fb234395222b52eee6fc78c32beac64227507c9d
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / binutils / doc / binutils.texi
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
9 START-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
26 END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
27 @end format
28 @end ifinfo
29
30 @ifinfo
31 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
32 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000,
33 2001, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34
35 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
36 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
37 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
38 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
39 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
40 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
41
42 @c man end
43 @ignore
44 Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
45 results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
46 notice 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
83 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 1998, 2000, 2001,
84 2002, 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
99 This brief manual contains documentation for the @sc{gnu} binary
100 utilities (collectively version @value{VERSION}):
101
102 @iftex
103 @table @code
104 @item ar
105 Create, modify, and extract from archives
106
107 @item nm
108 List symbols from object files
109
110 @item objcopy
111 Copy and translate object files
112
113 @item objdump
114 Display information from object files
115
116 @item ranlib
117 Generate index to archive contents
118
119 @item readelf
120 Display the contents of ELF format files.
121
122 @item size
123 List file section sizes and total size
124
125 @item strings
126 List printable strings from files
127
128 @item strip
129 Discard symbols
130
131 @item c++filt
132 Demangle encoded C++ symbols (on MS-DOS, this program is named
133 @code{cxxfilt})
134
135 @item addr2line
136 Convert addresses into file names and line numbers
137
138 @item nlmconv
139 Convert object code into a Netware Loadable Module
140
141 @item windres
142 Manipulate Windows resources
143
144 @item dlltool
145 Create the files needed to build and use Dynamic Link Libraries
146 @end table
147 @end iftex
148
149 This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
150 Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
151 section 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
185 ar [-]@var{p}[@var{mod} [@var{relpos}] [@var{count}]] @var{archive} [@var{member}@dots{}]
186 ar -M [ <mri-script ]
187 @end smallexample
188
189 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ar
190
191 The @sc{gnu} @command{ar} program creates, modifies, and extracts from
192 archives. An @dfn{archive} is a single file holding a collection of
193 other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
194 the original individual files (called @dfn{members} of the archive).
195
196 The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
197 group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
198 extraction.
199
200 @cindex name length
201 @sc{gnu} @command{ar} can maintain archives whose members have names of any
202 length; however, depending on how @command{ar} is configured on your
203 system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
204 with archive formats maintained with other tools. If it exists, the
205 limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
206 characters (typical of formats related to coff).
207
208 @cindex libraries
209 @command{ar} is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
210 are most often used as @dfn{libraries} holding commonly needed
211 subroutines.
212
213 @cindex symbol index
214 @command{ar} creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
215 object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier @samp{s}.
216 Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever @command{ar}
217 makes a change to its contents (save for the @samp{q} update operation).
218 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
219 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
220 their placement in the archive.
221
222 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index
223 table. 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
229 facilities. You can control its activity using command-line options,
230 like the different varieties of @command{ar} on Unix systems; or, if you
231 specify the single command-line option @option{-M}, you can control it
232 with a script supplied via standard input, like the MRI ``librarian''
233 program.
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
248 ar [@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}
253 When you use @command{ar} in the Unix style, @command{ar} insists on at least two
254 arguments 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
258 Most operations can also accept further @var{member} arguments,
259 specifying 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
264 flags @var{mod} in any order, within the first command-line argument.
265
266 If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
267 dash.
268
269 @cindex operations on archive
270 The @var{p} keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
271 any 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
277 be deleted as @var{member}@dots{}; the archive is untouched if you
278 specify no files to delete.
279
280 If you specify the @samp{v} modifier, @command{ar} lists each module
281 as it is deleted.
282
283 @item m
284 @cindex moving in archive
285 Use this operation to @emph{move} members in an archive.
286
287 The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
288 programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
289 than one member.
290
291 If 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;
293 you can use the @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} modifiers to move them to a
294 specified place instead.
295
296 @item p
297 @cindex printing from archive
298 @emph{Print} the specified members of the archive, to the standard
299 output file. If the @samp{v} modifier is specified, show the member
300 name before copying its contents to standard output.
301
302 If you specify no @var{member} arguments, all the files in the archive are
303 printed.
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
310 The modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, and @samp{i} do @emph{not} affect this
311 operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
312
313 The modifier @samp{v} makes @command{ar} list each file as it is appended.
314
315 Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table
316 index 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
319 However, too many different systems assume quick append rebuilds the
320 index, so @sc{gnu} @command{ar} implements @samp{q} as a synonym for @samp{r}.
321
322 @item r
323 @cindex replacement in archive
324 Insert the files @var{member}@dots{} into @var{archive} (with
325 @emph{replacement}). This operation differs from @samp{q} in that any
326 previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
327 added.
328
329 If one of the files named in @var{member}@dots{} does not exist, @command{ar}
330 displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
331 of the archive matching that name.
332
333 By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
334 use one of the modifiers @samp{a}, @samp{b}, or @samp{i} to request
335 placement relative to some existing member.
336
337 The modifier @samp{v} used with this operation elicits a line of
338 output 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
340 deleted) or replaced.
341
342 @item t
343 @cindex contents of archive
344 Display a @emph{table} listing the contents of @var{archive}, or those
345 of the files listed in @var{member}@dots{} that are present in the
346 archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to
347 see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can
348 request that by also specifying the @samp{v} modifier.
349
350 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
351 are listed.
352
353 @cindex repeated names in archive
354 @cindex name duplication in archive
355 If there is more than one file with the same name (say, @samp{fie}) in
356 an archive (say @samp{b.a}), @samp{ar t b.a fie} lists only the
357 first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
358 listing---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
365 use the @samp{v} modifier with this operation, to request that
366 @command{ar} list each name as it extracts it.
367
368 If you do not specify a @var{member}, all files in the archive
369 are extracted.
370
371 @end table
372
373 A number of modifiers (@var{mod}) may immediately follow the @var{p}
374 keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
375
376 @table @samp
377 @item a
378 @cindex relative placement in archive
379 Add new files @emph{after} an existing member of the
380 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{a}, the name of an existing archive
381 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
382 @var{archive} specification.
383
384 @item b
385 Add new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
386 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{b}, the name of an existing archive
387 member 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
393 created if it did not exist, when you request an update. But a warning is
394 issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
395 using this modifier.
396
397 @item f
398 Truncate names in the archive. @sc{gnu} @command{ar} will normally permit file
399 names of any length. This will cause it to create archives which are
400 not compatible with the native @command{ar} program on some systems. If
401 this is a concern, the @samp{f} modifier may be used to truncate file
402 names when putting them in the archive.
403
404 @item i
405 Insert new files @emph{before} an existing member of the
406 archive. If you use the modifier @samp{i}, the name of an existing archive
407 member must be present as the @var{relpos} argument, before the
408 @var{archive} specification. (same as @samp{b}).
409
410 @item l
411 This 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
416 Uses the @var{count} parameter. This is used if there are multiple
417 entries 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
422 Preserve the @emph{original} dates of members when extracting them. If
423 you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
424 are stamped with the time of extraction.
425
426 @item P
427 Use 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
429 are not POSIX complaint), but other archive creators can. This option
430 will cause @sc{gnu} @command{ar} to match file names using a complete path
431 name, which can be convenient when extracting a single file from an
432 archive created by another tool.
433
434 @item s
435 @cindex writing archive index
436 Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
437 even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier
438 flag either with any operation, or alone. Running @samp{ar s} on an
439 archive is equivalent to running @samp{ranlib} on it.
440
441 @item S
442 @cindex not writing archive index
443 Do not generate an archive symbol table. This can speed up building a
444 large library in several steps. The resulting archive can not be used
445 with 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
451 Normally, @samp{ar r}@dots{} inserts all files
452 listed into the archive. If you would like to insert @emph{only} those
453 of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
454 names, use this modifier. The @samp{u} modifier is allowed only for the
455 operation @samp{r} (replace). In particular, the combination @samp{qu} is
456 not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
457 advantage from the operation @samp{q}.
458
459 @item v
460 This modifier requests the @emph{verbose} version of an operation. Many
461 operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
462 when the modifier @samp{v} is appended.
463
464 @item V
465 This modifier shows the version number of @command{ar}.
466 @end table
467
468 @command{ar} ignores an initial option spelt @samp{-X32_64}, for
469 compatibility with AIX. The behaviour produced by this option is the
470 default 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}
472 which is the default for AIX @command{ar}.
473
474 @c man end
475
476 @ignore
477 @c man begin SEEALSO ar
478 nm(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
486 ar -M [ <@var{script} ]
487 @end smallexample
488
489 @cindex MRI compatibility, @command{ar}
490 @cindex scripts, @command{ar}
491 If you use the single command-line option @samp{-M} with @command{ar}, you
492 can control its operation with a rudimentary command language. This
493 form of @command{ar} operates interactively if standard input is coming
494 directly from a terminal. During interactive use, @command{ar} prompts for
495 input (the prompt is @samp{AR >}), and continues executing even after
496 errors. If you redirect standard input to a script file, no prompts are
497 issued, and @command{ar} abandons execution (with a nonzero exit code)
498 on any error.
499
500 The @command{ar} command language is @emph{not} designed to be equivalent
501 to the command-line options; in fact, it provides somewhat less control
502 over archives. The only purpose of the command language is to ease the
503 transition to @sc{gnu} @command{ar} for developers who already have scripts
504 written for the MRI ``librarian'' program.
505
506 The syntax for the @command{ar} command language is straightforward:
507 @itemize @bullet
508 @item
509 commands are recognized in upper or lower case; for example, @code{LIST}
510 is the same as @code{list}. In the following descriptions, commands are
511 shown in upper case for clarity.
512
513 @item
514 a single command may appear on each line; it is the first word on the
515 line.
516
517 @item
518 empty lines are allowed, and have no effect.
519
520 @item
521 comments are allowed; text after either of the characters @samp{*}
522 or @samp{;} is ignored.
523
524 @item
525 Whenever you use a list of names as part of the argument to an @command{ar}
526 command, you can separate the individual names with either commas or
527 blanks. Commas are shown in the explanations below, for clarity.
528
529 @item
530 @samp{+} is used as a line continuation character; if @samp{+} appears
531 at the end of a line, the text on the following line is considered part
532 of the current command.
533 @end itemize
534
535 Here 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
539 a temporary file required for most of the other commands.
540
541 @code{SAVE} commits the changes so far specified by the script. Prior
542 to @code{SAVE}, commands affect only the temporary copy of the current
543 archive.
544
545 @table @code
546 @item ADDLIB @var{archive}
547 @itemx ADDLIB @var{archive} (@var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module})
548 Add all the contents of @var{archive} (or, if specified, each named
549 @var{module} from @var{archive}) to the current archive.
550
551 Requires 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..."
556 Add each named @var{member} as a module in the current archive.
557
558 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
559
560 @item CLEAR
561 Discard the contents of the current archive, canceling the effect of
562 any operations since the last @code{SAVE}. May be executed (with no
563 effect) even if no current archive is specified.
564
565 @item CREATE @var{archive}
566 Creates an archive, and makes it the current archive (required for many
567 other commands). The new archive is created with a temporary name; it
568 is not actually saved as @var{archive} until you use @code{SAVE}.
569 You can overwrite existing archives; similarly, the contents of any
570 existing file named @var{archive} will not be destroyed until @code{SAVE}.
571
572 @item DELETE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
573 Delete each listed @var{module} from the current archive; equivalent to
574 @samp{ar -d @var{archive} @var{module} @dots{} @var{module}}.
575
576 Requires 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}
580 List each named @var{module} present in @var{archive}. The separate
581 command @code{VERBOSE} specifies the form of the output: when verbose
582 output 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
586 Output normally goes to the standard output stream; however, if you
587 specify @var{outputfile} as a final argument, @command{ar} directs the
588 output to that file.
589
590 @item END
591 Exit from @command{ar}, with a @code{0} exit code to indicate successful
592 completion. This command does not save the output file; if you have
593 changed the current archive since the last @code{SAVE} command, those
594 changes are lost.
595
596 @item EXTRACT @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
597 Extract each named @var{module} from the current archive, writing them
598 into the current directory as separate files. Equivalent to @samp{ar -x
599 @var{archive} @var{module}@dots{}}.
600
601 Requires 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
611 Display full contents of the current archive, in ``verbose'' style
612 regardless of the state of @code{VERBOSE}. The effect is like @samp{ar
613 tv @var{archive}}. (This single command is a @sc{gnu} @command{ar}
614 enhancement, rather than present for MRI compatibility.)
615
616 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
617
618 @item OPEN @var{archive}
619 Opens an existing archive for use as the current archive (required for
620 many other commands). Any changes as the result of subsequent commands
621 will not actually affect @var{archive} until you next use @code{SAVE}.
622
623 @item REPLACE @var{module}, @var{module}, @dots{} @var{module}
624 In the current archive, replace each existing @var{module} (named in
625 the @code{REPLACE} arguments) from files in the current working directory.
626 To execute this command without errors, both the file, and the module in
627 the current archive, must exist.
628
629 Requires prior use of @code{OPEN} or @code{CREATE}.
630
631 @item VERBOSE
632 Toggle an internal flag governing the output from @code{DIRECTORY}.
633 When the flag is on, @code{DIRECTORY} output matches output from
634 @samp{ar -tv }@dots{}.
635
636 @item SAVE
637 Commit your changes to the current archive, and actually save it as a
638 file with the name specified in the last @code{CREATE} or @code{OPEN}
639 command.
640
641 Requires 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
650 The @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
663 nm [@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{}.
678 If no object files are listed as arguments, @command{nm} assumes the file
679 @file{a.out}.
680
681 For each symbol, @command{nm} shows:
682
683 @itemize @bullet
684 @item
685 The symbol value, in the radix selected by options (see below), or
686 hexadecimal by default.
687
688 @item
689 The symbol type. At least the following types are used; others are, as
690 well, depending on the object file format. If lowercase, the symbol is
691 local; 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
697 The symbol's value is absolute, and will not be changed by further
698 linking.
699
700 @item B
701 The symbol is in the uninitialized data section (known as BSS).
702
703 @item C
704 The symbol is common. Common symbols are uninitialized data. When
705 linking, multiple common symbols may appear with the same name. If the
706 symbol is defined anywhere, the common symbols are treated as undefined
707 references.
708 @ifclear man
709 For 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
714 The symbol is in the initialized data section.
715
716 @item G
717 The symbol is in an initialized data section for small objects. Some
718 object file formats permit more efficient access to small data objects,
719 such as a global int variable as opposed to a large global array.
720
721 @item I
722 The symbol is an indirect reference to another symbol. This is a @sc{gnu}
723 extension to the a.out object file format which is rarely used.
724
725 @item N
726 The symbol is a debugging symbol.
727
728 @item R
729 The symbol is in a read only data section.
730
731 @item S
732 The symbol is in an uninitialized data section for small objects.
733
734 @item T
735 The symbol is in the text (code) section.
736
737 @item U
738 The symbol is undefined.
739
740 @item V
741 The symbol is a weak object. When a weak defined symbol is linked with
742 a normal defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
743 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
744 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
745
746 @item W
747 The symbol is a weak symbol that has not been specifically tagged as a
748 weak object symbol. When a weak defined symbol is linked with a normal
749 defined symbol, the normal defined symbol is used with no error.
750 When a weak undefined symbol is linked and the symbol is not defined,
751 the value of the weak symbol becomes zero with no error.
752
753 @item -
754 The symbol is a stabs symbol in an a.out object file. In this case, the
755 next values printed are the stabs other field, the stabs desc field, and
756 the stab type. Stabs symbols are used to hold debugging information.
757 @ifclear man
758 For more information, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs Overview,stabs.info, The
759 ``stabs'' debug format}.
760 @end ifclear
761
762 @item ?
763 The symbol type is unknown, or object file format specific.
764 @end table
765
766 @item
767 The symbol name.
768 @end itemize
769
770 @c man end
771
772 @c man begin OPTIONS nm
773 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
774 equivalent.
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
783 Precede each symbol by the name of the input file (or archive member)
784 in which it was found, rather than identifying the input file once only,
785 before all of its symbols.
786
787 @item -a
788 @itemx --debug-syms
789 @cindex debugging symbols
790 Display all symbols, even debugger-only symbols; normally these are not
791 listed.
792
793 @item -B
794 @cindex @command{nm} format
795 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
796 The 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
801 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
802 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
803 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
804 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
805 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
806 for more information on demangling.
807
808 @item --no-demangle
809 Do not demangle low-level symbol names. This is the default.
810
811 @item -D
812 @itemx --dynamic
813 @cindex dynamic symbols
814 Display the dynamic symbols rather than the normal symbols. This is
815 only meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
816 libraries.
817
818 @item -f @var{format}
819 @itemx --format=@var{format}
820 @cindex @command{nm} format
821 @cindex @command{nm} compatibility
822 Use the output format @var{format}, which can be @code{bsd},
823 @code{sysv}, or @code{posix}. The default is @code{bsd}.
824 Only the first character of @var{format} is significant; it can be
825 either upper or lower case.
826
827 @item -g
828 @itemx --extern-only
829 @cindex external symbols
830 Display only external symbols.
831
832 @item -l
833 @itemx --line-numbers
834 @cindex symbol line numbers
835 For each symbol, use debugging information to try to find a filename and
836 line number. For a defined symbol, look for the line number of the
837 address of the symbol. For an undefined symbol, look for the line
838 number of a relocation entry which refers to the symbol. If line number
839 information can be found, print it after the other symbol information.
840
841 @item -n
842 @itemx -v
843 @itemx --numeric-sort
844 Sort symbols numerically by their addresses, rather than alphabetically
845 by their names.
846
847 @item -p
848 @itemx --no-sort
849 @cindex sorting symbols
850 Do not bother to sort the symbols in any order; print them in the order
851 encountered.
852
853 @item -P
854 @itemx --portability
855 Use the POSIX.2 standard output format instead of the default format.
856 Equivalent to @samp{-f posix}.
857
858 @item -S
859 @itemx --print-size
860 Print size of defined symbols for the @code{bsd} output format.
861
862 @item -s
863 @itemx --print-armap
864 @cindex symbol index, listing
865 When listing symbols from archive members, include the index: a mapping
866 (stored in the archive by @command{ar} or @command{ranlib}) of which modules
867 contain definitions for which names.
868
869 @item -r
870 @itemx --reverse-sort
871 Reverse the order of the sort (whether numeric or alphabetic); let the
872 last come first.
873
874 @item --size-sort
875 Sort symbols by size. The size is computed as the difference between
876 the value of the symbol and the value of the symbol with the next higher
877 value. The size of the symbol is printed, rather than the value.
878 structure. If the @code{bsd} output format is used the size of the symbol
879 is printed, rather than the value, and @samp{-S} must be used in order
880 both size and value to be printed.
881
882 @item -t @var{radix}
883 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
884 Use @var{radix} as the radix for printing the symbol values. It must be
885 @samp{d} for decimal, @samp{o} for octal, or @samp{x} for hexadecimal.
886
887 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
888 @cindex object code format
889 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
890 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
891
892 @item -u
893 @itemx --undefined-only
894 @cindex external symbols
895 @cindex undefined symbols
896 Display only undefined symbols (those external to each object file).
897
898 @item --defined-only
899 @cindex external symbols
900 @cindex undefined symbols
901 Display only defined symbols for each object file.
902
903 @item -V
904 @itemx --version
905 Show the version number of @command{nm} and exit.
906
907 @item -X
908 This option is ignored for compatibility with the AIX version of
909 @command{nm}. It takes one parameter which must be the string
910 @option{32_64}. The default mode of AIX @command{nm} corresponds
911 to @option{-X 32}, which is not supported by @sc{gnu} @command{nm}.
912
913 @item --help
914 Show a summary of the options to @command{nm} and exit.
915 @end table
916
917 @c man end
918
919 @ignore
920 @c man begin SEEALSO nm
921 ar(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
922 @c man end
923 @end ignore
924
925 @node objcopy
926 @chapter objcopy
927
928 @c man title objcopy copy and translate object files
929
930 @smallexample
931 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objcopy
932 objcopy [@option{-F} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
933 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
934 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
935 [@option{-B} @var{bfdarch}|@option{--binary-architecture=}@var{bfdarch}]
936 [@option{-S}|@option{--strip-all}] [@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{-x}|@option{--discard-all}] [@option{-X}|@option{--discard-locals}]
943 [@option{-b} @var{byte}|@option{--byte=}@var{byte}]
944 [@option{-i} @var{interleave}|@option{--interleave=}@var{interleave}]
945 [@option{-j} @var{sectionname}|@option{--only-section=}@var{sectionname}]
946 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname}|@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname}]
947 [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
948 [@option{--debugging}]
949 [@option{--gap-fill=}@var{val}] [@option{--pad-to=}@var{address}]
950 [@option{--set-start=}@var{val}] [@option{--adjust-start=}@var{incr}]
951 [@option{--change-addresses=}@var{incr}]
952 [@option{--change-section-address} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
953 [@option{--change-section-lma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
954 [@option{--change-section-vma} @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}]
955 [@option{--change-warnings}] [@option{--no-change-warnings}]
956 [@option{--set-section-flags} @var{section}=@var{flags}]
957 [@option{--add-section} @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}]
958 [@option{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]]
959 [@option{--change-leading-char} ] [@option{--remove-leading-char}]
960 [@option{--srec-len=}@var{ival} ] [@option{--srec-forceS3}]
961 [@option{--redefine-sym} @var{old}=@var{new} ]
962 [@option{--weaken}]
963 [@option{--keep-symbols=}@var{filename}]
964 [@option{--strip-symbols=}@var{filename}]
965 [@option{--keep-global-symbols=}@var{filename}]
966 [@option{--localize-symbols=}@var{filename}]
967 [@option{--weaken-symbols=}@var{filename}]
968 [@option{--alt-machine-code=}@var{index}]
969 [@option{--prefix-symbols=}@var{string}]
970 [@option{--prefix-sections=}@var{string}]
971 [@option{--prefix-alloc-sections=}@var{string}]
972 [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
973 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
974 [@option{--help}]
975 @var{infile} [@var{outfile}]
976 @c man end
977 @end smallexample
978
979 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objcopy
980 The @sc{gnu} @command{objcopy} utility copies the contents of an object
981 file to another. @command{objcopy} uses the @sc{gnu} @sc{bfd} Library to
982 read and write the object files. It can write the destination object
983 file in a format different from that of the source object file. The
984 exact behavior of @command{objcopy} is controlled by command-line options.
985 Note that @command{objcopy} should be able to copy a fully linked file
986 between any two formats. However, copying a relocatable object file
987 between any two formats may not work as expected.
988
989 @command{objcopy} creates temporary files to do its translations and
990 deletes them afterward. @command{objcopy} uses @sc{bfd} to do all its
991 translation work; it has access to all the formats described in @sc{bfd}
992 and thus is able to recognize most formats without being told
993 explicitly. @xref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}.
994
995 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate S-records by using an output
996 target of @samp{srec} (e.g., use @samp{-O srec}).
997
998 @command{objcopy} can be used to generate a raw binary file by using an
999 output target of @samp{binary} (e.g., use @option{-O binary}). When
1000 @command{objcopy} generates a raw binary file, it will essentially produce
1001 a memory dump of the contents of the input object file. All symbols and
1002 relocation information will be discarded. The memory dump will start at
1003 the load address of the lowest section copied into the output file.
1004
1005 When generating an S-record or a raw binary file, it may be helpful to
1006 use @option{-S} to remove sections containing debugging information. In
1007 some cases @option{-R} will be useful to remove sections which contain
1008 information that is not needed by the binary file.
1009
1010 Note---@command{objcopy} is not able to change the endianness of its input
1011 files. If the input format has an endianness (some formats do not),
1012 @command{objcopy} can only copy the inputs into file formats that have the
1013 same endianness or which have no endianness (e.g., @samp{srec}).
1014
1015 @c man end
1016
1017 @c man begin OPTIONS objcopy
1018
1019 @table @env
1020 @item @var{infile}
1021 @itemx @var{outfile}
1022 The input and output files, respectively.
1023 If you do not specify @var{outfile}, @command{objcopy} creates a
1024 temporary file and destructively renames the result with
1025 the name of @var{infile}.
1026
1027 @item -I @var{bfdname}
1028 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
1029 Consider the source file's object format to be @var{bfdname}, rather than
1030 attempting to deduce it. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1031
1032 @item -O @var{bfdname}
1033 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
1034 Write the output file using the object format @var{bfdname}.
1035 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1036
1037 @item -F @var{bfdname}
1038 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1039 Use @var{bfdname} as the object format for both the input and the output
1040 file; i.e., simply transfer data from source to destination with no
1041 translation. @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1042
1043 @item -B @var{bfdarch}
1044 @itemx --binary-architecture=@var{bfdarch}
1045 Useful when transforming a raw binary input file into an object file.
1046 In this case the output architecture can be set to @var{bfdarch}. This
1047 option will be ignored if the input file has a known @var{bfdarch}. You
1048 can access this binary data inside a program by referencing the special
1049 symbols that are created by the conversion process. These symbols are
1050 called _binary_@var{objfile}_start, _binary_@var{objfile}_end and
1051 _binary_@var{objfile}_size. e.g. you can transform a picture file into
1052 an object file and then access it in your code using these symbols.
1053
1054 @item -j @var{sectionname}
1055 @itemx --only-section=@var{sectionname}
1056 Copy only the named section from the input file to the output file.
1057 This option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1058 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1059
1060 @item -R @var{sectionname}
1061 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
1062 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
1063 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
1064 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
1065
1066 @item -S
1067 @itemx --strip-all
1068 Do not copy relocation and symbol information from the source file.
1069
1070 @item -g
1071 @itemx --strip-debug
1072 Do not copy debugging symbols from the source file.
1073
1074 @item --strip-unneeded
1075 Strip all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
1076
1077 @item -K @var{symbolname}
1078 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1079 Copy only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
1080 be given more than once.
1081
1082 @item -N @var{symbolname}
1083 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1084 Do not copy symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option
1085 may be given more than once.
1086
1087 @item -G @var{symbolname}
1088 @itemx --keep-global-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1089 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} global. Make all other symbols local
1090 to the file, so that they are not visible externally. This option may
1091 be given more than once.
1092
1093 @item -L @var{symbolname}
1094 @itemx --localize-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1095 Make symbol @var{symbolname} local to the file, so that it is not
1096 visible externally. This option may be given more than once.
1097
1098 @item -W @var{symbolname}
1099 @itemx --weaken-symbol=@var{symbolname}
1100 Make symbol @var{symbolname} weak. This option may be given more than once.
1101
1102 @item -x
1103 @itemx --discard-all
1104 Do not copy non-global symbols from the source file.
1105 @c FIXME any reason to prefer "non-global" to "local" here?
1106
1107 @item -X
1108 @itemx --discard-locals
1109 Do not copy compiler-generated local symbols.
1110 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
1111
1112 @item -b @var{byte}
1113 @itemx --byte=@var{byte}
1114 Keep only every @var{byte}th byte of the input file (header data is not
1115 affected). @var{byte} can be in the range from 0 to @var{interleave}-1,
1116 where @var{interleave} is given by the @option{-i} or @option{--interleave}
1117 option, or the default of 4. This option is useful for creating files
1118 to program @sc{rom}. It is typically used with an @code{srec} output
1119 target.
1120
1121 @item -i @var{interleave}
1122 @itemx --interleave=@var{interleave}
1123 Only copy one out of every @var{interleave} bytes. Select which byte to
1124 copy with the @option{-b} or @option{--byte} option. The default is 4.
1125 @command{objcopy} ignores this option if you do not specify either @option{-b} or
1126 @option{--byte}.
1127
1128 @item -p
1129 @itemx --preserve-dates
1130 Set the access and modification dates of the output file to be the same
1131 as those of the input file.
1132
1133 @item --debugging
1134 Convert debugging information, if possible. This is not the default
1135 because only certain debugging formats are supported, and the
1136 conversion process can be time consuming.
1137
1138 @item --gap-fill @var{val}
1139 Fill gaps between sections with @var{val}. This operation applies to
1140 the @emph{load address} (LMA) of the sections. It is done by increasing
1141 the size of the section with the lower address, and filling in the extra
1142 space created with @var{val}.
1143
1144 @item --pad-to @var{address}
1145 Pad the output file up to the load address @var{address}. This is
1146 done by increasing the size of the last section. The extra space is
1147 filled in with the value specified by @option{--gap-fill} (default zero).
1148
1149 @item --set-start @var{val}
1150 Set the start address of the new file to @var{val}. Not all object file
1151 formats support setting the start address.
1152
1153 @item --change-start @var{incr}
1154 @itemx --adjust-start @var{incr}
1155 @cindex changing start address
1156 Change the start address by adding @var{incr}. Not all object file
1157 formats support setting the start address.
1158
1159 @item --change-addresses @var{incr}
1160 @itemx --adjust-vma @var{incr}
1161 @cindex changing object addresses
1162 Change the VMA and LMA addresses of all sections, as well as the start
1163 address, by adding @var{incr}. Some object file formats do not permit
1164 section addresses to be changed arbitrarily. Note that this does not
1165 relocate the sections; if the program expects sections to be loaded at a
1166 certain address, and this option is used to change the sections such
1167 that they are loaded at a different address, the program may fail.
1168
1169 @item --change-section-address @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1170 @itemx --adjust-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1171 @cindex changing section address
1172 Set or change both the VMA address and the LMA address of the named
1173 @var{section}. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1174 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1175 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1176 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning will
1177 be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1178
1179 @item --change-section-lma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1180 @cindex changing section LMA
1181 Set or change the LMA address of the named @var{section}. The LMA
1182 address is the address where the section will be loaded into memory at
1183 program load time. Normally this is the same as the VMA address, which
1184 is the address of the section at program run time, but on some systems,
1185 especially those where a program is held in ROM, the two can be
1186 different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address is set to
1187 @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted from the
1188 section address. See the comments under @option{--change-addresses},
1189 above. If @var{section} does not exist in the input file, a warning
1190 will be issued, unless @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1191
1192 @item --change-section-vma @var{section}@{=,+,-@}@var{val}
1193 @cindex changing section VMA
1194 Set or change the VMA address of the named @var{section}. The VMA
1195 address is the address where the section will be located once the
1196 program has started executing. Normally this is the same as the LMA
1197 address, which is the address where the section will be loaded into
1198 memory, but on some systems, especially those where a program is held in
1199 ROM, the two can be different. If @samp{=} is used, the section address
1200 is set to @var{val}. Otherwise, @var{val} is added to or subtracted
1201 from the section address. See the comments under
1202 @option{--change-addresses}, above. If @var{section} does not exist in
1203 the input file, a warning will be issued, unless
1204 @option{--no-change-warnings} is used.
1205
1206 @item --change-warnings
1207 @itemx --adjust-warnings
1208 If @option{--change-section-address} or @option{--change-section-lma} or
1209 @option{--change-section-vma} is used, and the named section does not
1210 exist, issue a warning. This is the default.
1211
1212 @item --no-change-warnings
1213 @itemx --no-adjust-warnings
1214 Do not issue a warning if @option{--change-section-address} or
1215 @option{--adjust-section-lma} or @option{--adjust-section-vma} is used, even
1216 if the named section does not exist.
1217
1218 @item --set-section-flags @var{section}=@var{flags}
1219 Set the flags for the named section. The @var{flags} argument is a
1220 comma separated string of flag names. The recognized names are
1221 @samp{alloc}, @samp{contents}, @samp{load}, @samp{noload},
1222 @samp{readonly}, @samp{code}, @samp{data}, @samp{rom}, @samp{share}, and
1223 @samp{debug}. You can set the @samp{contents} flag for a section which
1224 does not have contents, but it is not meaningful to clear the
1225 @samp{contents} flag of a section which does have contents--just remove
1226 the section instead. Not all flags are meaningful for all object file
1227 formats.
1228
1229 @item --add-section @var{sectionname}=@var{filename}
1230 Add a new section named @var{sectionname} while copying the file. The
1231 contents of the new section are taken from the file @var{filename}. The
1232 size of the section will be the size of the file. This option only
1233 works on file formats which can support sections with arbitrary names.
1234
1235 @item --rename-section @var{oldname}=@var{newname}[,@var{flags}]
1236 Rename a section from @var{oldname} to @var{newname}, optionally
1237 changing the section's flags to @var{flags} in the process. This has
1238 the advantage over usng a linker script to perform the rename in that
1239 the output stays as an object file and does not become a linked
1240 executable.
1241
1242 This option is particularly helpful when the input format is binary,
1243 since this will always create a section called .data. If for example,
1244 you wanted instead to create a section called .rodata containing binary
1245 data you could use the following command line to achieve it:
1246
1247 @smallexample
1248 objcopy -I binary -O <output_format> -B <architecture> \
1249 --rename-section .data=.rodata,alloc,load,readonly,data,contents \
1250 <input_binary_file> <output_object_file>
1251 @end smallexample
1252
1253 @item --change-leading-char
1254 Some object file formats use special characters at the start of
1255 symbols. The most common such character is underscore, which compilers
1256 often add before every symbol. This option tells @command{objcopy} to
1257 change the leading character of every symbol when it converts between
1258 object file formats. If the object file formats use the same leading
1259 character, this option has no effect. Otherwise, it will add a
1260 character, or remove a character, or change a character, as
1261 appropriate.
1262
1263 @item --remove-leading-char
1264 If the first character of a global symbol is a special symbol leading
1265 character used by the object file format, remove the character. The
1266 most common symbol leading character is underscore. This option will
1267 remove a leading underscore from all global symbols. This can be useful
1268 if you want to link together objects of different file formats with
1269 different conventions for symbol names. This is different from
1270 @option{--change-leading-char} because it always changes the symbol name
1271 when appropriate, regardless of the object file format of the output
1272 file.
1273
1274 @item --srec-len=@var{ival}
1275 Meaningful only for srec output. Set the maximum length of the Srecords
1276 being produced to @var{ival}. This length covers both address, data and
1277 crc fields.
1278
1279 @item --srec-forceS3
1280 Meaningful only for srec output. Avoid generation of S1/S2 records,
1281 creating S3-only record format.
1282
1283 @item --redefine-sym @var{old}=@var{new}
1284 Change the name of a symbol @var{old}, to @var{new}. This can be useful
1285 when one is trying link two things together for which you have no
1286 source, and there are name collisions.
1287
1288 @item --weaken
1289 Change all global symbols in the file to be weak. This can be useful
1290 when building an object which will be linked against other objects using
1291 the @option{-R} option to the linker. This option is only effective when
1292 using an object file format which supports weak symbols.
1293
1294 @item --keep-symbols=@var{filename}
1295 Apply @option{--keep-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1296 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1297 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1298 This option may be given more than once.
1299
1300 @item --strip-symbols=@var{filename}
1301 Apply @option{--strip-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1302 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1303 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1304 This option may be given more than once.
1305
1306 @item --keep-global-symbols=@var{filename}
1307 Apply @option{--keep-global-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the
1308 file @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
1309 symbol name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash
1310 character. This option may be given more than once.
1311
1312 @item --localize-symbols=@var{filename}
1313 Apply @option{--localize-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1314 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1315 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1316 This option may be given more than once.
1317
1318 @item --weaken-symbols=@var{filename}
1319 Apply @option{--weaken-symbol} option to each symbol listed in the file
1320 @var{filename}. @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one symbol
1321 name per line. Line comments may be introduced by the hash character.
1322 This option may be given more than once.
1323
1324 @item --alt-machine-code=@var{index}
1325 If the output architecture has alternate machine codes, use the
1326 @var{index}th code instead of the default one. This is useful in case
1327 a machine is assigned an official code and the tool-chain adopts the
1328 new code, but other applications still depend on the original code
1329 being used.
1330
1331 @item --prefix-symbols=@var{string}
1332 Prefix all symbols in the output file with @var{string}.
1333
1334 @item --prefix-sections=@var{string}
1335 Prefix all section names in the output file with @var{string}.
1336
1337 @item --prefix-alloc-sections=@var{string}
1338 Prefix all the names of all allocated sections in the output file with
1339 @var{string}.
1340
1341 @item -V
1342 @itemx --version
1343 Show the version number of @command{objcopy}.
1344
1345 @item -v
1346 @itemx --verbose
1347 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
1348 archives, @samp{objcopy -V} lists all members of the archive.
1349
1350 @item --help
1351 Show a summary of the options to @command{objcopy}.
1352 @end table
1353
1354 @c man end
1355
1356 @ignore
1357 @c man begin SEEALSO objcopy
1358 ld(1), objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1359 @c man end
1360 @end ignore
1361
1362 @node objdump
1363 @chapter objdump
1364
1365 @cindex object file information
1366 @kindex objdump
1367
1368 @c man title objdump display information from object files.
1369
1370 @smallexample
1371 @c man begin SYNOPSIS objdump
1372 objdump [@option{-a}|@option{--archive-headers}]
1373 [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=@var{bfdname}}]
1374 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}] ]
1375 [@option{-d}|@option{--disassemble}]
1376 [@option{-D}|@option{--disassemble-all}]
1377 [@option{-z}|@option{--disassemble-zeroes}]
1378 [@option{-EB}|@option{-EL}|@option{--endian=}@{big | little @}]
1379 [@option{-f}|@option{--file-headers}]
1380 [@option{--file-start-context}]
1381 [@option{-g}|@option{--debugging}]
1382 [@option{-h}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--headers}]
1383 [@option{-i}|@option{--info}]
1384 [@option{-j} @var{section}|@option{--section=}@var{section}]
1385 [@option{-l}|@option{--line-numbers}]
1386 [@option{-S}|@option{--source}]
1387 [@option{-m} @var{machine}|@option{--architecture=}@var{machine}]
1388 [@option{-M} @var{options}|@option{--disassembler-options=}@var{options}]
1389 [@option{-p}|@option{--private-headers}]
1390 [@option{-r}|@option{--reloc}]
1391 [@option{-R}|@option{--dynamic-reloc}]
1392 [@option{-s}|@option{--full-contents}]
1393 [@option{-G}|@option{--stabs}]
1394 [@option{-t}|@option{--syms}]
1395 [@option{-T}|@option{--dynamic-syms}]
1396 [@option{-x}|@option{--all-headers}]
1397 [@option{-w}|@option{--wide}]
1398 [@option{--start-address=}@var{address}]
1399 [@option{--stop-address=}@var{address}]
1400 [@option{--prefix-addresses}]
1401 [@option{--[no-]show-raw-insn}]
1402 [@option{--adjust-vma=}@var{offset}]
1403 [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1404 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
1405 @var{objfile}@dots{}
1406 @c man end
1407 @end smallexample
1408
1409 @c man begin DESCRIPTION objdump
1410
1411 @command{objdump} displays information about one or more object files.
1412 The options control what particular information to display. This
1413 information is mostly useful to programmers who are working on the
1414 compilation tools, as opposed to programmers who just want their
1415 program to compile and work.
1416
1417 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. When you
1418 specify archives, @command{objdump} shows information on each of the member
1419 object files.
1420
1421 @c man end
1422
1423 @c man begin OPTIONS objdump
1424
1425 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
1426 equivalent. At least one option from the list
1427 @option{-a,-d,-D,-f,-g,-G,-h,-H,-p,-r,-R,-S,-t,-T,-V,-x} must be given.
1428
1429 @table @env
1430 @item -a
1431 @itemx --archive-header
1432 @cindex archive headers
1433 If any of the @var{objfile} files are archives, display the archive
1434 header information (in a format similar to @samp{ls -l}). Besides the
1435 information you could list with @samp{ar tv}, @samp{objdump -a} shows
1436 the object file format of each archive member.
1437
1438 @item --adjust-vma=@var{offset}
1439 @cindex section addresses in objdump
1440 @cindex VMA in objdump
1441 When dumping information, first add @var{offset} to all the section
1442 addresses. This is useful if the section addresses do not correspond to
1443 the symbol table, which can happen when putting sections at particular
1444 addresses when using a format which can not represent section addresses,
1445 such as a.out.
1446
1447 @item -b @var{bfdname}
1448 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
1449 @cindex object code format
1450 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
1451 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @var{objdump} can
1452 automatically recognize many formats.
1453
1454 For example,
1455 @example
1456 objdump -b oasys -m vax -h fu.o
1457 @end example
1458 @noindent
1459 displays summary information from the section headers (@option{-h}) of
1460 @file{fu.o}, which is explicitly identified (@option{-m}) as a VAX object
1461 file in the format produced by Oasys compilers. You can list the
1462 formats available with the @option{-i} option.
1463 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1464
1465 @item -C
1466 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
1467 @cindex demangling in objdump
1468 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
1469 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
1470 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
1471 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
1472 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
1473 for more information on demangling.
1474
1475 @item -g
1476 @itemx --debugging
1477 Display debugging information. This attempts to parse debugging
1478 information stored in the file and print it out using a C like syntax.
1479 Only certain types of debugging information have been implemented.
1480
1481 @item -d
1482 @itemx --disassemble
1483 @cindex disassembling object code
1484 @cindex machine instructions
1485 Display the assembler mnemonics for the machine instructions from
1486 @var{objfile}. This option only disassembles those sections which are
1487 expected to contain instructions.
1488
1489 @item -D
1490 @itemx --disassemble-all
1491 Like @option{-d}, but disassemble the contents of all sections, not just
1492 those expected to contain instructions.
1493
1494 @item --prefix-addresses
1495 When disassembling, print the complete address on each line. This is
1496 the older disassembly format.
1497
1498 @item -EB
1499 @itemx -EL
1500 @itemx --endian=@{big|little@}
1501 @cindex endianness
1502 @cindex disassembly endianness
1503 Specify the endianness of the object files. This only affects
1504 disassembly. This can be useful when disassembling a file format which
1505 does not describe endianness information, such as S-records.
1506
1507 @item -f
1508 @itemx --file-headers
1509 @cindex object file header
1510 Display summary information from the overall header of
1511 each of the @var{objfile} files.
1512
1513 @item --file-start-context
1514 @cindex source code context
1515 Specify that when displaying interlisted source code/disassembly
1516 (assumes @option{-S}) from a file that has not yet been displayed, extend the
1517 context to the start of the file.
1518
1519 @item -h
1520 @itemx --section-headers
1521 @itemx --headers
1522 @cindex section headers
1523 Display summary information from the section headers of the
1524 object file.
1525
1526 File segments may be relocated to nonstandard addresses, for example by
1527 using the @option{-Ttext}, @option{-Tdata}, or @option{-Tbss} options to
1528 @command{ld}. However, some object file formats, such as a.out, do not
1529 store the starting address of the file segments. In those situations,
1530 although @command{ld} relocates the sections correctly, using @samp{objdump
1531 -h} to list the file section headers cannot show the correct addresses.
1532 Instead, it shows the usual addresses, which are implicit for the
1533 target.
1534
1535 @item -H
1536 @itemx --help
1537 Print a summary of the options to @command{objdump} and exit.
1538
1539 @item -i
1540 @itemx --info
1541 @cindex architectures available
1542 @cindex object formats available
1543 Display a list showing all architectures and object formats available
1544 for specification with @option{-b} or @option{-m}.
1545
1546 @item -j @var{name}
1547 @itemx --section=@var{name}
1548 @cindex section information
1549 Display information only for section @var{name}.
1550
1551 @item -l
1552 @itemx --line-numbers
1553 @cindex source filenames for object files
1554 Label the display (using debugging information) with the filename and
1555 source line numbers corresponding to the object code or relocs shown.
1556 Only useful with @option{-d}, @option{-D}, or @option{-r}.
1557
1558 @item -m @var{machine}
1559 @itemx --architecture=@var{machine}
1560 @cindex architecture
1561 @cindex disassembly architecture
1562 Specify the architecture to use when disassembling object files. This
1563 can be useful when disassembling object files which do not describe
1564 architecture information, such as S-records. You can list the available
1565 architectures with the @option{-i} option.
1566
1567 @item -M @var{options}
1568 @itemx --disassembler-options=@var{options}
1569 Pass target specific information to the disassembler. Only supported on
1570 some targets.
1571
1572 If the target is an ARM architecture then this switch can be used to
1573 select which register name set is used during disassembler. Specifying
1574 @option{-M reg-name-std} (the default) will select the register names as
1575 used in ARM's instruction set documentation, but with register 13 called
1576 'sp', register 14 called 'lr' and register 15 called 'pc'. Specifying
1577 @option{-M reg-names-apcs} will select the name set used by the ARM
1578 Procedure Call Standard, whilst specifying @option{-M reg-names-raw} will
1579 just use @samp{r} followed by the register number.
1580
1581 There are also two variants on the APCS register naming scheme enabled
1582 by @option{-M reg-names-atpcs} and @option{-M reg-names-special-atpcs} which
1583 use the ARM/Thumb Procedure Call Standard naming conventions. (Either
1584 with the normal register names or the special register names).
1585
1586 This option can also be used for ARM architectures to force the
1587 disassembler to interpret all instructions as Thumb instructions by
1588 using the switch @option{--disassembler-options=force-thumb}. This can be
1589 useful when attempting to disassemble thumb code produced by other
1590 compilers.
1591
1592 For the x86, some of the options duplicate functions of the @option{-m}
1593 switch, but allow finer grained control. Multiple selections from the
1594 following may be specified as a comma separated string.
1595 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} and @option{i8086} select disassembly for
1596 the given architecture. @option{intel} and @option{att} select between
1597 intel syntax mode and AT&T syntax mode. @option{addr32},
1598 @option{addr16}, @option{data32} and @option{data16} specify the default
1599 address size and operand size. These four options will be overridden if
1600 @option{x86-64}, @option{i386} or @option{i8086} appear later in the
1601 option string. Lastly, @option{suffix}, when in AT&T mode,
1602 instructs the disassembler to print a mnemonic suffix even when the
1603 suffix could be inferred by the operands.
1604
1605 For PPC, @option{booke}, @option{booke32} and @option{booke64} select
1606 disassembly of BookE instructions. @option{32} and @option{64} select
1607 PowerPC and PowerPC64 disassembly, respectively.
1608
1609 For MIPS, this option controls the printing of register names in
1610 disassembled instructions. Multiple selections from the
1611 following may be specified as a comma separated string, and invalid
1612 options are ignored:
1613
1614 @table @code
1615 @item gpr-names=@var{ABI}
1616 Print GPR (general-purpose register) names as appropriate
1617 for the specified ABI. By default, GPR names are selected according to
1618 the ABI of the binary being disassembled.
1619
1620 @item fpr-names=@var{ABI}
1621 Print FPR (floating-point register) names as
1622 appropriate for the specified ABI. By default, FPR numbers are printed
1623 rather than names.
1624
1625 @item cp0-names=@var{ARCH}
1626 Print CP0 (system control coprocessor; coprocessor 0) register names
1627 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1628 @var{ARCH}. By default, CP0 register names are selected according to
1629 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1630
1631 @item hwr-names=@var{ARCH}
1632 Print HWR (hardware register, used by the @code{rdhwr} instruction) names
1633 as appropriate for the CPU or architecture specified by
1634 @var{ARCH}. By default, HWR names are selected according to
1635 the architecture and CPU of the binary being disassembled.
1636
1637 @item reg-names=@var{ABI}
1638 Print GPR and FPR names as appropriate for the selected ABI.
1639
1640 @item reg-names=@var{ARCH}
1641 Print CPU-specific register names (CP0 register and HWR names)
1642 as appropriate for the selected CPU or architecture.
1643 @end table
1644
1645 For any of the options listed above, @var{ABI} or
1646 @var{ARCH} may be specified as @samp{numeric} to have numbers printed
1647 rather than names, for the selected types of registers.
1648 You can list the available values of @var{ABI} and @var{ARCH} using
1649 the @option{--help} option.
1650
1651 @item -p
1652 @itemx --private-headers
1653 Print information that is specific to the object file format. The exact
1654 information printed depends upon the object file format. For some
1655 object file formats, no additional information is printed.
1656
1657 @item -r
1658 @itemx --reloc
1659 @cindex relocation entries, in object file
1660 Print the relocation entries of the file. If used with @option{-d} or
1661 @option{-D}, the relocations are printed interspersed with the
1662 disassembly.
1663
1664 @item -R
1665 @itemx --dynamic-reloc
1666 @cindex dynamic relocation entries, in object file
1667 Print the dynamic relocation entries of the file. This is only
1668 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1669 libraries.
1670
1671 @item -s
1672 @itemx --full-contents
1673 @cindex sections, full contents
1674 @cindex object file sections
1675 Display the full contents of any sections requested.
1676
1677 @item -S
1678 @itemx --source
1679 @cindex source disassembly
1680 @cindex disassembly, with source
1681 Display source code intermixed with disassembly, if possible. Implies
1682 @option{-d}.
1683
1684 @item --show-raw-insn
1685 When disassembling instructions, print the instruction in hex as well as
1686 in symbolic form. This is the default except when
1687 @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1688
1689 @item --no-show-raw-insn
1690 When disassembling instructions, do not print the instruction bytes.
1691 This is the default when @option{--prefix-addresses} is used.
1692
1693 @item -G
1694 @itemx --stabs
1695 @cindex stab
1696 @cindex .stab
1697 @cindex debug symbols
1698 @cindex ELF object file format
1699 Display the full contents of any sections requested. Display the
1700 contents of the .stab and .stab.index and .stab.excl sections from an
1701 ELF file. This is only useful on systems (such as Solaris 2.0) in which
1702 @code{.stab} debugging symbol-table entries are carried in an ELF
1703 section. In most other file formats, debugging symbol-table entries are
1704 interleaved with linkage symbols, and are visible in the @option{--syms}
1705 output.
1706 @ifclear man
1707 For more information on stabs symbols, see @ref{Top,Stabs,Stabs
1708 Overview,stabs.info, The ``stabs'' debug format}.
1709 @end ifclear
1710
1711 @item --start-address=@var{address}
1712 @cindex start-address
1713 Start displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1714 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1715
1716 @item --stop-address=@var{address}
1717 @cindex stop-address
1718 Stop displaying data at the specified address. This affects the output
1719 of the @option{-d}, @option{-r} and @option{-s} options.
1720
1721 @item -t
1722 @itemx --syms
1723 @cindex symbol table entries, printing
1724 Print the symbol table entries of the file.
1725 This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm} program.
1726
1727 @item -T
1728 @itemx --dynamic-syms
1729 @cindex dynamic symbol table entries, printing
1730 Print the dynamic symbol table entries of the file. This is only
1731 meaningful for dynamic objects, such as certain types of shared
1732 libraries. This is similar to the information provided by the @samp{nm}
1733 program when given the @option{-D} (@option{--dynamic}) option.
1734
1735 @item -V
1736 @itemx --version
1737 Print the version number of @command{objdump} and exit.
1738
1739 @item -x
1740 @itemx --all-headers
1741 @cindex all header information, object file
1742 @cindex header information, all
1743 Display all available header information, including the symbol table and
1744 relocation entries. Using @option{-x} is equivalent to specifying all of
1745 @option{-a -f -h -r -t}.
1746
1747 @item -w
1748 @itemx --wide
1749 @cindex wide output, printing
1750 Format some lines for output devices that have more than 80 columns.
1751 Also do not truncate symbol names when they are displayed.
1752
1753 @item -z
1754 @itemx --disassemble-zeroes
1755 Normally the disassembly output will skip blocks of zeroes. This
1756 option directs the disassembler to disassemble those blocks, just like
1757 any other data.
1758 @end table
1759
1760 @c man end
1761
1762 @ignore
1763 @c man begin SEEALSO objdump
1764 nm(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1765 @c man end
1766 @end ignore
1767
1768 @node ranlib
1769 @chapter ranlib
1770
1771 @kindex ranlib
1772 @cindex archive contents
1773 @cindex symbol index
1774
1775 @c man title ranlib generate index to archive.
1776
1777 @smallexample
1778 @c man begin SYNOPSIS ranlib
1779 ranlib [@option{-vV}] @var{archive}
1780 @c man end
1781 @end smallexample
1782
1783 @c man begin DESCRIPTION ranlib
1784
1785 @command{ranlib} generates an index to the contents of an archive and
1786 stores it in the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by a
1787 member of an archive that is a relocatable object file.
1788
1789 You may use @samp{nm -s} or @samp{nm --print-armap} to list this index.
1790
1791 An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library and
1792 allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
1793 their placement in the archive.
1794
1795 The @sc{gnu} @command{ranlib} program is another form of @sc{gnu} @command{ar}; running
1796 @command{ranlib} is completely equivalent to executing @samp{ar -s}.
1797 @xref{ar}.
1798
1799 @c man end
1800
1801 @c man begin OPTIONS ranlib
1802
1803 @table @env
1804 @item -v
1805 @itemx -V
1806 @itemx --version
1807 Show the version number of @command{ranlib}.
1808 @end table
1809
1810 @c man end
1811
1812 @ignore
1813 @c man begin SEEALSO ranlib
1814 ar(1), nm(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1815 @c man end
1816 @end ignore
1817
1818 @node size
1819 @chapter size
1820
1821 @kindex size
1822 @cindex section sizes
1823
1824 @c man title size list section sizes and total size.
1825
1826 @smallexample
1827 @c man begin SYNOPSIS size
1828 size [@option{-A}|@option{-B}|@option{--format=}@var{compatibility}]
1829 [@option{--help}]
1830 [@option{-d}|@option{-o}|@option{-x}|@option{--radix=}@var{number}]
1831 [@option{-t}|@option{--totals}]
1832 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
1833 [@var{objfile}@dots{}]
1834 @c man end
1835 @end smallexample
1836
1837 @c man begin DESCRIPTION size
1838
1839 The @sc{gnu} @command{size} utility lists the section sizes---and the total
1840 size---for each of the object or archive files @var{objfile} in its
1841 argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each
1842 object file or each module in an archive.
1843
1844 @var{objfile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined.
1845 If none are specified, the file @code{a.out} will be used.
1846
1847 @c man end
1848
1849 @c man begin OPTIONS size
1850
1851 The command line options have the following meanings:
1852
1853 @table @env
1854 @item -A
1855 @itemx -B
1856 @itemx --format=@var{compatibility}
1857 @cindex @command{size} display format
1858 Using one of these options, you can choose whether the output from @sc{gnu}
1859 @command{size} resembles output from System V @command{size} (using @option{-A},
1860 or @option{--format=sysv}), or Berkeley @command{size} (using @option{-B}, or
1861 @option{--format=berkeley}). The default is the one-line format similar to
1862 Berkeley's.
1863 @c Bonus for doc-source readers: you can also say --format=strange (or
1864 @c anything else that starts with 's') for sysv, and --format=boring (or
1865 @c anything else that starts with 'b') for Berkeley.
1866
1867 Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from
1868 @command{size}:
1869 @smallexample
1870 $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size
1871 text data bss dec hex filename
1872 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib
1873 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size
1874 @end smallexample
1875
1876 @noindent
1877 This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
1878
1879 @smallexample
1880 $ size --format=SysV ranlib size
1881 ranlib :
1882 section size addr
1883 .text 294880 8192
1884 .data 81920 303104
1885 .bss 11592 385024
1886 Total 388392
1887
1888
1889 size :
1890 section size addr
1891 .text 294880 8192
1892 .data 81920 303104
1893 .bss 11888 385024
1894 Total 388688
1895 @end smallexample
1896
1897 @item --help
1898 Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
1899
1900 @item -d
1901 @itemx -o
1902 @itemx -x
1903 @itemx --radix=@var{number}
1904 @cindex @command{size} number format
1905 @cindex radix for section sizes
1906 Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each
1907 section is given in decimal (@option{-d}, or @option{--radix=10}); octal
1908 (@option{-o}, or @option{--radix=8}); or hexadecimal (@option{-x}, or
1909 @option{--radix=16}). In @option{--radix=@var{number}}, only the three
1910 values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two
1911 radices; decimal and hexadecimal for @option{-d} or @option{-x} output, or
1912 octal and hexadecimal if you're using @option{-o}.
1913
1914 @item -t
1915 @itemx --totals
1916 Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley format listing mode only).
1917
1918 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
1919 @cindex object code format
1920 Specify that the object-code format for @var{objfile} is
1921 @var{bfdname}. This option may not be necessary; @command{size} can
1922 automatically recognize many formats.
1923 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
1924
1925 @item -V
1926 @itemx --version
1927 Display the version number of @command{size}.
1928 @end table
1929
1930 @c man end
1931
1932 @ignore
1933 @c man begin SEEALSO size
1934 ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
1935 @c man end
1936 @end ignore
1937
1938 @node strings
1939 @chapter strings
1940 @kindex strings
1941 @cindex listings strings
1942 @cindex printing strings
1943 @cindex strings, printing
1944
1945 @c man title strings print the strings of printable characters in files.
1946
1947 @smallexample
1948 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strings
1949 strings [@option{-afov}] [@option{-}@var{min-len}]
1950 [@option{-n} @var{min-len}] [@option{--bytes=}@var{min-len}]
1951 [@option{-t} @var{radix}] [@option{--radix=}@var{radix}]
1952 [@option{-e} @var{encoding}] [@option{--encoding=}@var{encoding}]
1953 [@option{-}] [@option{--all}] [@option{--print-file-name}]
1954 [@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
1955 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] @var{file}@dots{}
1956 @c man end
1957 @end smallexample
1958
1959 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strings
1960
1961 For each @var{file} given, @sc{gnu} @command{strings} prints the printable
1962 character sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number
1963 given with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
1964 character. By default, it only prints the strings from the initialized
1965 and loaded sections of object files; for other types of files, it prints
1966 the strings from the whole file.
1967
1968 @command{strings} is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
1969 files.
1970
1971 @c man end
1972
1973 @c man begin OPTIONS strings
1974
1975 @table @env
1976 @item -a
1977 @itemx --all
1978 @itemx -
1979 Do not scan only the initialized and loaded sections of object files;
1980 scan the whole files.
1981
1982 @item -f
1983 @itemx --print-file-name
1984 Print the name of the file before each string.
1985
1986 @item --help
1987 Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.
1988
1989 @item -@var{min-len}
1990 @itemx -n @var{min-len}
1991 @itemx --bytes=@var{min-len}
1992 Print sequences of characters that are at least @var{min-len} characters
1993 long, instead of the default 4.
1994
1995 @item -o
1996 Like @samp{-t o}. Some other versions of @command{strings} have @option{-o}
1997 act like @samp{-t d} instead. Since we can not be compatible with both
1998 ways, we simply chose one.
1999
2000 @item -t @var{radix}
2001 @itemx --radix=@var{radix}
2002 Print the offset within the file before each string. The single
2003 character argument specifies the radix of the offset---@samp{o} for
2004 octal, @samp{x} for hexadecimal, or @samp{d} for decimal.
2005
2006 @item -e @var{encoding}
2007 @itemx --encoding=@var{encoding}
2008 Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found.
2009 Possible values for @var{encoding} are: @samp{s} = single-7-bit-byte
2010 characters (ASCII, ISO 8859, etc., default), @samp{S} =
2011 single-8-bit-byte characters, @samp{b} = 16-bit bigendian, @samp{l} =
2012 16-bit littleendian, @samp{B} = 32-bit bigendian, @samp{L} = 32-bit
2013 littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings.
2014
2015 @item --target=@var{bfdname}
2016 @cindex object code format
2017 Specify an object code format other than your system's default format.
2018 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2019
2020 @item -v
2021 @itemx --version
2022 Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.
2023 @end table
2024
2025 @c man end
2026
2027 @ignore
2028 @c man begin SEEALSO strings
2029 ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1)
2030 and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2031 @c man end
2032 @end ignore
2033
2034 @node strip
2035 @chapter strip
2036
2037 @kindex strip
2038 @cindex removing symbols
2039 @cindex discarding symbols
2040 @cindex symbols, discarding
2041
2042 @c man title strip Discard symbols from object files.
2043
2044 @smallexample
2045 @c man begin SYNOPSIS strip
2046 strip [@option{-F} @var{bfdname} |@option{--target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2047 [@option{-I} @var{bfdname} |@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2048 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname} |@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname} ]
2049 [@option{-s}|@option{--strip-all}] [@option{-S}|@option{-g}|@option{-d}|@option{--strip-debug}]
2050 [@option{-K} @var{symbolname} |@option{--keep-symbol=}@var{symbolname} ]
2051 [@option{-N} @var{symbolname} |@option{--strip-symbol=}@var{symbolname} ]
2052 [@option{-x}|@option{--discard-all} ] [@option{-X} |@option{--discard-locals}]
2053 [@option{-R} @var{sectionname} |@option{--remove-section=}@var{sectionname} ]
2054 [@option{-o} @var{file} ] [@option{-p}|@option{--preserve-dates}]
2055 [@option{-v} |@option{--verbose}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}] [@option{--help}]
2056 @var{objfile}@dots{}
2057 @c man end
2058 @end smallexample
2059
2060 @c man begin DESCRIPTION strip
2061
2062 @sc{gnu} @command{strip} discards all symbols from object files
2063 @var{objfile}. The list of object files may include archives.
2064 At least one object file must be given.
2065
2066 @command{strip} modifies the files named in its argument,
2067 rather than writing modified copies under different names.
2068
2069 @c man end
2070
2071 @c man begin OPTIONS strip
2072
2073 @table @env
2074 @item -F @var{bfdname}
2075 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2076 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2077 code format @var{bfdname}, and rewrite it in the same format.
2078 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2079
2080 @item --help
2081 Show a summary of the options to @command{strip} and exit.
2082
2083 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2084 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2085 Treat the original @var{objfile} as a file with the object
2086 code format @var{bfdname}.
2087 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2088
2089 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2090 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2091 Replace @var{objfile} with a file in the output format @var{bfdname}.
2092 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2093
2094 @item -R @var{sectionname}
2095 @itemx --remove-section=@var{sectionname}
2096 Remove any section named @var{sectionname} from the output file. This
2097 option may be given more than once. Note that using this option
2098 inappropriately may make the output file unusable.
2099
2100 @item -s
2101 @itemx --strip-all
2102 Remove all symbols.
2103
2104 @item -g
2105 @itemx -S
2106 @itemx -d
2107 @itemx --strip-debug
2108 Remove debugging symbols only.
2109
2110 @item --strip-unneeded
2111 Remove all symbols that are not needed for relocation processing.
2112
2113 @item -K @var{symbolname}
2114 @itemx --keep-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2115 Keep only symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may
2116 be given more than once.
2117
2118 @item -N @var{symbolname}
2119 @itemx --strip-symbol=@var{symbolname}
2120 Remove symbol @var{symbolname} from the source file. This option may be
2121 given more than once, and may be combined with strip options other than
2122 @option{-K}.
2123
2124 @item -o @var{file}
2125 Put the stripped output in @var{file}, rather than replacing the
2126 existing file. When this argument is used, only one @var{objfile}
2127 argument may be specified.
2128
2129 @item -p
2130 @itemx --preserve-dates
2131 Preserve the access and modification dates of the file.
2132
2133 @item -x
2134 @itemx --discard-all
2135 Remove non-global symbols.
2136
2137 @item -X
2138 @itemx --discard-locals
2139 Remove compiler-generated local symbols.
2140 (These usually start with @samp{L} or @samp{.}.)
2141
2142 @item -V
2143 @itemx --version
2144 Show the version number for @command{strip}.
2145
2146 @item -v
2147 @itemx --verbose
2148 Verbose output: list all object files modified. In the case of
2149 archives, @samp{strip -v} lists all members of the archive.
2150 @end table
2151
2152 @c man end
2153
2154 @ignore
2155 @c man begin SEEALSO strip
2156 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2157 @c man end
2158 @end ignore
2159
2160 @node c++filt, addr2line, strip, Top
2161 @chapter c++filt
2162
2163 @kindex c++filt
2164 @cindex demangling C++ symbols
2165
2166 @c man title cxxfilt Demangle C++ and Java symbols.
2167
2168 @smallexample
2169 @c man begin SYNOPSIS cxxfilt
2170 c++filt [@option{-_}|@option{--strip-underscores}]
2171 [@option{-j}|@option{--java}]
2172 [@option{-n}|@option{--no-strip-underscores}]
2173 [@option{-s} @var{format}|@option{--format=}@var{format}]
2174 [@option{--help}] [@option{--version}] [@var{symbol}@dots{}]
2175 @c man end
2176 @end smallexample
2177
2178 @c man begin DESCRIPTION cxxfilt
2179
2180 @kindex cxxfilt
2181 The C++ and Java languages provides function overloading, which means
2182 that you can write many functions with the same name (providing each
2183 takes parameters of different types). All C++ and Java function names
2184 are encoded into a low-level assembly label (this process is known as
2185 @dfn{mangling}). The @command{c++filt}
2186 @footnote{MS-DOS does not allow @kbd{+} characters in file names, so on
2187 MS-DOS this program is named @command{cxxfilt}.}
2188 program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (@dfn{demangles}) low-level
2189 names into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded
2190 functions from clashing.
2191
2192 Every alphanumeric word (consisting of letters, digits, underscores,
2193 dollars, or periods) seen in the input is a potential label. If the
2194 label decodes into a C++ name, the C++ name replaces the low-level
2195 name in the output.
2196
2197 You can use @command{c++filt} to decipher individual symbols:
2198
2199 @example
2200 c++filt @var{symbol}
2201 @end example
2202
2203 If no @var{symbol} arguments are given, @command{c++filt} reads symbol
2204 names from the standard input and writes the demangled names to the
2205 standard output. All results are printed on the standard output.
2206
2207 @c man end
2208
2209 @c man begin OPTIONS cxxfilt
2210
2211 @table @env
2212 @item -_
2213 @itemx --strip-underscores
2214 On some systems, both the C and C++ compilers put an underscore in front
2215 of every name. For example, the C name @code{foo} gets the low-level
2216 name @code{_foo}. This option removes the initial underscore. Whether
2217 @command{c++filt} removes the underscore by default is target dependent.
2218
2219 @item -j
2220 @itemx --java
2221 Prints demangled names using Java syntax. The default is to use C++
2222 syntax.
2223
2224 @item -n
2225 @itemx --no-strip-underscores
2226 Do not remove the initial underscore.
2227
2228 @item -s @var{format}
2229 @itemx --format=@var{format}
2230 @command{c++filt} can decode various methods of mangling, used by
2231 different compilers. The argument to this option selects which
2232 method it uses:
2233
2234 @table @code
2235 @item auto
2236 Automatic selection based on executable (the default method)
2237 @item gnu
2238 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++)
2239 @item lucid
2240 the one used by the Lucid compiler (lcc)
2241 @item arm
2242 the one specified by the C++ Annotated Reference Manual
2243 @item hp
2244 the one used by the HP compiler (aCC)
2245 @item edg
2246 the one used by the EDG compiler
2247 @item gnu-v3
2248 the one used by the @sc{gnu} C++ compiler (g++) with the V3 ABI.
2249 @item java
2250 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Java compiler (gcj)
2251 @item gnat
2252 the one used by the @sc{gnu} Ada compiler (GNAT).
2253 @end table
2254
2255 @item --help
2256 Print a summary of the options to @command{c++filt} and exit.
2257
2258 @item --version
2259 Print the version number of @command{c++filt} and exit.
2260 @end table
2261
2262 @c man end
2263
2264 @ignore
2265 @c man begin SEEALSO cxxfilt
2266 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2267 @c man end
2268 @end ignore
2269
2270 @quotation
2271 @emph{Warning:} @command{c++filt} is a new utility, and the details of its
2272 user interface are subject to change in future releases. In particular,
2273 a command-line option may be required in the the future to decode a name
2274 passed as an argument on the command line; in other words,
2275
2276 @example
2277 c++filt @var{symbol}
2278 @end example
2279
2280 @noindent
2281 may in a future release become
2282
2283 @example
2284 c++filt @var{option} @var{symbol}
2285 @end example
2286 @end quotation
2287
2288 @node addr2line
2289 @chapter addr2line
2290
2291 @kindex addr2line
2292 @cindex address to file name and line number
2293
2294 @c man title addr2line convert addresses into file names and line numbers.
2295
2296 @smallexample
2297 @c man begin SYNOPSIS addr2line
2298 addr2line [@option{-b} @var{bfdname}|@option{--target=}@var{bfdname}]
2299 [@option{-C}|@option{--demangle}[=@var{style}]]
2300 [@option{-e} @var{filename}|@option{--exe=}@var{filename}]
2301 [@option{-f}|@option{--functions}] [@option{-s}|@option{--basename}]
2302 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2303 [addr addr @dots{}]
2304 @c man end
2305 @end smallexample
2306
2307 @c man begin DESCRIPTION addr2line
2308
2309 @command{addr2line} translates program addresses into file names and line
2310 numbers. Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging
2311 information in the executable to figure out which file name and line
2312 number are associated with a given address.
2313
2314 The executable to use is specified with the @option{-e} option. The
2315 default is the file @file{a.out}.
2316
2317 @command{addr2line} has two modes of operation.
2318
2319 In the first, hexadecimal addresses are specified on the command line,
2320 and @command{addr2line} displays the file name and line number for each
2321 address.
2322
2323 In the second, @command{addr2line} reads hexadecimal addresses from
2324 standard input, and prints the file name and line number for each
2325 address on standard output. In this mode, @command{addr2line} may be used
2326 in a pipe to convert dynamically chosen addresses.
2327
2328 The format of the output is @samp{FILENAME:LINENO}. The file name and
2329 line number for each address is printed on a separate line. If the
2330 @command{-f} option is used, then each @samp{FILENAME:LINENO} line is
2331 preceded by a @samp{FUNCTIONNAME} line which is the name of the function
2332 containing the address.
2333
2334 If the file name or function name can not be determined,
2335 @command{addr2line} will print two question marks in their place. If the
2336 line number can not be determined, @command{addr2line} will print 0.
2337
2338 @c man end
2339
2340 @c man begin OPTIONS addr2line
2341
2342 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2343 equivalent.
2344
2345 @table @env
2346 @item -b @var{bfdname}
2347 @itemx --target=@var{bfdname}
2348 @cindex object code format
2349 Specify that the object-code format for the object files is
2350 @var{bfdname}.
2351
2352 @item -C
2353 @itemx --demangle[=@var{style}]
2354 @cindex demangling in objdump
2355 Decode (@dfn{demangle}) low-level symbol names into user-level names.
2356 Besides removing any initial underscore prepended by the system, this
2357 makes C++ function names readable. Different compilers have different
2358 mangling styles. The optional demangling style argument can be used to
2359 choose an appropriate demangling style for your compiler. @xref{c++filt},
2360 for more information on demangling.
2361
2362 @item -e @var{filename}
2363 @itemx --exe=@var{filename}
2364 Specify the name of the executable for which addresses should be
2365 translated. The default file is @file{a.out}.
2366
2367 @item -f
2368 @itemx --functions
2369 Display function names as well as file and line number information.
2370
2371 @item -s
2372 @itemx --basenames
2373 Display only the base of each file name.
2374 @end table
2375
2376 @c man end
2377
2378 @ignore
2379 @c man begin SEEALSO addr2line
2380 Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2381 @c man end
2382 @end ignore
2383
2384 @node nlmconv
2385 @chapter nlmconv
2386
2387 @command{nlmconv} converts a relocatable object file into a NetWare
2388 Loadable Module.
2389
2390 @ignore
2391 @command{nlmconv} currently works with @samp{i386} object
2392 files in @code{coff}, @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format, and @sc{SPARC}
2393 object files in @sc{elf}, or @code{a.out} format@footnote{
2394 @command{nlmconv} should work with any @samp{i386} or @sc{sparc} object
2395 format in the Binary File Descriptor library. It has only been tested
2396 with the above formats.}.
2397 @end ignore
2398
2399 @quotation
2400 @emph{Warning:} @command{nlmconv} is not always built as part of the binary
2401 utilities, since it is only useful for NLM targets.
2402 @end quotation
2403
2404 @c man title nlmconv converts object code into an NLM.
2405
2406 @smallexample
2407 @c man begin SYNOPSIS nlmconv
2408 nlmconv [@option{-I} @var{bfdname}|@option{--input-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2409 [@option{-O} @var{bfdname}|@option{--output-target=}@var{bfdname}]
2410 [@option{-T} @var{headerfile}|@option{--header-file=}@var{headerfile}]
2411 [@option{-d}|@option{--debug}] [@option{-l} @var{linker}|@option{--linker=}@var{linker}]
2412 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2413 @var{infile} @var{outfile}
2414 @c man end
2415 @end smallexample
2416
2417 @c man begin DESCRIPTION nlmconv
2418
2419 @command{nlmconv} converts the relocatable @samp{i386} object file
2420 @var{infile} into the NetWare Loadable Module @var{outfile}, optionally
2421 reading @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions
2422 on writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see the
2423 @samp{linkers} section, @samp{NLMLINK} in particular, of the @cite{NLM
2424 Development and Tools Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software
2425 Developer's Kit (``NLM SDK''), available from Novell, Inc.
2426 @command{nlmconv} uses the @sc{gnu} Binary File Descriptor library to read
2427 @var{infile};
2428 @ifclear man
2429 see @ref{BFD,,BFD,ld.info,Using LD}, for more information.
2430 @end ifclear
2431
2432 @command{nlmconv} can perform a link step. In other words, you can list
2433 more than one object file for input if you list them in the definitions
2434 file (rather than simply specifying one input file on the command line).
2435 In this case, @command{nlmconv} calls the linker for you.
2436
2437 @c man end
2438
2439 @c man begin OPTIONS nlmconv
2440
2441 @table @env
2442 @item -I @var{bfdname}
2443 @itemx --input-target=@var{bfdname}
2444 Object format of the input file. @command{nlmconv} can usually determine
2445 the format of a given file (so no default is necessary).
2446 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2447
2448 @item -O @var{bfdname}
2449 @itemx --output-target=@var{bfdname}
2450 Object format of the output file. @command{nlmconv} infers the output
2451 format based on the input format, e.g. for a @samp{i386} input file the
2452 output format is @samp{nlm32-i386}.
2453 @xref{Target Selection}, for more information.
2454
2455 @item -T @var{headerfile}
2456 @itemx --header-file=@var{headerfile}
2457 Reads @var{headerfile} for NLM header information. For instructions on
2458 writing the NLM command file language used in header files, see@ see the
2459 @samp{linkers} section, of the @cite{NLM Development and Tools
2460 Overview}, which is part of the NLM Software Developer's Kit, available
2461 from Novell, Inc.
2462
2463 @item -d
2464 @itemx --debug
2465 Displays (on standard error) the linker command line used by @command{nlmconv}.
2466
2467 @item -l @var{linker}
2468 @itemx --linker=@var{linker}
2469 Use @var{linker} for any linking. @var{linker} can be an absolute or a
2470 relative pathname.
2471
2472 @item -h
2473 @itemx --help
2474 Prints a usage summary.
2475
2476 @item -V
2477 @itemx --version
2478 Prints the version number for @command{nlmconv}.
2479 @end table
2480
2481 @c man end
2482
2483 @ignore
2484 @c man begin SEEALSO nlmconv
2485 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2486 @c man end
2487 @end ignore
2488
2489 @node windres
2490 @chapter windres
2491
2492 @command{windres} may be used to manipulate Windows resources.
2493
2494 @quotation
2495 @emph{Warning:} @command{windres} is not always built as part of the binary
2496 utilities, since it is only useful for Windows targets.
2497 @end quotation
2498
2499 @c man title windres manipulate Windows resources.
2500
2501 @smallexample
2502 @c man begin SYNOPSIS windres
2503 windres [options] [input-file] [output-file]
2504 @c man end
2505 @end smallexample
2506
2507 @c man begin DESCRIPTION windres
2508
2509 @command{windres} reads resources from an input file and copies them into
2510 an output file. Either file may be in one of three formats:
2511
2512 @table @code
2513 @item rc
2514 A text format read by the Resource Compiler.
2515
2516 @item res
2517 A binary format generated by the Resource Compiler.
2518
2519 @item coff
2520 A COFF object or executable.
2521 @end table
2522
2523 The exact description of these different formats is available in
2524 documentation from Microsoft.
2525
2526 When @command{windres} converts from the @code{rc} format to the @code{res}
2527 format, it is acting like the Windows Resource Compiler. When
2528 @command{windres} converts from the @code{res} format to the @code{coff}
2529 format, it is acting like the Windows @code{CVTRES} program.
2530
2531 When @command{windres} generates an @code{rc} file, the output is similar
2532 but not identical to the format expected for the input. When an input
2533 @code{rc} file refers to an external filename, an output @code{rc} file
2534 will instead include the file contents.
2535
2536 If the input or output format is not specified, @command{windres} will
2537 guess based on the file name, or, for the input file, the file contents.
2538 A file with an extension of @file{.rc} will be treated as an @code{rc}
2539 file, a file with an extension of @file{.res} will be treated as a
2540 @code{res} file, and a file with an extension of @file{.o} or
2541 @file{.exe} will be treated as a @code{coff} file.
2542
2543 If no output file is specified, @command{windres} will print the resources
2544 in @code{rc} format to standard output.
2545
2546 The normal use is for you to write an @code{rc} file, use @command{windres}
2547 to convert it to a COFF object file, and then link the COFF file into
2548 your application. This will make the resources described in the
2549 @code{rc} file available to Windows.
2550
2551 @c man end
2552
2553 @c man begin OPTIONS windres
2554
2555 @table @env
2556 @item -i @var{filename}
2557 @itemx --input @var{filename}
2558 The name of the input file. If this option is not used, then
2559 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument as the input file
2560 name. If there are no non-option arguments, then @command{windres} will
2561 read from standard input. @command{windres} can not read a COFF file from
2562 standard input.
2563
2564 @item -o @var{filename}
2565 @itemx --output @var{filename}
2566 The name of the output file. If this option is not used, then
2567 @command{windres} will use the first non-option argument, after any used
2568 for the input file name, as the output file name. If there is no
2569 non-option argument, then @command{windres} will write to standard output.
2570 @command{windres} can not write a COFF file to standard output.
2571
2572 @item -I @var{format}
2573 @itemx --input-format @var{format}
2574 The input format to read. @var{format} may be @samp{res}, @samp{rc}, or
2575 @samp{coff}. If no input format is specified, @command{windres} will
2576 guess, as described above.
2577
2578 @item -O @var{format}
2579 @itemx --output-format @var{format}
2580 The output format to generate. @var{format} may be @samp{res},
2581 @samp{rc}, or @samp{coff}. If no output format is specified,
2582 @command{windres} will guess, as described above.
2583
2584 @item -F @var{target}
2585 @itemx --target @var{target}
2586 Specify the BFD format to use for a COFF file as input or output. This
2587 is a BFD target name; you can use the @option{--help} option to see a list
2588 of supported targets. Normally @command{windres} will use the default
2589 format, which is the first one listed by the @option{--help} option.
2590 @ifclear man
2591 @ref{Target Selection}.
2592 @end ifclear
2593
2594 @item --preprocessor @var{program}
2595 When @command{windres} reads an @code{rc} file, it runs it through the C
2596 preprocessor first. This option may be used to specify the preprocessor
2597 to use, including any leading arguments. The default preprocessor
2598 argument is @code{gcc -E -xc-header -DRC_INVOKED}.
2599
2600 @item --include-dir @var{directory}
2601 Specify an include directory to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2602 @command{windres} will pass this to the preprocessor as an @option{-I}
2603 option. @command{windres} will also search this directory when looking for
2604 files named in the @code{rc} file.
2605
2606 @item -D @var{target}
2607 @itemx --define @var{sym}[=@var{val}]
2608 Specify a @option{-D} option to pass to the preprocessor when reading an
2609 @code{rc} file.
2610
2611 @item -v
2612 Enable verbose mode. This tells you what the preprocessor is if you
2613 didn't specify one.
2614
2615 @item --language @var{val}
2616 Specify the default language to use when reading an @code{rc} file.
2617 @var{val} should be a hexadecimal language code. The low eight bits are
2618 the language, and the high eight bits are the sublanguage.
2619
2620 @item --use-temp-file
2621 Use a temporary file to instead of using popen to read the output of
2622 the preprocessor. Use this option if the popen implementation is buggy
2623 on the host (eg., certain non-English language versions of Windows 95 and
2624 Windows 98 are known to have buggy popen where the output will instead
2625 go the console).
2626
2627 @item --no-use-temp-file
2628 Use popen, not a temporary file, to read the output of the preprocessor.
2629 This is the default behaviour.
2630
2631 @item --help
2632 Prints a usage summary.
2633
2634 @item --version
2635 Prints the version number for @command{windres}.
2636
2637 @item --yydebug
2638 If @command{windres} is compiled with @code{YYDEBUG} defined as @code{1},
2639 this will turn on parser debugging.
2640 @end table
2641
2642 @c man end
2643
2644 @ignore
2645 @c man begin SEEALSO windres
2646 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2647 @c man end
2648 @end ignore
2649
2650 @node dlltool
2651 @chapter Create files needed to build and use DLLs
2652 @cindex DLL
2653 @kindex dlltool
2654
2655 @command{dlltool} may be used to create the files needed to build and use
2656 dynamic link libraries (DLLs).
2657
2658 @quotation
2659 @emph{Warning:} @command{dlltool} is not always built as part of the binary
2660 utilities, since it is only useful for those targets which support DLLs.
2661 @end quotation
2662
2663 @c man title dlltool Create files needed to build and use DLLs.
2664
2665 @smallexample
2666 @c man begin SYNOPSIS dlltool
2667 dlltool [@option{-d}|@option{--input-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2668 [@option{-b}|@option{--base-file} @var{base-file-name}]
2669 [@option{-e}|@option{--output-exp} @var{exports-file-name}]
2670 [@option{-z}|@option{--output-def} @var{def-file-name}]
2671 [@option{-l}|@option{--output-lib} @var{library-file-name}]
2672 [@option{--export-all-symbols}] [@option{--no-export-all-symbols}]
2673 [@option{--exclude-symbols} @var{list}]
2674 [@option{--no-default-excludes}]
2675 [@option{-S}|@option{--as} @var{path-to-assembler}] [@option{-f}|@option{--as-flags} @var{options}]
2676 [@option{-D}|@option{--dllname} @var{name}] [@option{-m}|@option{--machine} @var{machine}]
2677 [@option{-a}|@option{--add-indirect}] [@option{-U}|@option{--add-underscore}] [@option{-k}|@option{--kill-at}]
2678 [@option{-A}|@option{--add-stdcall-alias}]
2679 [@option{-x}|@option{--no-idata4}] [@option{-c}|@option{--no-idata5}] [@option{-i}|@option{--interwork}]
2680 [@option{-n}|@option{--nodelete}] [@option{-v}|@option{--verbose}]
2681 [@option{-h}|@option{--help}] [@option{-V}|@option{--version}]
2682 [object-file @dots{}]
2683 @c man end
2684 @end smallexample
2685
2686 @c man begin DESCRIPTION dlltool
2687
2688 @command{dlltool} reads its inputs, which can come from the @option{-d} and
2689 @option{-b} options as well as object files specified on the command
2690 line. It then processes these inputs and if the @option{-e} option has
2691 been specified it creates a exports file. If the @option{-l} option
2692 has been specified it creates a library file and if the @option{-z} option
2693 has been specified it creates a def file. Any or all of the @option{-e},
2694 @option{-l} and @option{-z} options can be present in one invocation of
2695 dlltool.
2696
2697 When creating a DLL, along with the source for the DLL, it is necessary
2698 to have three other files. @command{dlltool} can help with the creation of
2699 these files.
2700
2701 The first file is a @samp{.def} file which specifies which functions are
2702 exported from the DLL, which functions the DLL imports, and so on. This
2703 is a text file and can be created by hand, or @command{dlltool} can be used
2704 to create it using the @option{-z} option. In this case @command{dlltool}
2705 will scan the object files specified on its command line looking for
2706 those functions which have been specially marked as being exported and
2707 put entries for them in the .def file it creates.
2708
2709 In order to mark a function as being exported from a DLL, it needs to
2710 have an @option{-export:<name_of_function>} entry in the @samp{.drectve}
2711 section of the object file. This can be done in C by using the
2712 asm() operator:
2713
2714 @smallexample
2715 asm (".section .drectve");
2716 asm (".ascii \"-export:my_func\"");
2717
2718 int my_func (void) @{ @dots{} @}
2719 @end smallexample
2720
2721 The second file needed for DLL creation is an exports file. This file
2722 is linked with the object files that make up the body of the DLL and it
2723 handles the interface between the DLL and the outside world. This is a
2724 binary file and it can be created by giving the @option{-e} option to
2725 @command{dlltool} when it is creating or reading in a .def file.
2726
2727 The third file needed for DLL creation is the library file that programs
2728 will link with in order to access the functions in the DLL. This file
2729 can be created by giving the @option{-l} option to dlltool when it
2730 is creating or reading in a .def file.
2731
2732 @command{dlltool} builds the library file by hand, but it builds the
2733 exports file by creating temporary files containing assembler statements
2734 and then assembling these. The @option{-S} command line option can be
2735 used to specify the path to the assembler that dlltool will use,
2736 and the @option{-f} option can be used to pass specific flags to that
2737 assembler. The @option{-n} can be used to prevent dlltool from deleting
2738 these temporary assembler files when it is done, and if @option{-n} is
2739 specified twice then this will prevent dlltool from deleting the
2740 temporary object files it used to build the library.
2741
2742 Here is an example of creating a DLL from a source file @samp{dll.c} and
2743 also creating a program (from an object file called @samp{program.o})
2744 that uses that DLL:
2745
2746 @smallexample
2747 gcc -c dll.c
2748 dlltool -e exports.o -l dll.lib dll.o
2749 gcc dll.o exports.o -o dll.dll
2750 gcc program.o dll.lib -o program
2751 @end smallexample
2752
2753 @c man end
2754
2755 @c man begin OPTIONS dlltool
2756
2757 The command line options have the following meanings:
2758
2759 @table @env
2760
2761 @item -d @var{filename}
2762 @itemx --input-def @var{filename}
2763 @cindex input .def file
2764 Specifies the name of a .def file to be read in and processed.
2765
2766 @item -b @var{filename}
2767 @itemx --base-file @var{filename}
2768 @cindex base files
2769 Specifies the name of a base file to be read in and processed. The
2770 contents of this file will be added to the relocation section in the
2771 exports file generated by dlltool.
2772
2773 @item -e @var{filename}
2774 @itemx --output-exp @var{filename}
2775 Specifies the name of the export file to be created by dlltool.
2776
2777 @item -z @var{filename}
2778 @itemx --output-def @var{filename}
2779 Specifies the name of the .def file to be created by dlltool.
2780
2781 @item -l @var{filename}
2782 @itemx --output-lib @var{filename}
2783 Specifies the name of the library file to be created by dlltool.
2784
2785 @item --export-all-symbols
2786 Treat all global and weak defined symbols found in the input object
2787 files as symbols to be exported. There is a small list of symbols which
2788 are not exported by default; see the @option{--no-default-excludes}
2789 option. You may add to the list of symbols to not export by using the
2790 @option{--exclude-symbols} option.
2791
2792 @item --no-export-all-symbols
2793 Only export symbols explicitly listed in an input .def file or in
2794 @samp{.drectve} sections in the input object files. This is the default
2795 behaviour. The @samp{.drectve} sections are created by @samp{dllexport}
2796 attributes in the source code.
2797
2798 @item --exclude-symbols @var{list}
2799 Do not export the symbols in @var{list}. This is a list of symbol names
2800 separated by comma or colon characters. The symbol names should not
2801 contain a leading underscore. This is only meaningful when
2802 @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2803
2804 @item --no-default-excludes
2805 When @option{--export-all-symbols} is used, it will by default avoid
2806 exporting certain special symbols. The current list of symbols to avoid
2807 exporting is @samp{DllMain@@12}, @samp{DllEntryPoint@@0},
2808 @samp{impure_ptr}. You may use the @option{--no-default-excludes} option
2809 to go ahead and export these special symbols. This is only meaningful
2810 when @option{--export-all-symbols} is used.
2811
2812 @item -S @var{path}
2813 @itemx --as @var{path}
2814 Specifies the path, including the filename, of the assembler to be used
2815 to create the exports file.
2816
2817 @item -f @var{options}
2818 @itemx --as-flags @var{options}
2819 Specifies any specific command line options to be passed to the
2820 assembler when building the exports file. This option will work even if
2821 the @option{-S} option is not used. This option only takes one argument,
2822 and if it occurs more than once on the command line, then later
2823 occurrences will override earlier occurrences. So if it is necessary to
2824 pass multiple options to the assembler they should be enclosed in
2825 double quotes.
2826
2827 @item -D @var{name}
2828 @itemx --dll-name @var{name}
2829 Specifies the name to be stored in the .def file as the name of the DLL
2830 when the @option{-e} option is used. If this option is not present, then
2831 the filename given to the @option{-e} option will be used as the name of
2832 the DLL.
2833
2834 @item -m @var{machine}
2835 @itemx -machine @var{machine}
2836 Specifies the type of machine for which the library file should be
2837 built. @command{dlltool} has a built in default type, depending upon how
2838 it was created, but this option can be used to override that. This is
2839 normally only useful when creating DLLs for an ARM processor, when the
2840 contents of the DLL are actually encode using Thumb instructions.
2841
2842 @item -a
2843 @itemx --add-indirect
2844 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2845 should add a section which allows the exported functions to be
2846 referenced without using the import library. Whatever the hell that
2847 means!
2848
2849 @item -U
2850 @itemx --add-underscore
2851 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2852 should prepend an underscore to the names of the exported functions.
2853
2854 @item -k
2855 @itemx --kill-at
2856 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2857 should not append the string @samp{@@ <number>}. These numbers are
2858 called ordinal numbers and they represent another way of accessing the
2859 function in a DLL, other than by name.
2860
2861 @item -A
2862 @itemx --add-stdcall-alias
2863 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports file it
2864 should add aliases for stdcall symbols without @samp{@@ <number>}
2865 in addition to the symbols with @samp{@@ <number>}.
2866
2867 @item -x
2868 @itemx --no-idata4
2869 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2870 files it should omit the @code{.idata4} section. This is for compatibility
2871 with certain operating systems.
2872
2873 @item -c
2874 @itemx --no-idata5
2875 Specifies that when @command{dlltool} is creating the exports and library
2876 files it should omit the @code{.idata5} section. This is for compatibility
2877 with certain operating systems.
2878
2879 @item -i
2880 @itemx --interwork
2881 Specifies that @command{dlltool} should mark the objects in the library
2882 file and exports file that it produces as supporting interworking
2883 between ARM and Thumb code.
2884
2885 @item -n
2886 @itemx --nodelete
2887 Makes @command{dlltool} preserve the temporary assembler files it used to
2888 create the exports file. If this option is repeated then dlltool will
2889 also preserve the temporary object files it uses to create the library
2890 file.
2891
2892 @item -v
2893 @itemx --verbose
2894 Make dlltool describe what it is doing.
2895
2896 @item -h
2897 @itemx --help
2898 Displays a list of command line options and then exits.
2899
2900 @item -V
2901 @itemx --version
2902 Displays dlltool's version number and then exits.
2903
2904 @end table
2905
2906 @c man end
2907
2908 @ignore
2909 @c man begin SEEALSO dlltool
2910 the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
2911 @c man end
2912 @end ignore
2913
2914 @node readelf
2915 @chapter readelf
2916
2917 @cindex ELF file information
2918 @kindex readelf
2919
2920 @c man title readelf Displays information about ELF files.
2921
2922 @smallexample
2923 @c man begin SYNOPSIS readelf
2924 readelf [@option{-a}|@option{--all}]
2925 [@option{-h}|@option{--file-header}]
2926 [@option{-l}|@option{--program-headers}|@option{--segments}]
2927 [@option{-S}|@option{--section-headers}|@option{--sections}]
2928 [@option{-e}|@option{--headers}]
2929 [@option{-s}|@option{--syms}|@option{--symbols}]
2930 [@option{-n}|@option{--notes}]
2931 [@option{-r}|@option{--relocs}]
2932 [@option{-u}|@option{--unwind}]
2933 [@option{-d}|@option{--dynamic}]
2934 [@option{-V}|@option{--version-info}]
2935 [@option{-A}|@option{--arch-specific}]
2936 [@option{-D}|@option{--use-dynamic}]
2937 [@option{-x} <number>|@option{--hex-dump=}<number>]
2938 [@option{-w[liaprmfFso]}|
2939 @option{--debug-dump}[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]]
2940 [@option{-I}|@option{-histogram}]
2941 [@option{-v}|@option{--version}]
2942 [@option{-W}|@option{--wide}]
2943 [@option{-H}|@option{--help}]
2944 @var{elffile}@dots{}
2945 @c man end
2946 @end smallexample
2947
2948 @c man begin DESCRIPTION readelf
2949
2950 @command{readelf} displays information about one or more ELF format object
2951 files. The options control what particular information to display.
2952
2953 @var{elffile}@dots{} are the object files to be examined. At the
2954 moment, @command{readelf} does not support examining archives, nor does it
2955 support examining 64 bit ELF files.
2956
2957 @c man end
2958
2959 @c man begin OPTIONS readelf
2960
2961 The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
2962 equivalent. At least one option besides @samp{-v} or @samp{-H} must be
2963 given.
2964
2965 @table @env
2966 @item -a
2967 @itemx --all
2968 Equivalent to specifiying @option{--file-header},
2969 @option{--program-headers}, @option{--sections}, @option{--symbols},
2970 @option{--relocs}, @option{--dynamic}, @option{--notes} and
2971 @option{--version-info}.
2972
2973 @item -h
2974 @itemx --file-header
2975 @cindex ELF file header information
2976 Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
2977 file.
2978
2979 @item -l
2980 @itemx --program-headers
2981 @itemx --segments
2982 @cindex ELF program header information
2983 @cindex ELF segment information
2984 Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
2985 has any.
2986
2987 @item -S
2988 @itemx --sections
2989 @itemx --section-headers
2990 @cindex ELF section information
2991 Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
2992 has any.
2993
2994 @item -s
2995 @itemx --symbols
2996 @itemx --syms
2997 @cindex ELF symbol table information
2998 Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one.
2999
3000 @item -e
3001 @itemx --headers
3002 Display all the headers in the file. Equivalent to @option{-h -l -S}.
3003
3004 @item -n
3005 @itemx --notes
3006 @cindex ELF core notes
3007 Displays the contents of the NOTE segment, if it exists.
3008
3009 @item -r
3010 @itemx --relocs
3011 @cindex ELF reloc information
3012 Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.
3013
3014 @item -u
3015 @itemx --unwind
3016 @cindex unwind information
3017 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3018 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3019
3020 @item -u
3021 @itemx --unwind
3022 @cindex unwind information
3023 Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one. Only
3024 the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files are currently supported.
3025
3026 @item -d
3027 @itemx --dynamic
3028 @cindex ELF dynamic section information
3029 Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.
3030
3031 @item -V
3032 @itemx --version-info
3033 @cindex ELF version sections informations
3034 Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
3035 exist.
3036
3037 @item -A
3038 @itemx --arch-specific
3039 Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
3040 is any.
3041
3042 @item -D
3043 @itemx --use-dynamic
3044 When displaying symbols, this option makes @command{readelf} use the
3045 symbol table in the file's dynamic section, rather than the one in the
3046 symbols section.
3047
3048 @item -x <number>
3049 @itemx --hex-dump=<number>
3050 Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal dump.
3051
3052 @item -w[liaprmfFso]
3053 @itemx --debug-dump[=line,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=ranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc]
3054 Displays the contents of the debug sections in the file, if any are
3055 present. If one of the optional letters or words follows the switch
3056 then only data found in those specific sections will be dumped.
3057
3058 @item -I
3059 @itemx --histogram
3060 Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
3061 of the symbol tables.
3062
3063 @item -v
3064 @itemx --version
3065 Display the version number of readelf.
3066
3067 @item -W
3068 @itemx --wide
3069 Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
3070 @command{readelf} breaks section header and segment listing lines for
3071 64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
3072 @command{readelf} to print each section header resp. each segment one a
3073 single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.
3074
3075 @item -H
3076 @itemx --help
3077 Display the command line options understood by @command{readelf}.
3078
3079 @end table
3080
3081 @c man end
3082
3083 @ignore
3084 @c man begin SEEALSO readelf
3085 objdump(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils}.
3086 @c man end
3087 @end ignore
3088
3089 @node Selecting The Target System
3090 @chapter Selecting the Target System
3091
3092 You can specify two aspects of the target system to the @sc{gnu}
3093 binary file utilities, each in several ways:
3094
3095 @itemize @bullet
3096 @item
3097 the target
3098
3099 @item
3100 the architecture
3101 @end itemize
3102
3103 In the following summaries, the lists of ways to specify values are in
3104 order of decreasing precedence. The ways listed first override those
3105 listed later.
3106
3107 The commands to list valid values only list the values for which the
3108 programs you are running were configured. If they were configured with
3109 @option{--enable-targets=all}, the commands list most of the available
3110 values, but a few are left out; not all targets can be configured in at
3111 once because some of them can only be configured @dfn{native} (on hosts
3112 with the same type as the target system).
3113
3114 @menu
3115 * Target Selection::
3116 * Architecture Selection::
3117 @end menu
3118
3119 @node Target Selection
3120 @section Target Selection
3121
3122 A @dfn{target} is an object file format. A given target may be
3123 supported for multiple architectures (@pxref{Architecture Selection}).
3124 A target selection may also have variations for different operating
3125 systems or architectures.
3126
3127 The command to list valid target values is @samp{objdump -i}
3128 (the first column of output contains the relevant information).
3129
3130 Some sample values are: @samp{a.out-hp300bsd}, @samp{ecoff-littlemips},
3131 @samp{a.out-sunos-big}.
3132
3133 You can also specify a target using a configuration triplet. This is
3134 the same sort of name that is passed to @file{configure} to specify a
3135 target. When you use a configuration triplet as an argument, it must be
3136 fully canonicalized. You can see the canonical version of a triplet by
3137 running the shell script @file{config.sub} which is included with the
3138 sources.
3139
3140 Some sample configuration triplets are: @samp{m68k-hp-bsd},
3141 @samp{mips-dec-ultrix}, @samp{sparc-sun-sunos}.
3142
3143 @subheading @command{objdump} Target
3144
3145 Ways to specify:
3146
3147 @enumerate
3148 @item
3149 command line option: @option{-b} or @option{--target}
3150
3151 @item
3152 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3153
3154 @item
3155 deduced from the input file
3156 @end enumerate
3157
3158 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target
3159
3160 Ways to specify:
3161
3162 @enumerate
3163 @item
3164 command line options: @option{-I} or @option{--input-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3165
3166 @item
3167 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3168
3169 @item
3170 deduced from the input file
3171 @end enumerate
3172
3173 @subheading @command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Output Target
3174
3175 Ways to specify:
3176
3177 @enumerate
3178 @item
3179 command line options: @option{-O} or @option{--output-target}, or @option{-F} or @option{--target}
3180
3181 @item
3182 the input target (see ``@command{objcopy} and @command{strip} Input Target'' above)
3183
3184 @item
3185 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3186
3187 @item
3188 deduced from the input file
3189 @end enumerate
3190
3191 @subheading @command{nm}, @command{size}, and @command{strings} Target
3192
3193 Ways to specify:
3194
3195 @enumerate
3196 @item
3197 command line option: @option{--target}
3198
3199 @item
3200 environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}
3201
3202 @item
3203 deduced from the input file
3204 @end enumerate
3205
3206 @node Architecture Selection
3207 @section Architecture Selection
3208
3209 An @dfn{architecture} is a type of @sc{cpu} on which an object file is
3210 to run. Its name may contain a colon, separating the name of the
3211 processor family from the name of the particular @sc{cpu}.
3212
3213 The command to list valid architecture values is @samp{objdump -i} (the
3214 second column contains the relevant information).
3215
3216 Sample values: @samp{m68k:68020}, @samp{mips:3000}, @samp{sparc}.
3217
3218 @subheading @command{objdump} Architecture
3219
3220 Ways to specify:
3221
3222 @enumerate
3223 @item
3224 command line option: @option{-m} or @option{--architecture}
3225
3226 @item
3227 deduced from the input file
3228 @end enumerate
3229
3230 @subheading @command{objcopy}, @command{nm}, @command{size}, @command{strings} Architecture
3231
3232 Ways to specify:
3233
3234 @enumerate
3235 @item
3236 deduced from the input file
3237 @end enumerate
3238
3239 @node Reporting Bugs
3240 @chapter Reporting Bugs
3241 @cindex bugs
3242 @cindex reporting bugs
3243
3244 Your bug reports play an essential role in making the binary utilities
3245 reliable.
3246
3247 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or
3248 it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is
3249 to help the entire community by making the next version of the binary
3250 utilities work better. Bug reports are your contribution to their
3251 maintenance.
3252
3253 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
3254 information that enables us to fix the bug.
3255
3256 @menu
3257 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
3258 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
3259 @end menu
3260
3261 @node Bug Criteria
3262 @section Have You Found a Bug?
3263 @cindex bug criteria
3264
3265 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
3266
3267 @itemize @bullet
3268 @cindex fatal signal
3269 @cindex crash
3270 @item
3271 If a binary utility gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is
3272 a bug. Reliable utilities never crash.
3273
3274 @cindex error on valid input
3275 @item
3276 If a binary utility produces an error message for valid input, that is a
3277 bug.
3278
3279 @item
3280 If you are an experienced user of binary utilities, your suggestions for
3281 improvement are welcome in any case.
3282 @end itemize
3283
3284 @node Bug Reporting
3285 @section How to Report Bugs
3286 @cindex bug reports
3287 @cindex bugs, reporting
3288
3289 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu}
3290 products. If you obtained the binary utilities from a support
3291 organization, we recommend you contact that organization first.
3292
3293 You can find contact information for many support companies and
3294 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
3295 distribution.
3296
3297 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for the binary
3298 utilities to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
3299
3300 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
3301 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
3302 fact or leave it out, state it!
3303
3304 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
3305 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
3306 assume that the name of a file you use in an example does not matter.
3307 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is
3308 a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where
3309 that pathname is stored in memory; perhaps, if the pathname were
3310 different, the contents of that location would fool the utility into
3311 doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
3312 specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
3313 and the most helpful.
3314
3315 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
3316 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
3317 that the bug has not been reported previously.
3318
3319 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
3320 bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
3321 respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
3322 You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
3323
3324 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
3325
3326 @itemize @bullet
3327 @item
3328 The version of the utility. Each utility announces it if you start it
3329 with the @option{--version} argument.
3330
3331 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
3332 the bug in the current version of the binary utilities.
3333
3334 @item
3335 Any patches you may have applied to the source, including any patches
3336 made to the @code{BFD} library.
3337
3338 @item
3339 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
3340 version number.
3341
3342 @item
3343 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the utilities---e.g.
3344 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
3345
3346 @item
3347 The command arguments you gave the utility to observe the bug. To
3348 guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy
3349 of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
3350
3351 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
3352 and then we might not encounter the bug.
3353
3354 @item
3355 A complete input file, or set of input files, that will reproduce the
3356 bug. If the utility is reading an object file or files, then it is
3357 generally most helpful to send the actual object files, uuencoded if
3358 necessary to get them through the mail system. Note that
3359 @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org} is a mailing list, so you should avoid
3360 sending very large files to it. Making the files available for
3361 anonymous FTP is OK.
3362
3363 If the source files were produced exclusively using @sc{gnu} programs
3364 (e.g., @command{gcc}, @command{gas}, and/or the @sc{gnu} @command{ld}), then it
3365 may be OK to send the source files rather than the object files. In
3366 this case, be sure to say exactly what version of @command{gcc}, or
3367 whatever, was used to produce the object files. Also say how
3368 @command{gcc}, or whatever, was configured.
3369
3370 @item
3371 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
3372 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
3373
3374 Of course, if the bug is that the utility gets a fatal signal, then we
3375 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
3376 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
3377 a chance to make a mistake.
3378
3379 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
3380 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as your
3381 copy of the utility is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
3382 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
3383 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
3384 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
3385 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
3386 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
3387
3388 @item
3389 If you wish to suggest changes to the source, send us context diffs, as
3390 generated by @command{diff} with the @option{-u}, @option{-c}, or @option{-p}
3391 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you
3392 wish to discuss something in the @command{ld} source, refer to it by
3393 context, not by line number.
3394
3395 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
3396 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
3397 @end itemize
3398
3399 Here are some things that are not necessary:
3400
3401 @itemize @bullet
3402 @item
3403 A description of the envelope of the bug.
3404
3405 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
3406 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
3407 changes will not affect it.
3408
3409 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
3410 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
3411 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
3412 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
3413
3414 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
3415 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
3416 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
3417 less time, and so on.
3418
3419 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
3420 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
3421
3422 @item
3423 A patch for the bug.
3424
3425 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
3426 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
3427 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
3428 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
3429
3430 Sometimes with programs as complicated as the binary utilities it is
3431 very hard to construct an example that will make the program follow a
3432 certain path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we
3433 will not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that
3434 the bug is fixed.
3435
3436 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
3437 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
3438 help us to understand.
3439
3440 @item
3441 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
3442
3443 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
3444 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
3445 @end itemize
3446
3447 @include fdl.texi
3448
3449 @node Index
3450 @unnumbered Index
3451
3452 @printindex cp
3453
3454 @contents
3455 @bye
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