Allow non-fatal errors to be emitted and for disassembly notes be placed on AArch64
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
1 \input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2 @setfilename binutils.info
3 @settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
4 @finalout
5 @synindex ky cp
6
7 @c man begin INCLUDE
8 @include bfdver.texi
9 @c man end
10
11 @copying
12 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
13 Copyright @copyright{} 1991-2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
14
15 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
16 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3
17 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
18 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
19 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
20 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
21
22 @c man end
23 @end copying
24
25 @dircategory Software development
26 @direntry
27 * Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
28 @end direntry
29
30 @dircategory Individual utilities
31 @direntry
32 * addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line.
33 * ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives.
34 * c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols.
35 * cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt.
36 * dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
37 * nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files.
38 * objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files.
39 * objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files.
40 * ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents.
41 * readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
42 * size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size.
43 * strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files.
44 * strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols.
45 * elfedit: (binutils)elfedit. Update the ELF header of ELF files.
46 * windmc: (binutils)windmc. Generator for Windows message resources.
47 * windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources.
48 @end direntry
49
50 @titlepage
51 @title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
52 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
53 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
54 @end ifset
55 @subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
56 @sp 1
57 @subtitle @value{UPDATED}
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 Texinfo \texinfoversion\par }
66 @end tex
67
68 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
69 @insertcopying
70 @end titlepage
71 @contents
72
73 @node Top
74 @top Introduction
75
76 @cindex version
77 This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
78 utilities
79 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
80 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
81 @end ifset
82 version @value{VERSION}:
83
84 @iftex
85 @table @code
86 @item ar
87 Create, modify, and extract from archives
88
89 @item nm
90 List symbols from object files
91
92 @item objcopy
93 Copy and translate object files
94
95 @item objdump
96 Display information from object files
97
98 @item ranlib
99 Generate index to archive contents
100
101 @item readelf
102 Display the contents of ELF format files.
103
104 @item size
105 List file section sizes and total size
106
107 @item strings
108 List printable strings from files
109
110 @item strip
111 Discard symbols
112
113 @item elfedit
114 Update the ELF header of ELF files.
115
116 @item c++filt
117 Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
118 @code{cxxfilt})
119
120 @item addr2line
121 Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
122
123 @item windres
124 Manipulate Windows resources
125
126 @item windmc
127 Generator for Windows message resources
128
129 @item dlltool
130 Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
131 @end table
132 @end iftex
133
134 This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
135 Documentation License version 1.3. A copy of the license is included
136 in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
137
138 @menu
139 * ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
140 * nm:: List symbols from object files
141 * objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
142 * objdump:: Display information from object files
143 * ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
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 * cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
149 * addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
150 * windmc:: Generator for Windows message resources
151 * windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
152 * dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
153 * readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files
154 * elfedit:: Update the ELF header of ELF files
155 * Common Options:: Command-line options for all utilities
156 * Selecting the Target System:: How these utilities determine the target
157 * Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
158 * GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
159 * Binutils Index:: Binutils Index
160 @end menu
161
162 @node ar
163 @chapter ar
164
165 @kindex ar
166 @cindex archives
167 @cindex collections of files
168
169 @c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
170
171 @smallexample
172 ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod}] [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{--target} @var{bfdname}] [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
173 ar -M [ <mri-script ]
174 @end smallexample
175
176 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
177
178 The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
179 archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
180 other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
181 the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
182
183 The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
184 group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
185 extraction.
186
187 @cindex name length
188 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
189 length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
190 system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
191 with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
192 limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
193 characters (typical of formats related to coff).
194
195 @cindex libraries
196 @command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
197 are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
198 subroutines.
199
200 @cindex symbol index
201 @command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
202 object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
203 Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
204 makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
205 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
206 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
207 their placement in the archive.
208
209 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
210 table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
211 @command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
212
213 @cindex thin archives
214 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} can optionally create a @emph{thin} archive,
215 which contains a symbol index and references to the original copies
216 of the member files of the archive. This is useful for building
217 libraries for use within a local build tree, where the relocatable
218 objects are expected to remain available, and copying the contents of
219 each object would only waste time and space.
220
221 An archive can either be @emph{thin} or it can be normal. It cannot
222 be both at the same time. Once an archive is created its format
223 cannot be changed without first deleting it and then creating a new
224 archive in its place.
225
226 Thin archives are also @emph{flattened}, so that adding one thin
227 archive to another thin archive does not nest it, as would happen with
228 a normal archive. Instead the elements of the first archive are added
229 individually to the second archive.
230
231 The paths to the elements of the archive are stored relative to the
232 archive itself.
233
234 @cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
235 @cindex @command{ar} compatibility
236 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
237 facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
238 like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
239 specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
240 with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
241 program.
242
243 @c man end
244
245 @menu
246 * ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
247 * ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
248 @end menu
249
250 @page
251 @node ar cmdline
252 @section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
253
254 @smallexample
255 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
256 ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod}] [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{--target} @var{bfdname}] [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
257 @c man end
258 @end smallexample
259
260 @cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
261 When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
262 arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
263 (optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
264 @emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
265
266 Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
267 specifying particular files to operate on.
268
269 @c man begin OPTIONS ar
270
271 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
272 flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
273
274 If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
275 dash.
276
277 @cindex operations on archive
278 The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
279 any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
280
281 @table @samp
282 @item d
283 @cindex deleting from archive
284 @emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
285 be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
286 specify no files to delete.
287
288 If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
289 as it is deleted.
290
291 @item m
292 @cindex moving in archive
293 Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
294
295 The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
296 programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
297 than one member.
298
299 If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
300 @var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
301 you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
302 specified place instead.
303
304 @item p
305 @cindex printing from archive
306 @emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
307 output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
308 name before copying its contents to standard output.
309
310 If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
311 printed.
312
313 @item q
314 @cindex quick append to archive
315 @emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
316 @var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
317
318 The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
319 operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
320
321 The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
322
323 Since the point of this operation is speed, implementations of
324 @command{ar} have the option of not updating the archive's symbol
325 table if one exists. Too many different systems however assume that
326 symbol tables are always up-to-date, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will
327 rebuild the table even with a quick append.
328
329 Note - @sc{gnu} @command{ar} treats the command @samp{qs} as a
330 synonym for @samp{r} - replacing already existing files in the
331 archive and appending new ones at the end.
332
333 @item r
334 @cindex replacement in archive
335 Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
336 @emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
337 previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
338 added.
339
340 If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
341 displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
342 of the archive matching that name.
343
344 By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
345 use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
346 placement relative to some existing member.
347
348 The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
349 output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
350 @samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
351 deleted) or replaced.
352
353 @item s
354 @cindex ranlib
355 Add an index to the archive, or update it if it already exists. Note
356 this command is an exception to the rule that there can only be one
357 command letter, as it is possible to use it as either a command or a
358 modifier. In either case it does the same thing.
359
360 @item t
361 @cindex contents of archive
362 Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
363 of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
364 archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
365 see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
366 request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
367
368 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
369 are listed.
370
371 @cindex repeated names in archive
372 @cindex name duplication in archive
373 If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
374 an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
375 first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
376 listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
377 @c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
378 @c recent case in fact works the other way.
379
380 @item x
381 @cindex extract from archive
382 @emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
383 use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
384 @command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
385
386 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
387 are extracted.
388
389 Files cannot be extracted from a thin archive.
390 @end table
391
392 A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
393 keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
394
395 @table @samp
396 @item a
397 @cindex relative placement in archive
398 Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
399 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
400 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
401 @var{archive} specification.
402
403 @item b
404 Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
405 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
406 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
407 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
408
409 @item c
410 @cindex creating archives
411 @emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
412 created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
413 issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
414 using this modifier.
415
416 @item D
417 @cindex deterministic archives
418 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
419 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When adding files and the archive
420 index use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps, and use consistent file modes
421 for all files. When this option is used, if @command{ar} is used with
422 identical options and identical input files, multiple runs will create
423 identical output files regardless of the input files' owners, groups,
424 file modes, or modification times.
425
426 If @file{binutils} was configured with
427 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
428 It can be disabled with the @samp{U} modifier, below.
429
430 @item f
431 Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
432 names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
433 not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
434 this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
435 names when putting them in the archive.
436
437 @item i
438 Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
439 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
440 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
441 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
442
443 @item l
444 This modifier is accepted but not used.
445 @c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
446 @c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
447
448 @item N
449 Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
450 entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
451 @var{count} of the given name from the archive.
452
453 @item o
454 @cindex dates in archive
455 Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
456 you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
457 are stamped with the time of extraction.
458
459 @item P
460 Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
461 @command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
462 are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
463 will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
464 name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
465 archive created by another tool.
466
467 @item s
468 @cindex writing archive index
469 Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
470 even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
471 flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
472 archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
473
474 @item S
475 @cindex not writing archive index
476 Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
477 large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
478 with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
479 @samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
480 @samp{ranlib} on the archive.
481
482 @item T
483 @cindex creating thin archive
484 Make the specified @var{archive} a @emph{thin} archive. If it already
485 exists and is a regular archive, the existing members must be present
486 in the same directory as @var{archive}.
487
488 @item u
489 @cindex updating an archive
490 Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
491 listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
492 of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
493 names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
494 operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
495 not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
496 advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
497
498 @item U
499 @cindex deterministic archives
500 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
501 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the inverse
502 of the @samp{D} modifier, above: added files and the archive index will
503 get their actual UID, GID, timestamp, and file mode values.
504
505 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
506 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
507
508 @item v
509 This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
510 operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
511 when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
512
513 @item V
514 This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
515 @end table
516
517 The @command{ar} program also supports some command line options which
518 are neither modifiers nor actions, but which do change its behaviour
519 in specific ways:
520
521 @table @samp
522 @item --help
523 Displays the list of command line options supported by @command{ar}
524 and then exits.
525
526 @item --version
527 Displays the version information of @command{ar} and then exits.
528
529 @item -X32_64
530 @command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
531 compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
532 default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any
533 of the other @samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support
534 @option{-X32} which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
535
536 @item --plugin @var{name}
537 @cindex plugins
538 The optional command line switch @option{--plugin @var{name}} causes
539 @command{ar} to load the plugin called @var{name} which adds support
540 for more file formats, including object files with link-time
541 optimization information.
542
543 This option is only available if the toolchain has been built with
544 plugin support enabled.
545
546 If @option{--plugin} is not provided, but plugin support has been
547 enabled then @command{ar} iterates over the files in
548 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} in alphabetic order and the first
549 plugin that claims the object in question is used.
550
551 Please note that this plugin search directory is @emph{not} the one
552 used by @command{ld}'s @option{-plugin} option. In order to make
553 @command{ar} use the linker plugin it must be copied into the
554 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} directory. For GCC based compilations
555 the linker plugin is called @file{liblto_plugin.so.0.0.0}. For Clang
556 based compilations it is called @file{LLVMgold.so}. The GCC plugin
557 is always backwards compatible with earlier versions, so it is
558 sufficient to just copy the newest one.
559
560 @item --target @var{target}
561 The optional command line switch @option{--target @var{bfdname}}
562 specifies that the archive members are in an object code format
563 different from your system's default format. See
564 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
565 @end table
566 @c man end
567
568 @ignore
569 @c man begin SEEALSO ar
570 nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
571 @c man end
572 @end ignore
573
574 @node ar scripts
575 @section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
576
577 @smallexample
578 ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
579 @end smallexample
580
581 @cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
582 @cindex scripts, @command{ar}
583 If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
584 can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
585 form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
586 directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
587 input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
588 errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
589 issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
590 on any error.
591
592 The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
593 to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
594 over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
595 transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
596 written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
597
598 The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
599 @itemize @bullet
600 @item
601 commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
602 is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
603 shown in upper case for clarity.
604
605 @item
606 a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
607 line.
608
609 @item
610 empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
611
612 @item
613 comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
614 or @samp{;} is ignored.
615
616 @item
617 Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
618 command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
619 blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
620
621 @item
622 @samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
623 at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
624 of the current command.
625 @end itemize
626
627 Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
628 @command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
629
630 @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
631 a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
632
633 @code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
634 to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
635 archive.
636
637 @table @code
638 @item ADDLIB @var{archive}
639 @itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
640 Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
641 @var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
642
643 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
644
645 @item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
646 @c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
647 @c else like "ar q..."
648 Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
649
650 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
651
652 @item CLEAR
653 Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
654 any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
655 effect) even if no current archive is specified.
656
657 @item CREATE @var{archive}
658 Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
659 other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
660 is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
661 You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
662 existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
663
664 @item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
665 Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
666 @samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
667
668 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
669
670 @item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
671 @itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
672 List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
673 command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
674 output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
675 @var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
676 @samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
677
678 Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
679 specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
680 output to that file.
681
682 @item END
683 Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
684 completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
685 changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
686 changes are lost.
687
688 @item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
689 Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
690 into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
691 @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
692
693 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
694
695 @ignore
696 @c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
697 @item FULLDIR
698
699 @item HELP
700 @end ignore
701
702 @item LIST
703 Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
704 regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
705 tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
706 enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
707
708 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
709
710 @item OPEN @var{archive}
711 Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
712 many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
713 will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
714
715 @item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
716 In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
717 the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
718 To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
719 the current archive, must exist.
720
721 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
722
723 @item VERBOSE
724 Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
725 When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
726 @samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
727
728 @item SAVE
729 Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
730 file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
731 command.
732
733 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
734
735 @end table
736
737 @iftex
738 @node ld
739 @chapter ld
740 @cindex linker
741 @kindex ld
742 The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
743 @xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
744 @end iftex
745
746 @node nm
747 @chapter nm
748 @cindex symbols
749 @kindex nm
750
751 @c man title nm list symbols from object files
752
753 @smallexample
754 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
755 nm [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}] [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}]
756 [@option{-B}|@option{--format=bsd}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
757 [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}] [@option{-f}@var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
758 [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}] [@option{-h}|@option{--help}]
759 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}] [@option{--inlines}]
760 [@option{-n}|@option{-v}|@option{--numeric-sort}]
761 [@option{-P}|@option{--portability}] [@option{-p}|@option{--no-sort}]
762 [@option{-r}|@option{--reverse-sort}] [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}]
763 [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}] [@option{-t} @var{radix}|@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
764 [@option{-u}|@option{--undefined-only}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
765 [@option{-X 32_64}] [@option{--defined-only}] [@option{--no-demangle}]
766 [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{--size-sort}] [@option{--special-syms}]
767 [@option{--synthetic}] [@option{--with-symbol-versions}] [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
768 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
769 @c man end
770 @end smallexample
771
772 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
773 @sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
774 If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
775 @file{a.out}.
776
777 For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
778
779 @itemize @bullet
780 @item
781 The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
782 hexadecimal by default.
783
784 @item
785 The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
786 well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
787 usually local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external). There
788 are however a few lowercase symbols that are shown for special global
789 symbols (@code{u}, @code{v} and @code{w}).
790
791 @c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
792 @c would be nice.
793 @table @code
794 @item A
795 The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
796 linking.
797
798 @item B
799 @itemx b
800 The symbol is in the BSS data section. This section typically
801 contains zero-initialized or uninitialized data, although the exact
802 behavior is system dependent.
803
804 @item C
805 The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
806 linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
807 symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
808 references.
809 @ifclear man
810 For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
811 --warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
812 @end ifclear
813
814 @item D
815 @itemx d
816 The symbol is in the initialized data section.
817
818 @item G
819 @itemx g
820 The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
821 object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
822 such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
823
824 @item i
825 For PE format files this indicates that the symbol is in a section
826 specific to the implementation of DLLs. For ELF format files this
827 indicates that the symbol is an indirect function. This is a GNU
828 extension to the standard set of ELF symbol types. It indicates a
829 symbol which if referenced by a relocation does not evaluate to its
830 address, but instead must be invoked at runtime. The runtime
831 execution will then return the value to be used in the relocation.
832
833 @item I
834 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol.
835
836 @item N
837 The symbol is a debugging symbol.
838
839 @item p
840 The symbols is in a stack unwind section.
841
842 @item R
843 @itemx r
844 The symbol is in a read only data section.
845
846 @item S
847 @itemx s
848 The symbol is in an uninitialized or zero-initialized data section
849 for small objects.
850
851 @item T
852 @itemx t
853 The symbol is in the text (code) section.
854
855 @item U
856 The symbol is undefined.
857
858 @item u
859 The symbol is a unique global symbol. This is a GNU extension to the
860 standard set of ELF symbol bindings. For such a symbol the dynamic linker
861 will make sure that in the entire process there is just one symbol with
862 this name and type in use.
863
864 @item V
865 @itemx v
866 The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
867 a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
868 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
869 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error. On some
870 systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been specified.
871
872 @item W
873 @itemx w
874 The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
875 weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
876 defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
877 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
878 the value of the symbol is determined in a system-specific manner without
879 error. On some systems, uppercase indicates that a default value has been
880 specified.
881
882 @item -
883 The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
884 next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
885 the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
886
887 @item ?
888 The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
889 @end table
890
891 @item
892 The symbol name.
893 @end itemize
894
895 @c man end
896
897 @c man begin OPTIONS nm
898 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
899 equivalent.
900
901 @table @env
902 @item -A
903 @itemx -o
904 @itemx --print-file-name
905 @cindex input file name
906 @cindex file name
907 @cindex source file name
908 Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
909 in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
910 before all of its symbols.
911
912 @item -a
913 @itemx --debug-syms
914 @cindex debugging symbols
915 Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
916 listed.
917
918 @item -B
919 @cindex @command{nm} format
920 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
921 The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
922
923 @item -C
924 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
925 @cindex demangling in nm
926 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
927 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
928 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
929 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
930 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
931 for more information on demangling.
932
933 @item --no-demangle
934 Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
935
936 @item -D
937 @itemx --dynamic
938 @cindex dynamic symbols
939 Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
940 only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
941 libraries.
942
943 @item -f @var{format}
944 @itemx --format=@var{format}
945 @cindex @command{nm} format
946 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
947 Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
948 @code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
949 Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
950 either upper or lower case.
951
952 @item -g
953 @itemx --extern-only
954 @cindex external symbols
955 Display only external symbols.
956
957 @item -h
958 @itemx --help
959 Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
960
961 @item -l
962 @itemx --line-numbers
963 @cindex symbol line numbers
964 For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
965 line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
966 address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
967 number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
968 information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
969
970 @item --inlines
971 @cindex objdump inlines
972 When option @option{-l} is active, if the address belongs to a
973 function that was inlined, then this option causes the source
974 information for all enclosing scopes back to the first non-inlined
975 function to be printed as well. For example, if @code{main} inlines
976 @code{callee1} which inlines @code{callee2}, and address is from
977 @code{callee2}, the source information for @code{callee1} and @code{main}
978 will also be printed.
979
980 @item -n
981 @itemx -v
982 @itemx --numeric-sort
983 Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
984 by their names.
985
986 @item -p
987 @itemx --no-sort
988 @cindex sorting symbols
989 Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
990 encountered.
991
992 @item -P
993 @itemx --portability
994 Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
995 Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
996
997 @item -r
998 @itemx --reverse-sort
999 Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
1000 last come first.
1001
1002 @item -S
1003 @itemx --print-size
1004 Print both value and size of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output style.
1005 This option has no effect for object formats that do not record symbol
1006 sizes, unless @samp{--size-sort} is also used in which case a
1007 calculated size is displayed.
1008
1009 @item -s
1010 @itemx --print-armap
1011 @cindex symbol index, listing
1012 When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
1013 (stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
1014 contain definitions for which names.
1015
1016 @item -t @var{radix}
1017 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1018 Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
1019 @samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
1020
1021 @item -u
1022 @itemx --undefined-only
1023 @cindex external symbols
1024 @cindex undefined symbols
1025 Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
1026
1027 @item -V
1028 @itemx --version
1029 Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
1030
1031 @item -X
1032 This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
1033 @command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
1034 @option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
1035 to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
1036
1037 @item --defined-only
1038 @cindex external symbols
1039 @cindex undefined symbols
1040 Display only defined symbols for each object file.
1041
1042 @item --plugin @var{name}
1043 @cindex plugins
1044 Load the plugin called @var{name} to add support for extra target
1045 types. This option is only available if the toolchain has been built
1046 with plugin support enabled.
1047
1048 If @option{--plugin} is not provided, but plugin support has been
1049 enabled then @command{nm} iterates over the files in
1050 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} in alphabetic order and the first
1051 plugin that claims the object in question is used.
1052
1053 Please note that this plugin search directory is @emph{not} the one
1054 used by @command{ld}'s @option{-plugin} option. In order to make
1055 @command{nm} use the linker plugin it must be copied into the
1056 @file{$@{libdir@}/bfd-plugins} directory. For GCC based compilations
1057 the linker plugin is called @file{liblto_plugin.so.0.0.0}. For Clang
1058 based compilations it is called @file{LLVMgold.so}. The GCC plugin
1059 is always backwards compatible with earlier versions, so it is
1060 sufficient to just copy the newest one.
1061
1062 @item --size-sort
1063 Sort symbols by size. For ELF objects symbol sizes are read from the
1064 ELF, for other object types the symbol sizes are computed as the
1065 difference between the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol
1066 with the next higher value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used
1067 the size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value, and
1068 @samp{-S} must be used in order both size and value to be printed.
1069
1070 @item --special-syms
1071 Display symbols which have a target-specific special meaning. These
1072 symbols are usually used by the target for some special processing and
1073 are not normally helpful when included in the normal symbol lists.
1074 For example for ARM targets this option would skip the mapping symbols
1075 used to mark transitions between ARM code, THUMB code and data.
1076
1077 @item --synthetic
1078 Include synthetic symbols in the output. These are special symbols
1079 created by the linker for various purposes. They are not shown by
1080 default since they are not part of the binary's original source code.
1081
1082 @item --with-symbol-versions
1083 Enables the display of symbol version information if any exists. The
1084 version string is displayed as a suffix to the symbol name, preceeded by
1085 an @@ character. For example @samp{foo@@VER_1}. If the version is
1086 the default version to be used when resolving unversioned references
1087 to the symbol then it is displayed as a suffix preceeded by two @@
1088 characters. For example @samp{foo@@@@VER_2}.
1089
1090 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
1091 @cindex object code format
1092 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1093 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1094
1095 @end table
1096
1097 @c man end
1098
1099 @ignore
1100 @c man begin SEEALSO nm
1101 ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1102 @c man end
1103 @end ignore
1104
1105 @node objcopy
1106 @chapter objcopy
1107
1108 @c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
1109
1110 @smallexample
1111 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
1112 objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
1113 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
1114 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
1115 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
1116 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
1117 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
1118 [@option{--strip-unneeded}]
1119 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1120 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1121 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1122 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1123 [@option{--localize-hidden}]
1124 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1125 [@option{--globalize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1126 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
1127 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
1128 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
1129 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
1130 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
1131 [@option{-i} [@var{breadth}]|@option{--interleave}[=@var{breadth}]]
1132 [@option{--interleave-width=}@var{width}]
1133 [@option{-j} @var{sectionpattern}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1134 [@option{-R} @var{sectionpattern}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1135 [@option{--remove-relocations=}@var{sectionpattern}]
1136 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
1137 [@option{-D}|@option{--enable-deterministic-archives}]
1138 [@option{-U}|@option{--disable-deterministic-archives}]
1139 [@option{--debugging}]
1140 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
1141 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
1142 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
1143 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
1144 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
1145 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1146 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1147 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
1148 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
1149 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{sectionpattern}=@var{flags}]
1150 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1151 [@option{--dump-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1152 [@option{--update-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
1153 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
1154 [@option{--long-section-names} @{enable,disable,keep@}]
1155 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
1156 [@option{--reverse-bytes=}@var{num}]
1157 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
1158 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
1159 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
1160 [@option{--weaken}]
1161 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1162 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1163 [@option{--strip-unneeded-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1164 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1165 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1166 [@option{--globalize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1167 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
1168 [@option{--add-symbol} @var{name}=[@var{section}:]@var{value}[,@var{flags}]]
1169 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
1170 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
1171 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
1172 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
1173 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
1174 [@option{--keep-file-symbols}]
1175 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
1176 [@option{--strip-dwo}]
1177 [@option{--extract-dwo}]
1178 [@option{--extract-symbol}]
1179 [@option{--writable-text}]
1180 [@option{--readonly-text}]
1181 [@option{--pure}]
1182 [@option{--impure}]
1183 [@option{--file-alignment=}@var{num}]
1184 [@option{--heap=}@var{size}]
1185 [@option{--image-base=}@var{address}]
1186 [@option{--section-alignment=}@var{num}]
1187 [@option{--stack=}@var{size}]
1188 [@option{--subsystem=}@var{which}:@var{major}.@var{minor}]
1189 [@option{--compress-debug-sections}]
1190 [@option{--decompress-debug-sections}]
1191 [@option{--elf-stt-common=@var{val}}]
1192 [@option{--merge-notes}]
1193 [@option{--no-merge-notes}]
1194 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
1195 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1196 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
1197 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
1198 @c man end
1199 @end smallexample
1200
1201 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
1202 The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
1203 file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
1204 read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
1205 file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
1206 exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
1207 Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
1208 between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
1209 between any two formats may not work as expected.
1210
1211 @command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
1212 deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
1213 translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
1214 and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1215 explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1216
1217 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
1218 target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1219
1220 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1221 output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1222 @command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1223 a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1224 relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1225 the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1226
1227 When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1228 use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1229 some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1230 information that is not needed by the binary file.
1231
1232 Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1233 files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1234 @command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1235 same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1236 (However, see the @option{--reverse-bytes} option.)
1237
1238 @c man end
1239
1240 @c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1241
1242 @table @env
1243 @item @var{infile}
1244 @itemx @var{outfile}
1245 The input and output files, respectively.
1246 If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1247 temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1248 the name of @var{infile}.
1249
1250 @item -I @var{bfdname}
1251 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1252 Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1253 attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1254
1255 @item -O @var{bfdname}
1256 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1257 Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1258 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1259
1260 @item -F @var{bfdname}
1261 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1262 Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1263 file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1264 translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1265
1266 @item -B @var{bfdarch}
1267 @itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1268 Useful when transforming a architecture-less input file into an object file.
1269 In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1270 option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1271 can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1272 symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1273 called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1274 _binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1275 an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1276
1277 @item -j @var{sectionpattern}
1278 @itemx --only-section=@var{sectionpattern}
1279 Copy only the indicated sections from the input file to the output file.
1280 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1281 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. Wildcard
1282 characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
1283
1284 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1285 point (!) then matching sections will not be copied, even if earlier
1286 use of @option{--only-section} on the same command line would
1287 otherwise copy it. For example:
1288
1289 @smallexample
1290 --only-section=.text.* --only-section=!.text.foo
1291 @end smallexample
1292
1293 will copy all sectinos maching '.text.*' but not the section
1294 '.text.foo'.
1295
1296 @item -R @var{sectionpattern}
1297 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionpattern}
1298 Remove any section matching @var{sectionpattern} from the output file.
1299 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1300 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. Wildcard
1301 characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}. Using both the
1302 @option{-j} and @option{-R} options together results in undefined
1303 behaviour.
1304
1305 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1306 point (!) then matching sections will not be removed even if an
1307 earlier use of @option{--remove-section} on the same command line
1308 would otherwise remove it. For example:
1309
1310 @smallexample
1311 --remove-section=.text.* --remove-section=!.text.foo
1312 @end smallexample
1313
1314 will remove all sections matching the pattern '.text.*', but will not
1315 remove the section '.text.foo'.
1316
1317 @item --remove-relocations=@var{sectionpattern}
1318 Remove relocations from the output file for any section matching
1319 @var{sectionpattern}. This option may be given more than once. Note
1320 that using this option inappropriately may make the output file
1321 unusable. Wildcard characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
1322 For example:
1323
1324 @smallexample
1325 --remove-relocations=.text.*
1326 @end smallexample
1327
1328 will remove the relocations for all sections matching the patter
1329 '.text.*'.
1330
1331 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
1332 point (!) then matching sections will not have their relocation
1333 removed even if an earlier use of @option{--remove-relocations} on the
1334 same command line would otherwise cause the relocations to be removed.
1335 For example:
1336
1337 @smallexample
1338 --remove-relocations=.text.* --remove-relocations=!.text.foo
1339 @end smallexample
1340
1341 will remove all relocations for sections matching the pattern
1342 '.text.*', but will not remove relocations for the section
1343 '.text.foo'.
1344
1345 @item -S
1346 @itemx --strip-all
1347 Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1348
1349 @item -g
1350 @itemx --strip-debug
1351 Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
1352
1353 @item --strip-unneeded
1354 Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1355
1356 @item -K @var{symbolname}
1357 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1358 When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
1359 normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
1360
1361 @item -N @var{symbolname}
1362 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1363 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1364 may be given more than once.
1365
1366 @item --strip-unneeded-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1367 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file unless it is needed
1368 by a relocation. This option may be given more than once.
1369
1370 @item -G @var{symbolname}
1371 @itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1372 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1373 to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1374 be given more than once.
1375
1376 @item --localize-hidden
1377 In an ELF object, mark all symbols that have hidden or internal visibility
1378 as local. This option applies on top of symbol-specific localization options
1379 such as @option{-L}.
1380
1381 @item -L @var{symbolname}
1382 @itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1383 Convert a global or weak symbol called @var{symbolname} into a local
1384 symbol, so that it is not visible externally. This option may be
1385 given more than once. Note - unique symbols are not converted.
1386
1387 @item -W @var{symbolname}
1388 @itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1389 Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1390
1391 @item --globalize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1392 Give symbol @var{symbolname} global scoping so that it is visible
1393 outside of the file in which it is defined. This option may be given
1394 more than once.
1395
1396 @item -w
1397 @itemx --wildcard
1398 Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1399 line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1400 square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1401 name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1402 point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1403 For example:
1404
1405 @smallexample
1406 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1407 @end smallexample
1408
1409 would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1410 except for the symbol ``foo''.
1411
1412 @item -x
1413 @itemx --discard-all
1414 Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1415 @c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1416
1417 @item -X
1418 @itemx --discard-locals
1419 Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1420 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1421
1422 @item -b @var{byte}
1423 @itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1424 If interleaving has been enabled via the @option{--interleave} option
1425 then start the range of bytes to keep at the @var{byte}th byte.
1426 @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{breadth}-1, where
1427 @var{breadth} is the value given by the @option{--interleave} option.
1428
1429 @item -i [@var{breadth}]
1430 @itemx --interleave[=@var{breadth}]
1431 Only copy a range out of every @var{breadth} bytes. (Header data is
1432 not affected). Select which byte in the range begins the copy with
1433 the @option{--byte} option. Select the width of the range with the
1434 @option{--interleave-width} option.
1435
1436 This option is useful for creating files to program @sc{rom}. It is
1437 typically used with an @code{srec} output target. Note that
1438 @command{objcopy} will complain if you do not specify the
1439 @option{--byte} option as well.
1440
1441 The default interleave breadth is 4, so with @option{--byte} set to 0,
1442 @command{objcopy} would copy the first byte out of every four bytes
1443 from the input to the output.
1444
1445 @item --interleave-width=@var{width}
1446 When used with the @option{--interleave} option, copy @var{width}
1447 bytes at a time. The start of the range of bytes to be copied is set
1448 by the @option{--byte} option, and the extent of the range is set with
1449 the @option{--interleave} option.
1450
1451 The default value for this option is 1. The value of @var{width} plus
1452 the @var{byte} value set by the @option{--byte} option must not exceed
1453 the interleave breadth set by the @option{--interleave} option.
1454
1455 This option can be used to create images for two 16-bit flashes interleaved
1456 in a 32-bit bus by passing @option{-b 0 -i 4 --interleave-width=2}
1457 and @option{-b 2 -i 4 --interleave-width=2} to two @command{objcopy}
1458 commands. If the input was '12345678' then the outputs would be
1459 '1256' and '3478' respectively.
1460
1461 @item -p
1462 @itemx --preserve-dates
1463 Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1464 as those of the input file.
1465
1466 @item -D
1467 @itemx --enable-deterministic-archives
1468 @cindex deterministic archives
1469 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
1470 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When copying archive members
1471 and writing the archive index, use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps,
1472 and use consistent file modes for all files.
1473
1474 If @file{binutils} was configured with
1475 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
1476 It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, below.
1477
1478 @item -U
1479 @itemx --disable-deterministic-archives
1480 @cindex deterministic archives
1481 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
1482 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
1483 inverse of the @option{-D} option, above: when copying archive members
1484 and writing the archive index, use their actual UID, GID, timestamp,
1485 and file mode values.
1486
1487 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
1488 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
1489
1490 @item --debugging
1491 Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1492 because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1493 conversion process can be time consuming.
1494
1495 @item --gap-fill @var{val}
1496 Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1497 the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1498 the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1499 space created with @var{val}.
1500
1501 @item --pad-to @var{address}
1502 Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1503 done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1504 filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1505
1506 @item --set-start @var{val}
1507 Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1508 formats support setting the start address.
1509
1510 @item --change-start @var{incr}
1511 @itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1512 @cindex changing start address
1513 Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1514 formats support setting the start address.
1515
1516 @item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1517 @itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1518 @cindex changing object addresses
1519 Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1520 address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1521 section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1522 relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1523 certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1524 that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1525
1526 @item --change-section-address @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1527 @itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1528 @cindex changing section address
1529 Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of any section
1530 matching @var{sectionpattern}. If @samp{=} is used, the section
1531 address is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or
1532 subtracted from the section address. See the comments under
1533 @option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{sectionpattern} does not
1534 match any sections in the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1535 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1536
1537 @item --change-section-lma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1538 @cindex changing section LMA
1539 Set or change the LMA address of any sections matching
1540 @var{sectionpattern}. The LMA address is the address where the
1541 section will be loaded into memory at program load time. Normally
1542 this is the same as the VMA address, which is the address of the
1543 section at program run time, but on some systems, especially those
1544 where a program is held in ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=}
1545 is used, the section address is set to @var{val}. Otherwise,
1546 @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the section address. See the
1547 comments under @option{--change-addresses}, above. If
1548 @var{sectionpattern} does not match any sections in the input file, a
1549 warning will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1550
1551 @item --change-section-vma @var{sectionpattern}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1552 @cindex changing section VMA
1553 Set or change the VMA address of any section matching
1554 @var{sectionpattern}. The VMA address is the address where the
1555 section will be located once the program has started executing.
1556 Normally this is the same as the LMA address, which is the address
1557 where the section will be loaded into memory, but on some systems,
1558 especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1559 different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1560 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1561 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1562 above. If @var{sectionpattern} does not match any sections in the
1563 input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1564 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1565
1566 @item --change-warnings
1567 @itemx --adjust-warnings
1568 If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1569 @option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the section pattern does not
1570 match any sections, issue a warning. This is the default.
1571
1572 @item --no-change-warnings
1573 @itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1574 Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1575 @option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1576 if the section pattern does not match any sections.
1577
1578 @item --set-section-flags @var{sectionpattern}=@var{flags}
1579 Set the flags for any sections matching @var{sectionpattern}. The
1580 @var{flags} argument is a comma separated string of flag names. The
1581 recognized names are @samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load},
1582 @samp{noload}, @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom},
1583 @samp{share}, and @samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag
1584 for a section which does not have contents, but it is not meaningful
1585 to clear the @samp{contents} flag of a section which does have
1586 contents--just remove the section instead. Not all flags are
1587 meaningful for all object file formats.
1588
1589 @item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1590 Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1591 contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1592 size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1593 works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1594 Note - it may be necessary to use the @option{--set-section-flags}
1595 option to set the attributes of the newly created section.
1596
1597 @item --dump-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1598 Place the contents of section named @var{sectionname} into the file
1599 @var{filename}, overwriting any contents that may have been there
1600 previously. This option is the inverse of @option{--add-section}.
1601 This option is similar to the @option{--only-section} option except
1602 that it does not create a formatted file, it just dumps the contents
1603 as raw binary data, without applying any relocations. The option can
1604 be specified more than once.
1605
1606 @item --update-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1607 Replace the existing contents of a section named @var{sectionname}
1608 with the contents of file @var{filename}. The size of the section
1609 will be adjusted to the size of the file. The section flags for
1610 @var{sectionname} will be unchanged. For ELF format files the section
1611 to segment mapping will also remain unchanged, something which is not
1612 possible using @option{--remove-section} followed by
1613 @option{--add-section}. The option can be specified more than once.
1614
1615 Note - it is possible to use @option{--rename-section} and
1616 @option{--update-section} to both update and rename a section from one
1617 command line. In this case, pass the original section name to
1618 @option{--update-section}, and the original and new section names to
1619 @option{--rename-section}.
1620
1621 @item --add-symbol @var{name}=[@var{section}:]@var{value}[,@var{flags}]
1622 Add a new symbol named @var{name} while copying the file. This option may be
1623 specified multiple times. If the @var{section} is given, the symbol will be
1624 associated with and relative to that section, otherwise it will be an ABS
1625 symbol. Specifying an undefined section will result in a fatal error. There
1626 is no check for the value, it will be taken as specified. Symbol flags can
1627 be specified and not all flags will be meaningful for all object file
1628 formats. By default, the symbol will be global. The special flag
1629 'before=@var{othersym}' will insert the new symbol in front of the specified
1630 @var{othersym}, otherwise the symbol(s) will be added at the end of the
1631 symbol table in the order they appear.
1632
1633 @item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1634 Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1635 changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1636 the advantage over using a linker script to perform the rename in that
1637 the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1638 executable.
1639
1640 This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1641 since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1642 you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1643 data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1644
1645 @smallexample
1646 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1647 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1648 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1649 @end smallexample
1650
1651 @item --long-section-names @{enable,disable,keep@}
1652 Controls the handling of long section names when processing @code{COFF}
1653 and @code{PE-COFF} object formats. The default behaviour, @samp{keep},
1654 is to preserve long section names if any are present in the input file.
1655 The @samp{enable} and @samp{disable} options forcibly enable or disable
1656 the use of long section names in the output object; when @samp{disable}
1657 is in effect, any long section names in the input object will be truncated.
1658 The @samp{enable} option will only emit long section names if any are
1659 present in the inputs; this is mostly the same as @samp{keep}, but it
1660 is left undefined whether the @samp{enable} option might force the
1661 creation of an empty string table in the output file.
1662
1663 @item --change-leading-char
1664 Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1665 symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1666 often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1667 change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1668 object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1669 character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1670 character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1671 appropriate.
1672
1673 @item --remove-leading-char
1674 If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1675 character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1676 most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1677 remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1678 if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1679 different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1680 @option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1681 when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1682 file.
1683
1684 @item --reverse-bytes=@var{num}
1685 Reverse the bytes in a section with output contents. A section length must
1686 be evenly divisible by the value given in order for the swap to be able to
1687 take place. Reversing takes place before the interleaving is performed.
1688
1689 This option is used typically in generating ROM images for problematic
1690 target systems. For example, on some target boards, the 32-bit words
1691 fetched from 8-bit ROMs are re-assembled in little-endian byte order
1692 regardless of the CPU byte order. Depending on the programming model, the
1693 endianness of the ROM may need to be modified.
1694
1695 Consider a simple file with a section containing the following eight
1696 bytes: @code{12345678}.
1697
1698 Using @samp{--reverse-bytes=2} for the above example, the bytes in the
1699 output file would be ordered @code{21436587}.
1700
1701 Using @samp{--reverse-bytes=4} for the above example, the bytes in the
1702 output file would be ordered @code{43218765}.
1703
1704 By using @samp{--reverse-bytes=2} for the above example, followed by
1705 @samp{--reverse-bytes=4} on the output file, the bytes in the second
1706 output file would be ordered @code{34127856}.
1707
1708 @item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1709 Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1710 being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1711 crc fields.
1712
1713 @item --srec-forceS3
1714 Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1715 creating S3-only record format.
1716
1717 @item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1718 Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1719 when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1720 source, and there are name collisions.
1721
1722 @item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1723 Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1724 listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1725 with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1726 character. This option may be given more than once.
1727
1728 @item --weaken
1729 Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1730 when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1731 the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1732 using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1733
1734 @item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1735 Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1736 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1737 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1738 This option may be given more than once.
1739
1740 @item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1741 Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1742 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1743 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1744 This option may be given more than once.
1745
1746 @item --strip-unneeded-symbols=@var{filename}
1747 Apply @option{--strip-unneeded-symbol} option to each symbol listed in
1748 the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1749 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1750 character. This option may be given more than once.
1751
1752 @item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1753 Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1754 file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1755 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1756 character. This option may be given more than once.
1757
1758 @item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1759 Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1760 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1761 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1762 This option may be given more than once.
1763
1764 @item --globalize-symbols=@var{filename}
1765 Apply @option{--globalize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1766 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1767 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1768 This option may be given more than once.
1769
1770 @item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1771 Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1772 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1773 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1774 This option may be given more than once.
1775
1776 @item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1777 If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1778 @var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1779 a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1780 new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1781 being used. For ELF based architectures if the @var{index}
1782 alternative does not exist then the value is treated as an absolute
1783 number to be stored in the e_machine field of the ELF header.
1784
1785 @item --writable-text
1786 Mark the output text as writable. This option isn't meaningful for all
1787 object file formats.
1788
1789 @item --readonly-text
1790 Make the output text write protected. This option isn't meaningful for all
1791 object file formats.
1792
1793 @item --pure
1794 Mark the output file as demand paged. This option isn't meaningful for all
1795 object file formats.
1796
1797 @item --impure
1798 Mark the output file as impure. This option isn't meaningful for all
1799 object file formats.
1800
1801 @item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1802 Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1803
1804 @item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1805 Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1806
1807 @item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1808 Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1809 @var{string}.
1810
1811 @item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1812 Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to
1813 @var{path-to-file} and adds it to the output file. Note: the file at
1814 @var{path-to-file} must exist. Part of the process of adding the
1815 .gnu_debuglink section involves embedding a checksum of the contents
1816 of the debug info file into the section.
1817
1818 If the debug info file is built in one location but it is going to be
1819 installed at a later time into a different location then do not use
1820 the path to the installed location. The @option{--add-gnu-debuglink}
1821 option will fail because the installed file does not exist yet.
1822 Instead put the debug info file in the current directory and use the
1823 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} option without any directory components,
1824 like this:
1825
1826 @smallexample
1827 objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug
1828 @end smallexample
1829
1830 At debug time the debugger will attempt to look for the separate debug
1831 info file in a set of known locations. The exact set of these
1832 locations varies depending upon the distribution being used, but it
1833 typically includes:
1834
1835 @table @code
1836
1837 @item * The same directory as the executable.
1838
1839 @item * A sub-directory of the directory containing the executable
1840 called .debug
1841
1842 @item * A global debug directory such as /usr/lib/debug.
1843 @end table
1844
1845 As long as the debug info file has been installed into one of these
1846 locations before the debugger is run everything should work
1847 correctly.
1848
1849 @item --keep-file-symbols
1850 When stripping a file, perhaps with @option{--strip-debug} or
1851 @option{--strip-unneeded}, retain any symbols specifying source file names,
1852 which would otherwise get stripped.
1853
1854 @item --only-keep-debug
1855 Strip a file, removing contents of any sections that would not be
1856 stripped by @option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections
1857 intact. In ELF files, this preserves all note sections in the output.
1858
1859 Note - the section headers of the stripped sections are preserved,
1860 including their sizes, but the contents of the section are discarded.
1861 The section headers are preserved so that other tools can match up the
1862 debuginfo file with the real executable, even if that executable has
1863 been relocated to a different address space.
1864
1865 The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1866 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1867 stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1868 distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1869 needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1870 to create these files is as follows:
1871
1872 @enumerate
1873 @item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1874 @code{foo} then...
1875 @item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1876 create a file containing the debugging info.
1877 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1878 stripped executable.
1879 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1880 to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1881 @end enumerate
1882
1883 Note---the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1884 file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1885 optional. You could instead do this:
1886
1887 @enumerate
1888 @item Link the executable as normal.
1889 @item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1890 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1891 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1892 @end enumerate
1893
1894 i.e., the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
1895 full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1896 @option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1897
1898 Note---this switch is only intended for use on fully linked files. It
1899 does not make sense to use it on object files where the debugging
1900 information may be incomplete. Besides the gnu_debuglink feature
1901 currently only supports the presence of one filename containing
1902 debugging information, not multiple filenames on a one-per-object-file
1903 basis.
1904
1905 @item --strip-dwo
1906 Remove the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections, leaving the
1907 remaining debugging sections and all symbols intact.
1908 This option is intended for use by the compiler as part of
1909 the @option{-gsplit-dwarf} option, which splits debug information
1910 between the .o file and a separate .dwo file. The compiler
1911 generates all debug information in the same file, then uses
1912 the @option{--extract-dwo} option to copy the .dwo sections to
1913 the .dwo file, then the @option{--strip-dwo} option to remove
1914 those sections from the original .o file.
1915
1916 @item --extract-dwo
1917 Extract the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections. See the
1918 @option{--strip-dwo} option for more information.
1919
1920 @item --file-alignment @var{num}
1921 Specify the file alignment. Sections in the file will always begin at
1922 file offsets which are multiples of this number. This defaults to
1923 512.
1924 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1925
1926 @item --heap @var{reserve}
1927 @itemx --heap @var{reserve},@var{commit}
1928 Specify the number of bytes of memory to reserve (and optionally commit)
1929 to be used as heap for this program.
1930 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1931
1932 @item --image-base @var{value}
1933 Use @var{value} as the base address of your program or dll. This is
1934 the lowest memory location that will be used when your program or dll
1935 is loaded. To reduce the need to relocate and improve performance of
1936 your dlls, each should have a unique base address and not overlap any
1937 other dlls. The default is 0x400000 for executables, and 0x10000000
1938 for dlls.
1939 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1940
1941 @item --section-alignment @var{num}
1942 Sets the section alignment. Sections in memory will always begin at
1943 addresses which are a multiple of this number. Defaults to 0x1000.
1944 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1945
1946 @item --stack @var{reserve}
1947 @itemx --stack @var{reserve},@var{commit}
1948 Specify the number of bytes of memory to reserve (and optionally commit)
1949 to be used as stack for this program.
1950 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1951
1952 @item --subsystem @var{which}
1953 @itemx --subsystem @var{which}:@var{major}
1954 @itemx --subsystem @var{which}:@var{major}.@var{minor}
1955 Specifies the subsystem under which your program will execute. The
1956 legal values for @var{which} are @code{native}, @code{windows},
1957 @code{console}, @code{posix}, @code{efi-app}, @code{efi-bsd},
1958 @code{efi-rtd}, @code{sal-rtd}, and @code{xbox}. You may optionally set
1959 the subsystem version also. Numeric values are also accepted for
1960 @var{which}.
1961 [This option is specific to PE targets.]
1962
1963 @item --extract-symbol
1964 Keep the file's section flags and symbols but remove all section data.
1965 Specifically, the option:
1966
1967 @itemize
1968 @item removes the contents of all sections;
1969 @item sets the size of every section to zero; and
1970 @item sets the file's start address to zero.
1971 @end itemize
1972
1973 This option is used to build a @file{.sym} file for a VxWorks kernel.
1974 It can also be a useful way of reducing the size of a @option{--just-symbols}
1975 linker input file.
1976
1977 @item --compress-debug-sections
1978 Compress DWARF debug sections using zlib with SHF_COMPRESSED from the
1979 ELF ABI. Note - if compression would actually make a section
1980 @emph{larger}, then it is not compressed.
1981
1982 @item --compress-debug-sections=none
1983 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib
1984 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu
1985 @itemx --compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi
1986 For ELF files, these options control how DWARF debug sections are
1987 compressed. @option{--compress-debug-sections=none} is equivalent
1988 to @option{--decompress-debug-sections}.
1989 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib} and
1990 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gabi} are equivalent to
1991 @option{--compress-debug-sections}.
1992 @option{--compress-debug-sections=zlib-gnu} compresses DWARF debug
1993 sections using zlib. The debug sections are renamed to begin with
1994 @samp{.zdebug} instead of @samp{.debug}. Note - if compression would
1995 actually make a section @emph{larger}, then it is not compressed nor
1996 renamed.
1997
1998 @item --decompress-debug-sections
1999 Decompress DWARF debug sections using zlib. The original section
2000 names of the compressed sections are restored.
2001
2002 @item --elf-stt-common=yes
2003 @itemx --elf-stt-common=no
2004 For ELF files, these options control whether common symbols should be
2005 converted to the @code{STT_COMMON} or @code{STT_OBJECT} type.
2006 @option{--elf-stt-common=yes} converts common symbol type to
2007 @code{STT_COMMON}. @option{--elf-stt-common=no} converts common symbol
2008 type to @code{STT_OBJECT}.
2009
2010 @item --merge-notes
2011 @itemx --no-merge-notes
2012 For ELF files, attempt (or do not attempt) to reduce the size of any
2013 SHT_NOTE type sections by removing duplicate notes.
2014
2015 @item -V
2016 @itemx --version
2017 Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
2018
2019 @item -v
2020 @itemx --verbose
2021 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2022 archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
2023
2024 @item --help
2025 Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
2026
2027 @item --info
2028 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2029 @end table
2030
2031 @c man end
2032
2033 @ignore
2034 @c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
2035 ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2036 @c man end
2037 @end ignore
2038
2039 @node objdump
2040 @chapter objdump
2041
2042 @cindex object file information
2043 @kindex objdump
2044
2045 @c man title objdump display information from object files.
2046
2047 @smallexample
2048 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
2049 objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
2050 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
2051 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
2052 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
2053 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
2054 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
2055 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
2056 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
2057 [@option{-F}|@option{--file-offsets}]
2058 [@option{--file-start-context}]
2059 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
2060 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
2061 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
2062 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
2063 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
2064 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
2065 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
2066 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
2067 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
2068 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
2069 [@option{-P} @var{options}|@option{--private=}@var{options}]
2070 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
2071 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
2072 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
2073 [@option{-W[lLiaprmfFsoRtUuTgAckK]}|
2074 @option{--dwarf}[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index,=addr,=cu_index,=links,=follow-links]
2075 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
2076 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
2077 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
2078 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
2079 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
2080 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
2081 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
2082 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
2083 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
2084 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
2085 [@option{--dwarf-depth=@var{n}}]
2086 [@option{--dwarf-start=@var{n}}]
2087 [@option{--special-syms}]
2088 [@option{--prefix=}@var{prefix}]
2089 [@option{--prefix-strip=}@var{level}]
2090 [@option{--insn-width=}@var{width}]
2091 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2092 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
2093 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2094 @c man end
2095 @end smallexample
2096
2097 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
2098
2099 @command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
2100 The options control what particular information to display. This
2101 information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
2102 compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
2103 program to compile and work.
2104
2105 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
2106 specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
2107 object files.
2108
2109 @c man end
2110
2111 @c man begin OPTIONS objdump
2112
2113 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2114 equivalent. At least one option from the list
2115 @option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-P,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
2116
2117 @table @env
2118 @item -a
2119 @itemx --archive-header
2120 @cindex archive headers
2121 If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
2122 header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
2123 information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
2124 the object file format of each archive member.
2125
2126 @item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
2127 @cindex section addresses in objdump
2128 @cindex VMA in objdump
2129 When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
2130 addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
2131 the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
2132 addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
2133 such as a.out.
2134
2135 @item -b @var{bfdname}
2136 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2137 @cindex object code format
2138 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2139 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
2140 automatically recognize many formats.
2141
2142 For example,
2143 @example
2144 objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
2145 @end example
2146 @noindent
2147 displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
2148 @file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
2149 file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
2150 formats available with the @option{-i} option.
2151 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2152
2153 @item -C
2154 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2155 @cindex demangling in objdump
2156 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2157 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2158 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2159 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2160 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2161 for more information on demangling.
2162
2163 @item -g
2164 @itemx --debugging
2165 Display debugging information. This attempts to parse STABS
2166 debugging format information stored in the file and print it out using
2167 a C like syntax. If no STABS debuging was found this option
2168 falls back on the @option{-W} option to print any DWARF information in
2169 the file.
2170
2171 @item -e
2172 @itemx --debugging-tags
2173 Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
2174 with ctags tool.
2175
2176 @item -d
2177 @itemx --disassemble
2178 @cindex disassembling object code
2179 @cindex machine instructions
2180 Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
2181 @var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
2182 expected to contain instructions.
2183
2184 @item -D
2185 @itemx --disassemble-all
2186 Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
2187 those expected to contain instructions.
2188
2189 This option also has a subtle effect on the disassembly of
2190 instructions in code sections. When option @option{-d} is in effect
2191 objdump will assume that any symbols present in a code section occur
2192 on the boundary between instructions and it will refuse to disassemble
2193 across such a boundary. When option @option{-D} is in effect however
2194 this assumption is supressed. This means that it is possible for the
2195 output of @option{-d} and @option{-D} to differ if, for example, data
2196 is stored in code sections.
2197
2198 If the target is an ARM architecture this switch also has the effect
2199 of forcing the disassembler to decode pieces of data found in code
2200 sections as if they were instructions.
2201
2202 @item --prefix-addresses
2203 When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
2204 the older disassembly format.
2205
2206 @item -EB
2207 @itemx -EL
2208 @itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
2209 @cindex endianness
2210 @cindex disassembly endianness
2211 Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
2212 disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
2213 does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
2214
2215 @item -f
2216 @itemx --file-headers
2217 @cindex object file header
2218 Display summary information from the overall header of
2219 each of the @var{objfile} files.
2220
2221 @item -F
2222 @itemx --file-offsets
2223 @cindex object file offsets
2224 When disassembling sections, whenever a symbol is displayed, also
2225 display the file offset of the region of data that is about to be
2226 dumped. If zeroes are being skipped, then when disassembly resumes,
2227 tell the user how many zeroes were skipped and the file offset of the
2228 location from where the disassembly resumes. When dumping sections,
2229 display the file offset of the location from where the dump starts.
2230
2231 @item --file-start-context
2232 @cindex source code context
2233 Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
2234 (assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
2235 context to the start of the file.
2236
2237 @item -h
2238 @itemx --section-headers
2239 @itemx --headers
2240 @cindex section headers
2241 Display summary information from the section headers of the
2242 object file.
2243
2244 File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
2245 using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
2246 @command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
2247 store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
2248 although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
2249 -h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
2250 Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
2251 target.
2252
2253 Note, in some cases it is possible for a section to have both the
2254 READONLY and the NOREAD attributes set. In such cases the NOREAD
2255 attribute takes precedence, but @command{objdump} will report both
2256 since the exact setting of the flag bits might be important.
2257
2258 @item -H
2259 @itemx --help
2260 Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
2261
2262 @item -i
2263 @itemx --info
2264 @cindex architectures available
2265 @cindex object formats available
2266 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
2267 for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
2268
2269 @item -j @var{name}
2270 @itemx --section=@var{name}
2271 @cindex section information
2272 Display information only for section @var{name}.
2273
2274 @item -l
2275 @itemx --line-numbers
2276 @cindex source filenames for object files
2277 Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
2278 source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
2279 Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
2280
2281 @item -m @var{machine}
2282 @itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
2283 @cindex architecture
2284 @cindex disassembly architecture
2285 Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
2286 can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
2287 architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
2288 architectures with the @option{-i} option.
2289
2290 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch has an
2291 additional effect. It restricts the disassembly to only those
2292 instructions supported by the architecture specified by @var{machine}.
2293 If it is necessary to use this switch because the input file does not
2294 contain any architecture information, but it is also desired to
2295 disassemble all the instructions use @option{-marm}.
2296
2297 @item -M @var{options}
2298 @itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
2299 Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
2300 some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
2301 disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
2302 can be placed together into a comma separated list.
2303
2304 For ARC, @option{dsp} controls the printing of DSP instructions,
2305 @option{spfp} selects the printing of FPX single precision FP
2306 instructions, @option{dpfp} selects the printing of FPX double
2307 precision FP instructions, @option{quarkse_em} selects the printing of
2308 special QuarkSE-EM instructions, @option{fpuda} selects the printing
2309 of double precision assist instructions, @option{fpus} selects the
2310 printing of FPU single precision FP instructions, while @option{fpud}
2311 selects the printing of FPU souble precision FP instructions.
2312 Additionally, one can choose to have all the immediates printed in
2313 hexadecimal using @option{hex}. By default, the short immediates are
2314 printed using the decimal representation, while the long immediate
2315 values are printed as hexadecimal.
2316
2317 @option{cpu=...} allows to enforce a particular ISA when disassembling
2318 instructions, overriding the @option{-m} value or whatever is in the ELF file.
2319 This might be useful to select ARC EM or HS ISA, because architecture is same
2320 for those and disassembler relies on private ELF header data to decide if code
2321 is for EM or HS. This option might be specified multiple times - only the
2322 latest value will be used. Valid values are same as for the assembler
2323 @option{-mcpu=...} option.
2324
2325 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
2326 select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
2327 @option{-M reg-names-std} (the default) will select the register names as
2328 used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
2329 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
2330 @option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
2331 Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
2332 just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
2333
2334 There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
2335 by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
2336 use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
2337 with the normal register names or the special register names).
2338
2339 This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
2340 disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
2341 using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
2342 useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
2343 compilers.
2344
2345 For AArch64 targets this switch can be used to set whether instructions are
2346 disassembled as the most general instruction using the @option{-M no-aliases}
2347 option or whether instruction notes should be generated as comments in the
2348 disasssembly using @option{-M notes}.
2349
2350 For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
2351 switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
2352 following may be specified as a comma separated string.
2353 @table @code
2354 @item x86-64
2355 @itemx i386
2356 @itemx i8086
2357 Select disassembly for the given architecture.
2358
2359 @item intel
2360 @itemx att
2361 Select between intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode.
2362
2363 @item amd64
2364 @itemx intel64
2365 Select between AMD64 ISA and Intel64 ISA.
2366
2367 @item intel-mnemonic
2368 @itemx att-mnemonic
2369 Select between intel mnemonic mode and AT&T mnemonic mode.
2370 Note: @code{intel-mnemonic} implies @code{intel} and
2371 @code{att-mnemonic} implies @code{att}.
2372
2373 @item addr64
2374 @itemx addr32
2375 @itemx addr16
2376 @itemx data32
2377 @itemx data16
2378 Specify the default address size and operand size. These four options
2379 will be overridden if @code{x86-64}, @code{i386} or @code{i8086}
2380 appear later in the option string.
2381
2382 @item suffix
2383 When in AT&T mode, instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic
2384 suffix even when the suffix could be inferred by the operands.
2385 @end table
2386
2387 For PowerPC, the @option{-M} argument @option{raw} selects
2388 disasssembly of hardware insns rather than aliases. For example, you
2389 will see @code{rlwinm} rather than @code{clrlwi}, and @code{addi}
2390 rather than @code{li}. All of the @option{-m} arguments for
2391 @command{gas} that select a CPU are supported. These are:
2392 @option{403}, @option{405}, @option{440}, @option{464}, @option{476},
2393 @option{601}, @option{603}, @option{604}, @option{620}, @option{7400},
2394 @option{7410}, @option{7450}, @option{7455}, @option{750cl},
2395 @option{821}, @option{850}, @option{860}, @option{a2}, @option{booke},
2396 @option{booke32}, @option{cell}, @option{com}, @option{e200z4},
2397 @option{e300}, @option{e500}, @option{e500mc}, @option{e500mc64},
2398 @option{e500x2}, @option{e5500}, @option{e6500}, @option{efs},
2399 @option{power4}, @option{power5}, @option{power6}, @option{power7},
2400 @option{power8}, @option{power9}, @option{ppc}, @option{ppc32},
2401 @option{ppc64}, @option{ppc64bridge}, @option{ppcps}, @option{pwr},
2402 @option{pwr2}, @option{pwr4}, @option{pwr5}, @option{pwr5x},
2403 @option{pwr6}, @option{pwr7}, @option{pwr8}, @option{pwr9},
2404 @option{pwrx}, @option{titan}, and @option{vle}.
2405 @option{32} and @option{64} modify the default or a prior CPU
2406 selection, disabling and enabling 64-bit insns respectively. In
2407 addition, @option{altivec}, @option{any}, @option{htm}, @option{vsx},
2408 and @option{spe} add capabilities to a previous @emph{or later} CPU
2409 selection. @option{any} will disassemble any opcode known to
2410 binutils, but in cases where an opcode has two different meanings or
2411 different arguments, you may not see the disassembly you expect.
2412 If you disassemble without giving a CPU selection, a default will be
2413 chosen from information gleaned by BFD from the object files headers,
2414 but the result again may not be as you expect.
2415
2416 For MIPS, this option controls the printing of instruction mnemonic
2417 names and register names in disassembled instructions. Multiple
2418 selections from the following may be specified as a comma separated
2419 string, and invalid options are ignored:
2420
2421 @table @code
2422 @item no-aliases
2423 Print the 'raw' instruction mnemonic instead of some pseudo
2424 instruction mnemonic. I.e., print 'daddu' or 'or' instead of 'move',
2425 'sll' instead of 'nop', etc.
2426
2427 @item msa
2428 Disassemble MSA instructions.
2429
2430 @item virt
2431 Disassemble the virtualization ASE instructions.
2432
2433 @item xpa
2434 Disassemble the eXtended Physical Address (XPA) ASE instructions.
2435
2436 @item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
2437 Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
2438 for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
2439 the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
2440
2441 @item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
2442 Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
2443 appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
2444 rather than names.
2445
2446 @item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
2447 Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
2448 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
2449 @var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
2450 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
2451
2452 @item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
2453 Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
2454 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
2455 @var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
2456 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
2457
2458 @item reg-names=@var{ABI}
2459 Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
2460
2461 @item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
2462 Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
2463 as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
2464 @end table
2465
2466 For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
2467 @var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
2468 rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
2469 You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
2470 the @option{--help} option.
2471
2472 For VAX, you can specify function entry addresses with @option{-M
2473 entry:0xf00ba}. You can use this multiple times to properly
2474 disassemble VAX binary files that don't contain symbol tables (like
2475 ROM dumps). In these cases, the function entry mask would otherwise
2476 be decoded as VAX instructions, which would probably lead the rest
2477 of the function being wrongly disassembled.
2478
2479 @item -p
2480 @itemx --private-headers
2481 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
2482 information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
2483 object file formats, no additional information is printed.
2484
2485 @item -P @var{options}
2486 @itemx --private=@var{options}
2487 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The
2488 argument @var{options} is a comma separated list that depends on the
2489 format (the lists of options is displayed with the help).
2490
2491 For XCOFF, the available options are:
2492 @table @code
2493 @item header
2494 @item aout
2495 @item sections
2496 @item syms
2497 @item relocs
2498 @item lineno,
2499 @item loader
2500 @item except
2501 @item typchk
2502 @item traceback
2503 @item toc
2504 @item ldinfo
2505 @end table
2506
2507 Not all object formats support this option. In particular the ELF
2508 format does not use it.
2509
2510 @item -r
2511 @itemx --reloc
2512 @cindex relocation entries, in object file
2513 Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
2514 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
2515 disassembly.
2516
2517 @item -R
2518 @itemx --dynamic-reloc
2519 @cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
2520 Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
2521 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
2522 libraries. As for @option{-r}, if used with @option{-d} or
2523 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
2524 disassembly.
2525
2526 @item -s
2527 @itemx --full-contents
2528 @cindex sections, full contents
2529 @cindex object file sections
2530 Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
2531 non-empty sections are displayed.
2532
2533 @item -S
2534 @itemx --source
2535 @cindex source disassembly
2536 @cindex disassembly, with source
2537 Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
2538 @option{-d}.
2539
2540 @item --prefix=@var{prefix}
2541 @cindex Add prefix to absolute paths
2542 Specify @var{prefix} to add to the absolute paths when used with
2543 @option{-S}.
2544
2545 @item --prefix-strip=@var{level}
2546 @cindex Strip absolute paths
2547 Indicate how many initial directory names to strip off the hardwired
2548 absolute paths. It has no effect without @option{--prefix=}@var{prefix}.
2549
2550 @item --show-raw-insn
2551 When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
2552 in symbolic form. This is the default except when
2553 @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
2554
2555 @item --no-show-raw-insn
2556 When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
2557 This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
2558
2559 @item --insn-width=@var{width}
2560 @cindex Instruction width
2561 Display @var{width} bytes on a single line when disassembling
2562 instructions.
2563
2564 @item -W[lLiaprmfFsoRtUuTgAckK]
2565 @itemx --dwarf[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index,=addr,=cu_index,=links,=follow-links]
2566 @include debug.options.texi
2567
2568 @item --dwarf-check
2569 Enable additional checks for consistency of Dwarf information.
2570
2571 @item -G
2572 @itemx --stabs
2573 @cindex stab
2574 @cindex .stab
2575 @cindex debug symbols
2576 @cindex ELF object file format
2577 Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
2578 contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
2579 ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
2580 @code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
2581 section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
2582 interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
2583 output.
2584
2585 @item --start-address=@var{address}
2586 @cindex start-address
2587 Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
2588 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
2589
2590 @item --stop-address=@var{address}
2591 @cindex stop-address
2592 Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
2593 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
2594
2595 @item -t
2596 @itemx --syms
2597 @cindex symbol table entries, printing
2598 Print the symbol table entries of the file.
2599 This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program,
2600 although the display format is different. The format of the output
2601 depends upon the format of the file being dumped, but there are two main
2602 types. One looks like this:
2603
2604 @smallexample
2605 [ 4](sec 3)(fl 0x00)(ty 0)(scl 3) (nx 1) 0x00000000 .bss
2606 [ 6](sec 1)(fl 0x00)(ty 0)(scl 2) (nx 0) 0x00000000 fred
2607 @end smallexample
2608
2609 where the number inside the square brackets is the number of the entry
2610 in the symbol table, the @var{sec} number is the section number, the
2611 @var{fl} value are the symbol's flag bits, the @var{ty} number is the
2612 symbol's type, the @var{scl} number is the symbol's storage class and
2613 the @var{nx} value is the number of auxilary entries associated with
2614 the symbol. The last two fields are the symbol's value and its name.
2615
2616 The other common output format, usually seen with ELF based files,
2617 looks like this:
2618
2619 @smallexample
2620 00000000 l d .bss 00000000 .bss
2621 00000000 g .text 00000000 fred
2622 @end smallexample
2623
2624 Here the first number is the symbol's value (sometimes refered to as
2625 its address). The next field is actually a set of characters and
2626 spaces indicating the flag bits that are set on the symbol. These
2627 characters are described below. Next is the section with which the
2628 symbol is associated or @emph{*ABS*} if the section is absolute (ie
2629 not connected with any section), or @emph{*UND*} if the section is
2630 referenced in the file being dumped, but not defined there.
2631
2632 After the section name comes another field, a number, which for common
2633 symbols is the alignment and for other symbol is the size. Finally
2634 the symbol's name is displayed.
2635
2636 The flag characters are divided into 7 groups as follows:
2637 @table @code
2638 @item l
2639 @itemx g
2640 @itemx u
2641 @itemx !
2642 The symbol is a local (l), global (g), unique global (u), neither
2643 global nor local (a space) or both global and local (!). A
2644 symbol can be neither local or global for a variety of reasons, e.g.,
2645 because it is used for debugging, but it is probably an indication of
2646 a bug if it is ever both local and global. Unique global symbols are
2647 a GNU extension to the standard set of ELF symbol bindings. For such
2648 a symbol the dynamic linker will make sure that in the entire process
2649 there is just one symbol with this name and type in use.
2650
2651 @item w
2652 The symbol is weak (w) or strong (a space).
2653
2654 @item C
2655 The symbol denotes a constructor (C) or an ordinary symbol (a space).
2656
2657 @item W
2658 The symbol is a warning (W) or a normal symbol (a space). A warning
2659 symbol's name is a message to be displayed if the symbol following the
2660 warning symbol is ever referenced.
2661
2662 @item I
2663 @item i
2664 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol (I), a function
2665 to be evaluated during reloc processing (i) or a normal symbol (a
2666 space).
2667
2668 @item d
2669 @itemx D
2670 The symbol is a debugging symbol (d) or a dynamic symbol (D) or a
2671 normal symbol (a space).
2672
2673 @item F
2674 @item f
2675 @item O
2676 The symbol is the name of a function (F) or a file (f) or an object
2677 (O) or just a normal symbol (a space).
2678 @end table
2679
2680 @item -T
2681 @itemx --dynamic-syms
2682 @cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
2683 Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
2684 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
2685 libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
2686 program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
2687
2688 The output format is similar to that produced by the @option{--syms}
2689 option, except that an extra field is inserted before the symbol's
2690 name, giving the version information associated with the symbol.
2691 If the version is the default version to be used when resolving
2692 unversioned references to the symbol then it's displayed as is,
2693 otherwise it's put into parentheses.
2694
2695 @item --special-syms
2696 When displaying symbols include those which the target considers to be
2697 special in some way and which would not normally be of interest to the
2698 user.
2699
2700 @item -V
2701 @itemx --version
2702 Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
2703
2704 @item -x
2705 @itemx --all-headers
2706 @cindex all header information, object file
2707 @cindex header information, all
2708 Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
2709 relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
2710 @option{-a -f -h -p -r -t}.
2711
2712 @item -w
2713 @itemx --wide
2714 @cindex wide output, printing
2715 Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
2716 Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
2717
2718 @item -z
2719 @itemx --disassemble-zeroes
2720 Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
2721 option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
2722 any other data.
2723 @end table
2724
2725 @c man end
2726
2727 @ignore
2728 @c man begin SEEALSO objdump
2729 nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2730 @c man end
2731 @end ignore
2732
2733 @node ranlib
2734 @chapter ranlib
2735
2736 @kindex ranlib
2737 @cindex archive contents
2738 @cindex symbol index
2739
2740 @c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
2741
2742 @smallexample
2743 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
2744 ranlib [@option{--plugin} @var{name}] [@option{-DhHvVt}] @var{archive}
2745 @c man end
2746 @end smallexample
2747
2748 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
2749
2750 @command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
2751 stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
2752 member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
2753
2754 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
2755
2756 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
2757 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
2758 their placement in the archive.
2759
2760 The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
2761 @command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
2762 @xref{ar}.
2763
2764 @c man end
2765
2766 @c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
2767
2768 @table @env
2769 @item -h
2770 @itemx -H
2771 @itemx --help
2772 Show usage information for @command{ranlib}.
2773
2774 @item -v
2775 @itemx -V
2776 @itemx --version
2777 Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
2778
2779 @item -D
2780 @cindex deterministic archives
2781 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
2782 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. The symbol map archive member's
2783 header will show zero for the UID, GID, and timestamp. When this
2784 option is used, multiple runs will produce identical output files.
2785
2786 If @file{binutils} was configured with
2787 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by
2788 default. It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, described
2789 below.
2790
2791 @item -t
2792 Update the timestamp of the symbol map of an archive.
2793
2794 @item -U
2795 @cindex deterministic archives
2796 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
2797 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
2798 inverse of the @samp{-D} option, above: the archive index will get
2799 actual UID, GID, timestamp, and file mode values.
2800
2801 If @file{binutils} was configured @emph{without}
2802 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by
2803 default.
2804
2805 @end table
2806
2807 @c man end
2808
2809 @ignore
2810 @c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
2811 ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2812 @c man end
2813 @end ignore
2814
2815 @node size
2816 @chapter size
2817
2818 @kindex size
2819 @cindex section sizes
2820
2821 @c man title size list section sizes and total size.
2822
2823 @smallexample
2824 @c man begin SYNOPSIS size
2825 size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
2826 [@option{--help}]
2827 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
2828 [@option{--common}]
2829 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
2830 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2831 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
2832 @c man end
2833 @end smallexample
2834
2835 @c man begin DESCRIPTION size
2836
2837 The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
2838 size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
2839 argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
2840 object file or each module in an archive.
2841
2842 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
2843 If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
2844
2845 @c man end
2846
2847 @c man begin OPTIONS size
2848
2849 The command line options have the following meanings:
2850
2851 @table @env
2852 @item -A
2853 @itemx -B
2854 @itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
2855 @cindex @command{size} display format
2856 Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
2857 @command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
2858 or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
2859 @option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
2860 Berkeley's.
2861 @c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
2862 @c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
2863 @c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
2864
2865 Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
2866 @command{size}:
2867 @smallexample
2868 $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
2869 text data bss dec hex filename
2870 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
2871 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
2872 @end smallexample
2873
2874 @noindent
2875 This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
2876
2877 @smallexample
2878 $ size --format=SysV ranlib size
2879 ranlib :
2880 section size addr
2881 .text 294880 8192
2882 .data 81920 303104
2883 .bss 11592 385024
2884 Total 388392
2885
2886
2887 size :
2888 section size addr
2889 .text 294880 8192
2890 .data 81920 303104
2891 .bss 11888 385024
2892 Total 388688
2893 @end smallexample
2894
2895 @item --help
2896 Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
2897
2898 @item -d
2899 @itemx -o
2900 @itemx -x
2901 @itemx --radix=@var{number}
2902 @cindex @command{size} number format
2903 @cindex radix for section sizes
2904 Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
2905 section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
2906 (@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
2907 @option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
2908 values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
2909 radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
2910 octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
2911
2912 @item --common
2913 Print total size of common symbols in each file. When using Berkeley
2914 format these are included in the bss size.
2915
2916 @item -t
2917 @itemx --totals
2918 Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2919
2920 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
2921 @cindex object code format
2922 Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
2923 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
2924 automatically recognize many formats.
2925 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2926
2927 @item -V
2928 @itemx --version
2929 Display the version number of @command{size}.
2930 @end table
2931
2932 @c man end
2933
2934 @ignore
2935 @c man begin SEEALSO size
2936 ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2937 @c man end
2938 @end ignore
2939
2940 @node strings
2941 @chapter strings
2942 @kindex strings
2943 @cindex listings strings
2944 @cindex printing strings
2945 @cindex strings, printing
2946
2947 @c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2948
2949 @smallexample
2950 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
2951 strings [@option{-afovV}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2952 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2953 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2954 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2955 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2956 [@option{-T} @var{bfdname}] [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2957 [@option{-w}] [@option{--include-all-whitespace}]
2958 [@option{-s}] [@option{--output-separator}@var{sep_string}]
2959 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
2960 @c man end
2961 @end smallexample
2962
2963 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2964
2965 For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the
2966 printable character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or
2967 the number given with the options below) and are followed by an
2968 unprintable character.
2969
2970 Depending upon how the strings program was configured it will default
2971 to either displaying all the printable sequences that it can find in
2972 each file, or only those sequences that are in loadable, initialized
2973 data sections. If the file type in unrecognizable, or if strings is
2974 reading from stdin then it will always display all of the printable
2975 sequences that it can find.
2976
2977 For backwards compatibility any file that occurs after a command line
2978 option of just @option{-} will also be scanned in full, regardless of
2979 the presence of any @option{-d} option.
2980
2981 @command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of
2982 non-text files.
2983
2984 @c man end
2985
2986 @c man begin OPTIONS strings
2987
2988 @table @env
2989 @item -a
2990 @itemx --all
2991 @itemx -
2992 Scan the whole file, regardless of what sections it contains or
2993 whether those sections are loaded or initialized. Normally this is
2994 the default behaviour, but strings can be configured so that the
2995 @option{-d} is the default instead.
2996
2997 The @option{-} option is position dependent and forces strings to
2998 perform full scans of any file that is mentioned after the @option{-}
2999 on the command line, even if the @option{-d} option has been
3000 specified.
3001
3002 @item -d
3003 @itemx --data
3004 Only print strings from initialized, loaded data sections in the
3005 file. This may reduce the amount of garbage in the output, but it
3006 also exposes the strings program to any security flaws that may be
3007 present in the BFD library used to scan and load sections. Strings
3008 can be configured so that this option is the default behaviour. In
3009 such cases the @option{-a} option can be used to avoid using the BFD
3010 library and instead just print all of the strings found in the file.
3011
3012 @item -f
3013 @itemx --print-file-name
3014 Print the name of the file before each string.
3015
3016 @item --help
3017 Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
3018
3019 @item -@var{min-len}
3020 @itemx -n @var{min-len}
3021 @itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
3022 Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
3023 long, instead of the default 4.
3024
3025 @item -o
3026 Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
3027 act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
3028 ways, we simply chose one.
3029
3030 @item -t @var{radix}
3031 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
3032 Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
3033 character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
3034 octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
3035
3036 @item -e @var{encoding}
3037 @itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
3038 Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
3039 Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
3040 characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
3041 single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
3042 16-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
3043 littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings. (@samp{l}
3044 and @samp{b} apply to, for example, Unicode UTF-16/UCS-2 encodings).
3045
3046 @item -T @var{bfdname}
3047 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3048 @cindex object code format
3049 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
3050 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3051
3052 @item -v
3053 @itemx -V
3054 @itemx --version
3055 Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
3056
3057 @item -w
3058 @itemx --include-all-whitespace
3059 By default tab and space characters are included in the strings that
3060 are displayed, but other whitespace characters, such a newlines and
3061 carriage returns, are not. The @option{-w} option changes this so
3062 that all whitespace characters are considered to be part of a string.
3063
3064 @item -s
3065 @itemx --output-separator
3066 By default, output strings are delimited by a new-line. This option
3067 allows you to supply any string to be used as the output record
3068 separator. Useful with --include-all-whitespace where strings
3069 may contain new-lines internally.
3070 @end table
3071
3072 @c man end
3073
3074 @ignore
3075 @c man begin SEEALSO strings
3076 ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
3077 and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3078 @c man end
3079 @end ignore
3080
3081 @node strip
3082 @chapter strip
3083
3084 @kindex strip
3085 @cindex removing symbols
3086 @cindex discarding symbols
3087 @cindex symbols, discarding
3088
3089 @c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
3090
3091 @smallexample
3092 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
3093 strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
3094 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3095 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
3096 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
3097 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
3098 [@option{--strip-dwo}]
3099 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
3100 [@option{-M}|@option{--merge-notes}][@option{--no-merge-notes}]
3101 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
3102 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
3103 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
3104 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
3105 [@option{--remove-relocations=}@var{sectionpattern}]
3106 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
3107 [@option{-D}|@option{--enable-deterministic-archives}]
3108 [@option{-U}|@option{--disable-deterministic-archives}]
3109 [@option{--keep-file-symbols}]
3110 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
3111 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3112 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
3113 @var{objfile}@dots{}
3114 @c man end
3115 @end smallexample
3116
3117 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
3118
3119 @sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
3120 @var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
3121 At least one object file must be given.
3122
3123 @command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
3124 rather than writing modified copies under different names.
3125
3126 @c man end
3127
3128 @c man begin OPTIONS strip
3129
3130 @table @env
3131 @item -F @var{bfdname}
3132 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3133 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
3134 code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
3135 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3136
3137 @item --help
3138 Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
3139
3140 @item --info
3141 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
3142
3143 @item -I @var{bfdname}
3144 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
3145 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
3146 code format @var{bfdname}.
3147 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3148
3149 @item -O @var{bfdname}
3150 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
3151 Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
3152 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
3153
3154 @item -R @var{sectionname}
3155 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
3156 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file, in
3157 addition to whatever sections would otherwise be removed. This
3158 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
3159 inappropriately may make the output file unusable. The wildcard
3160 character @samp{*} may be given at the end of @var{sectionname}. If
3161 so, then any section starting with @var{sectionname} will be removed.
3162
3163 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
3164 point (!) then matching sections will not be removed even if an
3165 earlier use of @option{--remove-section} on the same command line
3166 would otherwise remove it. For example:
3167
3168 @smallexample
3169 --remove-section=.text.* --remove-section=!.text.foo
3170 @end smallexample
3171
3172 will remove all sections matching the pattern '.text.*', but will not
3173 remove the section '.text.foo'.
3174
3175 @item --remove-relocations=@var{sectionpattern}
3176 Remove relocations from the output file for any section matching
3177 @var{sectionpattern}. This option may be given more than once. Note
3178 that using this option inappropriately may make the output file
3179 unusable. Wildcard characters are accepted in @var{sectionpattern}.
3180 For example:
3181
3182 @smallexample
3183 --remove-relocations=.text.*
3184 @end smallexample
3185
3186 will remove the relocations for all sections matching the patter
3187 '.text.*'.
3188
3189 If the first character of @var{sectionpattern} is the exclamation
3190 point (!) then matching sections will not have their relocation
3191 removed even if an earlier use of @option{--remove-relocations} on the
3192 same command line would otherwise cause the relocations to be removed.
3193 For example:
3194
3195 @smallexample
3196 --remove-relocations=.text.* --remove-relocations=!.text.foo
3197 @end smallexample
3198
3199 will remove all relocations for sections matching the pattern
3200 '.text.*', but will not remove relocations for the section
3201 '.text.foo'.
3202
3203 @item -s
3204 @itemx --strip-all
3205 Remove all symbols.
3206
3207 @item -g
3208 @itemx -S
3209 @itemx -d
3210 @itemx --strip-debug
3211 Remove debugging symbols only.
3212
3213 @item --strip-dwo
3214 Remove the contents of all DWARF .dwo sections, leaving the
3215 remaining debugging sections and all symbols intact.
3216 See the description of this option in the @command{objcopy} section
3217 for more information.
3218
3219 @item --strip-unneeded
3220 Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
3221
3222 @item -K @var{symbolname}
3223 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
3224 When stripping symbols, keep symbol @var{symbolname} even if it would
3225 normally be stripped. This option may be given more than once.
3226
3227 @item -M
3228 @itemx --merge-notes
3229 @itemx --no-merge-notes
3230 For ELF files, attempt (or do not attempt) to reduce the size of any
3231 SHT_NOTE type sections by removing duplicate notes. The default is to
3232 attempt this reduction.
3233
3234 @item -N @var{symbolname}
3235 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
3236 Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
3237 given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
3238 @option{-K}.
3239
3240 @item -o @var{file}
3241 Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
3242 existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
3243 argument may be specified.
3244
3245 @item -p
3246 @itemx --preserve-dates
3247 Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
3248
3249 @item -D
3250 @itemx --enable-deterministic-archives
3251 @cindex deterministic archives
3252 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
3253 Operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. When copying archive members
3254 and writing the archive index, use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps,
3255 and use consistent file modes for all files.
3256
3257 If @file{binutils} was configured with
3258 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}, then this mode is on by default.
3259 It can be disabled with the @samp{-U} option, below.
3260
3261 @item -U
3262 @itemx --disable-deterministic-archives
3263 @cindex deterministic archives
3264 @kindex --enable-deterministic-archives
3265 Do @emph{not} operate in @emph{deterministic} mode. This is the
3266 inverse of the @option{-D} option, above: when copying archive members
3267 and writing the archive index, use their actual UID, GID, timestamp,
3268 and file mode values.
3269
3270 This is the default unless @file{binutils} was configured with
3271 @option{--enable-deterministic-archives}.
3272
3273 @item -w
3274 @itemx --wildcard
3275 Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
3276 line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
3277 square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
3278 name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
3279 point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
3280 For example:
3281
3282 @smallexample
3283 -w -K !foo -K fo*
3284 @end smallexample
3285
3286 would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
3287 ``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
3288
3289 @item -x
3290 @itemx --discard-all
3291 Remove non-global symbols.
3292
3293 @item -X
3294 @itemx --discard-locals
3295 Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
3296 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
3297
3298 @item --keep-file-symbols
3299 When stripping a file, perhaps with @option{--strip-debug} or
3300 @option{--strip-unneeded}, retain any symbols specifying source file names,
3301 which would otherwise get stripped.
3302
3303 @item --only-keep-debug
3304 Strip a file, emptying the contents of any sections that would not be
3305 stripped by @option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections
3306 intact. In ELF files, this preserves all the note sections in the
3307 output as well.
3308
3309 Note - the section headers of the stripped sections are preserved,
3310 including their sizes, but the contents of the section are discarded.
3311 The section headers are preserved so that other tools can match up the
3312 debuginfo file with the real executable, even if that executable has
3313 been relocated to a different address space.
3314
3315 The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
3316 @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
3317 stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
3318 distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
3319 needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
3320 to create these files is as follows:
3321
3322 @enumerate
3323 @item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
3324 @code{foo} then...
3325 @item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
3326 create a file containing the debugging info.
3327 @item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
3328 stripped executable.
3329 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
3330 to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
3331 @end enumerate
3332
3333 Note---the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
3334 file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
3335 optional. You could instead do this:
3336
3337 @enumerate
3338 @item Link the executable as normal.
3339 @item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
3340 @item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
3341 @item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
3342 @end enumerate
3343
3344 i.e., the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
3345 full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
3346 @option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
3347
3348 Note---this switch is only intended for use on fully linked files. It
3349 does not make sense to use it on object files where the debugging
3350 information may be incomplete. Besides the gnu_debuglink feature
3351 currently only supports the presence of one filename containing
3352 debugging information, not multiple filenames on a one-per-object-file
3353 basis.
3354
3355 @item -V
3356 @itemx --version
3357 Show the version number for @command{strip}.
3358
3359 @item -v
3360 @itemx --verbose
3361 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
3362 archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
3363 @end table
3364
3365 @c man end
3366
3367 @ignore
3368 @c man begin SEEALSO strip
3369 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3370 @c man end
3371 @end ignore
3372
3373 @node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
3374 @chapter c++filt
3375
3376 @kindex c++filt
3377 @cindex demangling C++ symbols
3378
3379 @c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
3380
3381 @smallexample
3382 @c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
3383 c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscore}]
3384 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscore}]
3385 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
3386 [@option{-t}|@option{--types}]
3387 [@option{-i}|@option{--no-verbose}]
3388 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
3389 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
3390 @c man end
3391 @end smallexample
3392
3393 @c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
3394
3395 @kindex cxxfilt
3396 The C++ and Java languages provide function overloading, which means
3397 that you can write many functions with the same name, providing that
3398 each function takes parameters of different types. In order to be
3399 able to distinguish these similarly named functions C++ and Java
3400 encode them into a low-level assembler name which uniquely identifies
3401 each different version. This process is known as @dfn{mangling}. The
3402 @command{c++filt}
3403 @footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
3404 MS-DOS this program is named @command{CXXFILT}.}
3405 program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
3406 names into user-level names so that they can be read.
3407
3408 Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
3409 dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential mangled name.
3410 If the name decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the
3411 low-level name in the output, otherwise the original word is output.
3412 In this way you can pass an entire assembler source file, containing
3413 mangled names, through @command{c++filt} and see the same source file
3414 containing demangled names.
3415
3416 You can also use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols by
3417 passing them on the command line:
3418
3419 @example
3420 c++filt @var{symbol}
3421 @end example
3422
3423 If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
3424 names from the standard input instead. All the results are printed on
3425 the standard output. The difference between reading names from the
3426 command line versus reading names from the standard input is that
3427 command line arguments are expected to be just mangled names and no
3428 checking is performed to separate them from surrounding text. Thus
3429 for example:
3430
3431 @smallexample
3432 c++filt -n _Z1fv
3433 @end smallexample
3434
3435 will work and demangle the name to ``f()'' whereas:
3436
3437 @smallexample
3438 c++filt -n _Z1fv,
3439 @end smallexample
3440
3441 will not work. (Note the extra comma at the end of the mangled
3442 name which makes it invalid). This command however will work:
3443
3444 @smallexample
3445 echo _Z1fv, | c++filt -n
3446 @end smallexample
3447
3448 and will display ``f(),'', i.e., the demangled name followed by a
3449 trailing comma. This behaviour is because when the names are read
3450 from the standard input it is expected that they might be part of an
3451 assembler source file where there might be extra, extraneous
3452 characters trailing after a mangled name. For example:
3453
3454 @smallexample
3455 .type _Z1fv, @@function
3456 @end smallexample
3457
3458 @c man end
3459
3460 @c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
3461
3462 @table @env
3463 @item -_
3464 @itemx --strip-underscore
3465 On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
3466 of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
3467 name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
3468 @command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
3469
3470 @item -n
3471 @itemx --no-strip-underscore
3472 Do not remove the initial underscore.
3473
3474 @item -p
3475 @itemx --no-params
3476 When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
3477 the function's parameters.
3478
3479 @item -t
3480 @itemx --types
3481 Attempt to demangle types as well as function names. This is disabled
3482 by default since mangled types are normally only used internally in
3483 the compiler, and they can be confused with non-mangled names. For example,
3484 a function called ``a'' treated as a mangled type name would be
3485 demangled to ``signed char''.
3486
3487 @item -i
3488 @itemx --no-verbose
3489 Do not include implementation details (if any) in the demangled
3490 output.
3491
3492 @item -s @var{format}
3493 @itemx --format=@var{format}
3494 @command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
3495 different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
3496 method it uses:
3497
3498 @table @code
3499 @item auto
3500 Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
3501 @item gnu
3502 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
3503 @item lucid
3504 the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
3505 @item arm
3506 the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
3507 @item hp
3508 the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
3509 @item edg
3510 the one used by the EDG compiler
3511 @item gnu-v3
3512 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
3513 @item java
3514 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
3515 @item gnat
3516 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
3517 @end table
3518
3519 @item --help
3520 Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
3521
3522 @item --version
3523 Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
3524 @end table
3525
3526 @c man end
3527
3528 @ignore
3529 @c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
3530 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3531 @c man end
3532 @end ignore
3533
3534 @quotation
3535 @emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
3536 user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
3537 a command-line option may be required in the future to decode a name
3538 passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
3539
3540 @example
3541 c++filt @var{symbol}
3542 @end example
3543
3544 @noindent
3545 may in a future release become
3546
3547 @example
3548 c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
3549 @end example
3550 @end quotation
3551
3552 @node addr2line
3553 @chapter addr2line
3554
3555 @kindex addr2line
3556 @cindex address to file name and line number
3557
3558 @c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
3559
3560 @smallexample
3561 @c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
3562 addr2line [@option{-a}|@option{--addresses}]
3563 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
3564 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
3565 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
3566 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
3567 [@option{-i}|@option{--inlines}]
3568 [@option{-p}|@option{--pretty-print}]
3569 [@option{-j}|@option{--section=}@var{name}]
3570 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
3571 [addr addr @dots{}]
3572 @c man end
3573 @end smallexample
3574
3575 @c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
3576
3577 @command{addr2line} translates addresses into file names and line numbers.
3578 Given an address in an executable or an offset in a section of a relocatable
3579 object, it uses the debugging information to figure out which file name and
3580 line number are associated with it.
3581
3582 The executable or relocatable object to use is specified with the @option{-e}
3583 option. The default is the file @file{a.out}. The section in the relocatable
3584 object to use is specified with the @option{-j} option.
3585
3586 @command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
3587
3588 In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
3589 and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
3590 address.
3591
3592 In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
3593 standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
3594 address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
3595 in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
3596
3597 The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. By default
3598 each input address generates one line of output.
3599
3600 Two options can generate additional lines before each
3601 @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line (in that order).
3602
3603 If the @option{-a} option is used then a line with the input address
3604 is displayed.
3605
3606 If the @option{-f} option is used, then a line with the
3607 @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} is displayed. This is the name of the function
3608 containing the address.
3609
3610 One option can generate additional lines after the
3611 @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line.
3612
3613 If the @option{-i} option is used and the code at the given address is
3614 present there because of inlining by the compiler then additional
3615 lines are displayed afterwards. One or two extra lines (if the
3616 @option{-f} option is used) are displayed for each inlined function.
3617
3618 Alternatively if the @option{-p} option is used then each input
3619 address generates a single, long, output line containing the address,
3620 the function name, the file name and the line number. If the
3621 @option{-i} option has also been used then any inlined functions will
3622 be displayed in the same manner, but on separate lines, and prefixed
3623 by the text @samp{(inlined by)}.
3624
3625 If the file name or function name can not be determined,
3626 @command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
3627 line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
3628
3629 @c man end
3630
3631 @c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
3632
3633 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3634 equivalent.
3635
3636 @table @env
3637 @item -a
3638 @itemx --addresses
3639 Display the address before the function name, file and line number
3640 information. The address is printed with a @samp{0x} prefix to easily
3641 identify it.
3642
3643 @item -b @var{bfdname}
3644 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
3645 @cindex object code format
3646 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
3647 @var{bfdname}.
3648
3649 @item -C
3650 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
3651 @cindex demangling in objdump
3652 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
3653 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
3654 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
3655 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
3656 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
3657 for more information on demangling.
3658
3659 @item -e @var{filename}
3660 @itemx --exe=@var{filename}
3661 Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
3662 translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
3663
3664 @item -f
3665 @itemx --functions
3666 Display function names as well as file and line number information.
3667
3668 @item -s
3669 @itemx --basenames
3670 Display only the base of each file name.
3671
3672 @item -i
3673 @itemx --inlines
3674 If the address belongs to a function that was inlined, the source
3675 information for all enclosing scopes back to the first non-inlined
3676 function will also be printed. For example, if @code{main} inlines
3677 @code{callee1} which inlines @code{callee2}, and address is from
3678 @code{callee2}, the source information for @code{callee1} and @code{main}
3679 will also be printed.
3680
3681 @item -j
3682 @itemx --section
3683 Read offsets relative to the specified section instead of absolute addresses.
3684
3685 @item -p
3686 @itemx --pretty-print
3687 Make the output more human friendly: each location are printed on one line.
3688 If option @option{-i} is specified, lines for all enclosing scopes are
3689 prefixed with @samp{(inlined by)}.
3690 @end table
3691
3692 @c man end
3693
3694 @ignore
3695 @c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
3696 Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3697 @c man end
3698 @end ignore
3699
3700 @node windmc
3701 @chapter windmc
3702
3703 @command{windmc} may be used to generator Windows message resources.
3704
3705 @quotation
3706 @emph{Warning:} @command{windmc} is not always built as part of the binary
3707 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
3708 @end quotation
3709
3710 @c man title windmc generates Windows message resources.
3711
3712 @smallexample
3713 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windmc
3714 windmc [options] input-file
3715 @c man end
3716 @end smallexample
3717
3718 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windmc
3719
3720 @command{windmc} reads message definitions from an input file (.mc) and
3721 translate them into a set of output files. The output files may be of
3722 four kinds:
3723
3724 @table @code
3725 @item h
3726 A C header file containing the message definitions.
3727
3728 @item rc
3729 A resource file compilable by the @command{windres} tool.
3730
3731 @item bin
3732 One or more binary files containing the resource data for a specific
3733 message language.
3734
3735 @item dbg
3736 A C include file that maps message id's to their symbolic name.
3737 @end table
3738
3739 The exact description of these different formats is available in
3740 documentation from Microsoft.
3741
3742 When @command{windmc} converts from the @code{mc} format to the @code{bin}
3743 format, @code{rc}, @code{h}, and optional @code{dbg} it is acting like the
3744 Windows Message Compiler.
3745
3746 @c man end
3747
3748 @c man begin OPTIONS windmc
3749
3750 @table @env
3751 @item -a
3752 @itemx --ascii_in
3753 Specifies that the input file specified is ASCII. This is the default
3754 behaviour.
3755
3756 @item -A
3757 @itemx --ascii_out
3758 Specifies that messages in the output @code{bin} files should be in ASCII
3759 format.
3760
3761 @item -b
3762 @itemx --binprefix
3763 Specifies that @code{bin} filenames should have to be prefixed by the
3764 basename of the source file.
3765
3766 @item -c
3767 @itemx --customflag
3768 Sets the customer bit in all message id's.
3769
3770 @item -C @var{codepage}
3771 @itemx --codepage_in @var{codepage}
3772 Sets the default codepage to be used to convert input file to UTF16. The
3773 default is ocdepage 1252.
3774
3775 @item -d
3776 @itemx --decimal_values
3777 Outputs the constants in the header file in decimal. Default is using
3778 hexadecimal output.
3779
3780 @item -e @var{ext}
3781 @itemx --extension @var{ext}
3782 The extension for the header file. The default is .h extension.
3783
3784 @item -F @var{target}
3785 @itemx --target @var{target}
3786 Specify the BFD format to use for a bin file as output. This
3787 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
3788 of supported targets. Normally @command{windmc} will use the default
3789 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
3790 @ifclear man
3791 @ref{Target Selection}.
3792 @end ifclear
3793
3794 @item -h @var{path}
3795 @itemx --headerdir @var{path}
3796 The target directory of the generated header file. The default is the
3797 current directory.
3798
3799 @item -H
3800 @itemx --help
3801 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3802
3803 @item -m @var{characters}
3804 @itemx --maxlength @var{characters}
3805 Instructs @command{windmc} to generate a warning if the length
3806 of any message exceeds the number specified.
3807
3808 @item -n
3809 @itemx --nullterminate
3810 Terminate message text in @code{bin} files by zero. By default they are
3811 terminated by CR/LF.
3812
3813 @item -o
3814 @itemx --hresult_use
3815 Not yet implemented. Instructs @code{windmc} to generate an OLE2 header
3816 file, using HRESULT definitions. Status codes are used if the flag is not
3817 specified.
3818
3819 @item -O @var{codepage}
3820 @itemx --codepage_out @var{codepage}
3821 Sets the default codepage to be used to output text files. The default
3822 is ocdepage 1252.
3823
3824 @item -r @var{path}
3825 @itemx --rcdir @var{path}
3826 The target directory for the generated @code{rc} script and the generated
3827 @code{bin} files that the resource compiler script includes. The default
3828 is the current directory.
3829
3830 @item -u
3831 @itemx --unicode_in
3832 Specifies that the input file is UTF16.
3833
3834 @item -U
3835 @itemx --unicode_out
3836 Specifies that messages in the output @code{bin} file should be in UTF16
3837 format. This is the default behaviour.
3838
3839 @item -v
3840 @item --verbose
3841 Enable verbose mode.
3842
3843 @item -V
3844 @item --version
3845 Prints the version number for @command{windmc}.
3846
3847 @item -x @var{path}
3848 @itemx --xdgb @var{path}
3849 The path of the @code{dbg} C include file that maps message id's to the
3850 symbolic name. No such file is generated without specifying the switch.
3851 @end table
3852
3853 @c man end
3854
3855 @ignore
3856 @c man begin SEEALSO windmc
3857 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3858 @c man end
3859 @end ignore
3860
3861 @node windres
3862 @chapter windres
3863
3864 @command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
3865
3866 @quotation
3867 @emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
3868 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
3869 @end quotation
3870
3871 @c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
3872
3873 @smallexample
3874 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
3875 windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
3876 @c man end
3877 @end smallexample
3878
3879 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
3880
3881 @command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
3882 an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
3883
3884 @table @code
3885 @item rc
3886 A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
3887
3888 @item res
3889 A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
3890
3891 @item coff
3892 A COFF object or executable.
3893 @end table
3894
3895 The exact description of these different formats is available in
3896 documentation from Microsoft.
3897
3898 When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
3899 format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
3900 @command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
3901 format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
3902
3903 When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
3904 but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
3905 @code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
3906 will instead include the file contents.
3907
3908 If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
3909 guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
3910 A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
3911 file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
3912 @code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
3913 @file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
3914
3915 If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
3916 in @code{rc} format to standard output.
3917
3918 The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
3919 to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
3920 your application. This will make the resources described in the
3921 @code{rc} file available to Windows.
3922
3923 @c man end
3924
3925 @c man begin OPTIONS windres
3926
3927 @table @env
3928 @item -i @var{filename}
3929 @itemx --input @var{filename}
3930 The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
3931 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
3932 name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
3933 read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
3934 standard input.
3935
3936 @item -o @var{filename}
3937 @itemx --output @var{filename}
3938 The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
3939 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
3940 for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
3941 non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
3942 @command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
3943 for compatibility with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
3944 accepted, but its use is not recommended.
3945
3946 @item -J @var{format}
3947 @itemx --input-format @var{format}
3948 The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
3949 @samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
3950 guess, as described above.
3951
3952 @item -O @var{format}
3953 @itemx --output-format @var{format}
3954 The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
3955 @samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
3956 @command{windres} will guess, as described above.
3957
3958 @item -F @var{target}
3959 @itemx --target @var{target}
3960 Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
3961 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
3962 of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
3963 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
3964 @ifclear man
3965 @ref{Target Selection}.
3966 @end ifclear
3967
3968 @item --preprocessor @var{program}
3969 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
3970 preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
3971 to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
3972 argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
3973
3974 @item --preprocessor-arg @var{option}
3975 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through
3976 the C preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify additional
3977 text to be passed to preprocessor on its command line.
3978 This option can be used multiple times to add multiple options to the
3979 preprocessor command line.
3980
3981 @item -I @var{directory}
3982 @itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
3983 Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
3984 @command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
3985 option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
3986 files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
3987 matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as described in the @option{-J}
3988 option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
3989 @option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
3990 directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
3991 to disable the backward compatibility.
3992
3993 @item -D @var{target}
3994 @itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
3995 Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
3996 @code{rc} file.
3997
3998 @item -U @var{target}
3999 @itemx --undefine @var{sym}
4000 Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
4001 @code{rc} file.
4002
4003 @item -r
4004 Ignored for compatibility with rc.
4005
4006 @item -v
4007 Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
4008 didn't specify one.
4009
4010 @item -c @var{val}
4011 @item --codepage @var{val}
4012 Specify the default codepage to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4013 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal prefixed by @samp{0x} or decimal
4014 codepage code. The valid range is from zero up to 0xffff, but the
4015 validity of the codepage is host and configuration dependent.
4016
4017 @item -l @var{val}
4018 @item --language @var{val}
4019 Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
4020 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
4021 the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
4022
4023 @item --use-temp-file
4024 Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
4025 the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
4026 on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
4027 Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
4028 go the console).
4029
4030 @item --no-use-temp-file
4031 Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
4032 This is the default behaviour.
4033
4034 @item -h
4035 @item --help
4036 Prints a usage summary.
4037
4038 @item -V
4039 @item --version
4040 Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
4041
4042 @item --yydebug
4043 If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
4044 this will turn on parser debugging.
4045 @end table
4046
4047 @c man end
4048
4049 @ignore
4050 @c man begin SEEALSO windres
4051 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4052 @c man end
4053 @end ignore
4054
4055 @node dlltool
4056 @chapter dlltool
4057 @cindex DLL
4058 @kindex dlltool
4059
4060 @command{dlltool} is used to create the files needed to create dynamic
4061 link libraries (DLLs) on systems which understand PE format image
4062 files such as Windows. A DLL contains an export table which contains
4063 information that the runtime loader needs to resolve references from a
4064 referencing program.
4065
4066 The export table is generated by this program by reading in a
4067 @file{.def} file or scanning the @file{.a} and @file{.o} files which
4068 will be in the DLL. A @file{.o} file can contain information in
4069 special @samp{.drectve} sections with export information.
4070
4071 @quotation
4072 @emph{Note:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the
4073 binary utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which
4074 support DLLs.
4075 @end quotation
4076
4077 @c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
4078
4079 @smallexample
4080 @c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
4081 dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
4082 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
4083 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
4084 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
4085 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
4086 [@option{-y}|@option{--output-delaylib} @var{library-file-name}]
4087 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
4088 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
4089 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
4090 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
4091 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
4092 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}]
4093 [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{--add-stdcall-underscore}]
4094 [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}] [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
4095 [@option{-p}|@option{--ext-prefix-alias} @var{prefix}]
4096 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}]
4097 [@option{--use-nul-prefixed-import-tables}]
4098 [@option{-I}|@option{--identify} @var{library-file-name}] [@option{--identify-strict}]
4099 [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
4100 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-t}|@option{--temp-prefix} @var{prefix}]
4101 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
4102 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
4103 [@option{--no-leading-underscore}] [@option{--leading-underscore}]
4104 [object-file @dots{}]
4105 @c man end
4106 @end smallexample
4107
4108 @c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
4109
4110 @command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
4111 @option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
4112 line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
4113 been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
4114 has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
4115 has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
4116 @option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
4117 dlltool.
4118
4119 When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
4120 to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
4121 these files.
4122
4123 The first file is a @file{.def} file which specifies which functions are
4124 exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
4125 is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
4126 to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
4127 will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
4128 those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
4129 put entries for them in the @file{.def} file it creates.
4130
4131 In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
4132 have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
4133 section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
4134 asm() operator:
4135
4136 @smallexample
4137 asm (".section .drectve");
4138 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
4139
4140 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
4141 @end smallexample
4142
4143 The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
4144 is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
4145 handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
4146 binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
4147 @command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
4148
4149 The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
4150 will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL (an `import
4151 library'). This file can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to
4152 dlltool when it is creating or reading in a @file{.def} file.
4153
4154 If the @option{-y} option is specified, dlltool generates a delay-import
4155 library that can be used instead of the normal import library to allow
4156 a program to link to the dll only as soon as an imported function is
4157 called for the first time. The resulting executable will need to be
4158 linked to the static delayimp library containing __delayLoadHelper2(),
4159 which in turn will import LoadLibraryA and GetProcAddress from kernel32.
4160
4161 @command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
4162 exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
4163 and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
4164 used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
4165 and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
4166 assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
4167 these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
4168 specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
4169 temporary object files it used to build the library.
4170
4171 Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
4172 also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
4173 that uses that DLL:
4174
4175 @smallexample
4176 gcc -c dll.c
4177 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
4178 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
4179 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
4180 @end smallexample
4181
4182
4183 @command{dlltool} may also be used to query an existing import library
4184 to determine the name of the DLL to which it is associated. See the
4185 description of the @option{-I} or @option{--identify} option.
4186
4187 @c man end
4188
4189 @c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
4190
4191 The command line options have the following meanings:
4192
4193 @table @env
4194
4195 @item -d @var{filename}
4196 @itemx --input-def @var{filename}
4197 @cindex input .def file
4198 Specifies the name of a @file{.def} file to be read in and processed.
4199
4200 @item -b @var{filename}
4201 @itemx --base-file @var{filename}
4202 @cindex base files
4203 Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
4204 contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
4205 exports file generated by dlltool.
4206
4207 @item -e @var{filename}
4208 @itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
4209 Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
4210
4211 @item -z @var{filename}
4212 @itemx --output-def @var{filename}
4213 Specifies the name of the @file{.def} file to be created by dlltool.
4214
4215 @item -l @var{filename}
4216 @itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
4217 Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
4218
4219 @item -y @var{filename}
4220 @itemx --output-delaylib @var{filename}
4221 Specifies the name of the delay-import library file to be created by dlltool.
4222
4223 @item --export-all-symbols
4224 Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
4225 files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
4226 are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
4227 option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
4228 @option{--exclude-symbols} option.
4229
4230 @item --no-export-all-symbols
4231 Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input @file{.def} file or in
4232 @samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
4233 behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
4234 attributes in the source code.
4235
4236 @item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
4237 Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
4238 separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
4239 contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
4240 @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
4241
4242 @item --no-default-excludes
4243 When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
4244 exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
4245 exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
4246 @samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
4247 to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
4248 when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
4249
4250 @item -S @var{path}
4251 @itemx --as @var{path}
4252 Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
4253 to create the exports file.
4254
4255 @item -f @var{options}
4256 @itemx --as-flags @var{options}
4257 Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
4258 assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
4259 the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
4260 and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
4261 occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
4262 pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
4263 double quotes.
4264
4265 @item -D @var{name}
4266 @itemx --dll-name @var{name}
4267 Specifies the name to be stored in the @file{.def} file as the name of
4268 the DLL when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not
4269 present, then the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be
4270 used as the name of the DLL.
4271
4272 @item -m @var{machine}
4273 @itemx -machine @var{machine}
4274 Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
4275 built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
4276 it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
4277 normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
4278 contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
4279
4280 @item -a
4281 @itemx --add-indirect
4282 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4283 should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
4284 referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
4285 means!
4286
4287 @item -U
4288 @itemx --add-underscore
4289 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4290 should prepend an underscore to the names of @emph{all} exported symbols.
4291
4292 @item --no-leading-underscore
4293 @item --leading-underscore
4294 Specifies whether standard symbol should be forced to be prefixed, or
4295 not.
4296
4297 @item --add-stdcall-underscore
4298 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4299 should prepend an underscore to the names of exported @emph{stdcall}
4300 functions. Variable names and non-stdcall function names are not modified.
4301 This option is useful when creating GNU-compatible import libs for third
4302 party DLLs that were built with MS-Windows tools.
4303
4304 @item -k
4305 @itemx --kill-at
4306 Specifies that @samp{@@<number>} suffixes should be omitted from the names
4307 of stdcall functions that will be imported from the DLL. This is
4308 useful when creating an import library for a DLL which exports stdcall
4309 functions but without the usual @samp{@@<number>} symbol name suffix.
4310
4311 This does not change the naming of symbols provided by the import library
4312 to programs linked against it, but only the entries in the import table
4313 (ie the .idata section).
4314
4315 @item -A
4316 @itemx --add-stdcall-alias
4317 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
4318 should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
4319 in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
4320
4321 @item -p
4322 @itemx --ext-prefix-alias @var{prefix}
4323 Causes @command{dlltool} to create external aliases for all DLL
4324 imports with the specified prefix. The aliases are created for both
4325 external and import symbols with no leading underscore.
4326
4327 @item -x
4328 @itemx --no-idata4
4329 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4330 files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
4331 with certain operating systems.
4332
4333 @item --use-nul-prefixed-import-tables
4334 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4335 files it should prefix the @code{.idata4} and @code{.idata5} by zero an
4336 element. This emulates old gnu import library generation of
4337 @code{dlltool}. By default this option is turned off.
4338
4339 @item -c
4340 @itemx --no-idata5
4341 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
4342 files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
4343 with certain operating systems.
4344
4345 @item -I @var{filename}
4346 @itemx --identify @var{filename}
4347 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should inspect the import library
4348 indicated by @var{filename} and report, on @code{stdout}, the name(s)
4349 of the associated DLL(s). This can be performed in addition to any
4350 other operations indicated by the other options and arguments.
4351 @command{dlltool} fails if the import library does not exist or is not
4352 actually an import library. See also @option{--identify-strict}.
4353
4354 @item --identify-strict
4355 Modifies the behavior of the @option{--identify} option, such
4356 that an error is reported if @var{filename} is associated with
4357 more than one DLL.
4358
4359 @item -i
4360 @itemx --interwork
4361 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
4362 file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
4363 between ARM and Thumb code.
4364
4365 @item -n
4366 @itemx --nodelete
4367 Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
4368 create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
4369 also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
4370 file.
4371
4372 @item -t @var{prefix}
4373 @itemx --temp-prefix @var{prefix}
4374 Makes @command{dlltool} use @var{prefix} when constructing the names of
4375 temporary assembler and object files. By default, the temp file prefix
4376 is generated from the pid.
4377
4378 @item -v
4379 @itemx --verbose
4380 Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
4381
4382 @item -h
4383 @itemx --help
4384 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
4385
4386 @item -V
4387 @itemx --version
4388 Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
4389
4390 @end table
4391
4392 @c man end
4393
4394 @menu
4395 * def file format:: The format of the dlltool @file{.def} file
4396 @end menu
4397
4398 @node def file format
4399 @section The format of the @command{dlltool} @file{.def} file
4400
4401 A @file{.def} file contains any number of the following commands:
4402
4403 @table @asis
4404
4405 @item @code{NAME} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
4406 The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.exe}.
4407
4408 @item @code{LIBRARY} @var{name} @code{[ ,} @var{base} @code{]}
4409 The result is going to be named @var{name}@code{.dll}.
4410 Note: If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote. Otherwise
4411 this will fail due a necessary hack for libtool (see PR binutils/13710 for more
4412 details).
4413
4414 @item @code{EXPORTS ( ( (} @var{name1} @code{[ = } @var{name2} @code{] ) | ( } @var{name1} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) ) [ == } @var{its_name} @code{]}
4415 @item @code{[} @var{integer} @code{] [ NONAME ] [ CONSTANT ] [ DATA ] [ PRIVATE ] ) *}
4416 Declares @var{name1} as an exported symbol from the DLL, with optional
4417 ordinal number @var{integer}, or declares @var{name1} as an alias
4418 (forward) of the function @var{external-name} in the DLL.
4419 If @var{its_name} is specified, this name is used as string in export table.
4420 @var{module-name}.
4421 Note: The @code{EXPORTS} has to be the last command in .def file, as keywords
4422 are treated - beside @code{LIBRARY} - as simple name-identifiers.
4423 If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote it.
4424
4425 @item @code{IMPORTS ( (} @var{internal-name} @code{=} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{integer} @code{) | [} @var{internal-name} @code{= ]} @var{module-name} @code{.} @var{external-name} @code{) [ == ) @var{its_name} @code{]} *}
4426 Declares that @var{external-name} or the exported function whose
4427 ordinal number is @var{integer} is to be imported from the file
4428 @var{module-name}. If @var{internal-name} is specified then this is
4429 the name that the imported function will be referred to in the body of
4430 the DLL.
4431 If @var{its_name} is specified, this name is used as string in import table.
4432 Note: The @code{IMPORTS} has to be the last command in .def file, as keywords
4433 are treated - beside @code{LIBRARY} - as simple name-identifiers.
4434 If you want to use LIBRARY as name then you need to quote it.
4435
4436 @item @code{DESCRIPTION} @var{string}
4437 Puts @var{string} into the output @file{.exp} file in the
4438 @code{.rdata} section.
4439
4440 @item @code{STACKSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
4441 @item @code{HEAPSIZE} @var{number-reserve} @code{[, } @var{number-commit} @code{]}
4442 Generates @code{--stack} or @code{--heap}
4443 @var{number-reserve},@var{number-commit} in the output @code{.drectve}
4444 section. The linker will see this and act upon it.
4445
4446 @item @code{CODE} @var{attr} @code{+}
4447 @item @code{DATA} @var{attr} @code{+}
4448 @item @code{SECTIONS (} @var{section-name} @var{attr}@code{ + ) *}
4449 Generates @code{--attr} @var{section-name} @var{attr} in the output
4450 @code{.drectve} section, where @var{attr} is one of @code{READ},
4451 @code{WRITE}, @code{EXECUTE} or @code{SHARED}. The linker will see
4452 this and act upon it.
4453
4454 @end table
4455
4456 @ignore
4457 @c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
4458 The Info pages for @file{binutils}.
4459 @c man end
4460 @end ignore
4461
4462 @node readelf
4463 @chapter readelf
4464
4465 @cindex ELF file information
4466 @kindex readelf
4467
4468 @c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
4469
4470 @smallexample
4471 @c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
4472 readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
4473 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
4474 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
4475 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
4476 [@option{-g}|@option{--section-groups}]
4477 [@option{-t}|@option{--section-details}]
4478 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
4479 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
4480 [@option{--dyn-syms}]
4481 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
4482 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
4483 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
4484 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
4485 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
4486 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
4487 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
4488 [@option{-x} <number or name>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number or name>]
4489 [@option{-p} <number or name>|@option{--string-dump=}<number or name>]
4490 [@option{-R} <number or name>|@option{--relocated-dump=}<number or name>]
4491 [@option{-z}|@option{--decompress}]
4492 [@option{-c}|@option{--archive-index}]
4493 [@option{-w[lLiaprmfFsoRtUuTgAckK]}|
4494 @option{--debug-dump}[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index,=addr,=cu_index,=links,=follow-links]]
4495 [@option{--dwarf-depth=@var{n}}]
4496 [@option{--dwarf-start=@var{n}}]
4497 [@option{-I}|@option{--histogram}]
4498 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
4499 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
4500 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
4501 @var{elffile}@dots{}
4502 @c man end
4503 @end smallexample
4504
4505 @c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
4506
4507 @command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
4508 files. The options control what particular information to display.
4509
4510 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
4511 64-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
4512
4513 This program performs a similar function to @command{objdump} but it
4514 goes into more detail and it exists independently of the @sc{bfd}
4515 library, so if there is a bug in @sc{bfd} then readelf will not be
4516 affected.
4517
4518 @c man end
4519
4520 @c man begin OPTIONS readelf
4521
4522 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
4523 equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
4524 given.
4525
4526 @table @env
4527 @item -a
4528 @itemx --all
4529 Equivalent to specifying @option{--file-header},
4530 @option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
4531 @option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes},
4532 @option{--version-info}, @option{--arch-specific}, @option{--unwind},
4533 @option{--section-groups} and @option{--histogram}.
4534
4535 Note - this option does not enable @option{--use-dynamic} itself, so
4536 if that option is not present on the command line then dynamic symbols
4537 and dynamic relocs will not be displayed.
4538
4539 @item -h
4540 @itemx --file-header
4541 @cindex ELF file header information
4542 Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
4543 file.
4544
4545 @item -l
4546 @itemx --program-headers
4547 @itemx --segments
4548 @cindex ELF program header information
4549 @cindex ELF segment information
4550 Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
4551 has any.
4552
4553 @item -S
4554 @itemx --sections
4555 @itemx --section-headers
4556 @cindex ELF section information
4557 Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
4558 has any.
4559
4560 @item -g
4561 @itemx --section-groups
4562 @cindex ELF section group information
4563 Displays the information contained in the file's section groups, if it
4564 has any.
4565
4566 @item -t
4567 @itemx --section-details
4568 @cindex ELF section information
4569 Displays the detailed section information. Implies @option{-S}.
4570
4571 @item -s
4572 @itemx --symbols
4573 @itemx --syms
4574 @cindex ELF symbol table information
4575 Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
4576 If a symbol has version information associated with it then this is
4577 displayed as well. The version string is displayed as a suffix to the
4578 symbol name, preceeded by an @@ character. For example
4579 @samp{foo@@VER_1}. If the version is the default version to be used
4580 when resolving unversioned references to the symbol then it is
4581 displayed as a suffix preceeded by two @@ characters. For example
4582 @samp{foo@@@@VER_2}.
4583
4584 @item --dyn-syms
4585 @cindex ELF dynamic symbol table information
4586 Displays the entries in dynamic symbol table section of the file, if it
4587 has one. The output format is the same as the format used by the
4588 @option{--syms} option.
4589
4590 @item -e
4591 @itemx --headers
4592 Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
4593
4594 @item -n
4595 @itemx --notes
4596 @cindex ELF notes
4597 Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.
4598
4599 @item -r
4600 @itemx --relocs
4601 @cindex ELF reloc information
4602 Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
4603
4604 @item -u
4605 @itemx --unwind
4606 @cindex unwind information
4607 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
4608 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files, as well as ARM unwind tables
4609 (@code{.ARM.exidx} / @code{.ARM.extab}) are currently supported.
4610
4611 @item -d
4612 @itemx --dynamic
4613 @cindex ELF dynamic section information
4614 Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
4615
4616 @item -V
4617 @itemx --version-info
4618 @cindex ELF version sections information
4619 Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
4620 exist.
4621
4622 @item -A
4623 @itemx --arch-specific
4624 Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
4625 is any.
4626
4627 @item -D
4628 @itemx --use-dynamic
4629 When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
4630 symbol hash tables in the file's dynamic section, rather than the
4631 symbol table sections.
4632
4633 When displaying relocations, this option makes @command{readelf}
4634 display the dynamic relocations rather than the static relocations.
4635
4636 @item -x <number or name>
4637 @itemx --hex-dump=<number or name>
4638 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal bytes.
4639 A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
4640 any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.
4641
4642 @item -R <number or name>
4643 @itemx --relocated-dump=<number or name>
4644 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal
4645 bytes. A number identifies a particular section by index in the
4646 section table; any other string identifies all sections with that name
4647 in the object file. The contents of the section will be relocated
4648 before they are displayed.
4649
4650 @item -p <number or name>
4651 @itemx --string-dump=<number or name>
4652 Displays the contents of the indicated section as printable strings.
4653 A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
4654 any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.
4655
4656 @item -z
4657 @itemx --decompress
4658 Requests that the section(s) being dumped by @option{x}, @option{R} or
4659 @option{p} options are decompressed before being displayed. If the
4660 section(s) are not compressed then they are displayed as is.
4661
4662 @item -c
4663 @itemx --archive-index
4664 @cindex Archive file symbol index information
4665 Displays the file symbol index information contained in the header part
4666 of binary archives. Performs the same function as the @option{t}
4667 command to @command{ar}, but without using the BFD library. @xref{ar}.
4668
4669 @item -w[lLiaprmfFsoRtUuTgAckK]
4670 @itemx --debug-dump[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index,=addr,=cu_index,=links,=follow-links]
4671 @include debug.options.texi
4672
4673 @item -I
4674 @itemx --histogram
4675 Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
4676 of the symbol tables.
4677
4678 @item -v
4679 @itemx --version
4680 Display the version number of readelf.
4681
4682 @item -W
4683 @itemx --wide
4684 Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
4685 @command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
4686 64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
4687 @command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
4688 single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
4689
4690 @item -H
4691 @itemx --help
4692 Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
4693
4694 @end table
4695
4696 @c man end
4697
4698 @ignore
4699 @c man begin SEEALSO readelf
4700 objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4701 @c man end
4702 @end ignore
4703
4704 @node elfedit
4705 @chapter elfedit
4706
4707 @cindex Update ELF header
4708 @kindex elfedit
4709
4710 @c man title elfedit Update the ELF header of ELF files.
4711
4712 @smallexample
4713 @c man begin SYNOPSIS elfedit
4714 elfedit [@option{--input-mach=}@var{machine}]
4715 [@option{--input-type=}@var{type}]
4716 [@option{--input-osabi=}@var{osabi}]
4717 @option{--output-mach=}@var{machine}
4718 @option{--output-type=}@var{type}
4719 @option{--output-osabi=}@var{osabi}
4720 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
4721 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}]
4722 @var{elffile}@dots{}
4723 @c man end
4724 @end smallexample
4725
4726 @c man begin DESCRIPTION elfedit
4727
4728 @command{elfedit} updates the ELF header of ELF files which have
4729 the matching ELF machine and file types. The options control how and
4730 which fields in the ELF header should be updated.
4731
4732 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the ELF files to be updated. 32-bit and
4733 64-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
4734 @c man end
4735
4736 @c man begin OPTIONS elfedit
4737
4738 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
4739 equivalent. At least one of the @option{--output-mach},
4740 @option{--output-type} and @option{--output-osabi} options must be given.
4741
4742 @table @env
4743
4744 @item --input-mach=@var{machine}
4745 Set the matching input ELF machine type to @var{machine}. If
4746 @option{--input-mach} isn't specified, it will match any ELF
4747 machine types.
4748
4749 The supported ELF machine types are, @var{i386}, @var{IAMCU}, @var{L1OM},
4750 @var{K1OM} and @var{x86-64}.
4751
4752 @item --output-mach=@var{machine}
4753 Change the ELF machine type in the ELF header to @var{machine}. The
4754 supported ELF machine types are the same as @option{--input-mach}.
4755
4756 @item --input-type=@var{type}
4757 Set the matching input ELF file type to @var{type}. If
4758 @option{--input-type} isn't specified, it will match any ELF file types.
4759
4760 The supported ELF file types are, @var{rel}, @var{exec} and @var{dyn}.
4761
4762 @item --output-type=@var{type}
4763 Change the ELF file type in the ELF header to @var{type}. The
4764 supported ELF types are the same as @option{--input-type}.
4765
4766 @item --input-osabi=@var{osabi}
4767 Set the matching input ELF file OSABI to @var{osabi}. If
4768 @option{--input-osabi} isn't specified, it will match any ELF OSABIs.
4769
4770 The supported ELF OSABIs are, @var{none}, @var{HPUX}, @var{NetBSD},
4771 @var{GNU}, @var{Linux} (alias for @var{GNU}),
4772 @var{Solaris}, @var{AIX}, @var{Irix},
4773 @var{FreeBSD}, @var{TRU64}, @var{Modesto}, @var{OpenBSD}, @var{OpenVMS},
4774 @var{NSK}, @var{AROS} and @var{FenixOS}.
4775
4776 @item --output-osabi=@var{osabi}
4777 Change the ELF OSABI in the ELF header to @var{osabi}. The
4778 supported ELF OSABI are the same as @option{--input-osabi}.
4779
4780 @item -v
4781 @itemx --version
4782 Display the version number of @command{elfedit}.
4783
4784 @item -h
4785 @itemx --help
4786 Display the command line options understood by @command{elfedit}.
4787
4788 @end table
4789
4790 @c man end
4791
4792 @ignore
4793 @c man begin SEEALSO elfedit
4794 readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
4795 @c man end
4796 @end ignore
4797
4798 @node Common Options
4799 @chapter Common Options
4800
4801 The following command-line options are supported by all of the
4802 programs described in this manual.
4803
4804 @c man begin OPTIONS
4805 @table @env
4806 @include at-file.texi
4807 @c man end
4808
4809 @item --help
4810 Display the command-line options supported by the program.
4811
4812 @item --version
4813 Display the version number of the program.
4814
4815 @c man begin OPTIONS
4816 @end table
4817 @c man end
4818
4819 @node Selecting the Target System
4820 @chapter Selecting the Target System
4821
4822 You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
4823 binary file utilities, each in several ways:
4824
4825 @itemize @bullet
4826 @item
4827 the target
4828
4829 @item
4830 the architecture
4831 @end itemize
4832
4833 In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
4834 order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
4835 listed later.
4836
4837 The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
4838 programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
4839 @option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
4840 values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
4841 once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
4842 with the same type as the target system).
4843
4844 @menu
4845 * Target Selection::
4846 * Architecture Selection::
4847 @end menu
4848
4849 @node Target Selection
4850 @section Target Selection
4851
4852 A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
4853 supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
4854 A target selection may also have variations for different operating
4855 systems or architectures.
4856
4857 The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
4858 (the first column of output contains the relevant information).
4859
4860 Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
4861 @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
4862
4863 You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
4864 the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
4865 target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
4866 fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
4867 running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
4868 sources.
4869
4870 Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
4871 @samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
4872
4873 @subheading @command{objdump} Target
4874
4875 Ways to specify:
4876
4877 @enumerate
4878 @item
4879 command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
4880
4881 @item
4882 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4883
4884 @item
4885 deduced from the input file
4886 @end enumerate
4887
4888 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
4889
4890 Ways to specify:
4891
4892 @enumerate
4893 @item
4894 command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
4895
4896 @item
4897 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4898
4899 @item
4900 deduced from the input file
4901 @end enumerate
4902
4903 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
4904
4905 Ways to specify:
4906
4907 @enumerate
4908 @item
4909 command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
4910
4911 @item
4912 the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
4913
4914 @item
4915 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4916
4917 @item
4918 deduced from the input file
4919 @end enumerate
4920
4921 @subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
4922
4923 Ways to specify:
4924
4925 @enumerate
4926 @item
4927 command line option: @option{--target}
4928
4929 @item
4930 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
4931
4932 @item
4933 deduced from the input file
4934 @end enumerate
4935
4936 @node Architecture Selection
4937 @section Architecture Selection
4938
4939 An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
4940 to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
4941 processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
4942
4943 The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
4944 second column contains the relevant information).
4945
4946 Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
4947
4948 @subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
4949
4950 Ways to specify:
4951
4952 @enumerate
4953 @item
4954 command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
4955
4956 @item
4957 deduced from the input file
4958 @end enumerate
4959
4960 @subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
4961
4962 Ways to specify:
4963
4964 @enumerate
4965 @item
4966 deduced from the input file
4967 @end enumerate
4968
4969 @node Reporting Bugs
4970 @chapter Reporting Bugs
4971 @cindex bugs
4972 @cindex reporting bugs
4973
4974 Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
4975 reliable.
4976
4977 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
4978 it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
4979 to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
4980 utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
4981 maintenance.
4982
4983 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
4984 information that enables us to fix the bug.
4985
4986 @menu
4987 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
4988 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
4989 @end menu
4990
4991 @node Bug Criteria
4992 @section Have You Found a Bug?
4993 @cindex bug criteria
4994
4995 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
4996
4997 @itemize @bullet
4998 @cindex fatal signal
4999 @cindex crash
5000 @item
5001 If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
5002 a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
5003
5004 @cindex error on valid input
5005 @item
5006 If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
5007 bug.
5008
5009 @item
5010 If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
5011 improvement are welcome in any case.
5012 @end itemize
5013
5014 @node Bug Reporting
5015 @section How to Report Bugs
5016 @cindex bug reports
5017 @cindex bugs, reporting
5018
5019 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
5020 products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
5021 organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
5022
5023 You can find contact information for many support companies and
5024 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
5025 distribution.
5026
5027 @ifset BUGURL
5028 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
5029 utilities to @value{BUGURL}.
5030 @end ifset
5031
5032 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
5033 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
5034 fact or leave it out, state it!
5035
5036 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
5037 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
5038 assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
5039 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
5040 a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
5041 that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
5042 different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
5043 doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
5044 specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
5045 and the most helpful.
5046
5047 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
5048 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
5049 that the bug has not been reported previously.
5050
5051 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
5052 bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
5053 respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
5054 You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
5055
5056 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
5057
5058 @itemize @bullet
5059 @item
5060 The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
5061 with the @option{--version} argument.
5062
5063 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
5064 the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
5065
5066 @item
5067 Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
5068 made to the @code{BFD} library.
5069
5070 @item
5071 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
5072 version number.
5073
5074 @item
5075 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
5076 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
5077
5078 @item
5079 The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
5080 guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
5081 of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
5082
5083 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
5084 and then we might not encounter the bug.
5085
5086 @item
5087 A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
5088 bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
5089 generally most helpful to send the actual object files.
5090
5091 If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
5092 (e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
5093 may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
5094 this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
5095 whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
5096 @command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
5097
5098 @item
5099 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
5100 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
5101
5102 Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
5103 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
5104 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
5105 a chance to make a mistake.
5106
5107 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
5108 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
5109 copy of the utility is out of sync, or you have encountered a bug in
5110 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
5111 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
5112 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
5113 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
5114 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
5115
5116 @item
5117 If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
5118 generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
5119 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
5120 wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
5121 context, not by line number.
5122
5123 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
5124 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
5125 @end itemize
5126
5127 Here are some things that are not necessary:
5128
5129 @itemize @bullet
5130 @item
5131 A description of the envelope of the bug.
5132
5133 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
5134 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
5135 changes will not affect it.
5136
5137 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
5138 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
5139 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
5140 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
5141
5142 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
5143 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
5144 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
5145 less time, and so on.
5146
5147 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
5148 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
5149
5150 @item
5151 A patch for the bug.
5152
5153 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
5154 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
5155 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
5156 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
5157
5158 Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
5159 very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
5160 certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
5161 will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
5162 the bug is fixed.
5163
5164 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
5165 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
5166 help us to understand.
5167
5168 @item
5169 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
5170
5171 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
5172 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
5173 @end itemize
5174
5175 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5176 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5177
5178 @include fdl.texi
5179
5180 @node Binutils Index
5181 @unnumbered Binutils Index
5182
5183 @printindex cp
5184
5185 @bye
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