NAME

ar − archive and library maintainer

SYNOPSIS

ar [uvbail] [mrxtdpq] archivename filename(s) ... 

DESCRIPTION

The archive command ar maintains groups of files combined into a single archive file.  Its main use is to create and update library files as used by the loader.  However, ar can be used for any similar archiving purpose.  Archives often consist of unlinked program modules. 

Key is one character from the set mrxtdpq, optionally concatenated with one or more of uvnbail.  Archivename is the archive file.  The filename(s) are constituent files in or destined for the archive file.  The meanings of the key characters are:

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 modified dates 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.  Useful only 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. 

v Verbose.  Under the verbose option, ar gives a file-by-file description of the making of a new archive file from the old archive and the constituent files.  When used with t, it gives a long listing of all information about the files.  When used with p, it precedes each file with a name. 

c Create.  Normally ar will create afile when it needs to.  The create option suppresses the normal message that is produced when afile is created. 

l Local.  Normally ar places its temporary files in the directory /tmp.  This option causes them to be placed in the local directory. 

EXAMPLE

ar rv libar.a text.o

places file text.o in archive libar.a.  The "r" key must be used to create a new archive, and is used to place new files at the end of an existing archive. 

ar bm F1 archivename F2

changes the location of a file or files inside an archive. F2 is the file or files to be moved "m".  The files are moved to a new position before "b" file F1. 

FILES

/tmp  temporaries

SEE ALSO

ld(1), ar(5)

BUGS

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

7th Edition  —  1/5/82