2003-11-25 Michael Chastain <mec.gnu@mindspring.com>
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
... / ...
CommitLineData
1\input texinfo @c -*- Texinfo -*-
2@setfilename binutils.info
3@c Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4
5@include config.texi
6
7@ifinfo
8@format
9START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
10* Binutils: (binutils). The GNU binary utilities.
11* ar: (binutils)ar. Create, modify, and extract from archives
12* nm: (binutils)nm. List symbols from object files
13* objcopy: (binutils)objcopy. Copy and translate object files
14* objdump: (binutils)objdump. Display information from object files
15* ranlib: (binutils)ranlib. Generate index to archive contents
16* readelf: (binutils)readelf. Display the contents of ELF format files.
17* size: (binutils)size. List section sizes and total size
18* strings: (binutils)strings. List printable strings from files
19* strip: (binutils)strip. Discard symbols
20* c++filt: (binutils)c++filt. Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
21* cxxfilt: (binutils)c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
22* addr2line: (binutils)addr2line. Convert addresses to file and line
23* nlmconv: (binutils)nlmconv. Converts object code into an NLM
24* windres: (binutils)windres. Manipulate Windows resources
25* dlltool: (binutils)dlltool. Create files needed to build and use DLLs
26END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
27@end format
28@end ifinfo
29
30@ifinfo
31@c man begin COPYRIGHT
32Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000,
332001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34
35Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
36under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
37or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
38with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
39Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
40section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
41
42@c man end
43@ignore
44Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
45results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
46notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
47(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
48
49@end ignore
50@end ifinfo
51
52@synindex ky cp
53@c
54@c This file documents the GNU binary utilities "ar", "ld", "objcopy",
55@c "objdump", "nm", "size", "strings", "strip", "readelf" and "ranlib".
56@c
57@c Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001,
58@c 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59@c
60@c This text may be freely distributed under the terms of the GNU
61@c Free Documentation License.
62@c
63
64@setchapternewpage odd
65@settitle @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
66@titlepage
67@finalout
68@title The @sc{gnu} Binary Utilities
69@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
70@sp 1
71@subtitle May 1993
72@author Roland H. Pesch
73@author Jeffrey M. Osier
74@author Cygnus Support
75@page
76
77@tex
78{\parskip=0pt \hfill Cygnus Support\par \hfill
79\TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par }
80@end tex
81
82@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
83Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998, 2000, 2001,
842002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
85
86 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
87 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
88 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
89 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
90 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
91 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
92
93@end titlepage
94
95@node Top
96@top Introduction
97
98@cindex version
99This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
100utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
101
102@iftex
103@table @code
104@item ar
105Create, modify, and extract from archives
106
107@item nm
108List symbols from object files
109
110@item objcopy
111Copy and translate object files
112
113@item objdump
114Display information from object files
115
116@item ranlib
117Generate index to archive contents
118
119@item readelf
120Display the contents of ELF format files.
121
122@item size
123List file section sizes and total size
124
125@item strings
126List printable strings from files
127
128@item strip
129Discard symbols
130
131@item c++filt
132Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
133@code{cxxfilt})
134
135@item addr2line
136Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
137
138@item nlmconv
139Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
140
141@item windres
142Manipulate Windows resources
143
144@item dlltool
145Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
146@end table
147@end iftex
148
149This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
150Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
151section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
152
153@menu
154* ar:: Create, modify, and extract from archives
155* nm:: List symbols from object files
156* objcopy:: Copy and translate object files
157* objdump:: Display information from object files
158* ranlib:: Generate index to archive contents
159* readelf:: Display the contents of ELF format files.
160* size:: List section sizes and total size
161* strings:: List printable strings from files
162* strip:: Discard symbols
163* c++filt:: Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols
164* cxxfilt: c++filt. MS-DOS name for c++filt
165* addr2line:: Convert addresses to file and line
166* nlmconv:: Converts object code into an NLM
167* windres:: Manipulate Windows resources
168* dlltool:: Create files needed to build and use DLLs
169* Selecting The Target System:: How these utilities determine the target.
170* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
171* GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
172* Index:: Index
173@end menu
174
175@node ar
176@chapter ar
177
178@kindex ar
179@cindex archives
180@cindex collections of files
181
182@c man title ar create, modify, and extract from archives
183
184@smallexample
185ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
186ar -M [ <mri-script ]
187@end smallexample
188
189@c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
190
191The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
192archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
193other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
194the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
195
196The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
197group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
198extraction.
199
200@cindex name length
201@sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
202length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
203system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
204with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
205limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
206characters (typical of formats related to coff).
207
208@cindex libraries
209@command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
210are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
211subroutines.
212
213@cindex symbol index
214@command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
215object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
216Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
217makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
218An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
219allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
220their placement in the archive.
221
222You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
223table. If an archive lacks the table, another form of @command{ar} called
224@command{ranlib} can be used to add just the table.
225
226@cindex compatibility, @command{ar}
227@cindex @command{ar} compatibility
228@sc{gnu} @command{ar} is designed to be compatible with two different
229facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
230like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
231specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
232with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
233program.
234
235@c man end
236
237@menu
238* ar cmdline:: Controlling @command{ar} on the command line
239* ar scripts:: Controlling @command{ar} with a script
240@end menu
241
242@page
243@node ar cmdline
244@section Controlling @command{ar} on the Command Line
245
246@smallexample
247@c man begin SYNOPSIS ar
248ar [@option{-X32_64}] [@option{-}]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
249@c man end
250@end smallexample
251
252@cindex Unix compatibility, @command{ar}
253When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
254arguments to execute: one keyletter specifying the @emph{operation}
255(optionally accompanied by other keyletters specifying
256@emph{modifiers}), and the archive name to act on.
257
258Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
259specifying particular files to operate on.
260
261@c man begin OPTIONS ar
262
263@sc{gnu} @command{ar} allows you to mix the operation code @var{p} and modifier
264flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
265
266If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
267dash.
268
269@cindex operations on archive
270The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
271any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
272
273@table @samp
274@item d
275@cindex deleting from archive
276@emph{Delete} modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to
277be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
278specify no files to delete.
279
280If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
281as it is deleted.
282
283@item m
284@cindex moving in archive
285Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
286
287The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
288programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
289than one member.
290
291If no modifiers are used with @code{m}, any members you name in the
292@var{member} arguments are moved to the @emph{end} of the archive;
293you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
294specified place instead.
295
296@item p
297@cindex printing from archive
298@emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
299output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
300name before copying its contents to standard output.
301
302If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
303printed.
304
305@item q
306@cindex quick append to archive
307@emph{Quick append}; Historically, add the files @var{member}@dots{} to the end of
308@var{archive}, without checking for replacement.
309
310The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
311operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
312
313The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
314
315Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
316index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use @samp{ar s} or
317@command{ranlib} explicitly to update the symbol table index.
318
319However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
320index, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} implements @samp{q} as a synonym for @samp{r}.
321
322@item r
323@cindex replacement in archive
324Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
325@emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
326previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
327added.
328
329If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
330displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
331of the archive matching that name.
332
333By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
334use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
335placement relative to some existing member.
336
337The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
338output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters @samp{a} or
339@samp{r} to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
340deleted) or replaced.
341
342@item t
343@cindex contents of archive
344Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
345of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
346archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
347see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
348request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
349
350If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
351are listed.
352
353@cindex repeated names in archive
354@cindex name duplication in archive
355If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
356an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
357first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
358listing---in our example, @samp{ar t b.a}.
359@c WRS only; per Gumby, this is implementation-dependent, and in a more
360@c recent case in fact works the other way.
361
362@item x
363@cindex extract from archive
364@emph{Extract} members (named @var{member}) from the archive. You can
365use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
366@command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
367
368If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
369are extracted.
370
371@end table
372
373A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
374keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
375
376@table @samp
377@item a
378@cindex relative placement in archive
379Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
380archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
381member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
382@var{archive} specification.
383
384@item b
385Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
386archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
387member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
388@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{i}).
389
390@item c
391@cindex creating archives
392@emph{Create} the archive. The specified @var{archive} is always
393created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
394issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
395using this modifier.
396
397@item f
398Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
399names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
400not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
401this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
402names when putting them in the archive.
403
404@item i
405Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
406archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
407member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
408@var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
409
410@item l
411This modifier is accepted but not used.
412@c whaffor ar l modifier??? presumably compat; with
413@c what???---doc@@cygnus.com, 25jan91
414
415@item N
416Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
417entries in the archive with the same name. Extract or delete instance
418@var{count} of the given name from the archive.
419
420@item o
421@cindex dates in archive
422Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
423you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
424are stamped with the time of extraction.
425
426@item P
427Use the full path name when matching names in the archive. @sc{gnu}
428@command{ar} can not create an archive with a full path name (such archives
429are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
430will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
431name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
432archive created by another tool.
433
434@item s
435@cindex writing archive index
436Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
437even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
438flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
439archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
440
441@item S
442@cindex not writing archive index
443Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
444large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
445with the linker. In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
446@samp{S} modifier on the last execution of @samp{ar}, or you must run
447@samp{ranlib} on the archive.
448
449@item u
450@cindex updating an archive
451Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
452listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
453of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
454names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
455operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
456not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
457advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
458
459@item v
460This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
461operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
462when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
463
464@item V
465This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
466@end table
467
468@command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
469compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
470default for @sc{gnu} @command{ar}. @command{ar} does not support any of the other
471@samp{-X} options; in particular, it does not support @option{-X32}
472which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
473
474@c man end
475
476@ignore
477@c man begin SEEALSO ar
478nm(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
479@c man end
480@end ignore
481
482@node ar scripts
483@section Controlling @command{ar} with a Script
484
485@smallexample
486ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
487@end smallexample
488
489@cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
490@cindex scripts, @command{ar}
491If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
492can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
493form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
494directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
495input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
496errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
497issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
498on any error.
499
500The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
501to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
502over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
503transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
504written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
505
506The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
507@itemize @bullet
508@item
509commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
510is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
511shown in upper case for clarity.
512
513@item
514a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
515line.
516
517@item
518empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
519
520@item
521comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
522or @samp{;} is ignored.
523
524@item
525Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
526command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
527blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
528
529@item
530@samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
531at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
532of the current command.
533@end itemize
534
535Here are the commands you can use in @command{ar} scripts, or when using
536@command{ar} interactively. Three of them have special significance:
537
538@code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE} specify a @dfn{current archive}, which is
539a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
540
541@code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
542to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
543archive.
544
545@table @code
546@item ADDLIB @var{archive}
547@itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
548Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
549@var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
550
551Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
552
553@item ADDMOD @var{member}, @var{member}, @dots{} @var{member}
554@c FIXME! w/Replacement?? If so, like "ar r @var{archive} @var{names}"
555@c else like "ar q..."
556Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
557
558Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
559
560@item CLEAR
561Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
562any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
563effect) even if no current archive is specified.
564
565@item CREATE @var{archive}
566Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
567other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
568is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
569You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
570existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
571
572@item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
573Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
574@samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
575
576Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
577
578@item DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
579@itemx DIRECTORY @var{archive} (@var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}) @var{outputfile}
580List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
581command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
582output is off, output is like that of @samp{ar -t @var{archive}
583@var{module}@dots{}}. When verbose output is on, the listing is like
584@samp{ar -tv @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
585
586Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
587specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
588output to that file.
589
590@item END
591Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
592completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
593changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
594changes are lost.
595
596@item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
597Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
598into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
599@var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
600
601Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
602
603@ignore
604@c FIXME Tokens but no commands???
605@item FULLDIR
606
607@item HELP
608@end ignore
609
610@item LIST
611Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
612regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
613tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
614enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
615
616Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
617
618@item OPEN @var{archive}
619Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
620many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
621will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
622
623@item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
624In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
625the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
626To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
627the current archive, must exist.
628
629Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
630
631@item VERBOSE
632Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
633When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
634@samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
635
636@item SAVE
637Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
638file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
639command.
640
641Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
642
643@end table
644
645@iftex
646@node ld
647@chapter ld
648@cindex linker
649@kindex ld
650The @sc{gnu} linker @command{ld} is now described in a separate manual.
651@xref{Top,, Overview,, Using LD: the @sc{gnu} linker}.
652@end iftex
653
654@node nm
655@chapter nm
656@cindex symbols
657@kindex nm
658
659@c man title nm list symbols from object files
660
661@smallexample
662@c man begin SYNOPSIS nm
663nm [@option{-a}|@option{--debug-syms}] [@option{-g}|@option{--extern-only}]
664 [@option{-B}] [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]] [@option{-D}|@option{--dynamic}]
665 [@option{-S}|@option{--print-size}] [@option{-s}|@option{--print-armap}]
666 [@option{-A}|@option{-o}|@option{--print-file-name}]
667 [@option{-n}|@option{-v}|@option{--numeric-sort}] [@option{-p}|@option{--no-sort}]
668 [@option{-r}|@option{--reverse-sort}] [@option{--size-sort}] [@option{-u}|@option{--undefined-only}]
669 [@option{-t} @var{radix}|@option{--radix=}@var{radix}] [@option{-P}|@option{--portability}]
670 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-f}@var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
671 [@option{--defined-only}] [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}] [@option{--no-demangle}]
672 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}] [@option{-X 32_64}] [@option{--help}] [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
673@c man end
674@end smallexample
675
676@c man begin DESCRIPTION nm
677@sc{gnu} @command{nm} lists the symbols from object files @var{objfile}@dots{}.
678If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
679@file{a.out}.
680
681For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
682
683@itemize @bullet
684@item
685The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
686hexadecimal by default.
687
688@item
689The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
690well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
691local; if uppercase, the symbol is global (external).
692
693@c Some more detail on exactly what these symbol types are used for
694@c would be nice.
695@table @code
696@item A
697The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
698linking.
699
700@item B
701The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
702
703@item C
704The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
705linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
706symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
707references.
708@ifclear man
709For more details on common symbols, see the discussion of
710--warn-common in @ref{Options,,Linker options,ld.info,The GNU linker}.
711@end ifclear
712
713@item D
714The symbol is in the initialized data section.
715
716@item G
717The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
718object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
719such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
720
721@item I
722The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a @sc{gnu}
723extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
724
725@item N
726The symbol is a debugging symbol.
727
728@item R
729The symbol is in a read only data section.
730
731@item S
732The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
733
734@item T
735The symbol is in the text (code) section.
736
737@item U
738The symbol is undefined.
739
740@item V
741The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
742a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
743When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
744the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
745
746@item W
747The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
748weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
749defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
750When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
751the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
752
753@item -
754The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
755next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
756the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
757@ifclear man
758For more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
759``stabs'' debug format}.
760@end ifclear
761
762@item ?
763The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
764@end table
765
766@item
767The symbol name.
768@end itemize
769
770@c man end
771
772@c man begin OPTIONS nm
773The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
774equivalent.
775
776@table @env
777@item -A
778@itemx -o
779@itemx --print-file-name
780@cindex input file name
781@cindex file name
782@cindex source file name
783Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
784in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
785before all of its symbols.
786
787@item -a
788@itemx --debug-syms
789@cindex debugging symbols
790Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
791listed.
792
793@item -B
794@cindex @command{nm} format
795@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
796The same as @option{--format=bsd} (for compatibility with the MIPS @command{nm}).
797
798@item -C
799@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
800@cindex demangling in nm
801Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
802Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
803makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
804mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
805choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
806for more information on demangling.
807
808@item --no-demangle
809Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
810
811@item -D
812@itemx --dynamic
813@cindex dynamic symbols
814Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
815only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
816libraries.
817
818@item -f @var{format}
819@itemx --format=@var{format}
820@cindex @command{nm} format
821@cindex @command{nm} compatibility
822Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
823@code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
824Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
825either upper or lower case.
826
827@item -g
828@itemx --extern-only
829@cindex external symbols
830Display only external symbols.
831
832@item -l
833@itemx --line-numbers
834@cindex symbol line numbers
835For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
836line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
837address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
838number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
839information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
840
841@item -n
842@itemx -v
843@itemx --numeric-sort
844Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
845by their names.
846
847@item -p
848@itemx --no-sort
849@cindex sorting symbols
850Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
851encountered.
852
853@item -P
854@itemx --portability
855Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
856Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
857
858@item -S
859@itemx --print-size
860Print size, not the value, of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output format.
861
862@item -s
863@itemx --print-armap
864@cindex symbol index, listing
865When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
866(stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
867contain definitions for which names.
868
869@item -r
870@itemx --reverse-sort
871Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
872last come first.
873
874@item --size-sort
875Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
876the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
877value. If the @code{bsd} output format is used the size of the symbol
878is printed, rather than the value, and @samp{-S} must be used in order
879both size and value to be printed.
880
881@item -t @var{radix}
882@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
883Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
884@samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
885
886@item --target=@var{bfdname}
887@cindex object code format
888Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
889@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
890
891@item -u
892@itemx --undefined-only
893@cindex external symbols
894@cindex undefined symbols
895Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
896
897@item --defined-only
898@cindex external symbols
899@cindex undefined symbols
900Display only defined symbols for each object file.
901
902@item -V
903@itemx --version
904Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
905
906@item -X
907This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
908@command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
909@option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
910to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
911
912@item --help
913Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
914@end table
915
916@c man end
917
918@ignore
919@c man begin SEEALSO nm
920ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
921@c man end
922@end ignore
923
924@node objcopy
925@chapter objcopy
926
927@c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
928
929@smallexample
930@c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
931objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
932 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
933 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
934 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
935 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}]
936 [@option{-g}|@option{--strip-debug}]
937 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
938 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname}|@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
939 [@option{-G} @var{symbolname}|@option{--keep-global-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
940 [@option{-L} @var{symbolname}|@option{--localize-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
941 [@option{-W} @var{symbolname}|@option{--weaken-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
942 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
943 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}]
944 [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
945 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
946 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
947 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
948 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
949 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
950 [@option{--debugging}]
951 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}]
952 [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
953 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}]
954 [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
955 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
956 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
957 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
958 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
959 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
960 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
961 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
962 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
963 [@option{--change-leading-char}] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
964 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival}] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
965 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new}]
966 [@option{--redefine-syms=}@var{filename}]
967 [@option{--weaken}]
968 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
969 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
970 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
971 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
972 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
973 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
974 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
975 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
976 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
977 [@option{--add-gnu-debuglink=}@var{path-to-file}]
978 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
979 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
980 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
981 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
982 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
983@c man end
984@end smallexample
985
986@c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
987The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
988file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
989read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
990file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
991exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
992Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
993between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
994between any two formats may not work as expected.
995
996@command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
997deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
998translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
999and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
1000explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
1001
1002@command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
1003target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
1004
1005@command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
1006output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1007@command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1008a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1009relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1010the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1011
1012When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1013use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1014some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1015information that is not needed by the binary file.
1016
1017Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1018files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1019@command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1020same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1021
1022@c man end
1023
1024@c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1025
1026@table @env
1027@item @var{infile}
1028@itemx @var{outfile}
1029The input and output files, respectively.
1030If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1031temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1032the name of @var{infile}.
1033
1034@item -I @var{bfdname}
1035@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1036Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1037attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1038
1039@item -O @var{bfdname}
1040@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1041Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1042@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1043
1044@item -F @var{bfdname}
1045@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1046Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1047file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1048translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1049
1050@item -B @var{bfdarch}
1051@itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1052Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1053In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1054option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1055can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1056symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1057called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1058_binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1059an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1060
1061@item -j @var{sectionname}
1062@itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1063Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1064This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1065inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1066
1067@item -R @var{sectionname}
1068@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1069Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1070option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1071inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1072
1073@item -S
1074@itemx --strip-all
1075Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1076
1077@item -g
1078@itemx --strip-debug
1079Do not copy debugging symbols or sections from the source file.
1080
1081@item --strip-unneeded
1082Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1083
1084@item -K @var{symbolname}
1085@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1086Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1087be given more than once.
1088
1089@item -N @var{symbolname}
1090@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1091Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1092may be given more than once.
1093
1094@item -G @var{symbolname}
1095@itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1096Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1097to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1098be given more than once.
1099
1100@item -L @var{symbolname}
1101@itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1102Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1103visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1104
1105@item -W @var{symbolname}
1106@itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1107Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1108
1109@item -w
1110@itemx --wildcard
1111Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
1112line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
1113square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
1114name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
1115point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
1116For example:
1117
1118@smallexample
1119 -w -W !foo -W fo*
1120@end smallexample
1121
1122would cause objcopy to weaken all symbols that start with ``fo''
1123except for the symbol ``foo''.
1124
1125@item -x
1126@itemx --discard-all
1127Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1128@c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1129
1130@item -X
1131@itemx --discard-locals
1132Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1133(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1134
1135@item -b @var{byte}
1136@itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1137Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1138affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
1139where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
1140option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1141to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1142target.
1143
1144@item -i @var{interleave}
1145@itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1146Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1147copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1148@command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1149@option{--byte}.
1150
1151@item -p
1152@itemx --preserve-dates
1153Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1154as those of the input file.
1155
1156@item --debugging
1157Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1158because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1159conversion process can be time consuming.
1160
1161@item --gap-fill @var{val}
1162Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1163the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1164the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1165space created with @var{val}.
1166
1167@item --pad-to @var{address}
1168Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1169done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1170filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1171
1172@item --set-start @var{val}
1173Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1174formats support setting the start address.
1175
1176@item --change-start @var{incr}
1177@itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1178@cindex changing start address
1179Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1180formats support setting the start address.
1181
1182@item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1183@itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1184@cindex changing object addresses
1185Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1186address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1187section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1188relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1189certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1190that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1191
1192@item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1193@itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1194@cindex changing section address
1195Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1196@var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1197@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1198section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1199above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1200be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1201
1202@item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1203@cindex changing section LMA
1204Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1205address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1206program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1207is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1208especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1209different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1210@var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1211section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1212above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1213will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1214
1215@item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1216@cindex changing section VMA
1217Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1218address is the address where the section will be located once the
1219program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1220address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1221memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1222ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1223is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1224from the section address. See the comments under
1225@option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1226the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1227@option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1228
1229@item --change-warnings
1230@itemx --adjust-warnings
1231If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1232@option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1233exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1234
1235@item --no-change-warnings
1236@itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1237Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1238@option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1239if the named section does not exist.
1240
1241@item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1242Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1243comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1244@samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1245@samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1246@samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1247does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1248@samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1249the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1250formats.
1251
1252@item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1253Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1254contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1255size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1256works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1257
1258@item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1259Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1260changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1261the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1262the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1263executable.
1264
1265This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1266since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1267you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1268data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1269
1270@smallexample
1271 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1272 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1273 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1274@end smallexample
1275
1276@item --change-leading-char
1277Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1278symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1279often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1280change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1281object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1282character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1283character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1284appropriate.
1285
1286@item --remove-leading-char
1287If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1288character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1289most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1290remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1291if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1292different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1293@option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1294when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1295file.
1296
1297@item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1298Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1299being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1300crc fields.
1301
1302@item --srec-forceS3
1303Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1304creating S3-only record format.
1305
1306@item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1307Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1308when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1309source, and there are name collisions.
1310
1311@item --redefine-syms=@var{filename}
1312Apply @option{--redefine-sym} to each symbol pair "@var{old} @var{new}"
1313listed in the file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file,
1314with one symbol pair per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1315character. This option may be given more than once.
1316
1317@item --weaken
1318Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1319when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1320the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1321using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1322
1323@item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1324Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1325@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1326name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1327This option may be given more than once.
1328
1329@item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1330Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1331@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1332name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1333This option may be given more than once.
1334
1335@item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1336Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1337file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1338symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1339character. This option may be given more than once.
1340
1341@item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1342Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1343@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1344name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1345This option may be given more than once.
1346
1347@item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1348Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1349@var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1350name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1351This option may be given more than once.
1352
1353@item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1354If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1355@var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1356a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1357new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1358being used.
1359
1360@item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1361Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1362
1363@item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1364Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1365
1366@item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1367Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1368@var{string}.
1369
1370@item --add-gnu-debuglink=@var{path-to-file}
1371Creates a .gnu_debuglink section which contains a reference to @var{path-to-file}
1372and adds it to the output file.
1373
1374@item --only-keep-debug
1375Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
1376@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
1377
1378The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
1379@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
1380stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
1381distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
1382needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
1383to create these files is as follows:
1384
1385@enumerate
1386@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
1387@code{foo} then...
1388@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
1389create a file containing the debugging info.
1390@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
1391stripped executable.
1392@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
1393to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
1394@end enumerate
1395
1396Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
1397file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
1398optional. You could instead do this:
1399
1400@enumerate
1401@item Link the executable as normal.
1402@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
1403@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo}
1404@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
1405@end enumerate
1406
1407ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
1408full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
1409@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
1410
1411@item -V
1412@itemx --version
1413Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
1414
1415@item -v
1416@itemx --verbose
1417Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1418archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1419
1420@item --help
1421Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
1422
1423@item --info
1424Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
1425@end table
1426
1427@c man end
1428
1429@ignore
1430@c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1431ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1432@c man end
1433@end ignore
1434
1435@node objdump
1436@chapter objdump
1437
1438@cindex object file information
1439@kindex objdump
1440
1441@c man title objdump display information from object files.
1442
1443@smallexample
1444@c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
1445objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1446 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1447 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1448 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1449 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1450 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1451 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1452 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1453 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1454 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
1455 [@option{-e}|@option{--debugging-tags}]
1456 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1457 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1458 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1459 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1460 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1461 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1462 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1463 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1464 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1465 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1466 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1467 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1468 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1469 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1470 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1471 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1472 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1473 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1474 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1475 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1476 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
1477 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1478 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
1479 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1480@c man end
1481@end smallexample
1482
1483@c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1484
1485@command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1486The options control what particular information to display. This
1487information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1488compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1489program to compile and work.
1490
1491@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1492specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1493object files.
1494
1495@c man end
1496
1497@c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1498
1499The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1500equivalent. At least one option from the list
1501@option{-a,-d,-D,-e,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-s,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
1502
1503@table @env
1504@item -a
1505@itemx --archive-header
1506@cindex archive headers
1507If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1508header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1509information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1510the object file format of each archive member.
1511
1512@item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1513@cindex section addresses in objdump
1514@cindex VMA in objdump
1515When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1516addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1517the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1518addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1519such as a.out.
1520
1521@item -b @var{bfdname}
1522@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1523@cindex object code format
1524Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1525@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1526automatically recognize many formats.
1527
1528For example,
1529@example
1530objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1531@end example
1532@noindent
1533displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1534@file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
1535file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1536formats available with the @option{-i} option.
1537@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1538
1539@item -C
1540@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
1541@cindex demangling in objdump
1542Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1543Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1544makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1545mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1546choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1547for more information on demangling.
1548
1549@item -g
1550@itemx --debugging
1551Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1552information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1553Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1554Some other types are supported by @command{readelf -w}.
1555@xref{readelf}.
1556
1557@item -e
1558@itemx --debugging-tags
1559Like @option{-g}, but the information is generated in a format compatible
1560with ctags tool.
1561
1562@item -d
1563@itemx --disassemble
1564@cindex disassembling object code
1565@cindex machine instructions
1566Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1567@var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1568expected to contain instructions.
1569
1570@item -D
1571@itemx --disassemble-all
1572Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1573those expected to contain instructions.
1574
1575@item --prefix-addresses
1576When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1577the older disassembly format.
1578
1579@item -EB
1580@itemx -EL
1581@itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1582@cindex endianness
1583@cindex disassembly endianness
1584Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1585disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1586does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1587
1588@item -f
1589@itemx --file-headers
1590@cindex object file header
1591Display summary information from the overall header of
1592each of the @var{objfile} files.
1593
1594@item --file-start-context
1595@cindex source code context
1596Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
1597(assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
1598context to the start of the file.
1599
1600@item -h
1601@itemx --section-headers
1602@itemx --headers
1603@cindex section headers
1604Display summary information from the section headers of the
1605object file.
1606
1607File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1608using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1609@command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1610store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1611although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1612-h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1613Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1614target.
1615
1616@item -H
1617@itemx --help
1618Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
1619
1620@item -i
1621@itemx --info
1622@cindex architectures available
1623@cindex object formats available
1624Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1625for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
1626
1627@item -j @var{name}
1628@itemx --section=@var{name}
1629@cindex section information
1630Display information only for section @var{name}.
1631
1632@item -l
1633@itemx --line-numbers
1634@cindex source filenames for object files
1635Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1636source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1637Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
1638
1639@item -m @var{machine}
1640@itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1641@cindex architecture
1642@cindex disassembly architecture
1643Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1644can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1645architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1646architectures with the @option{-i} option.
1647
1648@item -M @var{options}
1649@itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1650Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1651some targets. If it is necessary to specify more than one
1652disassembler option then multiple @option{-M} options can be used or
1653can be placed together into a comma separated list.
1654
1655If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1656select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1657@option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
1658used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1659'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
1660@option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1661Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
1662just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1663
1664There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
1665by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1666use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
1667with the normal register names or the special register names).
1668
1669This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
1670disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
1671using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
1672useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1673compilers.
1674
1675For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1676switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1677following may be specified as a comma separated string.
1678@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
1679the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1680intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1681@option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1682address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
1683@option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
1684option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
1685instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
1686suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1687
1688For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1689disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1690PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1691
1692For MIPS, this option controls the printing of register names in
1693disassembled instructions. Multiple selections from the
1694following may be specified as a comma separated string, and invalid
1695options are ignored:
1696
1697@table @code
1698@item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1699Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1700for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1701the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1702
1703@item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1704Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1705appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1706rather than names.
1707
1708@item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1709Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1710as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1711@var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1712the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1713
1714@item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1715Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1716as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1717@var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1718the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1719
1720@item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1721Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1722
1723@item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
1724Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1725as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
1726@end table
1727
1728For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1729@var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1730rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1731You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1732the @option{--help} option.
1733
1734@item -p
1735@itemx --private-headers
1736Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1737information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1738object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1739
1740@item -r
1741@itemx --reloc
1742@cindex relocation entries, in object file
1743Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1744@option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1745disassembly.
1746
1747@item -R
1748@itemx --dynamic-reloc
1749@cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1750Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1751meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1752libraries.
1753
1754@item -s
1755@itemx --full-contents
1756@cindex sections, full contents
1757@cindex object file sections
1758Display the full contents of any sections requested. By default all
1759non-empty sections are displayed.
1760
1761@item -S
1762@itemx --source
1763@cindex source disassembly
1764@cindex disassembly, with source
1765Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1766@option{-d}.
1767
1768@item --show-raw-insn
1769When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1770in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1771@option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1772
1773@item --no-show-raw-insn
1774When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1775This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1776
1777@item -G
1778@itemx --stabs
1779@cindex stab
1780@cindex .stab
1781@cindex debug symbols
1782@cindex ELF object file format
1783Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1784contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1785ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1786@code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1787section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1788interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
1789output.
1790@ifclear man
1791For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1792Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1793@end ifclear
1794
1795@item --start-address=@var{address}
1796@cindex start-address
1797Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1798of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1799
1800@item --stop-address=@var{address}
1801@cindex stop-address
1802Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1803of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1804
1805@item -t
1806@itemx --syms
1807@cindex symbol table entries, printing
1808Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1809This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1810
1811@item -T
1812@itemx --dynamic-syms
1813@cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1814Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1815meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1816libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1817program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
1818
1819@item -V
1820@itemx --version
1821Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
1822
1823@item -x
1824@itemx --all-headers
1825@cindex all header information, object file
1826@cindex header information, all
1827Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1828relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1829@option{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1830
1831@item -w
1832@itemx --wide
1833@cindex wide output, printing
1834Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1835Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
1836
1837@item -z
1838@itemx --disassemble-zeroes
1839Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1840option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1841any other data.
1842@end table
1843
1844@c man end
1845
1846@ignore
1847@c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1848nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1849@c man end
1850@end ignore
1851
1852@node ranlib
1853@chapter ranlib
1854
1855@kindex ranlib
1856@cindex archive contents
1857@cindex symbol index
1858
1859@c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1860
1861@smallexample
1862@c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
1863ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
1864@c man end
1865@end smallexample
1866
1867@c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1868
1869@command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1870stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1871member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1872
1873You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1874
1875An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1876allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1877their placement in the archive.
1878
1879The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1880@command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1881@xref{ar}.
1882
1883@c man end
1884
1885@c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1886
1887@table @env
1888@item -v
1889@itemx -V
1890@itemx --version
1891Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
1892@end table
1893
1894@c man end
1895
1896@ignore
1897@c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1898ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1899@c man end
1900@end ignore
1901
1902@node size
1903@chapter size
1904
1905@kindex size
1906@cindex section sizes
1907
1908@c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1909
1910@smallexample
1911@c man begin SYNOPSIS size
1912size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
1913 [@option{--help}]
1914 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1915 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
1916 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1917 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
1918@c man end
1919@end smallexample
1920
1921@c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1922
1923The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1924size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1925argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1926object file or each module in an archive.
1927
1928@var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1929If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1930
1931@c man end
1932
1933@c man begin OPTIONS size
1934
1935The command line options have the following meanings:
1936
1937@table @env
1938@item -A
1939@itemx -B
1940@itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1941@cindex @command{size} display format
1942Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1943@command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
1944or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
1945@option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1946Berkeley's.
1947@c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1948@c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1949@c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1950
1951Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1952@command{size}:
1953@smallexample
1954$ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1955text data bss dec hex filename
1956294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1957294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1958@end smallexample
1959
1960@noindent
1961This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1962
1963@smallexample
1964$ size --format=SysV ranlib size
1965ranlib :
1966section size addr
1967.text 294880 8192
1968.data 81920 303104
1969.bss 11592 385024
1970Total 388392
1971
1972
1973size :
1974section size addr
1975.text 294880 8192
1976.data 81920 303104
1977.bss 11888 385024
1978Total 388688
1979@end smallexample
1980
1981@item --help
1982Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1983
1984@item -d
1985@itemx -o
1986@itemx -x
1987@itemx --radix=@var{number}
1988@cindex @command{size} number format
1989@cindex radix for section sizes
1990Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1991section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
1992(@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
1993@option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1994values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1995radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
1996octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
1997
1998@item -t
1999@itemx --totals
2000Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
2001
2002@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2003@cindex object code format
2004Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
2005@var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
2006automatically recognize many formats.
2007@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2008
2009@item -V
2010@itemx --version
2011Display the version number of @command{size}.
2012@end table
2013
2014@c man end
2015
2016@ignore
2017@c man begin SEEALSO size
2018ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2019@c man end
2020@end ignore
2021
2022@node strings
2023@chapter strings
2024@kindex strings
2025@cindex listings strings
2026@cindex printing strings
2027@cindex strings, printing
2028
2029@c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
2030
2031@smallexample
2032@c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
2033strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
2034 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
2035 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
2036 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
2037 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
2038 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2039 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
2040@c man end
2041@end smallexample
2042
2043@c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
2044
2045For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
2046character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
2047given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
2048character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
2049and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
2050the strings from the whole file.
2051
2052@command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
2053files.
2054
2055@c man end
2056
2057@c man begin OPTIONS strings
2058
2059@table @env
2060@item -a
2061@itemx --all
2062@itemx -
2063Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
2064scan the whole files.
2065
2066@item -f
2067@itemx --print-file-name
2068Print the name of the file before each string.
2069
2070@item --help
2071Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
2072
2073@item -@var{min-len}
2074@itemx -n @var{min-len}
2075@itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
2076Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
2077long, instead of the default 4.
2078
2079@item -o
2080Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
2081act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
2082ways, we simply chose one.
2083
2084@item -t @var{radix}
2085@itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2086Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2087character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2088octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2089
2090@item -e @var{encoding}
2091@itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2092Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
2093Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2094characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2095single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
209616-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2097littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
2098
2099@item --target=@var{bfdname}
2100@cindex object code format
2101Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2102@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2103
2104@item -v
2105@itemx --version
2106Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2107@end table
2108
2109@c man end
2110
2111@ignore
2112@c man begin SEEALSO strings
2113ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2114and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2115@c man end
2116@end ignore
2117
2118@node strip
2119@chapter strip
2120
2121@kindex strip
2122@cindex removing symbols
2123@cindex discarding symbols
2124@cindex symbols, discarding
2125
2126@c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2127
2128@smallexample
2129@c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2130strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2131 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2132 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2133 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}]
2134 [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2135 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2136 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname}]
2137 [@option{-w}|@option{--wildcard}]
2138 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2139 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
2140 [@option{-o} @var{file}] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
2141 [@option{--only-keep-debug}]
2142 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2143 [@option{--help}] [@option{--info}]
2144 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2145@c man end
2146@end smallexample
2147
2148@c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2149
2150@sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
2151@var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2152At least one object file must be given.
2153
2154@command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
2155rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2156
2157@c man end
2158
2159@c man begin OPTIONS strip
2160
2161@table @env
2162@item -F @var{bfdname}
2163@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2164Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2165code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2166@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2167
2168@item --help
2169Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
2170
2171@item --info
2172Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available.
2173
2174@item -I @var{bfdname}
2175@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2176Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2177code format @var{bfdname}.
2178@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2179
2180@item -O @var{bfdname}
2181@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2182Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2183@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2184
2185@item -R @var{sectionname}
2186@itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2187Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2188option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2189inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2190
2191@item -s
2192@itemx --strip-all
2193Remove all symbols.
2194
2195@item -g
2196@itemx -S
2197@itemx -d
2198@itemx --strip-debug
2199Remove debugging symbols only.
2200
2201@item --strip-unneeded
2202Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2203
2204@item -K @var{symbolname}
2205@itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2206Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2207be given more than once.
2208
2209@item -N @var{symbolname}
2210@itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2211Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2212given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
2213@option{-K}.
2214
2215@item -o @var{file}
2216Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2217existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2218argument may be specified.
2219
2220@item -p
2221@itemx --preserve-dates
2222Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2223
2224@item -w
2225@itemx --wildcard
2226Permit regular expressions in @var{symbolname}s used in other command
2227line options. The question mark (?), asterisk (*), backslash (\) and
2228square brackets ([]) operators can be used anywhere in the symbol
2229name. If the first character of the symbol name is the exclamation
2230point (!) then the sense of the switch is reversed for that symbol.
2231For example:
2232
2233@smallexample
2234 -w -K !foo -K fo*
2235@end smallexample
2236
2237would cause strip to only keep symbols that start with the letters
2238``fo'', but to discard the symbol ``foo''.
2239
2240@item -x
2241@itemx --discard-all
2242Remove non-global symbols.
2243
2244@item -X
2245@itemx --discard-locals
2246Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2247(These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2248
2249@item --only-keep-debug
2250Strip a file, removing any sections that would be stripped by
2251@option{--strip-debug} and leaving the debugging sections.
2252
2253The intention is that this option will be used in conjunction with
2254@option{--add-gnu-debuglink} to create a two part executable. One a
2255stripped binary which will occupy less space in RAM and in a
2256distribution and the second a debugging information file which is only
2257needed if debugging abilities are required. The suggested procedure
2258to create these files is as follows:
2259
2260@enumerate
2261@item Link the executable as normal. Assuming that is is called
2262@code{foo} then...
2263@item Run @code{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.dbg} to
2264create a file containing the debugging info.
2265@item Run @code{objcopy --strip-debug foo} to create a
2266stripped executable.
2267@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.dbg foo}
2268to add a link to the debugging info into the stripped executable.
2269@end enumerate
2270
2271Note - the choice of @code{.dbg} as an extension for the debug info
2272file is arbitrary. Also the @code{--only-keep-debug} step is
2273optional. You could instead do this:
2274
2275@enumerate
2276@item Link the executable as normal.
2277@item Copy @code{foo} to @code{foo.full}
2278@item Run @code{strip --strip-debug foo}
2279@item Run @code{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.full foo}
2280@end enumerate
2281
2282ie the file pointed to by the @option{--add-gnu-debuglink} can be the
2283full executable. It does not have to be a file created by the
2284@option{--only-keep-debug} switch.
2285
2286@item -V
2287@itemx --version
2288Show the version number for @command{strip}.
2289
2290@item -v
2291@itemx --verbose
2292Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2293archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2294@end table
2295
2296@c man end
2297
2298@ignore
2299@c man begin SEEALSO strip
2300the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2301@c man end
2302@end ignore
2303
2304@node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
2305@chapter c++filt
2306
2307@kindex c++filt
2308@cindex demangling C++ symbols
2309
2310@c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2311
2312@smallexample
2313@c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
2314c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2315 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2316 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
2317 [@option{-p}|@option{--no-params}]
2318 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2319 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
2320@c man end
2321@end smallexample
2322
2323@c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2324
2325@kindex cxxfilt
2326The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2327that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2328takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2329are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
2330@dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
2331@footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
2332MS-DOS this program is named @command{cxxfilt}.}
2333program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2334names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2335functions from clashing.
2336
2337Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2338dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2339label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2340name in the output.
2341
2342You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
2343
2344@example
2345c++filt @var{symbol}
2346@end example
2347
2348If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
2349names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2350standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2351
2352@c man end
2353
2354@c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2355
2356@table @env
2357@item -_
2358@itemx --strip-underscores
2359On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2360of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2361name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
2362@command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
2363
2364@item -j
2365@itemx --java
2366Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2367syntax.
2368
2369@item -n
2370@itemx --no-strip-underscores
2371Do not remove the initial underscore.
2372
2373@item -p
2374@itemx --no-params
2375When demangling the name of a function, do not display the types of
2376the function's parameters.
2377
2378@item -s @var{format}
2379@itemx --format=@var{format}
2380@command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2381different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
2382method it uses:
2383
2384@table @code
2385@item auto
2386Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
2387@item gnu
2388the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
2389@item lucid
2390the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
2391@item arm
2392the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2393@item hp
2394the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
2395@item edg
2396the one used by the EDG compiler
2397@item gnu-v3
2398the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2399@item java
2400the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2401@item gnat
2402the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
2403@end table
2404
2405@item --help
2406Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
2407
2408@item --version
2409Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
2410@end table
2411
2412@c man end
2413
2414@ignore
2415@c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2416the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2417@c man end
2418@end ignore
2419
2420@quotation
2421@emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
2422user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2423a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2424passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2425
2426@example
2427c++filt @var{symbol}
2428@end example
2429
2430@noindent
2431may in a future release become
2432
2433@example
2434c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2435@end example
2436@end quotation
2437
2438@node addr2line
2439@chapter addr2line
2440
2441@kindex addr2line
2442@cindex address to file name and line number
2443
2444@c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2445
2446@smallexample
2447@c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
2448addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2449 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
2450 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2451 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2452 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2453 [addr addr @dots{}]
2454@c man end
2455@end smallexample
2456
2457@c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2458
2459@command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
2460numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2461information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2462number are associated with a given address.
2463
2464The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
2465default is the file @file{a.out}.
2466
2467@command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
2468
2469In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
2470and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
2471address.
2472
2473In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
2474standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
2475address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
2476in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2477
2478The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2479line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
2480@command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
2481preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2482containing the address.
2483
2484If the file name or function name can not be determined,
2485@command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2486line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
2487
2488@c man end
2489
2490@c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2491
2492The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2493equivalent.
2494
2495@table @env
2496@item -b @var{bfdname}
2497@itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2498@cindex object code format
2499Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2500@var{bfdname}.
2501
2502@item -C
2503@itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2504@cindex demangling in objdump
2505Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2506Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2507makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2508mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2509choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2510for more information on demangling.
2511
2512@item -e @var{filename}
2513@itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2514Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2515translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2516
2517@item -f
2518@itemx --functions
2519Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2520
2521@item -s
2522@itemx --basenames
2523Display only the base of each file name.
2524@end table
2525
2526@c man end
2527
2528@ignore
2529@c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2530Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2531@c man end
2532@end ignore
2533
2534@node nlmconv
2535@chapter nlmconv
2536
2537@command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
2538Loadable Module.
2539
2540@ignore
2541@command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
2542files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2543object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
2544@command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
2545format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2546with the above formats.}.
2547@end ignore
2548
2549@quotation
2550@emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
2551utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2552@end quotation
2553
2554@c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2555
2556@smallexample
2557@c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
2558nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2559 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2560 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2561 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2562 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2563 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
2564@c man end
2565@end smallexample
2566
2567@c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2568
2569@command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
2570@var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2571reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2572on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2573@samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2574Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2575Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
2576@command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
2577@var{infile};
2578@ifclear man
2579see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2580@end ifclear
2581
2582@command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
2583more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2584file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
2585In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
2586
2587@c man end
2588
2589@c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2590
2591@table @env
2592@item -I @var{bfdname}
2593@itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2594Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
2595the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2596@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2597
2598@item -O @var{bfdname}
2599@itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2600Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
2601format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2602output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2603@xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2604
2605@item -T @var{headerfile}
2606@itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2607Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2608writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2609@samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2610Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2611from Novell, Inc.
2612
2613@item -d
2614@itemx --debug
2615Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
2616
2617@item -l @var{linker}
2618@itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2619Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2620relative pathname.
2621
2622@item -h
2623@itemx --help
2624Prints a usage summary.
2625
2626@item -V
2627@itemx --version
2628Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
2629@end table
2630
2631@c man end
2632
2633@ignore
2634@c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2635the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2636@c man end
2637@end ignore
2638
2639@node windres
2640@chapter windres
2641
2642@command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2643
2644@quotation
2645@emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2646utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2647@end quotation
2648
2649@c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2650
2651@smallexample
2652@c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
2653windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2654@c man end
2655@end smallexample
2656
2657@c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2658
2659@command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2660an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2661
2662@table @code
2663@item rc
2664A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2665
2666@item res
2667A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2668
2669@item coff
2670A COFF object or executable.
2671@end table
2672
2673The exact description of these different formats is available in
2674documentation from Microsoft.
2675
2676When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2677format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2678@command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2679format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2680
2681When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2682but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2683@code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2684will instead include the file contents.
2685
2686If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
2687guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2688A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2689file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2690@code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2691@file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2692
2693If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
2694in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2695
2696The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
2697to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2698your application. This will make the resources described in the
2699@code{rc} file available to Windows.
2700
2701@c man end
2702
2703@c man begin OPTIONS windres
2704
2705@table @env
2706@item -i @var{filename}
2707@itemx --input @var{filename}
2708The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2709@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2710name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2711read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2712standard input.
2713
2714@item -o @var{filename}
2715@itemx --output @var{filename}
2716The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2717@command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2718for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2719non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
2720@command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output. Note,
2721for compatability with @command{rc} the option @option{-fo} is also
2722accepted, but its use is not recommended.
2723
2724@item -J @var{format}
2725@itemx --input-format @var{format}
2726The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2727@samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
2728guess, as described above.
2729
2730@item -O @var{format}
2731@itemx --output-format @var{format}
2732The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2733@samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2734@command{windres} will guess, as described above.
2735
2736@item -F @var{target}
2737@itemx --target @var{target}
2738Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2739is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2740of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2741format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2742@ifclear man
2743@ref{Target Selection}.
2744@end ifclear
2745
2746@item --preprocessor @var{program}
2747When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2748preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2749to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2750argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2751
2752@item -I @var{directory}
2753@itemx --include-dir @var{directory}
2754Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2755@command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2756option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2757files named in the @code{rc} file. If the argument passed to this command
2758matches any of the supported @var{formats} (as descrived in the @option{-J}
2759option), it will issue a deprecation warning, and behave just like the
2760@option{-J} option. New programs should not use this behaviour. If a
2761directory happens to match a @var{format}, simple prefix it with @samp{./}
2762to disable the backward compatibility.
2763
2764@item -D @var{target}
2765@itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
2766Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2767@code{rc} file.
2768
2769@item -U @var{target}
2770@itemx --undefine @var{sym}
2771Specify a @option{-U} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2772@code{rc} file.
2773
2774@item -r
2775Ignored for compatibility with rc.
2776
2777@item -v
2778Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2779didn't specify one.
2780
2781@item -l @var{val}
2782@item --language @var{val}
2783Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2784@var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2785the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2786
2787@item --use-temp-file
2788Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2789the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2790on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2791Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2792go the console).
2793
2794@item --no-use-temp-file
2795Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2796This is the default behaviour.
2797
2798@item -h
2799@item --help
2800Prints a usage summary.
2801
2802@item -V
2803@item --version
2804Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
2805
2806@item --yydebug
2807If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2808this will turn on parser debugging.
2809@end table
2810
2811@c man end
2812
2813@ignore
2814@c man begin SEEALSO windres
2815the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2816@c man end
2817@end ignore
2818
2819@node dlltool
2820@chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2821@cindex DLL
2822@kindex dlltool
2823
2824@command{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2825dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2826
2827@quotation
2828@emph{Warning:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2829utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2830@end quotation
2831
2832@c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2833
2834@smallexample
2835@c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
2836dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2837 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2838 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2839 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2840 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2841 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2842 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2843 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2844 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2845 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2846 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2847 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
2848 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
2849 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
2850 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2851 [object-file @dots{}]
2852@c man end
2853@end smallexample
2854
2855@c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2856
2857@command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2858@option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2859line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2860been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2861has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2862has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2863@option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2864dlltool.
2865
2866When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2867to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2868these files.
2869
2870The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2871exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2872is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2873to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
2874will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2875those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2876put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2877
2878In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2879have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2880section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2881asm() operator:
2882
2883@smallexample
2884 asm (".section .drectve");
2885 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2886
2887 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2888@end smallexample
2889
2890The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2891is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2892handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2893binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2894@command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2895
2896The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2897will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2898can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2899is creating or reading in a .def file.
2900
2901@command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2902exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2903and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
2904used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2905and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2906assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2907these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
2908specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2909temporary object files it used to build the library.
2910
2911Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2912also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2913that uses that DLL:
2914
2915@smallexample
2916 gcc -c dll.c
2917 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2918 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2919 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2920@end smallexample
2921
2922@c man end
2923
2924@c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
2925
2926The command line options have the following meanings:
2927
2928@table @env
2929
2930@item -d @var{filename}
2931@itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2932@cindex input .def file
2933Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2934
2935@item -b @var{filename}
2936@itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2937@cindex base files
2938Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2939contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2940exports file generated by dlltool.
2941
2942@item -e @var{filename}
2943@itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2944Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2945
2946@item -z @var{filename}
2947@itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2948Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2949
2950@item -l @var{filename}
2951@itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2952Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2953
2954@item --export-all-symbols
2955Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2956files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2957are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
2958option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2959@option{--exclude-symbols} option.
2960
2961@item --no-export-all-symbols
2962Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2963@samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2964behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2965attributes in the source code.
2966
2967@item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2968Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2969separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2970contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2971@option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2972
2973@item --no-default-excludes
2974When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2975exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2976exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2977@samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
2978to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2979when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2980
2981@item -S @var{path}
2982@itemx --as @var{path}
2983Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2984to create the exports file.
2985
2986@item -f @var{options}
2987@itemx --as-flags @var{options}
2988Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
2989assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2990the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2991and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2992occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2993pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2994double quotes.
2995
2996@item -D @var{name}
2997@itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2998Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2999when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
3000the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be used as the name of
3001the DLL.
3002
3003@item -m @var{machine}
3004@itemx -machine @var{machine}
3005Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
3006built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
3007it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
3008normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
3009contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
3010
3011@item -a
3012@itemx --add-indirect
3013Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3014should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
3015referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
3016means!
3017
3018@item -U
3019@itemx --add-underscore
3020Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3021should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
3022
3023@item -k
3024@itemx --kill-at
3025Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3026should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
3027called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
3028function in a DLL, other than by name.
3029
3030@item -A
3031@itemx --add-stdcall-alias
3032Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
3033should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
3034in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
3035
3036@item -x
3037@itemx --no-idata4
3038Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3039files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
3040with certain operating systems.
3041
3042@item -c
3043@itemx --no-idata5
3044Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
3045files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
3046with certain operating systems.
3047
3048@item -i
3049@itemx --interwork
3050Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
3051file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
3052between ARM and Thumb code.
3053
3054@item -n
3055@itemx --nodelete
3056Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
3057create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
3058also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
3059file.
3060
3061@item -v
3062@itemx --verbose
3063Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
3064
3065@item -h
3066@itemx --help
3067Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
3068
3069@item -V
3070@itemx --version
3071Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
3072
3073@end table
3074
3075@c man end
3076
3077@ignore
3078@c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
3079the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3080@c man end
3081@end ignore
3082
3083@node readelf
3084@chapter readelf
3085
3086@cindex ELF file information
3087@kindex readelf
3088
3089@c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
3090
3091@smallexample
3092@c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
3093readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
3094 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
3095 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
3096 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
3097 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
3098 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
3099 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
3100 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
3101 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
3102 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
3103 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
3104 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
3105 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
3106 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
3107 [@option{-w[liaprmfFso]}|
3108 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]]
3109 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
3110 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
3111 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
3112 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
3113 @var{elffile}@dots{}
3114@c man end
3115@end smallexample
3116
3117@c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
3118
3119@command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
3120files. The options control what particular information to display.
3121
3122@var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. 32-bit and
312364-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.
3124
3125@c man end
3126
3127@c man begin OPTIONS readelf
3128
3129The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
3130equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
3131given.
3132
3133@table @env
3134@item -a
3135@itemx --all
3136Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
3137@option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
3138@option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
3139@option{--version-info}.
3140
3141@item -h
3142@itemx --file-header
3143@cindex ELF file header information
3144Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
3145file.
3146
3147@item -l
3148@itemx --program-headers
3149@itemx --segments
3150@cindex ELF program header information
3151@cindex ELF segment information
3152Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
3153has any.
3154
3155@item -S
3156@itemx --sections
3157@itemx --section-headers
3158@cindex ELF section information
3159Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
3160has any.
3161
3162@item -s
3163@itemx --symbols
3164@itemx --syms
3165@cindex ELF symbol table information
3166Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
3167
3168@item -e
3169@itemx --headers
3170Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
3171
3172@item -n
3173@itemx --notes
3174@cindex ELF core notes
3175Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
3176
3177@item -r
3178@itemx --relocs
3179@cindex ELF reloc information
3180Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3181
3182@item -u
3183@itemx --unwind
3184@cindex unwind information
3185Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3186the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3187
3188@item -u
3189@itemx --unwind
3190@cindex unwind information
3191Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3192the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3193
3194@item -d
3195@itemx --dynamic
3196@cindex ELF dynamic section information
3197Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3198
3199@item -V
3200@itemx --version-info
3201@cindex ELF version sections informations
3202Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3203exist.
3204
3205@item -A
3206@itemx --arch-specific
3207Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3208is any.
3209
3210@item -D
3211@itemx --use-dynamic
3212When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
3213symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
3214symbols section.
3215
3216@item -x <number>
3217@itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3218Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3219
3220@item -w[liaprmfFso]
3221@itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
3222Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3223present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3224then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3225
3226@item -I
3227@itemx --histogram
3228Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3229of the symbol tables.
3230
3231@item -v
3232@itemx --version
3233Display the version number of readelf.
3234
3235@item -W
3236@itemx --wide
3237Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3238@command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
323964-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3240@command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3241single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3242
3243@item -H
3244@itemx --help
3245Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
3246
3247@end table
3248
3249@c man end
3250
3251@ignore
3252@c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3253objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3254@c man end
3255@end ignore
3256
3257@node Selecting The Target System
3258@chapter Selecting the Target System
3259
3260You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
3261binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3262
3263@itemize @bullet
3264@item
3265the target
3266
3267@item
3268the architecture
3269@end itemize
3270
3271In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3272order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3273listed later.
3274
3275The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3276programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
3277@option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
3278values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3279once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3280with the same type as the target system).
3281
3282@menu
3283* Target Selection::
3284* Architecture Selection::
3285@end menu
3286
3287@node Target Selection
3288@section Target Selection
3289
3290A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3291supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3292A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3293systems or architectures.
3294
3295The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3296(the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3297
3298Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3299@samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3300
3301You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
3302the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3303target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3304fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
3305running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3306sources.
3307
3308Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3309@samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3310
3311@subheading @command{objdump} Target
3312
3313Ways to specify:
3314
3315@enumerate
3316@item
3317command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
3318
3319@item
3320environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3321
3322@item
3323deduced from the input file
3324@end enumerate
3325
3326@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
3327
3328Ways to specify:
3329
3330@enumerate
3331@item
3332command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3333
3334@item
3335environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3336
3337@item
3338deduced from the input file
3339@end enumerate
3340
3341@subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
3342
3343Ways to specify:
3344
3345@enumerate
3346@item
3347command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3348
3349@item
3350the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
3351
3352@item
3353environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3354
3355@item
3356deduced from the input file
3357@end enumerate
3358
3359@subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
3360
3361Ways to specify:
3362
3363@enumerate
3364@item
3365command line option: @option{--target}
3366
3367@item
3368environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3369
3370@item
3371deduced from the input file
3372@end enumerate
3373
3374@node Architecture Selection
3375@section Architecture Selection
3376
3377An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3378to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3379processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3380
3381The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3382second column contains the relevant information).
3383
3384Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3385
3386@subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
3387
3388Ways to specify:
3389
3390@enumerate
3391@item
3392command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
3393
3394@item
3395deduced from the input file
3396@end enumerate
3397
3398@subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
3399
3400Ways to specify:
3401
3402@enumerate
3403@item
3404deduced from the input file
3405@end enumerate
3406
3407@node Reporting Bugs
3408@chapter Reporting Bugs
3409@cindex bugs
3410@cindex reporting bugs
3411
3412Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3413reliable.
3414
3415Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3416it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3417to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3418utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3419maintenance.
3420
3421In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3422information that enables us to fix the bug.
3423
3424@menu
3425* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3426* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3427@end menu
3428
3429@node Bug Criteria
3430@section Have You Found a Bug?
3431@cindex bug criteria
3432
3433If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3434
3435@itemize @bullet
3436@cindex fatal signal
3437@cindex crash
3438@item
3439If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3440a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3441
3442@cindex error on valid input
3443@item
3444If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3445bug.
3446
3447@item
3448If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3449improvement are welcome in any case.
3450@end itemize
3451
3452@node Bug Reporting
3453@section How to Report Bugs
3454@cindex bug reports
3455@cindex bugs, reporting
3456
3457A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3458products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3459organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3460
3461You can find contact information for many support companies and
3462individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3463distribution.
3464
3465In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
3466utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
3467
3468The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3469@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3470fact or leave it out, state it!
3471
3472Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3473problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3474assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3475Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3476a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3477that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3478different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3479doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3480specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3481and the most helpful.
3482
3483Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3484it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3485that the bug has not been reported previously.
3486
3487Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
3488bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3489respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3490You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
3491
3492To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3493
3494@itemize @bullet
3495@item
3496The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
3497with the @option{--version} argument.
3498
3499Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3500the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3501
3502@item
3503Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3504made to the @code{BFD} library.
3505
3506@item
3507The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3508version number.
3509
3510@item
3511What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3512``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3513
3514@item
3515The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3516guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3517of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3518
3519If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3520and then we might not encounter the bug.
3521
3522@item
3523A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3524bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3525generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
3526necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
3527@samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
3528sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3529anonymous FTP is OK.
3530
3531If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
3532(e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
3533may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
3534this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
3535whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
3536@command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
3537
3538@item
3539A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3540incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3541
3542Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3543will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3544not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3545a chance to make a mistake.
3546
3547Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
3548say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
3549copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3550the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3551crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3552ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3553us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3554to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3555
3556@item
3557If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
3558generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
3559option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
3560wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
3561context, not by line number.
3562
3563The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3564sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3565@end itemize
3566
3567Here are some things that are not necessary:
3568
3569@itemize @bullet
3570@item
3571A description of the envelope of the bug.
3572
3573Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3574which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3575changes will not affect it.
3576
3577This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3578will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3579with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3580We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3581
3582Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3583of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3584output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3585less time, and so on.
3586
3587However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3588report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3589
3590@item
3591A patch for the bug.
3592
3593A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3594the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3595a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3596to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3597
3598Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3599very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3600certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3601will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3602the bug is fixed.
3603
3604And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3605patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3606help us to understand.
3607
3608@item
3609A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3610
3611Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3612things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3613@end itemize
3614
3615@include fdl.texi
3616
3617@node Index
3618@unnumbered Index
3619
3620@printindex cp
3621
3622@contents
3623@bye
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