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| Chapter 2 UNIX Commands |

## ar

    ar [-V] key [args] [posname] archive  [files]

Maintain a group of `files` that are combined into a file `archive`. Used most commonly to create and update library files as used by the link editor (ld). Only one key letter may be used, but each can be combined with additional `args` (with no separations between). `posname` is the name of a file in `archive`. When moving or replacing `files`, you can specify that they be placed before or after `posname`. See lorder for another example. -V prints the version number of ar on standard error.

### Key

d

  Delete `files` from `archive`.

m

  Move `files` to end of `archive`.

p

  Print `files` in `archive`.

q

  Append `files` to `archive`.

r

  Replace `files` in `archive`.

t

  List the contents of `archive` or list the named `files`.

x

  Extract contents from `archive` or only the named `files`.

### Args

a

  Use with r or m to place `files` in the archive after `posname`.

b

  Same as a but before `posname`.

c

  Create `archive` silently.

i

  Same as b.

l

  Place temporary files in local directory rather than /tmp (SVR3 only).

s

  Force regeneration of `archive` symbol table (useful after running strip or mcs).

u

  Use with r to replace only `files` that have changed since being put in `archive`.

v

  Verbose; print a description.

### Example

Replace mylib.a with object files from the current directory:

>     ar r mylib.a `ls *.o`

Reference: apropos |  | Reference: as