ar

ar [-V] key [args] [posname] archive  [files]

Maintain a group of files that are combined into a file archive. Used most commonly to create and update library files as used by the link editor (ld). Only one key letter may be used, but each can be combined with additional args (with no separations between). posname is the name of a file in archive. When moving or replacing files, you can specify that they be placed before or after posname. See lorder for another example. -V prints the version number of ar on standard error.

Key

d

Delete files from archive.

m

Move files to end of archive.

p

Print files in archive.

q

Append files to archive.

r

Replace files in archive.

t

List the contents of archive or list the named files.

x

Extract contents from archive or only the named files.

Args

a

Use with r or m to place files in the archive after posname.

b

Same as a but before posname.

c

Create archive silently.

i

Same as b.

l

Place temporary files in local directory rather than /tmp (SVR3 only).

s

Force regeneration of archive symbol table (useful after running strip or mcs).

u

Use with r to replace only files that have changed since being put in archive.

v

Verbose; print a description.

Example

Replace mylib.a with object files from the current directory:

ar r mylib.a `ls *.o`