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.\" ========================================================================
.\"
.IX Title "AR 1"
.TH AR 1 "2023-08-16" "binutils-2.41.0" "GNU Development Tools"
.\" For nroff, turn off justification.  Always turn off hyphenation; it makes
.\" way too many mistakes in technical documents.
.if n .ad l
.nh
.SH "NAME"
ar \- create, modify, and extract from archives
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.IX Header "SYNOPSIS"
ar [\fB\-X32_64\fR] [\fB\-\fR]\fIp\fR[\fImod\fR] [\fB\-\-plugin\fR \fIname\fR] [\fB\-\-target\fR \fIbfdname\fR] [\fB\-\-output\fR \fIdirname\fR] [\fB\-\-record\-libdeps\fR \fIlibdeps\fR] [\fB\-\-thin\fR] [\fIrelpos\fR] [\fIcount\fR] \fIarchive\fR [\fImember\fR...]
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.IX Header "DESCRIPTION"
The \s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR program creates, modifies, and extracts from
archives.  An \fIarchive\fR is a single file holding a collection of
other files in a structure that makes it possible to retrieve
the original individual files (called \fImembers\fR of the archive).
.PP
The original files' contents, mode (permissions), timestamp, owner, and
group are preserved in the archive, and can be restored on
extraction.
.PP
\&\s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR can maintain archives whose members have names of any
length; however, depending on how \fBar\fR is configured on your
system, a limit on member-name length may be imposed for compatibility
with archive formats maintained with other tools.  If it exists, the
limit is often 15 characters (typical of formats related to a.out) or 16
characters (typical of formats related to coff).
.PP
\&\fBar\fR is considered a binary utility because archives of this sort
are most often used as \fIlibraries\fR holding commonly needed
subroutines.  Since libraries often will depend on other libraries,
\&\fBar\fR can also record the dependencies of a library when the
\&\fB\-\-record\-libdeps\fR option is specified.
.PP
\&\fBar\fR creates an index to the symbols defined in relocatable
object modules in the archive when you specify the modifier \fBs\fR.
Once created, this index is updated in the archive whenever \fBar\fR
makes a change to its contents (save for the \fBq\fR update operation).
An archive with such an index speeds up linking to the library, and
allows routines in the library to call each other without regard to
their placement in the archive.
.PP
You may use \fBnm \-s\fR or \fBnm \-\-print\-armap\fR to list this index
table.  If an archive lacks the table, another form of \fBar\fR called
\&\fBranlib\fR can be used to add just the table.
.PP
\&\s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR can optionally create a \fIthin\fR archive,
which contains a symbol index and references to the original copies
of the member files of the archive.  This is useful for building
libraries for use within a local build tree, where the relocatable
objects are expected to remain available, and copying the contents of
each object would only waste time and space.
.PP
An archive can either be \fIthin\fR or it can be normal.  It cannot
be both at the same time.  Once an archive is created its format
cannot be changed without first deleting it and then creating a new
archive in its place.
.PP
Thin archives are also \fIflattened\fR, so that adding one thin
archive to another thin archive does not nest it, as would happen with
a normal archive.  Instead the elements of the first archive are added
individually to the second archive.
.PP
The paths to the elements of the archive are stored relative to the
archive itself.
.PP
\&\s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR is designed to be compatible with two different
facilities.  You can control its activity using command-line options,
like the different varieties of \fBar\fR on Unix systems; or, if you
specify the single command-line option \fB\-M\fR, you can control it
with a script supplied via standard input, like the \s-1MRI\s0 \*(L"librarian\*(R"
program.
.SH "OPTIONS"
.IX Header "OPTIONS"
\&\s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR allows you to mix the operation code \fIp\fR and modifier
flags \fImod\fR in any order, within the first command-line argument.
.PP
If you wish, you may begin the first command-line argument with a
dash.
.PP
The \fIp\fR keyletter specifies what operation to execute; it may be
any of the following, but you must specify only one of them:
.IP "\fBd\fR" 4
.IX Item "d"
\&\fIDelete\fR modules from the archive.  Specify the names of modules to
be deleted as \fImember\fR...; the archive is untouched if you
specify no files to delete.
.Sp
If you specify the \fBv\fR modifier, \fBar\fR lists each module
as it is deleted.
.IP "\fBm\fR" 4
.IX Item "m"
Use this operation to \fImove\fR members in an archive.
.Sp
The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how
programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more
than one member.
.Sp
If no modifiers are used with \f(CW\*(C`m\*(C'\fR, any members you name in the
\&\fImember\fR arguments are moved to the \fIend\fR of the archive;
you can use the \fBa\fR, \fBb\fR, or \fBi\fR modifiers to move them to a
specified place instead.
.IP "\fBp\fR" 4
.IX Item "p"
\&\fIPrint\fR the specified members of the archive, to the standard
output file.  If the \fBv\fR modifier is specified, show the member
name before copying its contents to standard output.
.Sp
If you specify no \fImember\fR arguments, all the files in the archive are
printed.
.IP "\fBq\fR" 4
.IX Item "q"
\&\fIQuick append\fR; Historically, add the files \fImember\fR... to the end of
\&\fIarchive\fR, without checking for replacement.
.Sp
The modifiers \fBa\fR, \fBb\fR, and \fBi\fR do \fInot\fR affect this
operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive.
.Sp
The modifier \fBv\fR makes \fBar\fR list each file as it is appended.
.Sp
Since the point of this operation is speed, implementations of
\&\fBar\fR have the option of not updating the archive's symbol
table if one exists.  Too many different systems however assume that
symbol tables are always up-to-date, so \s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR will
rebuild the table even with a quick append.
.Sp
Note \- \s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR treats the command \fBqs\fR as a
synonym for \fBr\fR \- replacing already existing files in the
archive and appending new ones at the end.
.IP "\fBr\fR" 4
.IX Item "r"
Insert the files \fImember\fR... into \fIarchive\fR (with
\&\fIreplacement\fR). This operation differs from \fBq\fR in that any
previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being
added.
.Sp
If one of the files named in \fImember\fR... does not exist, \fBar\fR
displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members
of the archive matching that name.
.Sp
By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may
use one of the modifiers \fBa\fR, \fBb\fR, or \fBi\fR to request
placement relative to some existing member.
.Sp
The modifier \fBv\fR used with this operation elicits a line of
output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters \fBa\fR or
\&\fBr\fR to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member
deleted) or replaced.
.IP "\fBs\fR" 4
.IX Item "s"
Add an index to the archive, or update it if it already exists.  Note
this command is an exception to the rule that there can only be one
command letter, as it is possible to use it as either a command or a
modifier.  In either case it does the same thing.
.IP "\fBt\fR" 4
.IX Item "t"
Display a \fItable\fR listing the contents of \fIarchive\fR, or those
of the files listed in \fImember\fR... that are present in the
archive.  Normally only the member name is shown, but if the modifier
\&\fBO\fR is specified, then the corresponding offset of the member is also
displayed.  Finally, in order to see the modes (permissions), timestamp,
owner, group, and size the \fBv\fR modifier should be included.
.Sp
If you do not specify a \fImember\fR, all files in the archive
are listed.
.Sp
If there is more than one file with the same name (say, \fBfie\fR) in
an archive (say \fBb.a\fR), \fBar t b.a fie\fR lists only the
first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete
listing\-\-\-in our example, \fBar t b.a\fR.
.IP "\fBx\fR" 4
.IX Item "x"
\&\fIExtract\fR members (named \fImember\fR) from the archive.  You can
use the \fBv\fR modifier with this operation, to request that
\&\fBar\fR list each name as it extracts it.
.Sp
If you do not specify a \fImember\fR, all files in the archive
are extracted.
.Sp
Files cannot be extracted from a thin archive, and there are
restrictions on extracting from archives created with \fBP\fR: The
paths must not be absolute, may not contain \f(CW\*(C`..\*(C'\fR, and any
subdirectories in the paths must exist.  If it is desired to avoid
these restrictions then used the \fB\-\-output\fR option to specify
an output directory.
.PP
A number of modifiers (\fImod\fR) may immediately follow the \fIp\fR
keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
.IP "\fBa\fR" 4
.IX Item "a"
Add new files \fIafter\fR an existing member of the
archive.  If you use the modifier \fBa\fR, the name of an existing archive
member must be present as the \fIrelpos\fR argument, before the
\&\fIarchive\fR specification.
.IP "\fBb\fR" 4
.IX Item "b"
Add new files \fIbefore\fR an existing member of the
archive.  If you use the modifier \fBb\fR, the name of an existing archive
member must be present as the \fIrelpos\fR argument, before the
\&\fIarchive\fR specification.  (same as \fBi\fR).
.IP "\fBc\fR" 4
.IX Item "c"
\&\fICreate\fR the archive.  The specified \fIarchive\fR is always
created if it did not exist, when you request an update.  But a warning is
issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by
using this modifier.
.IP "\fBD\fR" 4
.IX Item "D"
Operate in \fIdeterministic\fR mode.  When adding files and the archive
index use zero for UIDs, GIDs, timestamps, and use consistent file modes
for all files.  When this option is used, if \fBar\fR is used with
identical options and identical input files, multiple runs will create
identical output files regardless of the input files' owners, groups,
file modes, or modification times.
.Sp
If \fIbinutils\fR was configured with
\&\fB\-\-enable\-deterministic\-archives\fR, then this mode is on by default.
It can be disabled with the \fBU\fR modifier, below.
.IP "\fBf\fR" 4
.IX Item "f"
Truncate names in the archive.  \s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR will normally permit file
names of any length.  This will cause it to create archives which are
not compatible with the native \fBar\fR program on some systems.  If
this is a concern, the \fBf\fR modifier may be used to truncate file
names when putting them in the archive.
.IP "\fBi\fR" 4
.IX Item "i"
Insert new files \fIbefore\fR an existing member of the
archive.  If you use the modifier \fBi\fR, the name of an existing archive
member must be present as the \fIrelpos\fR argument, before the
\&\fIarchive\fR specification.  (same as \fBb\fR).
.IP "\fBl\fR" 4
.IX Item "l"
Specify dependencies of this library.  The dependencies must immediately
follow this option character, must use the same syntax as the linker
command line, and must be specified within a single argument.  I.e., if
multiple items are needed, they must be quoted to form a single command
line argument.  For example \fBL \*(L"\-L/usr/local/lib \-lmydep1 \-lmydep2\*(R"\fR
.IP "\fBN\fR" 4
.IX Item "N"
Uses the \fIcount\fR parameter.  This is used if there are multiple
entries in the archive with the same name.  Extract or delete instance
\&\fIcount\fR of the given name from the archive.
.IP "\fBo\fR" 4
.IX Item "o"
Preserve the \fIoriginal\fR dates of members when extracting them.  If
you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive
are stamped with the time of extraction.
.IP "\fBO\fR" 4
.IX Item "O"
Display member offsets inside the archive. Use together with the \fBt\fR
option.
.IP "\fBP\fR" 4
.IX Item "P"
Use the full path name when matching or storing names in the archive.
Archives created with full path names are not \s-1POSIX\s0 compliant, and
thus may not work with tools other than up to date \s-1GNU\s0 tools.
Modifying such archives with \s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR without using
\&\fBP\fR will remove the full path names unless the archive is a
thin archive.  Note that \fBP\fR may be useful when adding files to
a thin archive since \fBr\fR without \fBP\fR ignores the path
when choosing which element to replace.  Thus
.Sp
.Vb 1
\&        ar rcST archive.a subdir/file1 subdir/file2 file1
.Ve
.Sp
will result in the first \f(CW\*(C`subdir/file1\*(C'\fR being replaced with
\&\f(CW\*(C`file1\*(C'\fR from the current directory.  Adding \fBP\fR will
prevent this replacement.
.IP "\fBs\fR" 4
.IX Item "s"
Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one,
even if no other change is made to the archive.  You may use this modifier
flag either with any operation, or alone.  Running \fBar s\fR on an
archive is equivalent to running \fBranlib\fR on it.
.IP "\fBS\fR" 4
.IX Item "S"
Do not generate an archive symbol table.  This can speed up building a
large library in several steps.  The resulting archive can not be used
with the linker.  In order to build a symbol table, you must omit the
\&\fBS\fR modifier on the last execution of \fBar\fR, or you must run
\&\fBranlib\fR on the archive.
.IP "\fBT\fR" 4
.IX Item "T"
Deprecated alias for \fB\-\-thin\fR.  \fBT\fR is not recommended because in
many ar implementations \fBT\fR has a different meaning, as specified by
X/Open System Interface.
.IP "\fBu\fR" 4
.IX Item "u"
Normally, \fBar r\fR... inserts all files
listed into the archive.  If you would like to insert \fIonly\fR those
of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same
names, use this modifier.  The \fBu\fR modifier is allowed only for the
operation \fBr\fR (replace).  In particular, the combination \fBqu\fR is
not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed
advantage from the operation \fBq\fR.
.IP "\fBU\fR" 4
.IX Item "U"
Do \fInot\fR operate in \fIdeterministic\fR mode.  This is the inverse
of the \fBD\fR modifier, above: added files and the archive index will
get their actual \s-1UID, GID,\s0 timestamp, and file mode values.
.Sp
This is the default unless \fIbinutils\fR was configured with
\&\fB\-\-enable\-deterministic\-archives\fR.
.IP "\fBv\fR" 4
.IX Item "v"
This modifier requests the \fIverbose\fR version of an operation.  Many
operations display additional information, such as filenames processed,
when the modifier \fBv\fR is appended.
.IP "\fBV\fR" 4
.IX Item "V"
This modifier shows the version number of \fBar\fR.
.PP
The \fBar\fR program also supports some command-line options which
are neither modifiers nor actions, but which do change its behaviour
in specific ways:
.IP "\fB\-\-help\fR" 4
.IX Item "--help"
Displays the list of command-line options supported by \fBar\fR
and then exits.
.IP "\fB\-\-version\fR" 4
.IX Item "--version"
Displays the version information of \fBar\fR and then exits.
.IP "\fB\-X32_64\fR" 4
.IX Item "-X32_64"
\&\fBar\fR ignores an initial option spelled \fB\-X32_64\fR, for
compatibility with \s-1AIX.\s0  The behaviour produced by this option is the
default for \s-1GNU\s0 \fBar\fR.  \fBar\fR does not support any
of the other \fB\-X\fR options; in particular, it does not support
\&\fB\-X32\fR which is the default for \s-1AIX\s0 \fBar\fR.
.IP "\fB\-\-plugin\fR \fIname\fR" 4
.IX Item "--plugin name"
The optional command-line switch \fB\-\-plugin\fR \fIname\fR causes
\&\fBar\fR to load the plugin called \fIname\fR which adds support
for more file formats, including object files with link-time
optimization information.
.Sp
This option is only available if the toolchain has been built with
plugin support enabled.
.Sp
If \fB\-\-plugin\fR is not provided, but plugin support has been
enabled then \fBar\fR iterates over the files in
\&\fI${libdir}/bfd\-plugins\fR in alphabetic order and the first
plugin that claims the object in question is used.
.Sp
Please note that this plugin search directory is \fInot\fR the one
used by \fBld\fR's \fB\-plugin\fR option.  In order to make
\&\fBar\fR use the  linker plugin it must be copied into the
\&\fI${libdir}/bfd\-plugins\fR directory.  For \s-1GCC\s0 based compilations
the linker plugin is called \fIliblto_plugin.so.0.0.0\fR.  For Clang
based compilations it is called \fILLVMgold.so\fR.  The \s-1GCC\s0 plugin
is always backwards compatible with earlier versions, so it is
sufficient to just copy the newest one.
.IP "\fB\-\-target\fR \fItarget\fR" 4
.IX Item "--target target"
The optional command-line switch \fB\-\-target\fR \fIbfdname\fR
specifies that the archive members are in an object code format
different from your system's default format.  See
.IP "\fB\-\-output\fR \fIdirname\fR" 4
.IX Item "--output dirname"
The \fB\-\-output\fR option can be used to specify a path to a
directory into which archive members should be extracted.  If this
option is not specified then the current directory will be used.
.Sp
Note \- although the presence of this option does imply a \fBx\fR 
extraction operation that option must still be included on the command
line.
.IP "\fB\-\-record\-libdeps\fR \fIlibdeps\fR" 4
.IX Item "--record-libdeps libdeps"
The \fB\-\-record\-libdeps\fR option is identical to the \fBl\fR modifier,
just handled in long form.
.IP "\fB\-\-thin\fR" 4
.IX Item "--thin"
Make the specified \fIarchive\fR a \fIthin\fR archive.  If it already
exists and is a regular archive, the existing members must be present
in the same directory as \fIarchive\fR.
.IP "\fB@\fR\fIfile\fR" 4
.IX Item "@file"
Read command-line options from \fIfile\fR.  The options read are
inserted in place of the original @\fIfile\fR option.  If \fIfile\fR
does not exist, or cannot be read, then the option will be treated
literally, and not removed.
.Sp
Options in \fIfile\fR are separated by whitespace.  A whitespace
character may be included in an option by surrounding the entire
option in either single or double quotes.  Any character (including a
backslash) may be included by prefixing the character to be included
with a backslash.  The \fIfile\fR may itself contain additional
@\fIfile\fR options; any such options will be processed recursively.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.IX Header "SEE ALSO"
\&\fInm\fR\|(1), \fIranlib\fR\|(1), and the Info entries for \fIbinutils\fR.
.SH "COPYRIGHT"
.IX Header "COPYRIGHT"
Copyright (c) 1991\-2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
.PP
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the \s-1GNU\s0 Free Documentation License, Version 1.3
or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
Back-Cover Texts.  A copy of the license is included in the
section entitled \*(L"\s-1GNU\s0 Free Documentation License\*(R".