pic information in object files

[messi_1]

How do I view the pic data information from object file's sections.

eg:

elfdump -s should show me picdata information in object file's section, if the it's compiled for PIC.

[Dennis Handly]

What do you really want to know, whether it is compiled PIC?

footprints(1) will decode the info in "elfdump -dc".

[messi_1]

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for the answer.

elfdump -s
shows ".picdata" section on solaris platform if the library is compiled PIC.

Do we have a similar way to identify the Pic section in library file on hp-ux ?

Thanks,
Usha

[Dennis Handly]

>Do we have a similar way to identify the PIC section in library file on HP-UX?

I assume you want to know if the code is PIC or not, not what's in .picdata?

(Or if the latter, you'll have to tell us what's there.)

Shlibs are PIC, no need to check.
The default on Integrity is PIC.

As to an object file, you could look at the relocations and using advanced AI technology make a guess.

[messi_1]

HI Dennis,

By examining the object code sections of library, can i determine if its compiled PIC.

eg: on solaris platforms, if my library is compiled PIC, then

elfdump -s

shows me ".picdata" section along with other sections like .text, .data, .BSS etc

So, similarly on hp-ux, can I examine my library object file sections and determine whether its compiled Pic


Thanks,
Usha

[Dennis Handly · Accepted solution]

>can I examine my library object file sections and determine whether its compiled PIC?

No, it isn't simple. Whether it is PIC or not is encoded in the relocations: elfdump -r

The obvious way is just link it and look for errors:
cc -b foo.o

[messi_1]

I will do as suggested!

Thanks Dennis.