Invokes the OpenVMS Linker utility to link one or more
input files into a program image and defines the execution
characteristics of the image.
For a complete description of the linker, including more
information about the LINK command and about creating and using
linker options files, see the VSI OpenVMS Linker Utility Manual.
In the following list of LINK subtopics, the options you can
specify in an options file are listed starting after the /VAX
qualifier.
Format
LINK file-spec [,...]
1 – Parameters
file-spec [,...]
Specifies one or more input files (wildcard characters are not
allowed). Input files may be object modules, shareable images,
libraries to be searched for external references or from which
specific modules are to be included, or options files to be read
by the linker. Separate multiple input file specifications with
commas (,) or plus signs (+). In either case, the linker creates
a single image file.
If you omit the file type in an input file specification, the
linker supplies default file types, based on the nature of the
input file. For object modules, the default file type is .OBJ.
2 /ALPHA
Alpha and VAX systems.
Directs the linker to produce an OpenVMS Alpha image.
On OpenVMS Alpha or VAX systems, when neither /ALPHA nor /VAX is
specified, the default action is to create an OpenVMS VAX image
on an OpenVMS VAX system and to create an OpenVMS Alpha image on
an OpenVMS Alpha system.
Format
/ALPHA
2.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
3 /BASE_ADDRESS
I64 systems only.
Assigns a virtual address for executable images that are not
activated by the OpenVMS image activator, such as images used in
the boot process.
Format
/BASE_ADDRESS=address
/NOBASE_ADDRESS (default)
3.1 – Qualifier Values
address
The location at which you want the first segment of the
executable image located. You can express this location as
decimal (%D), octal (%O), or hexadecimal (%X) numbers. The
default is hexadecimal.
4 /BPAGE
Specifies the page size the linker should use when it creates the
segments (I64) or image sections (Alpha and VAX) that make up an
image.
Format
/BPAGE[=page-size-indicator]
4.1 – Qualifier Values
page-size-indicator
An integer that specifies a page size as the power of 2 required
to create a page that size. For example, to get an 8 KB page
size, specify the value 13 because 2[13] equals 8K. The following
table lists the page sizes supported by the linker with the
defaults:
Page
Value Size Defaults
9 512 Default value for VAX links when the /BPAGE
bytes qualifier is not specified.
13 8 KB Default value for VAX links when the /BPAGE
qualifier is specified without a value.
14 16 KB -
15 32 KB -
16 64 KB Default value for I64 and Alpha links when
/BPAGE is not specified or when the /BPAGE
qualifier is specified without a value.
5 /BRIEF
Directs the linker to produce a brief image map. A brief image
map file contains an Object and Image Synopsis, an Image Segment
Synopsis, and a Link Run Statistics section. On Alpha and VAX it
contains an Object Module Synopsis, an Image Section Synopsis,
and a Link Run Statistics section. For more information, see also
the /MAP and /FULL qualifiers.
Format
/MAP/BRIEF
5.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
6 /CONTIGUOUS
Directs the linker to place the entire image in consecutive disk
blocks. If sufficient contiguous space is not available on the
output disk, the linker reports an error and terminates the link
operation.
Format
/CONTIGUOUS
/NOCONTIGUOUS (default)
6.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
7 /CROSS_REFERENCE
Directs the linker to replace the Symbols By Name section in
a full or default image map with the Symbol Cross-Reference
section.
Format
/MAP/CROSS_REFERENCE
7.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
8 /DEBUG
Directs the linker to generate debug and traceback information
and to give the debugger control when the image is run.
Format
/DEBUG[=file-spec]
/NODEBUG (default)
8.1 – Qualifier Values
file-spec (Alpha and VAX only)
Identifies a user-written debugger module.
If you specify the /DEBUG qualifier without entering a file
specification, the OpenVMS Debugger gains control at run time.
Requesting the OpenVMS Debugger does not affect the location of
code within the image because the debugger is mapped into the
process address space at run time, not at link time. see the VSI
OpenVMS Debugger Manual for additional information.
On I64 systems, a file specification is not allowed.
On Alpha and VAX, if you specify the /DEBUG qualifier with a
file specification, the user-written debugger module that the
file specification identifies gains control at run time. The
linker assumes a default file type of .OBJ. Requesting a user-
written debugger module does affect the location of code within
the image.
9 /DEMAND_ZERO
I64 and Alpha systems.
Enables demand-zero segment (I64) or image section (Alpha)
production for both executable and shareable images.
Format
/DEMAND_ZERO (default)
/DEMAND_ZERO[=PER_PAGE]
/NODEMAND_ZERO
9.1 – Qualifier Values
PER_PAGE
On I64, directs the linker to compress trailing zeros for each
segment (that is, demand zero compression of zeros on trailing
pages).
On Alpha, enables the linker to perform demand-zero compression
on Alpha images on a per-page basis. If this keyword is not used,
the linker performs demand-zero compression on an image-section
basis only.
10 /DNI
I64 systems only.
Controls the processing of the demangling information. Specify
/DNI (the default) to allow the linker to attempt symbol name
demangling and move the necessary demangling information into the
shareable image being created.
Format
/DNI (default)
/NODNI
10.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
11 /DSF
I64 and Alpha systems.
Directs the linker to create a file called a debug symbol file
(DSF) for use by the OpenVMS Debugger or the OpenVMS System-Code
Debugger.
Format
/DSF[=file-spec]
/NODSF (default)
11.1 – Qualifier Values
file-spec
Specifies the character string you want the linker to use as the
name of the debug symbol file. If you do not include a file type
in the character string, the linker appends the .DSF file type to
the file name.
If you specify the /DSF qualifier without the file specification,
the linker creates a debug symbol file with the file name of the
first input file and the default file type .DSF. If you append
the /DSF qualifier to one of the input file specifications, the
linker creates a debug symbol file with the file name of the file
to which the qualifier is appended and with the default file type
.DSF.
The OpenVMS Debugger (whether you use it in System-Code Debugger
mode or user mode) requires that the name of the DSF file be
the same as the name of the image file, except that the file
extension is .DSF. If you use an /EXECUTABLE or /SHAREABLE
qualifier and a file name with the LINK command, you must also
include the same file name with the /DSF qualifier. (You must
also use the .DSF file type.)
12 /EXECUTABLE
Directs the linker to create an executable image, as opposed to a
shareable image or a system image.
Format
/EXECUTABLE[=file-spec] (default)
/NOEXECUTABLE
12.1 – Qualifier Values
file-spec
Specifies the character string you want the linker to use as the
name of the image file produced by the link operation. If you
do not specify a file type in the character string, the linker
assigns the .EXE file type by default.
If you do not specify a file name with the /EXECUTABLE qualifier,
the linker creates an executable image with the file name of
the first input file. If you append the /EXECUTABLE qualifier
to an input file specification, the linker creates an executable
image with the file name of the file to which the qualifier is
appended.
13 /FP_MODE
I64 systems only.
Determines the program's initial floating point mode when one
is not provided by the module that provides the main transfer
address.
Format
/FP_MODE=keyword
/NOFP_MODE (default)
13.1 – Qualifier Values
keyword
The OpenVMS I64 Linker accepts the following keywords to set the
floating point mode:
Keyword Description
D_FLOAT, G_FLOAT Sets VAX floating point modes.
IEEE_FLOAT[=ieee_ Sets the IEEE floating point mode to
behavior] the default or a specific behavior. The
OpenVMS I64 Linker accepts the following
IEEE behavior keywords:
FAST
UNDERFLOW_TO_ZERO
DENORM_RESULTS (default)
INEXACT
LITERAL=fp_ctrl_mask Sets the floating point mode to a literal
control mask. You can express this mask as
a decimal (%D), octal (%O), or hexadecimal
(%X) value (for example %X09800000,
which is equivalent to the default, IEEE_
FLOAT=DENORM_RESULTS).
14 /FULL
Directs the linker to create a full image map file. A full image
map file contains an Object and Image Synopsis (I64) or Object
Module Synopsis (Alpha and VAX) section, a Module Relocatable
Reference Synopsis section (VAX), an Image Segment Synopsis
(I64) or Image Section Synopsis (Alpha and VAX) section, a
Program Section Synopsis section, a Symbols-by-name section (or a
Symbols Cross-reference section if the /CROSS_REFERENCE qualifier
is specified), a Symbols by Value section, an Image Synopsis
section, and a Link Run Statistics section. For more information,
see also the /MAP, /CROSS_REFERENCE, and /BRIEF qualifiers.
Format
/MAP/FULL[=(keyword[,...])]
14.1 – Qualifier Values
keyword (I64 only)
The OpenVMS I64 Linker accepts the following keywords to tailor
the map (the default is /FULL=SECTION_DETAILS):
Keyword Description
ALL For the OpenVMS I64 Linker, the ALL
keyword is equivalent to specifying the
DEMANGLED_SYMBOLS, GROUP_SECTIONS and
SECTION_DETAILS keywords.
DEMANGLED_SYMBOLS For the I64 linker, when display name
information is available and processed
(DNI), directs the linker to add a
translation table to the map file. The
table contains both mangled and demangled
names for global symbols.
GROUP_SECTIONS Directs the OpenVMS I64 Linker to list all
processed groups.
[NO]SECTION_DETAILS Directs whether or not the OpenVMS
I64 Linker suppresses zero length
contributions in the Program Section
Synopsis.
15 /GST
I64 and Alpha systems.
Directs the linker to include in the global symbol table (GST)
of a shareable image those symbols that have been declared as
universal symbols in a symbol vector.
Format
/GST (default)
/NOGST
15.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
16 /HEADER
Alpha and VAX systems.
When specified with the /SYSTEM qualifier, directs the linker to
include an image header in a system image.
This qualifier is ignored by the OpenVMS I64 Linker.
Format
/HEADER
/NOHEADER (default)
16.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
17 /INCLUDE
Identifies the input file specification to which it is appended
as a library file and directs the linker to include in the link
operation the module or modules specified as the value of the
qualifier.
Format
library-name/INCLUDE=(module-name[,...])
17.1 – Qualifier Values
library-name
Specifies the name of the library from which you want a module or
modules extracted. The file name must specify a library file. The
linker assumes the default file type of .OLB.
module-name
Specifies the module or modules that you want to extract from
the library. To specify more than one module, enclose the list in
parentheses and separate the module names with commas.
18 /INFORMATIONALS
Directs the linker to output informational messages produced by a
link operation.
Format
/INFORMATIONALS (default)
/NOINFORMATIONALS
18.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
19 /LIBRARY
Identifies the input file specification to which it is appended
as a library file and directs the linker to process the library's
name table as part of its symbol resolution processing. When the
linker finds in the library the definition of a symbol referenced
in a previously processed input file, the linker includes from
the library the module in which the symbol is defined.
Format
library-name/LIBRARY
19.1 – Qualifier Values
library-name
Specifies the name of the library to be included in the link
operation. You must specify a library file. The linker assumes
the default file type of .OLB.
20 /MAP
Directs the linker to create an image map file. By default, an
I64 map file contains an Object and Image Synopsis, an Image
Segment Synopsis, a Program Section Synopsis, a Symbols By Name,
an Image Synopsis, and a Link Run Statistics section.
By default, an ALPHA/VAX map file contains an Object Module
Synopsis, a Program Section Synopsis, a Symbols By Name, an Image
Section Synopsis, and a Link Run Statistics section. For more
information, see also the /BRIEF, /CROSS_REFERENCE, and /FULL
qualifiers.
Format
/MAP[=file-spec]/NOBRIEF/NOCROSS_REFERENCE/NOFULL (default in batch mode)
/NOMAP (default in interactive mode)
20.1 – Qualifier Values
file-spec
If you enter a file specification with the /MAP qualifier, the
linker creates an image map file with that file name. If you do
not enter a file type after the file name, the linker assumes a
file type of .MAP.
If you do not enter a file specification with the /MAP qualifier,
the linker creates an image map file with the file name of the
first input file specified on the command line and the file type
.MAP. (If there are no input files specified on the command line,
the linker names the map file .MAP.)
If you append the /MAP qualifier to one of the input file
specifications, the linker creates an image map file with the
file name of the file to which the qualifier is appended, using
the .MAP file type.
21 /NATIVE_ONLY
I64 and Alpha systems.
For I64 and Alpha systems, prevents the linker from generating
procedure signature information. Procedure signatures are
required to allow the native code being linked to interoperate
with images translated from either Alpha or VAX binary code.
To build an executable or shareable image that calls or can be
called by translated code, link it using /NONATIVE_ONLY. Code
that is to interoperate with translated images must also be
compiled using the /TIE qualifier. (See the associated compiler
documentation for details.)
Format
/NATIVE_ONLY (default)
/NONATIVE_ONLY
21.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
22 /OPTIONS
Identifies the input file specification to which it is appended
as a linker options file.
Format
options-file-name/OPTIONS
22.1 – Qualifier Values
options-file-name
The file specification of a linker options file. The linker
assumes the file type .OPT by default.
23 /P0IMAGE
Directs the linker to place an executable image entirely in P0
address space. When the /P0IMAGE qualifier is specified, the user
stack and OpenVMS RMS buffers, which usually reside in P1 space,
are placed in P0 space by the image activator.
Format
/P0IMAGE
/NOP0IMAGE (default)
23.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
24 /PROTECT
Directs the linker to protect an entire shareable image from
user-mode write access and supervisor-mode write access. Can be
specified only with the /SHAREABLE qualifier.
Format
/PROTECT
/NOPROTECT (default)
24.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
25 /REPLACE
Alpha systems only.
Specifies that the linker should perform certain optimizations to
improve the performance of the resultant image, when instructed
by the compiler.
This qualifier is ignored by the OpenVMS I64 Linker.
Format
/REPLACE (default)
/NOREPLACE
25.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
26 /SECTION_BINDING
Alpha systems only.
Directs the linker to create an image that can be installed as
a resident image and to flag coding practices in the image that
would prevent this.
This qualifier is ignored by the OpenVMS I64 Linker. The I64
linker always produces images that can be installed as resident
images.
Format
/[NO]SECTION_BINDING[=(CODE,DATA)]
/NOSECTION_BINDING (default)
26.1 – Qualifier Values
CODE
Prevents the linker from replacing the Jump to Subroutine (JSR)
instruction sequence with the more efficient Branch to Subroutine
(BSR) instruction sequence when the target of the branch crosses
an image section boundary.
DATA
Directs the linker to check for address calculations that create
dependencies on the layout of data image sections. The linker
reports such occurrences.
When the /SECTION_BINDING qualifier is specified without either
the CODE or DATA keyword, the linker performs both types of
checking by default.
27 /SEGMENT_ATTRIBUTE
I64 systems only.
Instructs the OpenVMS I64 linker to set certain attributes for
segments.
Format
/SEGMENT_ATTRIBUTE=(segm-attribute[,...])
27.1 – Qualifier Values
segm-attribute
The I64 Linker accepts the following keywords to set segment
attributes
CODE=address_region
DYNAMIC=address_region
SHORT=WRITE
SYMBOL_VECTOR=[NO]SHORT
where an address region can be specified with keywords P0 and P2.
28 /SELECTIVE_SEARCH
When this qualifier is appended to an input file specification,
the linker processes only those symbols in the input file that
have been referenced by previously processed input files.
Format
input-file-name/SELECTIVE_SEARCH
28.1 – Qualifier Values
input-file-name
The input file you want included in the link operation. The
/SELECTIVE_SEARCH qualifier works with object modules and
shareable images only. This qualifier is illegal with library
files. (To process the modules in a library selectively, you
specify the /SELECTIVE_SEARCH qualifier when inserting the
files into the library. For more information, see the VSI OpenVMS
Command Definition, Librarian, and Message Utilities Manual.)
29 /SHAREABLE
When specified anywhere on the LINK command line, the /SHAREABLE
qualifier directs the linker to create a shareable image. When
the /SHAREABLE qualifier is appended to a file specification in a
linker options file, it identifies the input file as a shareable
image.
Format
/SHAREABLE[=file-spec]
/NOSHAREABLE (default)
shareable-image-file-name/SHAREABLE
29.1 – Qualifier Values
file-spec
When the /SHAREABLE qualifier is used to create a shareable
image, this parameter specifies the name you want the linker
to assign to the shareable image being created. If you do not
include a file specification, the linker assigns the shareable
image the name of the file to which the /SHAREABLE qualifier is
appended in the LINK command line. If the /SHAREABLE qualifier is
not appended to an input file specification, the linker assigns
to the shareable image the name of the first input file specified
on the command line using the extension .EXE.
If you designate a file name but omit the file type, the linker
assigns the shareable image the file type .EXE.
shareable-image-file-name
Specifies the name of a shareable image. Note that you can use
the /SHAREABLE qualifier to identify a shareable image only in a
linker options file. It is illegal to include a shareable image
in a link operation by specifying it on the LINK command line.
30 /SYMBOL_TABLE
Directs the linker to create a symbol table file.
Format
/SYMBOL_TABLE[=file-spec]
/NOSYMBOL_TABLE (default)
30.1 – Qualifier Values
file-spec
Specifies the character string you want the linker to use as the
name of the symbol table file. If you do not include a file type
in the character string, the linker appends the .STB file type to
the file name.
If you specify the /SYMBOL_TABLE qualifier without the file
specification, the linker creates a symbol table file with the
file name of the first input file and the default file type .STB.
If you append the /SYMBOL_TABLE qualifier to one of the input
file specifications, the linker creates a symbol table file with
the file name of the file to which the qualifier is appended,
with the default file type .STB.
31 /SYSEXE
I64 and Alpha systems.
Directs the linker to process the system shareable image,
SYS$BASE_IMAGE.EXE, in a link operation. The linker looks for
SYS$BASE_IMAGE.EXE in the directory pointed to by the logical
name IA64$LOADABLE_IMAGES (I64) or ALPHA$LOADABLE_IMAGES (Alpha).
Format
/SYSEXE[=[NO]SELECTIVE]
/NOSYSEXE (default)
31.1 – Qualifier Values
SELECTIVE (default)
When the /SYSEXE qualifier is specified with no keyword, the
linker processes the SYS$BASE_IMAGE.EXE file selectively.
When you specify /SYSEXE with the SELECTIVE keyword, the linker
processes the SYS$BASE_IMAGE.EXE file selectively, including
only those symbols from the global symbol table of the SYS$BASE_
IMAGE.EXE file that were referenced by input files previously
processed in the link operation.
NOSELECTIVE
When you specify the NOSELECTIVE keyword, the linker includes all
the symbols from the SYS$BASE_IMAGE.EXE global symbol table in
the link operation.
32 /SYSLIB
Directs the linker to process the default system shareable image
library, IMAGELIB.OLB, and the default system object module
library, STARLET.OLB, to resolve symbolic references that remain
undefined after all specified input files and any default user
libraries have been processed.
Format
/SYSLIB (default)
/NOSYSLIB
32.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
33 /SYSSHR
Directs the linker to process the default system shareable image
library (IMAGELIB.OLB) to resolve symbolic references that remain
undefined after all specified input files and any default user
libraries have been processed.
Format
/SYSSHR (default)
/NOSYSSHR
33.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
34 /SYSTEM
Alpha and VAX systems.
Directs the linker to create a system image and optionally allows
you to specify the address at which the image should be loaded
into memory. A system image cannot be activated with the RUN
command; it must be bootstrapped or otherwise loaded into memory.
Format
/SYSTEM[=base-address]
/NOSYSTEM (default)
34.1 – Qualifier Values
base-address
Specifies the address at which the image is to be loaded in
virtual memory. You can specify a base address in hexadecimal
(%X), octal (%O), or decimal (%D) format. The default base
address is %X80000000.
Note that if you specify the /HEADER qualifier, the linker
adjusts the base address to the next highest page boundary if it
is not already a page boundary. The next highest page boundary is
the smallest number that is greater than the value specified in
the base-address parameter and that is divisible by the default
page size (which is architecture specific) or the page size
specified using the /BPAGE qualifier.
35 /THREADS_ENABLE
Kernel threads allow a multithreaded application to have a thread
executing on every CPU in a multiprocessor system. The /THREADS_
ENABLE qualifier allows you to turn kernel threads on and off on
a per-image basis.
When you specify this qualifier, the OpenVMS linker sets the
appropriate bits in the dynamic segment (I64) or the image header
(Alpha and VAX) of the image being linked. These bits control the
following:
o Whether the image is allowed to enter a multiple kernel
threads environment
o Whether the image can receive upcalls from the OpenVMS
scheduler
Format
/THREADS_ENABLE[=(MULTIPLE_KERNEL_THREADS,UPCALLS)]
/NOTHREADS_ENABLE (default)
35.1 – Qualifier Values
MULTIPLE_KERNEL_THREADS
On I64 and Alpha systems, this keyword sets the MULTIPLE_KERNEL_
THREADS bit in the dynamic segment (I64) or the image header
(Alpha) of the image being built. This bit indicates to the image
activator that the image can be run in a multiple kernel threads
environment.
If you specify this keyword for OpenVMS VAX links, it is ignored.
UPCALLS
This qualifier sets the UPCALLS bit in the OpenVMS dynamic
segment (I64) or image header (Alpha and VAX) of the image being
built. This bit indicates to the image activator that the process
can receive upcalls from the OpenVMS scheduler.
When the /THREADS_ENABLE qualifier is specified without either
the MULTIPLE_KERNEL_THREADS or UPCALLS keyword, the linker sets
both bits by default.
36 /TRACE
Directs the linker to include traceback information in the image
file. If you specify the /DEBUG qualifier, the linker includes
traceback information by default, overriding the /NOTRACE
qualifier if it is specified.
Format
/TRACE (default)
/NOTRACE
36.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
37 /USERLIBRARY
Directs the linker to process one or more default user libraries
to resolve symbolic references that remain undefined after all
specified input files have been processed.
Format
/USERLIBRARY[=(table[,...])]
/NOUSERLIBRARY
/USERLIBRARY=ALL (default)
37.1 – Qualifier Values
table
Specifies the logical name tables that the linker searches for
default user libraries. The following keywords are the only
acceptable parameter values:
Keyword Description
ALL Directs the linker to search the process, group, and
system logical name tables for default user library
definitions. This is the default.
GROUP Directs the linker to search the group logical name
table for default user library definitions.
NONE Directs the linker not to search any logical name
table; the /USERLIBRARY=NONE qualifier is equivalent
to the /NOUSERLIBRARY qualifier.
PROCESS Directs the linker to search the process logical name
table for default user library definitions.
SYSTEM Directs the linker to search the system logical name
table for default user library definitions.
38 /VAX
Alpha and VAX systems.
Directs the linker to produce an OpenVMS VAX image. The default
action, when neither /ALPHA nor /VAX is specified, is to create
an OpenVMS VAX image on an OpenVMS VAX system and to create an
OpenVMS Alpha image on an OpenVMS Alpha system.
Format
/VAX
38.1 – Qualifier Values
None.
38.2 – Option Descriptions
39 – BASE
VAX systems only.
Specifies the base address (starting address) that you want the
linker to assign to the image.
Format
BASE=address
39.1 – Option Values
address
The address at which you want the image based. You can express
the number in decimal (%D), octal (%O), or hexadecimal (%X)
notation. If the address specified is not divisible by 512, the
linker automatically adjusts it upward to the next multiple of
512, that is, to the next highest page boundary. Do not attempt
to base an image linked with a larger page size (specified using
the /BPAGE qualifier).
The linker bases shareable images at address 0, by default, and
bases system images at address %X80000000, by default.
40 – CASE_SENSITIVE
Directs the linker to preserve the mixture of uppercase and
lowercase characters used in character string arguments to linker
options.
Format
CASE_SENSITIVE=YES/NO
CASE_SENSITIVE=NO (default)
40.1 – Option Values
YES
Enables case sensitivity. You can use any mixture of uppercase
and lowercase characters when specifying the keyword YES.
NO
Disables case sensitivity. Note that you must use only
uppercase characters when specifying the keyword NO because case
sensitivity is enabled and the linker does not accept mixed case
in keywords.
41 – CLUSTER
Directs the linker to create a cluster. (The linker groups input
files into clusters before processing their contents.)
Format
CLUSTER=cluster-name[,base-address[,pfc[,file-spec[,...]]]]
41.1 – Option Values
cluster-name
The name you want assigned to the cluster.
base-address
The base virtual address for the cluster. If you omit the base-
address value, you must still enter the comma.
On I64 systems, the base address must be omitted.
For Alpha linking, it is illegal to specify a base address for a
cluster when creating a shareable image.
pfc (page fault cluster)
The number of pagelets read into memory by the operating system
when the initial page fault occurs for a page in the cluster. If
you do not specify the pfc parameter, the operating system uses
the default value established by the system parameter PFCDEFAULT.
If you omit the page fault cluster value, you must still enter
the comma.
file-spec
The file you want the linker to place in the cluster. Note that
you should not specify in the LINK command itself any file that
you specify with the CLUSTER= option (unless you want to include
two copies of the file in the final image).
42 – COLLECT
Directs the linker to place the specified program section (or
program sections) into the specified cluster.
Format
COLLECT=cluster-name[/ATTRIBUTES=(RESIDENT,INITIALIZATION_CODE)],psect-name[,...]
42.1 – Option Values
cluster-name
Name of the cluster.
psect-name
Name of the program sections (psects) you want placed in the
cluster.
42.2 – Qualifier
42.2.1 /ATTRIBUTES
For I64 and Alpha linking, directs the linker to mark the cluster
'cluster-name' with the indicated qualifier keyword value.
Attributes set by this qualifier are only evaluated by the
loader. This qualifier is used to build OpenVMS drivers. See
Writing OpenVMS Alpha Device Drivers in C for guidelines for
using this qualifier.
Qualifier Values
RESIDENT
Marks the cluster 'cluster-name' as RESIDENT so that the
segment (I64) or image section (Alpha) created from that
cluster has the RESIDENT flag set. This will cause the loader
to map the segment or image section into non-paged memory.
INITIALIZATION_CODE
Marks the cluster 'cluster-name' as INITIALIZATION_CODE so
that the segment (I64) or image section (Alpha) created from
that cluster has the INITALCOD flag set. The initialization
code will be executed by the loader. This keyword is
specifically intended for use with program sections from
modules SYS$DOINIT and SYS$DRIVER_INIT in STARLET.OLB.
43 – DZRO_MIN
Alpha and VAX systems.
Specifies the minimum number of contiguous, uninitialized pages
that the linker must find in an image section before it can
extract the pages from the image section and place them in a
newly created demand-zero image section. By creating demand-zero
image sections (image sections that do not contain initialized
data), the linker can reduce the size of images.
Format
DZRO_MIN=number-of-pages
43.1 – Option Values
number-of-pages
Specifies the minimum number of contiguous pages.
For VAX linking, the linker, by default, uses a minimum of 5
pages. Each VAX page equals 512 bytes.
For Alpha linking, the linker, by default, uses a minimum of 1
page. The size of an Alpha page is CPU-specific. The initial set
of Alpha systems uses an 8 KB page. The page size used is that of
the current link operation. (See the /BPAGE qualifier.)
The number of pages must be equal to or greater than the value
specified in the parameter.
44 – GSMATCH
Sets match control parameters for a shareable image and specifies
the match algorithm. This option allows you to control whether
executable images that link with a shareable image must be
relinked each time the shareable image is updated and relinked.
Format
GSMATCH=keyword,major-id,minor-id
GSMATCH=EQUAL,link-time-derived-major-id,link-time-derived-minor-id
(default)
44.1 – Option Values
keyword
Identifies the match algorithm used by the image activator.
Specify one of the following keywords:
Keyword Meaning
EQUAL Directs the image activator to allow the image to map
to the referenced shareable image when one condition
is met:
o the major and minor ID for the shareable image, as
saved at link time in the image file, are equal to
the IDs found in the actual shareable image file
at activation time.
LEQUAL Directs the image activator to allow the image to map
to the referenced shareable image when two conditions
are met:
o the major ID for the shareable image, as saved at
link time in the image file, is equal to the major
ID found in the actual shareable image file at
activation time
o the minor ID for the shareable image, as saved at
link time in the image file, is less than or equal
to the minor ID found in the actual shareable
image file at activation time.
ALWAYS Directs the image activator to unconditionally allow
the image to map to the referenced shareable image:
o regardless of the values of the major and minor
ID for the shareable image, as saved at link time
in the image file, and the values of the IDs found
in the actual shareable image file at activation
time.
Note that you must still specify values for the
major ID and minor ID parameters to satisfy the
requirements of the option syntax.
major-id
Specifies the major identification number.
minor-id
Specifies the minor identification number.
When a shareable image is created without specifying a GSMATCH=
option, the linker by default creates one. It sets the EQUAL
match control and uses portions of the image creation time, as
a binary value, for the major and minor IDs. In general this
is sufficient to set a unique value for the IDs each time the
shareable image is linked. On I64, the linker uses bits 40
through 54 of the binary time value for the major ID and bits
8 through 39 for the minor ID. On Alpha and VAX, the linker uses
bits 32 through 46 of the binary time value for the major ID and
bits 16 through 31 for the minor ID.
45 – IDENTIFICATION
Sets the image-id field in the image file. The image
identification usually holds a version number of the image, but
can be used for any text to identify the generated image.
Format
IDENTIFICATION=id-name
45.1 – Option Values
id-name
The maximum length of the identification character string is
15 characters. If the string contains characters other than
uppercase and lowercase A through Z, the numerals 0 through 9,
the dollar sign, and the underscore, enclose it in quotation
marks.
46 – IOSEGMENT
Specifies the amount of space to be allocated for the image
I/O segment, which holds the buffers and OpenVMS RMS control
information for all files used by the image.
Format
IOSEGMENT=number-of-pagelets[,[NO]P0BUFS]
IOSEGMENT=0,NOP0BUFS (default)
46.1 – Option Values
number-of-pagelets
Specifies the number of pagelets (512-byte units) to be allocated
for the image I/O segment. By default, the operating system uses
the value set by the IMGIOCNT system parameter to determine the
size of the image I/O space.
[NO]P0BUFS
By default, the operating system allocates the I/O segment in
the P1 region of the process space and, if additional space is
needed, at the end of the P0 region. If you specify NOP0BUFS, you
deny OpenVMS RMS additional pages in the P0 region.
47 – ISD_MAX
Alpha and VAX systems.
Specifies the maximum number of image sections allowed in the
image.
Format
ISD_MAX=number-of-image-sections
ISD_MAX=96 (default, approximate value)
47.1 – Option Values
number-of-image-sections
The maximum number of image sections that may be created. You
can specify the value in hexadecimal (%X), decimal (%D), or octal
(%O) radix. The default is decimal radix.
48 – NAME
Sets the image-name field in the image file. The image name is
used on Alpha and VAX systems to resolve self-references in the
shareable image list.
Format
NAME=image-name
48.1 – Option Values
image-name
A character string up to 39 characters in length. If the name
contains characters other than uppercase and lowercase A through
Z, the numerals 0 through 9, the dollar sign, and the underscore,
enclose it in quotation marks.
49 – PROTECT
Specifies that the segments (I64) or image sections (Alpha) in
one or more clusters in a shareable image should be protected
from user-mode or supervisor-mode write access.
Format
PROTECT=YES/NO
PROTECT=NO (default)
49.1 – Option Values
YES
Enables protection for all the clusters defined in subsequent
lines in the options file by the CLUSTER= option or the COLLECT=
option, up to a line containing another PROTECT= option.
NO
Disables protection for all clusters specified on subsequent
lines of a linker options file by the CLUSTER= option or the
COLLECT= option, up to the line containing another PROTECT=YES
option. Protection is disabled by default.
50 – PSECT_ATTRIBUTE
Specifies the attributes of a program section.
Format
PSECT_ATTRIBUTE=psect-name,attribute-keyword[,...]
50.1 – Option Values
psect-name
Specifies the name of the program section whose attributes
you want to set. The name may be a character string up to 31
characters in length.
attribute-keyword
One or more attributes, identified by a keyword or a number,
separated by commas.
51 – RMS_RELATED_CONTEXT
Enables or disables RMS related name context processing. This
is also known as file specification "stickiness." The default
is to have RMS related name context processing enabled. This
default applies at the start of each options file regardless of
the setting in a previous options file. The related name context
itself (the collection of data structures RMS maintains to supply
the most recently specified fields) does not carry over from one
linker options file to the next. That is, previously specified
fields in the previous options file are not used to fill in
absent fields for file specifications in the current options
file.
Format
RMS_RELATED_CONTEXT=YES/NO
RMS_RELATED_CONTEXT=YES (default)
51.1 – Option Values
YES
Enables RMS related name context processing. If an option RMS_
RELATED_CONTEXT=NO is in effect, its saved related name context
is restored. If RMS related name context processing is already
enabled, this option has no effect.
RMS related name context processing is enabled by default.
Therefore command line file specifications are processed with RMS
related name context. Also, RMS related name context processing
is enabled at the start of each options file. The related name
context is limited to a single options file. That is, the saved
related name context is cleared at the start of each options
file.
NO
Disables RMS related name context processing. If an option RMS_
RELATED_CONTEXT=YES is in effect, the current name context is
saved for a possible future RMS_RELATED_CONTEXT=YES option.
If RMS related name context processing is already disabled,
specifying RMS_RELATED_CONTEXT=NO has no effect.
52 – STACK
Specifies the size of the user-mode stack.
Format
STACK=number-of-pagelets
STACK=20 (default)
52.1 – Option Values
number-of-pagelets
Specifies the size of the stack in pagelets (512-byte units).
53 – SYMBOL
Directs the linker to define an absolute global symbol with the
specified name and assign it the specified value. You can use
this option to specify a link-time constant.
Format
SYMBOL=symbol-name,symbol-value
53.1 – Option Values
symbol-name
A character string up to 31 characters in length.
symbol-value
The value you want to assign to the symbol. An absolute
global symbol has a fixed numeric value and is therefore not
relocatable. Thus, the value must be a number.
On I64, the numeric value is a 64-bit value.
54 – SYMBOL_TABLE
I64 and Alpha systems.
Specifies whether the linker should include global symbols in
a symbol table file produced in a link operation in which a
shareable image is created. By default, the linker includes
only universal symbols in a symbol table file associated with
a shareable image.
Format
SYMBOL_TABLE=GLOBALS/UNIVERSALS
SYMBOL_TABLE=UNIVERSALS (default)
54.1 – Option Values
GLOBALS
Specifies that the linker should include global symbols and
universal symbols in the symbol table file associated with the
shareable image.
UNIVERSALS
Specifies that the linker should include only universal symbols
in the symbol table file associated with the shareable image.
55 – SYMBOL_VECTOR
I64 and Alpha systems. Declares universal symbols in shareable
images.
Format
SYMBOL_VECTOR=([alias/]name=entry-type[,...])
55.1 – Option Values
alias
Optionally specifies an alias name for the symbol you want to
declare universal. When specified, the alias name appears in the
global symbol table (GST) of the image and values associated with
the name specified in the symbol-name parameter appear in the
symbol vector of the image.
Note that you can specify alias names only for symbol vector
entries declared using the DATA or PROCEDURE keywords. For more
information about symbol vector entry types, see the following
table.
name
Specifies the name of the symbol or the name of a program section
in the shareable image that you want to declare universal.
entry-type
Specifies the type of the symbol vector entry. The following
table lists the types of symbol vector entries supported by the
linker along with the keyword you use to specify them:
Keyword Function
DATA Creates a symbol vector entry for data
(relocatable or constant). The linker creates an
entry for the symbol in the GST of the shareable
image.
PROCEDURE Creates a symbol vector entry for a procedure
and creates an entry for the symbol in the GST
of the shareable image.
PRIVATE_DATA Creates a symbol vector entry for data; however,
the linker does not create an entry for the data
in the GST of the shareable image. Thus, the
symbol is not available for other modules to
link against.
PRIVATE_ Creates a symbol vector entry for a procedure;
PROCEDURE however, the linker does not create an entry
for the procedure in the GST of the shareable
image. Thus, the symbol is not available for
other modules to link against.
PSECT Creates a symbol vector entry for a program
section and creates an entry for the program
section in the GST of the shareable image.
SPARE Use this keyword to create a placeholder.
SPARE allows you to preserve the order of the
symbol vector entries when you need to create an
upwardly compatible shareable image. The SPARE
keyword is used alone; it is not preceded by a
symbol name and equal sign.
56 – UNIVERSAL
VAX systems only.
Declares a symbol in a shareable image as universal, causing the
linker to include it in the global symbol table of a shareable
image.
Format
UNIVERSAL=symbol-name[,...]
56.1 – Option Values
symbol-name
The name of the symbol or symbols you want to declare universal.