The 'Drlink' AOF Linker Version 0.34 by David Daniels , uploaded by Alex Thoukydides at the request of the author. Introduction ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Drlink is a linker that is intended to be a partial substitute for the Acorn linker, 'link'. It is aimed at people with compilers that generate object files in Acorn's AOF format but who do not have a copy of 'link', for example, people who want to use the DDE Pascal compiler or TLA or perhaps their own homebrew compilers. Drlink accepts object files in Acorn's AOF format and libraries in Acorn's ALF format and links them to produce an executable image in either Acorn's AIF format or a plain binary image. It can also be used to link relocatable modules or to create partially-linked AOF files. Drlink is modelled very closely on the version of 'link' that comes with release 3 of Acorn's C compiler but it is not really a complete replacement for it as it does not have the same range of facilities. What is there, it is hoped, should be adequate in most cases. Drlink is designed to link 'ordinary' programs and cannot do some of the fancy things link can, such as create image files that use overlays. Of course, some of these features could be added at a later date but the current version of Drlink, 0.34, does not support them. On the other hand, it does contain some features found on later releases of 'link' such as the ability to increase the size of the wimpslot if necessary when running in a task window and support for extended command lines. Other features include the ability to scan libraries more than once when resolving symbols and, assuming the right compiler options have been used when compiling programs, being able to leave out unused functions from executable images. Hopefully features like these will make the linker attractive to people who use link as well. Copyright ~~~~~~~~~ The software and the documentation that goes with it is Copyright © David Daniels 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998. All Rights Reserved. Permission is hereby given for you to copy this program and freely distribute it, subject to the following conditions: * No charge is made for the program (except nominal media costs). * No alterations are made to any of the files within this archive file. * All of the files within this archive are supplied, including this one. * No part of this program is included in a commercial product.