APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A RELOCATABLE FILE FORMAT

摘要

Relocation table entries in an executable object code file are interpreted as relocation instructions rather than as individual specifications for a particular respective relocatable information item. An abstract machine is provided for interpreting the relocation instructions and performing various relocation operations and various control functions for the abstract machine, in response to the relocation instructions. The abstract machine maintains certain variables containing information which is referenced and updated in response to certain types of the relocation instructions, thereby obviating the need to include such information as part of each relocation instruction. Certain of the relocation instruction types can also specify a particular relocation operation to be performed on a run of n consecutive reloactable information items, where n is specified as part of the relocation instruction. Certain of these relocation instruction types also consider each information item as including two or more individual relocations of the same or different types to perform, thus effectively specifying a run of n repetitions of a pattern of relocations. Other types of relocation instructions are also made available. The file also contains a hashed symbol export table and pattern-initialized data expansion instructions.