Invokes the VMS Linker, which links one or more object modules
   into a program image and defines execution characteristics of the
   image. For a complete description of the linker, including more
   information about the LINK command, see the VMS Linker Utility
   Manual.

   Format

     LINK  filespec[,...]

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIERS

DescriptionExamples

filespec[,...]
   Specifies one or more input files (wildcard characters not
   allowed). Input files may be object modules, libraries to be
   searched for external references or from which specific modules
   are to be included, shareable images to be included in the output
   image or option files to be read by the linker. If you specify
   more than one input file, separate the file specifications with
   either commas (,)  or plus signs (+). In either case, the linker
   creates a single image file.

   If you omit the file type in an input file specification, the
   linker supplies default file types, based on the nature of the
   file. For object modules, the file type OBJ is assumed.

   Before a source-language program can run on the VMS operating
   system, it must be translated into object code and then linked.
   The VMS Linker binds the object modules, together with any other
   necessary information, into an executable image.

   To invoke the VMS Linker from DCL level, enter the LINK command
   and the command parameter.

   For an executable image, the command parameter specifies one or
   more input files including object modules to be linked, libraries
   to be searched for external references or from which specific
   modules are to be included, and option files to be read by the
   linker. Note that you cannot specify a shareable image input file
   from the command line; it can only be specified from a statement
   within an options file that you name on the command line.

   If you name several input files on the command line, separate the
   file specifications with commas or plus signs.

   For a shareable image, the command parameter specifies the name of
   the shareable image being created.

   You can direct output to different types of files by using
   appropriate qualifiers, such as /EXECUTABLE, /SHAREABLE, /MAP,
   and /SYMBOL_TABLE. By default, linker output and messages are
   directed to the SYS$OUTPUT device. Unless you specify otherwise,
   output files take the name of the first input file in the command
   parameter.

   The command line can include qualifiers that either modify the
   command itself, or modify a particular file in a list.

   A command qualifier modifies the command itself and can be located
   anywhere on the command line. Its position does not alter its
   function.

   Positional qualifiers indicate which of the files in the command
   parameter list are to be the object of the specified action.
   If you position the qualifier next to the command, all listed
   files are affected. To affect one or more files selectively,
   position the qualifier immediately after the appropriate file
   specifications.

   If you specify incompatible qualifiers, the linker either ignores
   the command and displays an error message or it may ignore the
   incompatibility and permit the linking operation to continue.

Additional information available:

/BRIEF/CONTIGUOUS/CROSS_REFERENCE/DEBUG/EXECUTABLE
/FULL/HEADER/INCLUDE/LIBRARY/MAP/OPTIONS/P0IMAGE
/PROTECT/SELECTIVE_SEARCH/SHAREABLE/SHAREABLE
/SYMBOL_TABLE/SYSLIB/SYSSHR/SYSTEM/TRACEBACK
/USERLIBRARY

   Requests the linker to produce a brief map (memory allocation)
   file; the /BRIEF qualifier is valid only with the /MAP qualifier.

   A brief form of the map contains the following information:

   o  A summary of the image characteristics

   o  A list of all object modules included in the image

   o  A summary of link-time performance statistics

      /CONTIGUOUS
      /NOCONTIGUOUS (default)

   Controls whether the output image file is contiguous.

      /CROSS_REFERENCE
      /NOCROSS_REFERENCE (default)

   Controls whether the memory allocation listing ( map ) contains a
   symbol cross-reference list with entries for each global symbol
   referenced in the image, its value, and all modules in the image
   that refer to it.

      /DEBUG[=filespec]
      /NODEBUG (default)

   Controls whether a debugger is included in the output image.

   If the object module contains local symbol table or traceback
   information, you can specify the /DEBUG qualifier to include the
   information in the image as well. If the object module does not
   contain local symbol table or traceback information, only global
   symbols are available for symbolic debugging.

   If you specify the /DEBUG qualifier, the VAX Symbolic Debugger
   is linked with the image by default. However, you can use the
   filespec option to specify an alternate debugger (wildcard
   characters are not allowed).

   For information on using the VMS Debugger, see the VMS Debugger
   Manual.

      /EXECUTABLE[=filespec]
      /NOEXECUTABLE

   Controls whether the linker creates an executable image.

   By default the linker creates an executable image with the same
   file name as the first input file and a file type of EXE, but
   this qualifier gives you the option of assigning the image a file
   specification (wildcard characters not allowed).

   The placement of the command qualifier determines the output file
   specification defaults.

   You can use the /NOEXECUTABLE or the /EXECUTABLE=NL: qualifier
   to test a set of qualifiers, options, or input object modules,
   without creating an image file. However, it is recommended that
   you use /EXECUTABLE=NL:, because the linker will not process
   certain other qualifiers if /NOEXECUTABLE is used.

   Produces a full memory allocation (map) listing; the /FULL
   qualifier is valid only with /MAP qualifier.

   A full listing contains the following information:

   o  All the information included in a brief listing (see the
      description of the /BRIEF qualifier)

   o  Detailed descriptions of each program section and image section
      in the image file

   o  Lists of global symbols by name and by value

   Provides a system image header when used with the /SYSTEM
   qualifier. All other images always have headers. However, by
   default, system images do not have headers.

      /INCLUDE=(module-name[,...])

   Positional qualifier.

   Selects modules from the associated object module library or image
   library as input to the linking operation. No wildcard characters
   are allowed in the module name specifications.

   At least one module name must be specified. If you specify only
   one module, you can omit the parentheses.

   If you specify the /INCLUDE qualifier, you can also specify the
   /LIBRARY qualifier; the library is then searched for unresolved
   references.

   Positional qualifier.

   Indicates that the associated input file is a library (default
   file type OLB) whose modules should be searched to resolve
   undefined symbols. You are not permitted to specify a library
   as the first input file unless you also specify the /INCLUDE
   qualifier to indicate which modules in the library are to
   be included in the input. If you use both the /INCLUDE and
   the /LIBRARY qualifiers, the explicit inclusion of modules
   occurs first, then the library is used to search for unresolved
   references.

      /MAP[=filespec]
      /NOMAP

   Controls whether a memory allocation listing (map) is produced
   and gives you the option of assigning it a file specification. In
   interactive mode, the default qualifier is /NOMAP; in batch mode,
   the default qualifier is /MAP.

   You can specify the map's contents using either the /BRIEF,
   the /FULL, or the /CROSS_REFERENCE qualifier. If you do not
   specify any of these qualifiers, the map contains the following
   information:

   o  All the information contained in a brief listing (see /BRIEF)

   o  A list of user-defined global symbols by name

   o  A list of user-defined program sections

   When you specify the /MAP qualifier, you can control the defaults
   applied to the output file specification, as described in the VMS
   DCL Concepts Manual.

   Positional qualifier.

   Indicates that the associated input file (default file type OPT)
   contains a list of linking options.

   For complete details on the contents of an options file, see the
   VMS Linker Utility Manual.

   Creates an image that is stored only in P0 address space together
   with the stack and the VMS RMS buffers that usually go in P1
   address space. The /P0IMAGE qualifier is used to create executable
   images that modify P1 address space. For a description of P0 and
   P1 address space, see the VAX Architecture Handbook.

   Creates a protected shareable image that can execute privileged
   change mode instructions even when it is linked to a nonprivileged
   executable image. The /PROTECT qualifier must be used together
   with the /SHAREABLE qualifier.

   Positional qualifier.

   Omits from the output image symbol table all symbols from the
   associated input object module that are not needed to resolve
   outstanding references. These symbols are also excluded from the
   symbol table file, if the /SYMBOL_TABLE qualifier is specified.
   The binary code in the object module is always included.

      /SHAREABLE[=filespec]
      /NOSHAREABLE

   Command qualifier.

   Creates a shareable image file. By default, the linker creates
   an executable image. Optionally, you can designate a name for the
   output file; however, wildcard characters are not permitted.

   Shareable images are not executable; however, they can be linked
   with object modules to create executable images. If you specify
   both the /EXECUTABLE and /SHAREABLE qualifiers, the /SHAREABLE
   qualifier takes precedence.

   When you specify the /SHAREABLE qualifier, you can control the
   defaults applied to the output file specification by the placement
   of the qualifier in the command.

   To specify an input shareable image, the /SHAREABLE qualifier must
   be used as an input file qualifier in an options file. See the
   description of the linker in the VMS Linker Utility Manual.

      /SHAREABLE
      /SHAREABLE=NOCOPY

   Positional qualifier.

   Identifies an input file as a shareable image file. The keyword
   NOCOPY tells the linker not to bind a private copy of the
   shareable image to the executable image. Use this positional
   qualifier only within an options file. The /SHAREABLE and
   /SHAREABLE=NOCOPY qualifiers are equivalent.

      /SYMBOL_TABLE[=filespec]
      /NOSYMBOL_TABLE (default)

   Controls whether a symbol table object module file (default file
   type STB) is created that contains symbol definitions for all
   global symbols in the image being linked. The symbol table file
   can be subsequently specified in LINK commands to provide the
   symbol definitions to other images.

   If you specify the /DEBUG qualifier, the linker creates a separate
   symbol table file and it includes within the image the global
   symbol definitions that are used by the debugger.

   When you specify the /SYMBOL_TABLE qualifier, you can control the
   defaults applied to the output file specification. Optionally, you
   can designate a name for the symbol table file, but you can not
   use wildcard characters.

      /SYSLIB (default)
      /NOSYSLIB

   Controls whether the default system libraries,
   SYS$LIBRARY:IMAGELIB.OLB and then SYS$LIBRARY:STARLET.OLB, are
   automatically searched for unresolved references in the input
   files.

      /SYSSHR (default)
      /NOSYSSHR

   Controls whether the default system shareable image library,
   SYS$LIBRARY:IMAGELIB.OLB, is automatically searched for
   unresolved references in the input files. By default, the
   linker automatically searches the object module library
   SYS$LIBRARY:STARLET.OLB and then SYS$LIBRARY:IMAGELIB.OLB when
   it cannot resolve references in the input files.

      /SYSTEM[=base-address]
      /NOSYSTEM (default)

   Controls whether a system image is produced. The /SYSTEM qualifier
   produces a system image and optionally assigns it a base address.
   You cannot use the /SYSTEM qualifier with either the /SHAREABLE
   qualifier or the /DEBUG qualifier. A system image cannot be run
   with the RUN command; it must be bootstrapped or otherwise loaded
   into memory.

   The base address specifies where the image is to be loaded in
   virtual memory. It can be expressed in decimal, hexadecimal,
   or octal format, using the radix specifiers %D, %X, or %O,
   respectively. The default base address is %X80000000.

   System images are intended for special purposes, such as stand-
   alone operating system diagnostics. When the linker creates a
   system image, it orders the program sections in alphanumeric order
   and ignores all program section attributes.

      /TRACEBACK (default)
      /NOTRACEBACK

   Controls whether traceback information is included in the image
   file to help the system trace the call stack when an error occurs.

   If you specify the /DEBUG qualifier, the /TRACEBACK qualifier is
   assumed.

      /USERLIBRARY[=(table[,...])]
      /USERLIBRARY=ALL (default)
      /NOUSERLIBRARY

   Specifies which user-defined default libraries (process, group,
   system or, by default, all three) the linker searches after it
   has searched any specified user libraries. (The discussion of
   the linker in the VMS Linker Utility Manual explains user-defined
   default libraries.) You can specify the following tables for the
   linker to search:

   ALL        By default, the linker searches the process, group,
              and system logical name tables for user-defined library
              definitions.

   GROUP      The linker searches the group logical name table for
              user-defined library definitions.

   NONE       The linker does not search any logical name table; this
              specification is equivalent to using the /NOUSERLIBRARY
              qualifier.

   PROCESS    The linker searches the process logical name table for
              user-defined library definitions.

   SYSTEM     The linker searches the system logical name table for
              user-defined library definitions.

   The /NOUSERLIBRARY qualifier tells the linker not to search any
   user-defined default libraries.

   1.  $ LINK ORION

     The LINK command in this example links the object module in the
     file ORION.OBJ and creates an executable image named ORION.EXE.

   2.  $ LINK/MAP/FULL DRACO,CYGNUS,LYRA

     The LINK command in this example links the modules DRACO.OBJ,
     CYGNUS.OBJ, and LYRA.OBJ and creates an executable image named
     DRACO.EXE. The /MAP and /FULL qualifiers request a full map of
     the image, with descriptions of each program section, lists of
     global symbols by name and by value, and a summary of the image
     characteristics. The map file is named DRACO.MAP.


   3.  $ LINK [SSTEST]SERVICE/INCLUDE=DRACO, -
       _$[]CYGNUS/EXECUTABLE

     The LINK command in this example links the object module DRACO
     from the library SERVICE.OLB in the directory SSTEST with
     the module CYGNUS.OBJ in the current default directory. The
     executable image is named CYGNUS.EXE. The placement of the
     /EXECUTABLE qualifier provides the output file name default.

   4.  $ LINK/MAP/CROSS_REFERENCE/EXECUTABLE=DBGWEATH -
       _$/DEBUG -
       _$WEATHER,MATHLIB/LIBRARY
       $ RUN DBGWEATH

                    VAX DEBUG V5.4

       %DEBUG-I-INITIAL, language is FORTRAN, module set to 'WEATHER'
       DBG>

     The LINK command in this example links the object module
     WEATHER.OBJ with the debugger. If any unresolved references
     are encountered, the linker searches the library MATHLIB.OLB
     before searching the system library. The /CROSS_REFERENCE
     qualifier requests a cross-reference listing in the map
     file; the map file is named, by default, WEATHER.MAP. The
     /EXECUTABLE qualifier requests the linker to name the output
     file DBGWEATH.EXE. The RUN command executes the image; the
     message from the debugger indicates that it is ready to accept
     debug commands.