# array translate files to C arrays ## Synopsis `array [-s] [-q qualifier] [file...]` ## Description The `array` utility translates its input into C arrays (of a qualified type of `char`) that can then be used (via `#include`) in larger C programs. This is useful if you need to embed a binary (e.g. an image) or text (e.g. a template) file and need to ship a program as a single, self-contained executable. ## Options The `array` utility conforms to the XBD Utility Syntax Guidelines. It supports the following options: `-s` Include an additional identifier in the output indicating the size of the array. See STDOUT below for a detailed description. `-q` Apply the C type qualifier `qualifier` to the generated array. If none is provided, the default is `unsigned`. To remove any qualifiers altogether (e.g. to declare an array of `char`), specify the empty string (e.g. `-q ''`). ## Operands The `array` utility supports the following operands: `file` A pathname of an input file. If `-` is specified, `array` reads from the standard input. ## STDIN The standard input is used if no `file` operands are provided or if `-` is specified as an operand. ## Input Files Input files are treated as raw binary streams, with no requirements on format. ## STDOUT A definition of a C array of type qualified `char` and unspecified length, with members initialized to the bytes of the input file. Each array is named with the name of the input file, except all non alphanumeric characters (as identified by the function `isalnum()`) are translated to `_`. If the input file is the standard input, the name of the array is `stdin`. If the `-s` option is specified, the standard output also includes the definition of a size identifier. This identifier has the same name as the array, suffixed with `_size`, and type `size_t`. ## STDERR The standard error is used for printing diagnostic messages. ## Output Files None. ## Extended Description None. ## Exit Status 0 Successful completion. >0 An error occurred. ## Consequence of Errors If one or more input files cannot be opened, `array` will print a diagnostic message to standard error and that file will not produe any output to standard output.