as.texinfo revision 89857
1\input texinfo @c                               -*-Texinfo-*-
2@c  Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
3@c  2001
4@c  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5@c UPDATE!!  On future updates--
6@c   (1)   check for new machine-dep cmdline options in
7@c         md_parse_option definitions in config/tc-*.c
8@c   (2)   for platform-specific directives, examine md_pseudo_op
9@c         in config/tc-*.c
10@c   (3)   for object-format specific directives, examine obj_pseudo_op
11@c         in config/obj-*.c       
12@c   (4)   portable directives in potable[] in read.c
13@c %**start of header
14@setfilename as.info
15@c ---config---
16@macro gcctabopt{body}
17@code{\body\}
18@end macro
19@c defaults, config file may override:
20@set have-stabs
21@c ---
22@include asconfig.texi
23@include gasver.texi
24@c ---
25@c man begin NAME
26@ifset man
27@c Configure for the generation of man pages
28@set AS as
29@set TARGET TARGET
30@set GENERIC
31@set A29K
32@set ARC
33@set ARM
34@set D10V
35@set D30V
36@set H8/300
37@set H8/500
38@set HPPA
39@set I370
40@set I80386
41@set I860
42@set I960
43@set M32R
44@set M68HC11
45@set M680X0
46@set M880X0
47@set MCORE
48@set MIPS
49@set MMIX
50@set PDP11
51@set PJ
52@set PPC
53@set SH
54@set SPARC
55@set C54X
56@set V850
57@set VAX
58@end ifset
59@c man end
60@c common OR combinations of conditions
61@ifset AOUT
62@set aout-bout
63@end ifset
64@ifset ARM/Thumb
65@set ARM
66@end ifset
67@ifset BOUT
68@set aout-bout
69@end ifset
70@ifset H8/300
71@set H8
72@end ifset
73@ifset H8/500
74@set H8
75@end ifset
76@ifset SH
77@set H8
78@end ifset
79@ifset HPPA
80@set abnormal-separator
81@end ifset
82@c ------------
83@ifset GENERIC
84@settitle Using @value{AS}
85@end ifset
86@ifclear GENERIC
87@settitle Using @value{AS} (@value{TARGET})
88@end ifclear
89@setchapternewpage odd
90@c %**end of header
91
92@c @smallbook
93@c @set SMALL
94@c WARE! Some of the machine-dependent sections contain tables of machine
95@c instructions.  Except in multi-column format, these tables look silly.
96@c Unfortunately, Texinfo doesn't have a general-purpose multi-col format, so
97@c the multi-col format is faked within @example sections.
98@c 
99@c Again unfortunately, the natural size that fits on a page, for these tables,
100@c is different depending on whether or not smallbook is turned on.
101@c This matters, because of order: text flow switches columns at each page
102@c break.
103@c 
104@c The format faked in this source works reasonably well for smallbook,
105@c not well for the default large-page format.  This manual expects that if you
106@c turn on @smallbook, you will also uncomment the "@set SMALL" to enable the
107@c tables in question.  You can turn on one without the other at your
108@c discretion, of course. 
109@ifinfo
110@set SMALL
111@c the insn tables look just as silly in info files regardless of smallbook,
112@c might as well show 'em anyways.
113@end ifinfo
114
115@ifinfo
116@format
117START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
118* As: (as).                     The GNU assembler.
119END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
120@end format
121@end ifinfo
122
123@finalout
124@syncodeindex ky cp
125
126@ifinfo
127This file documents the GNU Assembler "@value{AS}".
128
129@c man begin COPYRIGHT
130Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
131
132Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
133under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
134or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
135with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
136Back-Cover Texts.  A copy of the license is included in the
137section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
138
139@c man end
140
141@ignore
142Permission is granted to process this file through Tex and print the
143results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
144notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
145(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
146
147@end ignore
148@end ifinfo
149
150@titlepage
151@title Using @value{AS}
152@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Assembler
153@ifclear GENERIC
154@subtitle for the @value{TARGET} family
155@end ifclear
156@sp 1
157@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
158@sp 1
159@sp 13
160The Free Software Foundation Inc.  thanks The Nice Computer
161Company of Australia for loaning Dean Elsner to write the
162first (Vax) version of @command{as} for Project @sc{gnu}.
163The proprietors, management and staff of TNCCA thank FSF for
164distracting the boss while they got some work
165done.
166@sp 3
167@author Dean Elsner, Jay Fenlason & friends
168@page
169@tex
170{\parskip=0pt
171\hfill {\it Using {\tt @value{AS}}}\par
172\hfill Edited by Cygnus Support\par
173}
174%"boxit" macro for figures:
175%Modified from Knuth's ``boxit'' macro from TeXbook (answer to exercise 21.3)
176\gdef\boxit#1#2{\vbox{\hrule\hbox{\vrule\kern3pt
177     \vbox{\parindent=0pt\parskip=0pt\hsize=#1\kern3pt\strut\hfil
178#2\hfil\strut\kern3pt}\kern3pt\vrule}\hrule}}%box with visible outline
179\gdef\ibox#1#2{\hbox to #1{#2\hfil}\kern8pt}% invisible box
180@end tex
181
182@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
183Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
184
185      Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
186      under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
187      or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
188      with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
189      Back-Cover Texts.  A copy of the license is included in the
190      section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
191
192@end titlepage
193
194@ifinfo
195@node Top
196@top Using @value{AS}
197
198This file is a user guide to the @sc{gnu} assembler @command{@value{AS}} version
199@value{VERSION}.
200@ifclear GENERIC
201This version of the file describes @command{@value{AS}} configured to generate
202code for @value{TARGET} architectures.
203@end ifclear
204
205This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
206Documentation License.  A copy of the license is included in the
207section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
208
209@menu
210* Overview::                    Overview
211* Invoking::                    Command-Line Options
212* Syntax::                      Syntax
213* Sections::                    Sections and Relocation
214* Symbols::                     Symbols
215* Expressions::                 Expressions
216* Pseudo Ops::                  Assembler Directives
217* Machine Dependencies::        Machine Dependent Features
218* Reporting Bugs::              Reporting Bugs
219* Acknowledgements::            Who Did What
220* GNU Free Documentation License::  GNU Free Documentation License
221* Index::                       Index
222@end menu
223@end ifinfo
224
225@node Overview
226@chapter Overview
227@iftex
228This manual is a user guide to the @sc{gnu} assembler @command{@value{AS}}.
229@ifclear GENERIC
230This version of the manual describes @command{@value{AS}} configured to generate
231code for @value{TARGET} architectures.
232@end ifclear
233@end iftex
234
235@cindex invocation summary
236@cindex option summary
237@cindex summary of options
238Here is a brief summary of how to invoke @command{@value{AS}}.  For details,
239@pxref{Invoking,,Comand-Line Options}.
240
241@c man title AS the portable GNU assembler.
242
243@ignore
244@c man begin SEEALSO
245gcc(1), ld(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils} and @file{ld}.
246@c man end
247@end ignore
248
249@c We don't use deffn and friends for the following because they seem
250@c to be limited to one line for the header.
251@smallexample
252@c man begin SYNOPSIS
253@value{AS} [@b{-a}[@b{cdhlns}][=@var{file}]] [@b{-D}] [@b{--defsym} @var{sym}=@var{val}]
254 [@b{-f}] [@b{--gstabs}] [@b{--gdwarf2}] [@b{--help}] [@b{-I} @var{dir}] 
255 [@b{-J}] [@b{-K}] [@b{-L}]
256 [@b{--listing-lhs-width}=@var{NUM}] [@b{--listing-lhs-width2}=@var{NUM}]
257 [@b{--listing-rhs-width}=@var{NUM}] [@b{--listing-cont-lines}=@var{NUM}]
258 [@b{--keep-locals}] [@b{-o} @var{objfile}] [@b{-R}] [@b{--statistics}] [@b{-v}]
259 [@b{-version}] [@b{--version}] [@b{-W}] [@b{--warn}] [@b{--fatal-warnings}] 
260 [@b{-w}] [@b{-x}] [@b{-Z}] [@b{--target-help}] [@var{target-options}] 
261 [@b{--}|@var{files} @dots{}]
262@c
263@c Target dependent options are listed below.  Keep the list sorted.
264@c Add an empty line for separation. 
265@ifset A29K
266@c am29k has no machine-dependent assembler options
267@end ifset
268@ifset ARC
269
270@emph{Target ARC options:}
271   [@b{-marc[5|6|7|8]}]
272   [@b{-EB}|@b{-EL}]
273@end ifset
274@ifset ARM
275
276@emph{Target ARM options:}
277@c Don't document the deprecated options
278   [@b{-mcpu}=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]]
279   [@b{-march}=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]]
280   [@b{-mfpu}=@var{floating-point-fromat}]
281   [@b{-mthumb}]
282   [@b{-EB}|@b{-EL}]
283   [@b{-mapcs-32}|@b{-mapcs-26}|@b{-mapcs-float}|
284    @b{-mapcs-reentrant}]
285   [@b{-mthumb-interwork}] [@b{-moabi}] [@b{-k}]
286@end ifset
287@ifset D10V
288
289@emph{Target D10V options:}
290   [@b{-O}]
291@end ifset
292@ifset D30V
293
294@emph{Target D30V options:}
295   [@b{-O}|@b{-n}|@b{-N}]
296@end ifset
297@ifset H8
298@c Hitachi family chips have no machine-dependent assembler options
299@end ifset
300@ifset HPPA
301@c HPPA has no machine-dependent assembler options (yet).
302@end ifset
303@ifset I80386
304
305@emph{Target i386 options:}
306   [@b{--32}|@b{--64}]
307@end ifset
308@ifset I960
309
310@emph{Target i960 options:}
311@c see md_parse_option in tc-i960.c
312   [@b{-ACA}|@b{-ACA_A}|@b{-ACB}|@b{-ACC}|@b{-AKA}|@b{-AKB}|
313    @b{-AKC}|@b{-AMC}]
314   [@b{-b}] [@b{-no-relax}]
315@end ifset
316@ifset M32R
317
318@emph{Target M32R options:}
319   [@b{--m32rx}|@b{--[no-]warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts}|
320    @b{--W[n]p}]
321@end ifset
322@ifset M680X0
323
324@emph{Target M680X0 options:}
325   [@b{-l}] [@b{-m68000}|@b{-m68010}|@b{-m68020}|@dots{}]
326@end ifset
327@ifset M68HC11
328
329@emph{Target M68HC11 options:}
330   [@b{-m68hc11}|@b{-m68hc12}]
331   [@b{--force-long-branchs}] [@b{--short-branchs}]
332   [@b{--strict-direct-mode}] [@b{--print-insn-syntax}]
333   [@b{--print-opcodes}] [@b{--generate-example}]
334@end ifset
335@ifset MCORE
336
337@emph{Target MCORE options:}
338   [@b{-jsri2bsr}] [@b{-sifilter}] [@b{-relax}]
339   [@b{-mcpu=[210|340]}]
340@end ifset
341@ifset MIPS
342
343@emph{Target MIPS options:}
344   [@b{-nocpp}] [@b{-EL}] [@b{-EB}] [@b{-G} @var{num}] [@b{-mcpu}=@var{CPU} ]
345   [@b{-mips1}] [@b{-mips2}] [@b{-mips3}] [@b{-mips4}] [@b{-mips5}]
346   [@b{-mips32}] [@b{-mips64}]
347   [@b{-m4650}] [@b{-no-m4650}]
348   [@b{--trap}] [@b{--break}] [@b{-n}]
349   [@b{--emulation}=@var{name} ]
350@end ifset
351@ifset MMIX
352
353@emph{Target MMIX options:}
354   [@b{--fixed-special-register-names}] [@b{--globalize-symbols}]
355   [@b{--gnu-syntax}] [@b{--relax}] [@b{--no-predefined-symbols}]
356   [@b{--no-expand}] [@b{--no-merge-gregs}] [@b{-x}]
357@end ifset
358@ifset PDP11
359
360@emph{Target PDP11 options:}
361   [@b{-mpic}|@b{-mno-pic}] [@b{-mall}] [@b{-mno-extensions}]
362   [@b{-m}@var{extension}|@b{-mno-}@var{extension}]
363   [@b{-m}@var{cpu}] [@b{-m}@var{machine}]  
364@end ifset
365@ifset PJ
366
367@emph{Target picoJava options:}
368   [@b{-mb}|@b{-me}]
369@end ifset
370@ifset PPC
371
372@emph{Target PowerPC options:}
373   [@b{-mpwrx}|@b{-mpwr2}|@b{-mpwr}|@b{-m601}|@b{-mppc}|@b{-mppc32}|@b{-m603}|@b{-m604}|
374    @b{-m403}|@b{-m405}|@b{-mppc64}|@b{-m620}|@b{-mppc64bridge}|@b{-mbooke}|
375    @b{-mbooke32}|@b{-mbooke64}]
376   [@b{-mcom}|@b{-many}|@b{-maltivec}] [@b{-memb}]
377   [@b{-mregnames}|@b{-mno-regnames}]
378   [@b{-mrelocatable}|@b{-mrelocatable-lib}]
379   [@b{-mlittle}|@b{-mlittle-endian}|@b{-mbig}|@b{-mbig-endian}]
380   [@b{-msolaris}|@b{-mno-solaris}]
381@end ifset
382@ifset SPARC
383
384@emph{Target SPARC options:}
385@c The order here is important.  See c-sparc.texi.
386   [@b{-Av6}|@b{-Av7}|@b{-Av8}|@b{-Asparclet}|@b{-Asparclite}
387    @b{-Av8plus}|@b{-Av8plusa}|@b{-Av9}|@b{-Av9a}]
388   [@b{-xarch=v8plus}|@b{-xarch=v8plusa}] [@b{-bump}]
389   [@b{-32}|@b{-64}]
390@end ifset
391@ifset TIC54X
392
393@emph{Target TIC54X options:}
394 [@b{-mcpu=54[123589]}|@b{-mcpu=54[56]lp}] [@b{-mfar-mode}|@b{-mf}] 
395 [@b{-merrors-to-file} @var{<filename>}|@b{-me} @var{<filename>}]
396@end ifset
397@ifset Z8000
398@c Z8000 has no machine-dependent assembler options
399@end ifset
400@c man end
401@end smallexample
402
403@c man begin OPTIONS
404
405@table @gcctabopt
406@item -a[cdhlmns]
407Turn on listings, in any of a variety of ways:
408
409@table @gcctabopt
410@item -ac
411omit false conditionals
412
413@item -ad
414omit debugging directives
415
416@item -ah
417include high-level source
418
419@item -al
420include assembly
421
422@item -am
423include macro expansions
424
425@item -an
426omit forms processing
427
428@item -as
429include symbols
430
431@item =file
432set the name of the listing file
433@end table
434
435You may combine these options; for example, use @samp{-aln} for assembly
436listing without forms processing.  The @samp{=file} option, if used, must be
437the last one.  By itself, @samp{-a} defaults to @samp{-ahls}.
438
439@item -D
440Ignored.  This option is accepted for script compatibility with calls to
441other assemblers.
442
443@item --defsym @var{sym}=@var{value}
444Define the symbol @var{sym} to be @var{value} before assembling the input file.
445@var{value} must be an integer constant.  As in C, a leading @samp{0x}
446indicates a hexadecimal value, and a leading @samp{0} indicates an octal value.
447
448@item -f
449``fast''---skip whitespace and comment preprocessing (assume source is
450compiler output).
451
452@item --gstabs
453Generate stabs debugging information for each assembler line.  This
454may help debugging assembler code, if the debugger can handle it.
455
456@item --gdwarf2
457Generate DWARF2 debugging information for each assembler line.  This
458may help debugging assembler code, if the debugger can handle it.  Note - this
459option is only supported by some targets, not all of them.
460
461@item --help
462Print a summary of the command line options and exit.
463
464@item --target-help
465Print a summary of all target specific options and exit.
466
467@item -I @var{dir}
468Add directory @var{dir} to the search list for @code{.include} directives.
469
470@item -J
471Don't warn about signed overflow.
472
473@item -K
474@ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
475This option is accepted but has no effect on the @value{TARGET} family.
476@end ifclear
477@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
478Issue warnings when difference tables altered for long displacements.
479@end ifset
480
481@item -L
482@itemx --keep-locals
483Keep (in the symbol table) local symbols.  On traditional a.out systems
484these start with @samp{L}, but different systems have different local
485label prefixes.
486
487@item --listing-lhs-width=@var{number}
488Set the maximum width, in words, of the output data column for an assembler
489listing to @var{number}.
490
491@item --listing-lhs-width2=@var{number}
492Set the maximum width, in words, of the output data column for continuation
493lines in an assembler listing to @var{number}.
494
495@item --listing-rhs-width=@var{number}
496Set the maximum width of an input source line, as displayed in a listing, to
497@var{number} bytes.
498
499@item --listing-cont-lines=@var{number}
500Set the maximum number of lines printed in a listing for a single line of input
501to @var{number} + 1.
502
503@item -o @var{objfile}
504Name the object-file output from @command{@value{AS}} @var{objfile}.
505
506@item -R
507Fold the data section into the text section.
508
509@item --statistics
510Print the maximum space (in bytes) and total time (in seconds) used by
511assembly.
512
513@item --strip-local-absolute
514Remove local absolute symbols from the outgoing symbol table.
515
516@item -v
517@itemx -version
518Print the @command{as} version.
519
520@item --version
521Print the @command{as} version and exit.
522
523@item -W
524@itemx --no-warn
525Suppress warning messages.
526
527@item --fatal-warnings
528Treat warnings as errors.
529
530@item --warn
531Don't suppress warning messages or treat them as errors.
532
533@item -w
534Ignored.
535
536@item -x
537Ignored.
538
539@item -Z
540Generate an object file even after errors.
541
542@item -- | @var{files} @dots{}
543Standard input, or source files to assemble.
544
545@end table
546
547@ifset ARC
548The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
549an ARC processor.
550
551@table @gcctabopt
552@item -marc[5|6|7|8]
553This option selects the core processor variant.
554@item -EB | -EL
555Select either big-endian (-EB) or little-endian (-EL) output.
556@end table
557@end ifset
558
559@ifset ARM
560The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the ARM
561processor family.
562
563@table @gcctabopt
564@item -mcpu=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
565Specify which ARM processor variant is the target.
566@item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
567Specify which ARM architecture variant is used by the target.
568@item -mfpu=@var{floating-point-format}
569Select which Floating Point architecture is the target.
570@item -mthumb
571Enable Thumb only instruction decoding.
572@item -mapcs-32 | -mapcs-26 | -mapcs-float | -mapcs-reentrant | -moabi
573Select which procedure calling convention is in use.
574@item -EB | -EL
575Select either big-endian (-EB) or little-endian (-EL) output.
576@item -mthumb-interwork
577Specify that the code has been generated with interworking between Thumb and
578ARM code in mind.
579@item -k
580Specify that PIC code has been generated.
581@end table
582@end ifset
583
584@ifset D10V
585The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
586a D10V processor.
587@table @gcctabopt
588@cindex D10V optimization
589@cindex optimization, D10V
590@item -O
591Optimize output by parallelizing instructions.
592@end table
593@end ifset
594
595@ifset D30V
596The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for a D30V
597processor.
598@table @gcctabopt
599@cindex D30V optimization
600@cindex optimization, D30V
601@item -O
602Optimize output by parallelizing instructions.
603
604@cindex D30V nops
605@item -n
606Warn when nops are generated.
607
608@cindex D30V nops after 32-bit multiply
609@item -N
610Warn when a nop after a 32-bit multiply instruction is generated.
611@end table
612@end ifset
613
614@ifset I960
615The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
616Intel 80960 processor.
617
618@table @gcctabopt
619@item -ACA | -ACA_A | -ACB | -ACC | -AKA | -AKB | -AKC | -AMC
620Specify which variant of the 960 architecture is the target.
621
622@item -b
623Add code to collect statistics about branches taken.
624
625@item -no-relax
626Do not alter compare-and-branch instructions for long displacements;
627error if necessary.
628
629@end table
630@end ifset
631
632@ifset M32R
633The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
634Mitsubishi M32R series.
635
636@table @gcctabopt
637
638@item --m32rx
639Specify which processor in the M32R family is the target.  The default
640is normally the M32R, but this option changes it to the M32RX.
641
642@item --warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts or --Wp
643Produce warning messages when questionable parallel constructs are
644encountered. 
645
646@item --no-warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts or --Wnp
647Do not produce warning messages when questionable parallel constructs are 
648encountered. 
649
650@end table
651@end ifset
652
653@ifset M680X0
654The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
655Motorola 68000 series.
656
657@table @gcctabopt
658
659@item -l
660Shorten references to undefined symbols, to one word instead of two.
661
662@item -m68000 | -m68008 | -m68010 | -m68020 | -m68030
663@itemx | -m68040 | -m68060 | -m68302 | -m68331 | -m68332
664@itemx | -m68333 | -m68340 | -mcpu32 | -m5200
665Specify what processor in the 68000 family is the target.  The default
666is normally the 68020, but this can be changed at configuration time.
667
668@item -m68881 | -m68882 | -mno-68881 | -mno-68882
669The target machine does (or does not) have a floating-point coprocessor.
670The default is to assume a coprocessor for 68020, 68030, and cpu32.  Although
671the basic 68000 is not compatible with the 68881, a combination of the
672two can be specified, since it's possible to do emulation of the
673coprocessor instructions with the main processor.
674
675@item -m68851 | -mno-68851
676The target machine does (or does not) have a memory-management
677unit coprocessor.  The default is to assume an MMU for 68020 and up.
678
679@end table
680@end ifset
681
682@ifset PDP11
683
684For details about the PDP-11 machine dependent features options,
685see @ref{PDP-11-Options}.
686
687@table @gcctabopt
688@item -mpic | -mno-pic
689Generate position-independent (or position-dependent) code.  The
690default is @option{-mpic}.
691
692@item -mall
693@itemx -mall-extensions
694Enable all instruction set extensions.  This is the default.
695
696@item -mno-extensions
697Disable all instruction set extensions.
698
699@item -m@var{extension} | -mno-@var{extension}
700Enable (or disable) a particular instruction set extension.
701
702@item -m@var{cpu}
703Enable the instruction set extensions supported by a particular CPU, and
704disable all other extensions.
705
706@item -m@var{machine}
707Enable the instruction set extensions supported by a particular machine
708model, and disable all other extensions.
709@end table
710
711@end ifset
712
713@ifset PJ
714The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
715a picoJava processor.
716
717@table @gcctabopt
718
719@cindex PJ endianness
720@cindex endianness, PJ
721@cindex big endian output, PJ
722@item -mb
723Generate ``big endian'' format output.
724
725@cindex little endian output, PJ
726@item -ml
727Generate ``little endian'' format output.
728
729@end table
730@end ifset
731
732@ifset M68HC11
733The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
734Motorola 68HC11 or 68HC12 series.
735
736@table @gcctabopt
737
738@item -m68hc11 | -m68hc12
739Specify what processor is the target.  The default is
740defined by the configuration option when building the assembler.
741
742@item --force-long-branchs
743Relative branches are turned into absolute ones. This concerns
744conditional branches, unconditional branches and branches to a
745sub routine.
746
747@item -S | --short-branchs
748Do not turn relative branchs into absolute ones
749when the offset is out of range.
750
751@item --strict-direct-mode
752Do not turn the direct addressing mode into extended addressing mode
753when the instruction does not support direct addressing mode.
754
755@item --print-insn-syntax
756Print the syntax of instruction in case of error.
757
758@item --print-opcodes
759print the list of instructions with syntax and then exit.
760
761@item --generate-example
762print an example of instruction for each possible instruction and then exit.
763This option is only useful for testing @command{@value{AS}}.
764
765@end table
766@end ifset
767
768@ifset SPARC
769The following options are available when @command{@value{AS}} is configured
770for the SPARC architecture:
771
772@table @gcctabopt
773@item -Av6 | -Av7 | -Av8 | -Asparclet | -Asparclite
774@itemx -Av8plus | -Av8plusa | -Av9 | -Av9a
775Explicitly select a variant of the SPARC architecture.
776
777@samp{-Av8plus} and @samp{-Av8plusa} select a 32 bit environment.
778@samp{-Av9} and @samp{-Av9a} select a 64 bit environment.
779
780@samp{-Av8plusa} and @samp{-Av9a} enable the SPARC V9 instruction set with
781UltraSPARC extensions.
782
783@item -xarch=v8plus | -xarch=v8plusa
784For compatibility with the Solaris v9 assembler.  These options are
785equivalent to -Av8plus and -Av8plusa, respectively.
786
787@item -bump
788Warn when the assembler switches to another architecture.
789@end table
790@end ifset
791
792@ifset TIC54X
793The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the 'c54x
794architecture. 
795
796@table @gcctabopt
797@item -mfar-mode
798Enable extended addressing mode.  All addresses and relocations will assume
799extended addressing (usually 23 bits).
800@item -mcpu=@var{CPU_VERSION}
801Sets the CPU version being compiled for.
802@item -merrors-to-file @var{FILENAME}
803Redirect error output to a file, for broken systems which don't support such
804behaviour in the shell.
805@end table
806@end ifset
807
808@ifset MIPS
809The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
810a MIPS processor.
811
812@table @gcctabopt
813@item -G @var{num}
814This option sets the largest size of an object that can be referenced
815implicitly with the @code{gp} register.  It is only accepted for targets that
816use ECOFF format, such as a DECstation running Ultrix.  The default value is 8.
817
818@cindex MIPS endianness
819@cindex endianness, MIPS
820@cindex big endian output, MIPS
821@item -EB
822Generate ``big endian'' format output.
823
824@cindex little endian output, MIPS
825@item -EL
826Generate ``little endian'' format output.
827
828@cindex MIPS ISA
829@item -mips1
830@itemx -mips2
831@itemx -mips3
832@itemx -mips4
833@itemx -mips32
834@itemx -mips64
835Generate code for a particular MIPS Instruction Set Architecture level.
836@samp{-mips1} corresponds to the @sc{r2000} and @sc{r3000} processors,
837@samp{-mips2} to the @sc{r6000} processor, and @samp{-mips3} to the @sc{r4000}
838processor.
839@samp{-mips5}, @samp{-mips32}, and @samp{-mips64} correspond
840to generic @sc{MIPS V}, @sc{MIPS32}, and @sc{MIPS64} ISA
841processors, respectively.
842
843@item -m4650
844@itemx -no-m4650
845Generate code for the MIPS @sc{r4650} chip.  This tells the assembler to accept
846the @samp{mad} and @samp{madu} instruction, and to not schedule @samp{nop}
847instructions around accesses to the @samp{HI} and @samp{LO} registers.
848@samp{-no-m4650} turns off this option.
849
850@item -mcpu=@var{CPU}
851Generate code for a particular MIPS cpu.  It is exactly equivalent to
852@samp{-m@var{cpu}}, except that there are more value of @var{cpu}
853understood.
854
855@cindex emulation
856@item --emulation=@var{name}
857This option causes @command{@value{AS}} to emulate @command{@value{AS}} configured
858for some other target, in all respects, including output format (choosing
859between ELF and ECOFF only), handling of pseudo-opcodes which may generate
860debugging information or store symbol table information, and default
861endianness.  The available configuration names are: @samp{mipsecoff},
862@samp{mipself}, @samp{mipslecoff}, @samp{mipsbecoff}, @samp{mipslelf},
863@samp{mipsbelf}.  The first two do not alter the default endianness from that
864of the primary target for which the assembler was configured; the others change
865the default to little- or big-endian as indicated by the @samp{b} or @samp{l}
866in the name.  Using @samp{-EB} or @samp{-EL} will override the endianness
867selection in any case.
868
869This option is currently supported only when the primary target
870@command{@value{AS}} is configured for is a MIPS ELF or ECOFF target.
871Furthermore, the primary target or others specified with
872@samp{--enable-targets=@dots{}} at configuration time must include support for
873the other format, if both are to be available.  For example, the Irix 5
874configuration includes support for both.
875
876Eventually, this option will support more configurations, with more
877fine-grained control over the assembler's behavior, and will be supported for
878more processors.
879
880@item -nocpp
881@command{@value{AS}} ignores this option.  It is accepted for compatibility with
882the native tools.
883
884@need 900
885@item --trap
886@itemx --no-trap
887@itemx --break
888@itemx --no-break
889Control how to deal with multiplication overflow and division by zero.
890@samp{--trap} or @samp{--no-break} (which are synonyms) take a trap exception
891(and only work for Instruction Set Architecture level 2 and higher);
892@samp{--break} or @samp{--no-trap} (also synonyms, and the default) take a
893break exception.
894
895@item -n
896When this option is used, @command{@value{AS}} will issue a warning every
897time it generates a nop instruction from a macro.
898@end table
899@end ifset
900
901@ifset MCORE
902The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
903an MCore processor.
904
905@table @gcctabopt
906@item -jsri2bsr
907@itemx -nojsri2bsr
908Enable or disable the JSRI to BSR transformation.  By default this is enabled.
909The command line option @samp{-nojsri2bsr} can be used to disable it.
910
911@item -sifilter
912@itemx -nosifilter
913Enable or disable the silicon filter behaviour.  By default this is disabled.
914The default can be overridden by the @samp{-sifilter} command line option.
915
916@item -relax
917Alter jump instructions for long displacements.
918
919@item -mcpu=[210|340]
920Select the cpu type on the target hardware.  This controls which instructions
921can be assembled.
922
923@item -EB
924Assemble for a big endian target.
925
926@item -EL
927Assemble for a little endian target.
928
929@end table
930@end ifset
931
932@ifset MMIX
933See the info pages for documentation of the MMIX-specific options.
934@end ifset
935
936@c man end
937
938@menu
939* Manual::                      Structure of this Manual
940* GNU Assembler::               The GNU Assembler
941* Object Formats::              Object File Formats
942* Command Line::                Command Line
943* Input Files::                 Input Files
944* Object::                      Output (Object) File
945* Errors::                      Error and Warning Messages
946@end menu
947
948@node Manual
949@section Structure of this Manual
950
951@cindex manual, structure and purpose
952This manual is intended to describe what you need to know to use
953@sc{gnu} @command{@value{AS}}.  We cover the syntax expected in source files, including
954notation for symbols, constants, and expressions; the directives that
955@command{@value{AS}} understands; and of course how to invoke @command{@value{AS}}.
956
957@ifclear GENERIC
958We also cover special features in the @value{TARGET}
959configuration of @command{@value{AS}}, including assembler directives.
960@end ifclear
961@ifset GENERIC
962This manual also describes some of the machine-dependent features of
963various flavors of the assembler.
964@end ifset
965
966@cindex machine instructions (not covered)
967On the other hand, this manual is @emph{not} intended as an introduction
968to programming in assembly language---let alone programming in general!
969In a similar vein, we make no attempt to introduce the machine
970architecture; we do @emph{not} describe the instruction set, standard
971mnemonics, registers or addressing modes that are standard to a
972particular architecture.
973@ifset GENERIC
974You may want to consult the manufacturer's
975machine architecture manual for this information.
976@end ifset
977@ifclear GENERIC
978@ifset H8/300
979For information on the H8/300 machine instruction set, see @cite{H8/300
980Series Programming Manual} (Hitachi ADE--602--025).  For the H8/300H,
981see @cite{H8/300H Series Programming Manual} (Hitachi).
982@end ifset
983@ifset H8/500
984For information on the H8/500 machine instruction set, see @cite{H8/500
985Series Programming Manual} (Hitachi M21T001).
986@end ifset
987@ifset SH
988For information on the Hitachi SH machine instruction set, see
989@cite{SH-Microcomputer User's Manual} (Hitachi Micro Systems, Inc.).
990@end ifset
991@ifset Z8000
992For information on the Z8000 machine instruction set, see @cite{Z8000 CPU Technical Manual}
993@end ifset
994@end ifclear
995
996@c I think this is premature---doc@cygnus.com, 17jan1991
997@ignore
998Throughout this manual, we assume that you are running @dfn{GNU},
999the portable operating system from the @dfn{Free Software
1000Foundation, Inc.}.  This restricts our attention to certain kinds of
1001computer (in particular, the kinds of computers that @sc{gnu} can run on);
1002once this assumption is granted examples and definitions need less
1003qualification.
1004
1005@command{@value{AS}} is part of a team of programs that turn a high-level
1006human-readable series of instructions into a low-level
1007computer-readable series of instructions.  Different versions of
1008@command{@value{AS}} are used for different kinds of computer.
1009@end ignore
1010
1011@c There used to be a section "Terminology" here, which defined
1012@c "contents", "byte", "word", and "long".  Defining "word" to any
1013@c particular size is confusing when the .word directive may generate 16
1014@c bits on one machine and 32 bits on another; in general, for the user
1015@c version of this manual, none of these terms seem essential to define.
1016@c They were used very little even in the former draft of the manual;
1017@c this draft makes an effort to avoid them (except in names of
1018@c directives).
1019
1020@node GNU Assembler
1021@section The GNU Assembler
1022
1023@c man begin DESCRIPTION
1024
1025@sc{gnu} @command{as} is really a family of assemblers.
1026@ifclear GENERIC
1027This manual describes @command{@value{AS}}, a member of that family which is
1028configured for the @value{TARGET} architectures.
1029@end ifclear
1030If you use (or have used) the @sc{gnu} assembler on one architecture, you
1031should find a fairly similar environment when you use it on another
1032architecture.  Each version has much in common with the others,
1033including object file formats, most assembler directives (often called
1034@dfn{pseudo-ops}) and assembler syntax.@refill
1035
1036@cindex purpose of @sc{gnu} assembler
1037@command{@value{AS}} is primarily intended to assemble the output of the
1038@sc{gnu} C compiler @code{@value{GCC}} for use by the linker
1039@code{@value{LD}}.  Nevertheless, we've tried to make @command{@value{AS}}
1040assemble correctly everything that other assemblers for the same
1041machine would assemble.
1042@ifset VAX
1043Any exceptions are documented explicitly (@pxref{Machine Dependencies}).
1044@end ifset
1045@ifset M680X0
1046@c This remark should appear in generic version of manual; assumption
1047@c here is that generic version sets M680x0.
1048This doesn't mean @command{@value{AS}} always uses the same syntax as another
1049assembler for the same architecture; for example, we know of several
1050incompatible versions of 680x0 assembly language syntax.
1051@end ifset
1052
1053@c man end
1054
1055Unlike older assemblers, @command{@value{AS}} is designed to assemble a source
1056program in one pass of the source file.  This has a subtle impact on the
1057@kbd{.org} directive (@pxref{Org,,@code{.org}}).
1058
1059@node Object Formats
1060@section Object File Formats
1061
1062@cindex object file format
1063The @sc{gnu} assembler can be configured to produce several alternative
1064object file formats.  For the most part, this does not affect how you
1065write assembly language programs; but directives for debugging symbols
1066are typically different in different file formats.  @xref{Symbol
1067Attributes,,Symbol Attributes}.
1068@ifclear GENERIC
1069@ifclear MULTI-OBJ
1070On the @value{TARGET}, @command{@value{AS}} is configured to produce
1071@value{OBJ-NAME} format object files.
1072@end ifclear
1073@c The following should exhaust all configs that set MULTI-OBJ, ideally
1074@ifset A29K
1075On the @value{TARGET}, @command{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
1076@code{a.out} or COFF format object files.
1077@end ifset
1078@ifset I960
1079On the @value{TARGET}, @command{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
1080@code{b.out} or COFF format object files.
1081@end ifset
1082@ifset HPPA
1083On the @value{TARGET}, @command{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
1084SOM or ELF format object files.
1085@end ifset
1086@end ifclear
1087
1088@node Command Line
1089@section Command Line
1090
1091@cindex command line conventions
1092
1093After the program name @command{@value{AS}}, the command line may contain
1094options and file names.  Options may appear in any order, and may be
1095before, after, or between file names.  The order of file names is
1096significant.
1097
1098@cindex standard input, as input file
1099@kindex --
1100@file{--} (two hyphens) by itself names the standard input file
1101explicitly, as one of the files for @command{@value{AS}} to assemble.
1102
1103@cindex options, command line
1104Except for @samp{--} any command line argument that begins with a
1105hyphen (@samp{-}) is an option.  Each option changes the behavior of
1106@command{@value{AS}}.  No option changes the way another option works.  An
1107option is a @samp{-} followed by one or more letters; the case of
1108the letter is important.   All options are optional.
1109
1110Some options expect exactly one file name to follow them.  The file
1111name may either immediately follow the option's letter (compatible
1112with older assemblers) or it may be the next command argument (@sc{gnu}
1113standard).  These two command lines are equivalent:
1114
1115@smallexample
1116@value{AS} -o my-object-file.o mumble.s
1117@value{AS} -omy-object-file.o mumble.s
1118@end smallexample
1119
1120@node Input Files
1121@section Input Files
1122
1123@cindex input
1124@cindex source program
1125@cindex files, input
1126We use the phrase @dfn{source program}, abbreviated @dfn{source}, to
1127describe the program input to one run of @command{@value{AS}}.  The program may
1128be in one or more files; how the source is partitioned into files
1129doesn't change the meaning of the source.
1130
1131@c I added "con" prefix to "catenation" just to prove I can overcome my
1132@c APL training...   doc@cygnus.com
1133The source program is a concatenation of the text in all the files, in the
1134order specified.
1135
1136@c man begin DESCRIPTION
1137Each time you run @command{@value{AS}} it assembles exactly one source
1138program.  The source program is made up of one or more files.
1139(The standard input is also a file.)
1140
1141You give @command{@value{AS}} a command line that has zero or more input file
1142names.  The input files are read (from left file name to right).  A
1143command line argument (in any position) that has no special meaning
1144is taken to be an input file name.
1145
1146If you give @command{@value{AS}} no file names it attempts to read one input file
1147from the @command{@value{AS}} standard input, which is normally your terminal.  You
1148may have to type @key{ctl-D} to tell @command{@value{AS}} there is no more program
1149to assemble.
1150
1151Use @samp{--} if you need to explicitly name the standard input file
1152in your command line.
1153
1154If the source is empty, @command{@value{AS}} produces a small, empty object
1155file.
1156
1157@c man end
1158
1159@subheading Filenames and Line-numbers
1160
1161@cindex input file linenumbers
1162@cindex line numbers, in input files
1163There are two ways of locating a line in the input file (or files) and
1164either may be used in reporting error messages.  One way refers to a line
1165number in a physical file; the other refers to a line number in a
1166``logical'' file.  @xref{Errors, ,Error and Warning Messages}.
1167
1168@dfn{Physical files} are those files named in the command line given
1169to @command{@value{AS}}.
1170
1171@dfn{Logical files} are simply names declared explicitly by assembler
1172directives; they bear no relation to physical files.  Logical file names help
1173error messages reflect the original source file, when @command{@value{AS}} source
1174is itself synthesized from other files.  @command{@value{AS}} understands the
1175@samp{#} directives emitted by the @code{@value{GCC}} preprocessor.  See also
1176@ref{File,,@code{.file}}.
1177
1178@node Object
1179@section Output (Object) File
1180
1181@cindex object file
1182@cindex output file
1183@kindex a.out
1184@kindex .o
1185Every time you run @command{@value{AS}} it produces an output file, which is
1186your assembly language program translated into numbers.  This file
1187is the object file.  Its default name is
1188@ifclear BOUT
1189@code{a.out}.
1190@end ifclear
1191@ifset BOUT
1192@ifset GENERIC
1193@code{a.out}, or 
1194@end ifset
1195@code{b.out} when @command{@value{AS}} is configured for the Intel 80960.
1196@end ifset
1197You can give it another name by using the @option{-o} option.  Conventionally,
1198object file names end with @file{.o}.  The default name is used for historical
1199reasons: older assemblers were capable of assembling self-contained programs
1200directly into a runnable program.  (For some formats, this isn't currently
1201possible, but it can be done for the @code{a.out} format.)
1202
1203@cindex linker
1204@kindex ld
1205The object file is meant for input to the linker @code{@value{LD}}.  It contains
1206assembled program code, information to help @code{@value{LD}} integrate
1207the assembled program into a runnable file, and (optionally) symbolic
1208information for the debugger.
1209
1210@c link above to some info file(s) like the description of a.out.
1211@c don't forget to describe @sc{gnu} info as well as Unix lossage.
1212
1213@node Errors
1214@section Error and Warning Messages
1215
1216@c man begin DESCRIPTION
1217
1218@cindex error messages
1219@cindex warning messages
1220@cindex messages from assembler
1221@command{@value{AS}} may write warnings and error messages to the standard error
1222file (usually your terminal).  This should not happen when  a compiler
1223runs @command{@value{AS}} automatically.  Warnings report an assumption made so
1224that @command{@value{AS}} could keep assembling a flawed program; errors report a
1225grave problem that stops the assembly.
1226
1227@c man end
1228
1229@cindex format of warning messages
1230Warning messages have the format
1231
1232@smallexample
1233file_name:@b{NNN}:Warning Message Text
1234@end smallexample
1235
1236@noindent
1237@cindex line numbers, in warnings/errors
1238(where @b{NNN} is a line number).  If a logical file name has been given
1239(@pxref{File,,@code{.file}}) it is used for the filename, otherwise the name of
1240the current input file is used.  If a logical line number was given
1241@ifset GENERIC
1242(@pxref{Line,,@code{.line}})
1243@end ifset
1244@ifclear GENERIC
1245@ifclear A29K
1246(@pxref{Line,,@code{.line}})
1247@end ifclear
1248@ifset A29K
1249(@pxref{Ln,,@code{.ln}})
1250@end ifset
1251@end ifclear
1252then it is used to calculate the number printed,
1253otherwise the actual line in the current source file is printed.  The
1254message text is intended to be self explanatory (in the grand Unix
1255tradition).
1256
1257@cindex format of error messages
1258Error messages have the format
1259@smallexample
1260file_name:@b{NNN}:FATAL:Error Message Text
1261@end smallexample
1262The file name and line number are derived as for warning
1263messages.  The actual message text may be rather less explanatory
1264because many of them aren't supposed to happen.
1265
1266@node Invoking
1267@chapter Command-Line Options
1268
1269@cindex options, all versions of assembler
1270This chapter describes command-line options available in @emph{all}
1271versions of the @sc{gnu} assembler; @pxref{Machine Dependencies}, for options specific
1272@ifclear GENERIC
1273to the @value{TARGET}.
1274@end ifclear
1275@ifset GENERIC
1276to particular machine architectures.
1277@end ifset
1278
1279@c man begin DESCRIPTION
1280
1281If you are invoking @command{@value{AS}} via the @sc{gnu} C compiler (version 2),
1282you can use the @samp{-Wa} option to pass arguments through to the assembler.
1283The assembler arguments must be separated from each other (and the @samp{-Wa})
1284by commas.  For example:
1285
1286@smallexample
1287gcc -c -g -O -Wa,-alh,-L file.c
1288@end smallexample
1289
1290@noindent
1291This passes two options to the assembler: @samp{-alh} (emit a listing to
1292standard output with with high-level and assembly source) and @samp{-L} (retain
1293local symbols in the symbol table).
1294
1295Usually you do not need to use this @samp{-Wa} mechanism, since many compiler
1296command-line options are automatically passed to the assembler by the compiler.
1297(You can call the @sc{gnu} compiler driver with the @samp{-v} option to see
1298precisely what options it passes to each compilation pass, including the
1299assembler.)
1300
1301@c man end
1302
1303@menu
1304* a::             -a[cdhlns] enable listings
1305* D::             -D for compatibility
1306* f::             -f to work faster
1307* I::             -I for .include search path
1308@ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1309* K::             -K for compatibility
1310@end ifclear
1311@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1312* K::             -K for difference tables
1313@end ifset
1314
1315* L::             -L to retain local labels
1316* listing::       --listing-XXX to configure listing output
1317* M::		  -M or --mri to assemble in MRI compatibility mode
1318* MD::            --MD for dependency tracking
1319* o::             -o to name the object file
1320* R::             -R to join data and text sections
1321* statistics::    --statistics to see statistics about assembly
1322* traditional-format:: --traditional-format for compatible output
1323* v::             -v to announce version
1324* W::             -W, --no-warn, --warn, --fatal-warnings to control warnings
1325* Z::             -Z to make object file even after errors
1326@end menu
1327
1328@node a
1329@section Enable Listings: @option{-a[cdhlns]}
1330
1331@kindex -a
1332@kindex -ac
1333@kindex -ad
1334@kindex -ah
1335@kindex -al
1336@kindex -an
1337@kindex -as
1338@cindex listings, enabling
1339@cindex assembly listings, enabling
1340
1341These options enable listing output from the assembler.  By itself,
1342@samp{-a} requests high-level, assembly, and symbols listing.
1343You can use other letters to select specific options for the list:
1344@samp{-ah} requests a high-level language listing,
1345@samp{-al} requests an output-program assembly listing, and
1346@samp{-as} requests a symbol table listing.
1347High-level listings require that a compiler debugging option like
1348@samp{-g} be used, and that assembly listings (@samp{-al}) be requested
1349also.
1350
1351Use the @samp{-ac} option to omit false conditionals from a listing.  Any lines
1352which are not assembled because of a false @code{.if} (or @code{.ifdef}, or any
1353other conditional), or a true @code{.if} followed by an @code{.else}, will be
1354omitted from the listing.
1355
1356Use the @samp{-ad} option to omit debugging directives from the
1357listing.
1358
1359Once you have specified one of these options, you can further control
1360listing output and its appearance using the directives @code{.list},
1361@code{.nolist}, @code{.psize}, @code{.eject}, @code{.title}, and
1362@code{.sbttl}.
1363The @samp{-an} option turns off all forms processing.
1364If you do not request listing output with one of the @samp{-a} options, the
1365listing-control directives have no effect.
1366
1367The letters after @samp{-a} may be combined into one option,
1368@emph{e.g.}, @samp{-aln}.
1369
1370Note if the assembler source is coming from the standard input (eg because it
1371is being created by @code{@value{GCC}} and the @samp{-pipe} command line switch
1372is being used) then the listing will not contain any comments or preprocessor
1373directives.  This is because the listing code buffers input source lines from
1374stdin only after they have been preprocessed by the assembler.  This reduces
1375memory usage and makes the code more efficient.
1376
1377@node D
1378@section @option{-D}
1379
1380@kindex -D
1381This option has no effect whatsoever, but it is accepted to make it more
1382likely that scripts written for other assemblers also work with
1383@command{@value{AS}}.
1384
1385@node f
1386@section Work Faster: @option{-f}
1387
1388@kindex -f
1389@cindex trusted compiler
1390@cindex faster processing (@option{-f})
1391@samp{-f} should only be used when assembling programs written by a
1392(trusted) compiler.  @samp{-f} stops the assembler from doing whitespace
1393and comment preprocessing on
1394the input file(s) before assembling them.  @xref{Preprocessing,
1395,Preprocessing}.
1396
1397@quotation
1398@emph{Warning:} if you use @samp{-f} when the files actually need to be
1399preprocessed (if they contain comments, for example), @command{@value{AS}} does
1400not work correctly.
1401@end quotation
1402
1403@node I
1404@section @code{.include} search path: @option{-I} @var{path}
1405
1406@kindex -I @var{path}
1407@cindex paths for @code{.include}
1408@cindex search path for @code{.include}
1409@cindex @code{include} directive search path
1410Use this option to add a @var{path} to the list of directories
1411@command{@value{AS}} searches for files specified in @code{.include}
1412directives (@pxref{Include,,@code{.include}}).  You may use @option{-I} as
1413many times as necessary to include a variety of paths.  The current
1414working directory is always searched first; after that, @command{@value{AS}}
1415searches any @samp{-I} directories in the same order as they were
1416specified (left to right) on the command line.
1417
1418@node K
1419@section Difference Tables: @option{-K}
1420
1421@kindex -K
1422@ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1423On the @value{TARGET} family, this option is allowed, but has no effect.  It is
1424permitted for compatibility with the @sc{gnu} assembler on other platforms,
1425where it can be used to warn when the assembler alters the machine code
1426generated for @samp{.word} directives in difference tables.  The @value{TARGET}
1427family does not have the addressing limitations that sometimes lead to this
1428alteration on other platforms.
1429@end ifclear
1430
1431@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1432@cindex difference tables, warning
1433@cindex warning for altered difference tables
1434@command{@value{AS}} sometimes alters the code emitted for directives of the form
1435@samp{.word @var{sym1}-@var{sym2}}; @pxref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
1436You can use the @samp{-K} option if you want a warning issued when this
1437is done.
1438@end ifset
1439
1440@node L
1441@section Include Local Labels: @option{-L}
1442
1443@kindex -L
1444@cindex local labels, retaining in output
1445Labels beginning with @samp{L} (upper case only) are called @dfn{local
1446labels}. @xref{Symbol Names}.  Normally you do not see such labels when
1447debugging, because they are intended for the use of programs (like
1448compilers) that compose assembler programs, not for your notice.
1449Normally both @command{@value{AS}} and @code{@value{LD}} discard such labels, so you do not
1450normally debug with them.
1451
1452This option tells @command{@value{AS}} to retain those @samp{L@dots{}} symbols
1453in the object file.  Usually if you do this you also tell the linker
1454@code{@value{LD}} to preserve symbols whose names begin with @samp{L}.
1455
1456By default, a local label is any label beginning with @samp{L}, but each
1457target is allowed to redefine the local label prefix.
1458@ifset HPPA
1459On the HPPA local labels begin with @samp{L$}.
1460@end ifset
1461
1462@node listing
1463@section Configuring listing output: @option{--listing}
1464
1465The listing feature of the assembler can be enabled via the command line switch
1466@samp{-a} (@pxref{a}).  This feature combines the input source file(s) with a
1467hex dump of the corresponding locations in the output object file, and displays
1468them as a listing file.  The format of this listing can be controlled by pseudo
1469ops inside the assembler source (@pxref{List} @pxref{Title} @pxref{Sbttl}
1470@pxref{Psize} @pxref{Eject}) and also by the following switches:
1471
1472@table @gcctabopt
1473@item --listing-lhs-width=@samp{number}
1474@kindex --listing-lhs-width
1475@cindex Width of first line disassembly output
1476Sets the maximum width, in words, of the first line of the hex byte dump.  This
1477dump appears on the left hand side of the listing output.
1478
1479@item --listing-lhs-width2=@samp{number}
1480@kindex --listing-lhs-width2
1481@cindex Width of continuation lines of disassembly output
1482Sets the maximum width, in words, of any further lines of the hex byte dump for
1483a given inut source line.  If this value is not specified, it defaults to being
1484the same as the value specified for @samp{--listing-lhs-width}.  If neither
1485switch is used the default is to one.
1486
1487@item --listing-rhs-width=@samp{number}
1488@kindex --listing-rhs-width
1489@cindex Width of source line output
1490Sets the maximum width, in characters, of the source line that is displayed
1491alongside the hex dump.  The default value for this parameter is 100.  The
1492source line is displayed on the right hand side of the listing output.
1493
1494@item --listing-cont-lines=@samp{number}
1495@kindex --listing-cont-lines
1496@cindex Maximum number of continuation lines
1497Sets the maximum number of continuation lines of hex dump that will be
1498displayed for a given single line of source input.  The default value is 4.
1499@end table
1500
1501@node M
1502@section Assemble in MRI Compatibility Mode: @option{-M}
1503
1504@kindex -M
1505@cindex MRI compatibility mode
1506The @option{-M} or @option{--mri} option selects MRI compatibility mode.  This
1507changes the syntax and pseudo-op handling of @command{@value{AS}} to make it
1508compatible with the @code{ASM68K} or the @code{ASM960} (depending upon the
1509configured target) assembler from Microtec Research.  The exact nature of the
1510MRI syntax will not be documented here; see the MRI manuals for more
1511information.  Note in particular that the handling of macros and macro
1512arguments is somewhat different.  The purpose of this option is to permit
1513assembling existing MRI assembler code using @command{@value{AS}}.
1514
1515The MRI compatibility is not complete.  Certain operations of the MRI assembler
1516depend upon its object file format, and can not be supported using other object
1517file formats.  Supporting these would require enhancing each object file format
1518individually.  These are:
1519
1520@itemize @bullet
1521@item global symbols in common section
1522
1523The m68k MRI assembler supports common sections which are merged by the linker.
1524Other object file formats do not support this.  @command{@value{AS}} handles
1525common sections by treating them as a single common symbol.  It permits local
1526symbols to be defined within a common section, but it can not support global
1527symbols, since it has no way to describe them.
1528
1529@item complex relocations
1530
1531The MRI assemblers support relocations against a negated section address, and
1532relocations which combine the start addresses of two or more sections.  These
1533are not support by other object file formats.
1534
1535@item @code{END} pseudo-op specifying start address
1536
1537The MRI @code{END} pseudo-op permits the specification of a start address.
1538This is not supported by other object file formats.  The start address may
1539instead be specified using the @option{-e} option to the linker, or in a linker
1540script.
1541
1542@item @code{IDNT}, @code{.ident} and @code{NAME} pseudo-ops
1543
1544The MRI @code{IDNT}, @code{.ident} and @code{NAME} pseudo-ops assign a module
1545name to the output file.  This is not supported by other object file formats.
1546
1547@item @code{ORG} pseudo-op
1548
1549The m68k MRI @code{ORG} pseudo-op begins an absolute section at a given
1550address.  This differs from the usual @command{@value{AS}} @code{.org} pseudo-op,
1551which changes the location within the current section.  Absolute sections are
1552not supported by other object file formats.  The address of a section may be
1553assigned within a linker script.
1554@end itemize
1555
1556There are some other features of the MRI assembler which are not supported by
1557@command{@value{AS}}, typically either because they are difficult or because they
1558seem of little consequence.  Some of these may be supported in future releases.
1559
1560@itemize @bullet
1561
1562@item EBCDIC strings
1563
1564EBCDIC strings are not supported.
1565
1566@item packed binary coded decimal
1567
1568Packed binary coded decimal is not supported.  This means that the @code{DC.P}
1569and @code{DCB.P} pseudo-ops are not supported.
1570
1571@item @code{FEQU} pseudo-op
1572
1573The m68k @code{FEQU} pseudo-op is not supported.
1574
1575@item @code{NOOBJ} pseudo-op
1576
1577The m68k @code{NOOBJ} pseudo-op is not supported.
1578
1579@item @code{OPT} branch control options
1580
1581The m68k @code{OPT} branch control options---@code{B}, @code{BRS}, @code{BRB},
1582@code{BRL}, and @code{BRW}---are ignored.  @command{@value{AS}} automatically
1583relaxes all branches, whether forward or backward, to an appropriate size, so
1584these options serve no purpose.
1585
1586@item @code{OPT} list control options
1587
1588The following m68k @code{OPT} list control options are ignored: @code{C},
1589@code{CEX}, @code{CL}, @code{CRE}, @code{E}, @code{G}, @code{I}, @code{M},
1590@code{MEX}, @code{MC}, @code{MD}, @code{X}.
1591
1592@item other @code{OPT} options
1593
1594The following m68k @code{OPT} options are ignored: @code{NEST}, @code{O},
1595@code{OLD}, @code{OP}, @code{P}, @code{PCO}, @code{PCR}, @code{PCS}, @code{R}.
1596
1597@item @code{OPT} @code{D} option is default
1598
1599The m68k @code{OPT} @code{D} option is the default, unlike the MRI assembler.
1600@code{OPT NOD} may be used to turn it off.
1601
1602@item @code{XREF} pseudo-op.
1603
1604The m68k @code{XREF} pseudo-op is ignored.
1605
1606@item @code{.debug} pseudo-op
1607
1608The i960 @code{.debug} pseudo-op is not supported.
1609
1610@item @code{.extended} pseudo-op
1611
1612The i960 @code{.extended} pseudo-op is not supported.
1613
1614@item @code{.list} pseudo-op.
1615
1616The various options of the i960 @code{.list} pseudo-op are not supported.
1617
1618@item @code{.optimize} pseudo-op
1619
1620The i960 @code{.optimize} pseudo-op is not supported.
1621
1622@item @code{.output} pseudo-op
1623
1624The i960 @code{.output} pseudo-op is not supported.
1625
1626@item @code{.setreal} pseudo-op
1627
1628The i960 @code{.setreal} pseudo-op is not supported.
1629
1630@end itemize
1631
1632@node MD
1633@section Dependency tracking: @option{--MD}
1634
1635@kindex --MD
1636@cindex dependency tracking
1637@cindex make rules
1638
1639@command{@value{AS}} can generate a dependency file for the file it creates.  This
1640file consists of a single rule suitable for @code{make} describing the
1641dependencies of the main source file.
1642
1643The rule is written to the file named in its argument.
1644
1645This feature is used in the automatic updating of makefiles.
1646
1647@node o
1648@section Name the Object File: @option{-o}
1649
1650@kindex -o
1651@cindex naming object file
1652@cindex object file name
1653There is always one object file output when you run @command{@value{AS}}.  By
1654default it has the name
1655@ifset GENERIC
1656@ifset I960
1657@file{a.out} (or @file{b.out}, for Intel 960 targets only).
1658@end ifset
1659@ifclear I960
1660@file{a.out}.
1661@end ifclear
1662@end ifset
1663@ifclear GENERIC
1664@ifset I960
1665@file{b.out}.
1666@end ifset
1667@ifclear I960
1668@file{a.out}.
1669@end ifclear
1670@end ifclear
1671You use this option (which takes exactly one filename) to give the
1672object file a different name.
1673
1674Whatever the object file is called, @command{@value{AS}} overwrites any
1675existing file of the same name.
1676
1677@node R
1678@section Join Data and Text Sections: @option{-R}
1679
1680@kindex -R
1681@cindex data and text sections, joining
1682@cindex text and data sections, joining
1683@cindex joining text and data sections
1684@cindex merging text and data sections
1685@option{-R} tells @command{@value{AS}} to write the object file as if all
1686data-section data lives in the text section.  This is only done at
1687the very last moment:  your binary data are the same, but data
1688section parts are relocated differently.  The data section part of
1689your object file is zero bytes long because all its bytes are
1690appended to the text section.  (@xref{Sections,,Sections and Relocation}.)
1691
1692When you specify @option{-R} it would be possible to generate shorter
1693address displacements (because we do not have to cross between text and
1694data section).  We refrain from doing this simply for compatibility with
1695older versions of @command{@value{AS}}.  In future, @option{-R} may work this way.
1696
1697@ifset COFF
1698When @command{@value{AS}} is configured for COFF output,
1699this option is only useful if you use sections named @samp{.text} and
1700@samp{.data}.
1701@end ifset
1702
1703@ifset HPPA
1704@option{-R} is not supported for any of the HPPA targets.  Using
1705@option{-R} generates a warning from @command{@value{AS}}.
1706@end ifset
1707
1708@node statistics
1709@section Display Assembly Statistics: @option{--statistics}
1710
1711@kindex --statistics
1712@cindex statistics, about assembly
1713@cindex time, total for assembly
1714@cindex space used, maximum for assembly
1715Use @samp{--statistics} to display two statistics about the resources used by
1716@command{@value{AS}}: the maximum amount of space allocated during the assembly
1717(in bytes), and the total execution time taken for the assembly (in @sc{cpu}
1718seconds).
1719
1720@node traditional-format
1721@section Compatible output: @option{--traditional-format}
1722
1723@kindex --traditional-format
1724For some targets, the output of @command{@value{AS}} is different in some ways
1725from the output of some existing assembler.  This switch requests
1726@command{@value{AS}} to use the traditional format instead.
1727
1728For example, it disables the exception frame optimizations which
1729@command{@value{AS}} normally does by default on @code{@value{GCC}} output.
1730
1731@node v
1732@section Announce Version: @option{-v}
1733
1734@kindex -v
1735@kindex -version
1736@cindex assembler version
1737@cindex version of assembler
1738You can find out what version of as is running by including the
1739option @samp{-v} (which you can also spell as @samp{-version}) on the
1740command line.
1741
1742@node W
1743@section Control Warnings: @option{-W}, @option{--warn}, @option{--no-warn}, @option{--fatal-warnings}
1744
1745@command{@value{AS}} should never give a warning or error message when
1746assembling compiler output.  But programs written by people often
1747cause @command{@value{AS}} to give a warning that a particular assumption was
1748made.  All such warnings are directed to the standard error file.
1749
1750@kindex @samp{-W}
1751@kindex @samp{--no-warn}
1752@cindex suppressing warnings
1753@cindex warnings, suppressing
1754If you use the @option{-W} and @option{--no-warn} options, no warnings are issued.
1755This only affects the warning messages: it does not change any particular of
1756how @command{@value{AS}} assembles your file.  Errors, which stop the assembly,
1757are still reported.
1758
1759@kindex @samp{--fatal-warnings}
1760@cindex errors, caused by warnings
1761@cindex warnings, causing error
1762If you use the @option{--fatal-warnings} option, @command{@value{AS}} considers
1763files that generate warnings to be in error.
1764
1765@kindex @samp{--warn}
1766@cindex warnings, switching on
1767You can switch these options off again by specifying @option{--warn}, which
1768causes warnings to be output as usual.
1769
1770@node Z
1771@section Generate Object File in Spite of Errors: @option{-Z}
1772@cindex object file, after errors
1773@cindex errors, continuing after
1774After an error message, @command{@value{AS}} normally produces no output.  If for
1775some reason you are interested in object file output even after
1776@command{@value{AS}} gives an error message on your program, use the @samp{-Z}
1777option.  If there are any errors, @command{@value{AS}} continues anyways, and
1778writes an object file after a final warning message of the form @samp{@var{n}
1779errors, @var{m} warnings, generating bad object file.}
1780
1781@node Syntax
1782@chapter Syntax
1783
1784@cindex machine-independent syntax
1785@cindex syntax, machine-independent
1786This chapter describes the machine-independent syntax allowed in a
1787source file.  @command{@value{AS}} syntax is similar to what many other
1788assemblers use; it is inspired by the BSD 4.2
1789@ifclear VAX
1790assembler.
1791@end ifclear
1792@ifset VAX
1793assembler, except that @command{@value{AS}} does not assemble Vax bit-fields.
1794@end ifset
1795
1796@menu
1797* Preprocessing::              Preprocessing
1798* Whitespace::                  Whitespace
1799* Comments::                    Comments
1800* Symbol Intro::                Symbols
1801* Statements::                  Statements
1802* Constants::                   Constants
1803@end menu
1804
1805@node Preprocessing
1806@section Preprocessing
1807
1808@cindex preprocessing
1809The @command{@value{AS}} internal preprocessor:
1810@itemize @bullet
1811@cindex whitespace, removed by preprocessor
1812@item
1813adjusts and removes extra whitespace.  It leaves one space or tab before
1814the keywords on a line, and turns any other whitespace on the line into
1815a single space.
1816
1817@cindex comments, removed by preprocessor
1818@item
1819removes all comments, replacing them with a single space, or an
1820appropriate number of newlines.
1821
1822@cindex constants, converted by preprocessor
1823@item
1824converts character constants into the appropriate numeric values.
1825@end itemize
1826
1827It does not do macro processing, include file handling, or
1828anything else you may get from your C compiler's preprocessor.  You can
1829do include file processing with the @code{.include} directive
1830(@pxref{Include,,@code{.include}}).  You can use the @sc{gnu} C compiler driver
1831to get other ``CPP'' style preprocessing, by giving the input file a
1832@samp{.S} suffix.  @xref{Overall Options,, Options Controlling the Kind of
1833Output, gcc.info, Using GNU CC}.
1834
1835Excess whitespace, comments, and character constants
1836cannot be used in the portions of the input text that are not
1837preprocessed.
1838
1839@cindex turning preprocessing on and off
1840@cindex preprocessing, turning on and off
1841@kindex #NO_APP
1842@kindex #APP
1843If the first line of an input file is @code{#NO_APP} or if you use the
1844@samp{-f} option, whitespace and comments are not removed from the input file.
1845Within an input file, you can ask for whitespace and comment removal in
1846specific portions of the by putting a line that says @code{#APP} before the
1847text that may contain whitespace or comments, and putting a line that says
1848@code{#NO_APP} after this text.  This feature is mainly intend to support
1849@code{asm} statements in compilers whose output is otherwise free of comments
1850and whitespace.
1851
1852@node Whitespace
1853@section Whitespace
1854
1855@cindex whitespace
1856@dfn{Whitespace} is one or more blanks or tabs, in any order.
1857Whitespace is used to separate symbols, and to make programs neater for
1858people to read.  Unless within character constants
1859(@pxref{Characters,,Character Constants}), any whitespace means the same
1860as exactly one space.
1861
1862@node Comments
1863@section Comments
1864
1865@cindex comments
1866There are two ways of rendering comments to @command{@value{AS}}.  In both
1867cases the comment is equivalent to one space.
1868
1869Anything from @samp{/*} through the next @samp{*/} is a comment.
1870This means you may not nest these comments.
1871
1872@smallexample
1873/*
1874  The only way to include a newline ('\n') in a comment
1875  is to use this sort of comment.
1876*/
1877
1878/* This sort of comment does not nest. */
1879@end smallexample
1880
1881@cindex line comment character
1882Anything from the @dfn{line comment} character to the next newline
1883is considered a comment and is ignored.  The line comment character is
1884@ifset A29K
1885@samp{;} for the AMD 29K family;
1886@end ifset
1887@ifset ARC
1888@samp{;} on the ARC;
1889@end ifset
1890@ifset ARM
1891@samp{@@} on the ARM;
1892@end ifset
1893@ifset H8/300
1894@samp{;} for the H8/300 family;
1895@end ifset
1896@ifset H8/500
1897@samp{!} for the H8/500 family;
1898@end ifset
1899@ifset HPPA
1900@samp{;} for the HPPA;
1901@end ifset
1902@ifset I80386
1903@samp{#} on the i386 and x86-64;
1904@end ifset
1905@ifset I960
1906@samp{#} on the i960;
1907@end ifset
1908@ifset PDP11
1909@samp{;} for the PDP-11;
1910@end ifset
1911@ifset PJ
1912@samp{;} for picoJava;
1913@end ifset
1914@ifset PPC
1915@samp{;} for Motorola PowerPC;
1916@end ifset
1917@ifset SH
1918@samp{!} for the Hitachi SH;
1919@end ifset
1920@ifset SPARC
1921@samp{!} on the SPARC;
1922@end ifset
1923@ifset M32R
1924@samp{#} on the m32r;
1925@end ifset
1926@ifset M680X0
1927@samp{|} on the 680x0;
1928@end ifset
1929@ifset M68HC11
1930@samp{#} on the 68HC11 and 68HC12;
1931@end ifset
1932@ifset M880X0
1933@samp{;} on the M880x0;
1934@end ifset
1935@ifset VAX
1936@samp{#} on the Vax;
1937@end ifset
1938@ifset Z8000
1939@samp{!} for the Z8000;
1940@end ifset
1941@ifset V850
1942@samp{#} on the V850;
1943@end ifset
1944see @ref{Machine Dependencies}.  @refill
1945@c FIXME What about i860?
1946
1947@ifset GENERIC
1948On some machines there are two different line comment characters.  One
1949character only begins a comment if it is the first non-whitespace character on
1950a line, while the other always begins a comment.
1951@end ifset
1952
1953@ifset V850
1954The V850 assembler also supports a double dash as starting a comment that
1955extends to the end of the line.
1956
1957@samp{--};
1958@end ifset
1959
1960@kindex #
1961@cindex lines starting with @code{#}
1962@cindex logical line numbers
1963To be compatible with past assemblers, lines that begin with @samp{#} have a
1964special interpretation.  Following the @samp{#} should be an absolute
1965expression (@pxref{Expressions}): the logical line number of the @emph{next}
1966line.  Then a string (@pxref{Strings,, Strings}) is allowed: if present it is a
1967new logical file name.  The rest of the line, if any, should be whitespace.
1968
1969If the first non-whitespace characters on the line are not numeric,
1970the line is ignored.  (Just like a comment.)
1971
1972@smallexample
1973                          # This is an ordinary comment.
1974# 42-6 "new_file_name"    # New logical file name
1975                          # This is logical line # 36.
1976@end smallexample
1977This feature is deprecated, and may disappear from future versions
1978of @command{@value{AS}}.
1979
1980@node Symbol Intro
1981@section Symbols
1982
1983@cindex characters used in symbols
1984@ifclear SPECIAL-SYMS
1985A @dfn{symbol} is one or more characters chosen from the set of all
1986letters (both upper and lower case), digits and the three characters
1987@samp{_.$}.
1988@end ifclear
1989@ifset SPECIAL-SYMS
1990@ifclear GENERIC
1991@ifset H8
1992A @dfn{symbol} is one or more characters chosen from the set of all
1993letters (both upper and lower case), digits and the three characters
1994@samp{._$}.  (Save that, on the H8/300 only, you may not use @samp{$} in
1995symbol names.)
1996@end ifset
1997@end ifclear
1998@end ifset
1999@ifset GENERIC
2000On most machines, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names; exceptions
2001are noted in @ref{Machine Dependencies}.
2002@end ifset
2003No symbol may begin with a digit.  Case is significant.
2004There is no length limit: all characters are significant.  Symbols are
2005delimited by characters not in that set, or by the beginning of a file
2006(since the source program must end with a newline, the end of a file is
2007not a possible symbol delimiter).  @xref{Symbols}.
2008@cindex length of symbols
2009
2010@node Statements
2011@section Statements
2012
2013@cindex statements, structure of
2014@cindex line separator character
2015@cindex statement separator character
2016@ifclear GENERIC
2017@ifclear abnormal-separator
2018A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or at a
2019semicolon (@samp{;}).  The newline or semicolon is considered part of
2020the preceding statement.  Newlines and semicolons within character
2021constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
2022@end ifclear
2023@ifset abnormal-separator
2024@ifset A29K
2025A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or an ``at''
2026sign (@samp{@@}).  The newline or at sign is considered part of the
2027preceding statement.  Newlines and at signs within character constants
2028are an exception: they do not end statements.
2029@end ifset
2030@ifset HPPA
2031A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or an exclamation 
2032point (@samp{!}).  The newline or exclamation point is considered part of the
2033preceding statement.  Newlines and exclamation points within character
2034constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
2035@end ifset
2036@ifset H8
2037A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}); or (for the
2038H8/300) a dollar sign (@samp{$}); or (for the
2039Hitachi-SH or the
2040H8/500) a semicolon
2041(@samp{;}).  The newline or separator character is considered part of
2042the preceding statement.  Newlines and separators within character
2043constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
2044@end ifset
2045@end ifset
2046@end ifclear
2047@ifset GENERIC
2048A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or line
2049separator character.  (The line separator is usually @samp{;}, unless
2050this conflicts with the comment character; @pxref{Machine Dependencies}.)  The
2051newline or separator character is considered part of the preceding
2052statement.  Newlines and separators within character constants are an
2053exception: they do not end statements.
2054@end ifset
2055
2056@cindex newline, required at file end
2057@cindex EOF, newline must precede
2058It is an error to end any statement with end-of-file:  the last
2059character of any input file should be a newline.@refill
2060
2061An empty statement is allowed, and may include whitespace.  It is ignored.
2062
2063@cindex instructions and directives
2064@cindex directives and instructions
2065@c "key symbol" is not used elsewhere in the document; seems pedantic to
2066@c @defn{} it in that case, as was done previously...  doc@cygnus.com,
2067@c 13feb91.
2068A statement begins with zero or more labels, optionally followed by a
2069key symbol which determines what kind of statement it is.  The key
2070symbol determines the syntax of the rest of the statement.  If the
2071symbol begins with a dot @samp{.} then the statement is an assembler
2072directive: typically valid for any computer.  If the symbol begins with
2073a letter the statement is an assembly language @dfn{instruction}: it
2074assembles into a machine language instruction.
2075@ifset GENERIC
2076Different versions of @command{@value{AS}} for different computers
2077recognize different instructions.  In fact, the same symbol may
2078represent a different instruction in a different computer's assembly
2079language.@refill
2080@end ifset
2081
2082@cindex @code{:} (label)
2083@cindex label (@code{:})
2084A label is a symbol immediately followed by a colon (@code{:}).
2085Whitespace before a label or after a colon is permitted, but you may not
2086have whitespace between a label's symbol and its colon. @xref{Labels}.
2087
2088@ifset HPPA
2089For HPPA targets, labels need not be immediately followed by a colon, but 
2090the definition of a label must begin in column zero.  This also implies that
2091only one label may be defined on each line.
2092@end ifset
2093
2094@smallexample
2095label:     .directive    followed by something
2096another_label:           # This is an empty statement.
2097           instruction   operand_1, operand_2, @dots{}
2098@end smallexample
2099
2100@node Constants
2101@section Constants
2102
2103@cindex constants
2104A constant is a number, written so that its value is known by
2105inspection, without knowing any context.  Like this:
2106@smallexample
2107@group
2108.byte  74, 0112, 092, 0x4A, 0X4a, 'J, '\J # All the same value.
2109.ascii "Ring the bell\7"                  # A string constant.
2110.octa  0x123456789abcdef0123456789ABCDEF0 # A bignum.
2111.float 0f-314159265358979323846264338327\
211295028841971.693993751E-40                 # - pi, a flonum.
2113@end group
2114@end smallexample
2115
2116@menu
2117* Characters::                  Character Constants
2118* Numbers::                     Number Constants
2119@end menu
2120
2121@node Characters
2122@subsection Character Constants
2123
2124@cindex character constants
2125@cindex constants, character
2126There are two kinds of character constants.  A @dfn{character} stands
2127for one character in one byte and its value may be used in
2128numeric expressions.  String constants (properly called string
2129@emph{literals}) are potentially many bytes and their values may not be
2130used in arithmetic expressions.
2131
2132@menu
2133* Strings::                     Strings
2134* Chars::                       Characters
2135@end menu
2136
2137@node Strings
2138@subsubsection Strings
2139
2140@cindex string constants
2141@cindex constants, string
2142A @dfn{string} is written between double-quotes.  It may contain
2143double-quotes or null characters.  The way to get special characters
2144into a string is to @dfn{escape} these characters: precede them with
2145a backslash @samp{\} character.  For example @samp{\\} represents
2146one backslash:  the first @code{\} is an escape which tells
2147@command{@value{AS}} to interpret the second character literally as a backslash
2148(which prevents @command{@value{AS}} from recognizing the second @code{\} as an
2149escape character).  The complete list of escapes follows.
2150
2151@cindex escape codes, character
2152@cindex character escape codes
2153@table @kbd
2154@c      @item \a
2155@c      Mnemonic for ACKnowledge; for ASCII this is octal code 007.
2156@c
2157@cindex @code{\b} (backspace character)
2158@cindex backspace (@code{\b})
2159@item \b
2160Mnemonic for backspace; for ASCII this is octal code 010.
2161
2162@c      @item \e
2163@c      Mnemonic for EOText; for ASCII this is octal code 004.
2164@c
2165@cindex @code{\f} (formfeed character)
2166@cindex formfeed (@code{\f})
2167@item \f
2168Mnemonic for FormFeed; for ASCII this is octal code 014.
2169
2170@cindex @code{\n} (newline character)
2171@cindex newline (@code{\n})
2172@item \n
2173Mnemonic for newline; for ASCII this is octal code 012.
2174
2175@c      @item \p
2176@c      Mnemonic for prefix; for ASCII this is octal code 033, usually known as @code{escape}.
2177@c
2178@cindex @code{\r} (carriage return character)
2179@cindex carriage return (@code{\r})
2180@item \r
2181Mnemonic for carriage-Return; for ASCII this is octal code 015.
2182
2183@c      @item \s
2184@c      Mnemonic for space; for ASCII this is octal code 040.  Included for compliance with
2185@c      other assemblers.
2186@c
2187@cindex @code{\t} (tab)
2188@cindex tab (@code{\t})
2189@item \t
2190Mnemonic for horizontal Tab; for ASCII this is octal code 011.
2191
2192@c      @item \v
2193@c      Mnemonic for Vertical tab; for ASCII this is octal code 013.
2194@c      @item \x @var{digit} @var{digit} @var{digit}
2195@c      A hexadecimal character code.  The numeric code is 3 hexadecimal digits.
2196@c
2197@cindex @code{\@var{ddd}} (octal character code)
2198@cindex octal character code (@code{\@var{ddd}})
2199@item \ @var{digit} @var{digit} @var{digit}
2200An octal character code.  The numeric code is 3 octal digits.
2201For compatibility with other Unix systems, 8 and 9 are accepted as digits:
2202for example, @code{\008} has the value 010, and @code{\009} the value 011.
2203
2204@cindex @code{\@var{xd...}} (hex character code)
2205@cindex hex character code (@code{\@var{xd...}})
2206@item \@code{x} @var{hex-digits...}
2207A hex character code.  All trailing hex digits are combined.  Either upper or
2208lower case @code{x} works.
2209
2210@cindex @code{\\} (@samp{\} character)
2211@cindex backslash (@code{\\})
2212@item \\
2213Represents one @samp{\} character.
2214
2215@c      @item \'
2216@c      Represents one @samp{'} (accent acute) character.
2217@c      This is needed in single character literals
2218@c      (@xref{Characters,,Character Constants}.) to represent
2219@c      a @samp{'}.
2220@c
2221@cindex @code{\"} (doublequote character)
2222@cindex doublequote (@code{\"})
2223@item \"
2224Represents one @samp{"} character.  Needed in strings to represent
2225this character, because an unescaped @samp{"} would end the string.
2226
2227@item \ @var{anything-else}
2228Any other character when escaped by @kbd{\} gives a warning, but
2229assembles as if the @samp{\} was not present.  The idea is that if
2230you used an escape sequence you clearly didn't want the literal
2231interpretation of the following character.  However @command{@value{AS}} has no
2232other interpretation, so @command{@value{AS}} knows it is giving you the wrong
2233code and warns you of the fact.
2234@end table
2235
2236Which characters are escapable, and what those escapes represent,
2237varies widely among assemblers.  The current set is what we think
2238the BSD 4.2 assembler recognizes, and is a subset of what most C
2239compilers recognize.  If you are in doubt, do not use an escape
2240sequence.
2241
2242@node Chars
2243@subsubsection Characters
2244
2245@cindex single character constant
2246@cindex character, single
2247@cindex constant, single character
2248A single character may be written as a single quote immediately
2249followed by that character.  The same escapes apply to characters as
2250to strings.  So if you want to write the character backslash, you
2251must write @kbd{'\\} where the first @code{\} escapes the second
2252@code{\}.  As you can see, the quote is an acute accent, not a
2253grave accent.  A newline
2254@ifclear GENERIC
2255@ifclear abnormal-separator
2256(or semicolon @samp{;})
2257@end ifclear
2258@ifset abnormal-separator
2259@ifset A29K
2260(or at sign @samp{@@})
2261@end ifset
2262@ifset H8
2263(or dollar sign @samp{$}, for the H8/300; or semicolon @samp{;} for the
2264Hitachi SH or
2265H8/500)
2266@end ifset
2267@end ifset
2268@end ifclear
2269immediately following an acute accent is taken as a literal character
2270and does not count as the end of a statement.  The value of a character
2271constant in a numeric expression is the machine's byte-wide code for
2272that character.  @command{@value{AS}} assumes your character code is ASCII:
2273@kbd{'A} means 65, @kbd{'B} means 66, and so on. @refill
2274
2275@node Numbers
2276@subsection Number Constants
2277
2278@cindex constants, number
2279@cindex number constants
2280@command{@value{AS}} distinguishes three kinds of numbers according to how they
2281are stored in the target machine.  @emph{Integers} are numbers that
2282would fit into an @code{int} in the C language.  @emph{Bignums} are
2283integers, but they are stored in more than 32 bits.  @emph{Flonums}
2284are floating point numbers, described below.
2285
2286@menu
2287* Integers::                    Integers
2288* Bignums::                     Bignums
2289* Flonums::                     Flonums
2290@ifclear GENERIC
2291@ifset I960
2292* Bit Fields::                  Bit Fields
2293@end ifset
2294@end ifclear
2295@end menu
2296
2297@node Integers
2298@subsubsection Integers
2299@cindex integers
2300@cindex constants, integer
2301
2302@cindex binary integers
2303@cindex integers, binary
2304A binary integer is @samp{0b} or @samp{0B} followed by zero or more of
2305the binary digits @samp{01}.
2306
2307@cindex octal integers
2308@cindex integers, octal
2309An octal integer is @samp{0} followed by zero or more of the octal
2310digits (@samp{01234567}).
2311
2312@cindex decimal integers
2313@cindex integers, decimal
2314A decimal integer starts with a non-zero digit followed by zero or
2315more digits (@samp{0123456789}).
2316
2317@cindex hexadecimal integers
2318@cindex integers, hexadecimal
2319A hexadecimal integer is @samp{0x} or @samp{0X} followed by one or
2320more hexadecimal digits chosen from @samp{0123456789abcdefABCDEF}.
2321
2322Integers have the usual values.  To denote a negative integer, use
2323the prefix operator @samp{-} discussed under expressions
2324(@pxref{Prefix Ops,,Prefix Operators}).
2325
2326@node Bignums
2327@subsubsection Bignums
2328
2329@cindex bignums
2330@cindex constants, bignum
2331A @dfn{bignum} has the same syntax and semantics as an integer
2332except that the number (or its negative) takes more than 32 bits to
2333represent in binary.  The distinction is made because in some places
2334integers are permitted while bignums are not.
2335
2336@node Flonums
2337@subsubsection Flonums
2338@cindex flonums
2339@cindex floating point numbers
2340@cindex constants, floating point
2341
2342@cindex precision, floating point
2343A @dfn{flonum} represents a floating point number.  The translation is
2344indirect: a decimal floating point number from the text is converted by
2345@command{@value{AS}} to a generic binary floating point number of more than
2346sufficient precision.  This generic floating point number is converted
2347to a particular computer's floating point format (or formats) by a
2348portion of @command{@value{AS}} specialized to that computer.
2349
2350A flonum is written by writing (in order)
2351@itemize @bullet
2352@item
2353The digit @samp{0}.
2354@ifset HPPA
2355(@samp{0} is optional on the HPPA.)
2356@end ifset
2357
2358@item
2359A letter, to tell @command{@value{AS}} the rest of the number is a flonum.
2360@ifset GENERIC
2361@kbd{e} is recommended.  Case is not important.
2362@ignore
2363@c FIXME: verify if flonum syntax really this vague for most cases
2364(Any otherwise illegal letter works here, but that might be changed.  Vax BSD
23654.2 assembler seems to allow any of @samp{defghDEFGH}.)
2366@end ignore
2367
2368On the H8/300, H8/500,
2369Hitachi SH,
2370and AMD 29K architectures, the letter must be
2371one of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2372
2373On the ARC, the letter must be one of the letters @samp{DFRS}
2374(in upper or lower case).
2375
2376On the Intel 960 architecture, the letter must be
2377one of the letters @samp{DFT} (in upper or lower case).
2378
2379On the HPPA architecture, the letter must be @samp{E} (upper case only).
2380@end ifset
2381@ifclear GENERIC
2382@ifset A29K
2383One of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2384@end ifset
2385@ifset ARC
2386One of the letters @samp{DFRS} (in upper or lower case).
2387@end ifset
2388@ifset H8
2389One of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2390@end ifset
2391@ifset HPPA
2392The letter @samp{E} (upper case only).
2393@end ifset
2394@ifset I960
2395One of the letters @samp{DFT} (in upper or lower case).
2396@end ifset
2397@end ifclear
2398
2399@item
2400An optional sign: either @samp{+} or @samp{-}.
2401
2402@item
2403An optional @dfn{integer part}: zero or more decimal digits.
2404
2405@item
2406An optional @dfn{fractional part}: @samp{.} followed by zero
2407or more decimal digits.
2408
2409@item
2410An optional exponent, consisting of:
2411
2412@itemize @bullet
2413@item
2414An @samp{E} or @samp{e}.
2415@c I can't find a config where "EXP_CHARS" is other than 'eE', but in
2416@c principle this can perfectly well be different on different targets.
2417@item
2418Optional sign: either @samp{+} or @samp{-}.
2419@item
2420One or more decimal digits.
2421@end itemize
2422
2423@end itemize
2424
2425At least one of the integer part or the fractional part must be
2426present.  The floating point number has the usual base-10 value.
2427
2428@command{@value{AS}} does all processing using integers.  Flonums are computed
2429independently of any floating point hardware in the computer running
2430@command{@value{AS}}.
2431
2432@ifclear GENERIC
2433@ifset I960
2434@c Bit fields are written as a general facility but are also controlled
2435@c by a conditional-compilation flag---which is as of now (21mar91)
2436@c turned on only by the i960 config of GAS.
2437@node Bit Fields
2438@subsubsection Bit Fields
2439
2440@cindex bit fields
2441@cindex constants, bit field
2442You can also define numeric constants as @dfn{bit fields}.
2443specify two numbers separated by a colon---
2444@example
2445@var{mask}:@var{value}
2446@end example
2447@noindent
2448@command{@value{AS}} applies a bitwise @sc{and} between @var{mask} and
2449@var{value}.
2450
2451The resulting number is then packed
2452@ifset GENERIC
2453@c this conditional paren in case bit fields turned on elsewhere than 960
2454(in host-dependent byte order)
2455@end ifset
2456into a field whose width depends on which assembler directive has the
2457bit-field as its argument.  Overflow (a result from the bitwise and
2458requiring more binary digits to represent) is not an error; instead,
2459more constants are generated, of the specified width, beginning with the
2460least significant digits.@refill
2461
2462The directives @code{.byte}, @code{.hword}, @code{.int}, @code{.long},
2463@code{.short}, and @code{.word} accept bit-field arguments.
2464@end ifset
2465@end ifclear
2466
2467@node Sections
2468@chapter Sections and Relocation
2469@cindex sections
2470@cindex relocation
2471
2472@menu
2473* Secs Background::             Background
2474* Ld Sections::                 Linker Sections
2475* As Sections::                 Assembler Internal Sections
2476* Sub-Sections::                Sub-Sections
2477* bss::                         bss Section
2478@end menu
2479
2480@node Secs Background
2481@section Background
2482
2483Roughly, a section is a range of addresses, with no gaps; all data
2484``in'' those addresses is treated the same for some particular purpose.
2485For example there may be a ``read only'' section.
2486
2487@cindex linker, and assembler
2488@cindex assembler, and linker
2489The linker @code{@value{LD}} reads many object files (partial programs) and
2490combines their contents to form a runnable program.  When @command{@value{AS}}
2491emits an object file, the partial program is assumed to start at address 0.
2492@code{@value{LD}} assigns the final addresses for the partial program, so that
2493different partial programs do not overlap.  This is actually an
2494oversimplification, but it suffices to explain how @command{@value{AS}} uses
2495sections.
2496
2497@code{@value{LD}} moves blocks of bytes of your program to their run-time
2498addresses.  These blocks slide to their run-time addresses as rigid
2499units; their length does not change and neither does the order of bytes
2500within them.  Such a rigid unit is called a @emph{section}.  Assigning
2501run-time addresses to sections is called @dfn{relocation}.  It includes
2502the task of adjusting mentions of object-file addresses so they refer to
2503the proper run-time addresses.
2504@ifset H8
2505For the H8/300 and H8/500,
2506and for the Hitachi SH,
2507@command{@value{AS}} pads sections if needed to
2508ensure they end on a word (sixteen bit) boundary.
2509@end ifset
2510
2511@cindex standard assembler sections
2512An object file written by @command{@value{AS}} has at least three sections, any
2513of which may be empty.  These are named @dfn{text}, @dfn{data} and
2514@dfn{bss} sections.
2515
2516@ifset COFF
2517@ifset GENERIC
2518When it generates COFF output,
2519@end ifset
2520@command{@value{AS}} can also generate whatever other named sections you specify
2521using the @samp{.section} directive (@pxref{Section,,@code{.section}}).
2522If you do not use any directives that place output in the @samp{.text}
2523or @samp{.data} sections, these sections still exist, but are empty.
2524@end ifset
2525
2526@ifset HPPA
2527@ifset GENERIC
2528When @command{@value{AS}} generates SOM or ELF output for the HPPA,
2529@end ifset
2530@command{@value{AS}} can also generate whatever other named sections you
2531specify using the @samp{.space} and @samp{.subspace} directives.  See
2532@cite{HP9000 Series 800 Assembly Language Reference Manual}
2533(HP 92432-90001) for details on the @samp{.space} and @samp{.subspace}
2534assembler directives.
2535
2536@ifset SOM
2537Additionally, @command{@value{AS}} uses different names for the standard
2538text, data, and bss sections when generating SOM output.  Program text
2539is placed into the @samp{$CODE$} section, data into @samp{$DATA$}, and
2540BSS into @samp{$BSS$}.
2541@end ifset
2542@end ifset
2543
2544Within the object file, the text section starts at address @code{0}, the
2545data section follows, and the bss section follows the data section.
2546
2547@ifset HPPA
2548When generating either SOM or ELF output files on the HPPA, the text
2549section starts at address @code{0}, the data section at address
2550@code{0x4000000}, and the bss section follows the data section.
2551@end ifset
2552
2553To let @code{@value{LD}} know which data changes when the sections are
2554relocated, and how to change that data, @command{@value{AS}} also writes to the
2555object file details of the relocation needed.  To perform relocation
2556@code{@value{LD}} must know, each time an address in the object
2557file is mentioned:
2558@itemize @bullet
2559@item
2560Where in the object file is the beginning of this reference to
2561an address?
2562@item
2563How long (in bytes) is this reference?
2564@item
2565Which section does the address refer to?  What is the numeric value of
2566@display
2567(@var{address}) @minus{} (@var{start-address of section})?
2568@end display
2569@item
2570Is the reference to an address ``Program-Counter relative''?
2571@end itemize
2572
2573@cindex addresses, format of
2574@cindex section-relative addressing
2575In fact, every address @command{@value{AS}} ever uses is expressed as
2576@display
2577(@var{section}) + (@var{offset into section})
2578@end display
2579@noindent
2580Further, most expressions @command{@value{AS}} computes have this section-relative
2581nature.
2582@ifset SOM
2583(For some object formats, such as SOM for the HPPA, some expressions are
2584symbol-relative instead.)
2585@end ifset
2586
2587In this manual we use the notation @{@var{secname} @var{N}@} to mean ``offset
2588@var{N} into section @var{secname}.''
2589
2590Apart from text, data and bss sections you need to know about the
2591@dfn{absolute} section.  When @code{@value{LD}} mixes partial programs,
2592addresses in the absolute section remain unchanged.  For example, address
2593@code{@{absolute 0@}} is ``relocated'' to run-time address 0 by
2594@code{@value{LD}}.  Although the linker never arranges two partial programs'
2595data sections with overlapping addresses after linking, @emph{by definition}
2596their absolute sections must overlap.  Address @code{@{absolute@ 239@}} in one
2597part of a program is always the same address when the program is running as
2598address @code{@{absolute@ 239@}} in any other part of the program.
2599
2600The idea of sections is extended to the @dfn{undefined} section.  Any
2601address whose section is unknown at assembly time is by definition
2602rendered @{undefined @var{U}@}---where @var{U} is filled in later.
2603Since numbers are always defined, the only way to generate an undefined
2604address is to mention an undefined symbol.  A reference to a named
2605common block would be such a symbol: its value is unknown at assembly
2606time so it has section @emph{undefined}.
2607
2608By analogy the word @emph{section} is used to describe groups of sections in
2609the linked program.  @code{@value{LD}} puts all partial programs' text
2610sections in contiguous addresses in the linked program.  It is
2611customary to refer to the @emph{text section} of a program, meaning all
2612the addresses of all partial programs' text sections.  Likewise for
2613data and bss sections.
2614
2615Some sections are manipulated by @code{@value{LD}}; others are invented for
2616use of @command{@value{AS}} and have no meaning except during assembly.
2617
2618@node Ld Sections
2619@section Linker Sections
2620@code{@value{LD}} deals with just four kinds of sections, summarized below.
2621
2622@table @strong
2623
2624@ifset COFF
2625@cindex named sections
2626@cindex sections, named
2627@item named sections
2628@end ifset
2629@ifset aout-bout
2630@cindex text section
2631@cindex data section
2632@itemx text section
2633@itemx data section
2634@end ifset
2635These sections hold your program.  @command{@value{AS}} and @code{@value{LD}} treat them as
2636separate but equal sections.  Anything you can say of one section is
2637true another.
2638@ifset aout-bout
2639When the program is running, however, it is
2640customary for the text section to be unalterable.  The
2641text section is often shared among processes: it contains
2642instructions, constants and the like.  The data section of a running
2643program is usually alterable: for example, C variables would be stored
2644in the data section.
2645@end ifset
2646
2647@cindex bss section
2648@item bss section
2649This section contains zeroed bytes when your program begins running.  It
2650is used to hold uninitialized variables or common storage.  The length of
2651each partial program's bss section is important, but because it starts
2652out containing zeroed bytes there is no need to store explicit zero
2653bytes in the object file.  The bss section was invented to eliminate
2654those explicit zeros from object files.
2655
2656@cindex absolute section
2657@item absolute section
2658Address 0 of this section is always ``relocated'' to runtime address 0.
2659This is useful if you want to refer to an address that @code{@value{LD}} must
2660not change when relocating.  In this sense we speak of absolute
2661addresses being ``unrelocatable'': they do not change during relocation.
2662
2663@cindex undefined section
2664@item undefined section
2665This ``section'' is a catch-all for address references to objects not in
2666the preceding sections.
2667@c FIXME: ref to some other doc on obj-file formats could go here.
2668@end table
2669
2670@cindex relocation example
2671An idealized example of three relocatable sections follows.
2672@ifset COFF
2673The example uses the traditional section names @samp{.text} and @samp{.data}.
2674@end ifset
2675Memory addresses are on the horizontal axis.
2676
2677@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2678@ifinfo
2679@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2680@smallexample
2681                      +-----+----+--+
2682partial program # 1:  |ttttt|dddd|00|
2683                      +-----+----+--+
2684
2685                      text   data bss
2686                      seg.   seg. seg.
2687
2688                      +---+---+---+
2689partial program # 2:  |TTT|DDD|000|
2690                      +---+---+---+
2691
2692                      +--+---+-----+--+----+---+-----+~~
2693linked program:       |  |TTT|ttttt|  |dddd|DDD|00000|
2694                      +--+---+-----+--+----+---+-----+~~
2695
2696    addresses:        0 @dots{}
2697@end smallexample
2698@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2699@end ifinfo
2700@need 5000
2701@tex
2702
2703\line{\it Partial program \#1: \hfil}
2704\line{\ibox{2.5cm}{\tt text}\ibox{2cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2705\line{\boxit{2.5cm}{\tt ttttt}\boxit{2cm}{\tt dddd}\boxit{1cm}{\tt 00}\hfil}
2706
2707\line{\it Partial program \#2: \hfil}
2708\line{\ibox{1cm}{\tt text}\ibox{1.5cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2709\line{\boxit{1cm}{\tt TTT}\boxit{1.5cm}{\tt DDDD}\boxit{1cm}{\tt 000}\hfil}
2710
2711\line{\it linked program: \hfil}
2712\line{\ibox{.5cm}{}\ibox{1cm}{\tt text}\ibox{2.5cm}{}\ibox{.75cm}{}\ibox{2cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1.5cm}{}\ibox{2cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2713\line{\boxit{.5cm}{}\boxit{1cm}{\tt TTT}\boxit{2.5cm}{\tt
2714ttttt}\boxit{.75cm}{}\boxit{2cm}{\tt dddd}\boxit{1.5cm}{\tt
2715DDDD}\boxit{2cm}{\tt 00000}\ \dots\hfil}
2716
2717\line{\it addresses: \hfil}
2718\line{0\dots\hfil}
2719
2720@end tex
2721@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2722
2723@node As Sections
2724@section Assembler Internal Sections
2725
2726@cindex internal assembler sections
2727@cindex sections in messages, internal
2728These sections are meant only for the internal use of @command{@value{AS}}.  They
2729have no meaning at run-time.  You do not really need to know about these
2730sections for most purposes; but they can be mentioned in @command{@value{AS}}
2731warning messages, so it might be helpful to have an idea of their
2732meanings to @command{@value{AS}}.  These sections are used to permit the
2733value of every expression in your assembly language program to be a
2734section-relative address.
2735
2736@table @b
2737@cindex assembler internal logic error
2738@item ASSEMBLER-INTERNAL-LOGIC-ERROR!
2739An internal assembler logic error has been found.  This means there is a
2740bug in the assembler.
2741
2742@cindex expr (internal section)
2743@item expr section
2744The assembler stores complex expression internally as combinations of
2745symbols.  When it needs to represent an expression as a symbol, it puts
2746it in the expr section.
2747@c FIXME item debug
2748@c FIXME item transfer[t] vector preload
2749@c FIXME item transfer[t] vector postload
2750@c FIXME item register
2751@end table
2752
2753@node Sub-Sections
2754@section Sub-Sections
2755
2756@cindex numbered subsections
2757@cindex grouping data
2758@ifset aout-bout
2759Assembled bytes
2760@ifset COFF
2761conventionally
2762@end ifset
2763fall into two sections: text and data.
2764@end ifset
2765You may have separate groups of
2766@ifset GENERIC
2767data in named sections
2768@end ifset
2769@ifclear GENERIC
2770@ifclear aout-bout
2771data in named sections
2772@end ifclear
2773@ifset aout-bout
2774text or data
2775@end ifset
2776@end ifclear
2777that you want to end up near to each other in the object file, even though they
2778are not contiguous in the assembler source.  @command{@value{AS}} allows you to
2779use @dfn{subsections} for this purpose.  Within each section, there can be
2780numbered subsections with values from 0 to 8192.  Objects assembled into the
2781same subsection go into the object file together with other objects in the same
2782subsection.  For example, a compiler might want to store constants in the text
2783section, but might not want to have them interspersed with the program being
2784assembled.  In this case, the compiler could issue a @samp{.text 0} before each
2785section of code being output, and a @samp{.text 1} before each group of
2786constants being output.
2787
2788Subsections are optional.  If you do not use subsections, everything
2789goes in subsection number zero.
2790
2791@ifset GENERIC
2792Each subsection is zero-padded up to a multiple of four bytes.
2793(Subsections may be padded a different amount on different flavors
2794of @command{@value{AS}}.)
2795@end ifset
2796@ifclear GENERIC
2797@ifset H8
2798On the H8/300 and H8/500 platforms, each subsection is zero-padded to a word
2799boundary (two bytes).
2800The same is true on the Hitachi SH.
2801@end ifset
2802@ifset I960
2803@c FIXME section padding (alignment)?
2804@c Rich Pixley says padding here depends on target obj code format; that
2805@c doesn't seem particularly useful to say without further elaboration,
2806@c so for now I say nothing about it.  If this is a generic BFD issue,
2807@c these paragraphs might need to vanish from this manual, and be
2808@c discussed in BFD chapter of binutils (or some such).
2809@end ifset
2810@ifset A29K
2811On the AMD 29K family, no particular padding is added to section or
2812subsection sizes; @value{AS} forces no alignment on this platform.
2813@end ifset
2814@end ifclear
2815
2816Subsections appear in your object file in numeric order, lowest numbered
2817to highest.  (All this to be compatible with other people's assemblers.)
2818The object file contains no representation of subsections; @code{@value{LD}} and
2819other programs that manipulate object files see no trace of them.
2820They just see all your text subsections as a text section, and all your
2821data subsections as a data section.
2822
2823To specify which subsection you want subsequent statements assembled
2824into, use a numeric argument to specify it, in a @samp{.text
2825@var{expression}} or a @samp{.data @var{expression}} statement.
2826@ifset COFF
2827@ifset GENERIC
2828When generating COFF output, you
2829@end ifset
2830@ifclear GENERIC
2831You
2832@end ifclear
2833can also use an extra subsection
2834argument with arbitrary named sections: @samp{.section @var{name},
2835@var{expression}}.
2836@end ifset
2837@var{Expression} should be an absolute expression.
2838(@xref{Expressions}.)  If you just say @samp{.text} then @samp{.text 0}
2839is assumed.  Likewise @samp{.data} means @samp{.data 0}.  Assembly
2840begins in @code{text 0}.  For instance:
2841@smallexample
2842.text 0     # The default subsection is text 0 anyway.
2843.ascii "This lives in the first text subsection. *"
2844.text 1
2845.ascii "But this lives in the second text subsection."
2846.data 0
2847.ascii "This lives in the data section,"
2848.ascii "in the first data subsection."
2849.text 0
2850.ascii "This lives in the first text section,"
2851.ascii "immediately following the asterisk (*)."
2852@end smallexample
2853
2854Each section has a @dfn{location counter} incremented by one for every byte
2855assembled into that section.  Because subsections are merely a convenience
2856restricted to @command{@value{AS}} there is no concept of a subsection location
2857counter.  There is no way to directly manipulate a location counter---but the
2858@code{.align} directive changes it, and any label definition captures its
2859current value.  The location counter of the section where statements are being
2860assembled is said to be the @dfn{active} location counter.
2861
2862@node bss
2863@section bss Section
2864
2865@cindex bss section
2866@cindex common variable storage
2867The bss section is used for local common variable storage.
2868You may allocate address space in the bss section, but you may
2869not dictate data to load into it before your program executes.  When
2870your program starts running, all the contents of the bss
2871section are zeroed bytes.
2872
2873The @code{.lcomm} pseudo-op defines a symbol in the bss section; see
2874@ref{Lcomm,,@code{.lcomm}}.
2875
2876The @code{.comm} pseudo-op may be used to declare a common symbol, which is
2877another form of uninitialized symbol; see @xref{Comm,,@code{.comm}}.
2878
2879@ifset GENERIC
2880When assembling for a target which supports multiple sections, such as ELF or
2881COFF, you may switch into the @code{.bss} section and define symbols as usual;
2882see @ref{Section,,@code{.section}}.  You may only assemble zero values into the
2883section.  Typically the section will only contain symbol definitions and
2884@code{.skip} directives (@pxref{Skip,,@code{.skip}}).
2885@end ifset
2886
2887@node Symbols
2888@chapter Symbols
2889
2890@cindex symbols
2891Symbols are a central concept: the programmer uses symbols to name
2892things, the linker uses symbols to link, and the debugger uses symbols
2893to debug.
2894
2895@quotation
2896@cindex debuggers, and symbol order
2897@emph{Warning:} @command{@value{AS}} does not place symbols in the object file in
2898the same order they were declared.  This may break some debuggers.
2899@end quotation
2900
2901@menu
2902* Labels::                      Labels
2903* Setting Symbols::             Giving Symbols Other Values
2904* Symbol Names::                Symbol Names
2905* Dot::                         The Special Dot Symbol
2906* Symbol Attributes::           Symbol Attributes
2907@end menu
2908
2909@node Labels
2910@section Labels
2911
2912@cindex labels
2913A @dfn{label} is written as a symbol immediately followed by a colon
2914@samp{:}.  The symbol then represents the current value of the
2915active location counter, and is, for example, a suitable instruction
2916operand.  You are warned if you use the same symbol to represent two
2917different locations: the first definition overrides any other
2918definitions.
2919
2920@ifset HPPA
2921On the HPPA, the usual form for a label need not be immediately followed by a
2922colon, but instead must start in column zero.  Only one label may be defined on
2923a single line.  To work around this, the HPPA version of @command{@value{AS}} also
2924provides a special directive @code{.label} for defining labels more flexibly.
2925@end ifset
2926
2927@node Setting Symbols
2928@section Giving Symbols Other Values
2929
2930@cindex assigning values to symbols
2931@cindex symbol values, assigning
2932A symbol can be given an arbitrary value by writing a symbol, followed
2933by an equals sign @samp{=}, followed by an expression
2934(@pxref{Expressions}).  This is equivalent to using the @code{.set}
2935directive.  @xref{Set,,@code{.set}}.
2936
2937@node Symbol Names
2938@section Symbol Names
2939
2940@cindex symbol names
2941@cindex names, symbol
2942@ifclear SPECIAL-SYMS
2943Symbol names begin with a letter or with one of @samp{._}.  On most
2944machines, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names; exceptions are
2945noted in @ref{Machine Dependencies}.  That character may be followed by any
2946string of digits, letters, dollar signs (unless otherwise noted in
2947@ref{Machine Dependencies}), and underscores.
2948@end ifclear
2949@ifset A29K
2950For the AMD 29K family, @samp{?} is also allowed in the
2951body of a symbol name, though not at its beginning.
2952@end ifset
2953
2954@ifset SPECIAL-SYMS
2955@ifset H8
2956Symbol names begin with a letter or with one of @samp{._}.  On the
2957Hitachi SH or the
2958H8/500, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names.  That character may
2959be followed by any string of digits, letters, dollar signs (save on the
2960H8/300), and underscores.
2961@end ifset
2962@end ifset
2963
2964Case of letters is significant: @code{foo} is a different symbol name
2965than @code{Foo}.
2966
2967Each symbol has exactly one name.  Each name in an assembly language program
2968refers to exactly one symbol.  You may use that symbol name any number of times
2969in a program.
2970
2971@subheading Local Symbol Names
2972
2973@cindex local symbol names
2974@cindex symbol names, local
2975@cindex temporary symbol names
2976@cindex symbol names, temporary
2977Local symbols help compilers and programmers use names temporarily.
2978They create symbols which are guaranteed to be unique over the entire scope of
2979the input source code and which can be referred to by a simple notation.
2980To define a local symbol, write a label of the form @samp{@b{N}:} (where @b{N}
2981represents any positive integer).  To refer to the most recent previous
2982definition of that symbol write @samp{@b{N}b}, using the same number as when
2983you defined the label.  To refer to the next definition of a local label, write
2984@samp{@b{N}f}--- The @samp{b} stands for``backwards'' and the @samp{f} stands
2985for ``forwards''.
2986
2987There is no restriction on how you can use these labels, and you can reuse them
2988too.  So that it is possible to repeatedly define the same local label (using
2989the same number @samp{@b{N}}), although you can only refer to the most recently
2990defined local label of that number (for a backwards reference) or the next
2991definition of a specific local label for a forward reference.  It is also worth
2992noting that the first 10 local labels (@samp{@b{0:}}@dots{}@samp{@b{9:}}) are
2993implemented in a slightly more efficient manner than the others.
2994
2995Here is an example:
2996
2997@smallexample
29981:        branch 1f
29992:        branch 1b
30001:        branch 2f
30012:        branch 1b
3002@end smallexample
3003
3004Which is the equivalent of:
3005
3006@smallexample
3007label_1:  branch label_3
3008label_2:  branch label_1
3009label_3:  branch label_4
3010label_4:  branch label_3
3011@end smallexample
3012
3013Local symbol names are only a notational device.  They are immediately
3014transformed into more conventional symbol names before the assembler uses them.
3015The symbol names stored in the symbol table, appearing in error messages and
3016optionally emitted to the object file.  The names are constructed using these
3017parts:
3018
3019@table @code
3020@item L
3021All local labels begin with @samp{L}. Normally both @command{@value{AS}} and
3022@code{@value{LD}} forget symbols that start with @samp{L}. These labels are
3023used for symbols you are never intended to see.  If you use the
3024@samp{-L} option then @command{@value{AS}} retains these symbols in the
3025object file. If you also instruct @code{@value{LD}} to retain these symbols,
3026you may use them in debugging.
3027
3028@item @var{number}
3029This is the number that was used in the local label definition.  So if the
3030label is written @samp{55:} then the number is @samp{55}. 
3031
3032@item @kbd{C-B}
3033This unusual character is included so you do not accidentally invent a symbol
3034of the same name.  The character has ASCII value of @samp{\002} (control-B).
3035
3036@item @emph{ordinal number}
3037This is a serial number to keep the labels distinct.  The first definition of
3038@samp{0:} gets the number @samp{1}.  The 15th definition of @samp{0:} gets the 
3039number @samp{15}, and so on.  Likewise the first definition of @samp{1:} gets
3040the number @samp{1} and its 15th defintion gets @samp{15} as well.
3041@end table
3042
3043So for example, the first @code{1:} is named @code{L1@kbd{C-B}1}, the 44th
3044@code{3:} is named @code{L3@kbd{C-B}44}.
3045
3046@subheading Dollar Local Labels
3047@cindex dollar local symbols
3048
3049@code{@value{AS}} also supports an even more local form of local labels called
3050dollar labels.  These labels go out of scope (ie they become undefined) as soon
3051as a non-local label is defined.  Thus they remain valid for only a small
3052region of the input source code.  Normal local labels, by contrast, remain in
3053scope for the entire file, or until they are redefined by another occurrence of
3054the same local label.
3055
3056Dollar labels are defined in exactly the same way as ordinary local labels,
3057except that instead of being terminated by a colon, they are terminated by a
3058dollar sign.  eg @samp{@b{55$}}.
3059
3060They can also be distinguished from ordinary local labels by their transformed
3061name which uses ASCII character @samp{\001} (control-A) as the magic character
3062to distinguish them from ordinary labels.  Thus the 5th defintion of @samp{6$}
3063is named @samp{L6@kbd{C-A}5}.
3064
3065@node Dot
3066@section The Special Dot Symbol
3067
3068@cindex dot (symbol)
3069@cindex @code{.} (symbol)
3070@cindex current address
3071@cindex location counter
3072The special symbol @samp{.} refers to the current address that
3073@command{@value{AS}} is assembling into.  Thus, the expression @samp{melvin:
3074.long .} defines @code{melvin} to contain its own address.
3075Assigning a value to @code{.} is treated the same as a @code{.org}
3076directive.  Thus, the expression @samp{.=.+4} is the same as saying
3077@ifclear no-space-dir
3078@samp{.space 4}.
3079@end ifclear
3080@ifset no-space-dir
3081@ifset A29K
3082@samp{.block 4}.
3083@end ifset
3084@end ifset
3085
3086@node Symbol Attributes
3087@section Symbol Attributes
3088
3089@cindex symbol attributes
3090@cindex attributes, symbol
3091Every symbol has, as well as its name, the attributes ``Value'' and
3092``Type''.  Depending on output format, symbols can also have auxiliary
3093attributes.
3094@ifset INTERNALS
3095The detailed definitions are in @file{a.out.h}.
3096@end ifset
3097
3098If you use a symbol without defining it, @command{@value{AS}} assumes zero for
3099all these attributes, and probably won't warn you.  This makes the
3100symbol an externally defined symbol, which is generally what you
3101would want.
3102
3103@menu
3104* Symbol Value::                Value
3105* Symbol Type::                 Type
3106@ifset aout-bout
3107@ifset GENERIC
3108* a.out Symbols::               Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3109@end ifset
3110@ifclear GENERIC
3111@ifclear BOUT
3112* a.out Symbols::               Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3113@end ifclear
3114@ifset BOUT
3115* a.out Symbols::               Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}, @code{b.out}
3116@end ifset
3117@end ifclear
3118@end ifset
3119@ifset COFF
3120* COFF Symbols::                Symbol Attributes for COFF
3121@end ifset
3122@ifset SOM
3123* SOM Symbols::                Symbol Attributes for SOM
3124@end ifset
3125@end menu
3126
3127@node Symbol Value
3128@subsection Value
3129
3130@cindex value of a symbol
3131@cindex symbol value
3132The value of a symbol is (usually) 32 bits.  For a symbol which labels a
3133location in the text, data, bss or absolute sections the value is the
3134number of addresses from the start of that section to the label.
3135Naturally for text, data and bss sections the value of a symbol changes
3136as @code{@value{LD}} changes section base addresses during linking.  Absolute
3137symbols' values do not change during linking: that is why they are
3138called absolute.
3139
3140The value of an undefined symbol is treated in a special way.  If it is
31410 then the symbol is not defined in this assembler source file, and
3142@code{@value{LD}} tries to determine its value from other files linked into the
3143same program.  You make this kind of symbol simply by mentioning a symbol
3144name without defining it.  A non-zero value represents a @code{.comm}
3145common declaration.  The value is how much common storage to reserve, in
3146bytes (addresses).  The symbol refers to the first address of the
3147allocated storage.
3148
3149@node Symbol Type
3150@subsection Type
3151
3152@cindex type of a symbol
3153@cindex symbol type
3154The type attribute of a symbol contains relocation (section)
3155information, any flag settings indicating that a symbol is external, and
3156(optionally), other information for linkers and debuggers.  The exact
3157format depends on the object-code output format in use.
3158
3159@ifset aout-bout
3160@ifclear GENERIC
3161@ifset BOUT
3162@c The following avoids a "widow" subsection title.  @group would be
3163@c better if it were available outside examples.
3164@need 1000
3165@node a.out Symbols
3166@subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}, @code{b.out}
3167
3168@cindex @code{b.out} symbol attributes
3169@cindex symbol attributes, @code{b.out}
3170These symbol attributes appear only when @command{@value{AS}} is configured for
3171one of the Berkeley-descended object output formats---@code{a.out} or
3172@code{b.out}.
3173
3174@end ifset
3175@ifclear BOUT
3176@node a.out Symbols
3177@subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3178
3179@cindex @code{a.out} symbol attributes
3180@cindex symbol attributes, @code{a.out}
3181
3182@end ifclear
3183@end ifclear
3184@ifset GENERIC
3185@node a.out Symbols
3186@subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3187
3188@cindex @code{a.out} symbol attributes
3189@cindex symbol attributes, @code{a.out}
3190
3191@end ifset
3192@menu
3193* Symbol Desc::                 Descriptor
3194* Symbol Other::                Other
3195@end menu
3196
3197@node Symbol Desc
3198@subsubsection Descriptor
3199
3200@cindex descriptor, of @code{a.out} symbol
3201This is an arbitrary 16-bit value.  You may establish a symbol's
3202descriptor value by using a @code{.desc} statement
3203(@pxref{Desc,,@code{.desc}}).  A descriptor value means nothing to
3204@command{@value{AS}}.
3205
3206@node Symbol Other
3207@subsubsection Other
3208
3209@cindex other attribute, of @code{a.out} symbol
3210This is an arbitrary 8-bit value.  It means nothing to @command{@value{AS}}.
3211@end ifset
3212
3213@ifset COFF
3214@node COFF Symbols
3215@subsection Symbol Attributes for COFF
3216
3217@cindex COFF symbol attributes
3218@cindex symbol attributes, COFF
3219
3220The COFF format supports a multitude of auxiliary symbol attributes;
3221like the primary symbol attributes, they are set between @code{.def} and
3222@code{.endef} directives.
3223
3224@subsubsection Primary Attributes
3225
3226@cindex primary attributes, COFF symbols
3227The symbol name is set with @code{.def}; the value and type,
3228respectively, with @code{.val} and @code{.type}.
3229
3230@subsubsection Auxiliary Attributes
3231
3232@cindex auxiliary attributes, COFF symbols
3233The @command{@value{AS}} directives @code{.dim}, @code{.line}, @code{.scl},
3234@code{.size}, and @code{.tag} can generate auxiliary symbol table
3235information for COFF.
3236@end ifset
3237
3238@ifset SOM
3239@node SOM Symbols
3240@subsection Symbol Attributes for SOM
3241
3242@cindex SOM symbol attributes
3243@cindex symbol attributes, SOM
3244
3245The SOM format for the HPPA supports a multitude of symbol attributes set with
3246the @code{.EXPORT} and @code{.IMPORT} directives.
3247
3248The attributes are described in @cite{HP9000 Series 800 Assembly 
3249Language Reference Manual} (HP 92432-90001) under the @code{IMPORT} and
3250@code{EXPORT} assembler directive documentation.
3251@end ifset
3252
3253@node Expressions
3254@chapter Expressions
3255
3256@cindex expressions
3257@cindex addresses
3258@cindex numeric values
3259An @dfn{expression} specifies an address or numeric value.
3260Whitespace may precede and/or follow an expression.
3261
3262The result of an expression must be an absolute number, or else an offset into
3263a particular section.  If an expression is not absolute, and there is not
3264enough information when @command{@value{AS}} sees the expression to know its
3265section, a second pass over the source program might be necessary to interpret
3266the expression---but the second pass is currently not implemented.
3267@command{@value{AS}} aborts with an error message in this situation.
3268
3269@menu
3270* Empty Exprs::                 Empty Expressions
3271* Integer Exprs::               Integer Expressions
3272@end menu
3273
3274@node Empty Exprs
3275@section Empty Expressions
3276
3277@cindex empty expressions
3278@cindex expressions, empty
3279An empty expression has no value: it is just whitespace or null.
3280Wherever an absolute expression is required, you may omit the
3281expression, and @command{@value{AS}} assumes a value of (absolute) 0.  This
3282is compatible with other assemblers.
3283
3284@node Integer Exprs
3285@section Integer Expressions
3286
3287@cindex integer expressions
3288@cindex expressions, integer
3289An @dfn{integer expression} is one or more @emph{arguments} delimited
3290by @emph{operators}.
3291
3292@menu
3293* Arguments::                   Arguments
3294* Operators::                   Operators
3295* Prefix Ops::                  Prefix Operators
3296* Infix Ops::                   Infix Operators
3297@end menu
3298
3299@node Arguments
3300@subsection Arguments
3301
3302@cindex expression arguments
3303@cindex arguments in expressions
3304@cindex operands in expressions
3305@cindex arithmetic operands
3306@dfn{Arguments} are symbols, numbers or subexpressions.  In other
3307contexts arguments are sometimes called ``arithmetic operands''.  In
3308this manual, to avoid confusing them with the ``instruction operands'' of
3309the machine language, we use the term ``argument'' to refer to parts of
3310expressions only, reserving the word ``operand'' to refer only to machine
3311instruction operands.
3312
3313Symbols are evaluated to yield @{@var{section} @var{NNN}@} where
3314@var{section} is one of text, data, bss, absolute,
3315or undefined.  @var{NNN} is a signed, 2's complement 32 bit
3316integer.
3317
3318Numbers are usually integers.
3319
3320A number can be a flonum or bignum.  In this case, you are warned
3321that only the low order 32 bits are used, and @command{@value{AS}} pretends
3322these 32 bits are an integer.  You may write integer-manipulating
3323instructions that act on exotic constants, compatible with other
3324assemblers.
3325
3326@cindex subexpressions
3327Subexpressions are a left parenthesis @samp{(} followed by an integer
3328expression, followed by a right parenthesis @samp{)}; or a prefix
3329operator followed by an argument.
3330
3331@node Operators
3332@subsection Operators
3333
3334@cindex operators, in expressions
3335@cindex arithmetic functions
3336@cindex functions, in expressions
3337@dfn{Operators} are arithmetic functions, like @code{+} or @code{%}.  Prefix
3338operators are followed by an argument.  Infix operators appear
3339between their arguments.  Operators may be preceded and/or followed by
3340whitespace.
3341
3342@node Prefix Ops
3343@subsection Prefix Operator
3344
3345@cindex prefix operators
3346@command{@value{AS}} has the following @dfn{prefix operators}.  They each take
3347one argument, which must be absolute.
3348
3349@c the tex/end tex stuff surrounding this small table is meant to make
3350@c it align, on the printed page, with the similar table in the next
3351@c section (which is inside an enumerate).
3352@tex
3353\global\advance\leftskip by \itemindent
3354@end tex
3355
3356@table @code
3357@item -
3358@dfn{Negation}.  Two's complement negation.
3359@item ~
3360@dfn{Complementation}.  Bitwise not.
3361@end table
3362
3363@tex
3364\global\advance\leftskip by -\itemindent
3365@end tex
3366
3367@node Infix Ops
3368@subsection Infix Operators
3369
3370@cindex infix operators
3371@cindex operators, permitted arguments
3372@dfn{Infix operators} take two arguments, one on either side.  Operators
3373have precedence, but operations with equal precedence are performed left
3374to right.  Apart from @code{+} or @option{-}, both arguments must be
3375absolute, and the result is absolute.
3376
3377@enumerate
3378@cindex operator precedence
3379@cindex precedence of operators
3380
3381@item
3382Highest Precedence
3383
3384@table @code
3385@item *
3386@dfn{Multiplication}.
3387
3388@item /
3389@dfn{Division}.  Truncation is the same as the C operator @samp{/}
3390
3391@item %
3392@dfn{Remainder}.
3393
3394@item <
3395@itemx <<
3396@dfn{Shift Left}.  Same as the C operator @samp{<<}.
3397
3398@item >
3399@itemx >>
3400@dfn{Shift Right}.  Same as the C operator @samp{>>}.
3401@end table
3402
3403@item
3404Intermediate precedence
3405
3406@table @code
3407@item |
3408
3409@dfn{Bitwise Inclusive Or}.
3410
3411@item &
3412@dfn{Bitwise And}.
3413
3414@item ^
3415@dfn{Bitwise Exclusive Or}.
3416
3417@item !
3418@dfn{Bitwise Or Not}.
3419@end table
3420
3421@item
3422Low Precedence
3423
3424@table @code
3425@cindex addition, permitted arguments
3426@cindex plus, permitted arguments
3427@cindex arguments for addition
3428@item +
3429@dfn{Addition}.  If either argument is absolute, the result has the section of
3430the other argument.  You may not add together arguments from different
3431sections.
3432
3433@cindex subtraction, permitted arguments
3434@cindex minus, permitted arguments
3435@cindex arguments for subtraction
3436@item -
3437@dfn{Subtraction}.  If the right argument is absolute, the
3438result has the section of the left argument.
3439If both arguments are in the same section, the result is absolute.
3440You may not subtract arguments from different sections.
3441@c FIXME is there still something useful to say about undefined - undefined ?
3442
3443@cindex comparison expressions
3444@cindex expressions, comparison
3445@item  ==
3446@dfn{Is Equal To}
3447@item <>
3448@dfn{Is Not Equal To}
3449@item <
3450@dfn{Is Less Than}
3451@itemx >
3452@dfn{Is Greater Than}
3453@itemx >=
3454@dfn{Is Greater Than Or Equal To}
3455@itemx <=
3456@dfn{Is Less Than Or Equal To}
3457
3458The comparison operators can be used as infix operators.  A true results has a
3459value of -1 whereas a false result has a value of 0.   Note, these operators
3460perform signed comparisons.
3461@end table
3462
3463@item Lowest Precedence
3464
3465@table @code
3466@item &&
3467@dfn{Logical And}.
3468
3469@item ||
3470@dfn{Logical Or}.
3471
3472These two logical operations can be used to combine the results of sub
3473expressions.  Note, unlike the comparison operators a true result returns a
3474value of 1 but a false results does still return 0.  Also note that the logical
3475or operator has a slightly lower precedence than logical and.
3476
3477@end table
3478@end enumerate
3479
3480In short, it's only meaningful to add or subtract the @emph{offsets} in an
3481address; you can only have a defined section in one of the two arguments.
3482
3483@node Pseudo Ops
3484@chapter Assembler Directives
3485
3486@cindex directives, machine independent
3487@cindex pseudo-ops, machine independent
3488@cindex machine independent directives
3489All assembler directives have names that begin with a period (@samp{.}).
3490The rest of the name is letters, usually in lower case.
3491
3492This chapter discusses directives that are available regardless of the
3493target machine configuration for the @sc{gnu} assembler.
3494@ifset GENERIC
3495Some machine configurations provide additional directives.
3496@xref{Machine Dependencies}.
3497@end ifset
3498@ifclear GENERIC
3499@ifset machine-directives
3500@xref{Machine Dependencies} for additional directives.
3501@end ifset
3502@end ifclear
3503
3504@menu
3505* Abort::                       @code{.abort}
3506@ifset COFF
3507* ABORT::                       @code{.ABORT}
3508@end ifset
3509
3510* Align::                       @code{.align @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
3511* Ascii::                       @code{.ascii "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3512* Asciz::                       @code{.asciz "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3513* Balign::                      @code{.balign @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
3514* Byte::                        @code{.byte @var{expressions}}
3515* Comm::                        @code{.comm @var{symbol} , @var{length} }
3516* Data::                        @code{.data @var{subsection}}
3517@ifset COFF
3518* Def::                         @code{.def @var{name}}
3519@end ifset
3520@ifset aout-bout
3521* Desc::                        @code{.desc @var{symbol}, @var{abs-expression}}
3522@end ifset
3523@ifset COFF
3524* Dim::                         @code{.dim}
3525@end ifset
3526
3527* Double::                      @code{.double @var{flonums}}
3528* Eject::                       @code{.eject}
3529* Else::                        @code{.else}
3530* Elseif::                      @code{.elseif}
3531* End::				@code{.end}
3532@ifset COFF
3533* Endef::                       @code{.endef}
3534@end ifset
3535
3536* Endfunc::                     @code{.endfunc}
3537* Endif::                       @code{.endif}
3538* Equ::                         @code{.equ @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3539* Equiv::                       @code{.equiv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3540* Err::				@code{.err}
3541* Exitm::			@code{.exitm}
3542* Extern::                      @code{.extern}
3543* Fail::			@code{.fail}
3544@ifclear no-file-dir
3545* File::                        @code{.file @var{string}}
3546@end ifclear
3547
3548* Fill::                        @code{.fill @var{repeat} , @var{size} , @var{value}}
3549* Float::                       @code{.float @var{flonums}}
3550* Func::                        @code{.func}  
3551* Global::                      @code{.global @var{symbol}}, @code{.globl @var{symbol}}
3552@ifset ELF
3553* Hidden::                      @code{.hidden @var{names}}
3554@end ifset
3555
3556* hword::                       @code{.hword @var{expressions}}
3557* Ident::                       @code{.ident}
3558* If::                          @code{.if @var{absolute expression}}
3559* Incbin::                      @code{.incbin "@var{file}"[,@var{skip}[,@var{count}]]}
3560* Include::                     @code{.include "@var{file}"}
3561* Int::                         @code{.int @var{expressions}}
3562@ifset ELF
3563* Internal::                    @code{.internal @var{names}}
3564@end ifset
3565
3566* Irp::				@code{.irp @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
3567* Irpc::			@code{.irpc @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
3568* Lcomm::                       @code{.lcomm @var{symbol} , @var{length}}
3569* Lflags::                      @code{.lflags}
3570@ifclear no-line-dir
3571* Line::                        @code{.line @var{line-number}}
3572@end ifclear
3573
3574* Ln::                          @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
3575* Linkonce::			@code{.linkonce [@var{type}]}
3576* List::                        @code{.list}
3577* Long::                        @code{.long @var{expressions}}
3578@ignore
3579* Lsym::                        @code{.lsym @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3580@end ignore
3581
3582* Macro::			@code{.macro @var{name} @var{args}}@dots{}
3583* MRI::				@code{.mri @var{val}}
3584* Nolist::                      @code{.nolist}
3585* Octa::                        @code{.octa @var{bignums}}
3586* Org::                         @code{.org @var{new-lc} , @var{fill}}
3587* P2align::                     @code{.p2align @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
3588@ifset ELF
3589* PopSection::                  @code{.popsection}
3590* Previous::                    @code{.previous}
3591@end ifset
3592
3593* Print::			@code{.print @var{string}}
3594@ifset ELF
3595* Protected::                   @code{.protected @var{names}}
3596@end ifset
3597
3598* Psize::                       @code{.psize @var{lines}, @var{columns}}
3599* Purgem::			@code{.purgem @var{name}}
3600@ifset ELF
3601* PushSection::                 @code{.pushsection @var{name}}
3602@end ifset
3603
3604* Quad::                        @code{.quad @var{bignums}}
3605* Rept::			@code{.rept @var{count}}
3606* Sbttl::                       @code{.sbttl "@var{subheading}"}
3607@ifset COFF
3608* Scl::                         @code{.scl @var{class}}
3609* Section::                     @code{.section @var{name}, @var{subsection}}
3610@end ifset
3611
3612* Set::                         @code{.set @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3613* Short::                       @code{.short @var{expressions}}
3614* Single::                      @code{.single @var{flonums}}
3615* Size::                        @code{.size [@var{name} , @var{expression}]}
3616* Skip::                        @code{.skip @var{size} , @var{fill}}
3617* Sleb128::			@code{.sleb128 @var{expressions}}
3618* Space::                       @code{.space @var{size} , @var{fill}}
3619@ifset have-stabs
3620* Stab::                        @code{.stabd, .stabn, .stabs}
3621@end ifset
3622
3623* String::                      @code{.string "@var{str}"}
3624* Struct::			@code{.struct @var{expression}}
3625@ifset ELF
3626* SubSection::                  @code{.subsection}
3627* Symver::                      @code{.symver @var{name},@var{name2@@nodename}}
3628@end ifset
3629
3630@ifset COFF
3631* Tag::                         @code{.tag @var{structname}}
3632@end ifset
3633
3634* Text::                        @code{.text @var{subsection}}
3635* Title::                       @code{.title "@var{heading}"}
3636* Type::                        @code{.type <@var{int} | @var{name} , @var{type description}>}
3637* Uleb128::                     @code{.uleb128 @var{expressions}}
3638@ifset COFF
3639* Val::                         @code{.val @var{addr}}
3640@end ifset
3641
3642@ifset ELF
3643* Version::                     @code{.version "@var{string}"}
3644* VTableEntry::                 @code{.vtable_entry @var{table}, @var{offset}}
3645* VTableInherit::               @code{.vtable_inherit @var{child}, @var{parent}}
3646* Weak::                        @code{.weak @var{names}}
3647@end ifset
3648
3649* Word::                        @code{.word @var{expressions}}
3650* Deprecated::                  Deprecated Directives
3651@end menu
3652
3653@node Abort
3654@section @code{.abort}
3655
3656@cindex @code{abort} directive
3657@cindex stopping the assembly
3658This directive stops the assembly immediately.  It is for
3659compatibility with other assemblers.  The original idea was that the
3660assembly language source would be piped into the assembler.  If the sender
3661of the source quit, it could use this directive tells @command{@value{AS}} to
3662quit also.  One day @code{.abort} will not be supported.
3663
3664@ifset COFF
3665@node ABORT
3666@section @code{.ABORT}
3667
3668@cindex @code{ABORT} directive
3669When producing COFF output, @command{@value{AS}} accepts this directive as a
3670synonym for @samp{.abort}.
3671
3672@ifset BOUT
3673When producing @code{b.out} output, @command{@value{AS}} accepts this directive,
3674but ignores it.
3675@end ifset
3676@end ifset
3677
3678@node Align
3679@section @code{.align @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
3680
3681@cindex padding the location counter
3682@cindex @code{align} directive
3683Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular storage
3684boundary.  The first expression (which must be absolute) is the alignment
3685required, as described below.
3686
3687The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
3688padding bytes.  It (and the comma) may be omitted.  If it is omitted, the
3689padding bytes are normally zero.  However, on some systems, if the section is
3690marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
3691with no-op instructions.
3692
3693The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional.  If it is present,
3694it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
3695directive.  If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
3696specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all.  You can omit the
3697fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
3698required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
3699with no-op instructions when appropriate.
3700
3701The way the required alignment is specified varies from system to system.
3702For the a29k, hppa, m68k, m88k, w65, sparc, and Hitachi SH, and i386 using ELF
3703format,
3704the first expression is the
3705alignment request in bytes.  For example @samp{.align 8} advances
3706the location counter until it is a multiple of 8.  If the location counter
3707is already a multiple of 8, no change is needed.
3708
3709For other systems, including the i386 using a.out format, and the arm and
3710strongarm, it is the
3711number of low-order zero bits the location counter must have after
3712advancement.  For example @samp{.align 3} advances the location
3713counter until it a multiple of 8.  If the location counter is already a
3714multiple of 8, no change is needed.
3715
3716This inconsistency is due to the different behaviors of the various
3717native assemblers for these systems which GAS must emulate.
3718GAS also provides @code{.balign} and @code{.p2align} directives,
3719described later, which have a consistent behavior across all
3720architectures (but are specific to GAS).
3721
3722@node Ascii
3723@section @code{.ascii "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3724
3725@cindex @code{ascii} directive
3726@cindex string literals
3727@code{.ascii} expects zero or more string literals (@pxref{Strings})
3728separated by commas.  It assembles each string (with no automatic
3729trailing zero byte) into consecutive addresses.
3730
3731@node Asciz
3732@section @code{.asciz "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3733
3734@cindex @code{asciz} directive
3735@cindex zero-terminated strings
3736@cindex null-terminated strings
3737@code{.asciz} is just like @code{.ascii}, but each string is followed by
3738a zero byte.  The ``z'' in @samp{.asciz} stands for ``zero''.
3739
3740@node Balign
3741@section @code{.balign[wl] @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
3742
3743@cindex padding the location counter given number of bytes
3744@cindex @code{balign} directive
3745Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular
3746storage boundary.  The first expression (which must be absolute) is the
3747alignment request in bytes.  For example @samp{.balign 8} advances
3748the location counter until it is a multiple of 8.  If the location counter
3749is already a multiple of 8, no change is needed.
3750
3751The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
3752padding bytes.  It (and the comma) may be omitted.  If it is omitted, the
3753padding bytes are normally zero.  However, on some systems, if the section is
3754marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
3755with no-op instructions.
3756
3757The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional.  If it is present,
3758it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
3759directive.  If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
3760specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all.  You can omit the
3761fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
3762required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
3763with no-op instructions when appropriate.
3764
3765@cindex @code{balignw} directive
3766@cindex @code{balignl} directive
3767The @code{.balignw} and @code{.balignl} directives are variants of the
3768@code{.balign} directive.  The @code{.balignw} directive treats the fill
3769pattern as a two byte word value.  The @code{.balignl} directives treats the
3770fill pattern as a four byte longword value.  For example, @code{.balignw
37714,0x368d} will align to a multiple of 4.  If it skips two bytes, they will be
3772filled in with the value 0x368d (the exact placement of the bytes depends upon
3773the endianness of the processor).  If it skips 1 or 3 bytes, the fill value is
3774undefined.
3775
3776@node Byte
3777@section @code{.byte @var{expressions}}
3778
3779@cindex @code{byte} directive
3780@cindex integers, one byte
3781@code{.byte} expects zero or more expressions, separated by commas.
3782Each expression is assembled into the next byte.
3783
3784@node Comm
3785@section @code{.comm @var{symbol} , @var{length} }
3786
3787@cindex @code{comm} directive
3788@cindex symbol, common
3789@code{.comm} declares a common symbol named @var{symbol}.  When linking, a
3790common symbol in one object file may be merged with a defined or common symbol
3791of the same name in another object file.  If @code{@value{LD}} does not see a
3792definition for the symbol--just one or more common symbols--then it will
3793allocate @var{length} bytes of uninitialized memory.  @var{length} must be an
3794absolute expression.  If @code{@value{LD}} sees multiple common symbols with
3795the same name, and they do not all have the same size, it will allocate space
3796using the largest size.
3797
3798@ifset ELF
3799When using ELF, the @code{.comm} directive takes an optional third argument.
3800This is the desired alignment of the symbol, specified as a byte boundary (for
3801example, an alignment of 16 means that the least significant 4 bits of the
3802address should be zero).  The alignment must be an absolute expression, and it
3803must be a power of two.  If @code{@value{LD}} allocates uninitialized memory
3804for the common symbol, it will use the alignment when placing the symbol.  If
3805no alignment is specified, @command{@value{AS}} will set the alignment to the
3806largest power of two less than or equal to the size of the symbol, up to a
3807maximum of 16.
3808@end ifset
3809
3810@ifset HPPA
3811The syntax for @code{.comm} differs slightly on the HPPA.  The syntax is
3812@samp{@var{symbol} .comm, @var{length}}; @var{symbol} is optional.
3813@end ifset
3814
3815@node Data
3816@section @code{.data @var{subsection}}
3817
3818@cindex @code{data} directive
3819@code{.data} tells @command{@value{AS}} to assemble the following statements onto the
3820end of the data subsection numbered @var{subsection} (which is an
3821absolute expression).  If @var{subsection} is omitted, it defaults
3822to zero.
3823
3824@ifset COFF
3825@node Def
3826@section @code{.def @var{name}}
3827
3828@cindex @code{def} directive
3829@cindex COFF symbols, debugging
3830@cindex debugging COFF symbols
3831Begin defining debugging information for a symbol @var{name}; the
3832definition extends until the @code{.endef} directive is encountered.
3833@ifset BOUT
3834
3835This directive is only observed when @command{@value{AS}} is configured for COFF
3836format output; when producing @code{b.out}, @samp{.def} is recognized,
3837but ignored.
3838@end ifset
3839@end ifset
3840
3841@ifset aout-bout
3842@node Desc
3843@section @code{.desc @var{symbol}, @var{abs-expression}}
3844
3845@cindex @code{desc} directive
3846@cindex COFF symbol descriptor
3847@cindex symbol descriptor, COFF
3848This directive sets the descriptor of the symbol (@pxref{Symbol Attributes})
3849to the low 16 bits of an absolute expression.
3850
3851@ifset COFF
3852The @samp{.desc} directive is not available when @command{@value{AS}} is
3853configured for COFF output; it is only for @code{a.out} or @code{b.out}
3854object format.  For the sake of compatibility, @command{@value{AS}} accepts
3855it, but produces no output, when configured for COFF.
3856@end ifset
3857@end ifset
3858
3859@ifset COFF
3860@node Dim
3861@section @code{.dim}
3862
3863@cindex @code{dim} directive
3864@cindex COFF auxiliary symbol information
3865@cindex auxiliary symbol information, COFF
3866This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
3867information in the symbol table.  It is only permitted inside
3868@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs.
3869@ifset BOUT
3870
3871@samp{.dim} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; when
3872@command{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
3873ignores it.
3874@end ifset
3875@end ifset
3876
3877@node Double
3878@section @code{.double @var{flonums}}
3879
3880@cindex @code{double} directive
3881@cindex floating point numbers (double)
3882@code{.double} expects zero or more flonums, separated by commas.  It
3883assembles floating point numbers.
3884@ifset GENERIC
3885The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
3886@command{@value{AS}} is configured.  @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
3887@end ifset
3888@ifclear GENERIC
3889@ifset IEEEFLOAT
3890On the @value{TARGET} family @samp{.double} emits 64-bit floating-point numbers
3891in @sc{ieee} format.
3892@end ifset
3893@end ifclear
3894
3895@node Eject
3896@section @code{.eject}
3897
3898@cindex @code{eject} directive
3899@cindex new page, in listings
3900@cindex page, in listings
3901@cindex listing control: new page
3902Force a page break at this point, when generating assembly listings.
3903
3904@node Else
3905@section @code{.else}
3906
3907@cindex @code{else} directive
3908@code{.else} is part of the @command{@value{AS}} support for conditional
3909assembly; @pxref{If,,@code{.if}}.  It marks the beginning of a section
3910of code to be assembled if the condition for the preceding @code{.if}
3911was false.
3912
3913@node Elseif
3914@section @code{.elseif}
3915
3916@cindex @code{elseif} directive
3917@code{.elseif} is part of the @command{@value{AS}} support for conditional
3918assembly; @pxref{If,,@code{.if}}.  It is shorthand for beginning a new
3919@code{.if} block that would otherwise fill the entire @code{.else} section.
3920
3921@node End
3922@section @code{.end}
3923
3924@cindex @code{end} directive
3925@code{.end} marks the end of the assembly file.  @command{@value{AS}} does not
3926process anything in the file past the @code{.end} directive.
3927
3928@ifset COFF
3929@node Endef
3930@section @code{.endef}
3931
3932@cindex @code{endef} directive
3933This directive flags the end of a symbol definition begun with
3934@code{.def}.
3935@ifset BOUT
3936
3937@samp{.endef} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; if
3938@command{@value{AS}} is configured to generate @code{b.out}, it accepts this
3939directive but ignores it.
3940@end ifset
3941@end ifset
3942
3943@node Endfunc
3944@section @code{.endfunc}
3945@cindex @code{endfunc} directive
3946@code{.endfunc} marks the end of a function specified with @code{.func}.
3947
3948@node Endif
3949@section @code{.endif}
3950
3951@cindex @code{endif} directive
3952@code{.endif} is part of the @command{@value{AS}} support for conditional assembly;
3953it marks the end of a block of code that is only assembled
3954conditionally.  @xref{If,,@code{.if}}.
3955
3956@node Equ
3957@section @code{.equ @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3958
3959@cindex @code{equ} directive
3960@cindex assigning values to symbols
3961@cindex symbols, assigning values to
3962This directive sets the value of @var{symbol} to @var{expression}.
3963It is synonymous with @samp{.set}; @pxref{Set,,@code{.set}}.
3964
3965@ifset HPPA
3966The syntax for @code{equ} on the HPPA is 
3967@samp{@var{symbol} .equ @var{expression}}.
3968@end ifset
3969
3970@node Equiv
3971@section @code{.equiv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3972@cindex @code{equiv} directive
3973The @code{.equiv} directive is like @code{.equ} and @code{.set}, except that
3974the assembler will signal an error if @var{symbol} is already defined.
3975
3976Except for the contents of the error message, this is roughly equivalent to 
3977@smallexample
3978.ifdef SYM
3979.err
3980.endif
3981.equ SYM,VAL
3982@end smallexample
3983
3984@node Err
3985@section @code{.err}
3986@cindex @code{err} directive
3987If @command{@value{AS}} assembles a @code{.err} directive, it will print an error
3988message and, unless the @option{-Z} option was used, it will not generate an
3989object file.  This can be used to signal error an conditionally compiled code.
3990
3991@node Exitm
3992@section @code{.exitm}
3993Exit early from the current macro definition.  @xref{Macro}.
3994
3995@node Extern
3996@section @code{.extern}
3997
3998@cindex @code{extern} directive
3999@code{.extern} is accepted in the source program---for compatibility
4000with other assemblers---but it is ignored.  @command{@value{AS}} treats
4001all undefined symbols as external.
4002
4003@node Fail
4004@section @code{.fail @var{expression}}
4005
4006@cindex @code{fail} directive
4007Generates an error or a warning.  If the value of the @var{expression} is 500
4008or more, @command{@value{AS}} will print a warning message.  If the value is less
4009than 500, @command{@value{AS}} will print an error message.  The message will
4010include the value of @var{expression}.  This can occasionally be useful inside
4011complex nested macros or conditional assembly.
4012
4013@ifclear no-file-dir
4014@node File
4015@section @code{.file @var{string}}
4016
4017@cindex @code{file} directive
4018@cindex logical file name
4019@cindex file name, logical
4020@code{.file} tells @command{@value{AS}} that we are about to start a new logical
4021file.  @var{string} is the new file name.  In general, the filename is
4022recognized whether or not it is surrounded by quotes @samp{"}; but if you wish
4023to specify an empty file name, you must give the quotes--@code{""}.  This
4024statement may go away in future: it is only recognized to be compatible with
4025old @command{@value{AS}} programs.
4026@ifset A29K
4027In some configurations of @command{@value{AS}}, @code{.file} has already been
4028removed to avoid conflicts with other assemblers.  @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
4029@end ifset
4030@end ifclear
4031
4032@node Fill
4033@section @code{.fill @var{repeat} , @var{size} , @var{value}}
4034
4035@cindex @code{fill} directive
4036@cindex writing patterns in memory
4037@cindex patterns, writing in memory
4038@var{repeat}, @var{size} and @var{value} are absolute expressions.
4039This emits @var{repeat} copies of @var{size} bytes.  @var{Repeat}
4040may be zero or more.  @var{Size} may be zero or more, but if it is
4041more than 8, then it is deemed to have the value 8, compatible with
4042other people's assemblers.  The contents of each @var{repeat} bytes
4043is taken from an 8-byte number.  The highest order 4 bytes are
4044zero.  The lowest order 4 bytes are @var{value} rendered in the
4045byte-order of an integer on the computer @command{@value{AS}} is assembling for.
4046Each @var{size} bytes in a repetition is taken from the lowest order
4047@var{size} bytes of this number.  Again, this bizarre behavior is
4048compatible with other people's assemblers.
4049
4050@var{size} and @var{value} are optional.
4051If the second comma and @var{value} are absent, @var{value} is
4052assumed zero.  If the first comma and following tokens are absent,
4053@var{size} is assumed to be 1.
4054
4055@node Float
4056@section @code{.float @var{flonums}}
4057
4058@cindex floating point numbers (single)
4059@cindex @code{float} directive
4060This directive assembles zero or more flonums, separated by commas.  It
4061has the same effect as @code{.single}.
4062@ifset GENERIC
4063The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
4064@command{@value{AS}} is configured.
4065@xref{Machine Dependencies}.
4066@end ifset
4067@ifclear GENERIC
4068@ifset IEEEFLOAT
4069On the @value{TARGET} family, @code{.float} emits 32-bit floating point numbers
4070in @sc{ieee} format.
4071@end ifset
4072@end ifclear
4073
4074@node Func
4075@section @code{.func @var{name}[,@var{label}]}
4076@cindex @code{func} directive
4077@code{.func} emits debugging information to denote function @var{name}, and
4078is ignored unless the file is assembled with debugging enabled.
4079Only @samp{--gstabs} is currently supported.
4080@var{label} is the entry point of the function and if omitted @var{name}
4081prepended with the @samp{leading char} is used.
4082@samp{leading char} is usually @code{_} or nothing, depending on the target.
4083All functions are currently defined to have @code{void} return type.
4084The function must be terminated with @code{.endfunc}.
4085
4086@node Global
4087@section @code{.global @var{symbol}}, @code{.globl @var{symbol}}
4088
4089@cindex @code{global} directive
4090@cindex symbol, making visible to linker
4091@code{.global} makes the symbol visible to @code{@value{LD}}.  If you define
4092@var{symbol} in your partial program, its value is made available to
4093other partial programs that are linked with it.  Otherwise,
4094@var{symbol} takes its attributes from a symbol of the same name
4095from another file linked into the same program.
4096
4097Both spellings (@samp{.globl} and @samp{.global}) are accepted, for
4098compatibility with other assemblers.
4099
4100@ifset HPPA
4101On the HPPA, @code{.global} is not always enough to make it accessible to other
4102partial programs.  You may need the HPPA-only @code{.EXPORT} directive as well.
4103@xref{HPPA Directives,, HPPA Assembler Directives}.
4104@end ifset
4105
4106@ifset ELF
4107@node Hidden
4108@section @code{.hidden @var{names}}
4109
4110@cindex @code{.hidden} directive
4111@cindex Visibility
4112This one of the ELF visibility directives.  The other two are
4113@code{.internal} (@pxref{Internal,,@code{.internal}}) and 
4114@code{.protected} (@pxref{Protected,,@code{.protected}}).
4115
4116This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4117their binding: local, global or weak).  The directive sets the visibility to
4118@code{hidden} which means that the symbols are not visible to other components.
4119Such symbols are always considered to be @code{protected} as well. 
4120@end ifset
4121
4122@node hword
4123@section @code{.hword @var{expressions}}
4124
4125@cindex @code{hword} directive
4126@cindex integers, 16-bit
4127@cindex numbers, 16-bit
4128@cindex sixteen bit integers
4129This expects zero or more @var{expressions}, and emits
4130a 16 bit number for each.
4131
4132@ifset GENERIC
4133This directive is a synonym for @samp{.short}; depending on the target
4134architecture, it may also be a synonym for @samp{.word}.
4135@end ifset
4136@ifclear GENERIC
4137@ifset W32
4138This directive is a synonym for @samp{.short}.
4139@end ifset
4140@ifset W16
4141This directive is a synonym for both @samp{.short} and @samp{.word}.
4142@end ifset
4143@end ifclear
4144
4145@node Ident
4146@section @code{.ident}
4147
4148@cindex @code{ident} directive
4149This directive is used by some assemblers to place tags in object files.
4150@command{@value{AS}} simply accepts the directive for source-file
4151compatibility with such assemblers, but does not actually emit anything
4152for it.
4153
4154@node If
4155@section @code{.if @var{absolute expression}}
4156
4157@cindex conditional assembly
4158@cindex @code{if} directive
4159@code{.if} marks the beginning of a section of code which is only
4160considered part of the source program being assembled if the argument
4161(which must be an @var{absolute expression}) is non-zero.  The end of
4162the conditional section of code must be marked by @code{.endif}
4163(@pxref{Endif,,@code{.endif}}); optionally, you may include code for the
4164alternative condition, flagged by @code{.else} (@pxref{Else,,@code{.else}}).
4165If you have several conditions to check, @code{.elseif} may be used to avoid
4166nesting blocks if/else within each subsequent @code{.else} block.
4167
4168The following variants of @code{.if} are also supported:
4169@table @code
4170@cindex @code{ifdef} directive
4171@item .ifdef @var{symbol}
4172Assembles the following section of code if the specified @var{symbol}
4173has been defined.
4174
4175@cindex @code{ifc} directive
4176@item .ifc @var{string1},@var{string2}
4177Assembles the following section of code if the two strings are the same.  The
4178strings may be optionally quoted with single quotes.  If they are not quoted,
4179the first string stops at the first comma, and the second string stops at the
4180end of the line.  Strings which contain whitespace should be quoted.  The
4181string comparison is case sensitive.
4182
4183@cindex @code{ifeq} directive
4184@item .ifeq @var{absolute expression}
4185Assembles the following section of code if the argument is zero.
4186
4187@cindex @code{ifeqs} directive
4188@item .ifeqs @var{string1},@var{string2}
4189Another form of @code{.ifc}.  The strings must be quoted using double quotes.
4190
4191@cindex @code{ifge} directive
4192@item .ifge @var{absolute expression}
4193Assembles the following section of code if the argument is greater than or
4194equal to zero.
4195
4196@cindex @code{ifgt} directive
4197@item .ifgt @var{absolute expression}
4198Assembles the following section of code if the argument is greater than zero.
4199
4200@cindex @code{ifle} directive
4201@item .ifle @var{absolute expression}
4202Assembles the following section of code if the argument is less than or equal
4203to zero.
4204
4205@cindex @code{iflt} directive
4206@item .iflt @var{absolute expression}
4207Assembles the following section of code if the argument is less than zero.
4208
4209@cindex @code{ifnc} directive
4210@item .ifnc @var{string1},@var{string2}.
4211Like @code{.ifc}, but the sense of the test is reversed: this assembles the
4212following section of code if the two strings are not the same.
4213
4214@cindex @code{ifndef} directive
4215@cindex @code{ifnotdef} directive
4216@item .ifndef @var{symbol}
4217@itemx .ifnotdef @var{symbol}
4218Assembles the following section of code if the specified @var{symbol}
4219has not been defined.  Both spelling variants are equivalent.
4220
4221@cindex @code{ifne} directive
4222@item .ifne @var{absolute expression}
4223Assembles the following section of code if the argument is not equal to zero
4224(in other words, this is equivalent to @code{.if}).
4225
4226@cindex @code{ifnes} directive
4227@item .ifnes @var{string1},@var{string2}
4228Like @code{.ifeqs}, but the sense of the test is reversed: this assembles the
4229following section of code if the two strings are not the same.
4230@end table
4231
4232@node Incbin
4233@section @code{.incbin "@var{file}"[,@var{skip}[,@var{count}]]}
4234
4235@cindex @code{incbin} directive
4236@cindex binary files, including
4237The @code{incbin} directive includes @var{file} verbatim at the current
4238location. You can control the search paths used with the @samp{-I} command-line
4239option (@pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}).  Quotation marks are required
4240around @var{file}.
4241
4242The @var{skip} argument skips a number of bytes from the start of the
4243@var{file}.  The @var{count} argument indicates the maximum number of bytes to
4244read.  Note that the data is not aligned in any way, so it is the user's
4245responsibility to make sure that proper alignment is provided both before and
4246after the @code{incbin} directive.
4247
4248@node Include
4249@section @code{.include "@var{file}"}
4250
4251@cindex @code{include} directive
4252@cindex supporting files, including
4253@cindex files, including
4254This directive provides a way to include supporting files at specified
4255points in your source program.  The code from @var{file} is assembled as
4256if it followed the point of the @code{.include}; when the end of the
4257included file is reached, assembly of the original file continues.  You
4258can control the search paths used with the @samp{-I} command-line option
4259(@pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}).  Quotation marks are required
4260around @var{file}.
4261
4262@node Int
4263@section @code{.int @var{expressions}}
4264
4265@cindex @code{int} directive
4266@cindex integers, 32-bit
4267Expect zero or more @var{expressions}, of any section, separated by commas.
4268For each expression, emit a number that, at run time, is the value of that
4269expression.  The byte order and bit size of the number depends on what kind
4270of target the assembly is for.
4271
4272@ifclear GENERIC
4273@ifset H8
4274On the H8/500 and most forms of the H8/300, @code{.int} emits 16-bit
4275integers.  On the H8/300H and the Hitachi SH, however, @code{.int} emits
427632-bit integers.
4277@end ifset
4278@end ifclear
4279
4280@ifset ELF
4281@node Internal
4282@section @code{.internal @var{names}}
4283
4284@cindex @code{.internal} directive
4285@cindex Visibility
4286This one of the ELF visibility directives.  The other two are
4287@code{.hidden} (@pxref{Hidden,,@code{.hidden}}) and 
4288@code{.protected} (@pxref{Protected,,@code{.protected}}).
4289
4290This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4291their binding: local, global or weak).  The directive sets the visibility to
4292@code{internal} which means that the symbols are considered to be @code{hidden}
4293(ie not visible to other components), and that some extra, processor specific
4294processing must also be performed upon the  symbols as well.
4295@end ifset
4296
4297@node Irp
4298@section @code{.irp @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
4299
4300@cindex @code{irp} directive
4301Evaluate a sequence of statements assigning different values to @var{symbol}.
4302The sequence of statements starts at the @code{.irp} directive, and is
4303terminated by an @code{.endr} directive.  For each @var{value}, @var{symbol} is
4304set to @var{value}, and the sequence of statements is assembled.  If no
4305@var{value} is listed, the sequence of statements is assembled once, with
4306@var{symbol} set to the null string.  To refer to @var{symbol} within the
4307sequence of statements, use @var{\symbol}.
4308
4309For example, assembling
4310
4311@example
4312        .irp    param,1,2,3
4313        move    d\param,sp@@-
4314        .endr
4315@end example
4316
4317is equivalent to assembling
4318
4319@example
4320        move    d1,sp@@-
4321        move    d2,sp@@-
4322        move    d3,sp@@-
4323@end example
4324
4325@node Irpc
4326@section @code{.irpc @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
4327
4328@cindex @code{irpc} directive
4329Evaluate a sequence of statements assigning different values to @var{symbol}.
4330The sequence of statements starts at the @code{.irpc} directive, and is
4331terminated by an @code{.endr} directive.  For each character in @var{value},
4332@var{symbol} is set to the character, and the sequence of statements is
4333assembled.  If no @var{value} is listed, the sequence of statements is
4334assembled once, with @var{symbol} set to the null string.  To refer to
4335@var{symbol} within the sequence of statements, use @var{\symbol}.
4336
4337For example, assembling
4338
4339@example
4340        .irpc    param,123
4341        move    d\param,sp@@-
4342        .endr
4343@end example
4344
4345is equivalent to assembling
4346
4347@example
4348        move    d1,sp@@-
4349        move    d2,sp@@-
4350        move    d3,sp@@-
4351@end example
4352
4353@node Lcomm
4354@section @code{.lcomm @var{symbol} , @var{length}}
4355
4356@cindex @code{lcomm} directive
4357@cindex local common symbols
4358@cindex symbols, local common
4359Reserve @var{length} (an absolute expression) bytes for a local common
4360denoted by @var{symbol}.  The section and value of @var{symbol} are
4361those of the new local common.  The addresses are allocated in the bss
4362section, so that at run-time the bytes start off zeroed.  @var{Symbol}
4363is not declared global (@pxref{Global,,@code{.global}}), so is normally
4364not visible to @code{@value{LD}}.
4365
4366@ifset GENERIC
4367Some targets permit a third argument to be used with @code{.lcomm}.  This
4368argument specifies the desired alignment of the symbol in the bss section.
4369@end ifset
4370
4371@ifset HPPA
4372The syntax for @code{.lcomm} differs slightly on the HPPA.  The syntax is
4373@samp{@var{symbol} .lcomm, @var{length}}; @var{symbol} is optional.
4374@end ifset
4375
4376@node Lflags
4377@section @code{.lflags}
4378
4379@cindex @code{lflags} directive (ignored)
4380@command{@value{AS}} accepts this directive, for compatibility with other
4381assemblers, but ignores it.
4382
4383@ifclear no-line-dir
4384@node Line
4385@section @code{.line @var{line-number}}
4386
4387@cindex @code{line} directive
4388@end ifclear
4389@ifset no-line-dir
4390@node Ln
4391@section @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
4392
4393@cindex @code{ln} directive
4394@end ifset
4395@cindex logical line number
4396@ifset aout-bout
4397Change the logical line number.  @var{line-number} must be an absolute
4398expression.  The next line has that logical line number.  Therefore any other
4399statements on the current line (after a statement separator character) are
4400reported as on logical line number @var{line-number} @minus{} 1.  One day
4401@command{@value{AS}} will no longer support this directive: it is recognized only
4402for compatibility with existing assembler programs.
4403
4404@ifset GENERIC
4405@ifset A29K
4406@emph{Warning:} In the AMD29K configuration of @value{AS}, this command is
4407not available; use the synonym @code{.ln} in that context.
4408@end ifset
4409@end ifset
4410@end ifset
4411
4412@ifclear no-line-dir
4413Even though this is a directive associated with the @code{a.out} or
4414@code{b.out} object-code formats, @command{@value{AS}} still recognizes it
4415when producing COFF output, and treats @samp{.line} as though it
4416were the COFF @samp{.ln} @emph{if} it is found outside a
4417@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pair.
4418
4419Inside a @code{.def}, @samp{.line} is, instead, one of the directives
4420used by compilers to generate auxiliary symbol information for
4421debugging.
4422@end ifclear
4423
4424@node Linkonce
4425@section @code{.linkonce [@var{type}]}
4426@cindex COMDAT
4427@cindex @code{linkonce} directive
4428@cindex common sections
4429Mark the current section so that the linker only includes a single copy of it.
4430This may be used to include the same section in several different object files,
4431but ensure that the linker will only include it once in the final output file.
4432The @code{.linkonce} pseudo-op must be used for each instance of the section.
4433Duplicate sections are detected based on the section name, so it should be
4434unique.
4435
4436This directive is only supported by a few object file formats; as of this
4437writing, the only object file format which supports it is the Portable
4438Executable format used on Windows NT.
4439
4440The @var{type} argument is optional.  If specified, it must be one of the
4441following strings.  For example:
4442@smallexample
4443.linkonce same_size
4444@end smallexample
4445Not all types may be supported on all object file formats.
4446
4447@table @code
4448@item discard
4449Silently discard duplicate sections.  This is the default.
4450
4451@item one_only
4452Warn if there are duplicate sections, but still keep only one copy.
4453
4454@item same_size
4455Warn if any of the duplicates have different sizes.
4456
4457@item same_contents
4458Warn if any of the duplicates do not have exactly the same contents.
4459@end table
4460
4461@node Ln
4462@section @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
4463
4464@cindex @code{ln} directive
4465@ifclear no-line-dir
4466@samp{.ln} is a synonym for @samp{.line}.
4467@end ifclear
4468@ifset no-line-dir
4469Tell @command{@value{AS}} to change the logical line number.  @var{line-number}
4470must be an absolute expression.  The next line has that logical
4471line number, so any other statements on the current line (after a
4472statement separator character @code{;}) are reported as on logical
4473line number @var{line-number} @minus{} 1.
4474@ifset BOUT
4475
4476This directive is accepted, but ignored, when @command{@value{AS}} is
4477configured for @code{b.out}; its effect is only associated with COFF
4478output format.
4479@end ifset
4480@end ifset
4481
4482@node MRI
4483@section @code{.mri @var{val}}
4484
4485@cindex @code{mri} directive
4486@cindex MRI mode, temporarily
4487If @var{val} is non-zero, this tells @command{@value{AS}} to enter MRI mode.  If
4488@var{val} is zero, this tells @command{@value{AS}} to exit MRI mode.  This change
4489affects code assembled until the next @code{.mri} directive, or until the end
4490of the file.  @xref{M, MRI mode, MRI mode}.
4491
4492@node List
4493@section @code{.list}
4494
4495@cindex @code{list} directive
4496@cindex listing control, turning on
4497Control (in conjunction with the @code{.nolist} directive) whether or
4498not assembly listings are generated.  These two directives maintain an
4499internal counter (which is zero initially).   @code{.list} increments the
4500counter, and @code{.nolist} decrements it.  Assembly listings are
4501generated whenever the counter is greater than zero.
4502
4503By default, listings are disabled.  When you enable them (with the
4504@samp{-a} command line option; @pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}),
4505the initial value of the listing counter is one.
4506
4507@node Long
4508@section @code{.long @var{expressions}}
4509
4510@cindex @code{long} directive
4511@code{.long} is the same as @samp{.int}, @pxref{Int,,@code{.int}}.
4512
4513@ignore
4514@c no one seems to know what this is for or whether this description is
4515@c what it really ought to do
4516@node Lsym
4517@section @code{.lsym @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
4518
4519@cindex @code{lsym} directive
4520@cindex symbol, not referenced in assembly
4521@code{.lsym} creates a new symbol named @var{symbol}, but does not put it in
4522the hash table, ensuring it cannot be referenced by name during the
4523rest of the assembly.  This sets the attributes of the symbol to be
4524the same as the expression value:
4525@smallexample
4526@var{other} = @var{descriptor} = 0
4527@var{type} = @r{(section of @var{expression})}
4528@var{value} = @var{expression}
4529@end smallexample
4530@noindent
4531The new symbol is not flagged as external.
4532@end ignore
4533
4534@node Macro
4535@section @code{.macro}
4536
4537@cindex macros
4538The commands @code{.macro} and @code{.endm} allow you to define macros that
4539generate assembly output.  For example, this definition specifies a macro
4540@code{sum} that puts a sequence of numbers into memory:
4541
4542@example
4543        .macro  sum from=0, to=5
4544        .long   \from
4545        .if     \to-\from
4546        sum     "(\from+1)",\to
4547        .endif
4548        .endm
4549@end example
4550
4551@noindent
4552With that definition, @samp{SUM 0,5} is equivalent to this assembly input:
4553
4554@example
4555        .long   0
4556        .long   1
4557        .long   2
4558        .long   3
4559        .long   4
4560        .long   5
4561@end example
4562
4563@ftable @code
4564@item .macro @var{macname}
4565@itemx .macro @var{macname} @var{macargs} @dots{}
4566@cindex @code{macro} directive
4567Begin the definition of a macro called @var{macname}.  If your macro
4568definition requires arguments, specify their names after the macro name,
4569separated by commas or spaces.  You can supply a default value for any
4570macro argument by following the name with @samp{=@var{deflt}}.  For
4571example, these are all valid @code{.macro} statements:
4572
4573@table @code
4574@item .macro comm
4575Begin the definition of a macro called @code{comm}, which takes no
4576arguments.
4577
4578@item .macro plus1 p, p1
4579@itemx .macro plus1 p p1
4580Either statement begins the definition of a macro called @code{plus1},
4581which takes two arguments; within the macro definition, write
4582@samp{\p} or @samp{\p1} to evaluate the arguments.
4583
4584@item .macro reserve_str p1=0 p2
4585Begin the definition of a macro called @code{reserve_str}, with two
4586arguments.  The first argument has a default value, but not the second.
4587After the definition is complete, you can call the macro either as
4588@samp{reserve_str @var{a},@var{b}} (with @samp{\p1} evaluating to
4589@var{a} and @samp{\p2} evaluating to @var{b}), or as @samp{reserve_str
4590,@var{b}} (with @samp{\p1} evaluating as the default, in this case
4591@samp{0}, and @samp{\p2} evaluating to @var{b}).
4592@end table
4593
4594When you call a macro, you can specify the argument values either by
4595position, or by keyword.  For example, @samp{sum 9,17} is equivalent to
4596@samp{sum to=17, from=9}.
4597
4598@item .endm
4599@cindex @code{endm} directive
4600Mark the end of a macro definition.
4601
4602@item .exitm
4603@cindex @code{exitm} directive
4604Exit early from the current macro definition.
4605
4606@cindex number of macros executed
4607@cindex macros, count executed
4608@item \@@
4609@command{@value{AS}} maintains a counter of how many macros it has
4610executed in this pseudo-variable; you can copy that number to your
4611output with @samp{\@@}, but @emph{only within a macro definition}.
4612
4613@ignore
4614@item LOCAL @var{name} [ , @dots{} ]
4615@emph{Warning: @code{LOCAL} is only available if you select ``alternate
4616macro syntax'' with @samp{-a} or @samp{--alternate}.}  @xref{Alternate,,
4617Alternate macro syntax}.
4618
4619Generate a string replacement for each of the @var{name} arguments, and
4620replace any instances of @var{name} in each macro expansion.  The
4621replacement string is unique in the assembly, and different for each
4622separate macro expansion.  @code{LOCAL} allows you to write macros that
4623define symbols, without fear of conflict between separate macro expansions.
4624@end ignore
4625@end ftable
4626
4627@node Nolist
4628@section @code{.nolist}
4629
4630@cindex @code{nolist} directive
4631@cindex listing control, turning off
4632Control (in conjunction with the @code{.list} directive) whether or
4633not assembly listings are generated.  These two directives maintain an
4634internal counter (which is zero initially).   @code{.list} increments the
4635counter, and @code{.nolist} decrements it.  Assembly listings are
4636generated whenever the counter is greater than zero.
4637
4638@node Octa
4639@section @code{.octa @var{bignums}}
4640
4641@c FIXME: double size emitted for "octa" on i960, others?  Or warn?
4642@cindex @code{octa} directive
4643@cindex integer, 16-byte
4644@cindex sixteen byte integer
4645This directive expects zero or more bignums, separated by commas.  For each
4646bignum, it emits a 16-byte integer.
4647
4648The term ``octa'' comes from contexts in which a ``word'' is two bytes;
4649hence @emph{octa}-word for 16 bytes.
4650
4651@node Org
4652@section @code{.org @var{new-lc} , @var{fill}}
4653
4654@cindex @code{org} directive
4655@cindex location counter, advancing
4656@cindex advancing location counter
4657@cindex current address, advancing
4658Advance the location counter of the current section to
4659@var{new-lc}.  @var{new-lc} is either an absolute expression or an
4660expression with the same section as the current subsection.  That is,
4661you can't use @code{.org} to cross sections: if @var{new-lc} has the
4662wrong section, the @code{.org} directive is ignored.  To be compatible
4663with former assemblers, if the section of @var{new-lc} is absolute,
4664@command{@value{AS}} issues a warning, then pretends the section of @var{new-lc}
4665is the same as the current subsection.
4666
4667@code{.org} may only increase the location counter, or leave it
4668unchanged; you cannot use @code{.org} to move the location counter
4669backwards.
4670
4671@c double negative used below "not undefined" because this is a specific
4672@c reference to "undefined" (as SEG_UNKNOWN is called in this manual)
4673@c section. doc@cygnus.com 18feb91
4674Because @command{@value{AS}} tries to assemble programs in one pass, @var{new-lc}
4675may not be undefined.  If you really detest this restriction we eagerly await
4676a chance to share your improved assembler.
4677
4678Beware that the origin is relative to the start of the section, not
4679to the start of the subsection.  This is compatible with other
4680people's assemblers.
4681
4682When the location counter (of the current subsection) is advanced, the
4683intervening bytes are filled with @var{fill} which should be an
4684absolute expression.  If the comma and @var{fill} are omitted,
4685@var{fill} defaults to zero.
4686
4687@node P2align
4688@section @code{.p2align[wl] @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
4689
4690@cindex padding the location counter given a power of two
4691@cindex @code{p2align} directive
4692Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular
4693storage boundary.  The first expression (which must be absolute) is the
4694number of low-order zero bits the location counter must have after
4695advancement.  For example @samp{.p2align 3} advances the location
4696counter until it a multiple of 8.  If the location counter is already a
4697multiple of 8, no change is needed.
4698
4699The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
4700padding bytes.  It (and the comma) may be omitted.  If it is omitted, the
4701padding bytes are normally zero.  However, on some systems, if the section is
4702marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
4703with no-op instructions.
4704
4705The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional.  If it is present,
4706it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
4707directive.  If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
4708specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all.  You can omit the
4709fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
4710required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
4711with no-op instructions when appropriate.
4712
4713@cindex @code{p2alignw} directive
4714@cindex @code{p2alignl} directive
4715The @code{.p2alignw} and @code{.p2alignl} directives are variants of the
4716@code{.p2align} directive.  The @code{.p2alignw} directive treats the fill
4717pattern as a two byte word value.  The @code{.p2alignl} directives treats the
4718fill pattern as a four byte longword value.  For example, @code{.p2alignw
47192,0x368d} will align to a multiple of 4.  If it skips two bytes, they will be
4720filled in with the value 0x368d (the exact placement of the bytes depends upon
4721the endianness of the processor).  If it skips 1 or 3 bytes, the fill value is
4722undefined.
4723
4724@ifset ELF
4725@node Previous
4726@section @code{.previous}
4727
4728@cindex @code{.previous} directive
4729@cindex Section Stack
4730This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives.  The others are
4731@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}),
4732@code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}), and @code{.popsection}
4733(@pxref{PopSection}).
4734
4735This directive swaps the current section (and subsection) with most recently
4736referenced section (and subsection) prior to this one.  Multiple
4737@code{.previous} directives in a row will flip between two sections (and their
4738subsections).
4739
4740In terms of the section stack, this directive swaps the current section with
4741the top section on the section stack.
4742@end ifset
4743
4744@ifset ELF
4745@node PopSection
4746@section @code{.popsection}
4747
4748@cindex @code{.popsection} directive
4749@cindex Section Stack
4750This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives.  The others are
4751@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}), 
4752@code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}), and @code{.previous} 
4753(@pxref{Previous}).
4754
4755This directive replaces the current section (and subsection) with the top
4756section (and subsection) on the section stack.  This section is popped off the
4757stack. 
4758@end ifset
4759
4760@node Print
4761@section @code{.print @var{string}}
4762
4763@cindex @code{print} directive
4764@command{@value{AS}} will print @var{string} on the standard output during
4765assembly.  You must put @var{string} in double quotes.
4766
4767@ifset ELF
4768@node Protected
4769@section @code{.protected @var{names}}
4770
4771@cindex @code{.protected} directive
4772@cindex Visibility
4773This one of the ELF visibility directives.  The other two are
4774@code{.hidden} (@pxref{Hidden}) and @code{.internal} (@pxref{Internal}).
4775
4776This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4777their binding: local, global or weak).  The directive sets the visibility to
4778@code{protected} which means that any references to the symbols from within the
4779components that defines them must be resolved to the definition in that
4780component, even if a definition in another component would normally preempt
4781this. 
4782@end ifset
4783
4784@node Psize
4785@section @code{.psize @var{lines} , @var{columns}}
4786
4787@cindex @code{psize} directive
4788@cindex listing control: paper size
4789@cindex paper size, for listings
4790Use this directive to declare the number of lines---and, optionally, the
4791number of columns---to use for each page, when generating listings.
4792
4793If you do not use @code{.psize}, listings use a default line-count
4794of 60.  You may omit the comma and @var{columns} specification; the
4795default width is 200 columns.
4796
4797@command{@value{AS}} generates formfeeds whenever the specified number of
4798lines is exceeded (or whenever you explicitly request one, using
4799@code{.eject}).
4800
4801If you specify @var{lines} as @code{0}, no formfeeds are generated save
4802those explicitly specified with @code{.eject}.
4803
4804@node Purgem
4805@section @code{.purgem @var{name}}
4806
4807@cindex @code{purgem} directive
4808Undefine the macro @var{name}, so that later uses of the string will not be
4809expanded.  @xref{Macro}.
4810
4811@ifset ELF
4812@node PushSection
4813@section @code{.pushsection @var{name} , @var{subsection}}
4814
4815@cindex @code{.pushsection} directive
4816@cindex Section Stack
4817This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives.  The others are
4818@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}), 
4819@code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and @code{.previous} 
4820(@pxref{Previous}).
4821
4822This directive is a synonym for @code{.section}.  It pushes the current section
4823(and subsection) onto the top of the section stack, and then replaces the
4824current section and subsection with @code{name} and @code{subsection}.
4825@end ifset
4826
4827@node Quad
4828@section @code{.quad @var{bignums}}
4829
4830@cindex @code{quad} directive
4831@code{.quad} expects zero or more bignums, separated by commas.  For
4832each bignum, it emits
4833@ifclear bignum-16
4834an 8-byte integer.  If the bignum won't fit in 8 bytes, it prints a
4835warning message; and just takes the lowest order 8 bytes of the bignum.
4836@cindex eight-byte integer
4837@cindex integer, 8-byte
4838
4839The term ``quad'' comes from contexts in which a ``word'' is two bytes;
4840hence @emph{quad}-word for 8 bytes.
4841@end ifclear
4842@ifset bignum-16
4843a 16-byte integer.  If the bignum won't fit in 16 bytes, it prints a
4844warning message; and just takes the lowest order 16 bytes of the bignum.
4845@cindex sixteen-byte integer
4846@cindex integer, 16-byte
4847@end ifset
4848
4849@node Rept
4850@section @code{.rept @var{count}}
4851
4852@cindex @code{rept} directive
4853Repeat the sequence of lines between the @code{.rept} directive and the next
4854@code{.endr} directive @var{count} times.
4855
4856For example, assembling
4857
4858@example
4859        .rept   3
4860        .long   0
4861        .endr
4862@end example
4863
4864is equivalent to assembling
4865
4866@example
4867        .long   0
4868        .long   0
4869        .long   0
4870@end example
4871
4872@node Sbttl
4873@section @code{.sbttl "@var{subheading}"}
4874
4875@cindex @code{sbttl} directive
4876@cindex subtitles for listings
4877@cindex listing control: subtitle
4878Use @var{subheading} as the title (third line, immediately after the
4879title line) when generating assembly listings.
4880
4881This directive affects subsequent pages, as well as the current page if
4882it appears within ten lines of the top of a page.
4883
4884@ifset COFF
4885@node Scl
4886@section @code{.scl @var{class}}
4887
4888@cindex @code{scl} directive
4889@cindex symbol storage class (COFF)
4890@cindex COFF symbol storage class
4891Set the storage-class value for a symbol.  This directive may only be
4892used inside a @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pair.  Storage class may flag
4893whether a symbol is static or external, or it may record further
4894symbolic debugging information.
4895@ifset BOUT
4896
4897The @samp{.scl} directive is primarily associated with COFF output; when
4898configured to generate @code{b.out} output format, @command{@value{AS}}
4899accepts this directive but ignores it.
4900@end ifset
4901@end ifset
4902
4903@node Section
4904@section @code{.section @var{name}} (COFF version)
4905
4906@cindex @code{section} directive
4907@cindex named section
4908Use the @code{.section} directive to assemble the following code into a section
4909named @var{name}.
4910
4911This directive is only supported for targets that actually support arbitrarily
4912named sections; on @code{a.out} targets, for example, it is not accepted, even
4913with a standard @code{a.out} section name.
4914
4915For COFF targets, the @code{.section} directive is used in one of the following
4916ways:
4917
4918@smallexample
4919.section @var{name}[, "@var{flags}"]
4920.section @var{name}[, @var{subsegment}]
4921@end smallexample
4922
4923If the optional argument is quoted, it is taken as flags to use for the
4924section.  Each flag is a single character.  The following flags are recognized:
4925@table @code
4926@item b
4927bss section (uninitialized data)
4928@item n
4929section is not loaded
4930@item w
4931writable section
4932@item d
4933data section
4934@item r
4935read-only section
4936@item x
4937executable section
4938@item s
4939shared section (meaningful for PE targets)
4940@end table
4941
4942If no flags are specified, the default flags depend upon the section name.  If
4943the section name is not recognized, the default will be for the section to be
4944loaded and writable.  Note the @code{n} and @code{w} flags remove attributes
4945from the section, rather than adding them, so if they are used on their own it
4946will be as if no flags had been specified at all.
4947
4948If the optional argument to the @code{.section} directive is not quoted, it is
4949taken as a subsegment number (@pxref{Sub-Sections}).
4950
4951
4952@section @code{.section @var{name}} (ELF version)
4953
4954@cindex @code{section} directive
4955@cindex named section
4956@ifset ELF
4957@cindex Section Stack
4958This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives.  The others are
4959@code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}), @code{.pushsection} 
4960(@pxref{PushSection}), @code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and
4961@code{.previous} (@pxref{Previous}).
4962@end ifset
4963
4964For ELF targets, the @code{.section} directive is used like this:
4965
4966@smallexample
4967.section @var{name} [, "@var{flags}"[, @@@var{type}[, @@@var{entsize}]]]
4968@end smallexample
4969
4970The optional @var{flags} argument is a quoted string which may contain any
4971combination of the following characters:
4972@table @code
4973@item a
4974section is allocatable
4975@item w
4976section is writable
4977@item x
4978section is executable
4979@item M
4980section is mergeable
4981@item S
4982section contains zero terminated strings
4983@end table
4984
4985The optional @var{type} argument may contain one of the following constants:
4986@table @code
4987@item @@progbits
4988section contains data
4989@item @@nobits
4990section does not contain data (i.e., section only occupies space)
4991@end table
4992
4993If @var{flags} contains @code{M} flag, @var{type} argument must be specified
4994as well as @var{entsize} argument. Sections with @code{M} flag but not
4995@code{S} flag must contain fixed size constants, each @var{entsize} octets
4996long. Sections with both @code{M} and @code{S} must contain zero terminated
4997strings where each character is @var{entsize} bytes long. The linker may remove
4998duplicates within sections with the same name, same entity size and same flags. 
4999
5000If no flags are specified, the default flags depend upon the section name.  If
5001the section name is not recognized, the default will be for the section to have
5002none of the above flags: it will not be allocated in memory, nor writable, nor
5003executable.  The section will contain data.
5004
5005For ELF targets, the assembler supports another type of @code{.section}
5006directive for compatibility with the Solaris assembler:
5007
5008@smallexample
5009.section "@var{name}"[, @var{flags}...]
5010@end smallexample
5011
5012Note that the section name is quoted.  There may be a sequence of comma
5013separated flags:
5014@table @code
5015@item #alloc
5016section is allocatable
5017@item #write
5018section is writable
5019@item #execinstr
5020section is executable
5021@end table
5022
5023This directive replaces the current section and subsection.  The replaced
5024section and subsection are pushed onto the section stack.  See the contents of
5025the gas testsuite directory @code{gas/testsuite/gas/elf} for some examples of
5026how this directive and the other section stack directives work.
5027
5028@node Set
5029@section @code{.set @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
5030
5031@cindex @code{set} directive
5032@cindex symbol value, setting
5033Set the value of @var{symbol} to @var{expression}.  This
5034changes @var{symbol}'s value and type to conform to
5035@var{expression}.  If @var{symbol} was flagged as external, it remains
5036flagged (@pxref{Symbol Attributes}).
5037
5038You may @code{.set} a symbol many times in the same assembly.
5039
5040If you @code{.set} a global symbol, the value stored in the object
5041file is the last value stored into it.
5042
5043@ifset HPPA
5044The syntax for @code{set} on the HPPA is
5045@samp{@var{symbol} .set @var{expression}}.
5046@end ifset
5047
5048@node Short
5049@section @code{.short @var{expressions}}
5050
5051@cindex @code{short} directive
5052@ifset GENERIC
5053@code{.short} is normally the same as @samp{.word}.
5054@xref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
5055
5056In some configurations, however, @code{.short} and @code{.word} generate
5057numbers of different lengths; @pxref{Machine Dependencies}.
5058@end ifset
5059@ifclear GENERIC
5060@ifset W16
5061@code{.short} is the same as @samp{.word}.  @xref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
5062@end ifset
5063@ifset W32
5064This expects zero or more @var{expressions}, and emits
5065a 16 bit number for each.
5066@end ifset
5067@end ifclear
5068
5069@node Single
5070@section @code{.single @var{flonums}}
5071
5072@cindex @code{single} directive
5073@cindex floating point numbers (single)
5074This directive assembles zero or more flonums, separated by commas.  It
5075has the same effect as @code{.float}.
5076@ifset GENERIC
5077The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
5078@command{@value{AS}} is configured.  @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
5079@end ifset
5080@ifclear GENERIC
5081@ifset IEEEFLOAT
5082On the @value{TARGET} family, @code{.single} emits 32-bit floating point
5083numbers in @sc{ieee} format.
5084@end ifset
5085@end ifclear
5086
5087@node Size
5088@section @code{.size} (COFF version)
5089
5090@cindex @code{size} directive
5091This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
5092information in the symbol table.  It is only permitted inside
5093@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs.
5094
5095@ifset BOUT
5096@samp{.size} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; when
5097@command{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
5098ignores it.
5099@end ifset
5100
5101@section @code{.size @var{name} , @var{expression}} (ELF version)
5102@cindex @code{size} directive
5103
5104This directive is used to set the size associated with a symbol @var{name}.
5105The size in bytes is computed from @var{expression} which can make use of label
5106arithmetic.  This directive is typically used to set the size of function
5107symbols.
5108
5109@node Sleb128
5110@section @code{.sleb128 @var{expressions}}
5111
5112@cindex @code{sleb128} directive
5113@var{sleb128} stands for ``signed little endian base 128.''  This is a 
5114compact, variable length representation of numbers used by the DWARF
5115symbolic debugging format.  @xref{Uleb128,@code{.uleb128}}.
5116
5117@ifclear no-space-dir
5118@node Skip
5119@section @code{.skip @var{size} , @var{fill}}
5120
5121@cindex @code{skip} directive
5122@cindex filling memory
5123This directive emits @var{size} bytes, each of value @var{fill}.  Both
5124@var{size} and @var{fill} are absolute expressions.  If the comma and
5125@var{fill} are omitted, @var{fill} is assumed to be zero.  This is the same as
5126@samp{.space}.
5127
5128@node Space
5129@section @code{.space @var{size} , @var{fill}}
5130
5131@cindex @code{space} directive
5132@cindex filling memory
5133This directive emits @var{size} bytes, each of value @var{fill}.  Both
5134@var{size} and @var{fill} are absolute expressions.  If the comma
5135and @var{fill} are omitted, @var{fill} is assumed to be zero.  This is the same
5136as @samp{.skip}.
5137
5138@ifset HPPA
5139@quotation
5140@emph{Warning:} @code{.space} has a completely different meaning for HPPA
5141targets; use @code{.block} as a substitute.  See @cite{HP9000 Series 800
5142Assembly Language Reference Manual} (HP 92432-90001) for the meaning of the
5143@code{.space} directive.  @xref{HPPA Directives,,HPPA Assembler Directives},
5144for a summary.
5145@end quotation
5146@end ifset
5147@end ifclear
5148
5149@ifset A29K
5150@ifclear GENERIC
5151@node Space
5152@section @code{.space}
5153@cindex @code{space} directive
5154@end ifclear
5155On the AMD 29K, this directive is ignored; it is accepted for
5156compatibility with other AMD 29K assemblers.
5157
5158@quotation
5159@emph{Warning:} In most versions of the @sc{gnu} assembler, the directive
5160@code{.space} has the effect of @code{.block}  @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
5161@end quotation
5162@end ifset
5163
5164@ifset have-stabs
5165@node Stab
5166@section @code{.stabd, .stabn, .stabs}
5167
5168@cindex symbolic debuggers, information for
5169@cindex @code{stab@var{x}} directives
5170There are three directives that begin @samp{.stab}.
5171All emit symbols (@pxref{Symbols}), for use by symbolic debuggers.
5172The symbols are not entered in the @command{@value{AS}} hash table: they
5173cannot be referenced elsewhere in the source file.
5174Up to five fields are required:
5175
5176@table @var
5177@item string
5178This is the symbol's name.  It may contain any character except
5179@samp{\000}, so is more general than ordinary symbol names.  Some
5180debuggers used to code arbitrarily complex structures into symbol names
5181using this field.
5182
5183@item type
5184An absolute expression.  The symbol's type is set to the low 8 bits of
5185this expression.  Any bit pattern is permitted, but @code{@value{LD}}
5186and debuggers choke on silly bit patterns.
5187
5188@item other
5189An absolute expression.  The symbol's ``other'' attribute is set to the
5190low 8 bits of this expression.
5191
5192@item desc
5193An absolute expression.  The symbol's descriptor is set to the low 16
5194bits of this expression.
5195
5196@item value
5197An absolute expression which becomes the symbol's value.
5198@end table
5199
5200If a warning is detected while reading a @code{.stabd}, @code{.stabn},
5201or @code{.stabs} statement, the symbol has probably already been created;
5202you get a half-formed symbol in your object file.  This is
5203compatible with earlier assemblers!
5204
5205@table @code
5206@cindex @code{stabd} directive
5207@item .stabd @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc}
5208
5209The ``name'' of the symbol generated is not even an empty string.
5210It is a null pointer, for compatibility.  Older assemblers used a
5211null pointer so they didn't waste space in object files with empty
5212strings.
5213
5214The symbol's value is set to the location counter,
5215relocatably.  When your program is linked, the value of this symbol
5216is the address of the location counter when the @code{.stabd} was
5217assembled.
5218
5219@cindex @code{stabn} directive
5220@item .stabn @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc} , @var{value}
5221The name of the symbol is set to the empty string @code{""}.
5222
5223@cindex @code{stabs} directive
5224@item .stabs @var{string} ,  @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc} , @var{value}
5225All five fields are specified.
5226@end table
5227@end ifset
5228@c end     have-stabs
5229
5230@node String
5231@section @code{.string} "@var{str}"
5232
5233@cindex string, copying to object file
5234@cindex @code{string} directive
5235
5236Copy the characters in @var{str} to the object file.  You may specify more than
5237one string to copy, separated by commas.  Unless otherwise specified for a
5238particular machine, the assembler marks the end of each string with a 0 byte.
5239You can use any of the escape sequences described in @ref{Strings,,Strings}.
5240
5241@node Struct
5242@section @code{.struct @var{expression}}
5243
5244@cindex @code{struct} directive
5245Switch to the absolute section, and set the section offset to @var{expression},
5246which must be an absolute expression.  You might use this as follows:
5247@smallexample
5248        .struct 0
5249field1:
5250        .struct field1 + 4
5251field2:
5252        .struct field2 + 4
5253field3:
5254@end smallexample
5255This would define the symbol @code{field1} to have the value 0, the symbol
5256@code{field2} to have the value 4, and the symbol @code{field3} to have the
5257value 8.  Assembly would be left in the absolute section, and you would need to
5258use a @code{.section} directive of some sort to change to some other section
5259before further assembly.
5260
5261@ifset ELF
5262@node SubSection
5263@section @code{.subsection @var{name}}
5264
5265@cindex @code{.subsection} directive
5266@cindex Section Stack
5267This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives.  The others are
5268@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}), 
5269@code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and @code{.previous} 
5270(@pxref{Previous}).
5271
5272This directive replaces the current subsection with @code{name}.  The current
5273section is not changed.  The replaced subsection is put onto the section stack
5274in place of the then current top of stack subsection.
5275@end ifset
5276
5277@ifset ELF
5278@node Symver
5279@section @code{.symver}
5280@cindex @code{symver} directive
5281@cindex symbol versioning
5282@cindex versions of symbols
5283Use the @code{.symver} directive to bind symbols to specific version nodes
5284within a source file.  This is only supported on ELF platforms, and is
5285typically used when assembling files to be linked into a shared library.
5286There are cases where it may make sense to use this in objects to be bound
5287into an application itself so as to override a versioned symbol from a
5288shared library.
5289
5290For ELF targets, the @code{.symver} directive can be used like this:
5291@smallexample
5292.symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@nodename}
5293@end smallexample
5294If the symbol @var{name} is defined within the file
5295being assembled, the @code{.symver} directive effectively creates a symbol
5296alias with the name @var{name2@@nodename}, and in fact the main reason that we
5297just don't try and create a regular alias is that the @var{@@} character isn't
5298permitted in symbol names.  The @var{name2} part of the name is the actual name
5299of the symbol by which it will be externally referenced.  The name @var{name}
5300itself is merely a name of convenience that is used so that it is possible to
5301have definitions for multiple versions of a function within a single source
5302file, and so that the compiler can unambiguously know which version of a
5303function is being mentioned.  The @var{nodename} portion of the alias should be
5304the name of a node specified in the version script supplied to the linker when
5305building a shared library.  If you are attempting to override a versioned
5306symbol from a shared library, then @var{nodename} should correspond to the
5307nodename of the symbol you are trying to override.
5308
5309If the symbol @var{name} is not defined within the file being assembled, all
5310references to @var{name} will be changed to @var{name2@@nodename}.  If no
5311reference to @var{name} is made, @var{name2@@nodename} will be removed from the
5312symbol table.
5313
5314Another usage of the @code{.symver} directive is:
5315@smallexample
5316.symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@@@nodename}
5317@end smallexample
5318In this case, the symbol @var{name} must exist and be defined within
5319the file being assembled. It is similar to @var{name2@@nodename}. The
5320difference is @var{name2@@@@nodename} will also be used to resolve
5321references to @var{name2} by the linker.
5322
5323The third usage of the @code{.symver} directive is:
5324@smallexample
5325.symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@@@@@nodename}
5326@end smallexample
5327When @var{name} is not defined within the
5328file being assembled, it is treated as @var{name2@@nodename}. When
5329@var{name} is defined within the file being assembled, the symbol
5330name, @var{name}, will be changed to @var{name2@@@@nodename}.
5331@end ifset
5332
5333@ifset COFF
5334@node Tag
5335@section @code{.tag @var{structname}}
5336
5337@cindex COFF structure debugging
5338@cindex structure debugging, COFF
5339@cindex @code{tag} directive
5340This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
5341information in the symbol table.  It is only permitted inside
5342@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs.  Tags are used to link structure
5343definitions in the symbol table with instances of those structures.
5344@ifset BOUT
5345
5346@samp{.tag} is only used when generating COFF format output; when
5347@command{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
5348ignores it.
5349@end ifset
5350@end ifset
5351
5352@node Text
5353@section @code{.text @var{subsection}}
5354
5355@cindex @code{text} directive
5356Tells @command{@value{AS}} to assemble the following statements onto the end of
5357the text subsection numbered @var{subsection}, which is an absolute
5358expression.  If @var{subsection} is omitted, subsection number zero
5359is used.
5360
5361@node Title
5362@section @code{.title "@var{heading}"}
5363
5364@cindex @code{title} directive
5365@cindex listing control: title line
5366Use @var{heading} as the title (second line, immediately after the
5367source file name and pagenumber) when generating assembly listings.
5368
5369This directive affects subsequent pages, as well as the current page if
5370it appears within ten lines of the top of a page.
5371
5372@node Type
5373@section @code{.type @var{int}} (COFF version)
5374
5375@cindex COFF symbol type
5376@cindex symbol type, COFF
5377@cindex @code{type} directive
5378This directive, permitted only within @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs,
5379records the integer @var{int} as the type attribute of a symbol table entry.
5380
5381@ifset BOUT
5382@samp{.type} is associated only with COFF format output; when
5383@command{@value{AS}} is configured for @code{b.out} output, it accepts this
5384directive but ignores it.
5385@end ifset
5386
5387@section @code{.type @var{name} , @var{type description}} (ELF version)
5388
5389@cindex ELF symbol type
5390@cindex symbol type, ELF
5391@cindex @code{type} directive
5392This directive is used to set the type of symbol @var{name} to be either a
5393function symbol or an object symbol.  There are five different syntaxes
5394supported for the @var{type description} field, in order to provide
5395compatibility with various other assemblers.  The syntaxes supported are:
5396
5397@smallexample
5398  .type <name>,#function
5399  .type <name>,#object
5400
5401  .type <name>,@@function
5402  .type <name>,@@object
5403
5404  .type <name>,%function
5405  .type <name>,%object
5406  
5407  .type <name>,"function"
5408  .type <name>,"object"
5409  
5410  .type <name> STT_FUNCTION
5411  .type <name> STT_OBJECT
5412@end smallexample
5413
5414@node Uleb128
5415@section @code{.uleb128 @var{expressions}}
5416
5417@cindex @code{uleb128} directive
5418@var{uleb128} stands for ``unsigned little endian base 128.''  This is a 
5419compact, variable length representation of numbers used by the DWARF
5420symbolic debugging format.  @xref{Sleb128,@code{.sleb128}}.
5421
5422@ifset COFF
5423@node Val
5424@section @code{.val @var{addr}}
5425
5426@cindex @code{val} directive
5427@cindex COFF value attribute
5428@cindex value attribute, COFF
5429This directive, permitted only within @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs,
5430records the address @var{addr} as the value attribute of a symbol table
5431entry.
5432@ifset BOUT
5433
5434@samp{.val} is used only for COFF output; when @command{@value{AS}} is
5435configured for @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but ignores it.
5436@end ifset
5437@end ifset
5438
5439@ifset ELF
5440@node Version
5441@section @code{.version "@var{string}"}
5442
5443@cindex @code{.version}
5444This directive creates a @code{.note} section and places into it an ELF
5445formatted note of type NT_VERSION.  The note's name is set to @code{string}.
5446@end ifset
5447
5448@ifset ELF
5449@node VTableEntry
5450@section @code{.vtable_entry @var{table}, @var{offset}}
5451
5452@cindex @code{.vtable_entry}
5453This directive finds or creates a symbol @code{table} and creates a
5454@code{VTABLE_ENTRY} relocation for it with an addend of @code{offset}.
5455
5456@node VTableInherit
5457@section @code{.vtable_inherit @var{child}, @var{parent}}
5458
5459@cindex @code{.vtable_inherit}
5460This directive finds the symbol @code{child} and finds or creates the symbol
5461@code{parent} and then creates a @code{VTABLE_INHERIT} relocation for the
5462parent whose addend is the value of the child symbol.  As a special case the
5463parent name of @code{0} is treated as refering the @code{*ABS*} section.
5464@end ifset
5465
5466@ifset ELF
5467@node Weak
5468@section @code{.weak @var{names}}
5469
5470@cindex @code{.weak}
5471This directive sets the weak attribute on the comma separated list of symbol
5472@code{names}.  If the symbols do not already exist, they will be created.
5473@end ifset
5474
5475@node Word
5476@section @code{.word @var{expressions}}
5477
5478@cindex @code{word} directive
5479This directive expects zero or more @var{expressions}, of any section,
5480separated by commas.
5481@ifclear GENERIC
5482@ifset W32
5483For each expression, @command{@value{AS}} emits a 32-bit number.
5484@end ifset
5485@ifset W16
5486For each expression, @command{@value{AS}} emits a 16-bit number.
5487@end ifset
5488@end ifclear
5489@ifset GENERIC
5490
5491The size of the number emitted, and its byte order,
5492depend on what target computer the assembly is for.
5493@end ifset
5494
5495@c on amd29k, i960, sparc the "special treatment to support compilers" doesn't
5496@c happen---32-bit addressability, period; no long/short jumps.
5497@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
5498@cindex difference tables altered
5499@cindex altered difference tables
5500@quotation
5501@emph{Warning: Special Treatment to support Compilers}
5502@end quotation
5503
5504@ifset GENERIC
5505Machines with a 32-bit address space, but that do less than 32-bit
5506addressing, require the following special treatment.  If the machine of
5507interest to you does 32-bit addressing (or doesn't require it;
5508@pxref{Machine Dependencies}), you can ignore this issue.
5509
5510@end ifset
5511In order to assemble compiler output into something that works,
5512@command{@value{AS}} occasionally does strange things to @samp{.word} directives.
5513Directives of the form @samp{.word sym1-sym2} are often emitted by
5514compilers as part of jump tables.  Therefore, when @command{@value{AS}} assembles a
5515directive of the form @samp{.word sym1-sym2}, and the difference between
5516@code{sym1} and @code{sym2} does not fit in 16 bits, @command{@value{AS}}
5517creates a @dfn{secondary jump table}, immediately before the next label.
5518This secondary jump table is preceded by a short-jump to the
5519first byte after the secondary table.  This short-jump prevents the flow
5520of control from accidentally falling into the new table.  Inside the
5521table is a long-jump to @code{sym2}.  The original @samp{.word}
5522contains @code{sym1} minus the address of the long-jump to
5523@code{sym2}.
5524
5525If there were several occurrences of @samp{.word sym1-sym2} before the
5526secondary jump table, all of them are adjusted.  If there was a
5527@samp{.word sym3-sym4}, that also did not fit in sixteen bits, a
5528long-jump to @code{sym4} is included in the secondary jump table,
5529and the @code{.word} directives are adjusted to contain @code{sym3}
5530minus the address of the long-jump to @code{sym4}; and so on, for as many
5531entries in the original jump table as necessary.
5532
5533@ifset INTERNALS
5534@emph{This feature may be disabled by compiling @command{@value{AS}} with the
5535@samp{-DWORKING_DOT_WORD} option.} This feature is likely to confuse
5536assembly language programmers.
5537@end ifset
5538@end ifset
5539@c end     DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
5540
5541@node Deprecated
5542@section Deprecated Directives
5543
5544@cindex deprecated directives
5545@cindex obsolescent directives
5546One day these directives won't work.
5547They are included for compatibility with older assemblers.
5548@table @t
5549@item .abort
5550@item .line
5551@end table
5552
5553@ifset GENERIC
5554@node Machine Dependencies
5555@chapter Machine Dependent Features
5556
5557@cindex machine dependencies
5558The machine instruction sets are (almost by definition) different on
5559each machine where @command{@value{AS}} runs.  Floating point representations
5560vary as well, and @command{@value{AS}} often supports a few additional
5561directives or command-line options for compatibility with other
5562assemblers on a particular platform.  Finally, some versions of
5563@command{@value{AS}} support special pseudo-instructions for branch
5564optimization.
5565
5566This chapter discusses most of these differences, though it does not
5567include details on any machine's instruction set.  For details on that
5568subject, see the hardware manufacturer's manual.
5569
5570@menu
5571@ifset A29K
5572* AMD29K-Dependent::            AMD 29K Dependent Features
5573@end ifset
5574@ifset ARC
5575* ARC-Dependent::               ARC Dependent Features
5576@end ifset
5577@ifset ARM
5578* ARM-Dependent::               ARM Dependent Features
5579@end ifset
5580@ifset D10V
5581* D10V-Dependent::              D10V Dependent Features
5582@end ifset
5583@ifset D30V
5584* D30V-Dependent::              D30V Dependent Features
5585@end ifset
5586@ifset H8/300
5587* H8/300-Dependent::            Hitachi H8/300 Dependent Features
5588@end ifset
5589@ifset H8/500
5590* H8/500-Dependent::            Hitachi H8/500 Dependent Features
5591@end ifset
5592@ifset HPPA
5593* HPPA-Dependent::              HPPA Dependent Features
5594@end ifset
5595@ifset I370
5596* ESA/390-Dependent::           IBM ESA/390 Dependent Features
5597@end ifset
5598@ifset I80386
5599* i386-Dependent::              Intel 80386 and AMD x86-64 Dependent Features
5600@end ifset
5601@ifset I860
5602* i860-Dependent::              Intel 80860 Dependent Features
5603@end ifset
5604@ifset I960
5605* i960-Dependent::              Intel 80960 Dependent Features
5606@end ifset
5607@ifset M32R
5608* M32R-Dependent::              M32R Dependent Features
5609@end ifset
5610@ifset M680X0
5611* M68K-Dependent::              M680x0 Dependent Features
5612@end ifset
5613@ifset M68HC11
5614* M68HC11-Dependent::           M68HC11 and 68HC12 Dependent Features
5615@end ifset
5616@ifset M880X0
5617* M88K-Dependent::		M880x0 Dependent Features
5618@end ifset
5619@ifset MIPS
5620* MIPS-Dependent::              MIPS Dependent Features
5621@end ifset
5622@ifset MMIX
5623* MMIX-Dependent::              MMIX Dependent Features
5624@end ifset
5625@ifset SH
5626* SH-Dependent::                Hitachi SH Dependent Features
5627@end ifset
5628@ifset PDP11
5629* PDP-11-Dependent::            PDP-11 Dependent Features
5630@end ifset
5631@ifset PJ
5632* PJ-Dependent::                picoJava Dependent Features
5633@end ifset
5634@ifset PPC
5635* PPC-Dependent::               PowerPC Dependent Features
5636@end ifset
5637@ifset SPARC
5638* Sparc-Dependent::             SPARC Dependent Features
5639@end ifset
5640@ifset TIC54X
5641* TIC54X-Dependent::            TI TMS320C54x Dependent Features
5642@end ifset
5643@ifset V850
5644* V850-Dependent::              V850 Dependent Features
5645@end ifset
5646@ifset Z8000
5647* Z8000-Dependent::             Z8000 Dependent Features
5648@end ifset
5649@ifset VAX
5650* Vax-Dependent::               VAX Dependent Features
5651@end ifset
5652@end menu
5653
5654@lowersections
5655@end ifset
5656
5657@c The following major nodes are *sections* in the GENERIC version, *chapters*
5658@c in single-cpu versions.  This is mainly achieved by @lowersections.  There is a
5659@c peculiarity: to preserve cross-references, there must be a node called
5660@c "Machine Dependencies".  Hence the conditional nodenames in each
5661@c major node below.  Node defaulting in makeinfo requires adjacency of
5662@c node and sectioning commands; hence the repetition of @chapter BLAH
5663@c in both conditional blocks.
5664
5665@ifset ARC
5666@include c-arc.texi
5667@end ifset
5668
5669@ifset A29K
5670@include c-a29k.texi
5671@end ifset
5672
5673@ifset ARM
5674@include c-arm.texi
5675@end ifset
5676
5677@ifset Hitachi-all
5678@ifclear GENERIC
5679@node Machine Dependencies
5680@chapter Machine Dependent Features
5681
5682The machine instruction sets are different on each Hitachi chip family,
5683and there are also some syntax differences among the families.  This
5684chapter describes the specific @command{@value{AS}} features for each
5685family.
5686
5687@menu
5688* H8/300-Dependent::            Hitachi H8/300 Dependent Features
5689* H8/500-Dependent::            Hitachi H8/500 Dependent Features
5690* SH-Dependent::                Hitachi SH Dependent Features
5691@end menu
5692@lowersections
5693@end ifclear
5694@end ifset
5695
5696@ifset D10V
5697@include c-d10v.texi
5698@end ifset
5699
5700@ifset D30V
5701@include c-d30v.texi
5702@end ifset
5703
5704@ifset H8/300
5705@include c-h8300.texi
5706@end ifset
5707
5708@ifset H8/500
5709@include c-h8500.texi
5710@end ifset
5711
5712@ifset HPPA
5713@include c-hppa.texi
5714@end ifset
5715
5716@ifset I370
5717@include c-i370.texi
5718@end ifset
5719
5720@ifset I80386
5721@include c-i386.texi
5722@end ifset
5723
5724@ifset I860
5725@include c-i860.texi
5726@end ifset
5727
5728@ifset I960
5729@include c-i960.texi
5730@end ifset
5731
5732@ifset M32R
5733@include c-m32r.texi
5734@end ifset
5735
5736@ifset M680X0
5737@include c-m68k.texi
5738@end ifset
5739
5740@ifset M68HC11
5741@include c-m68hc11.texi
5742@end ifset
5743
5744@ifset M880X0
5745@include c-m88k.texi
5746@end ifset
5747
5748@ifset MIPS
5749@include c-mips.texi
5750@end ifset
5751
5752@ifset MMIX
5753@include c-mmix.texi
5754@end ifset
5755
5756@ifset NS32K
5757@include c-ns32k.texi
5758@end ifset
5759
5760@ifset PDP11
5761@include c-pdp11.texi
5762@end ifset
5763
5764@ifset PJ
5765@include c-pj.texi
5766@end ifset
5767
5768@ifset PPC
5769@include c-ppc.texi
5770@end ifset
5771
5772@ifset SH
5773@include c-sh.texi
5774@end ifset
5775
5776@ifset SPARC
5777@include c-sparc.texi
5778@end ifset
5779
5780@ifset TIC54X
5781@include c-tic54x.texi
5782@end ifset
5783
5784@ifset Z8000
5785@include c-z8k.texi
5786@end ifset
5787
5788@ifset VAX
5789@include c-vax.texi
5790@end ifset
5791
5792@ifset V850
5793@include c-v850.texi
5794@end ifset
5795
5796@ifset GENERIC
5797@c reverse effect of @down at top of generic Machine-Dep chapter
5798@raisesections
5799@end ifset
5800
5801@node Reporting Bugs
5802@chapter Reporting Bugs
5803@cindex bugs in assembler
5804@cindex reporting bugs in assembler
5805
5806Your bug reports play an essential role in making @command{@value{AS}} reliable.
5807
5808Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it may
5809not.  But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help the
5810entire community by making the next version of @command{@value{AS}} work better.
5811Bug reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @command{@value{AS}}.
5812
5813In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
5814information that enables us to fix the bug.
5815
5816@menu
5817* Bug Criteria::                Have you found a bug?
5818* Bug Reporting::               How to report bugs
5819@end menu
5820
5821@node Bug Criteria
5822@section Have you found a bug?
5823@cindex bug criteria
5824
5825If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
5826
5827@itemize @bullet
5828@cindex fatal signal
5829@cindex assembler crash
5830@cindex crash of assembler
5831@item
5832If the assembler gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
5833@command{@value{AS}} bug.  Reliable assemblers never crash.
5834
5835@cindex error on valid input
5836@item
5837If @command{@value{AS}} produces an error message for valid input, that is a bug.
5838
5839@cindex invalid input
5840@item
5841If @command{@value{AS}} does not produce an error message for invalid input, that
5842is a bug.  However, you should note that your idea of ``invalid input'' might
5843be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support for traditional practice''.
5844
5845@item
5846If you are an experienced user of assemblers, your suggestions for improvement
5847of @command{@value{AS}} are welcome in any case.
5848@end itemize
5849
5850@node Bug Reporting
5851@section How to report bugs
5852@cindex bug reports
5853@cindex assembler bugs, reporting
5854
5855A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.  If
5856you obtained @command{@value{AS}} from a support organization, we recommend you
5857contact that organization first.
5858
5859You can find contact information for many support companies and
5860individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
5861distribution.
5862
5863In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for @command{@value{AS}}
5864to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
5865
5866The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
5867@strong{report all the facts}.  If you are not sure whether to state a
5868fact or leave it out, state it!
5869
5870Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the problem
5871and assume that some details do not matter.  Thus, you might assume that the
5872name of a symbol you use in an example does not matter.  Well, probably it does
5873not, but one cannot be sure.  Perhaps the bug is a stray memory reference which
5874happens to fetch from the location where that name is stored in memory;
5875perhaps, if the name were different, the contents of that location would fool
5876the assembler into doing the right thing despite the bug.  Play it safe and
5877give a specific, complete example.  That is the easiest thing for you to do,
5878and the most helpful.
5879
5880Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
5881it is new to us.  Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
5882that the bug has not been reported previously.
5883
5884Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
5885bell?''  Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
5886@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
5887bugs properly.
5888
5889To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
5890
5891@itemize @bullet
5892@item
5893The version of @command{@value{AS}}.  @command{@value{AS}} announces it if you start
5894it with the @samp{--version} argument.
5895
5896Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
5897the bug in the current version of @command{@value{AS}}.
5898
5899@item
5900Any patches you may have applied to the @command{@value{AS}} source.
5901
5902@item
5903The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
5904version number.
5905
5906@item
5907What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @command{@value{AS}}---e.g.
5908``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
5909
5910@item
5911The command arguments you gave the assembler to assemble your example and
5912observe the bug.  To guarantee you will not omit something important, list them
5913all.  A copy of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
5914
5915If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
5916and then we might not encounter the bug.
5917
5918@item
5919A complete input file that will reproduce the bug.  If the bug is observed when
5920the assembler is invoked via a compiler, send the assembler source, not the
5921high level language source.  Most compilers will produce the assembler source
5922when run with the @samp{-S} option.  If you are using @code{@value{GCC}}, use
5923the options @samp{-v --save-temps}; this will save the assembler source in a
5924file with an extension of @file{.s}, and also show you exactly how
5925@command{@value{AS}} is being run.
5926
5927@item
5928A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
5929incorrect.  For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
5930
5931Of course, if the bug is that @command{@value{AS}} gets a fatal signal, then we
5932will certainly notice it.  But if the bug is incorrect output, we might not
5933notice unless it is glaringly wrong.  You might as well not give us a chance to
5934make a mistake.
5935
5936Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still say so
5937explicitly.  Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your copy of
5938@command{@value{AS}} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in the C
5939library on your system.  (This has happened!)  Your copy might crash and ours
5940would not.  If you told us to expect a crash, then when ours fails to crash, we
5941would know that the bug was not happening for us.  If you had not told us to
5942expect a crash, then we would not be able to draw any conclusion from our
5943observations.
5944
5945@item
5946If you wish to suggest changes to the @command{@value{AS}} source, send us context
5947diffs, as generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
5948option.  Always send diffs from the old file to the new file.  If you even
5949discuss something in the @command{@value{AS}} source, refer to it by context, not
5950by line number.
5951
5952The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
5953sources.  Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
5954@end itemize
5955
5956Here are some things that are not necessary:
5957
5958@itemize @bullet
5959@item
5960A description of the envelope of the bug.
5961
5962Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
5963which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
5964changes will not affect it.
5965
5966This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
5967will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
5968with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
5969We recommend that you save your time for something else.
5970
5971Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
5972of the original one, that is a convenience for us.  Errors in the
5973output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
5974less time, and so on.
5975
5976However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
5977report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
5978
5979@item
5980A patch for the bug.
5981
5982A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one.  But do not omit
5983the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
5984a patch is all we need.  We might see problems with your patch and decide
5985to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
5986
5987Sometimes with a program as complicated as @command{@value{AS}} it is very hard to
5988construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path through
5989the code.  If you do not send us the example, we will not be able to construct
5990one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
5991
5992And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
5993patch should be an improvement, we will not install it.  A test case will
5994help us to understand.
5995
5996@item
5997A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
5998
5999Such guesses are usually wrong.  Even we cannot guess right about such
6000things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
6001@end itemize
6002
6003@node Acknowledgements
6004@chapter Acknowledgements
6005
6006If you have contributed to @command{@value{AS}} and your name isn't listed here,
6007it is not meant as a slight.  We just don't know about it.  Send mail to the
6008maintainer, and we'll correct the situation.  Currently 
6009@c (January 1994), 
6010the maintainer is Ken Raeburn (email address @code{raeburn@@cygnus.com}).
6011
6012Dean Elsner wrote the original @sc{gnu} assembler for the VAX.@footnote{Any
6013more details?}
6014
6015Jay Fenlason maintained GAS for a while, adding support for GDB-specific debug
6016information and the 68k series machines, most of the preprocessing pass, and
6017extensive changes in @file{messages.c}, @file{input-file.c}, @file{write.c}.
6018
6019K. Richard Pixley maintained GAS for a while, adding various enhancements and
6020many bug fixes, including merging support for several processors, breaking GAS
6021up to handle multiple object file format back ends (including heavy rewrite,
6022testing, an integration of the coff and b.out back ends), adding configuration
6023including heavy testing and verification of cross assemblers and file splits
6024and renaming, converted GAS to strictly ANSI C including full prototypes, added
6025support for m680[34]0 and cpu32, did considerable work on i960 including a COFF
6026port (including considerable amounts of reverse engineering), a SPARC opcode
6027file rewrite, DECstation, rs6000, and hp300hpux host ports, updated ``know''
6028assertions and made them work, much other reorganization, cleanup, and lint.
6029
6030Ken Raeburn wrote the high-level BFD interface code to replace most of the code
6031in format-specific I/O modules.
6032
6033The original VMS support was contributed by David L. Kashtan.  Eric Youngdale
6034has done much work with it since.
6035
6036The Intel 80386 machine description was written by Eliot Dresselhaus.
6037
6038Minh Tran-Le at IntelliCorp contributed some AIX 386 support.
6039
6040The Motorola 88k machine description was contributed by Devon Bowen of Buffalo
6041University and Torbjorn Granlund of the Swedish Institute of Computer Science.
6042
6043Keith Knowles at the Open Software Foundation wrote the original MIPS back end
6044(@file{tc-mips.c}, @file{tc-mips.h}), and contributed Rose format support
6045(which hasn't been merged in yet).  Ralph Campbell worked with the MIPS code to
6046support a.out format.
6047
6048Support for the Zilog Z8k and Hitachi H8/300 and H8/500 processors (tc-z8k,
6049tc-h8300, tc-h8500), and IEEE 695 object file format (obj-ieee), was written by
6050Steve Chamberlain of Cygnus Support.  Steve also modified the COFF back end to
6051use BFD for some low-level operations, for use with the H8/300 and AMD 29k
6052targets.
6053
6054John Gilmore built the AMD 29000 support, added @code{.include} support, and
6055simplified the configuration of which versions accept which directives.  He
6056updated the 68k machine description so that Motorola's opcodes always produced
6057fixed-size instructions (e.g. @code{jsr}), while synthetic instructions
6058remained shrinkable (@code{jbsr}).  John fixed many bugs, including true tested
6059cross-compilation support, and one bug in relaxation that took a week and
6060required the proverbial one-bit fix.
6061
6062Ian Lance Taylor of Cygnus Support merged the Motorola and MIT syntax for the
606368k, completed support for some COFF targets (68k, i386 SVR3, and SCO Unix),
6064added support for MIPS ECOFF and ELF targets, wrote the initial RS/6000 and
6065PowerPC assembler, and made a few other minor patches.
6066
6067Steve Chamberlain made @command{@value{AS}} able to generate listings.
6068
6069Hewlett-Packard contributed support for the HP9000/300.
6070
6071Jeff Law wrote GAS and BFD support for the native HPPA object format (SOM)
6072along with a fairly extensive HPPA testsuite (for both SOM and ELF object
6073formats).  This work was supported by both the Center for Software Science at
6074the University of Utah and Cygnus Support.
6075
6076Support for ELF format files has been worked on by Mark Eichin of Cygnus
6077Support (original, incomplete implementation for SPARC), Pete Hoogenboom and
6078Jeff Law at the University of Utah (HPPA mainly), Michael Meissner of the Open
6079Software Foundation (i386 mainly), and Ken Raeburn of Cygnus Support (sparc,
6080and some initial 64-bit support).
6081
6082Linas Vepstas added GAS support for the ESA/390 "IBM 370" architecture.
6083
6084Richard Henderson rewrote the Alpha assembler. Klaus Kaempf wrote GAS and BFD
6085support for openVMS/Alpha.
6086
6087Timothy Wall, Michael Hayes, and Greg Smart contributed to the various tic*
6088flavors.
6089
6090Several engineers at Cygnus Support have also provided many small bug fixes and
6091configuration enhancements.
6092
6093Many others have contributed large or small bugfixes and enhancements.  If
6094you have contributed significant work and are not mentioned on this list, and
6095want to be, let us know.  Some of the history has been lost; we are not
6096intentionally leaving anyone out.
6097
6098@node GNU Free Documentation License
6099@chapter GNU Free Documentation License
6100
6101                GNU Free Documentation License
6102                
6103                   Version 1.1, March 2000
6104
6105 Copyright (C) 2000  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
6106  59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
6107     
6108 Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
6109 of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
6110
6111
61120. PREAMBLE
6113
6114The purpose of this License is to make a manual, textbook, or other
6115written document "free" in the sense of freedom: to assure everyone
6116the effective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or without
6117modifying it, either commercially or noncommercially.  Secondarily,
6118this License preserves for the author and publisher a way to get
6119credit for their work, while not being considered responsible for
6120modifications made by others.
6121
6122This License is a kind of "copyleft", which means that derivative
6123works of the document must themselves be free in the same sense.  It
6124complements the GNU General Public License, which is a copyleft
6125license designed for free software.
6126
6127We have designed this License in order to use it for manuals for free
6128software, because free software needs free documentation: a free
6129program should come with manuals providing the same freedoms that the
6130software does.  But this License is not limited to software manuals;
6131it can be used for any textual work, regardless of subject matter or
6132whether it is published as a printed book.  We recommend this License
6133principally for works whose purpose is instruction or reference.
6134
6135
61361. APPLICABILITY AND DEFINITIONS
6137
6138This License applies to any manual or other work that contains a
6139notice placed by the copyright holder saying it can be distributed
6140under the terms of this License.  The "Document", below, refers to any
6141such manual or work.  Any member of the public is a licensee, and is
6142addressed as "you".
6143
6144A "Modified Version" of the Document means any work containing the
6145Document or a portion of it, either copied verbatim, or with
6146modifications and/or translated into another language.
6147
6148A "Secondary Section" is a named appendix or a front-matter section of
6149the Document that deals exclusively with the relationship of the
6150publishers or authors of the Document to the Document's overall subject
6151(or to related matters) and contains nothing that could fall directly
6152within that overall subject.  (For example, if the Document is in part a
6153textbook of mathematics, a Secondary Section may not explain any
6154mathematics.)  The relationship could be a matter of historical
6155connection with the subject or with related matters, or of legal,
6156commercial, philosophical, ethical or political position regarding
6157them.
6158
6159The "Invariant Sections" are certain Secondary Sections whose titles
6160are designated, as being those of Invariant Sections, in the notice
6161that says that the Document is released under this License.
6162
6163The "Cover Texts" are certain short passages of text that are listed,
6164as Front-Cover Texts or Back-Cover Texts, in the notice that says that
6165the Document is released under this License.
6166
6167A "Transparent" copy of the Document means a machine-readable copy,
6168represented in a format whose specification is available to the
6169general public, whose contents can be viewed and edited directly and
6170straightforwardly with generic text editors or (for images composed of
6171pixels) generic paint programs or (for drawings) some widely available
6172drawing editor, and that is suitable for input to text formatters or
6173for automatic translation to a variety of formats suitable for input
6174to text formatters.  A copy made in an otherwise Transparent file
6175format whose markup has been designed to thwart or discourage
6176subsequent modification by readers is not Transparent.  A copy that is
6177not "Transparent" is called "Opaque".
6178
6179Examples of suitable formats for Transparent copies include plain
6180ASCII without markup, Texinfo input format, LaTeX input format, SGML
6181or XML using a publicly available DTD, and standard-conforming simple
6182HTML designed for human modification.  Opaque formats include
6183PostScript, PDF, proprietary formats that can be read and edited only
6184by proprietary word processors, SGML or XML for which the DTD and/or
6185processing tools are not generally available, and the
6186machine-generated HTML produced by some word processors for output
6187purposes only.
6188
6189The "Title Page" means, for a printed book, the title page itself,
6190plus such following pages as are needed to hold, legibly, the material
6191this License requires to appear in the title page.  For works in
6192formats which do not have any title page as such, "Title Page" means
6193the text near the most prominent appearance of the work's title,
6194preceding the beginning of the body of the text.
6195
6196
61972. VERBATIM COPYING
6198
6199You may copy and distribute the Document in any medium, either
6200commercially or noncommercially, provided that this License, the
6201copyright notices, and the license notice saying this License applies
6202to the Document are reproduced in all copies, and that you add no other
6203conditions whatsoever to those of this License.  You may not use
6204technical measures to obstruct or control the reading or further
6205copying of the copies you make or distribute.  However, you may accept
6206compensation in exchange for copies.  If you distribute a large enough
6207number of copies you must also follow the conditions in section 3.
6208
6209You may also lend copies, under the same conditions stated above, and
6210you may publicly display copies.
6211
6212
62133. COPYING IN QUANTITY
6214
6215If you publish printed copies of the Document numbering more than 100,
6216and the Document's license notice requires Cover Texts, you must enclose
6217the copies in covers that carry, clearly and legibly, all these Cover
6218Texts: Front-Cover Texts on the front cover, and Back-Cover Texts on
6219the back cover.  Both covers must also clearly and legibly identify
6220you as the publisher of these copies.  The front cover must present
6221the full title with all words of the title equally prominent and
6222visible.  You may add other material on the covers in addition.
6223Copying with changes limited to the covers, as long as they preserve
6224the title of the Document and satisfy these conditions, can be treated
6225as verbatim copying in other respects.
6226
6227If the required texts for either cover are too voluminous to fit
6228legibly, you should put the first ones listed (as many as fit
6229reasonably) on the actual cover, and continue the rest onto adjacent
6230pages.
6231
6232If you publish or distribute Opaque copies of the Document numbering
6233more than 100, you must either include a machine-readable Transparent
6234copy along with each Opaque copy, or state in or with each Opaque copy
6235a publicly-accessible computer-network location containing a complete
6236Transparent copy of the Document, free of added material, which the
6237general network-using public has access to download anonymously at no
6238charge using public-standard network protocols.  If you use the latter
6239option, you must take reasonably prudent steps, when you begin
6240distribution of Opaque copies in quantity, to ensure that this
6241Transparent copy will remain thus accessible at the stated location
6242until at least one year after the last time you distribute an Opaque
6243copy (directly or through your agents or retailers) of that edition to
6244the public.
6245
6246It is requested, but not required, that you contact the authors of the
6247Document well before redistributing any large number of copies, to give
6248them a chance to provide you with an updated version of the Document.
6249
6250
62514. MODIFICATIONS
6252
6253You may copy and distribute a Modified Version of the Document under
6254the conditions of sections 2 and 3 above, provided that you release
6255the Modified Version under precisely this License, with the Modified
6256Version filling the role of the Document, thus licensing distribution
6257and modification of the Modified Version to whoever possesses a copy
6258of it.  In addition, you must do these things in the Modified Version:
6259
6260A. Use in the Title Page (and on the covers, if any) a title distinct
6261   from that of the Document, and from those of previous versions
6262   (which should, if there were any, be listed in the History section
6263   of the Document).  You may use the same title as a previous version
6264   if the original publisher of that version gives permission.
6265B. List on the Title Page, as authors, one or more persons or entities
6266   responsible for authorship of the modifications in the Modified
6267   Version, together with at least five of the principal authors of the
6268   Document (all of its principal authors, if it has less than five).
6269C. State on the Title page the name of the publisher of the
6270   Modified Version, as the publisher.
6271D. Preserve all the copyright notices of the Document.
6272E. Add an appropriate copyright notice for your modifications
6273   adjacent to the other copyright notices.
6274F. Include, immediately after the copyright notices, a license notice
6275   giving the public permission to use the Modified Version under the
6276   terms of this License, in the form shown in the Addendum below.
6277G. Preserve in that license notice the full lists of Invariant Sections
6278   and required Cover Texts given in the Document's license notice.
6279H. Include an unaltered copy of this License.
6280I. Preserve the section entitled "History", and its title, and add to
6281   it an item stating at least the title, year, new authors, and
6282   publisher of the Modified Version as given on the Title Page.  If
6283   there is no section entitled "History" in the Document, create one
6284   stating the title, year, authors, and publisher of the Document as
6285   given on its Title Page, then add an item describing the Modified
6286   Version as stated in the previous sentence.
6287J. Preserve the network location, if any, given in the Document for
6288   public access to a Transparent copy of the Document, and likewise
6289   the network locations given in the Document for previous versions
6290   it was based on.  These may be placed in the "History" section.
6291   You may omit a network location for a work that was published at
6292   least four years before the Document itself, or if the original
6293   publisher of the version it refers to gives permission.
6294K. In any section entitled "Acknowledgements" or "Dedications",
6295   preserve the section's title, and preserve in the section all the
6296   substance and tone of each of the contributor acknowledgements
6297   and/or dedications given therein.
6298L. Preserve all the Invariant Sections of the Document,
6299   unaltered in their text and in their titles.  Section numbers
6300   or the equivalent are not considered part of the section titles.
6301M. Delete any section entitled "Endorsements".  Such a section
6302   may not be included in the Modified Version.
6303N. Do not retitle any existing section as "Endorsements"
6304   or to conflict in title with any Invariant Section.
6305
6306If the Modified Version includes new front-matter sections or
6307appendices that qualify as Secondary Sections and contain no material
6308copied from the Document, you may at your option designate some or all
6309of these sections as invariant.  To do this, add their titles to the
6310list of Invariant Sections in the Modified Version's license notice.
6311These titles must be distinct from any other section titles.
6312
6313You may add a section entitled "Endorsements", provided it contains
6314nothing but endorsements of your Modified Version by various
6315parties--for example, statements of peer review or that the text has
6316been approved by an organization as the authoritative definition of a
6317standard.
6318
6319You may add a passage of up to five words as a Front-Cover Text, and a
6320passage of up to 25 words as a Back-Cover Text, to the end of the list
6321of Cover Texts in the Modified Version.  Only one passage of
6322Front-Cover Text and one of Back-Cover Text may be added by (or
6323through arrangements made by) any one entity.  If the Document already
6324includes a cover text for the same cover, previously added by you or
6325by arrangement made by the same entity you are acting on behalf of,
6326you may not add another; but you may replace the old one, on explicit
6327permission from the previous publisher that added the old one.
6328
6329The author(s) and publisher(s) of the Document do not by this License
6330give permission to use their names for publicity for or to assert or
6331imply endorsement of any Modified Version.
6332
6333
63345. COMBINING DOCUMENTS
6335
6336You may combine the Document with other documents released under this
6337License, under the terms defined in section 4 above for modified
6338versions, provided that you include in the combination all of the
6339Invariant Sections of all of the original documents, unmodified, and
6340list them all as Invariant Sections of your combined work in its
6341license notice.
6342
6343The combined work need only contain one copy of this License, and
6344multiple identical Invariant Sections may be replaced with a single
6345copy.  If there are multiple Invariant Sections with the same name but
6346different contents, make the title of each such section unique by
6347adding at the end of it, in parentheses, the name of the original
6348author or publisher of that section if known, or else a unique number.
6349Make the same adjustment to the section titles in the list of
6350Invariant Sections in the license notice of the combined work.
6351
6352In the combination, you must combine any sections entitled "History"
6353in the various original documents, forming one section entitled
6354"History"; likewise combine any sections entitled "Acknowledgements",
6355and any sections entitled "Dedications".  You must delete all sections
6356entitled "Endorsements."
6357
6358
63596. COLLECTIONS OF DOCUMENTS
6360
6361You may make a collection consisting of the Document and other documents
6362released under this License, and replace the individual copies of this
6363License in the various documents with a single copy that is included in
6364the collection, provided that you follow the rules of this License for
6365verbatim copying of each of the documents in all other respects.
6366
6367You may extract a single document from such a collection, and distribute
6368it individually under this License, provided you insert a copy of this
6369License into the extracted document, and follow this License in all
6370other respects regarding verbatim copying of that document.
6371
6372
63737. AGGREGATION WITH INDEPENDENT WORKS
6374
6375A compilation of the Document or its derivatives with other separate
6376and independent documents or works, in or on a volume of a storage or
6377distribution medium, does not as a whole count as a Modified Version
6378of the Document, provided no compilation copyright is claimed for the
6379compilation.  Such a compilation is called an "aggregate", and this
6380License does not apply to the other self-contained works thus compiled
6381with the Document, on account of their being thus compiled, if they
6382are not themselves derivative works of the Document.
6383
6384If the Cover Text requirement of section 3 is applicable to these
6385copies of the Document, then if the Document is less than one quarter
6386of the entire aggregate, the Document's Cover Texts may be placed on
6387covers that surround only the Document within the aggregate.
6388Otherwise they must appear on covers around the whole aggregate.
6389
6390
63918. TRANSLATION
6392
6393Translation is considered a kind of modification, so you may
6394distribute translations of the Document under the terms of section 4.
6395Replacing Invariant Sections with translations requires special
6396permission from their copyright holders, but you may include
6397translations of some or all Invariant Sections in addition to the
6398original versions of these Invariant Sections.  You may include a
6399translation of this License provided that you also include the
6400original English version of this License.  In case of a disagreement
6401between the translation and the original English version of this
6402License, the original English version will prevail.
6403
6404
64059. TERMINATION
6406
6407You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Document except
6408as expressly provided for under this License.  Any other attempt to
6409copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Document is void, and will
6410automatically terminate your rights under this License.  However,
6411parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under this
6412License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such
6413parties remain in full compliance.
6414
6415
641610. FUTURE REVISIONS OF THIS LICENSE
6417
6418The Free Software Foundation may publish new, revised versions
6419of the GNU Free Documentation License from time to time.  Such new
6420versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may
6421differ in detail to address new problems or concerns.  See
6422http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/.
6423
6424Each version of the License is given a distinguishing version number.
6425If the Document specifies that a particular numbered version of this
6426License "or any later version" applies to it, you have the option of
6427following the terms and conditions either of that specified version or
6428of any later version that has been published (not as a draft) by the
6429Free Software Foundation.  If the Document does not specify a version
6430number of this License, you may choose any version ever published (not
6431as a draft) by the Free Software Foundation.
6432
6433
6434ADDENDUM: How to use this License for your documents
6435
6436To use this License in a document you have written, include a copy of
6437the License in the document and put the following copyright and
6438license notices just after the title page:
6439
6440@smallexample
6441    Copyright (c)  YEAR  YOUR NAME.
6442    Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
6443    under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
6444    or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
6445    with the Invariant Sections being LIST THEIR TITLES, with the
6446    Front-Cover Texts being LIST, and with the Back-Cover Texts being LIST.
6447    A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU
6448    Free Documentation License".
6449@end smallexample
6450
6451If you have no Invariant Sections, write "with no Invariant Sections"
6452instead of saying which ones are invariant.  If you have no
6453Front-Cover Texts, write "no Front-Cover Texts" instead of
6454"Front-Cover Texts being LIST"; likewise for Back-Cover Texts.
6455
6456If your document contains nontrivial examples of program code, we
6457recommend releasing these examples in parallel under your choice of
6458free software license, such as the GNU General Public License,
6459to permit their use in free software.
6460
6461@node Index
6462@unnumbered Index
6463
6464@printindex cp
6465
6466@contents
6467@bye
6468@c Local Variables:
6469@c fill-column: 79
6470@c End:
6471