fmt command in linux with example

In this tutorial, I use fmt command to format a file, set the column with, and format uniform spaces. Now, let’s go fmt command in Linux for example.

What does fmt mean?

fmt – simple optimal text formatter

Syntax

fmt [-WIDTH] [OPTION]... [FILE]...

In man page the describe it

• fmt – simple optimal text formatter.
• man fmt – More details information about fmt command.

fmt command in linux with example

By default, fmt sets the column width at 75.

I have created a file fmt_command.txt

[vagrant@DevopsRoles ~]$ cat fmt_command.txt 
 HuuPV, My website DevopsRoles.com and HuuPhan.com.SN:199x.
 Devops Roles.
 Hello world. xxx.

fmt with no options

[vagrant@DevopsRoles ~]$ fmt fmt_command.txt 
HuuPV, My website DevopsRoles.com and HuuPhan.com.SN:199x.  Devops Roles.

Hello world. xxx.

How to change the width of formatting.

[vagrant@DevopsRoles ~]$ fmt --width 20 fmt_command.txt 
 HuuPV, My website
 DevopsRoles.com and
 HuuPhan.com.SN:199x.
 Devops Roles.
 Hello world. xxx.

with -u option uses one space between words and two spaces after sentences for formatting.

[vagrant@DevopsRoles ~]$ fmt -u fmt_command.txt 
 HuuPV, My website DevopsRoles.com and HuuPhan.com.SN:199x.  Devops Roles.
 Hello world. xxx.

Conclusion

fmt command is a simple command in Linux. It is used to format a file, set the column with, and format uniform spaces. Thank you for reading the DevopsRoles page!