NAME

a.ld − prelinker

FORMAT

a.ld [options] unit_name [options]

DESCRIPTION

a.ld collects the object files needed to make unit_name a main program and calls the UNIX linker ld(1) to link together all Ada and other language objects required to produce an executable image in a.out. unit_name must be a non-generic subprogram that is either a procedure or a function that returns an Ada ‘standard.integer’ (the predefined type ‘integer’). The utility uses the net files produced by the Ada compiler to check dependency information, produces an exception mapping table, and passes this table and the Ada initialization table to the UNIX linker. 
 
a.ld reads instructions for generating executables from the ada.lib file in the VADS libraries on the search list.  Besides information generated by the compiler, these directives also include WITHn directives that allow the automatic linking of object modules compiled from other languages or Ada object modules not named in context clauses in the Ada source. Any number of WITH directives may be placed into a library, but they must be numbered contiguously beginning at WITH1. The directives are recorded in the library’s ada.lib file and have the following form. 
 
 
WITH1 | LINK | object_file | WITH2 | LINK | archive_file |
 
 
WITH directives may placed in the local Ada libraries or in any VADS library on the search list.
 
A WITH directive in a local VADS library or earlier on the library search list will hide the same numbered WITH directive in a library later in the library search list.
 
Use the tool a.info to change or report library directives in the current library. 
 
All arguments after unit_name are passed on to the UNIX linker. These may be options for ld, archive libraries, library abbreviations, or object files. 

OPTIONS

-F (files) Print a list of dependent files in order and suppress linking. 

-o executable_file
(output) Use the specified file name the name of the output rather than the default, a.out. 

-U (units) Print a list of dependent units in order and suppress linking. 

-v (verbose) Print the UNIX linker command before executing it. 

-V (verify) Print the UNIX linker command but suppress execution. 

FILES

VADS_location/standard/*
startup and standard library routines

 .objects/*
 Ada object files

a.out default output file

SEE ALSO

ld(1)

DIAGNOSTICS

Self-explanatory diagnostics are produced for missing files, etc.  Occasional additional messages are produced by the UNIX linker, ld(1).