fmt Command
  
  
  Purpose
  
  Formats mail messages prior to sending.
  
   Syntax
  
  /usr/bin/fmt [  -Width ] [  File ... ]
  
  Description
  
  The fmt command starts a text formatter that reads the concatena-
  tion of input Files (or standard input if no Files are speci-
  fied), then produces on standard  output  a  version of the input
  with the line lengths set to the value of -Width.  If no value is
  specified with the -Width flag, the default value of 72 charac-
  ters is used.  The spacing at the beginning of the input lines is
  preserved  in the output, as are blank lines and spacing  between
  words.
  
  The fmt command is generally used to format mail messages to im-
  prove their appearance before they are sent.  However, the fmt
  command may also be useful for simple formatting tasks.   For ex-
  ample, within visual mode of  a  text editing program such as the
  vi editor, the command !}fmt formats a paragraph so that all
  lines are set to the value specified with the -Width flag.  If no
  value is specified with the -Width flag, the default value of 72
  characters is used.  Standard text editing  programs are more ap-
  propriate than fmt for complex formatting operations.
  
  Note:	Do not use the fmt command if the message contains embedded
  messages or preformatted information from other files.  This com-
  mand formats the heading information in embedded messages and may
  change the format of preformatted information.
  
  Flags
  
  File	Specifies the name of the file to be formatted.
  
  -Width	Specifies the line length.  The default value for Width is
  72 characters.
  
  Examples
  
  1.	To format a message you have created with the mail editor,
  enter:
  
  \~| fmt
  
  The \~| is entered at the left margin of the message.  After you
  issue the \~| fmt command, the message is formatted.  The word
  (continue) is displayed to indicate that you can enter more in-
  formation or send the message.
  
  2.	To format a file and display the output on your screen, enter:
  
  fmt file1
  
  In this example, the file file1 is formatted and displayed on
  your screen.
  
  Implementation Specifics
  
  This command is part of Base Operating System (BOS) Runtime.
  
  Files
  
  /usr/bin/fmt	The fmt command executable file.
  
  Related Information
  
   Mail Overview in AIX Version 3.2 System User's Guide: Communica-
  tions.
  
   Editors Overview in AIX Version 3.2 Editing Concepts and Pro-
  cedures.
  
  The  mail command,  nroff command,  vi command.