AR(F)                                      UNIX System V



     Name
          ar - archive file format


     Description
          The archive command ar is used to combine several files into
          one.   Archives  are used mainly as libraries to be searched
          by the link editor ld(C).

          A file produced by ar has  a  magic  number  at  the  start,
          followed  by  the constituent files, each preceded by a file
          header.  The  magic  number  is  0177545  octal  (or  0xff65
          hexadecimal).   The  header  of  each  file  is  declared in
          /usr/include/ar.h.

          Each file begins on a word boundary; a null byte is inserted
          between  files  if  necessary.   Nevertheless the size given
          reflects the actual size of the file exclusive of padding.

          Notice there is no provision for empty areas in  an  archive
          file.


     See Also
          ar(CP), ld(CP)


     (printed 8/23/89)                                  AR(F)                  )