-ConvertArchiveToPartialLink

Extracts all objects from the library files (.a) and then puts them into a partially linked file (plf).

Syntax

  -ConvertArchiveToPartialLink 
  archives -o 
  filename

where archives is the list of archive files, and filename is the name of the output PLF file.

Example

  $mwldeppc.exe -ConvertArchiveToPartialLink 
  MSL_C.PPCEABI.bare.E.UC.a Runtime.PPCEABI.E.UC.a -o 
  XXX.plf

Remarks

This linker command can be used for a project with only archive files (MSL C archive) as the project would normally generate an empty plf.

Use -o option to specify the name of the output PLF file. If -o option is not provided to the linker then the linker will generate the file with a default a.out filename.

While working with this linker command, if we link any object file ( *.o), other than archive ( *.a), then the output file ( *.plf) will even contain the contents of linked object file, along with the usual archive contents.

It has been observed that all .plf files converted from the MSL archives have the .ctor and .dtor section. .plf files converted from Wii archives do not have the .ctor and .dtor section.

While working with the CodeWarrior IDE:

the output file is set by default to *.elf extension, it should be changed to *.plf.
the PLF also contains dwarf info because default dwarf info option is enabled.