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H2PH(1)                 Perl Programmers Reference Guide                H2PH(1)

NAME
       h2ph - convert .h C header files to .ph Perl header files

SYNOPSIS
       h2ph [-d destination directory] [-r | -a] [-l] [-h] [-e] [-D] [-Q]
       [headerfiles]

DESCRIPTION
       h2ph converts any C header files specified to the corresponding Perl
       header file format.  It is most easily run while in /usr/include:

               cd /usr/include; h2ph * sys/*

       or

               cd /usr/include; h2ph * sys/* arpa/* netinet/*

       or

               cd /usr/include; h2ph -r -l .

       The output files are placed in the hierarchy rooted at Perl's
       architecture dependent library directory.  You can specify a different
       hierarchy with a -d switch.

       If run with no arguments, filters standard input to standard output.

OPTIONS
       -d destination_dir
           Put  the  resulting  .ph  files  beneath destination_dir, instead of
           beneath      the      default      Perl       library       location
           ($Config{'installsitearch'}).

       -r  Run  recursively;  if  any  of headerfiles are directories, then run
           h2ph on all files in those directories  (and  their  subdirectories,
           etc.).  -r and -a are mutually exclusive.

       -a  Run  automagically;  convert  headerfiles,  as  well as any .h files
           which they include.  This option will search for  .h  files  in  all
           directories  which  your  C compiler ordinarily uses.  -a and -r are
           mutually exclusive.

       -l  Symbolic links will be replicated in the destination directory.   If
           -l is not specified, then links are skipped over.

       -h  Put  'hints'  in  the .ph files which will help in locating problems
           with h2ph.  In those cases when you require a  .ph  file  containing
           syntax errors, instead of the cryptic

                   [ some error condition ] at (eval mmm) line nnn

           you will see the slightly more helpful

                   [ some error condition ] at filename.ph line nnn

           However, the .ph files almost double in size when built using -h.

       -e  If  an  error  is encountered during conversion, output file will be
           removed and a warning emitted instead of terminating the  conversion
           immediately.

       -D  Include  the  code  from  the  .h file as a comment in the .ph file.
           This is primarily used for debugging h2ph.

       -Q  'Quiet'  mode;  don't  print  out  the  names  of  the  files  being
           converted.

ENVIRONMENT
       No environment variables are used.

FILES
        /usr/include/*.h
        /usr/include/sys/*.h

       etc.

AUTHOR
       Larry Wall

SEE ALSO
       perl(1)

DIAGNOSTICS
       The usual warnings if it can't read or write the files involved.

BUGS
       Doesn't construct the %sizeof array for you.

       It  doesn't  handle  all  C  constructs,  but it does attempt to isolate
       definitions inside evals so that you can get at the definitions that  it
       can translate.

       It's  only  intended  as  a rough tool.  You may need to dicker with the
       files produced.

       You have to run this program by hand; it's not run as part of  the  Perl
       installation.

       Doesn't handle complicated expressions built piecemeal, a la:

           enum {
               FIRST_VALUE,
               SECOND_VALUE,
           #ifdef ABC
               THIRD_VALUE
           #endif
           };

       Doesn't  necessarily  locate all of your C compiler's internally-defined
       symbols.

perl v5.40.1                       2025-07-27                           H2PH(1)

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