obj2bin.pl is a PDP-11 object file translator / linker, transforming an .obj file as output from macro11 into an absolute binary load image file (.bin) or other useful formats (.hex).
If run with no options, it prints a usage screen:
obj2bin.pl v2.3 by Don North (perl 5.036)
Usage: ./obj2bin.pl [options...] arguments
--help output manpage and exit
--debug enable debug mode
--verbose verbose status reporting
--boot M9312 boot prom .hex
--console M9312 console/diagnostic prom .hex
--binary binary program load image .bin [default]
--raw raw binary data output
--ascii ascii m9312 program load image .txt
--rt11 read .obj files in RT11 format
--rsx11 read .obj files in RSX11 format [default]
--bytes=N bytes per block on output hex format
--nocrc inhibit output of CRC-16 in hex format
--logfile=LOGFILE logging message file
--outfile=OUTFILE output .hex/.txt/.bin file
OBJFILE... macro11 object .obj file(s)
Aborted due to command line errors.
If run with the --help option it prints a longer manual page:
NAME
obj2bin.pl - Convert a Macro-11 program image to PROM/load format
SYNOPSIS
obj2bin.pl [--help] [--debug] [--verbose] [--boot] [--console] [--raw] [--binary]
[--ascii] [--rt11] [--rsx11] [--bytes=N] [--nocrc] [--logfile=LOGFILE]
--outfile=BINFILE OBJFILE
DESCRIPTION
Converts a Macro-11 object files to various output formats, including
M9312 boot and console PROM, straight binary records, ASCII format for
M9312 console load commands, and loadable absolute binary program images
(.BIN) files.
Multiple .psect/.asect ops are supported, as well as all local
(non-global) relocation directory entries.
Supports either RT-11 or RSX-11 format object files.
OPTIONS
The following options are available:
--help
Output this manpage and exit the program.
--debug
Enable debug mode; print input file records as parsed.
--verbose
Verbose status; output status messages during processing.
--boot
Generate a hex PROM file image suitable for programming into an M9312
boot prom (512x4 geometry, only low half used).
--console
Generate a hex PROM file image suitable for programming into an M9312
console/diagnostic prom (1024x4 geometry).
--ascii
Generate a a sequence of 'L addr' / 'D data' commands for downloading
a program via a terminal emulator thru the M9312 user command
interface. Suitable only for really small test programs.
--raw
Generate raw data format file.
--binary
Generate binary format load records of the program image (paper tape
format) for loading into SIMH or compatible simulators. These files
can also be copied onto XXDP filesystems to generate runnable program
images (used to write custom diaqnostics).
Binary format is the default if no other option is specified. If more
than one option is specified the last one takes effect.
--rt11
Read input object files in RT-11 format.
--rsx11
Read input object files in RSX-11 format.
RSX-11 object file format is the default if no other option is
specified. If more than one option is specified the last one takes
effect.
--bytes=N
For hex format output files, output N bytes per line (default 16).
--nocrc
For hex format output files, don't automatically stuff the computed
CRC-16 as the last word in the ROM.
--logfile=FILENAME
Generate debug output into this file.
--outfile=FILENAME
Output binary file in format selected by user option.
OBJFILE...
Input object file(s) in .obj format.
ERRORS
The following diagnostic error messages can be produced on STDERR. The
meaning should be fairly self explanatory.
"Aborted due to command line errors" -- bad option or missing file(s)
"Can't open input file '$file'" -- bad filename or unreadable file
"Error: Improper object file format (1)" -- valid RT-11 record must start
with 0x01
"Error: Improper object file format (2)" -- second RT-11 byte must be 0x00
"Error: Improper object file format (3)" -- third byte is low byte of
record length
"Error: Improper object file format (4)" -- fourth byte is high byte of
record length
"Error: Improper object file format (5)" -- bytes five thru end-1 are data
bytes
"Error: Improper object file format (6)" -- last RT-11 byte is checksum
"Error: Bad checksum exp=0x%02X rcv=0x%02X" -- compare rcv'ed checksum vs
exp'ed checksum
EXAMPLES
Some examples of common usage:
obj2bin.pl --help
obj2bin.pl --verbose --boot --out 23-751A9.hex 23-751A9.obj
obj2bin.pl --verbose --binary --rt11 --out memtest.bin memtest.obj
obj2bin.pl --verbose --binary --rsx11 --out prftst.bin prftst.obj mac/printf.obj
AUTHOR
Don North - donorth <ak6dn _at_ mindspring _dot_ com>
HISTORY
Modification history:
2005-05-05 v1.0 donorth - Initial version.
2016-01-15 v1.1 donorth - Added RLD(IR) processing, moved sub's to end.
2016-01-18 v1.2 donorth - Added GSD processing, improved debug output.
2016-01-20 v1.3 donorth - Initial support for linking multiple PSECTs.
2016-01-22 v1.4 donorth - Added objfile/outfile/logfile switches vs stdio.
2016-01-28 v1.5 donorth - Added RLD processing, especially complex.
2017-04-01 v1.9 donorth - Renamed from obj2hex.pl to obj2bin.pl
2017-05-04 v1.95 donorth - Updated capability to read multiple input .obj files.
2020-03-06 v2.0 donorth - Updated help documentation and README.md file.
2020-03-10 v2.1 donorth - Broke down and added RSX-11 input format option.
2023-07-06 v2.2 donorth - Added binmode($fh) on object input and binary output files.
2024-03-22 v2.3 MattisLind/donorth - Added raw data format output via --raw option.