FMT(1,C) AIX Commands Reference FMT(1,C) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- fmt PURPOSE Formats mail messages prior to sending. SYNTAX /usr/bin/fmt -- file --| DESCRIPTION The fmt command invokes a simple text formatter that reads the concatenation of input files (or standard input if no files are specified). It then produces, on standard output, a version of the input with lines as close to 72 characters long as possible. The spacing at the beginning of the input lines is preserved in the output, as are blank lines and interword spacing. The fmt command is used generally to format mail messages prior to sending them through the mail facility. It may also be useful, however, for other simple formatting tasks. For example, within visual mode of a text editing program such as vi, the command "!}fmt" reformats a paragraph so that all lines are approximately 72 characters long. Note: The fmt command is a fast, simple formatting program. Standard text editing programs are more appropriate than the fmt command for complex formatting operations. RELATED INFORMATION See the following commands: "mail, Mail" and "nroff, troff." Processed November 8, 1990 FMT(1,C) 1