import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;

class MaxFlow {
    public class CapEdge {
        private final int from, to;
        private long cap;
        private final int rev;
        CapEdge(int from, int to, long cap, int rev) {
            this.from = from;
            this.to = to;
            this.cap = cap;
            this.rev = rev;
        }
        public int getFrom()  {return from;}
        public int getTo()    {return to;}
        public long getCap()  {return cap;}
        public long getFlow() {return g[to][rev].cap;}
    }

    private static final long INF = Long.MAX_VALUE;

    private final int n;
    private int m;
    private final java.util.ArrayList<CapEdge> edges;
    private final int[] count;
    private final CapEdge[][] g;

    public MaxFlow(int n) {
        this.n = n;
        this.edges = new java.util.ArrayList<>();
        this.count = new int[n];
        this.g = new CapEdge[n][];
    }

    public int addEdge(int from, int to, long cap) {
        rangeCheck(from, 0, n);
        rangeCheck(to, 0, n);
        nonNegativeCheck(cap, "Capacity");
        CapEdge e = new CapEdge(from, to, cap, count[to]);
        count[from]++; count[to]++;
        edges.add(e);
        return m++;
    }

    public CapEdge getEdge(int i) {
        rangeCheck(i, 0, m);
        return edges.get(i);
    }

    public java.util.ArrayList<CapEdge> getEdges() {
        return edges;
    }

    public void changeEdge(int i, long newCap, long newFlow) {
        rangeCheck(i, 0, m);
        nonNegativeCheck(newCap, "Capacity");
        if (newFlow > newCap) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                String.format("Flow %d is greater than capacity %d.", newCap, newFlow)
            );
        }
        CapEdge e = edges.get(i);
        CapEdge er = g[e.to][e.rev];
        e.cap = newCap - newFlow;
        er.cap = newFlow;
    }

    private void buildGraph() {
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            g[i] = new CapEdge[count[i]];
        }
        int[] idx = new int[n];
        for (CapEdge e : edges) {
            g[e.to][idx[e.to]++] = new CapEdge(e.to, e.from, 0, idx[e.from]);
            g[e.from][idx[e.from]++] = e;
        }
    }

    public long maxFlow(int s, int t) {
        return flow(s, t, INF);
    }

    public long flow(int s, int t, long flowLimit) {
        rangeCheck(s, 0, n);
        rangeCheck(t, 0, n);
        buildGraph();
        long flow = 0;
        int[] level = new int[n];
        int[] que = new int[n];
        int[] iter = new int[n];
        while (true) {
            java.util.Arrays.fill(level, -1);
            dinicBFS(s, t, level, que);
            if (level[t] < 0) return flow;
            java.util.Arrays.fill(iter, 0);
            while (true) {
                long d = dinicDFS(t, s, flowLimit - flow, iter, level);
                if (d <= 0) break;
                flow += d;
            }
        }
    }

    private void dinicBFS(int s, int t, int[] level, int[] que) {
        int hd = 0, tl = 0;
        que[tl++] = s;
        level[s] = 0;
        while (tl > hd) {
            int u = que[hd++];
            for (CapEdge e : g[u]) {
                int v = e.to;
                if (e.cap <= 0 || level[v] >= 0) continue;
                level[v] = level[u] + 1;
                if (v == t) return;
                que[tl++] = v;
            }
        }
    }

    private long dinicDFS(int cur, int s, long f, int[] iter, int[] level) {
        if (cur == s) return f;
        long res = 0;
        while (iter[cur] < count[cur]) {
            CapEdge er = g[cur][iter[cur]++];
            int u = er.to;
            CapEdge e = g[u][er.rev];
            if (level[u] >= level[cur] || e.cap <= 0) continue;
            long d = dinicDFS(u, s, Math.min(f - res, e.cap), iter, level);
            if (d <= 0) continue;
            e.cap -= d;
            er.cap += d;
            res += d;
            if (res == f) break;
        }
        return res;
    }

    public long fordFulkersonMaxFlow(int s, int t) {
        return fordFulkersonFlow(s, t, INF);
    }

    public long fordFulkersonFlow(int s, int t, long flowLimit) {
        rangeCheck(s, 0, n);
        rangeCheck(t, 0, n);
        buildGraph();
        boolean[] used = new boolean[n];
        long flow = 0;
        while (true) {
            java.util.Arrays.fill(used, false);
            long f = fordFulkersonDFS(s, t, flowLimit - flow, used);
            if (f <= 0) return flow;
            flow += f;
        }
    }

    private long fordFulkersonDFS(int cur, int t, long f, boolean[] used) {
        if (cur == t) return f;
        used[cur] = true;
        for (CapEdge e : g[cur]) {
            if (used[e.to] || e.cap <= 0) continue;
            long d = fordFulkersonDFS(e.to, t, Math.min(f, e.cap), used);
            if (d <= 0) continue;
            e.cap -= d;
            g[e.to][e.rev].cap += d;
            return d;
        }
        return 0;
    }

    public boolean[] minCut(int s) {
        rangeCheck(s, 0, n);
        boolean[] reachable = new boolean[n];
        int[] stack = new int[n];
        int ptr = 0;
        stack[ptr++] = s;
        reachable[s] = true;
        while (ptr > 0) {
            int u = stack[--ptr];
            for (CapEdge e : g[u]) {
                int v = e.to;
                if (reachable[v] || e.cap <= 0) continue;
                reachable[v] = true;
                stack[ptr++] = v;
            }
        }
        return reachable;
    }

    private void rangeCheck(int i, int minInlusive, int maxExclusive) {
        if (i < 0 || i >= maxExclusive) {
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException(
                String.format("Index %d out of bounds for length %d", i, maxExclusive)
            );
        }
    }

    private void nonNegativeCheck(long cap, java.lang.String attribute) {
        if (cap < 0) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                String.format("%s %d is negative.", attribute, cap)
            );
        }
    }
}

public class Main {
	static int n, m;
	static char[][] f;
	static MaxFlow g;
	static void solve() {
		n = ni(); m = ni();
		f = nm(n, m);
		//頂点数が、グリッドの数と、startとgoalで、合計n * m + 2個
		g = new MaxFlow(n * m + 2);
		int s = n * m , t = s + 1;
		//sと偶数マス、tと奇数マスにエッジを張る
		for(int i=0;i<n;i++)for(int j=0;j<m;j++) {
			if(f[i][j] == '#')continue;
			int v = i * m + j;
			if((i + j) % 2 == 0) {
				g.addEdge(s, v, 1);
			}
			else {
				g.addEdge(v, t, 1);
			}
		}
		
		//偶数マス -> 奇数マス にエッジを張る
		for(int i=0;i<n;i++)for(int j=0;j<m;j++) {
			if(f[i][j] == '#')continue;
			if((i + j) % 2 == 1)continue;
			int v = i * m + j;
			addEdge(v, i, j+1);
			addEdge(v, i, j-1);
			addEdge(v, i+1, j);
			addEdge(v, i-1, j);
		}
		
		out.println(g.maxFlow(s, t));
		
		//エッジを順番に見て、マスを作成していく
		var ces = g.getEdges();
		for(var ce : ces) {
			int from = ce.getFrom(), to = ce.getTo();
			if(from == s || to == t)continue;
			if(ce.getCap() == 1)continue;
			int fi = from / m, fj = from % m;
			int ti = to / m, tj = to % m;
			if(fi == ti) {
				int min = min(fj, tj);
				int max = max(fj, tj);
				f[fi][min] = '>';
				f[fi][max] = '<';
			}
			else {
				int min = min(fi, ti);
				int max = max(fi, ti);
				f[min][fj] = 'v';
				f[max][fj] = '^';
			}
		}
		for(int i=0;i<n;i++) {
			for(int j=0;j<m;j++) {
				out.print(f[i][j]);
			}
			out.println();
		}
	}	
	
	static void addEdge(int v, int ni, int nj) {
		if(ni < 0 || nj < 0)return;
		if(ni >= n || nj >= m)return;
		if(f[ni][nj] == '#')return;
		int nv = ni * m + nj;
		g.addEdge(v, nv, 1);
	}
	
 	
	//constants
	static final int inf = Integer.MAX_VALUE / 2;
	static final long linf = Long.MAX_VALUE / 3;
	static final double dinf = Double.MAX_VALUE / 3;
	static final long mod = (long) 1e9 + 7;
	static final int[] dx = { -1, 0, 1, 0 }, dy = { 0, -1, 0, 1 }, dx8 = { -1, -1, -1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1 }, dy8 = { -1, 0, 1, -1, 1, -1, 0, 1 };
	static final double eps = 1e-10;
	
	//libraries
	static long[] cum(int a[]) {
		long[] cum = new long[a.length + 1];
		for(int i=0;i<a.length;i++) cum[i+1] = cum[i] + a[i];
		return cum;
	}
	static long[] cum(long a[]) {
		long[] cum = new long[a.length + 1];
		for(int i=0;i<a.length;i++) cum[i+1] = cum[i] + a[i];
		return cum;
	}
	static void reverse(int ar[]) {
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			int t = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = t;
		}
	}
	static void reverse(long ar[]) {
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			long t = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = t;
		}
	}
	static void reverse(double ar[]) {
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			double t = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = t;
		}
	}
	static void reverse(char ar[]) {
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			char t = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = t;
		}
	}
	static String getReverse(String s) {
		StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(s);
		return sb.reverse().toString();
	}
	static <T> void reverse(T[] ar) {
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			T t = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = t;
		}
	}
	static int[] concat(int x, int arr[]) {
		int ret[] = new int[arr.length + 1];
		System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 1, ret.length - 1);
		ret[0] = x;
		return ret;
	}
	static int[] concat(int arr[], int x) {
		int ret[] = new int[arr.length + 1];
		System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 0, ret.length - 1);
		ret[ret.length - 1] = x;
		return ret;
	}
	static long[] concat(long x, long arr[]) {
		long ret[] = new long[arr.length + 1];
		System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 1, ret.length - 1);
		ret[0] = x;
		return ret;
	}
	static long[] concat(long arr[], long x) {
		long ret[] = new long[arr.length + 1];
		System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 0, ret.length - 1);
		ret[ret.length - 1] = x;
		return ret;
	}
	static char[] concat(char x, char arr[]) {
		char ret[] = new char[arr.length + 1];
		System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 0, ret.length - 1);
		ret[ret.length - 1] = x;
		return ret;
	}
	static char[] concat(char arr[], char x) {
		char ret[] = new char[arr.length + 1];
		System.arraycopy(arr, 0, ret, 0, ret.length - 1);
		ret[ret.length - 1] = x;
		return ret;
	}
	static int max(int x, int y) {
		return Math.max(x, y);
	}
	static int min(int x, int y) {
		return Math.min(x, y);
	}
	static int max(int x, int y, int z) {
		x = Math.max(x, y);
		x = Math.max(x, z);
		return x;
	}
	static int min(int x, int y, int z) {
		x = Math.min(x, y);
		x = Math.min(x, z);
		return x;
	}
	static long max(long x, long y) {
		return Math.max(x, y);
	}
	static long min(long x, long y) {
		return Math.min(x, y);
	}
	static long max(long x, long y, long z) {
		x = Math.max(x, y);
		x = Math.max(x, z);
		return x;
	}
	static long min(long x, long y, long z) {
		x = Math.min(x, y);
		x = Math.min(x, z);
		return x;
	}
	static double max(double x, double y) {
		return Math.max(x, y);
	}
	static double min(double x, double y) {
		return Math.min(x, y);
	}
	static double max(double x, double y, double z) {
		x = Math.max(x, y);
		x = Math.max(x, z);
		return x;
	}
	static double min(double x, double y, double z) {
		x = Math.min(x, y);
		x = Math.min(x, z);
		return x;
	}
	static void sort(int[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
	}
	static void sort(long[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
	}
	static void sort(double[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
	}
	static void sort(char[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
	}
	static void rsort(int[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			int tmp = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = tmp;
		}
	}
	static void rsort(long[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			long tmp = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = tmp;
		}
	}
	static void rsort(double[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			double tmp = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = tmp;
		}
	}
	static void rsort(char[] ar) {
		Arrays.sort(ar);
		int len = ar.length;
		for (int i = 0; i < len / 2; i++) {
			char tmp = ar[i];
			ar[i] = ar[len - 1 - i];
			ar[len - 1 - i] = tmp;
		}
	}
	static void fill(int arr[], int x) {
		Arrays.fill(arr, x);
	}
	static void fill(long arr[], long x) {
		Arrays.fill(arr, x);
	}
	static void fill(boolean arr[], boolean x) {
		Arrays.fill(arr, x);
	}
	static void fill(double arr[], double x) {
		Arrays.fill(arr, x);
	}
	static void fill(int arr[][], int x) {
		for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
			Arrays.fill(arr[i], x);
	}
	static void fill(long arr[][], long x) {
		for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
			Arrays.fill(arr[i], x);
	}
	static void fill(double arr[][], double x) {
		for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
			Arrays.fill(arr[i], x);
	}
	static void fill(boolean arr[][], boolean x) {
		for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
			Arrays.fill(arr[i], x);
	}
	//MOD culc
	static long plus(long x, long y) {
		long res = (x + y) % mod;
		return res < 0 ? res + mod : res;
	}
	static long sub(long x, long y) {
		long res = (x - y) % mod;
		return res < 0 ? res + mod : res;
	}
	static long mul(long x, long y) {
		long res = (x * y) % mod;
		return res < 0 ? res + mod : res;
	}
	static long div(long x, long y) {
		long res = x * pow(y, mod - 2) % mod;
		return res < 0 ? res + mod : res;
	}
	static long pow(long x, long y) {
		if (y < 0)
			return 0;
		if (y == 0)
			return 1;
		if (y % 2 == 1)
			return (x * pow(x, y - 1)) % mod;
		long root = pow(x, y / 2);
		return root * root % mod;
	}
	public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
		is = INPUT.isEmpty() ? System.in : new ByteArrayInputStream(INPUT.getBytes());
		out = new PrintWriter(System.out);
		solve();
		out.flush();
	}
	//input
	static InputStream is;
	static PrintWriter out;
	static String INPUT = "";
	private static byte[] inbuf = new byte[1024];
	static int lenbuf = 0, ptrbuf = 0;
	private static int readByte() {
		if (lenbuf == -1)
			throw new InputMismatchException();
		if (ptrbuf >= lenbuf) {
			ptrbuf = 0;
			try {
				lenbuf = is.read(inbuf);
			} catch (IOException e) {
				throw new InputMismatchException();
			}
			if (lenbuf <= 0)
				return -1;
		}
		return inbuf[ptrbuf++];
	}
	private static boolean isSpaceChar(int c) {
		return !(c >= 33 && c <= 126);
	}
	private static int skip() {
		int b;
		while ((b = readByte()) != -1 && isSpaceChar(b))
			;
		return b;
	}
	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
	private static double nd() {
		return Double.parseDouble(ns());
	}
	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
	private static char nc() {
		return (char) skip();
	}
	private static String ns() {
		int b = skip();
		StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
		while (!(isSpaceChar(b))) {
			sb.appendCodePoint(b);
			b = readByte();
		}
		return sb.toString();
	}
	private static char[] ns(int n) {
		char[] buf = new char[n];
		int b = skip(), p = 0;
		while (p < n && !(isSpaceChar(b))) {
			buf[p++] = (char) b;
			b = readByte();
		}
		return n == p ? buf : Arrays.copyOf(buf, p);
	}
	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
	private static char[][] nm(int n, int m) {
		char[][] map = new char[n][];
		for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
			map[i] = ns(m);
		return map;
	}
	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
	private static int[] na(int n) {
		int[] a = new int[n];
		for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
			a[i] = ni();
		return a;
	}
	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
	private static long[] nla(int n) {
		long[] a = new long[n];
		for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
			a[i] = nl();
		return a;
	}
	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
	private static int[][] na(int n, int m){
		int[][] res = new int[n][m];
		for(int i=0;i<n;i++) {
			for(int j=0;j<m;j++) {
				res[i][j] = ni();
			}
		}
		return res;
	}
	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
	private static long[][] nla(int n, int m){
		long[][] res = new long[n][m];
		for(int i=0;i<n;i++) {
			for(int j=0;j<m;j++) {
				res[i][j] = nl();
			}
		}
		return res;
	}
	private static int ni() {
		int num = 0, b;
		boolean minus = false;
		while ((b = readByte()) != -1 && !((b >= '0' && b <= '9') || b == '-'))
			;
		if (b == '-') {
			minus = true;
			b = readByte();
		}
		
		while (true) {
			if (b >= '0' && b <= '9') {
				num = num * 10 + (b - '0');
			} else {
				return minus ? -num : num;
			}
			b = readByte();
		}
	}
	private static long nl() {
		long num = 0;
		int b;
		boolean minus = false;
		while ((b = readByte()) != -1 && !((b >= '0' && b <= '9') || b == '-'))
			;
		if (b == '-') {
			minus = true;
			b = readByte();
		}
		
		while (true) {
			if (b >= '0' && b <= '9') {
				num = num * 10 + (b - '0');
			} else {
				return minus ? -num : num;
			}
			b = readByte();
		}
	}
}


Measured memory_bytes: 37640