439 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3440 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3441 changes will not affect it.
3442
3443 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3444 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3445 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3446 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3447
3448 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3449 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3450 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3451 less time, and so on.
3452
3453 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3454 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3455
3456 @item
3457 A patch for the bug.
3458
3459 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3460 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3461 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3462 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3463
3464 Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3465 very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3466 certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3467 will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3468 the bug is fixed.
3469
3470 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3471 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3472 help us to understand.
3473
3474 @item
3475 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3476
3477 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3478 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3479 @end itemize
3480
3481 @include fdl.texi
3482
3483 @node Index
3484 @unnumbered Index
3485
3486 @printindex cp
3487
3488 @contents
3489 @bye