ar(1)             (Software Generation System Utilities)              ar(1)


   NAME
         ar - maintain portable archive or library

   SYNOPSIS
         ar [ -V ] - key [ arg ] [ 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.
         However, it can be used 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 are described in detail in ar(4).  The archive symbol table
         [described in ar(4)] is used by the link editor ld to effect multiple
         passes over libraries of object files in an efficient manner.  An
         archive symbol table is only created and maintained by ar when there
         is at least one object file in the archive.  The archive symbol table
         is in a specially named file that is always the first file in the
         archive.  This file is never mentioned or accessible to the user.
         Whenever the ar command is used to create or update the contents of
         such an archive, the symbol table is rebuilt.  The s option described
         below will force the symbol table to be rebuilt.

         The -V option causes ar to print its version number on standard
         error.

         Unlike command options, the key is a required part of the ar command
         line.  The key 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.


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   ar(1)             (Software Generation System Utilities)              ar(1)


               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 listed.  If names are
               given, only those files are listed.

         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 other 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, print the filename preceding each
               extraction.

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

         l     This option is obsolete. It is recognized, but ignored, and
               will be removed in the next release.

         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.  This command is useful to restore the
               archive symbol table after the strip(1) command has been used
               on the archive.

   SEE ALSO
         ld(1), lorder(1), strip(1), ar(4).

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

         Since the archiver no longer uses temporary files, the -l option is
         obsolete and will be removed in the next release.

         By convention, archives are suffixed with the characters .a.




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