NAME

ar − archive and library maintainer for portable archives

SYNOPSIS

ar key [posname] afile [name] ... 

DESCRIPTION

The ar command maintains groups of files combined into a single archive file.  Its main use is to create and update library files as used by the link editor.  It can be used, though, for any similar purpose.  The magic string and the file headers used by ar consist of printable ASCII characters.  If an archive is composed of printable files, the entire archive is printable. 

When ar creates an archive, it creates headers in a format that is portable across all machines.  The portable archive format and structure is described in detail in ar(4). The archive symbol table [described in ar(4)] is used by the link editor [ld(1)] to effect multiple passes over libraries of object files in an efficient manner. An archive symbol table may only be created and maintained by ar when the archive contains only object files.  The archive symbol table is in a specially named file which is always the first file in the archive.  This file is never mentioned or accessible to the user.  The s option described below is used to force the symbol table to be rebuilt. 

Unlike command options, the command key is a required part of ar’s command line. The key (which may begin with a −) is formed with one of the following letters: drqtpmx.  Arguments to the key, alternatively, are made with one of more of the following set: vuaibcls.  Posname is an archive member name used as a reference point in positioning other files in the archive.  Afile is the archive file.  The names are constituent files in the archive file.  The meanings of the key characters are as follows:

d Delete the named files from the archive file. 

r Replace the named files in the archive file.  If the optional character u is used with r, then only those files with dates of modification later than the archive files are replaced.  If an optional positioning character from the set abi is used, then the posname argument must be present and specifies that new files are to be placed after (a) or before (b or i) posname. Otherwise new files are placed at the end.

q Quickly append the named files to the end of the archive file.  Optional positioning characters are invalid.  The command does not check whether the added members are already in the archive.  This option is useful to avoid quadratic behavior when creating a large archive piece-by-piece. 

t Print a table of contents of the archive file.  If no names are given, all files in the archive are tabled.  If names are given, only those files are tabled. 

p Print the named files in the archive. 

m Move the named files to the end of the archive.  If a positioning character is present, then the posname argument must be present and, as in r, specifies where the files are to be moved. 

x Extract the named files.  If no names are given, all files in the archive are extracted.  In neither case does x alter the archive file. 

The meanings of the key arguments are as follows:

v Give a verbose file-by-file description of the making of a new archive file from the old archive and the constituent files.  When used with t, give a long listing of all information about the files.  When used with x, precede each file with a name. 

c Suppress the message that is produced by default when afile is created. 

l Place temporary files in the local (current working) directory rather than in the default temporary directory, TMPDIR. 

s Force the regeneration of the archive symbol table even if ar(1) is not invoked with a command which will modify the archive contents.

FILES

$TMPDIR/∗ temporary files

$TMPDIR is usually /usr/tmp but can be redefined by setting the environment variable TMPDIR [see tempnam() in tmpnam(3S)]. 

SEE ALSO

ld(1),  strip(1), tmpnam(3S), a.out(4), ar(4). 

NOTES

If the same file is mentioned twice in an argument list, it may be put in the archive twice. 

September 02, 1992