Patent ID: 6859932
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of preparing an executable program from a plurality of object code modules, each module containing sets of section data and associated relocation instructions, and at least one of said modules further including a macro section containing code sequences at least some of which are likely to be repeatedly included in the executable program and macro relocations associated with said macro section, wherein at least one of said sets of section data includes at least one insertion location where at least some code sequences are to be inserted and wherein the associated relocation instructions include a macro call relocation (R_CALL_MACRO) identifying a location in the macro section, the method comprising at link time when said executable program is prepared: reading said sets of section data and the associated relocation instructions; on locating said macro call relocation identifying the location in the macro section; and inserting said at least some code sequences from said location in the macro section into the set of section data at the insertion location, said at least some code sequences being selected by reading the macro relocations.