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10.0;fmc (format_multi_column), revision 1.0, 88/03/21
fmc (format_multi_column) -- Format text into multiple columns.
usage: fmc [-c n] [-l n] [-w n] [-g n] [-d n] [pathname ...]



DESCRIPTION
     fmc reads the named files and formats them into multiple columns on
     standard output.  Each input line is placed in one column of an output
     line; input lines that are longer than the output column width are
     truncated.  This command is useful to format text that is already in the
     form of a column or list.

ARGUMENTS
     pathname (optional)
                    Specify input file.  Multiple pathnames are permitted,
                    separated by blanks.

                    Default if omitted:  read standard input

OPTIONS
     The options control output format.  If no options are specified, the
     default output format is:

     Number of columns   2
     Page length         55
     Column width        60
     Gutter width        8

NOTE
     Page length * number of columns must be less than 1200.  The total number
     of characters on a page must be less than 7000.

     -c n      Specify n columns.  The default is 2.

     -l n      Specify page length in n lines.  fmc produces output in pages,
               but does not place separators between the pages.  The default
               is 55.

     -w n      Specify column width in n characters.  Input lines longer than
               n characters are truncated.  The default is 60.

     -g n      Specify gutter width in n spaces.  The gutter is the space
               between columns.  The default is 8.

     -d n      Specify display terminal as output device.  The column width is
               set to n characters and the page size is set to 24 lines.  The
               number of columns and the gutter width are computed to maximize
               the amount of information on the screen.  The default is 10.

EXAMPLES
     This command line first produces a cross-referenced list of all the
     symbols in the file sample, then formats the report in a 3-column list.

     $ crefs sample | fmc -c 3 -w 22 -g 4



Typewritten Software • bear@typewritten.org • Edmonds, WA 98026