Command-line to combine obj files (.o) into a Static Library (lib.a) file.

Question

I have a library that I need to compile for Solaris 10 x86 using Sun Studio. I compile the source files to make obj files by issuing the command:
Bash-3.0# cc -c -D"_UNIX_" *.c
This compiles every source.c and produces an object.o file. (Nice, & simple.)
Now, what is the command-line to combine all those object.o files (along with a few other staticlibs.a) and make one archive, lib.a?
I've done this many times with the gnu - gcc compilers. Is it possible with the Sun Studio Tools? And where is it documented?
I thought I had this 'licked' when installed SS12u1 and built the 'Welcome' project. But I have searched the "Sun Studio 12: C User's Guide" from top to bottom, and I don't have a 'clue' :-( ...
Mike <><><>

Answer 1

Run the command
man arto get the details of using ar.
If you create an archive library newly each time (instead of trying to update an existing library), this command will do the job:
ar -r myarchive.a file1.o file2.o file3.o ... I recommend building the archive freshly each time instead of trying to update an existing archive. You can get unpleasant surprises when trying to update.
To link an archive into a program, just put the archive name on the linking command line (with a -L option to point to the directory if appropriate). The position of the archive on the command line matters. The linker scans the archive as it processes command-line options in order. It pulls a .o from the archive only if it has already seen a reference to a symbol that is defined in the archive. Therefore, the archive must follow all files and other libraries that reference the contents of the archive. Example:
Suppose f1.o uses something from archive.a, and all files are in the same directrory. This command will work:
cc -o myprog main.o f1.o archive.a This command will not work:
cc -o myprog main.o archive.a f1.o The reference in f1.o will not be satisfied.