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d \c Delete\c modules from the archive. Specify the names of modules to be deleted as \c files\c ; the archive is untouched if you specify no files to delete. If you specify the `\|\c v\c \|' modifier, \c ar\c will list each module as it is deleted.
m Use this operation to \c move\c members in an archive. The ordering of members in an archive can make a difference in how programs are linked using the library, if a symbol is defined in more than one member. If no modifiers are used with \c m\c , any members you name in the \c files\c arguments are moved to the \c end\c of the archive; you can use the `\|\c a\c \|', `\|\c b\c \|', or `\|\c i\c \|' modifiers to move them to a specified place instead.
p \c Print\c the specified members of the archive, to the standard output file. If the `\|\c v\c \|' modifier is specified, show the member name before copying its contents to standard output. If you specify no \c files\c , all the files in the archive are printed.
q \c Quick append\c ; add \c files\c to the end of \c archive\c , without checking for replacement. The modifiers `\|\c a\c \|', `\|\c b\c \|', and `\|\c i\c \|' do \c not\c affect this operation; new members are always placed at the end of the archive. The modifier `\|\c v\c \|' makes \c ar\c list each file as it is appended. Since the point of this operation is speed, the archive's symbol table index is not updated, even if it already existed; you can use `\|\c ar s\c \|' or \c ranlib\c explicitly to update the symbol table index.
r Insert \c files\c into \c archive\c (with \c replacement\c ). This operation differs from `\|\c q\c \|' in that any previously existing members are deleted if their names match those being added. If one of the files named in \c files\c doesn't exist, \c ar\c \& displays an error message, and leaves undisturbed any existing members of the archive matching that name. By default, new members are added at the end of the file; but you may use one of the modifiers `\|\c a\c \|', `\|\c b\c \|', or `\|\c i\c \|' to request placement relative to some existing member. The modifier `\|\c v\c \|' used with this operation elicits a line of output for each file inserted, along with one of the letters `\|\c a\c \|' or `\|\c r\c \|' to indicate whether the file was appended (no old member deleted) or replaced.
t Display a \c table\c listing the contents of \c archive\c , or those of the files listed in \c files\c that are present in the archive. Normally only the member name is shown; if you also want to see the modes (permissions), timestamp, owner, group, and size, you can request that by also specifying the `\|\c v\c \|' modifier. If you do not specify any \c files\c , all files in the archive are listed. If there is more than one file with the same name (say, `\|\c fie\c \|') in an archive (say `\|\c b.a\c \|'), `\|\c ar t b.a fie\c \|' will list only the first instance; to see them all, you must ask for a complete listing\(emin our example, `\|\c ar t b.a\c \|'.
x \c Extract\c members (named \c files\c ) from the archive. You can use the `\|\c v\c \|' modifier with this operation, to request that \c ar\c list each name as it extracts it. If you do not specify any \c files\c , all files in the archive are extracted.
A number of modifiers (\c mod\c ) may immediately follow the \c p\c \& keyletter, to specify variations on an operation's behavior:
a Add new files \c after\c an existing member of the archive. If you use the modifier \c a\c , the name of an existing archive member must be present as the \c membername\c argument, before the \c archive\c specification.
b Add new files \c before\c an existing member of the archive. If you use the modifier \c b\c , the name of an existing archive member must be present as the \c membername\c argument, before the \c archive\c specification. (same as `\|\c i\c \|').
c \c Create\c the archive. The specified \c archive\c is always created if it didn't exist, when you request an update. But a warning is issued unless you specify in advance that you expect to create it, by using this modifier.
i Insert new files \c before\c an existing member of the archive. If you use the modifier \c i\c , the name of an existing archive member must be present as the \c membername\c argument, before the \c archive\c specification. (same as `\|\c b\c \|').
l This modifier is accepted but not used.
o Preserve the \c original\c dates of members when extracting them. If you do not specify this modifier, files extracted from the archive will be stamped with the time of extraction.
s Write an object-file index into the archive, or update an existing one, even if no other change is made to the archive. You may use this modifier flag either with any operation, or alone. Running `\|\c ar s\c \|' on an archive is equivalent to running `\|\c ranlib\c \|' on it.
u Normally, \c ar r\c .\|.\|. inserts all files listed into the archive. If you would like to insert \c only\c those of the files you list that are newer than existing members of the same names, use this modifier. The `\|\c u\c \|' modifier is allowed only for the operation `\|\c r\c \|' (replace). In particular, the combination `\|\c qu\c \|' is not allowed, since checking the timestamps would lose any speed advantage from the operation `\|\c q\c \|'.
v This modifier requests the \c verbose\c version of an operation. Many operations display additional information, such as filenames processed, when the modifier `\|\c v\c \|' is appended.
V This modifier shows the version number of ar .
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