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1<!doctype book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook V4.1//EN"[
2<!ENTITY package "<filename>new-bu</filename>">
3]>
4
5<book>
6  <title>New Binutils User's and Reference Manual</title>
7
8  <chapter>
9    <title><filename>libelf</filename> <acronym>ABI</acronym></title>
10
11    <simpara>The <acronym>ABI</acronym> of the
12    <filename>libelf</filename> implemented in the &package; package
13    is following that of Sun's implementation which in turn in derived
14    from the original SysVr4 implementation.  There are some
15    extensions over Sun's versions, though, which makes it impossible
16    to replace this implementation with Sun's.</simpara>
17
18    <beginpage>
19
20    <refentry xreflabel="Elf_Data" id="ElfUData">
21      <refnamediv>
22	<refname>Elf_Data</refname>
23	<refpurpose>Descriptor for Data Buffer</refpurpose>
24      </refnamediv>
25
26      <refsynopsisdiv>
27	<synopsis>
28#include &lt;libelf.h&gt;
29</synopsis>
30      </refsynopsisdiv>
31
32      <refsect1>
33	<title>Description</title>
34
35	<simpara>The <structname>Elf_Data</structname> structure is as
36	a descriptor for a data buffer associated with a section.
37	Every data buffer is associated with a specific section (see
38	<!-- xref --><structname>Elf_Scn</structname>).</simpara>
39
40	<simpara>A data buffer is created when reading a file.  In
41	this case only a single buffer is present in the section.  The
42	user can add as many sections as wanted to a section and they
43	can be retrieved using the <function>elf_getdata</function>
44	and <function>elf_rawdata</function> functions.<!-- xref
45	--></simpara>
46
47	<simpara>The <structname>Elf_Data</structname> structure
48	contains the following members:</simpara>
49
50	<programlisting>
51   void         *d_buf
52   Elf_Type      d_type
53   size_t        d_size
54   off_t         d_off
55   size_t        d_align
56   unsigned int  d_version
57</programlisting>
58
59	<simpara>All of these members can be modified directly by the
60	user.  They can be used to resize a section, to change its
61	content or type, and many more tasks.  This is also true for
62	the data read from a file.  The meaning of each member is as
63	follows:</simpara>
64
65	<variablelist>
66	  <varlistentry>
67	    <term><structfield>d_buf</structfield></term>
68	    <listitem>
69	      <simpara>The <structfield>d_buf</structfield> member is
70	      the pointer to the buffer with the actual data.  When
71	      the ELF file was read from a file the first and only
72	      data buffer of a section is allocated by the
73	      <filename>libelf</filename> library.  The user should
74	      not try to resize or free this buffer.  When the user
75	      adds a new data buffer to a section the associated
76	      memory block is normally allocated by the user.  It is
77	      important that the buffer must have a lifetime at least
78	      until the ELF file is closed entirely (important when
79	      the buffer is allocated on the stack).  If the buffer is
80	      not allocated on the stack it is the user's
81	      responsibility to free the buffer after it is not used
82	      anymore.  The <structfield>d_buf</structfield> member
83	      can contain a null pointer if the data buffer is
84	      empty.</simpara>
85	    </listitem>
86	  </varlistentry>
87
88	  <varlistentry>
89	    <term><structfield>d_type</structfield></term>
90	    <listitem>
91	      <simpara>The <structfield>d_type</structfield>
92	      determines how the data of the buffer is interpreted.
93	      This type is determined from the section type and must
94	      be the same for all data buffers for a section.  See
95	      <!-- xref --><type>Elf_Type</type> for more information.
96	      The <function><link linkend="elfUgetdata"
97	      endterm="elfUgetdata.refname"></link></function>
98	      function uses this information to convert the data of
99	      the buffer between the external form and the form
100	      represented to the user and back if necessary.</simpara>
101	    </listitem>
102	  </varlistentry>
103
104	  <varlistentry>
105	    <term><structfield>d_version</structfield></term>
106	    <listitem>
107	      <simpara>The <structfield>d_version</structfield>
108              contains the ELF version of the file.</simpara>
109	    </listitem>
110	  </varlistentry>
111
112	  <varlistentry>
113	    <term><structfield>d_size</structfield></term>
114	    <listitem>
115	      <simpara>The <structfield>d_size</structfield> contains
116              the size of the buffer in bytes.</simpara>
117	    </listitem>
118	  </varlistentry>
119
120	  <varlistentry>
121	    <term><structfield>d_off</structfield></term>
122	    <listitem>
123	      <simpara>The <structfield>d_off</structfield> is the
124              offset into the section in bytes.</simpara>
125	    </listitem>
126	  </varlistentry>
127
128	  <varlistentry>
129	    <term><structfield>d_align</structfield></term>
130	    <listitem>
131	      <simpara>The <structfield>d_align</structfield> is the
132              address alignment of the section in bytes.</simpara>
133	    </listitem>
134	  </varlistentry>
135	</variablelist>
136      </refsect1>
137    </refentry>
138
139    <beginpage>
140
141    <refentry id="elfUgetdata">
142      <refnamediv>
143	<refname id="elfUgetdata.refname">elf_getdata</refname>
144	<refpurpose>Get washed data of section</refpurpose>
145      </refnamediv>
146
147      <refsynopsisdiv>
148	<funcsynopsis>
149	  <funcsynopsisinfo>
150#include &lt;libelf.h&gt;
151</funcsynopsisinfo>
152	  <funcprototype>
153	    <funcdef>Elf_Data *<function>elf_getdata</function></funcdef>
154	    <paramdef>Elf_Scn *<parameter>scn</parameter></paramdef>
155	    <paramdef>Elf_Data *<parameter>data</parameter></paramdef>
156	  </funcprototype>
157	</funcsynopsis>
158      </refsynopsisdiv>
159
160      <refsect1>
161	<title>Description</title>
162
163	<simpara>The <function>elf_getdata</function> function allows
164	the user to retrieve the data buffers of the section
165	<parameter>scn</parameter>.  There can be more than one buffer
166	if the user explicitly added them.  When a file is read the
167	<filename>libelf</filename> library creates exactly one data
168	buffer.</simpara>
169
170	<simpara>The first buffer in the list can be obtained by
171	passing a null pointer in the parameter
172	<parameter>data</parameter>.  To get the next data buffer the
173	previously returned value must be passed in the
174	<parameter>data</parameter> parameter.  If there are no more
175	buffer left in the list a null pointer is returned.</simpara>
176
177	<simpara>If the <parameter>data</parameter> parameter is not a
178	null pointer it must be a descriptor for a buffer
179	associated with the section <parameter>scn</parameter>.  If
180	this is not the case a null pointer is returned.  To
181	facilitate error handling <function>elf_getdata</function>
182	also returns a null pointer if the <parameter>scn</parameter>
183	parameter is a null pointer.</simpara>
184      </refsect1>
185    </refentry>
186
187    <refentry>
188      <refnamediv>
189	<refname id="elfUupdate.refname">elf_update</refname>
190	<refpurpose>update an ELF descriptor</refpurpose>
191      </refnamediv>
192
193      <refsynopsisdiv>
194	<funcsynopsis>
195	  <funcsynopsisinfo>
196#include &lt;libelf.h&gt;
197</funcsynopsisinfo>
198	  <funcprototype>
199	    <funcdef>off_t <function>elf_update</function></funcdef>
200	    <paramdef>Elf *<parameter>elf</parameter></paramdef>
201	    <paramdef>Elf_Cmd <parameter>cmd</parameter></paramdef>
202	  </funcprototype>
203	</funcsynopsis>
204      </refsynopsisdiv>
205
206      <refsect1>
207	<title>Description</title>
208
209	<simpara>The user is responsible for filling in the following
210	fields in the named data structures:</simpara>
211
212	<table>
213	  <title>Fields not set by <function>elf_update</function></title>
214	  <tgroup cols="3">
215            <colspec colwidth="90pt">
216            <colspec colwidth="110pt">
217	    <thead>
218	      <row>
219		<entry>Data Structure</entry>
220		<entry>Member</entry>
221		<entry>Exception</entry>
222	      </row>
223	    </thead>
224	    <tbody>
225	      <row>
226		<entry morerows="8"><type>Elfxx_Ehdr</type></entry>
227		<entry>e_ident[EI_DATA]</entry>
228		<entry>see below</entry>
229	      </row>
230	      <row>
231		<entry></entry>
232		<entry>e_type</entry>
233		<!-- <entry morerows="1"></entry> -->
234		<entry></entry>
235	      </row>
236	      <row>
237		<entry></entry>
238		<entry>e_machine</entry>
239		<entry></entry>
240	      </row>
241	      <row>
242		<entry></entry>
243		<entry>e_version</entry>
244		<entry>see below</entry>
245	      </row>
246	      <row>
247		<entry></entry>
248		<entry>e_entry</entry>
249		<entry></entry>
250	      </row>
251	      <row>
252		<entry></entry>
253		<entry>e_phoff</entry>
254		<entry>if <symbol>ELF_F_LAYOUT</symbol> is used</entry>
255	      </row>
256	      <row>
257		<entry></entry>
258		<entry>e_shoff</entry>
259		<entry>if <symbol>ELF_F_LAYOUT</symbol> is used</entry>
260	      </row>
261	      <row>
262		<entry></entry>
263		<entry>e_flags</entry>
264		<entry></entry>
265	      </row>
266	      <row>
267		<entry></entry>
268		<entry>e_shstrndx</entry>
269		<entry></entry>
270	      </row>
271	      <row>
272		<entry morerows="7">Elfxx_Phdr</entry>
273		<entry>p_type</entry>
274		<entry morerows="7"></entry>
275	      </row>
276	      <row>
277		<entry></entry>
278		<entry>p_offset</entry>
279		<entry></entry>
280	      </row>
281	      <row>
282		<entry></entry>
283		<entry>p_vaddr</entry>
284		<entry></entry>
285	      </row>
286	      <row>
287		<entry></entry>
288		<entry>p_paddr</entry>
289		<entry></entry>
290	      </row>
291	      <row>
292		<entry></entry>
293		<entry>p_filesz</entry>
294		<entry></entry>
295	      </row>
296	      <row>
297		<entry></entry>
298		<entry>p_memsz</entry>
299		<entry></entry>
300	      </row>
301	      <row>
302		<entry></entry>
303		<entry>p_flags</entry>
304		<entry></entry>
305	      </row>
306	      <row>
307		<entry></entry>
308		<entry>p_align</entry>
309		<entry></entry>
310	      </row>
311
312	      <row>
313		<entry morerows="9">Elfxx_Shdr</entry>
314		<entry>sh_name</entry>
315		<entry morerows="3"></entry>
316	      </row>
317	      <row>
318		<entry></entry>
319		<entry>sh_type</entry>
320		<entry></entry>
321	      </row>
322	      <row>
323		<entry></entry>
324		<entry>sh_flags</entry>
325		<entry></entry>
326	      </row>
327	      <row>
328		<entry></entry>
329		<entry>sh_addr</entry>
330		<entry></entry>
331	      </row>
332	      <row>
333		<entry></entry>
334		<entry>sh_offset</entry>
335		<entry>if <symbol>ELF_F_LAYOUT</symbol> is used</entry>
336	      </row>
337	      <row>
338		<entry></entry>
339		<entry>sh_size</entry>
340		<entry>if <symbol>ELF_F_LAYOUT</symbol> is used</entry>
341	      </row>
342	      <row>
343		<entry></entry>
344		<entry>sh_link</entry>
345		<!-- <entry morerows="1"></entry> -->
346		<entry></entry>
347	      </row>
348	      <row>
349		<entry></entry>
350		<entry>sh_info</entry>
351		<entry></entry>
352	      </row>
353	      <row>
354		<entry></entry>
355		<entry>sh_addralign</entry>
356		<entry>if <symbol>ELF_F_LAYOUT</symbol> is used</entry>
357	      </row>
358	      <row>
359		<entry></entry>
360		<entry>sh_entsize</entry>
361		<entry></entry>
362	      </row>
363
364	      <row>
365		<entry morerows="5">Elf_Data</entry>
366		<entry>d_buf</entry>
367		<entry morerows="2"></entry>
368	      </row>
369	      <row>
370		<entry></entry>
371		<entry>d_type</entry>
372		<entry></entry>
373	      </row>
374	      <row>
375		<entry></entry>
376		<entry>d_size</entry>
377		<entry></entry>
378	      </row>
379	      <row>
380		<entry></entry>
381		<entry>d_off</entry>
382		<entry>if <symbol>ELF_F_LAYOUT</symbol> is used</entry>
383	      </row>
384	      <row>
385		<entry></entry>
386		<entry>d_align</entry>
387		<!-- <entry morerows="1"></entry> -->
388		<entry></entry>
389	      </row>
390	      <row>
391		<entry></entry>
392		<entry>d_version</entry>
393		<entry></entry>
394	      </row>
395	    </tbody>
396	  </tgroup>
397	</table>
398
399	<simpara>Two fields of the ELF header are handled in a special
400	way:</simpara>
401
402	<variablelist>
403	  <varlistentry>
404	    <term>e_version</term>
405	    <listitem>
406	      <simpara>The user can set this field to the vvalue for
407	      the version to be used.  It is an error if the library
408	      cannot handle this version.  If the field contains the
409	      value <symbol>EV_NONE</symbol> the library will fill in
410	      its own internal version.</simpara>
411	    </listitem>
412	  </varlistentry>
413
414	  <varlistentry>
415	    <term>e_ident[EI_DATA]</term>
416	    <listitem>
417	      <simpara>The user should fill in the byte ordering for
418	      the file.  If the value of the field is
419	      <symbol>ELFDATANONE</symbol> the library replaces it
420	      with the native byte ordering for the machine.</simpara>
421	    </listitem>
422	  </varlistentry>
423	</variablelist>
424      </refsect1>
425    </refentry>
426  </chapter>
427
428  <chapter>
429    <title><filename>libelf</filename> Internals</title>
430
431    <simpara>Since the binary format handling tools need constant
432    attention since there are always new machines and varients
433    therefore coming out it is important to have the implementation
434    well documented.  Only this way extensions can be made in the
435    right places and the mistakes of the past avoided.</simpara>
436  </chapter>
437</book>
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