# DSCLoadDepsExternal

## Description

Pick a Mach-O file on disk and load all the cache images it depends on. Useful when reverse-engineering a third-party binary that was originally linked against the system frameworks: rather than guessing which dylibs to bring in, point IDA at the binary and let it match.

Available from the DSC Index context menu, under **Load**.

<figure><img src="/files/AEmgGd9kLlKn600BFNSu" alt="Load > From external Mach-O..."><figcaption><p>The "Load > From external Mach-O..." entry in the DSC Index context menu</p></figcaption></figure>

### Workflow

1. **Pick the Mach-O.** A file-chooser opens; select the off-cache Mach-O (an executable, dylib or framework binary).
2. **Match against the cache.** IDA parses the file's `LC_LOAD_DYLIB` (and friends) load commands, then resolves each listed install-name to an image in the current DSC. Mismatches (CPU architecture, platform, paths the cache doesn't know about) are flagged.
3. **Pick what to load.** The [dependencies picker dialog](/9.4/ida-actions/dscloaddeps.md#the-dependencies-picker-dialog) is presented, pre-populated with the matched images. Tweak the dependency depth and uncheck individual entries as needed.

<figure><img src="/files/w42689F7A3plzPPD74l7" alt="Load deps from external Mach-O"><figcaption><p>The picker dialog, here populated from the load commands of an (admittedly simple) test program</p></figcaption></figure>

See [DSC Workflow](/9.4/core/disassembler/concepts/dsc-workflow.md).


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