fmt

PURPOSE

     Formats mail messages prior to sending.

SYNOPSIS
     /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 generally used 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 para-
     graph 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 appro-
     priate than fmt for complex formatting operations.

RELATED INFORMATION

     The  following  commands:   "mail,  Mail,"  and   "nroff,
     troff."