1999-09-12 Donn Terry <donn@interix.com>
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / binutils.texi
CommitLineData
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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
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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
179ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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
237ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
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
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390@item P
391Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
392@code{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
393are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
394will cause @sc{gnu} @code{ar} to match file names using a complete path
395name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
396archive created by another tool.
397
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398@item i
399Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
400archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
401member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
402@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
403
404@item l
405This modifier is accepted but not used.
406@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
407@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
408
409@item o
410@cindex dates in archive
411Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
412you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
413are stamped with the time of extraction.
414
415@item s
416@cindex writing archive index
417Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
418even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
419flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
420archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
421
422@item S
423@cindex not writing archive index
424Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
425large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
426with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
427@samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
428@samp{ranlib} on the archive.
429
430@item u
431@cindex updating an archive
432Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
433listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
434of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
435names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
436operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
437not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
438advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
439
440@item v
441This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
442operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
443when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
444
445@item V
446This modifier shows the version number of @code{ar}.
447@end table
448
449@node ar scripts
450@section Controlling @code{ar} with a script
451
452@smallexample
453ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
454@end smallexample
455
456@cindex MRI compatibility, @code{ar}
457@cindex scripts, @code{ar}
458If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @code{ar}, you
459can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
460form of @code{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
461directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @code{ar} prompts for
462input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
463errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
464issued, and @code{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
465on any error.
466
467The @code{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
468to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
469over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
470transition to @sc{gnu} @code{ar} for developers who already have scripts
471written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
472
473The syntax for the @code{ar} command language is straightforward:
474@itemize @bullet
475@item
476commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
477is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
478shown in upper case for clarity.
479
480@item
481a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
482line.
483
484@item
485empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
486
487@item
488comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
489or @samp{;} is ignored.
490
491@item
492Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @code{ar}
493command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
494blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
495
496@item
497@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
498at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
499of the current command.
500@end itemize
501
502Here are the commands you can use in @code{ar} scripts, or when using
503@code{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
504
505@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
506a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
507
508@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
509to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
510archive.
511
512@table @code
513@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
514@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
515Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
516@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
517
518Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
519
520@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
521@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
522@c else like "ar q..."
523Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
524
525Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
526
527@item CLEAR
528Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
529any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
530effect) even if no current archive is specified.
531
532@item CREATE @var{archive}
533Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
534other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
535is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
536You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
537existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
538
539@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
540Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
541@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
542
543Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
544
545@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
546@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
547List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
548command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
549output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
550@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
551@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
552
553Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
554specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @code{ar} directs the
555output to that file.
556
557@item END
558Exit from @code{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
559completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
560changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
561changes are lost.
562
563@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
564Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
565into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
566@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
567
568Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
569
570@ignore
571@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
572@item FULLDIR
573
574@item HELP
575@end ignore
576
577@item LIST
578Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
579regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
c89746f6 580tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @code{ar}
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581enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
582
583Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
584
585@item OPEN @var{archive}
586Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
587many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
588will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
589
590@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
591In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
592the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
593To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
594the current archive, must exist.
595
596Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
597
598@item VERBOSE
599Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
600When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
601@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
602
603@item SAVE
604Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
605file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
606command.
607
608Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
609
610@end table
611
612@iftex
613@node ld
614@chapter ld
615@cindex linker
616@kindex ld
617The @sc{gnu} linker @code{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
618@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
619@end iftex
620
621@node nm
622@chapter nm
623@cindex symbols
624@kindex nm
625
626@smallexample
627nm [ -a | --debug-syms ] [ -g | --extern-only ]
628 [ -B ] [ -C | --demangle ] [ -D | --dynamic ]
629 [ -s | --print-armap ] [ -A | -o | --print-file-name ]
630 [ -n | -v | --numeric-sort ] [ -p | --no-sort ]
631 [ -r | --reverse-sort ] [ --size-sort ] [ -u | --undefined-only ]
632 [ -t @var{radix} | --radix=@var{radix} ] [ -P | --portability ]
633 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -f @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
634 [ --defined-only ] [-l | --line-numbers ]
635 [ --no-demangle ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ] [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
636@end smallexample
637
638@sc{gnu} @code{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
639If no object files are listed as arguments, @code{nm} assumes
640@file{a.out}.
641
642For each symbol, @code{nm} shows:
643
644@itemize @bullet
645@item
646The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
647hexadecimal by default.
648
649@item
650The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
651well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
652local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
653
654@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
655@c would be nice.
656@table @code
657@item A
658The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
659linking.
660
661@item B
662The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
663
664@item C
665The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
666linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
667symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
668references. For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
669--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
670
671@item D
672The symbol is in the initialized data section.
673
674@item G
675The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
676object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
677such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
678
679@item I
680The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a GNU
681extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
682
683@item N
684The symbol is a debugging symbol.
685
686@item R
687The symbol is in a read only data section.
688
689@item S
690The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
691
692@item T
693The symbol is in the text (code) section.
694
695@item U
696The symbol is undefined.
697
698@item W
699The symbol is weak. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
700defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error. When a
701weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined, the value
702of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
703
704@item -
705The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
706next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
707the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information;
708for more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
709``stabs'' debug format}.
710
711@item ?
712The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
713@end table
714
715@item
716The symbol name.
717@end itemize
718
719The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
720equivalent.
721
722@table @code
723@item -A
724@itemx -o
725@itemx --print-file-name
726@cindex input file name
727@cindex file name
728@cindex source file name
729Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive element)
730in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
731before all of its symbols.
732
733@item -a
734@itemx --debug-syms
735@cindex debugging symbols
736Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
737listed.
738
739@item -B
740@cindex @code{nm} format
741@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
742The same as @samp{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @code{nm}).
743
744@item -C
745@itemx --demangle
746@cindex demangling in nm
747Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
748Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
749makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
750on demangling.
751
752@item --no-demangle
753Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
754
755@item -D
756@itemx --dynamic
757@cindex dynamic symbols
758Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
759only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
760libraries.
761
762@item -f @var{format}
763@itemx --format=@var{format}
764@cindex @code{nm} format
765@cindex @code{nm} compatibility
766Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
767@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
768Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
769either upper or lower case.
770
771@item -g
772@itemx --extern-only
773@cindex external symbols
774Display only external symbols.
775
776@item -l
777@itemx --line-numbers
778@cindex symbol line numbers
779For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
780line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
781address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
782number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
783information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
784
785@item -n
786@itemx -v
787@itemx --numeric-sort
788Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
789by their names.
790
791@item -p
792@itemx --no-sort
793@cindex sorting symbols
794Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
795encountered.
796
797@item -P
798@itemx --portability
799Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
800Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
801
802@item -s
803@itemx --print-armap
804@cindex symbol index, listing
805When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
806(stored in the archive by @code{ar} or @code{ranlib}) of which modules
807contain definitions for which names.
808
809@item -r
810@itemx --reverse-sort
811Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
812last come first.
813
814@item --size-sort
815Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
816the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
817value. The size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value.
818
819@item -t @var{radix}
820@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
821Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
822@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
823
824@item --target=@var{bfdname}
825@cindex object code format
826Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
827@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
828
829@item -u
830@itemx --undefined-only
831@cindex external symbols
832@cindex undefined symbols
833Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
834
835@item --defined-only
836@cindex external symbols
837@cindex undefined symbols
838Display only defined symbols for each object file.
839
840@item -V
841@itemx --version
842Show the version number of @code{nm} and exit.
843
844@item --help
845Show a summary of the options to @code{nm} and exit.
846@end table
847
848@node objcopy
849@chapter objcopy
850
851@smallexample
852objcopy [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
853 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
854 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
855 [ -S | --strip-all ] [ -g | --strip-debug ]
856 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
857 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
858 [ -L @var{symbolname} | --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
859 [ -W @var{symbolname} | --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
860 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
861 [ -b @var{byte} | --byte=@var{byte} ]
862 [ -i @var{interleave} | --interleave=@var{interleave} ]
f91ea849 863 [ -j @var{sectionname} | --only-section=@var{sectionname} ]
252b5132
RH
864 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
865 [ -p | --preserve-dates ] [ --debugging ]
866 [ --gap-fill=@var{val} ] [ --pad-to=@var{address} ]
867 [ --set-start=@var{val} ] [ --adjust-start=@var{incr} ]
868 [ --change-addresses=@var{incr} ]
869 [ --change-section-address=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
870 [ --change-section-lma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
871 [ --change-section-vma=@var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val} ]
872 [ --change-warnings ] [ --no-change-warnings ]
873 [ --set-section-flags=@var{section}=@var{flags} ]
874 [ --add-section=@var{sectionname}=@var{filename} ]
875 [ --change-leading-char ] [ --remove-leading-char ]
876 [ --weaken ]
877 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
878 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
879@end smallexample
880
881The @sc{gnu} @code{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
882file to another. @code{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
883read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
884file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
885exact behavior of @code{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
886
887@code{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
888deletes them afterward. @code{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
889translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
890and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
891explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
892
893@code{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
894target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
895
896@code{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
897output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @samp{-O binary}). When
898@code{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
899a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
900relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
901the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
902
903When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
904use @samp{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
905some cases @samp{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
906information which is not needed by the binary file.
907
908@table @code
909@item @var{infile}
910@itemx @var{outfile}
911The source and output files, respectively.
912If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @code{objcopy} creates a
913temporary file and destructively renames the result with
914the name of @var{infile}.
915
916@item -I @var{bfdname}
917@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
918Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
919attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
920
921@item -O @var{bfdname}
922@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
923Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
924@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
925
926@item -F @var{bfdname}
927@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
928Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
929file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
930translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
931
f91ea849
ILT
932@item -j @var{sectionname}
933@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
934Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
935This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
936inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
937
252b5132
RH
938@item -R @var{sectionname}
939@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
940Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
941option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
942inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
943
944@item -S
945@itemx --strip-all
946Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
947
948@item -g
949@itemx --strip-debug
950Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
951
952@item --strip-unneeded
953Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
954
955@item -K @var{symbolname}
956@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
957Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
958be given more than once.
959
960@item -N @var{symbolname}
961@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
962Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
963may be given more than once.
964
965@item -L @var{symbolname}
966@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
967Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
968visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
969
970@item -W @var{symbolname}
971@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
972Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
973
974@item -x
975@itemx --discard-all
976Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
977@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
978
979@item -X
980@itemx --discard-locals
981Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
982(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
983
984@item -b @var{byte}
985@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
986Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
987affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
988where @var{interleave} is given by the @samp{-i} or @samp{--interleave}
989option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
990to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
991target.
992
993@item -i @var{interleave}
994@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
995Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
996copy with the @var{-b} or @samp{--byte} option. The default is 4.
997@code{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @samp{-b} or
998@samp{--byte}.
999
1000@item -p
1001@itemx --preserve-dates
1002Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1003as those of the input file.
1004
1005@item --debugging
1006Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1007because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1008conversion process can be time consuming.
1009
1010@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1011Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1012the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1013the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1014space created with @var{val}.
1015
1016@item --pad-to @var{address}
1017Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1018done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1019filled in with the value specified by @samp{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1020
1021@item --set-start @var{val}
1022Set the address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1023formats support setting the start address.
1024
1025@item --change-start @var{incr}
1026@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1027@cindex changing start address
1028Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1029formats support setting the start address.
1030
1031@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1032@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1033@cindex changing object addresses
1034Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1035address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1036section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1037relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1038certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1039that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1040
1041@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1042@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1043@cindex changing section address
1044Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1045@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1046@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1047section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1048above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1049be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1050
1051@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1052@cindex changing section LMA
1053Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1054address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1055program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1056is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1057especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1058different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1059@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1060section address. See the comments under @samp{--change-addresses},
1061above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1062will be issued, unless @samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1063
1064@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1065@cindex changing section VMA
1066Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1067address is the address where the section will be located once the
1068program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1069address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1070memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1071ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1072is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1073from the section address. See the comments under
1074@samp{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1075the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1076@samp{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1077
1078@item --change-warnings
1079@itemx --adjust-warnings
1080If @samp{--change-section-address} or @samp{--change-section-lma} or
1081@samp{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1082exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1083
1084@item --no-change-warnings
1085@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1086Do not issue a warning if @samp{--change-section-address} or
1087@samp{--adjust-section-lma} or @samp{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1088if the named section does not exist.
1089
1090@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1091Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1092comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1093@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{readonly},
1094@samp{code}, @samp{data}, and @samp{rom}. You can set the
1095@samp{contents} flag for a section which does not have contents, but it
1096is not meaningful to clear the @samp{contents} flag of a section which
1097does have contents--just remove the section instead. Not all flags are
1098meaningful for all object file formats.
1099
1100@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1101Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1102contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1103size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1104works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1105
1106@item --change-leading-char
1107Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1108symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1109often add before every symbol. This option tells @code{objcopy} to
1110change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1111object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1112character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1113character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1114appropriate.
1115
1116@item --remove-leading-char
1117If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1118character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1119most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1120remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1121if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1122different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1123@code{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1124when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1125file.
1126
1127@item --weaken
1128Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1129when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1130the @code{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1131using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1132
1133@item -V
1134@itemx --version
1135Show the version number of @code{objcopy}.
1136
1137@item -v
1138@itemx --verbose
1139Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1140archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1141
1142@item --help
1143Show a summary of the options to @code{objcopy}.
1144@end table
1145
1146@node objdump
1147@chapter objdump
1148
1149@cindex object file information
1150@kindex objdump
1151
1152@smallexample
1153objdump [ -a | --archive-headers ]
1154 [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ --debugging ]
1155 [ -C | --demangle ] [ -d | --disassemble ]
1156 [ -D | --disassemble-all ] [ --disassemble-zeroes ]
1157 [ -EB | -EL | --endian=@{big | little @} ]
1158 [ -f | --file-headers ]
1159 [ -h | --section-headers | --headers ] [ -i | --info ]
1160 [ -j @var{section} | --section=@var{section} ]
1161 [ -l | --line-numbers ] [ -S | --source ]
1162 [ -m @var{machine} | --architecture=@var{machine} ]
dd92f639 1163 [ -M @var{options} | --disassembler-options=@var{options}]
252b5132
RH
1164 [ -p | --private-headers ]
1165 [ -r | --reloc ] [ -R | --dynamic-reloc ]
1166 [ -s | --full-contents ] [ --stabs ]
1167 [ -t | --syms ] [ -T | --dynamic-syms ] [ -x | --all-headers ]
1168 [ -w | --wide ] [ --start-address=@var{address} ]
1169 [ --stop-address=@var{address} ]
1170 [ --prefix-addresses] [ --[no-]show-raw-insn ]
1171 [ --adjust-vma=@var{offset} ]
1172 [ --version ] [ --help ]
1173 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1174@end smallexample
1175
1176@code{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1177The options control what particular information to display. This
1178information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1179compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1180program to compile and work.
1181
1182@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1183specify archives, @code{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1184object files.
1185
1186The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1187equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-l} must be given.
1188
1189@table @code
1190@item -a
1191@itemx --archive-header
1192@cindex archive headers
1193If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1194header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1195information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1196the object file format of each archive member.
1197
1198@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1199@cindex section addresses in objdump
1200@cindex VMA in objdump
1201When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1202addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1203the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1204addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1205such as a.out.
1206
1207@item -b @var{bfdname}
1208@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1209@cindex object code format
1210Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1211@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1212automatically recognize many formats.
1213
1214For example,
1215@example
1216objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1217@end example
1218@noindent
1219displays summary information from the section headers (@samp{-h}) of
1220@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@samp{-m}) as a VAX object
1221file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1222formats available with the @samp{-i} option.
1223@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1224
1225@item -C
1226@itemx --demangle
1227@cindex demangling in objdump
1228Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1229Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1230makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1231on demangling.
1232
1233@item --debugging
1234Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1235information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1236Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1237
1238@item -d
1239@itemx --disassemble
1240@cindex disassembling object code
1241@cindex machine instructions
1242Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1243@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1244expected to contain instructions.
1245
1246@item -D
1247@itemx --disassemble-all
1248Like @samp{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1249those expected to contain instructions.
1250
1251@item --prefix-addresses
1252When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1253the older disassembly format.
1254
1255@item --disassemble-zeroes
1256Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1257option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1258any other data.
1259
1260@item -EB
1261@itemx -EL
1262@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1263@cindex endianness
1264@cindex disassembly endianness
1265Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1266disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1267does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1268
1269@item -f
1270@itemx --file-header
1271@cindex object file header
1272Display summary information from the overall header of
1273each of the @var{objfile} files.
1274
1275@item -h
1276@itemx --section-header
1277@itemx --header
1278@cindex section headers
1279Display summary information from the section headers of the
1280object file.
1281
1282File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1283using the @samp{-Ttext}, @samp{-Tdata}, or @samp{-Tbss} options to
1284@code{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1285store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1286although @code{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1287-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1288Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1289target.
1290
1291@item --help
1292Print a summary of the options to @code{objdump} and exit.
1293
1294@item -i
1295@itemx --info
1296@cindex architectures available
1297@cindex object formats available
1298Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1299for specification with @samp{-b} or @samp{-m}.
1300
1301@item -j @var{name}
1302@itemx --section=@var{name}
1303@cindex section information
1304Display information only for section @var{name}.
1305
1306@item -l
1307@itemx --line-numbers
1308@cindex source filenames for object files
1309Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1310source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1311Only useful with @samp{-d}, @samp{-D}, or @samp{-r}.
1312
1313@item -m @var{machine}
1314@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1315@cindex architecture
1316@cindex disassembly architecture
1317Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1318can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1319architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1320architectures with the @samp{-i} option.
1321
dd92f639
NC
1322@item -M @var{options}
1323@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1324Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1325some targets.
1326
1327If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1328select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1329@samp{--disassembler-options=reg-name-std} (the default) will select the
1330register names as used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with
1331register 13 called 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called
1332'pc'. Specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-apcs} will
1333select the name set used by the ARM Procedure Call Standard, whilst
1334specifying @samp{--disassembler-options=reg-names-raw} will just use
1335@samp{r} followed by the register number.
1336
252b5132
RH
1337@item -p
1338@itemx --private-headers
1339Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1340information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1341object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1342
1343@item -r
1344@itemx --reloc
1345@cindex relocation entries, in object file
1346Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @samp{-d} or
1347@samp{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1348disassembly.
1349
1350@item -R
1351@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1352@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1353Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1354meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1355libraries.
1356
1357@item -s
1358@itemx --full-contents
1359@cindex sections, full contents
1360@cindex object file sections
1361Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1362
1363@item -S
1364@itemx --source
1365@cindex source disassembly
1366@cindex disassembly, with source
1367Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1368@samp{-d}.
1369
1370@item --show-raw-insn
1371When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1372in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1373@code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1374
1375@item --no-show-raw-insn
1376When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1377This is the default when @code{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1378
1379@item --stabs
1380@cindex stab
1381@cindex .stab
1382@cindex debug symbols
1383@cindex ELF object file format
1384Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1385contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1386ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1387@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1388section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1389interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @samp{--syms}
1390output. For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1391Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1392
1393@item --start-address=@var{address}
1394@cindex start-address
1395Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1396of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1397
1398@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1399@cindex stop-address
1400Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1401of the @code{-d}, @code{-r} and @code{-s} options.
1402
1403@item -t
1404@itemx --syms
1405@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1406Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1407This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1408
1409@item -T
1410@itemx --dynamic-syms
1411@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1412Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1413meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1414libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1415program when given the @samp{-D} (@samp{--dynamic}) option.
1416
1417@item --version
1418Print the version number of @code{objdump} and exit.
1419
1420@item -x
1421@itemx --all-header
1422@cindex all header information, object file
1423@cindex header information, all
1424Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1425relocation entries. Using @samp{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1426@samp{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1427
1428@item -w
1429@itemx --wide
1430@cindex wide output, printing
1431Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1432@end table
1433
1434@node ranlib
1435@chapter ranlib
1436
1437@kindex ranlib
1438@cindex archive contents
1439@cindex symbol index
1440
1441@smallexample
1442ranlib [-vV] @var{archive}
1443@end smallexample
1444
1445@code{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1446stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1447member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1448
1449You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1450
1451An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1452allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1453their placement in the archive.
1454
1455The @sc{gnu} @code{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @code{ar}; running
1456@code{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1457@xref{ar}.
1458
1459@table @code
1460@item -v
1461@itemx -V
1462Show the version number of @code{ranlib}.
1463@end table
1464
1465@node size
1466@chapter size
1467
1468@kindex size
1469@cindex section sizes
1470
1471@smallexample
1472size [ -A | -B | --format=@var{compatibility} ]
1473 [ --help ] [ -d | -o | -x | --radix=@var{number} ]
1474 [ --target=@var{bfdname} ] [ -V | --version ]
1475 [ @var{objfile}@dots{} ]
1476@end smallexample
1477
1478The @sc{gnu} @code{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1479size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1480argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1481object file or each module in an archive.
1482
1483@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1484If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1485
1486The command line options have the following meanings:
1487
1488@table @code
1489@item -A
1490@itemx -B
1491@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1492@cindex @code{size} display format
1493Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1494@code{size} resembles output from System V @code{size} (using @samp{-A},
1495or @samp{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @code{size} (using @samp{-B}, or
1496@samp{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1497Berkeley's.
1498@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1499@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1500@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1501
1502Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1503@code{size}:
1504@smallexample
1505size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1506text data bss dec hex filename
1507294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1508294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1509@end smallexample
1510
1511@noindent
1512This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1513
1514@smallexample
1515size --format=SysV ranlib size
1516ranlib :
1517section size addr
1518.text 294880 8192
1519.data 81920 303104
1520.bss 11592 385024
1521Total 388392
1522
1523
1524size :
1525section size addr
1526.text 294880 8192
1527.data 81920 303104
1528.bss 11888 385024
1529Total 388688
1530@end smallexample
1531
1532@item --help
1533Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1534
1535@item -d
1536@itemx -o
1537@itemx -x
1538@itemx --radix=@var{number}
1539@cindex @code{size} number format
1540@cindex radix for section sizes
1541Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1542section is given in decimal (@samp{-d}, or @samp{--radix=10}); octal
1543(@samp{-o}, or @samp{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@samp{-x}, or
1544@samp{--radix=16}). In @samp{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1545values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1546radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @samp{-d} or @samp{-x} output, or
1547octal and hexadecimal if you're using @samp{-o}.
1548
1549@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1550@cindex object code format
1551Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1552@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @code{size} can
1553automatically recognize many formats.
1554@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1555
1556@item -V
1557@itemx --version
1558Display the version number of @code{size}.
1559@end table
1560
1561@node strings
1562@chapter strings
1563@kindex strings
1564@cindex listings strings
1565@cindex printing strings
1566@cindex strings, printing
1567
1568@smallexample
1569strings [-afov] [-@var{min-len}] [-n @var{min-len}] [-t @var{radix}] [-]
1570 [--all] [--print-file-name] [--bytes=@var{min-len}]
1571 [--radix=@var{radix}] [--target=@var{bfdname}]
1572 [--help] [--version] @var{file}@dots{}
1573@end smallexample
1574
1575For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @code{strings} prints the printable
1576character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1577given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1578character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1579and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1580the strings from the whole file.
1581
1582@code{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1583files.
1584
1585@table @code
1586@item -a
1587@itemx --all
1588@itemx -
1589Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1590scan the whole files.
1591
1592@item -f
1593@itemx --print-file-name
1594Print the name of the file before each string.
1595
1596@item --help
1597Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1598
1599@item -@var{min-len}
1600@itemx -n @var{min-len}
1601@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1602Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1603long, instead of the default 4.
1604
1605@item -o
1606Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @code{strings} have @samp{-o}
1607act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
1608ways, we simply chose one.
1609
1610@item -t @var{radix}
1611@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
1612Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
1613character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
1614octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
1615
1616@item --target=@var{bfdname}
1617@cindex object code format
1618Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
1619@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1620
1621@item -v
1622@itemx --version
1623Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
1624@end table
1625
1626@node strip
1627@chapter strip
1628
1629@kindex strip
1630@cindex removing symbols
1631@cindex discarding symbols
1632@cindex symbols, discarding
1633
1634@smallexample
1635strip [ -F @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1636 [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1637 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1638 [ -s | --strip-all ] [ -S | -g | --strip-debug ]
1639 [ -K @var{symbolname} | --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1640 [ -N @var{symbolname} | --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname} ]
1641 [ -x | --discard-all ] [ -X | --discard-locals ]
1642 [ -R @var{sectionname} | --remove-section=@var{sectionname} ]
1643 [ -o @var{file} ] [ -p | --preserve-dates ]
1644 [ -v | --verbose ] [ -V | --version ] [ --help ]
1645 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1646@end smallexample
1647
1648@sc{gnu} @code{strip} discards all symbols from object files
1649@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
1650At least one object file must be given.
1651
1652@code{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
1653rather than writing modified copies under different names.
1654
1655@table @code
1656@item -F @var{bfdname}
1657@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1658Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1659code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
1660@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1661
1662@item --help
1663Show a summary of the options to @code{strip} and exit.
1664
1665@item -I @var{bfdname}
1666@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1667Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
1668code format @var{bfdname}.
1669@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1670
1671@item -O @var{bfdname}
1672@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1673Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
1674@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1675
1676@item -R @var{sectionname}
1677@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1678Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1679option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1680inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1681
1682@item -s
1683@itemx --strip-all
1684Remove all symbols.
1685
1686@item -g
1687@itemx -S
1688@itemx --strip-debug
1689Remove debugging symbols only.
1690
1691@item --strip-unneeded
1692Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1693
1694@item -K @var{symbolname}
1695@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1696Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1697be given more than once.
1698
1699@item -N @var{symbolname}
1700@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1701Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
1702given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
1703@code{-K}.
1704
1705@item -o @var{file}
1706Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
1707existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
1708argument may be specified.
1709
1710@item -p
1711@itemx --preserve-dates
1712Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
1713
1714@item -x
1715@itemx --discard-all
1716Remove non-global symbols.
1717
1718@item -X
1719@itemx --discard-locals
1720Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
1721(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1722
1723@item -V
1724@itemx --version
1725Show the version number for @code{strip}.
1726
1727@item -v
1728@itemx --verbose
1729Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1730archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
1731@end table
1732
9d51cc66 1733@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
252b5132
RH
1734@chapter c++filt
1735
1736@kindex c++filt
1737@cindex demangling C++ symbols
1738
1739@smallexample
1740c++filt [ -_ | --strip-underscores ]
1741 [ -j | --java ]
1742 [ -n | --no-strip-underscores ]
1743 [ -s @var{format} | --format=@var{format} ]
1744 [ --help ] [ --version ] [ @var{symbol}@dots{} ]
1745@end smallexample
1746
9d51cc66 1747@kindex cxxfilt
252b5132
RH
1748The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
1749that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
1750takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
1751are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
9d51cc66
ILT
1752@dfn{mangling}). The @code{c++filt}
1753@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
1754MS-DOS this program is named @code{cxxfilt}.}
1755program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
1756names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
1757functions from clashing.
252b5132
RH
1758
1759Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
1760dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
1761label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
1762name in the output.
1763
1764You can use @code{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
1765
1766@example
1767c++filt @var{symbol}
1768@end example
1769
1770If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @code{c++filt} reads symbol
1771names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
1772standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
1773
1774@table @code
1775@item -_
1776@itemx --strip-underscores
1777On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
1778of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
1779name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
1780@code{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
1781
1782@item -j
1783@itemx --java
1784Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
1785syntax.
1786
1787@item -n
1788@itemx --no-strip-underscores
1789Do not remove the initial underscore.
1790
1791@item -s @var{format}
1792@itemx --format=@var{format}
1793@sc{gnu} @code{nm} can decode three different methods of mangling, used by
1794different C++ compilers. The argument to this option selects which
1795method it uses:
1796
1797@table @code
1798@item gnu
1799the one used by the @sc{gnu} compiler (the default method)
1800@item lucid
1801the one used by the Lucid compiler
1802@item arm
1803the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
1804@item hp
1805the one used by the HP compiler
1806@item edg
1807the one used by the EDG compiler
1808@end table
1809
1810@item --help
1811Print a summary of the options to @code{c++filt} and exit.
1812
1813@item --version
1814Print the version number of @code{c++filt} and exit.
1815@end table
1816
1817@quotation
1818@emph{Warning:} @code{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
1819user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
1820a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
1821passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
1822
1823@example
1824c++filt @var{symbol}
1825@end example
1826
1827@noindent
1828may in a future release become
1829
1830@example
1831c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
1832@end example
1833@end quotation
1834
1835@node addr2line
1836@chapter addr2line
1837
1838@kindex addr2line
1839@cindex address to file name and line number
1840
1841@smallexample
1842addr2line [ -b @var{bfdname} | --target=@var{bfdname} ]
1843 [ -C | --demangle ]
1844 [ -e @var{filename} | --exe=@var{filename} ]
1845 [ -f | --functions ] [ -s | --basename ]
1846 [ -H | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1847 [ addr addr ... ]
1848@end smallexample
1849
1850@code{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
1851numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
1852information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
1853number are associated with a given address.
1854
1855The executable to use is specified with the @code{-e} option. The
1856default is @file{a.out}.
1857
1858@code{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
1859
1860In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
1861and @code{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
1862address.
1863
1864In the second, @code{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
1865standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
1866address on standard output. In this mode, @code{addr2line} may be used
1867in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
1868
1869The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
1870line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
1871@code{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
1872preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
1873containing the address.
1874
1875If the file name or function name can not be determined,
1876@code{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
1877line number can not be determined, @code{addr2line} will print 0.
1878
1879The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1880equivalent.
1881
1882@table @code
1883@item -b @var{bfdname}
1884@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1885@cindex object code format
1886Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1887@var{bfdname}.
1888
1889@item -C
1890@itemx --demangle
1891@cindex demangling in objdump
1892Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1893Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1894makes C++ function names readable. @xref{c++filt}, for more information
1895on demangling.
1896
1897@item -e @var{filename}
1898@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
1899Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
1900translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
1901
1902@item -f
1903@itemx --functions
1904Display function names as well as file and line number information.
1905
1906@item -s
1907@itemx --basenames
1908Display only the base of each file name.
1909@end table
1910
1911@node nlmconv
1912@chapter nlmconv
1913
1914@code{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
1915Loadable Module.
1916
1917@ignore
1918@code{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
1919files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
1920object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
1921@code{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
1922format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
1923with the above formats.}.
1924@end ignore
1925
1926@quotation
1927@emph{Warning:} @code{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
1928utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
1929@end quotation
1930
1931@smallexample
1932nlmconv [ -I @var{bfdname} | --input-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1933 [ -O @var{bfdname} | --output-target=@var{bfdname} ]
1934 [ -T @var{headerfile} | --header-file=@var{headerfile} ]
1935 [ -d | --debug] [ -l @var{linker} | --linker=@var{linker} ]
1936 [ -h | --help ] [ -V | --version ]
1937 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
1938@end smallexample
1939
1940@code{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
1941@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
1942reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
1943on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
1944@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
1945Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
1946Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
1947@code{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
1948@var{infile}; see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for
1949more information.
1950
1951@code{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
1952more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
1953file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
1954In this case, @code{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
1955
1956@table @code
1957@item -I @var{bfdname}
1958@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1959Object format of the input file. @code{nlmconv} can usually determine
1960the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
1961@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1962
1963@item -O @var{bfdname}
1964@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1965Object format of the output file. @code{nlmconv} infers the output
1966format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
1967output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
1968@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1969
1970@item -T @var{headerfile}
1971@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
1972Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
1973writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
1974@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
1975Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
1976from Novell, Inc.
1977
1978@item -d
1979@itemx --debug
1980Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @code{nlmconv}.
1981
1982@item -l @var{linker}
1983@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
1984Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
1985relative pathname.
1986
1987@item -h
1988@itemx --help
1989Prints a usage summary.
1990
1991@item -V
1992@itemx --version
1993Prints the version number for @code{nlmconv}.
1994@end table
1995
1996@node windres
1997@chapter windres
1998
1999@code{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2000
2001@quotation
2002@emph{Warning:} @code{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2003utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2004@end quotation
2005
2006@smallexample
2007windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2008@end smallexample
2009
2010@code{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2011an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2012
2013@table @code
2014@item rc
2015A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2016
2017@item res
2018A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2019
2020@item coff
2021A COFF object or executable.
2022@end table
2023
2024The exact description of these different formats is available in
2025documentation from Microsoft.
2026
2027When @code{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2028format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2029@code{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2030format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2031
2032When @code{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2033but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2034@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2035will instead include the file contents.
2036
2037If the input or output format is not specified, @code{windres} will
2038guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2039A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2040file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2041@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2042@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2043
2044If no output file is specified, @code{windres} will print the resources
2045in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2046
2047The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @code{windres}
2048to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2049your application. This will make the resources described in the
2050@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2051
2052@table @code
2053@item -i @var{filename}
2054@itemx --input @var{filename}
2055The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2056@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2057name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @code{windres} will
2058read from standard input. @code{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2059standard input.
2060
2061@item -o @var{filename}
2062@itemx --output @var{filename}
2063The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2064@code{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2065for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2066non-option argument, then @code{windres} will write to standard output.
2067@code{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output.
2068
2069@item -I @var{format}
2070@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2071The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2072@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @code{windres} will
2073guess, as described above.
2074
2075@item -O @var{format}
2076@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2077The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2078@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2079@code{windres} will guess, as described above.
2080
2081@item -F @var{target}
2082@itemx --target @var{target}
2083Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2084is a BFD target name; you can use the @code{--help} option to see a list
2085of supported targets. Normally @code{windres} will use the default
2086format, which is the first one listed by the @code{--help} option.
2087@ref{Target Selection}.
2088
2089@item --preprocessor @var{program}
2090When @code{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2091preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2092to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2093argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2094
2095@item --include-dir @var{directory}
2096Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2097@code{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @code{-I}
2098option. @code{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2099files named in the @code{rc} file.
2100
751d21b5 2101@item -D @var{target}
ad0481cd 2102@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
252b5132
RH
2103Specify a @code{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2104@code{rc} file.
2105
751d21b5
DD
2106@item -v
2107Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2108didn't specify one.
2109
252b5132
RH
2110@item --language @var{val}
2111Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2112@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2113the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2114
2115@item --help
2116Prints a usage summary.
2117
2118@item --version
2119Prints the version number for @code{windres}.
2120
2121@item --yydebug
2122If @code{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2123this will turn on parser debugging.
2124@end table
2125
2126
2127@node dlltool
2128@chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2129@cindex DLL
2130@kindex dlltool
2131
2132@code{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2133dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2134
2135@quotation
2136@emph{Warning:} @code{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2137utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2138@end quotation
2139
2140@smallexample
2141dlltool [-d|--input-def @var{def-file-name}]
2142 [-b|--base-file @var{base-file-name}]
2143 [-e|--output-exp @var{exports-file-name}]
2144 [-z|--output-def @var{def-file-name}]
2145 [-l|--output-lib @var{library-file-name}]
2146 [--export-all-symbols] [--no-export-all-symbols]
2147 [--exclude-symbols @var{list}]
2148 [--no-default-excludes]
2149 [-S|--as @var{path-to-assembler}] [-f|--as-flags @var{options}]
2150 [-D|--dllname @var{name}] [-m|--machine @var{machine}]
2151 [-a|--add-indirect] [-U|--add-underscore] [-k|--kill-at]
2152 [-A|--add-stdcall-alias]
2153 [-x|--no-idata4] [-c|--no-idata5] [-i|--interwork]
2154 [-n|--nodelete] [-v|--verbose] [-h|--help] [-V|--version]
2155 [object-file @dots{}]
2156@end smallexample
2157
2158@code{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @samp{-d} and
2159@samp{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2160line. It then processes these inputs and if the @samp{-e} option has
2161been specified it creates a exports file. If the @samp{-l} option
2162has been specified it creates a library file and if the @samp{-z} option
2163has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the -e, -l
2164and -z options can be present in one invocation of dlltool.
2165
2166When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2167to have three other files. @code{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2168these files.
2169
2170The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2171exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2172is a text file and can be created by hand, or @code{dlltool} can be used
2173to create it using the @samp{-z} option. In this case @code{dlltool}
2174will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2175those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2176put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2177
2178In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2179have an @samp{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2180section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2181asm() operator:
2182
2183@smallexample
2184 asm (".section .drectve");
2185 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2186
2187 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2188@end smallexample
2189
2190The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2191is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2192handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2193binary file and it can be created by giving the @samp{-e} option to
2194@code{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2195
2196The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2197will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2198can be created by giving the @samp{-l} option to dlltool when it
2199is creating or reading in a .def file.
2200
2201@code{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2202exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2203and then assembling these. The @samp{-S} command line option can be
2204used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2205and the @samp{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2206assembler. The @samp{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2207these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @samp{-n} is
2208specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2209temporary object files it used to build the library.
2210
2211Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2212also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2213that uses that DLL:
2214
2215@smallexample
2216 gcc -c dll.c
2217 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2218 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2219 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2220@end smallexample
2221
2222The command line options have the following meanings:
2223
2224@table @code
2225
2226@item -d @var{filename}
2227@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2228@cindex input .def file
2229Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2230
2231@item -b @var{filename}
2232@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2233@cindex base files
2234Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2235contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2236exports file generated by dlltool.
2237
2238@item -e @var{filename}
2239@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2240Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2241
2242@item -z @var{filename}
2243@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2244Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2245
2246@item -l @var{filename}
2247@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2248Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2249
2250@item --export-all-symbols
2251Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2252files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2253are not exported by default; see the @code{--no-default-excludes}
2254option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2255@code{--exclude-symbols} option.
2256
2257@item --no-export-all-symbols
2258Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2259@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2260behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2261attributes in the source code.
2262
2263@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2264Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2265separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2266contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2267@code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2268
2269@item --no-default-excludes
2270When @code{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2271exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2272exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2273@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @code{--no-default-excludes} option
2274to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2275when @code{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2276
2277@item -S @var{path}
2278@itemx --as @var{path}
2279Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2280to create the exports file.
2281
2282@item -f @var{switches}
2283@itemx --as-flags @var{switches}
2284Specifies any specific command line switches to be passed to the
2285assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2286the @samp{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2287and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2288occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2289pass multiple switches to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2290double quotes.
2291
2292@item -D @var{name}
2293@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2294Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2295when the @samp{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2296the filename given to the @samp{-e} option will be used as the name of
2297the DLL.
2298
2299@item -m @var{machine}
2300@itemx -machine @var{machine}
2301Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2302built. @code{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2303it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2304normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2305contents of the DLL are actually encode using THUMB instructions.
2306
2307@item -a
2308@itemx --add-indirect
2309Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2310should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2311referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2312means!
2313
2314@item -U
2315@itemx --add-underscore
2316Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2317should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2318
2319@item -k
2320@itemx --kill-at
2321Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2322should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2323called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2324function in a DLL, other than by name.
2325
2326@item -A
2327@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2328Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2329should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2330in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2331
2332@item -x
2333@itemx --no-idata4
2334Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2335files it should omit the .idata4 section. This is for compatibility
2336with certain operating systems.
2337
2338@item -c
2339@itemx --no-idata5
2340Specifies that when @code{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2341files it should omit the .idata5 section. This is for compatibility
2342with certain operating systems.
2343
2344@item -i
2345@itemx --interwork
2346Specifies that @code{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2347file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2348between ARM and THUMB code.
2349
2350@item -n
2351@itemx --nodelete
2352Makes @code{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2353create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2354also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2355file.
2356
2357@item -v
2358@itemx --verbose
2359Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2360
2361@item -h
2362@itemx --help
2363Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2364
2365@item -V
2366@itemx --version
2367Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2368
2369@end table
2370
2371@node readelf
2372@chapter readelf
2373
2374@cindex ELF file information
2375@kindex readelf
2376
2377@smallexample
2378readelf [ -a | --all ]
2379 [ -h | --file-header]
2380 [ -l | --program-headers | --segments]
2381 [ -S | --section-headers | --sections]
2382 [ -e | --headers]
2383 [ -s | --syms | --symbols]
779fe533 2384 [ -n | --notes]
252b5132
RH
2385 [ -r | --relocs]
2386 [ -d | --dynamic]
2387 [ -V | --version-info]
2388 [ -D | --use-dynamic]
2389 [ -x <number> | --hex-dump=<number>]
2390 [ -w[liapr] | --debug-dump[=info,=line,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]]
2391 [ --histogram]
2392 [ -v | --version]
2393 [ -H | --help]
2394 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2395@end smallexample
2396
2397@code{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2398files. The options control what particular information to display.
2399
2400@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2401moment, @code{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2402support examing 64 bit ELF files.
2403
2404The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2405equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
2406given.
2407
2408@table @code
2409@item -a
2410@itemx --all
2411Equivalent to specifiying @samp{--file-header},
2412@samp{--program-headers}, @samp{--sections}, @samp{--symbols},
779fe533
NC
2413@samp{--relocs}, @samp{--dynamic}, @samp{--notes} and
2414@samp{--version-info}.
252b5132
RH
2415
2416@item -h
2417@itemx --file-header
2418@cindex ELF file header information
2419Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
2420file.
2421
2422@item -l
2423@itemx --program-headers
2424@itemx --segments
2425@cindex ELF program header information
2426@cindex ELF segment information
2427Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
2428has any.
2429
2430@item -S
2431@itemx --sections
2432@itemx --section-headers
2433@cindex ELF section information
2434Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
2435has any.
2436
2437@item -s
2438@itemx --symbols
2439@itemx --syms
2440@cindex ELF symbol table information
2441Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
2442
2443@item -e
2444@itemx --headers
2445Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @samp{-h -l -S}.
2446
779fe533
NC
2447@item -n
2448@itemx --notes
2449@cindex ELF core notes
2450Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
2451
252b5132
RH
2452@item -r
2453@itemx --relocs
2454@cindex ELF reloc information
2455Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it ha one.
2456
2457@item -d
2458@itemx --dynamic
2459@cindex ELF dynamic section information
2460Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
2461
2462@item -V
2463@itemx --version-info
2464@cindex ELF version sections informations
2465Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
2466exist.
2467
2468@item -D
2469@itemx --use-dynamic
2470When displaying symbols, this option makes @code{readelf} use the
2471symblol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
2472symbols section.
2473
2474@item -x <number>
2475@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
2476Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
2477
2478@item -w[liapr]
2479@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges]
2480Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
2481present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
2482then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
2483
2484@item --histogram
2485Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
2486of the symbol tables.
2487
2488@item -v
2489@itemx --version
2490Display the version number of readelf.
2491
2492@item -H
2493@itemx --help
2494Display the command line options understood by @code{readelf}.
2495
2496@end table
2497
2498
2499@node Selecting The Target System
2500@chapter Selecting the target system
2501
2502You can specify three aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
2503binary file utilities, each in several ways:
2504
2505@itemize @bullet
2506@item
2507the target
2508
2509@item
2510the architecture
2511
2512@item
2513the linker emulation (which applies to the linker only)
2514@end itemize
2515
2516In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
2517order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
2518listed later.
2519
2520The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
2521programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
2522@samp{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
2523values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
2524once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
2525with the same type as the target system).
2526
2527@menu
2528* Target Selection::
2529* Architecture Selection::
2530* Linker Emulation Selection::
2531@end menu
2532
2533@node Target Selection
2534@section Target Selection
2535
2536A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
2537supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
2538A target selection may also have variations for different operating
2539systems or architectures.
2540
2541The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
2542(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
2543
2544Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
2545@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
2546
2547You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
2548the same sort of name that is passed to configure to specify a target.
2549When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be fully
2550canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
2551running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
2552sources.
2553
2554Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
2555@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
2556
2557@subheading @code{objdump} Target
2558
2559Ways to specify:
2560
2561@enumerate
2562@item
2563command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--target}
2564
2565@item
2566environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2567
2568@item
2569deduced from the input file
2570@end enumerate
2571
2572@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target
2573
2574Ways to specify:
2575
2576@enumerate
2577@item
2578command line options: @samp{-I} or @samp{--input-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2579
2580@item
2581environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2582
2583@item
2584deduced from the input file
2585@end enumerate
2586
2587@subheading @code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Output Target
2588
2589Ways to specify:
2590
2591@enumerate
2592@item
2593command line options: @samp{-O} or @samp{--output-target}, or @samp{-F} or @samp{--target}
2594
2595@item
2596the input target (see ``@code{objcopy} and @code{strip} Input Target'' above)
2597
2598@item
2599environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2600
2601@item
2602deduced from the input file
2603@end enumerate
2604
2605@subheading @code{nm}, @code{size}, and @code{strings} Target
2606
2607Ways to specify:
2608
2609@enumerate
2610@item
2611command line option: @samp{--target}
2612
2613@item
2614environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2615
2616@item
2617deduced from the input file
2618@end enumerate
2619
2620@subheading Linker Input Target
2621
2622Ways to specify:
2623
2624@enumerate
2625@item
2626command line option: @samp{-b} or @samp{--format}
2627(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2628
2629@item
2630script command @code{TARGET}
2631(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2632
2633@item
2634environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
2635(@pxref{Environment,,Environment,ld.info,Using LD})
2636
2637@item
2638the default target of the selected linker emulation
2639(@pxref{Linker Emulation Selection})
2640@end enumerate
2641
2642@subheading Linker Output Target
2643
2644Ways to specify:
2645
2646@enumerate
2647@item
2648command line option: @samp{-oformat}
2649(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2650
2651@item
2652script command @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
2653(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2654
2655@item
2656the linker input target (see ``Linker Input Target'' above)
2657@end enumerate
2658
2659@node Architecture Selection
2660@section Architecture selection
2661
2662An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
2663to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
2664processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
2665
2666The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
2667second column contains the relevant information).
2668
2669Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
2670
2671@subheading @code{objdump} Architecture
2672
2673Ways to specify:
2674
2675@enumerate
2676@item
2677command line option: @samp{-m} or @samp{--architecture}
2678
2679@item
2680deduced from the input file
2681@end enumerate
2682
2683@subheading @code{objcopy}, @code{nm}, @code{size}, @code{strings} Architecture
2684
2685Ways to specify:
2686
2687@enumerate
2688@item
2689deduced from the input file
2690@end enumerate
2691
2692@subheading Linker Input Architecture
2693
2694Ways to specify:
2695
2696@enumerate
2697@item
2698deduced from the input file
2699@end enumerate
2700
2701@subheading Linker Output Architecture
2702
2703Ways to specify:
2704
2705@enumerate
2706@item
2707script command @code{OUTPUT_ARCH}
2708(@pxref{Option Commands,,Option Commands,ld.info,Using LD})
2709
2710@item
2711the default architecture from the linker output target
2712(@pxref{Target Selection})
2713@end enumerate
2714
2715@node Linker Emulation Selection
2716@section Linker emulation selection
2717
2718A linker @dfn{emulation} is a ``personality'' of the linker, which gives
2719the linker default values for the other aspects of the target system.
2720In particular, it consists of
2721
2722@itemize @bullet
2723@item
2724the linker script
2725
2726@item
2727the target
2728
2729@item
2730several ``hook'' functions that are run at certain stages of the linking
2731process to do special things that some targets require
2732@end itemize
2733
2734The command to list valid linker emulation values is @samp{ld -V}.
2735
2736Sample values: @samp{hp300bsd}, @samp{mipslit}, @samp{sun4}.
2737
2738Ways to specify:
2739
2740@enumerate
2741@item
2742command line option: @samp{-m}
2743(@pxref{Options,,Options,ld.info,Using LD})
2744
2745@item
2746environment variable @code{LDEMULATION}
2747
2748@item
2749compiled-in @code{DEFAULT_EMULATION} from @file{Makefile},
2750which comes from @code{EMUL} in @file{config/@var{target}.mt}
2751@end enumerate
2752
2753@node Reporting Bugs
2754@chapter Reporting Bugs
2755@cindex bugs
2756@cindex reporting bugs
2757
2758Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
2759reliable.
2760
2761Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
2762it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
2763to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
2764utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
2765maintenance.
2766
2767In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
2768information that enables us to fix the bug.
2769
2770@menu
2771* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
2772* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
2773@end menu
2774
2775@node Bug Criteria
2776@section Have you found a bug?
2777@cindex bug criteria
2778
2779If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
2780
2781@itemize @bullet
2782@cindex fatal signal
2783@cindex crash
2784@item
2785If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
2786a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
2787
2788@cindex error on valid input
2789@item
2790If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
2791bug.
2792
2793@item
2794If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
2795improvement are welcome in any case.
2796@end itemize
2797
2798@node Bug Reporting
2799@section How to report bugs
2800@cindex bug reports
2801@cindex bugs, reporting
2802
2803A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
2804products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
2805organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
2806
2807You can find contact information for many support companies and
2808individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
2809distribution.
2810
2811In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
2812utilities to @samp{bug-gnu-utils@@gnu.org}.
2813
2814The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
2815@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
2816fact or leave it out, state it!
2817
2818Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
2819problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
2820assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
2821Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
2822a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
2823that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
2824different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
2825doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
2826specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
2827and the most helpful.
2828
2829Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
2830it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
2831that the bug has not been reported previously.
2832
2833Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
2834bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
2835@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
2836bugs properly.
2837
2838To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
2839
2840@itemize @bullet
2841@item
2842The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
2843with the @samp{--version} argument.
2844
2845Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
2846the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
2847
2848@item
2849Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
2850made to the @code{BFD} library.
2851
2852@item
2853The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
2854version number.
2855
2856@item
2857What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
2858``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
2859
2860@item
2861The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
2862guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
2863of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
2864
2865If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
2866and then we might not encounter the bug.
2867
2868@item
2869A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
2870bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
2871generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
757acbc5
ILT
2872necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
2873@samp{bug-gnu-utils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
2874sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
2875anonymous FTP is OK.
252b5132
RH
2876
2877If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
2878(e.g., @code{gcc}, @code{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @code{ld}), then it
2879may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
2880this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @code{gcc}, or
2881whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
2882@code{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
2883
2884@item
2885A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
2886incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
2887
2888Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
2889will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
2890not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
2891a chance to make a mistake.
2892
2893Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
2894say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
2895copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
2896the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
2897crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
2898ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
2899us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
2900to draw any conclusion from our observations.
2901
2902@item
2903If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
2904generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
2905option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
2906even discuss something in the @code{ld} source, refer to it by context,
2907not by line number.
2908
2909The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
2910sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
2911@end itemize
2912
2913Here are some things that are not necessary:
2914
2915@itemize @bullet
2916@item
2917A description of the envelope of the bug.
2918
2919Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
2920which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
2921changes will not affect it.
2922
2923This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
2924will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
2925with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
2926We recommend that you save your time for something else.
2927
2928Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
2929of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
2930output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
2931less time, and so on.
2932
2933However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
2934report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
2935
2936@item
2937A patch for the bug.
2938
2939A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
2940the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
2941a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
2942to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
2943
2944Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
2945very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
2946certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
2947will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
2948the bug is fixed.
2949
2950And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
2951patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
2952help us to understand.
2953
2954@item
2955A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
2956
2957Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
2958things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
2959@end itemize
2960
2961@node Index
2962@unnumbered Index
2963
2964@printindex cp
2965
2966@contents
2967@bye
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