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3.6 Copy functions

The `BFD_JUMP_TABLE_COPY' macro is used for functions which are called when copying BFDs, and for a couple of functions which deal with internal BFD information.

`_bfd_copy_private_bfd_data'
This is called when copying a BFD, via `bfd_copy_private_bfd_data'. If the input and output BFDs have the same format, this will copy any private information over. This is called after all the section contents have been written to the output file. Only a few targets do anything in this function.

`_bfd_merge_private_bfd_data'
This is called when linking, via `bfd_merge_private_bfd_data'. It gives the backend linker code a chance to set any special flags in the output file based on the contents of the input file. Only a few targets do anything in this function.

`_bfd_copy_private_section_data'
This is similar to `_bfd_copy_private_bfd_data', but it is called for each section, via `bfd_copy_private_section_data'. This function is called before any section contents have been written. Only a few targets do anything in this function.

`_bfd_copy_private_symbol_data'
This is called via `bfd_copy_private_symbol_data', but I don't think anything actually calls it. If it were defined, it could be used to copy private symbol data from one BFD to another. However, most BFDs store extra symbol information by allocating space which is larger than the `asymbol' structure and storing private information in the extra space. Since `objcopy' and other programs copy symbol information by copying pointers to `asymbol' structures, the private symbol information is automatically copied as well. Most targets do not do anything in this function.

`_bfd_set_private_flags'
This is called via `bfd_set_private_flags'. It is basically a hook for the assembler to set magic information. For example, the PowerPC ELF assembler uses it to set flags which appear in the e_flags field of the ELF header. Most targets do not do anything in this function.

`_bfd_print_private_bfd_data'
This is called by `objdump' when the `-p' option is used. It is called via `bfd_print_private_data'. It prints any interesting information about the BFD which can not be otherwise represented by BFD and thus can not be printed by `objdump'. Most targets do not do anything in this function.


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