* elf32-mips.c (mips_elf_calculate_relocation): R_MIPS_LITERAL
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / binutils.texi
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1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
3@include config.texi
4
5@ifinfo
6@format
7START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
ad0481cd
AS
8* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
9* ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives
10* nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files
11* objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files
12* objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files
13* ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents
14* readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
15* size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size
16* strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files
17* strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols
18* c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
19* cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
20* addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line
21* nlmconv: (binutils)nlmconv. Converts object code into an NLM
22* windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources
23* dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs
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24END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
25@end format
26@end ifinfo
27
28@ifinfo
29Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
30
31Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
32this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
33are preserved on all copies.
34
35@ignore
36Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
37results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
38notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
39(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
40
41@end ignore
42
43Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
44manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
45the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
46permission notice identical to this one.
47
48Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
49into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
50@end ifinfo
51
52@synindex ky cp
53@c
54@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
55@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", "readelf" and "ranlib".
56@c
57@c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
58@c
59@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
60@c General Public License.
61@c
62
63@setchapternewpage odd
64@settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
65@titlepage
66@finalout
67@title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
68@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
69@sp 1
70@subtitle May 1993
71@author Roland H. Pesch
72@author Jeffrey M. Osier
73@author Cygnus Support
74@page
75
76@tex
77{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
78\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
79@end tex
80
81@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
82Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
83
84Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
85this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
86are preserved on all copies.
87
88Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
89manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
90the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
91permission notice identical to this one.
92
93Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
94into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
95@end titlepage
96
97@node Top
98@top Introduction
99
100@cindex version
101This brief manual contains preliminary documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
102utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
103
104@iftex
105@table @code
106@item ar
107Create, modify, and extract from archives
108
109@item nm
110List symbols from object files
111
112@item objcopy
113Copy and translate object files
114
115@item objdump
116Display information from object files
117
118@item ranlib
119Generate index to archive contents
120
121@item readelf
122Display the contents of ELF format files.
123
124@item size
125List file section sizes and total size
126
127@item strings
128List printable strings from files
129
130@item strip
131Discard symbols
132
133@item c++filt
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134Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
135@code{cxxfilt})
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136
137@item addr2line
138Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
139
140@item nlmconv
141Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
142
143@item windres
144Manipulate Windows resources
145
146@item dlltool
147Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
148@end table
149@end iftex
150
151@menu
152* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
153* nm:: List symbols from object files
154* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
155* objdump:: Display information from object files
156* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
157* readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files.
158* size:: List section sizes and total size
159* strings:: List printable strings from files
160* strip:: Discard symbols
161* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
9d51cc66 162* cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
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163* addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
164* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
165* windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
166* dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
167* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
168* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
169* Index:: Index
170@end menu
171
172@node ar
173@chapter ar
174
175@kindex ar
176@cindex archives
177@cindex collections of files
178@smallexample
3de39064 179ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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180ar -M [ <mri-script ]
181@end smallexample
182
183The @sc{gnu} @code{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
184archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
185other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
186the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
187
188The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
189group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
190extraction.
191
192@cindex name length
193@sc{gnu} @code{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
194length; however, depending on how @code{ar} is configured on your
195system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
196with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
197limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
198characters (typical of formats related to coff).
199
200@cindex libraries
201@code{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
202are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
203subroutines.
204
205@cindex symbol index
206@code{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
207object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
208Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @code{ar}
209makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
210An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
211allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
212their placement in the archive.
213
214You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
215table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @code{ar} called
216@code{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
217
218@cindex compatibility, @code{ar}
219@cindex @code{ar} compatibility
220@sc{gnu} @code{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
221facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
222like the different varieties of @code{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
223specify the single command-line option @samp{-M}, you can control it
224with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
225program.
226
227@menu
228* ar cmdline:: Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
229* ar scripts:: Controlling @code{ar} with a script
230@end menu
231
232@page
233@node ar cmdline
234@section Controlling @code{ar} on the command line
235
236@smallexample
3de39064 237ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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238@end smallexample
239
240@cindex Unix compatibility, @code{ar}
241When you use @code{ar} in the Unix style, @code{ar} insists on at least two
242arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
243(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
244@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
245
246Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
247specifying particular files to operate on.
248
249@sc{gnu} @code{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
250flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
251
252If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
253dash.
254
255@cindex operations on archive
256The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
257any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
258
259@table @code
260@item d
261@cindex deleting from archive
262@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
263be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
264specify no files to delete.
265
266If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @code{ar} lists each module
267as it is deleted.
268
269@item m
270@cindex moving in archive
271Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
272
273The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
274programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
275than one member.
276
277If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
278@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
279you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
280specified place instead.
281
282@item p
283@cindex printing from archive
284@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
285output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
286name before copying its contents to standard output.
287
288If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
289printed.
290
291@item q
292@cindex quick append to archive
293@emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
294@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
295
296The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
297operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
298
299The modifier @samp{v} makes @code{ar} list each file as it is appended.
300
301Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
302index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
303@code{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
304
305However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
306index, so GNU ar implements @code{q} as a synonym for @code{r}.
307
308@item r
309@cindex replacement in archive
310Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
311@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
312previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
313added.
314
315If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @code{ar}
316displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
317of the archive matching that name.
318
319By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
320use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
321placement relative to some existing member.
322
323The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
324output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
325@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
326deleted) or replaced.
327
328@item t
329@cindex contents of archive
330Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
331of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
332archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
333see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
334request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
335
336If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
337are listed.
338
339@cindex repeated names in archive
340@cindex name duplication in archive
341If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
342an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
343first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
344listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
345@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
346@c recent case in fact works the other way.
347
348@item x
349@cindex extract from archive
350@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
351use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
352@code{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
353
354If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
355are extracted.
356
357@end table
358
359A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
360keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
361
362@table @code
363@item a
364@cindex relative placement in archive
365Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
366archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
367member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
368@var{archive} specification.
369
370@item b
371Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
372archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
373member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
374@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
375
376@item c
377@cindex creating archives
378@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
379created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
380issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
381using this modifier.
382
383@item f
384Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @code{ar} will normally permit file
385names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
386not compatible with the native @code{ar} program on some systems. If
387this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
388names when putting them in the archive.
389
390@item i
391Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
392archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
393member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
394@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
395
396@item l
397This modifier is accepted but not used.
398@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
399@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
400
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401@item N
402Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
403entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
404@var{count} of the given name from the archive.
405
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406@item o
407@cindex dates in archive
408Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
409you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
410are stamped with the time of extraction.
411
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412@item P
413Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
414@code{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
415are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
416will cause @sc{gnu} @code{ar} to match file names using a complete path
417name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
418archive created by another tool.
419
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420@item s
421@cindex writing archive index
422Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
423even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
424flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
425archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
426
427@item S
428@cindex not writing archive index
429Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
430large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
431with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
432@samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
433@samp{ranlib} on the archive.
434
435@item u
436@cindex updating an archive
437Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
438listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
439of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
440names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
441operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
442not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
443advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
444
445@item v
446This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
447operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
448when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
449
450@item V
451This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
452@end table
453
454@node ar scripts
455@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
456
457@smallexample
458ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
459@end smallexample
460
461@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
462@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
463If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
464can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
465form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
466directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
467input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
468errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
469issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
470on any error.
471
472The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
473to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
474over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
475transition to @sc{gnu} @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
476written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
477
478The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
479@itemize @bullet
480@item
481commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
482is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
483shown in upper case for clarity.
484
485@item
486a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
487line.
488
489@item
490empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
491
492@item
493comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
494or @samp{;} is ignored.
495
496@item
497Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
498command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
499blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
500
501@item
502@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
503at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
504of the current command.
505@end itemize
506
507Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
508@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
509
510@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
511a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
512
513@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
514to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
515archive.
516
517@table @code
518@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
519@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
520Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
521@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
522
523Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
524
525@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
526@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
527@c else like "ar q..."
528Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
529
530Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
531
532@item CLEAR
533Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
534any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
535effect) even if no current archive is specified.
536
537@item CREATE @var{archive}
538Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
539other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
540is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
541You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
542existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
543
544@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
545Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
546@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
547
548Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
549
550@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
551@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
552List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
553command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
554output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
555@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
556@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
557
558Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
559specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
560output to that file.
561
562@item END
563Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
564completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
565changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
566changes are lost.
567
568@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
569Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
570into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
571@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
572
573Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
574
575@ignore
576@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
577@item FULLDIR
578
579@item HELP
580@end ignore
581
582@item LIST
583Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
584regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
c89746f6 585tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @code{ar}
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586enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
587
588Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
589
590@item OPEN @var{archive}
591Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
592many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
593will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
594
595@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
596In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
597the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
598To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
599the current archive, must exist.
600
601Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
602
603@item VERBOSE
604Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
605When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
606@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
607
608@item SAVE
609Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
610file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
611command.
612
613Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
614
615@end table
616
617@iftex
618@node ld
619@chapter ld
620@cindex linker
621@kindex ld
622The @sc{gnu} linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
623@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
624@end iftex
625
626@node nm
627@chapter nm
628@cindex symbols
629@kindex nm
630
631@smallexample
632nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
633 [ -B ] [ -C | --demangle ] [ -D | --dynamic ]
634 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
635 [ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
636 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ --size-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
637 [ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
638 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
639 [ --defined-only ] [-l | --line-numbers ]
640 [ --no-demangle ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
641@end smallexample
642
643@sc{gnu} @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
644If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
645@file{a.out}.
646
647For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
648
649@itemize @bullet
650@item
651The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
652hexadecimal by default.
653
654@item
655The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
656well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
657local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
658
659@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
660@c would be nice.
661@table @code
662@item A
663The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
664linking.
665
666@item B
667The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
668
669@item C
670The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
671linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
672symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
673references. For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
674--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
675
676@item D
677The symbol is in the initialized data section.
678
679@item G
680The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
681object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
682such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
683
684@item I
685The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a GNU
686extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
687
688@item N
689The symbol is a debugging symbol.
690
691@item R
692The symbol is in a read only data section.
693
694@item S
695The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
696
697@item T
698The symbol is in the text (code) section.
699
700@item U
701The symbol is undefined.
702
703@item W
704The symbol is weak. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
705defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error. When a
706weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined, the value
707of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
708
709@item -
710The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
711next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
712the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information;
713for more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
714``stabs'' debug format}.
715
716@item ?
717The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
718@end table
719
720@item
721The symbol name.
722@end itemize
723
724The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
725equivalent.
726
727@table @code
728@item -A
729@itemx -o
730@itemx --print-file-name
731@cindex input file name
732@cindex file name
733@cindex source file name
734Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
735in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
736before all of its symbols.
737
738@item -a
739@itemx --debug-syms
740@cindex debugging symbols
741Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
742listed.
743
744@item -B
745@cindex @code{nm} format
746@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
747The same as @samp{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @code{nm}).
748
749@item -C
750@itemx --demangle
751@cindex demangling in nm
752Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
753Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
754makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
755on demangling.
756
757@item --no-demangle
758Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
759
760@item -D
761@itemx --dynamic
762@cindex dynamic symbols
763Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
764only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
765libraries.
766
767@item -f @var{format}
768@itemx --format=@var{format}
769@cindex @code{nm} format
770@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
771Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
772@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
773Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
774either upper or lower case.
775
776@item -g
777@itemx --extern-only
778@cindex external symbols
779Display only external symbols.
780
781@item -l
782@itemx --line-numbers
783@cindex symbol line numbers
784For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
785line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
786address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
787number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
788information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
789
790@item -n
791@itemx -v
792@itemx --numeric-sort
793Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
794by their names.
795
796@item -p
797@itemx --no-sort
798@cindex sorting symbols
799Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
800encountered.
801
802@item -P
803@itemx --portability
804Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
805Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
806
807@item -s
808@itemx --print-armap
809@cindex symbol index, listing
810When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
811(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
812contain definitions for which names.
813
814@item -r
815@itemx --reverse-sort
816Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
817last come first.
818
819@item --size-sort
820Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
821the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
822value. The size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value.
823
824@item -t @var{radix}
825@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
826Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
827@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
828
829@item --target=@var{bfdname}
830@cindex object code format
831Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
832@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
833
834@item -u
835@itemx --undefined-only
836@cindex external symbols
837@cindex undefined symbols
838Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
839
840@item --defined-only
841@cindex external symbols
842@cindex undefined symbols
843Display only defined symbols for each object file.
844
845@item -V
846@itemx --version
847Show the version number of @code{nm} and exit.
848
849@item --help
850Show a summary of the options to @code{nm} and exit.
851@end table
852
853@node objcopy
854@chapter objcopy
855
856@smallexample
857objcopy [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
858 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
859 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
860 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
861 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
862 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
863 [ -L @var{symbolname} | --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
864 [ -W @var{symbolname} | --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
865 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
866 [ -b @var{byte} | --byte=@var{byte} ]
867 [ -i @var{interleave} | --interleave=@var{interleave} ]
f91ea849 868 [ -j @var{sectionname} | --only-section=@var{sectionname} ]
252b5132
RH
869 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
870 [ -p | --preserve-dates ] [ --debugging ]
871 [ --gap-fill=@var{val} ] [ --pad-to=@var{address} ]
872 [ --set-start=@var{val} ] [ --adjust-start=@var{incr} ]
873 [ --change-addresses=@var{incr} ]
874 [ --change-section-address=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
875 [ --change-section-lma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
876 [ --change-section-vma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
877 [ --change-warnings ] [ --no-change-warnings ]
878 [ --set-section-flags=@var{section}=@var{flags} ]
879 [ --add-section=@var{sectionname}=@var{filename} ]
880 [ --change-leading-char ] [ --remove-leading-char ]
881 [ --weaken ]
882 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
883 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
884@end smallexample
885
886The @sc{gnu} @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
887file to another. @code{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
888read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
889file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
890exact behavior of @code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
891
892@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
893deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
894translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
895and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
896explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
897
898@code{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
899target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
900
901@code{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
902output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @samp{-O binary}). When
903@code{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
904a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
905relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
906the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
907
908When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
909use @samp{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
910some cases @samp{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
911information which is not needed by the binary file.
912
913@table @code
914@item @var{infile}
915@itemx @var{outfile}
916The source and output files, respectively.
917If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
918temporary file and destructively renames the result with
919the name of @var{infile}.
920
921@item -I @var{bfdname}
922@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
923Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
924attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
925
926@item -O @var{bfdname}
927@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
928Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
929@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
930
931@item -F @var{bfdname}
932@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
933Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
934file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
935translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
936
f91ea849
ILT
937@item -j @var{sectionname}
938@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
939Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
940This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
941inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
942
252b5132
RH
943@item -R @var{sectionname}
944@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
945Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
946option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
947inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
948
949@item -S
950@itemx --strip-all
951Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
952
953@item -g
954@itemx --strip-debug
955Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
956
957@item --strip-unneeded
958Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
959
960@item -K @var{symbolname}
961@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
962Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
963be given more than once.
964
965@item -N @var{symbolname}
966@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
967Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
968may be given more than once.
969
970@item -L @var{symbolname}
971@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
972Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
973visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
974
975@item -W @var{symbolname}
976@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
977Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
978
979@item -x
980@itemx --discard-all
981Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
982@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
983
984@item -X
985@itemx --discard-locals
986Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
987(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
988
989@item -b @var{byte}
990@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
991Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
992affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
993where @var{interleave} is given by the @samp{-i} or @samp{--interleave}
994option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
995to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
996target.
997
998@item -i @var{interleave}
999@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1000Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1001copy with the @var{-b} or @samp{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1002@code{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @samp{-b} or
1003@samp{--byte}.
1004
1005@item -p
1006@itemx --preserve-dates
1007Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1008as those of the input file.
1009
1010@item --debugging
1011Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1012because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1013conversion process can be time consuming.
1014
1015@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1016Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1017the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1018the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1019space created with @var{val}.
1020
1021@item --pad-to @var{address}
1022Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1023done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1024filled in with the value specified by @samp{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1025
1026@item --set-start @var{val}
1027Set the address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1028formats support setting the start address.
1029
1030@item --change-start @var{incr}
1031@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1032@cindex changing start address
1033Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1034formats support setting the start address.
1035
1036@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1037@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1038@cindex changing object addresses
1039Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1040address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1041section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1042relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1043certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1044that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1045
1046@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1047@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1048@cindex changing section address
1049Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1050@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1051@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1052section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1053above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1054be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1055
1056@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1057@cindex changing section LMA
1058Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1059address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1060program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1061is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1062especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1063different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1064@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1065section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1066above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1067will be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1068
1069@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1070@cindex changing section VMA
1071Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1072address is the address where the section will be located once the
1073program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1074address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1075memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1076ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1077is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1078from the section address. See the comments under
1079@samp{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1080the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1081@samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1082
1083@item --change-warnings
1084@itemx --adjust-warnings
1085If @samp{--change-section-address} or @samp{--change-section-lma} or
1086@samp{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1087exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1088
1089@item --no-change-warnings
1090@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1091Do not issue a warning if @samp{--change-section-address} or
1092@samp{--adjust-section-lma} or @samp{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1093if the named section does not exist.
1094
1095@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1096Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1097comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
3994e2c6
ILT
1098@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1099@samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1100@samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1101does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1102@samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1103the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1104formats.
252b5132
RH
1105
1106@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1107Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1108contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1109size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1110works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1111
1112@item --change-leading-char
1113Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1114symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1115often add before every symbol. This option tells @code{objcopy} to
1116change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1117object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1118character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1119character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1120appropriate.
1121
1122@item --remove-leading-char
1123If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1124character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1125most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1126remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1127if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1128different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1129@code{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1130when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1131file.
1132
1133@item --weaken
1134Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1135when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1136the @code{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1137using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1138
1139@item -V
1140@itemx --version
1141Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
1142
1143@item -v
1144@itemx --verbose
1145Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1146archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1147
1148@item --help
1149Show a summary of the options to @code{objcopy}.
1150@end table
1151
1152@node objdump
1153@chapter objdump
1154
1155@cindex object file information
1156@kindex objdump
1157
1158@smallexample
1159objdump [ -a | --archive-headers ]
1160 [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ --debugging ]
1161 [ -C | --demangle ] [ -d | --disassemble ]
1162 [ -D | --disassemble-all ] [ --disassemble-zeroes ]
1163 [ -EB | -EL | --endian=@{big | little @} ]
1164 [ -f | --file-headers ]
1165 [ -h | --section-headers | --headers ] [ -i | --info ]
1166 [ -j @var{section} | --section=@var{section} ]
1167 [ -l | --line-numbers ] [ -S | --source ]
1168 [ -m @var{machine} | --architecture=@var{machine} ]
dd92f639 1169 [ -M @var{options} | --disassembler-options=@var{options}]
252b5132
RH
1170 [ -p | --private-headers ]
1171 [ -r | --reloc ] [ -R | --dynamic-reloc ]
1172 [ -s | --full-contents ] [ --stabs ]
1173 [ -t | --syms ] [ -T | --dynamic-syms ] [ -x | --all-headers ]
1174 [ -w | --wide ] [ --start-address=@var{address} ]
1175 [ --stop-address=@var{address} ]
1176 [ --prefix-addresses] [ --[no-]show-raw-insn ]
1177 [ --adjust-vma=@var{offset} ]
1178 [ --version ] [ --help ]
1179 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1180@end smallexample
1181
1182@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1183The options control what particular information to display. This
1184information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1185compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1186program to compile and work.
1187
1188@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1189specify archives, @code{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1190object files.
1191
1192The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1193equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-l} must be given.
1194
1195@table @code
1196@item -a
1197@itemx --archive-header
1198@cindex archive headers
1199If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1200header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1201information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1202the object file format of each archive member.
1203
1204@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1205@cindex section addresses in objdump
1206@cindex VMA in objdump
1207When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1208addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1209the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1210addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1211such as a.out.
1212
1213@item -b @var{bfdname}
1214@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1215@cindex object code format
1216Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1217@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1218automatically recognize many formats.
1219
1220For example,
1221@example
1222objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1223@end example
1224@noindent
1225displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
1226@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
1227file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1228formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
1229@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1230
1231@item -C
1232@itemx --demangle
1233@cindex demangling in objdump
1234Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1235Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1236makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1237on demangling.
1238
1239@item --debugging
1240Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1241information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1242Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1243
1244@item -d
1245@itemx --disassemble
1246@cindex disassembling object code
1247@cindex machine instructions
1248Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1249@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1250expected to contain instructions.
1251
1252@item -D
1253@itemx --disassemble-all
1254Like @samp{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1255those expected to contain instructions.
1256
1257@item --prefix-addresses
1258When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1259the older disassembly format.
1260
1261@item --disassemble-zeroes
1262Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1263option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1264any other data.
1265
1266@item -EB
1267@itemx -EL
1268@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1269@cindex endianness
1270@cindex disassembly endianness
1271Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1272disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1273does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1274
1275@item -f
1276@itemx --file-header
1277@cindex object file header
1278Display summary information from the overall header of
1279each of the @var{objfile} files.
1280
1281@item -h
1282@itemx --section-header
1283@itemx --header
1284@cindex section headers
1285Display summary information from the section headers of the
1286object file.
1287
1288File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1289using the @samp{-Ttext}, @samp{-Tdata}, or @samp{-Tbss} options to
1290@code{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1291store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1292although @code{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1293-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1294Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1295target.
1296
1297@item --help
1298Print a summary of the options to @code{objdump} and exit.
1299
1300@item -i
1301@itemx --info
1302@cindex architectures available
1303@cindex object formats available
1304Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1305for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
1306
1307@item -j @var{name}
1308@itemx --section=@var{name}
1309@cindex section information
1310Display information only for section @var{name}.
1311
1312@item -l
1313@itemx --line-numbers
1314@cindex source filenames for object files
1315Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1316source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1317Only useful with @samp{-d}, @samp{-D}, or @samp{-r}.
1318
1319@item -m @var{machine}
1320@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1321@cindex architecture
1322@cindex disassembly architecture
1323Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1324can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1325architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1326architectures with the @samp{-i} option.
1327
dd92f639
NC
1328@item -M @var{options}
1329@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1330Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1331some targets.
1332
1333If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1334select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1335@samp{--disassembler-options=reg-name-std} (the default) will select the
1336register names as used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with
1337register 13 called 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called
1338'pc'. Specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-apcs} will
1339select the name set used by the ARM Procedure Call Standard, whilst
1340specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-raw} will just use
1341@samp{r} followed by the register number.
1342
252b5132
RH
1343@item -p
1344@itemx --private-headers
1345Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1346information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1347object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1348
1349@item -r
1350@itemx --reloc
1351@cindex relocation entries, in object file
1352Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @samp{-d} or
1353@samp{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1354disassembly.
1355
1356@item -R
1357@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1358@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1359Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1360meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1361libraries.
1362
1363@item -s
1364@itemx --full-contents
1365@cindex sections, full contents
1366@cindex object file sections
1367Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1368
1369@item -S
1370@itemx --source
1371@cindex source disassembly
1372@cindex disassembly, with source
1373Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1374@samp{-d}.
1375
1376@item --show-raw-insn
1377When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1378in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1379@code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1380
1381@item --no-show-raw-insn
1382When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1383This is the default when @code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1384
1385@item --stabs
1386@cindex stab
1387@cindex .stab
1388@cindex debug symbols
1389@cindex ELF object file format
1390Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1391contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1392ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1393@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1394section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1395interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
1396output. For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1397Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1398
1399@item --start-address=@var{address}
1400@cindex start-address
1401Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1402of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1403
1404@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1405@cindex stop-address
1406Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1407of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1408
1409@item -t
1410@itemx --syms
1411@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1412Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1413This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1414
1415@item -T
1416@itemx --dynamic-syms
1417@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1418Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1419meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1420libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1421program when given the @samp{-D} (@samp{--dynamic}) option.
1422
1423@item --version
1424Print the version number of @code{objdump} and exit.
1425
1426@item -x
1427@itemx --all-header
1428@cindex all header information, object file
1429@cindex header information, all
1430Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1431relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1432@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1433
1434@item -w
1435@itemx --wide
1436@cindex wide output, printing
1437Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1438@end table
1439
1440@node ranlib
1441@chapter ranlib
1442
1443@kindex ranlib
1444@cindex archive contents
1445@cindex symbol index
1446
1447@smallexample
1448ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
1449@end smallexample
1450
1451@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1452stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1453member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1454
1455You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1456
1457An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1458allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1459their placement in the archive.
1460
1461The @sc{gnu} @code{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @code{ar}; running
1462@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1463@xref{ar}.
1464
1465@table @code
1466@item -v
1467@itemx -V
1468Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
1469@end table
1470
1471@node size
1472@chapter size
1473
1474@kindex size
1475@cindex section sizes
1476
1477@smallexample
1478size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
1479 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
1480 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
1481 [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
1482@end smallexample
1483
1484The @sc{gnu} @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1485size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1486argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1487object file or each module in an archive.
1488
1489@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1490If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1491
1492The command line options have the following meanings:
1493
1494@table @code
1495@item -A
1496@itemx -B
1497@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1498@cindex @code{size} display format
1499Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1500@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
1501or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
1502@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1503Berkeley's.
1504@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1505@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1506@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1507
1508Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1509@code{size}:
1510@smallexample
1511size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1512text data bss dec hex filename
1513294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1514294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1515@end smallexample
1516
1517@noindent
1518This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1519
1520@smallexample
1521size --format=SysV ranlib size
1522ranlib :
1523section size addr
1524.text 294880 8192
1525.data 81920 303104
1526.bss 11592 385024
1527Total 388392
1528
1529
1530size :
1531section size addr
1532.text 294880 8192
1533.data 81920 303104
1534.bss 11888 385024
1535Total 388688
1536@end smallexample
1537
1538@item --help
1539Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1540
1541@item -d
1542@itemx -o
1543@itemx -x
1544@itemx --radix=@var{number}
1545@cindex @code{size} number format
1546@cindex radix for section sizes
1547Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1548section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
1549(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
1550@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1551values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1552radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
1553octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
1554
1555@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1556@cindex object code format
1557Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1558@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
1559automatically recognize many formats.
1560@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1561
1562@item -V
1563@itemx --version
1564Display the version number of @code{size}.
1565@end table
1566
1567@node strings
1568@chapter strings
1569@kindex strings
1570@cindex listings strings
1571@cindex printing strings
1572@cindex strings, printing
1573
1574@smallexample
1575strings [-afov] [-@var{min-len}] [-n @var{min-len}] [-t @var{radix}] [-]
1576 [--all] [--print-file-name] [--bytes=@var{min-len}]
1577 [--radix=@var{radix}] [--target=@var{bfdname}]
1578 [--help] [--version] @var{file}@dots{}
1579@end smallexample
1580
1581For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @code{strings} prints the printable
1582character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1583given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1584character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1585and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1586the strings from the whole file.
1587
1588@code{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1589files.
1590
1591@table @code
1592@item -a
1593@itemx --all
1594@itemx -
1595Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1596scan the whole files.
1597
1598@item -f
1599@itemx --print-file-name
1600Print the name of the file before each string.
1601
1602@item --help
1603Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1604
1605@item -@var{min-len}
1606@itemx -n @var{min-len}
1607@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1608Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1609long, instead of the default 4.
1610
1611@item -o
1612Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @code{strings} have @samp{-o}
1613act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
1614ways, we simply chose one.
1615
1616@item -t @var{radix}
1617@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1618Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
1619character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
1620octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
1621
1622@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1623@cindex object code format
1624Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1625@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1626
1627@item -v
1628@itemx --version
1629Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
1630@end table
1631
1632@node strip
1633@chapter strip
1634
1635@kindex strip
1636@cindex removing symbols
1637@cindex discarding symbols
1638@cindex symbols, discarding
1639
1640@smallexample
1641strip [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1642 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1643 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1644 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
1645 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1646 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1647 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
1648 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
1649 [ -o @var{file} ] [ -p | --preserve-dates ]
1650 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
1651 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1652@end smallexample
1653
1654@sc{gnu} @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
1655@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
1656At least one object file must be given.
1657
1658@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
1659rather than writing modified copies under different names.
1660
1661@table @code
1662@item -F @var{bfdname}
1663@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1664Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1665code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
1666@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1667
1668@item --help
1669Show a summary of the options to @code{strip} and exit.
1670
1671@item -I @var{bfdname}
1672@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1673Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1674code format @var{bfdname}.
1675@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1676
1677@item -O @var{bfdname}
1678@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1679Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
1680@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1681
1682@item -R @var{sectionname}
1683@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1684Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1685option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1686inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1687
1688@item -s
1689@itemx --strip-all
1690Remove all symbols.
1691
1692@item -g
1693@itemx -S
1694@itemx --strip-debug
1695Remove debugging symbols only.
1696
1697@item --strip-unneeded
1698Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1699
1700@item -K @var{symbolname}
1701@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1702Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1703be given more than once.
1704
1705@item -N @var{symbolname}
1706@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1707Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
1708given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
1709@code{-K}.
1710
1711@item -o @var{file}
1712Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
1713existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
1714argument may be specified.
1715
1716@item -p
1717@itemx --preserve-dates
1718Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
1719
1720@item -x
1721@itemx --discard-all
1722Remove non-global symbols.
1723
1724@item -X
1725@itemx --discard-locals
1726Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
1727(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1728
1729@item -V
1730@itemx --version
1731Show the version number for @code{strip}.
1732
1733@item -v
1734@itemx --verbose
1735Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1736archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
1737@end table
1738
9d51cc66 1739@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
252b5132
RH
1740@chapter c++filt
1741
1742@kindex c++filt
1743@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1744
1745@smallexample
1746c++filt [ -_ | --strip-underscores ]
1747 [ -j | --java ]
1748 [ -n | --no-strip-underscores ]
1749 [ -s @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
1750 [ --help ] [ --version ] [ @var{symbol}@dots{} ]
1751@end smallexample
1752
9d51cc66 1753@kindex cxxfilt
252b5132
RH
1754The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
1755that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
1756takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
1757are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
9d51cc66
ILT
1758@dfn{mangling}). The @code{c++filt}
1759@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
1760MS-DOS this program is named @code{cxxfilt}.}
1761program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
1762names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
1763functions from clashing.
252b5132
RH
1764
1765Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
1766dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
1767label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
1768name in the output.
1769
1770You can use @code{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
1771
1772@example
1773c++filt @var{symbol}
1774@end example
1775
1776If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @code{c++filt} reads symbol
1777names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
1778standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
1779
1780@table @code
1781@item -_
1782@itemx --strip-underscores
1783On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
1784of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
1785name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
1786@code{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
1787
1788@item -j
1789@itemx --java
1790Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
1791syntax.
1792
1793@item -n
1794@itemx --no-strip-underscores
1795Do not remove the initial underscore.
1796
1797@item -s @var{format}
1798@itemx --format=@var{format}
1799@sc{gnu} @code{nm} can decode three different methods of mangling, used by
1800different C++ compilers. The argument to this option selects which
1801method it uses:
1802
1803@table @code
1804@item gnu
1805the one used by the @sc{gnu} compiler (the default method)
1806@item lucid
1807the one used by the Lucid compiler
1808@item arm
1809the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
1810@item hp
1811the one used by the HP compiler
1812@item edg
1813the one used by the EDG compiler
1814@end table
1815
1816@item --help
1817Print a summary of the options to @code{c++filt} and exit.
1818
1819@item --version
1820Print the version number of @code{c++filt} and exit.
1821@end table
1822
1823@quotation
1824@emph{Warning:} @code{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
1825user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
1826a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
1827passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
1828
1829@example
1830c++filt @var{symbol}
1831@end example
1832
1833@noindent
1834may in a future release become
1835
1836@example
1837c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
1838@end example
1839@end quotation
1840
1841@node addr2line
1842@chapter addr2line
1843
1844@kindex addr2line
1845@cindex address to file name and line number
1846
1847@smallexample
1848addr2line [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1849 [ -C | --demangle ]
1850 [ -e @var{filename} | --exe=@var{filename} ]
1851 [ -f | --functions ] [ -s | --basename ]
1852 [ -H | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1853 [ addr addr ... ]
1854@end smallexample
1855
1856@code{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
1857numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
1858information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
1859number are associated with a given address.
1860
1861The executable to use is specified with the @code{-e} option. The
1862default is @file{a.out}.
1863
1864@code{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
1865
1866In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
1867and @code{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
1868address.
1869
1870In the second, @code{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
1871standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
1872address on standard output. In this mode, @code{addr2line} may be used
1873in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
1874
1875The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
1876line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
1877@code{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
1878preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
1879containing the address.
1880
1881If the file name or function name can not be determined,
1882@code{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
1883line number can not be determined, @code{addr2line} will print 0.
1884
1885The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1886equivalent.
1887
1888@table @code
1889@item -b @var{bfdname}
1890@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1891@cindex object code format
1892Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1893@var{bfdname}.
1894
1895@item -C
1896@itemx --demangle
1897@cindex demangling in objdump
1898Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1899Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1900makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1901on demangling.
1902
1903@item -e @var{filename}
1904@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
1905Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
1906translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
1907
1908@item -f
1909@itemx --functions
1910Display function names as well as file and line number information.
1911
1912@item -s
1913@itemx --basenames
1914Display only the base of each file name.
1915@end table
1916
1917@node nlmconv
1918@chapter nlmconv
1919
1920@code{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
1921Loadable Module.
1922
1923@ignore
1924@code{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
1925files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
1926object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
1927@code{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
1928format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
1929with the above formats.}.
1930@end ignore
1931
1932@quotation
1933@emph{Warning:} @code{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
1934utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
1935@end quotation
1936
1937@smallexample
1938nlmconv [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1939 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1940 [ -T @var{headerfile} | --header-file=@var{headerfile} ]
1941 [ -d | --debug] [ -l @var{linker} | --linker=@var{linker} ]
1942 [ -h | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1943 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
1944@end smallexample
1945
1946@code{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
1947@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
1948reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
1949on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
1950@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
1951Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
1952Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
1953@code{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
1954@var{infile}; see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for
1955more information.
1956
1957@code{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
1958more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
1959file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
1960In this case, @code{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
1961
1962@table @code
1963@item -I @var{bfdname}
1964@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1965Object format of the input file. @code{nlmconv} can usually determine
1966the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
1967@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1968
1969@item -O @var{bfdname}
1970@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1971Object format of the output file. @code{nlmconv} infers the output
1972format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
1973output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
1974@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1975
1976@item -T @var{headerfile}
1977@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
1978Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
1979writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
1980@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
1981Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
1982from Novell, Inc.
1983
1984@item -d
1985@itemx --debug
1986Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @code{nlmconv}.
1987
1988@item -l @var{linker}
1989@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
1990Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
1991relative pathname.
1992
1993@item -h
1994@itemx --help
1995Prints a usage summary.
1996
1997@item -V
1998@itemx --version
1999Prints the version number for @code{nlmconv}.
2000@end table
2001
2002@node windres
2003@chapter windres
2004
2005@code{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2006
2007@quotation
2008@emph{Warning:} @code{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2009utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2010@end quotation
2011
2012@smallexample
2013windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2014@end smallexample
2015
2016@code{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2017an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2018
2019@table @code
2020@item rc
2021A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2022
2023@item res
2024A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2025
2026@item coff
2027A COFF object or executable.
2028@end table
2029
2030The exact description of these different formats is available in
2031documentation from Microsoft.
2032
2033When @code{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2034format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2035@code{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2036format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2037
2038When @code{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2039but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2040@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2041will instead include the file contents.
2042
2043If the input or output format is not specified, @code{windres} will
2044guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2045A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2046file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2047@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2048@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2049
2050If no output file is specified, @code{windres} will print the resources
2051in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2052
2053The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @code{windres}
2054to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2055your application. This will make the resources described in the
2056@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2057
2058@table @code
2059@item -i @var{filename}
2060@itemx --input @var{filename}
2061The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2062@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2063name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @code{windres} will
2064read from standard input. @code{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2065standard input.
2066
2067@item -o @var{filename}
2068@itemx --output @var{filename}
2069The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2070@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2071for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2072non-option argument, then @code{windres} will write to standard output.
2073@code{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output.
2074
2075@item -I @var{format}
2076@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2077The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2078@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @code{windres} will
2079guess, as described above.
2080
2081@item -O @var{format}
2082@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2083The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2084@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2085@code{windres} will guess, as described above.
2086
2087@item -F @var{target}
2088@itemx --target @var{target}
2089Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2090is a BFD target name; you can use the @code{--help} option to see a list
2091of supported targets. Normally @code{windres} will use the default
2092format, which is the first one listed by the @code{--help} option.
2093@ref{Target Selection}.
2094
2095@item --preprocessor @var{program}
2096When @code{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2097preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2098to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2099argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2100
2101@item --include-dir @var{directory}
2102Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2103@code{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @code{-I}
2104option. @code{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2105files named in the @code{rc} file.
2106
751d21b5 2107@item -D @var{target}
ad0481cd 2108@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
252b5132
RH
2109Specify a @code{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2110@code{rc} file.
2111
751d21b5
DD
2112@item -v
2113Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2114didn't specify one.
2115
252b5132
RH
2116@item --language @var{val}
2117Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2118@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2119the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2120
2121@item --help
2122Prints a usage summary.
2123
2124@item --version
2125Prints the version number for @code{windres}.
2126
2127@item --yydebug
2128If @code{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2129this will turn on parser debugging.
2130@end table
2131
2132
2133@node dlltool
2134@chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2135@cindex DLL
2136@kindex dlltool
2137
2138@code{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2139dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2140
2141@quotation
2142@emph{Warning:} @code{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2143utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2144@end quotation
2145
2146@smallexample
2147dlltool [-d|--input-def @var{def-file-name}]
2148 [-b|--base-file @var{base-file-name}]
2149 [-e|--output-exp @var{exports-file-name}]
2150 [-z|--output-def @var{def-file-name}]
2151 [-l|--output-lib @var{library-file-name}]
2152 [--export-all-symbols] [--no-export-all-symbols]
2153 [--exclude-symbols @var{list}]
2154 [--no-default-excludes]
2155 [-S|--as @var{path-to-assembler}] [-f|--as-flags @var{options}]
2156 [-D|--dllname @var{name}] [-m|--machine @var{machine}]
2157 [-a|--add-indirect] [-U|--add-underscore] [-k|--kill-at]
2158 [-A|--add-stdcall-alias]
2159 [-x|--no-idata4] [-c|--no-idata5] [-i|--interwork]
2160 [-n|--nodelete] [-v|--verbose] [-h|--help] [-V|--version]
2161 [object-file @dots{}]
2162@end smallexample
2163
2164@code{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @samp{-d} and
2165@samp{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2166line. It then processes these inputs and if the @samp{-e} option has
2167been specified it creates a exports file. If the @samp{-l} option
2168has been specified it creates a library file and if the @samp{-z} option
2169has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the -e, -l
2170and -z options can be present in one invocation of dlltool.
2171
2172When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2173to have three other files. @code{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2174these files.
2175
2176The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2177exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2178is a text file and can be created by hand, or @code{dlltool} can be used
2179to create it using the @samp{-z} option. In this case @code{dlltool}
2180will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2181those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2182put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2183
2184In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2185have an @samp{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2186section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2187asm() operator:
2188
2189@smallexample
2190 asm (".section .drectve");
2191 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2192
2193 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2194@end smallexample
2195
2196The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2197is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2198handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2199binary file and it can be created by giving the @samp{-e} option to
2200@code{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2201
2202The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2203will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2204can be created by giving the @samp{-l} option to dlltool when it
2205is creating or reading in a .def file.
2206
2207@code{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2208exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2209and then assembling these. The @samp{-S} command line option can be
2210used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2211and the @samp{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2212assembler. The @samp{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2213these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @samp{-n} is
2214specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2215temporary object files it used to build the library.
2216
2217Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2218also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2219that uses that DLL:
2220
2221@smallexample
2222 gcc -c dll.c
2223 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2224 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2225 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2226@end smallexample
2227
2228The command line options have the following meanings:
2229
2230@table @code
2231
2232@item -d @var{filename}
2233@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2234@cindex input .def file
2235Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2236
2237@item -b @var{filename}
2238@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2239@cindex base files
2240Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2241contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2242exports file generated by dlltool.
2243
2244@item -e @var{filename}
2245@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2246Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2247
2248@item -z @var{filename}
2249@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2250Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2251
2252@item -l @var{filename}
2253@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2254Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2255
2256@item --export-all-symbols
2257Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2258files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2259are not exported by default; see the @code{--no-default-excludes}
2260option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2261@code{--exclude-symbols} option.
2262
2263@item --no-export-all-symbols
2264Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2265@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2266behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2267attributes in the source code.
2268
2269@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2270Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2271separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2272contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2273@code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2274
2275@item --no-default-excludes
2276When @code{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2277exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2278exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2279@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @code{--no-default-excludes} option
2280to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2281when @code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2282
2283@item -S @var{path}
2284@itemx --as @var{path}
2285Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2286to create the exports file.
2287
2288@item -f @var{switches}
2289@itemx --as-flags @var{switches}
2290Specifies any specific command line switches to be passed to the
2291assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2292the @samp{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2293and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2294occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2295pass multiple switches to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2296double quotes.
2297
2298@item -D @var{name}
2299@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2300Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2301when the @samp{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2302the filename given to the @samp{-e} option will be used as the name of
2303the DLL.
2304
2305@item -m @var{machine}
2306@itemx -machine @var{machine}
2307Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2308built. @code{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2309it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2310normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2311contents of the DLL are actually encode using THUMB instructions.
2312
2313@item -a
2314@itemx --add-indirect
2315Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2316should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2317referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2318means!
2319
2320@item -U
2321@itemx --add-underscore
2322Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2323should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2324
2325@item -k
2326@itemx --kill-at
2327Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2328should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2329called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2330function in a DLL, other than by name.
2331
2332@item -A
2333@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2334Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2335should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2336in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2337
2338@item -x
2339@itemx --no-idata4
2340Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2341files it should omit the .idata4 section. This is for compatibility
2342with certain operating systems.
2343
2344@item -c
2345@itemx --no-idata5
2346Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2347files it should omit the .idata5 section. This is for compatibility
2348with certain operating systems.
2349
2350@item -i
2351@itemx --interwork
2352Specifies that @code{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2353file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2354between ARM and THUMB code.
2355
2356@item -n
2357@itemx --nodelete
2358Makes @code{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2359create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2360also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2361file.
2362
2363@item -v
2364@itemx --verbose
2365Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2366
2367@item -h
2368@itemx --help
2369Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2370
2371@item -V
2372@itemx --version
2373Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2374
2375@end table
2376
2377@node readelf
2378@chapter readelf
2379
2380@cindex ELF file information
2381@kindex readelf
2382
2383@smallexample
2384readelf [ -a | --all ]
2385 [ -h | --file-header]
2386 [ -l | --program-headers | --segments]
2387 [ -S | --section-headers | --sections]
2388 [ -e | --headers]
2389 [ -s | --syms | --symbols]
779fe533 2390 [ -n | --notes]
252b5132
RH
2391 [ -r | --relocs]
2392 [ -d | --dynamic]
2393 [ -V | --version-info]
2394 [ -D | --use-dynamic]
2395 [ -x <number> | --hex-dump=<number>]
2396 [ -w[liapr] | --debug-dump[=info,=line,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]]
2397 [ --histogram]
2398 [ -v | --version]
2399 [ -H | --help]
2400 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2401@end smallexample
2402
2403@code{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2404files. The options control what particular information to display.
2405
2406@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2407moment, @code{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2408support examing 64 bit ELF files.
2409
2410The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2411equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
2412given.
2413
2414@table @code
2415@item -a
2416@itemx --all
2417Equivalent to specifiying @samp{--file-header},
2418@samp{--program-headers}, @samp{--sections}, @samp{--symbols},
779fe533
NC
2419@samp{--relocs}, @samp{--dynamic}, @samp{--notes} and
2420@samp{--version-info}.
252b5132
RH
2421
2422@item -h
2423@itemx --file-header
2424@cindex ELF file header information
2425Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
2426file.
2427
2428@item -l
2429@itemx --program-headers
2430@itemx --segments
2431@cindex ELF program header information
2432@cindex ELF segment information
2433Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
2434has any.
2435
2436@item -S
2437@itemx --sections
2438@itemx --section-headers
2439@cindex ELF section information
2440Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
2441has any.
2442
2443@item -s
2444@itemx --symbols
2445@itemx --syms
2446@cindex ELF symbol table information
2447Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
2448
2449@item -e
2450@itemx --headers
2451Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @samp{-h -l -S}.
2452
779fe533
NC
2453@item -n
2454@itemx --notes
2455@cindex ELF core notes
2456Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
2457
252b5132
RH
2458@item -r
2459@itemx --relocs
2460@cindex ELF reloc information
2461Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it ha one.
2462
2463@item -d
2464@itemx --dynamic
2465@cindex ELF dynamic section information
2466Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
2467
2468@item -V
2469@itemx --version-info
2470@cindex ELF version sections informations
2471Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
2472exist.
2473
2474@item -D
2475@itemx --use-dynamic
2476When displaying symbols, this option makes @code{readelf} use the
2477symblol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
2478symbols section.
2479
2480@item -x <number>
2481@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
2482Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
2483
2484@item -w[liapr]
2485@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]
2486Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
2487present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
2488then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
2489
2490@item --histogram
2491Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
2492of the symbol tables.
2493
2494@item -v
2495@itemx --version
2496Display the version number of readelf.
2497
2498@item -H
2499@itemx --help
2500Display the command line options understood by @code{readelf}.
2501
2502@end table
2503
2504
2505@node Selecting The Target System
2506@chapter Selecting the target system
2507
2508You can specify three aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
2509binary file utilities, each in several ways:
2510
2511@itemize @bullet
2512@item
2513the target
2514
2515@item
2516the architecture
2517
2518@item
2519the linker emulation (which applies to the linker only)
2520@end itemize
2521
2522In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
2523order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
2524listed later.
2525
2526The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
2527programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
2528@samp{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
2529values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
2530once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
2531with the same type as the target system).
2532
2533@menu
2534* Target Selection::
2535* Architecture Selection::
2536* Linker Emulation Selection::
2537@end menu
2538
2539@node Target Selection
2540@section Target Selection
2541
2542A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
2543supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
2544A target selection may also have variations for different operating
2545systems or architectures.
2546
2547The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
2548(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
2549
2550Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
2551@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
2552
2553You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
2554the same sort of name that is passed to configure to specify a target.
2555When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be fully
2556canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
2557running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
2558sources.
2559
2560Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
2561@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
2562
2563@subheading @code{objdump} Target
2564
2565Ways to specify:
2566
2567@enumerate
2568@item
2569command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--target}
2570
2571@item
2572environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2573
2574@item
2575deduced from the input file
2576@end enumerate
2577
2578@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target
2579
2580Ways to specify:
2581
2582@enumerate
2583@item
2584command line options: @samp{-I} or @samp{--input-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2585
2586@item
2587environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2588
2589@item
2590deduced from the input file
2591@end enumerate
2592
2593@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Output Target
2594
2595Ways to specify:
2596
2597@enumerate
2598@item
2599command line options: @samp{-O} or @samp{--output-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2600
2601@item
2602the input target (see ``@code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target'' above)
2603
2604@item
2605environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2606
2607@item
2608deduced from the input file
2609@end enumerate
2610
2611@subheading @code{nm}, @code{size}, and @code{strings} Target
2612
2613Ways to specify:
2614
2615@enumerate
2616@item
2617command line option: @samp{--target}
2618
2619@item
2620environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2621
2622@item
2623deduced from the input file
2624@end enumerate
2625
2626@subheading Linker Input Target
2627
2628Ways to specify:
2629
2630@enumerate
2631@item
2632command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--format}
2633(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2634
2635@item
2636script command @code{TARGET}
2637(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2638
2639@item
2640environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2641(@pxref{Environment,,Environment,ld.info,Using LD})
2642
2643@item
2644the default target of the selected linker emulation
2645(@pxref{Linker Emulation Selection})
2646@end enumerate
2647
2648@subheading Linker Output Target
2649
2650Ways to specify:
2651
2652@enumerate
2653@item
2654command line option: @samp{-oformat}
2655(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2656
2657@item
2658script command @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
2659(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2660
2661@item
2662the linker input target (see ``Linker Input Target'' above)
2663@end enumerate
2664
2665@node Architecture Selection
2666@section Architecture selection
2667
2668An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
2669to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
2670processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
2671
2672The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
2673second column contains the relevant information).
2674
2675Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
2676
2677@subheading @code{objdump} Architecture
2678
2679Ways to specify:
2680
2681@enumerate
2682@item
2683command line option: @samp{-m} or @samp{--architecture}
2684
2685@item
2686deduced from the input file
2687@end enumerate
2688
2689@subheading @code{objcopy}, @code{nm}, @code{size}, @code{strings} Architecture
2690
2691Ways to specify:
2692
2693@enumerate
2694@item
2695deduced from the input file
2696@end enumerate
2697
2698@subheading Linker Input Architecture
2699
2700Ways to specify:
2701
2702@enumerate
2703@item
2704deduced from the input file
2705@end enumerate
2706
2707@subheading Linker Output Architecture
2708
2709Ways to specify:
2710
2711@enumerate
2712@item
2713script command @code{OUTPUT_ARCH}
2714(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2715
2716@item
2717the default architecture from the linker output target
2718(@pxref{Target Selection})
2719@end enumerate
2720
2721@node Linker Emulation Selection
2722@section Linker emulation selection
2723
2724A linker @dfn{emulation} is a ``personality'' of the linker, which gives
2725the linker default values for the other aspects of the target system.
2726In particular, it consists of
2727
2728@itemize @bullet
2729@item
2730the linker script
2731
2732@item
2733the target
2734
2735@item
2736several ``hook'' functions that are run at certain stages of the linking
2737process to do special things that some targets require
2738@end itemize
2739
2740The command to list valid linker emulation values is @samp{ld -V}.
2741
2742Sample values: @samp{hp300bsd}, @samp{mipslit}, @samp{sun4}.
2743
2744Ways to specify:
2745
2746@enumerate
2747@item
2748command line option: @samp{-m}
2749(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2750
2751@item
2752environment variable @code{LDEMULATION}
2753
2754@item
2755compiled-in @code{DEFAULT_EMULATION} from @file{Makefile},
2756which comes from @code{EMUL} in @file{config/@var{target}.mt}
2757@end enumerate
2758
2759@node Reporting Bugs
2760@chapter Reporting Bugs
2761@cindex bugs
2762@cindex reporting bugs
2763
2764Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
2765reliable.
2766
2767Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
2768it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
2769to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
2770utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
2771maintenance.
2772
2773In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
2774information that enables us to fix the bug.
2775
2776@menu
2777* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
2778* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
2779@end menu
2780
2781@node Bug Criteria
2782@section Have you found a bug?
2783@cindex bug criteria
2784
2785If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
2786
2787@itemize @bullet
2788@cindex fatal signal
2789@cindex crash
2790@item
2791If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
2792a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
2793
2794@cindex error on valid input
2795@item
2796If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
2797bug.
2798
2799@item
2800If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
2801improvement are welcome in any case.
2802@end itemize
2803
2804@node Bug Reporting
2805@section How to report bugs
2806@cindex bug reports
2807@cindex bugs, reporting
2808
2809A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
2810products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
2811organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
2812
2813You can find contact information for many support companies and
2814individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
2815distribution.
2816
2817In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2818utilities to @samp{bug-gnu-utils@@gnu.org}.
2819
2820The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
2821@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
2822fact or leave it out, state it!
2823
2824Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
2825problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
2826assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
2827Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
2828a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
2829that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
2830different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
2831doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
2832specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
2833and the most helpful.
2834
2835Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
2836it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
2837that the bug has not been reported previously.
2838
2839Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
2840bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
2841@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
2842bugs properly.
2843
2844To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
2845
2846@itemize @bullet
2847@item
2848The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
2849with the @samp{--version} argument.
2850
2851Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
2852the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
2853
2854@item
2855Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
2856made to the @code{BFD} library.
2857
2858@item
2859The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
2860version number.
2861
2862@item
2863What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
2864``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
2865
2866@item
2867The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
2868guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
2869of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
2870
2871If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
2872and then we might not encounter the bug.
2873
2874@item
2875A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
2876bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
2877generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
757acbc5
ILT
2878necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
2879@samp{bug-gnu-utils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
2880sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
2881anonymous FTP is OK.
252b5132
RH
2882
2883If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
2884(e.g., @code{gcc}, @code{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @code{ld}), then it
2885may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
2886this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @code{gcc}, or
2887whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
2888@code{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
2889
2890@item
2891A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
2892incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
2893
2894Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
2895will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
2896not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
2897a chance to make a mistake.
2898
2899Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
2900say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
2901copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
2902the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
2903crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
2904ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
2905us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
2906to draw any conclusion from our observations.
2907
2908@item
2909If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
2910generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
2911option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
2912even discuss something in the @code{ld} source, refer to it by context,
2913not by line number.
2914
2915The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
2916sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
2917@end itemize
2918
2919Here are some things that are not necessary:
2920
2921@itemize @bullet
2922@item
2923A description of the envelope of the bug.
2924
2925Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
2926which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
2927changes will not affect it.
2928
2929This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
2930will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
2931with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
2932We recommend that you save your time for something else.
2933
2934Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
2935of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
2936output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
2937less time, and so on.
2938
2939However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
2940report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
2941
2942@item
2943A patch for the bug.
2944
2945A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
2946the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
2947a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
2948to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
2949
2950Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
2951very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
2952certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
2953will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
2954the bug is fixed.
2955
2956And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
2957patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
2958help us to understand.
2959
2960@item
2961A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
2962
2963Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
2964things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
2965@end itemize
2966
2967@node Index
2968@unnumbered Index
2969
2970@printindex cp
2971
2972@contents
2973@bye
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