Add -M command line switch to objdump - text of switch is passed on to disassembler
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / binutils.texi
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1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
3@include config.texi
4
5@ifinfo
6@format
7START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
8* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities "ar", "objcopy",
9 "objdump", "nm", "nlmconv", "size", "readelf"
10 "strings", "strip", "ranlib" and "dlltool".
11END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
12@end format
13@end ifinfo
14
15@ifinfo
16Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
17
18Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
19this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
20are preserved on all copies.
21
22@ignore
23Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
24results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
25notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
26(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
27
28@end ignore
29
30Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
31manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
32the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
33permission notice identical to this one.
34
35Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
36into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
37@end ifinfo
38
39@synindex ky cp
40@c
41@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
42@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", "readelf" and "ranlib".
43@c
44@c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
45@c
46@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
47@c General Public License.
48@c
49
50@setchapternewpage odd
51@settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
52@titlepage
53@finalout
54@title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
55@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
56@sp 1
57@subtitle May 1993
58@author Roland H. Pesch
59@author Jeffrey M. Osier
60@author Cygnus Support
61@page
62
63@tex
64{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
65\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
66@end tex
67
68@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
69Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
70
71Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
72this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
73are preserved on all copies.
74
75Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
76manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
77the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
78permission notice identical to this one.
79
80Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
81into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
82@end titlepage
83
84@node Top
85@top Introduction
86
87@cindex version
88This brief manual contains preliminary documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
89utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
90
91@iftex
92@table @code
93@item ar
94Create, modify, and extract from archives
95
96@item nm
97List symbols from object files
98
99@item objcopy
100Copy and translate object files
101
102@item objdump
103Display information from object files
104
105@item ranlib
106Generate index to archive contents
107
108@item readelf
109Display the contents of ELF format files.
110
111@item size
112List file section sizes and total size
113
114@item strings
115List printable strings from files
116
117@item strip
118Discard symbols
119
120@item c++filt
121Demangle encoded C++ symbols
122
123@item addr2line
124Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
125
126@item nlmconv
127Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
128
129@item windres
130Manipulate Windows resources
131
132@item dlltool
133Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
134@end table
135@end iftex
136
137@menu
138* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
139* nm:: List symbols from object files
140* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
141* objdump:: Display information from object files
142* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
143* readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files.
144* size:: List section sizes and total size
145* strings:: List printable strings from files
146* strip:: Discard symbols
147* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
148* addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
149* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
150* windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
151* dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
152* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
153* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
154* Index:: Index
155@end menu
156
157@node ar
158@chapter ar
159
160@kindex ar
161@cindex archives
162@cindex collections of files
163@smallexample
164ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
165ar -M [ <mri-script ]
166@end smallexample
167
168The @sc{gnu} @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
169archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
170other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
171the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
172
173The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
174group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
175extraction.
176
177@cindex name length
178@sc{gnu} @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
179length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
180system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
181with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
182limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
183characters (typical of formats related to coff).
184
185@cindex libraries
186@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
187are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
188subroutines.
189
190@cindex symbol index
191@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
192object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
193Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
194makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
195An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
196allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
197their placement in the archive.
198
199You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
200table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
201@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
202
203@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
204@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
205@sc{gnu} @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
206facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
207like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
208specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
209with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
210program.
211
212@menu
213* ar cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
214* ar scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
215@end menu
216
217@page
218@node ar cmdline
219@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
220
221@smallexample
222ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
223@end smallexample
224
225@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
226When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
227arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
228(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
229@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
230
231Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
232specifying particular files to operate on.
233
234@sc{gnu} @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
235flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
236
237If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
238dash.
239
240@cindex operations on archive
241The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
242any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
243
244@table @code
245@item d
246@cindex deleting from archive
247@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
248be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
249specify no files to delete.
250
251If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
252as it is deleted.
253
254@item m
255@cindex moving in archive
256Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
257
258The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
259programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
260than one member.
261
262If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
263@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
264you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
265specified place instead.
266
267@item p
268@cindex printing from archive
269@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
270output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
271name before copying its contents to standard output.
272
273If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
274printed.
275
276@item q
277@cindex quick append to archive
278@emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
279@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
280
281The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
282operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
283
284The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
285
286Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
287index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
288@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
289
290However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
291index, so GNU ar implements @code{q} as a synonym for @code{r}.
292
293@item r
294@cindex replacement in archive
295Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
296@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
297previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
298added.
299
300If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @code{ar}
301displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
302of the archive matching that name.
303
304By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
305use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
306placement relative to some existing member.
307
308The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
309output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
310@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
311deleted) or replaced.
312
313@item t
314@cindex contents of archive
315Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
316of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
317archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
318see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
319request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
320
321If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
322are listed.
323
324@cindex repeated names in archive
325@cindex name duplication in archive
326If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
327an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
328first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
329listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
330@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
331@c recent case in fact works the other way.
332
333@item x
334@cindex extract from archive
335@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
336use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
337@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
338
339If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
340are extracted.
341
342@end table
343
344A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
345keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
346
347@table @code
348@item a
349@cindex relative placement in archive
350Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
351archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
352member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
353@var{archive} specification.
354
355@item b
356Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
357archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
358member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
359@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
360
361@item c
362@cindex creating archives
363@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
364created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
365issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
366using this modifier.
367
368@item f
369Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @code{ar} will normally permit file
370names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
371not compatible with the native @code{ar} program on some systems. If
372this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
373names when putting them in the archive.
374
375@item i
376Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
377archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
378member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
379@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
380
381@item l
382This modifier is accepted but not used.
383@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
384@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
385
386@item o
387@cindex dates in archive
388Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
389you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
390are stamped with the time of extraction.
391
392@item s
393@cindex writing archive index
394Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
395even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
396flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
397archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
398
399@item S
400@cindex not writing archive index
401Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
402large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
403with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
404@samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
405@samp{ranlib} on the archive.
406
407@item u
408@cindex updating an archive
409Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
410listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
411of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
412names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
413operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
414not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
415advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
416
417@item v
418This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
419operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
420when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
421
422@item V
423This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
424@end table
425
426@node ar scripts
427@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
428
429@smallexample
430ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
431@end smallexample
432
433@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
434@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
435If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
436can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
437form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
438directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
439input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
440errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
441issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
442on any error.
443
444The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
445to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
446over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
447transition to @sc{gnu} @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
448written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
449
450The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
451@itemize @bullet
452@item
453commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
454is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
455shown in upper case for clarity.
456
457@item
458a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
459line.
460
461@item
462empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
463
464@item
465comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
466or @samp{;} is ignored.
467
468@item
469Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
470command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
471blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
472
473@item
474@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
475at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
476of the current command.
477@end itemize
478
479Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
480@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
481
482@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
483a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
484
485@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
486to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
487archive.
488
489@table @code
490@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
491@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
492Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
493@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
494
495Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
496
497@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
498@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
499@c else like "ar q..."
500Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
501
502Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
503
504@item CLEAR
505Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
506any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
507effect) even if no current archive is specified.
508
509@item CREATE @var{archive}
510Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
511other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
512is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
513You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
514existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
515
516@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
517Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
518@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
519
520Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
521
522@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
523@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
524List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
525command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
526output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
527@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
528@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
529
530Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
531specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
532output to that file.
533
534@item END
535Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
536completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
537changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
538changes are lost.
539
540@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
541Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
542into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
543@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
544
545Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
546
547@ignore
548@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
549@item FULLDIR
550
551@item HELP
552@end ignore
553
554@item LIST
555Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
556regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
c89746f6 557tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @code{ar}
252b5132
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558enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
559
560Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
561
562@item OPEN @var{archive}
563Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
564many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
565will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
566
567@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
568In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
569the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
570To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
571the current archive, must exist.
572
573Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
574
575@item VERBOSE
576Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
577When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
578@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
579
580@item SAVE
581Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
582file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
583command.
584
585Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
586
587@end table
588
589@iftex
590@node ld
591@chapter ld
592@cindex linker
593@kindex ld
594The @sc{gnu} linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
595@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
596@end iftex
597
598@node nm
599@chapter nm
600@cindex symbols
601@kindex nm
602
603@smallexample
604nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
605 [ -B ] [ -C | --demangle ] [ -D | --dynamic ]
606 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
607 [ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
608 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ --size-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
609 [ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
610 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
611 [ --defined-only ] [-l | --line-numbers ]
612 [ --no-demangle ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
613@end smallexample
614
615@sc{gnu} @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
616If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
617@file{a.out}.
618
619For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
620
621@itemize @bullet
622@item
623The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
624hexadecimal by default.
625
626@item
627The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
628well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
629local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
630
631@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
632@c would be nice.
633@table @code
634@item A
635The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
636linking.
637
638@item B
639The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
640
641@item C
642The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
643linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
644symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
645references. For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
646--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
647
648@item D
649The symbol is in the initialized data section.
650
651@item G
652The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
653object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
654such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
655
656@item I
657The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a GNU
658extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
659
660@item N
661The symbol is a debugging symbol.
662
663@item R
664The symbol is in a read only data section.
665
666@item S
667The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
668
669@item T
670The symbol is in the text (code) section.
671
672@item U
673The symbol is undefined.
674
675@item W
676The symbol is weak. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
677defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error. When a
678weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined, the value
679of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
680
681@item -
682The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
683next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
684the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information;
685for more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
686``stabs'' debug format}.
687
688@item ?
689The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
690@end table
691
692@item
693The symbol name.
694@end itemize
695
696The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
697equivalent.
698
699@table @code
700@item -A
701@itemx -o
702@itemx --print-file-name
703@cindex input file name
704@cindex file name
705@cindex source file name
706Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
707in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
708before all of its symbols.
709
710@item -a
711@itemx --debug-syms
712@cindex debugging symbols
713Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
714listed.
715
716@item -B
717@cindex @code{nm} format
718@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
719The same as @samp{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @code{nm}).
720
721@item -C
722@itemx --demangle
723@cindex demangling in nm
724Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
725Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
726makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
727on demangling.
728
729@item --no-demangle
730Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
731
732@item -D
733@itemx --dynamic
734@cindex dynamic symbols
735Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
736only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
737libraries.
738
739@item -f @var{format}
740@itemx --format=@var{format}
741@cindex @code{nm} format
742@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
743Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
744@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
745Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
746either upper or lower case.
747
748@item -g
749@itemx --extern-only
750@cindex external symbols
751Display only external symbols.
752
753@item -l
754@itemx --line-numbers
755@cindex symbol line numbers
756For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
757line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
758address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
759number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
760information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
761
762@item -n
763@itemx -v
764@itemx --numeric-sort
765Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
766by their names.
767
768@item -p
769@itemx --no-sort
770@cindex sorting symbols
771Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
772encountered.
773
774@item -P
775@itemx --portability
776Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
777Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
778
779@item -s
780@itemx --print-armap
781@cindex symbol index, listing
782When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
783(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
784contain definitions for which names.
785
786@item -r
787@itemx --reverse-sort
788Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
789last come first.
790
791@item --size-sort
792Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
793the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
794value. The size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value.
795
796@item -t @var{radix}
797@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
798Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
799@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
800
801@item --target=@var{bfdname}
802@cindex object code format
803Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
804@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
805
806@item -u
807@itemx --undefined-only
808@cindex external symbols
809@cindex undefined symbols
810Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
811
812@item --defined-only
813@cindex external symbols
814@cindex undefined symbols
815Display only defined symbols for each object file.
816
817@item -V
818@itemx --version
819Show the version number of @code{nm} and exit.
820
821@item --help
822Show a summary of the options to @code{nm} and exit.
823@end table
824
825@node objcopy
826@chapter objcopy
827
828@smallexample
829objcopy [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
830 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
831 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
832 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
833 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
834 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
835 [ -L @var{symbolname} | --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
836 [ -W @var{symbolname} | --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
837 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
838 [ -b @var{byte} | --byte=@var{byte} ]
839 [ -i @var{interleave} | --interleave=@var{interleave} ]
f91ea849 840 [ -j @var{sectionname} | --only-section=@var{sectionname} ]
252b5132
RH
841 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
842 [ -p | --preserve-dates ] [ --debugging ]
843 [ --gap-fill=@var{val} ] [ --pad-to=@var{address} ]
844 [ --set-start=@var{val} ] [ --adjust-start=@var{incr} ]
845 [ --change-addresses=@var{incr} ]
846 [ --change-section-address=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
847 [ --change-section-lma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
848 [ --change-section-vma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
849 [ --change-warnings ] [ --no-change-warnings ]
850 [ --set-section-flags=@var{section}=@var{flags} ]
851 [ --add-section=@var{sectionname}=@var{filename} ]
852 [ --change-leading-char ] [ --remove-leading-char ]
853 [ --weaken ]
854 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
855 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
856@end smallexample
857
858The @sc{gnu} @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
859file to another. @code{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
860read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
861file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
862exact behavior of @code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
863
864@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
865deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
866translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
867and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
868explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
869
870@code{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
871target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
872
873@code{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
874output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @samp{-O binary}). When
875@code{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
876a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
877relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
878the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
879
880When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
881use @samp{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
882some cases @samp{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
883information which is not needed by the binary file.
884
885@table @code
886@item @var{infile}
887@itemx @var{outfile}
888The source and output files, respectively.
889If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
890temporary file and destructively renames the result with
891the name of @var{infile}.
892
893@item -I @var{bfdname}
894@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
895Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
896attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
897
898@item -O @var{bfdname}
899@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
900Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
901@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
902
903@item -F @var{bfdname}
904@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
905Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
906file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
907translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
908
f91ea849
ILT
909@item -j @var{sectionname}
910@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
911Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
912This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
913inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
914
252b5132
RH
915@item -R @var{sectionname}
916@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
917Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
918option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
919inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
920
921@item -S
922@itemx --strip-all
923Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
924
925@item -g
926@itemx --strip-debug
927Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
928
929@item --strip-unneeded
930Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
931
932@item -K @var{symbolname}
933@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
934Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
935be given more than once.
936
937@item -N @var{symbolname}
938@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
939Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
940may be given more than once.
941
942@item -L @var{symbolname}
943@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
944Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
945visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
946
947@item -W @var{symbolname}
948@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
949Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
950
951@item -x
952@itemx --discard-all
953Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
954@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
955
956@item -X
957@itemx --discard-locals
958Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
959(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
960
961@item -b @var{byte}
962@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
963Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
964affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
965where @var{interleave} is given by the @samp{-i} or @samp{--interleave}
966option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
967to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
968target.
969
970@item -i @var{interleave}
971@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
972Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
973copy with the @var{-b} or @samp{--byte} option. The default is 4.
974@code{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @samp{-b} or
975@samp{--byte}.
976
977@item -p
978@itemx --preserve-dates
979Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
980as those of the input file.
981
982@item --debugging
983Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
984because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
985conversion process can be time consuming.
986
987@item --gap-fill @var{val}
988Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
989the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
990the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
991space created with @var{val}.
992
993@item --pad-to @var{address}
994Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
995done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
996filled in with the value specified by @samp{--gap-fill} (default zero).
997
998@item --set-start @var{val}
999Set the address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1000formats support setting the start address.
1001
1002@item --change-start @var{incr}
1003@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1004@cindex changing start address
1005Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1006formats support setting the start address.
1007
1008@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1009@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1010@cindex changing object addresses
1011Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1012address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1013section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1014relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1015certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1016that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1017
1018@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1019@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1020@cindex changing section address
1021Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1022@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1023@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1024section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1025above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1026be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1027
1028@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1029@cindex changing section LMA
1030Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1031address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1032program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1033is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1034especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1035different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1036@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1037section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1038above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1039will be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1040
1041@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1042@cindex changing section VMA
1043Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1044address is the address where the section will be located once the
1045program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1046address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1047memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1048ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1049is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1050from the section address. See the comments under
1051@samp{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1052the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1053@samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1054
1055@item --change-warnings
1056@itemx --adjust-warnings
1057If @samp{--change-section-address} or @samp{--change-section-lma} or
1058@samp{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1059exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1060
1061@item --no-change-warnings
1062@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1063Do not issue a warning if @samp{--change-section-address} or
1064@samp{--adjust-section-lma} or @samp{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1065if the named section does not exist.
1066
1067@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1068Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1069comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1070@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{readonly},
1071@samp{code}, @samp{data}, and @samp{rom}. You can set the
1072@samp{contents} flag for a section which does not have contents, but it
1073is not meaningful to clear the @samp{contents} flag of a section which
1074does have contents--just remove the section instead. Not all flags are
1075meaningful for all object file formats.
1076
1077@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1078Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1079contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1080size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1081works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1082
1083@item --change-leading-char
1084Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1085symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1086often add before every symbol. This option tells @code{objcopy} to
1087change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1088object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1089character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1090character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1091appropriate.
1092
1093@item --remove-leading-char
1094If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1095character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1096most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1097remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1098if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1099different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1100@code{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1101when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1102file.
1103
1104@item --weaken
1105Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1106when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1107the @code{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1108using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1109
1110@item -V
1111@itemx --version
1112Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
1113
1114@item -v
1115@itemx --verbose
1116Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1117archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1118
1119@item --help
1120Show a summary of the options to @code{objcopy}.
1121@end table
1122
1123@node objdump
1124@chapter objdump
1125
1126@cindex object file information
1127@kindex objdump
1128
1129@smallexample
1130objdump [ -a | --archive-headers ]
1131 [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ --debugging ]
1132 [ -C | --demangle ] [ -d | --disassemble ]
1133 [ -D | --disassemble-all ] [ --disassemble-zeroes ]
1134 [ -EB | -EL | --endian=@{big | little @} ]
1135 [ -f | --file-headers ]
1136 [ -h | --section-headers | --headers ] [ -i | --info ]
1137 [ -j @var{section} | --section=@var{section} ]
1138 [ -l | --line-numbers ] [ -S | --source ]
1139 [ -m @var{machine} | --architecture=@var{machine} ]
dd92f639 1140 [ -M @var{options} | --disassembler-options=@var{options}]
252b5132
RH
1141 [ -p | --private-headers ]
1142 [ -r | --reloc ] [ -R | --dynamic-reloc ]
1143 [ -s | --full-contents ] [ --stabs ]
1144 [ -t | --syms ] [ -T | --dynamic-syms ] [ -x | --all-headers ]
1145 [ -w | --wide ] [ --start-address=@var{address} ]
1146 [ --stop-address=@var{address} ]
1147 [ --prefix-addresses] [ --[no-]show-raw-insn ]
1148 [ --adjust-vma=@var{offset} ]
1149 [ --version ] [ --help ]
1150 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1151@end smallexample
1152
1153@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1154The options control what particular information to display. This
1155information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1156compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1157program to compile and work.
1158
1159@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1160specify archives, @code{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1161object files.
1162
1163The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1164equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-l} must be given.
1165
1166@table @code
1167@item -a
1168@itemx --archive-header
1169@cindex archive headers
1170If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1171header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1172information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1173the object file format of each archive member.
1174
1175@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1176@cindex section addresses in objdump
1177@cindex VMA in objdump
1178When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1179addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1180the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1181addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1182such as a.out.
1183
1184@item -b @var{bfdname}
1185@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1186@cindex object code format
1187Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1188@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1189automatically recognize many formats.
1190
1191For example,
1192@example
1193objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1194@end example
1195@noindent
1196displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
1197@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
1198file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1199formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
1200@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1201
1202@item -C
1203@itemx --demangle
1204@cindex demangling in objdump
1205Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1206Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1207makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1208on demangling.
1209
1210@item --debugging
1211Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1212information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1213Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1214
1215@item -d
1216@itemx --disassemble
1217@cindex disassembling object code
1218@cindex machine instructions
1219Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1220@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1221expected to contain instructions.
1222
1223@item -D
1224@itemx --disassemble-all
1225Like @samp{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1226those expected to contain instructions.
1227
1228@item --prefix-addresses
1229When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1230the older disassembly format.
1231
1232@item --disassemble-zeroes
1233Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1234option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1235any other data.
1236
1237@item -EB
1238@itemx -EL
1239@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1240@cindex endianness
1241@cindex disassembly endianness
1242Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1243disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1244does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1245
1246@item -f
1247@itemx --file-header
1248@cindex object file header
1249Display summary information from the overall header of
1250each of the @var{objfile} files.
1251
1252@item -h
1253@itemx --section-header
1254@itemx --header
1255@cindex section headers
1256Display summary information from the section headers of the
1257object file.
1258
1259File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1260using the @samp{-Ttext}, @samp{-Tdata}, or @samp{-Tbss} options to
1261@code{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1262store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1263although @code{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1264-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1265Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1266target.
1267
1268@item --help
1269Print a summary of the options to @code{objdump} and exit.
1270
1271@item -i
1272@itemx --info
1273@cindex architectures available
1274@cindex object formats available
1275Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1276for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
1277
1278@item -j @var{name}
1279@itemx --section=@var{name}
1280@cindex section information
1281Display information only for section @var{name}.
1282
1283@item -l
1284@itemx --line-numbers
1285@cindex source filenames for object files
1286Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1287source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1288Only useful with @samp{-d}, @samp{-D}, or @samp{-r}.
1289
1290@item -m @var{machine}
1291@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1292@cindex architecture
1293@cindex disassembly architecture
1294Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1295can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1296architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1297architectures with the @samp{-i} option.
1298
dd92f639
NC
1299@item -M @var{options}
1300@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1301Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1302some targets.
1303
1304If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1305select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1306@samp{--disassembler-options=reg-name-std} (the default) will select the
1307register names as used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with
1308register 13 called 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called
1309'pc'. Specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-apcs} will
1310select the name set used by the ARM Procedure Call Standard, whilst
1311specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-raw} will just use
1312@samp{r} followed by the register number.
1313
252b5132
RH
1314@item -p
1315@itemx --private-headers
1316Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1317information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1318object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1319
1320@item -r
1321@itemx --reloc
1322@cindex relocation entries, in object file
1323Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @samp{-d} or
1324@samp{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1325disassembly.
1326
1327@item -R
1328@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1329@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1330Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1331meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1332libraries.
1333
1334@item -s
1335@itemx --full-contents
1336@cindex sections, full contents
1337@cindex object file sections
1338Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1339
1340@item -S
1341@itemx --source
1342@cindex source disassembly
1343@cindex disassembly, with source
1344Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1345@samp{-d}.
1346
1347@item --show-raw-insn
1348When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1349in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1350@code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1351
1352@item --no-show-raw-insn
1353When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1354This is the default when @code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1355
1356@item --stabs
1357@cindex stab
1358@cindex .stab
1359@cindex debug symbols
1360@cindex ELF object file format
1361Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1362contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1363ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1364@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1365section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1366interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
1367output. For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1368Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1369
1370@item --start-address=@var{address}
1371@cindex start-address
1372Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1373of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1374
1375@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1376@cindex stop-address
1377Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1378of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1379
1380@item -t
1381@itemx --syms
1382@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1383Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1384This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1385
1386@item -T
1387@itemx --dynamic-syms
1388@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1389Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1390meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1391libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1392program when given the @samp{-D} (@samp{--dynamic}) option.
1393
1394@item --version
1395Print the version number of @code{objdump} and exit.
1396
1397@item -x
1398@itemx --all-header
1399@cindex all header information, object file
1400@cindex header information, all
1401Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1402relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1403@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1404
1405@item -w
1406@itemx --wide
1407@cindex wide output, printing
1408Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1409@end table
1410
1411@node ranlib
1412@chapter ranlib
1413
1414@kindex ranlib
1415@cindex archive contents
1416@cindex symbol index
1417
1418@smallexample
1419ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
1420@end smallexample
1421
1422@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1423stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1424member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1425
1426You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1427
1428An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1429allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1430their placement in the archive.
1431
1432The @sc{gnu} @code{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @code{ar}; running
1433@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1434@xref{ar}.
1435
1436@table @code
1437@item -v
1438@itemx -V
1439Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
1440@end table
1441
1442@node size
1443@chapter size
1444
1445@kindex size
1446@cindex section sizes
1447
1448@smallexample
1449size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
1450 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
1451 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
1452 [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
1453@end smallexample
1454
1455The @sc{gnu} @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1456size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1457argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1458object file or each module in an archive.
1459
1460@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1461If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1462
1463The command line options have the following meanings:
1464
1465@table @code
1466@item -A
1467@itemx -B
1468@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1469@cindex @code{size} display format
1470Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1471@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
1472or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
1473@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1474Berkeley's.
1475@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1476@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1477@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1478
1479Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1480@code{size}:
1481@smallexample
1482size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1483text data bss dec hex filename
1484294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1485294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1486@end smallexample
1487
1488@noindent
1489This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1490
1491@smallexample
1492size --format=SysV ranlib size
1493ranlib :
1494section size addr
1495.text 294880 8192
1496.data 81920 303104
1497.bss 11592 385024
1498Total 388392
1499
1500
1501size :
1502section size addr
1503.text 294880 8192
1504.data 81920 303104
1505.bss 11888 385024
1506Total 388688
1507@end smallexample
1508
1509@item --help
1510Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1511
1512@item -d
1513@itemx -o
1514@itemx -x
1515@itemx --radix=@var{number}
1516@cindex @code{size} number format
1517@cindex radix for section sizes
1518Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1519section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
1520(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
1521@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1522values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1523radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
1524octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
1525
1526@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1527@cindex object code format
1528Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1529@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
1530automatically recognize many formats.
1531@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1532
1533@item -V
1534@itemx --version
1535Display the version number of @code{size}.
1536@end table
1537
1538@node strings
1539@chapter strings
1540@kindex strings
1541@cindex listings strings
1542@cindex printing strings
1543@cindex strings, printing
1544
1545@smallexample
1546strings [-afov] [-@var{min-len}] [-n @var{min-len}] [-t @var{radix}] [-]
1547 [--all] [--print-file-name] [--bytes=@var{min-len}]
1548 [--radix=@var{radix}] [--target=@var{bfdname}]
1549 [--help] [--version] @var{file}@dots{}
1550@end smallexample
1551
1552For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @code{strings} prints the printable
1553character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1554given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1555character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1556and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1557the strings from the whole file.
1558
1559@code{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1560files.
1561
1562@table @code
1563@item -a
1564@itemx --all
1565@itemx -
1566Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1567scan the whole files.
1568
1569@item -f
1570@itemx --print-file-name
1571Print the name of the file before each string.
1572
1573@item --help
1574Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1575
1576@item -@var{min-len}
1577@itemx -n @var{min-len}
1578@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1579Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1580long, instead of the default 4.
1581
1582@item -o
1583Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @code{strings} have @samp{-o}
1584act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
1585ways, we simply chose one.
1586
1587@item -t @var{radix}
1588@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1589Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
1590character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
1591octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
1592
1593@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1594@cindex object code format
1595Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1596@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1597
1598@item -v
1599@itemx --version
1600Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
1601@end table
1602
1603@node strip
1604@chapter strip
1605
1606@kindex strip
1607@cindex removing symbols
1608@cindex discarding symbols
1609@cindex symbols, discarding
1610
1611@smallexample
1612strip [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1613 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1614 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1615 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
1616 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1617 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1618 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
1619 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
1620 [ -o @var{file} ] [ -p | --preserve-dates ]
1621 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
1622 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1623@end smallexample
1624
1625@sc{gnu} @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
1626@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
1627At least one object file must be given.
1628
1629@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
1630rather than writing modified copies under different names.
1631
1632@table @code
1633@item -F @var{bfdname}
1634@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1635Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1636code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
1637@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1638
1639@item --help
1640Show a summary of the options to @code{strip} and exit.
1641
1642@item -I @var{bfdname}
1643@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1644Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1645code format @var{bfdname}.
1646@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1647
1648@item -O @var{bfdname}
1649@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1650Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
1651@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1652
1653@item -R @var{sectionname}
1654@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1655Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1656option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1657inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1658
1659@item -s
1660@itemx --strip-all
1661Remove all symbols.
1662
1663@item -g
1664@itemx -S
1665@itemx --strip-debug
1666Remove debugging symbols only.
1667
1668@item --strip-unneeded
1669Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1670
1671@item -K @var{symbolname}
1672@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1673Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1674be given more than once.
1675
1676@item -N @var{symbolname}
1677@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1678Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
1679given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
1680@code{-K}.
1681
1682@item -o @var{file}
1683Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
1684existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
1685argument may be specified.
1686
1687@item -p
1688@itemx --preserve-dates
1689Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
1690
1691@item -x
1692@itemx --discard-all
1693Remove non-global symbols.
1694
1695@item -X
1696@itemx --discard-locals
1697Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
1698(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1699
1700@item -V
1701@itemx --version
1702Show the version number for @code{strip}.
1703
1704@item -v
1705@itemx --verbose
1706Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1707archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
1708@end table
1709
1710@node c++filt
1711@chapter c++filt
1712
1713@kindex c++filt
1714@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1715
1716@smallexample
1717c++filt [ -_ | --strip-underscores ]
1718 [ -j | --java ]
1719 [ -n | --no-strip-underscores ]
1720 [ -s @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
1721 [ --help ] [ --version ] [ @var{symbol}@dots{} ]
1722@end smallexample
1723
1724The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
1725that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
1726takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
1727are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
1728@dfn{mangling}). The @code{c++filt} program does the inverse mapping: it
1729decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level names into user-level names so that
1730the linker can keep these overloaded functions from clashing.
1731
1732Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
1733dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
1734label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
1735name in the output.
1736
1737You can use @code{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
1738
1739@example
1740c++filt @var{symbol}
1741@end example
1742
1743If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @code{c++filt} reads symbol
1744names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
1745standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
1746
1747@table @code
1748@item -_
1749@itemx --strip-underscores
1750On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
1751of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
1752name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
1753@code{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
1754
1755@item -j
1756@itemx --java
1757Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
1758syntax.
1759
1760@item -n
1761@itemx --no-strip-underscores
1762Do not remove the initial underscore.
1763
1764@item -s @var{format}
1765@itemx --format=@var{format}
1766@sc{gnu} @code{nm} can decode three different methods of mangling, used by
1767different C++ compilers. The argument to this option selects which
1768method it uses:
1769
1770@table @code
1771@item gnu
1772the one used by the @sc{gnu} compiler (the default method)
1773@item lucid
1774the one used by the Lucid compiler
1775@item arm
1776the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
1777@item hp
1778the one used by the HP compiler
1779@item edg
1780the one used by the EDG compiler
1781@end table
1782
1783@item --help
1784Print a summary of the options to @code{c++filt} and exit.
1785
1786@item --version
1787Print the version number of @code{c++filt} and exit.
1788@end table
1789
1790@quotation
1791@emph{Warning:} @code{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
1792user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
1793a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
1794passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
1795
1796@example
1797c++filt @var{symbol}
1798@end example
1799
1800@noindent
1801may in a future release become
1802
1803@example
1804c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
1805@end example
1806@end quotation
1807
1808@node addr2line
1809@chapter addr2line
1810
1811@kindex addr2line
1812@cindex address to file name and line number
1813
1814@smallexample
1815addr2line [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1816 [ -C | --demangle ]
1817 [ -e @var{filename} | --exe=@var{filename} ]
1818 [ -f | --functions ] [ -s | --basename ]
1819 [ -H | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1820 [ addr addr ... ]
1821@end smallexample
1822
1823@code{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
1824numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
1825information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
1826number are associated with a given address.
1827
1828The executable to use is specified with the @code{-e} option. The
1829default is @file{a.out}.
1830
1831@code{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
1832
1833In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
1834and @code{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
1835address.
1836
1837In the second, @code{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
1838standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
1839address on standard output. In this mode, @code{addr2line} may be used
1840in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
1841
1842The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
1843line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
1844@code{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
1845preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
1846containing the address.
1847
1848If the file name or function name can not be determined,
1849@code{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
1850line number can not be determined, @code{addr2line} will print 0.
1851
1852The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1853equivalent.
1854
1855@table @code
1856@item -b @var{bfdname}
1857@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1858@cindex object code format
1859Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1860@var{bfdname}.
1861
1862@item -C
1863@itemx --demangle
1864@cindex demangling in objdump
1865Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1866Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1867makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1868on demangling.
1869
1870@item -e @var{filename}
1871@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
1872Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
1873translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
1874
1875@item -f
1876@itemx --functions
1877Display function names as well as file and line number information.
1878
1879@item -s
1880@itemx --basenames
1881Display only the base of each file name.
1882@end table
1883
1884@node nlmconv
1885@chapter nlmconv
1886
1887@code{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
1888Loadable Module.
1889
1890@ignore
1891@code{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
1892files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
1893object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
1894@code{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
1895format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
1896with the above formats.}.
1897@end ignore
1898
1899@quotation
1900@emph{Warning:} @code{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
1901utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
1902@end quotation
1903
1904@smallexample
1905nlmconv [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1906 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1907 [ -T @var{headerfile} | --header-file=@var{headerfile} ]
1908 [ -d | --debug] [ -l @var{linker} | --linker=@var{linker} ]
1909 [ -h | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1910 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
1911@end smallexample
1912
1913@code{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
1914@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
1915reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
1916on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
1917@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
1918Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
1919Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
1920@code{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
1921@var{infile}; see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for
1922more information.
1923
1924@code{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
1925more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
1926file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
1927In this case, @code{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
1928
1929@table @code
1930@item -I @var{bfdname}
1931@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1932Object format of the input file. @code{nlmconv} can usually determine
1933the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
1934@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1935
1936@item -O @var{bfdname}
1937@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1938Object format of the output file. @code{nlmconv} infers the output
1939format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
1940output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
1941@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1942
1943@item -T @var{headerfile}
1944@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
1945Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
1946writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
1947@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
1948Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
1949from Novell, Inc.
1950
1951@item -d
1952@itemx --debug
1953Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @code{nlmconv}.
1954
1955@item -l @var{linker}
1956@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
1957Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
1958relative pathname.
1959
1960@item -h
1961@itemx --help
1962Prints a usage summary.
1963
1964@item -V
1965@itemx --version
1966Prints the version number for @code{nlmconv}.
1967@end table
1968
1969@node windres
1970@chapter windres
1971
1972@code{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
1973
1974@quotation
1975@emph{Warning:} @code{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
1976utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
1977@end quotation
1978
1979@smallexample
1980windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
1981@end smallexample
1982
1983@code{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
1984an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
1985
1986@table @code
1987@item rc
1988A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
1989
1990@item res
1991A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
1992
1993@item coff
1994A COFF object or executable.
1995@end table
1996
1997The exact description of these different formats is available in
1998documentation from Microsoft.
1999
2000When @code{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2001format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2002@code{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2003format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2004
2005When @code{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2006but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2007@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2008will instead include the file contents.
2009
2010If the input or output format is not specified, @code{windres} will
2011guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2012A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2013file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2014@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2015@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2016
2017If no output file is specified, @code{windres} will print the resources
2018in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2019
2020The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @code{windres}
2021to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2022your application. This will make the resources described in the
2023@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2024
2025@table @code
2026@item -i @var{filename}
2027@itemx --input @var{filename}
2028The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2029@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2030name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @code{windres} will
2031read from standard input. @code{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2032standard input.
2033
2034@item -o @var{filename}
2035@itemx --output @var{filename}
2036The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2037@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2038for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2039non-option argument, then @code{windres} will write to standard output.
2040@code{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output.
2041
2042@item -I @var{format}
2043@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2044The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2045@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @code{windres} will
2046guess, as described above.
2047
2048@item -O @var{format}
2049@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2050The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2051@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2052@code{windres} will guess, as described above.
2053
2054@item -F @var{target}
2055@itemx --target @var{target}
2056Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2057is a BFD target name; you can use the @code{--help} option to see a list
2058of supported targets. Normally @code{windres} will use the default
2059format, which is the first one listed by the @code{--help} option.
2060@ref{Target Selection}.
2061
2062@item --preprocessor @var{program}
2063When @code{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2064preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2065to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2066argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2067
2068@item --include-dir @var{directory}
2069Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2070@code{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @code{-I}
2071option. @code{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2072files named in the @code{rc} file.
2073
751d21b5 2074@item -D @var{target}
c89746f6 2075@itemx --define @var{sym[=val]}
252b5132
RH
2076Specify a @code{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2077@code{rc} file.
2078
751d21b5
DD
2079@item -v
2080Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2081didn't specify one.
2082
252b5132
RH
2083@item --language @var{val}
2084Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2085@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2086the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2087
2088@item --help
2089Prints a usage summary.
2090
2091@item --version
2092Prints the version number for @code{windres}.
2093
2094@item --yydebug
2095If @code{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2096this will turn on parser debugging.
2097@end table
2098
2099
2100@node dlltool
2101@chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2102@cindex DLL
2103@kindex dlltool
2104
2105@code{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2106dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2107
2108@quotation
2109@emph{Warning:} @code{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2110utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2111@end quotation
2112
2113@smallexample
2114dlltool [-d|--input-def @var{def-file-name}]
2115 [-b|--base-file @var{base-file-name}]
2116 [-e|--output-exp @var{exports-file-name}]
2117 [-z|--output-def @var{def-file-name}]
2118 [-l|--output-lib @var{library-file-name}]
2119 [--export-all-symbols] [--no-export-all-symbols]
2120 [--exclude-symbols @var{list}]
2121 [--no-default-excludes]
2122 [-S|--as @var{path-to-assembler}] [-f|--as-flags @var{options}]
2123 [-D|--dllname @var{name}] [-m|--machine @var{machine}]
2124 [-a|--add-indirect] [-U|--add-underscore] [-k|--kill-at]
2125 [-A|--add-stdcall-alias]
2126 [-x|--no-idata4] [-c|--no-idata5] [-i|--interwork]
2127 [-n|--nodelete] [-v|--verbose] [-h|--help] [-V|--version]
2128 [object-file @dots{}]
2129@end smallexample
2130
2131@code{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @samp{-d} and
2132@samp{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2133line. It then processes these inputs and if the @samp{-e} option has
2134been specified it creates a exports file. If the @samp{-l} option
2135has been specified it creates a library file and if the @samp{-z} option
2136has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the -e, -l
2137and -z options can be present in one invocation of dlltool.
2138
2139When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2140to have three other files. @code{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2141these files.
2142
2143The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2144exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2145is a text file and can be created by hand, or @code{dlltool} can be used
2146to create it using the @samp{-z} option. In this case @code{dlltool}
2147will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2148those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2149put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2150
2151In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2152have an @samp{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2153section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2154asm() operator:
2155
2156@smallexample
2157 asm (".section .drectve");
2158 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2159
2160 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2161@end smallexample
2162
2163The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2164is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2165handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2166binary file and it can be created by giving the @samp{-e} option to
2167@code{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2168
2169The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2170will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2171can be created by giving the @samp{-l} option to dlltool when it
2172is creating or reading in a .def file.
2173
2174@code{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2175exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2176and then assembling these. The @samp{-S} command line option can be
2177used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2178and the @samp{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2179assembler. The @samp{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2180these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @samp{-n} is
2181specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2182temporary object files it used to build the library.
2183
2184Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2185also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2186that uses that DLL:
2187
2188@smallexample
2189 gcc -c dll.c
2190 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2191 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2192 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2193@end smallexample
2194
2195The command line options have the following meanings:
2196
2197@table @code
2198
2199@item -d @var{filename}
2200@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2201@cindex input .def file
2202Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2203
2204@item -b @var{filename}
2205@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2206@cindex base files
2207Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2208contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2209exports file generated by dlltool.
2210
2211@item -e @var{filename}
2212@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2213Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2214
2215@item -z @var{filename}
2216@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2217Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2218
2219@item -l @var{filename}
2220@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2221Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2222
2223@item --export-all-symbols
2224Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2225files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2226are not exported by default; see the @code{--no-default-excludes}
2227option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2228@code{--exclude-symbols} option.
2229
2230@item --no-export-all-symbols
2231Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2232@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2233behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2234attributes in the source code.
2235
2236@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2237Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2238separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2239contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2240@code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2241
2242@item --no-default-excludes
2243When @code{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2244exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2245exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2246@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @code{--no-default-excludes} option
2247to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2248when @code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2249
2250@item -S @var{path}
2251@itemx --as @var{path}
2252Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2253to create the exports file.
2254
2255@item -f @var{switches}
2256@itemx --as-flags @var{switches}
2257Specifies any specific command line switches to be passed to the
2258assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2259the @samp{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2260and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2261occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2262pass multiple switches to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2263double quotes.
2264
2265@item -D @var{name}
2266@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2267Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2268when the @samp{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2269the filename given to the @samp{-e} option will be used as the name of
2270the DLL.
2271
2272@item -m @var{machine}
2273@itemx -machine @var{machine}
2274Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2275built. @code{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2276it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2277normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2278contents of the DLL are actually encode using THUMB instructions.
2279
2280@item -a
2281@itemx --add-indirect
2282Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2283should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2284referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2285means!
2286
2287@item -U
2288@itemx --add-underscore
2289Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2290should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2291
2292@item -k
2293@itemx --kill-at
2294Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2295should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2296called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2297function in a DLL, other than by name.
2298
2299@item -A
2300@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2301Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2302should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2303in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2304
2305@item -x
2306@itemx --no-idata4
2307Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2308files it should omit the .idata4 section. This is for compatibility
2309with certain operating systems.
2310
2311@item -c
2312@itemx --no-idata5
2313Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2314files it should omit the .idata5 section. This is for compatibility
2315with certain operating systems.
2316
2317@item -i
2318@itemx --interwork
2319Specifies that @code{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2320file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2321between ARM and THUMB code.
2322
2323@item -n
2324@itemx --nodelete
2325Makes @code{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2326create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2327also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2328file.
2329
2330@item -v
2331@itemx --verbose
2332Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2333
2334@item -h
2335@itemx --help
2336Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2337
2338@item -V
2339@itemx --version
2340Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2341
2342@end table
2343
2344@node readelf
2345@chapter readelf
2346
2347@cindex ELF file information
2348@kindex readelf
2349
2350@smallexample
2351readelf [ -a | --all ]
2352 [ -h | --file-header]
2353 [ -l | --program-headers | --segments]
2354 [ -S | --section-headers | --sections]
2355 [ -e | --headers]
2356 [ -s | --syms | --symbols]
2357 [ -r | --relocs]
2358 [ -d | --dynamic]
2359 [ -V | --version-info]
2360 [ -D | --use-dynamic]
2361 [ -x <number> | --hex-dump=<number>]
2362 [ -w[liapr] | --debug-dump[=info,=line,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]]
2363 [ --histogram]
2364 [ -v | --version]
2365 [ -H | --help]
2366 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2367@end smallexample
2368
2369@code{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2370files. The options control what particular information to display.
2371
2372@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2373moment, @code{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2374support examing 64 bit ELF files.
2375
2376The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2377equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
2378given.
2379
2380@table @code
2381@item -a
2382@itemx --all
2383Equivalent to specifiying @samp{--file-header},
2384@samp{--program-headers}, @samp{--sections}, @samp{--symbols},
2385@samp{--relocs}, @samp{--dynamic} and @samp{--version-info}.
2386
2387@item -h
2388@itemx --file-header
2389@cindex ELF file header information
2390Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
2391file.
2392
2393@item -l
2394@itemx --program-headers
2395@itemx --segments
2396@cindex ELF program header information
2397@cindex ELF segment information
2398Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
2399has any.
2400
2401@item -S
2402@itemx --sections
2403@itemx --section-headers
2404@cindex ELF section information
2405Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
2406has any.
2407
2408@item -s
2409@itemx --symbols
2410@itemx --syms
2411@cindex ELF symbol table information
2412Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
2413
2414@item -e
2415@itemx --headers
2416Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @samp{-h -l -S}.
2417
2418@item -r
2419@itemx --relocs
2420@cindex ELF reloc information
2421Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it ha one.
2422
2423@item -d
2424@itemx --dynamic
2425@cindex ELF dynamic section information
2426Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
2427
2428@item -V
2429@itemx --version-info
2430@cindex ELF version sections informations
2431Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
2432exist.
2433
2434@item -D
2435@itemx --use-dynamic
2436When displaying symbols, this option makes @code{readelf} use the
2437symblol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
2438symbols section.
2439
2440@item -x <number>
2441@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
2442Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
2443
2444@item -w[liapr]
2445@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]
2446Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
2447present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
2448then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
2449
2450@item --histogram
2451Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
2452of the symbol tables.
2453
2454@item -v
2455@itemx --version
2456Display the version number of readelf.
2457
2458@item -H
2459@itemx --help
2460Display the command line options understood by @code{readelf}.
2461
2462@end table
2463
2464
2465@node Selecting The Target System
2466@chapter Selecting the target system
2467
2468You can specify three aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
2469binary file utilities, each in several ways:
2470
2471@itemize @bullet
2472@item
2473the target
2474
2475@item
2476the architecture
2477
2478@item
2479the linker emulation (which applies to the linker only)
2480@end itemize
2481
2482In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
2483order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
2484listed later.
2485
2486The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
2487programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
2488@samp{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
2489values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
2490once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
2491with the same type as the target system).
2492
2493@menu
2494* Target Selection::
2495* Architecture Selection::
2496* Linker Emulation Selection::
2497@end menu
2498
2499@node Target Selection
2500@section Target Selection
2501
2502A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
2503supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
2504A target selection may also have variations for different operating
2505systems or architectures.
2506
2507The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
2508(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
2509
2510Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
2511@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
2512
2513You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
2514the same sort of name that is passed to configure to specify a target.
2515When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be fully
2516canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
2517running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
2518sources.
2519
2520Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
2521@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
2522
2523@subheading @code{objdump} Target
2524
2525Ways to specify:
2526
2527@enumerate
2528@item
2529command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--target}
2530
2531@item
2532environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2533
2534@item
2535deduced from the input file
2536@end enumerate
2537
2538@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target
2539
2540Ways to specify:
2541
2542@enumerate
2543@item
2544command line options: @samp{-I} or @samp{--input-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2545
2546@item
2547environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2548
2549@item
2550deduced from the input file
2551@end enumerate
2552
2553@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Output Target
2554
2555Ways to specify:
2556
2557@enumerate
2558@item
2559command line options: @samp{-O} or @samp{--output-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2560
2561@item
2562the input target (see ``@code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target'' above)
2563
2564@item
2565environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2566
2567@item
2568deduced from the input file
2569@end enumerate
2570
2571@subheading @code{nm}, @code{size}, and @code{strings} Target
2572
2573Ways to specify:
2574
2575@enumerate
2576@item
2577command line option: @samp{--target}
2578
2579@item
2580environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2581
2582@item
2583deduced from the input file
2584@end enumerate
2585
2586@subheading Linker Input Target
2587
2588Ways to specify:
2589
2590@enumerate
2591@item
2592command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--format}
2593(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2594
2595@item
2596script command @code{TARGET}
2597(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2598
2599@item
2600environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2601(@pxref{Environment,,Environment,ld.info,Using LD})
2602
2603@item
2604the default target of the selected linker emulation
2605(@pxref{Linker Emulation Selection})
2606@end enumerate
2607
2608@subheading Linker Output Target
2609
2610Ways to specify:
2611
2612@enumerate
2613@item
2614command line option: @samp{-oformat}
2615(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2616
2617@item
2618script command @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
2619(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2620
2621@item
2622the linker input target (see ``Linker Input Target'' above)
2623@end enumerate
2624
2625@node Architecture Selection
2626@section Architecture selection
2627
2628An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
2629to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
2630processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
2631
2632The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
2633second column contains the relevant information).
2634
2635Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
2636
2637@subheading @code{objdump} Architecture
2638
2639Ways to specify:
2640
2641@enumerate
2642@item
2643command line option: @samp{-m} or @samp{--architecture}
2644
2645@item
2646deduced from the input file
2647@end enumerate
2648
2649@subheading @code{objcopy}, @code{nm}, @code{size}, @code{strings} Architecture
2650
2651Ways to specify:
2652
2653@enumerate
2654@item
2655deduced from the input file
2656@end enumerate
2657
2658@subheading Linker Input Architecture
2659
2660Ways to specify:
2661
2662@enumerate
2663@item
2664deduced from the input file
2665@end enumerate
2666
2667@subheading Linker Output Architecture
2668
2669Ways to specify:
2670
2671@enumerate
2672@item
2673script command @code{OUTPUT_ARCH}
2674(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2675
2676@item
2677the default architecture from the linker output target
2678(@pxref{Target Selection})
2679@end enumerate
2680
2681@node Linker Emulation Selection
2682@section Linker emulation selection
2683
2684A linker @dfn{emulation} is a ``personality'' of the linker, which gives
2685the linker default values for the other aspects of the target system.
2686In particular, it consists of
2687
2688@itemize @bullet
2689@item
2690the linker script
2691
2692@item
2693the target
2694
2695@item
2696several ``hook'' functions that are run at certain stages of the linking
2697process to do special things that some targets require
2698@end itemize
2699
2700The command to list valid linker emulation values is @samp{ld -V}.
2701
2702Sample values: @samp{hp300bsd}, @samp{mipslit}, @samp{sun4}.
2703
2704Ways to specify:
2705
2706@enumerate
2707@item
2708command line option: @samp{-m}
2709(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2710
2711@item
2712environment variable @code{LDEMULATION}
2713
2714@item
2715compiled-in @code{DEFAULT_EMULATION} from @file{Makefile},
2716which comes from @code{EMUL} in @file{config/@var{target}.mt}
2717@end enumerate
2718
2719@node Reporting Bugs
2720@chapter Reporting Bugs
2721@cindex bugs
2722@cindex reporting bugs
2723
2724Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
2725reliable.
2726
2727Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
2728it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
2729to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
2730utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
2731maintenance.
2732
2733In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
2734information that enables us to fix the bug.
2735
2736@menu
2737* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
2738* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
2739@end menu
2740
2741@node Bug Criteria
2742@section Have you found a bug?
2743@cindex bug criteria
2744
2745If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
2746
2747@itemize @bullet
2748@cindex fatal signal
2749@cindex crash
2750@item
2751If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
2752a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
2753
2754@cindex error on valid input
2755@item
2756If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
2757bug.
2758
2759@item
2760If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
2761improvement are welcome in any case.
2762@end itemize
2763
2764@node Bug Reporting
2765@section How to report bugs
2766@cindex bug reports
2767@cindex bugs, reporting
2768
2769A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
2770products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
2771organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
2772
2773You can find contact information for many support companies and
2774individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
2775distribution.
2776
2777In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2778utilities to @samp{bug-gnu-utils@@gnu.org}.
2779
2780The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
2781@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
2782fact or leave it out, state it!
2783
2784Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
2785problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
2786assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
2787Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
2788a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
2789that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
2790different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
2791doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
2792specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
2793and the most helpful.
2794
2795Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
2796it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
2797that the bug has not been reported previously.
2798
2799Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
2800bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
2801@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
2802bugs properly.
2803
2804To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
2805
2806@itemize @bullet
2807@item
2808The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
2809with the @samp{--version} argument.
2810
2811Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
2812the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
2813
2814@item
2815Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
2816made to the @code{BFD} library.
2817
2818@item
2819The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
2820version number.
2821
2822@item
2823What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
2824``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
2825
2826@item
2827The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
2828guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
2829of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
2830
2831If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
2832and then we might not encounter the bug.
2833
2834@item
2835A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
2836bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
2837generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
2838necessary to get them through the mail system. Making them available
2839for anonymous FTP is not as good, but may be the only reasonable choice
2840for large object files.
2841
2842If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
2843(e.g., @code{gcc}, @code{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @code{ld}), then it
2844may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
2845this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @code{gcc}, or
2846whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
2847@code{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
2848
2849@item
2850A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
2851incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
2852
2853Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
2854will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
2855not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
2856a chance to make a mistake.
2857
2858Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
2859say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
2860copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
2861the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
2862crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
2863ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
2864us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
2865to draw any conclusion from our observations.
2866
2867@item
2868If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
2869generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
2870option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
2871even discuss something in the @code{ld} source, refer to it by context,
2872not by line number.
2873
2874The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
2875sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
2876@end itemize
2877
2878Here are some things that are not necessary:
2879
2880@itemize @bullet
2881@item
2882A description of the envelope of the bug.
2883
2884Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
2885which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
2886changes will not affect it.
2887
2888This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
2889will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
2890with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
2891We recommend that you save your time for something else.
2892
2893Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
2894of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
2895output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
2896less time, and so on.
2897
2898However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
2899report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
2900
2901@item
2902A patch for the bug.
2903
2904A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
2905the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
2906a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
2907to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
2908
2909Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
2910very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
2911certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
2912will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
2913the bug is fixed.
2914
2915And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
2916patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
2917help us to understand.
2918
2919@item
2920A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
2921
2922Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
2923things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
2924@end itemize
2925
2926@node Index
2927@unnumbered Index
2928
2929@printindex cp
2930
2931@contents
2932@bye
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