using libbfd for reading procedure information and hidden data in the text segment

[Kugan Vivekanandarajah]

Thanks ravi for the information.


> > 1.      By reading the symbol information can I tell whether it is a
> > function or not.
>
> In ELF (at least) - yes.

yes, i am using it with ELF format binaries.

what i am doing now is as follows:
for all the symols in the symbol table  i check the followng. If all
are satisfide i assume it to be a procedure symbol. Is that right ALL
THE TIME.

addr_t pc = bfd_asymbol_value (symbol);
 if (!(bfd_get_section_flags (bfd, bfd_get_section (symbol)) & SEC_CODE)) {
   // Not in a  text section, so not a procedure.
   //
   return 0;
 }
 else if (!((_text_start <= pc && pc < _text_end))) {
   // Out of text segment, so not a procedure.
   //
   return 0;
 }
 else if (symbol->flags & BSF_DEBUGGING) {
   // Debugging record is not a procedure.
   //
   return 0;
 }
 else if (bfd_asymbol_value (symbol) % 4 != 0) {
   // Data blocks sometimes are not word aligned
   //
   return 0;
 }

In addition, i have also came to know  that for some local procedures,
symbol table does not maintain symbol informations. Thus can not be
identfied. Is there any way i can identify them.

Thanks,
--
Kugan Vivekanandarajah
Graduate Student
www.ntu.edu.sg/home5/pm2096207
Mobile: +65 90014504