ar(1)       UNIX System V(Directory and File Management Utilities)        ar(1)


NAME
      ar - maintain portable archive or library

SYNOPSIS
      ar [ -V ] - key [ arg ] [ posname ] afile [ name. . .  ]

DESCRIPTION
      The ar command maintains groups of files combined into a single archive
      file.  Its main use is to create and update library files.  However, it
      can be used for any similar purpose.  The magic string and the file
      headers used by ar consist of printable ASCII characters.  If an archive
      is composed of printable files, the entire archive is printable.

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

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

      Unlike command options, the key is a required part of the ar command
      line.  The key is formed with one of the following letters:  drqtpmx.
      Arguments to the key, alternatively, are made with one of more of the
      following set:  vuaibcls.  posname is an archive member name used as a
      reference point in positioning other files in the archive.  afile is the
      archive file.  The names are constituent files in the archive file.  The
      meanings of the key characters are as follows:

      d     Delete the named files from the archive file.

      r     Replace the named files in the archive file.  If the optional
            character u is used with r, then only those files with dates of
            modification later than the archive files are replaced.  If an
            optional positioning character from the set abi is used, then the
            posname argument must be present and specifies that new files are
            to be placed after (a) or before (b or i) posname.  Otherwise new
            files are placed at the end.

      q     Quickly append the named files to the end of the archive file.
            Optional positioning characters are invalid.  The command does not
            check whether the added members are already in the archive.  This
            option is useful to avoid quadratic behavior when creating a large
            archive piece-by-piece.



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ar(1)       UNIX System V(Directory and File Management Utilities)        ar(1)


      t     Print a table of contents of the archive file.  If no names are
            given, all files in the archive are listed.  If names are given,
            only those files are listed.

      p     Print the named files in the archive.

      m     Move the named files to the end of the archive.  If a positioning
            character is present, then the posname argument must be present
            and, as in r, specifies where the files are to be moved.

      x     Extract the named files.  If no names are given, all files in the
            archive are extracted.  In neither case does x alter the archive
            file.

      The meanings of the other key arguments are as follows:

      v     Give a verbose file-by-file description of the making of a new
            archive file from the old archive and the constituent files.  When
            used with t, give a long listing of all information about the
            files.  When used with x, print the filename preceding each
            extraction.

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

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

      s     Force the regeneration of the archive symbol table even if ar(1) is
            not invoked with a command which will modify the archive contents.
            This command is useful to restore the archive symbol table after
            the strip(1) command has been used on the archive.

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

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

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

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










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