diff --git a/gdb/doc/ChangeLog b/gdb/doc/ChangeLog index f92bbea45c..920ccb5f7b 100644 --- a/gdb/doc/ChangeLog +++ b/gdb/doc/ChangeLog @@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ shared libraries. (Starting): Fix whitespace; make "elaboration" stand out where it is first used, and add an index entry for the term. + (Calling): Expand and elaborate text. Add "print". Add the + description of problems with weak aliases. 2004-10-12 Andrew Cagney diff --git a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo index 0909aa3620..3d42495199 100644 --- a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo +++ b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo @@ -10048,18 +10048,35 @@ selected stack frame returns naturally. @node Calling @section Calling program functions -@cindex calling functions -@kindex call @table @code +@cindex calling functions +@cindex inferior functions, calling +@item print @var{expr} +Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and displaying the resuling value. +@var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being +debugged. + +@kindex call @item call @var{expr} Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void} returned values. -@end table You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to -execute a function from your program, but without cluttering the output -with @code{void} returned values. If the result is not void, it -is printed and saved in the value history. +execute a function from your program that does not return anything +(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output +with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise +print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the +value history. +@end table + +@cindex weak alias functions +Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias} +for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up +the type information, including the types of the function arguments, +which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly. +As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may +even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased +function instead. @node Patching @section Patching programs