# git-fmt-merge-msg(1) Manual Page

## NAME

git-fmt-merge-msg - Produce a merge commit message

## SYNOPSIS

    git fmt-merge-msg [-m <message>] [--log[=<n>] | --no-log] <$GIT_DIR/FETCH_HEAD
    git fmt-merge-msg [-m <message>] [--log[=<n>] | --no-log] -F <file>

## DESCRIPTION

Takes the list of merged objects on stdin and produces a suitable commit message to be used for the merge commit, usually to be passed as the <merge-message> argument of git merge.

This command is intended mostly for internal use by scripts automatically invoking git merge.

## OPTIONS

--log[=<n>]

  In addition to branch names, populate the log message with one-line descriptions from the actual commits that are being merged. At most <n> commits from each merge parent will be used (20 if <n> is omitted). This overrides the `merge.log` configuration variable.

--no-log

  Do not list one-line descriptions from the actual commits being merged.

--[no-]summary

  Synonyms to --log and --no-log; these are deprecated and will be removed in the future.

-m <message>
--message <message>

  Use <message> instead of the branch names for the first line of the log message. For use with `--log`.

-F <file>
--file <file>

  Take the list of merged objects from <file> instead of stdin.

## CONFIGURATION

merge.branchdesc

  In addition to branch names, populate the log message with the branch description text associated with them. Defaults to false.

merge.log

  In addition to branch names, populate the log message with at most the specified number of one-line descriptions from the actual commits that are being merged. Defaults to false, and true is a synonym for 20.

merge.summary

  Synonym to `merge.log`; this is deprecated and will be removed in the future.

## SEE ALSO

git-merge(1)

## GIT

Part of the git(1) suite