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elf_rand(S)


elf_rand -- random archive member access

Syntax

cc [flag . . . ] file . . . -lelf [library] . . .

#include <libelf.h>

size_t elf_rand(Elf *elf, size_t offset);

Description

elf_rand(S), elf_next(S), and elf_begin(S) manipulate simple object files and archives. elf is an ELF descriptor previously returned from elf_begin( ).

elf_rand( ) provides random archive processing, preparing elf to access an arbitrary archive member. elf must be a descriptor for the archive itself, not for a member within the archive. offset gives the byte offset from the beginning of the archive to the archive header of the desired member. See elf_getarsym(S) for more information about archive member offsets.

When elf_rand( ) works, it returns offset. Otherwise it returns 0, because an error occurred, elf was null, or the file was not an archive (no archive member can have a zero offset).

A program may mix random and sequential archive processing.

Diagnostics

Error conditions are identified through the routine elf_error(S).

Examples

An archive starts with a ``magic string'' that has SARMAG bytes; the initial archive member follows immediately. An application could thus provide the following function to rewind an archive (the function returns -1 for errors and 0 otherwise).
   #include <ar.h>
   #include <libelf.h>
   

int rewindelf(Elf *elf) { if (elf_rand(elf, (size_t)SARMAG) == SARMAG) return 0; return -1; }

See also

ar(FP), elf(S), elf_begin(S), elf_getarsym(S), elf_next(S)

Standards conformance

elf_rand(S) is not part of any currently supported standard; it was developed by UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. and is maintained by The SCO Group.
© 2003 Caldera International, Inc. All rights reserved.
SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 -- 11 February 2003