


     FFFFMMMMTTTT((((1111))))                  XXXXEEEENNNNIIIIXXXX 3333....0000 ((((LLLLOOOOCCCCAAAALLLL))))                  FFFFMMMMTTTT((((1111))))



     NNNNAAAAMMMMEEEE
          fmt - a simple text formatter

     SSSSYYYYNNNNOOOOPPPPSSSSIIIISSSS
          ffffmmmmtttt [ ----iiii ] [ ----jjjj ] [ ----llll nnnn ] [ ----pppp nnnn ] [ ----tttt nnnn ] [ filenames ]

     DDDDEEEESSSSCCCCRRRRIIIIPPPPTTTTIIIIOOOONNNN
          _F_m_t is a simple text formatter.  With no options present,
          the default behavior of _f_m_t is to copy its input (from
          specified files or from stdin, if no files are specified) to
          its output but with input reformatted into lines no longer
          than 72 characters long.  A blank line is taken to indicate
          the beginning of a new paragraph.  Lines that begin with a
          period are preserved.

          The following options modify this behavior:

          ----iiii   This option will cause _f_m_t to preserve indentations.
               Blanks or tabs at the beginning of a line will be
               considered the beginning of a new paragraph.

          ----jjjj   Justify output lines.  (The default behavior of _f_m_t is
               to output lines with a ragged right margin).

          ----llll nnnn This option can be used to change the line length from
               the default of 72 characters.

          ----pppp nnnn Change the page offset.  This option will cause the
               output lines to be offset the indicated number of
               columns from the left.

          ----tttt nnnn Set tab size.  This option is useful only with the ----iiii
               option since tabs are preserved only at the beginning
               of lines and are thrown away by default.

     TTTTIIIIPPPPSSSS
          In _v_i, you can define a macro that will reformat paragraphs
          by typing :_m_a_p _V {!}_f_m_t^_M or by putting the line
                 _m_a_p _V {!}_f_m_t^_M
          in your ._e_x_r_c file.  After defining this macro, pressing _V
          will cause the paragraph under the cursor to be reformatted.
          (Use the _u key to _u_n_d_o if necessary.

     SSSSEEEEEEEE AAAALLLLSSSSOOOO
          nroff(1), vi(1)










     Page 1                                          (printed 3/24/90)



