TASKING VX-toolset for ARM User Guide

Assembly Language.ALIGNSyntax.ALIGN expressionDescriptionWith the .ALIGN directive you instruct the assembler to align the location counter. By default the assembleraligns on one byte.When the assembler encounters the .ALIGN directive, it advances the location counter to an addressthat is aligned as specified by expression and places the next instruction or directive on that address.The alignment is in minimal addressable units (MAUs).The assembler fills the ‘gap’ with NOP instructionsfor code sections or with zeros for data sections. If the location counter is already aligned on the specifiedalignment, it remains unchanged. The location of absolute sections will not be changed.The expression must be a power of two: 2, 4, 8, 16, ... If you specify another value, the assembler changesthe alignment to the next higher power of two and issues a warning.The assembler aligns sections automatically to the largest alignment value occurring in that section.A label is not allowed before this directive.Example.SECTION .text.ALIGN 4 ; the assembler alignsinstruction ; this instruction at 4 MAUs and; fills the 'gap' with NOP instructions..ENDSEC.SECTION .text.ALIGN 3 ; WRONG: not a power of two, theinstruction ; assembler aligns this instruction at; 4 MAUs and issues a warning..ENDSEC99