Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

9 posts by 4 authors in: Forums > CMS Builder
Last Post: October 7, 2010   (RSS)

By InHouse - July 27, 2009

We've been happily using the proscribed method to truncate text in a content field for some time now. However, we're run into an issue.

This time we need to truncate full WYSIWYG field text by paragraph count instead of purely by character count.

Note that when using the established truncate to X characters method, the paragraph breaks are stripped from the content.

So, does anyone have a way to display the first X (1-3 expected) paragraphs of content only?

Cheers,
J.

Re: [InHouse] Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

By Dave - July 27, 2009

Hi Jayme,

How do you want to define a paragraph? A <p></p> enclosed block? Or something else? I can write you a code snippet, we just need to decide what a "paragraph" is.

Also, if you could post a link to the snippet you're using now that would be helpful.

Thanks!
Dave Edis - Senior Developer
interactivetools.com

Re: [Dave] Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

By InHouse - July 28, 2009

Hi Dave,

That would be great!

Yes, I use classic <p> </p> paras whenever possible. That would work for this project.

Sample item (very much in progress!):
http://www.kolhealth.com/index.php

Areas of use:
1 - Lead article on left column. Would like to truncate this after 2-3 paras. I'd probably do the same with the lower articles too.
2 - Middle column: Would use this to auto-generate a teaser using the lead paragraph of the main content.

Idea:
I've thought this would be useful for some time. Wonder if it might be worthwhile adding the snippet as a permanent function of CMSB hidden the functions list?

Cheers,
J.

Re: [InHouse] Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

By Dave - July 28, 2009

Hi J,

We usually do it by hand for a while, and then if it keeps coming up and there's no problems with the code then we add it in. Try this function:

// usage: echo limitParagraphs( $record['content'], 3 );
function limitParagraphs($content, $maxParagraphs) {
$allParagraphs = preg_split('|</p>\s*|i', $content, null, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY);
$snippet = implode("</p>\n", array_slice($allParagraphs, 0, $maxParagraphs));
if ($snippet) { $snippet .= "</p>"; }

return $snippet;
}

Let me know if that works for you.
Dave Edis - Senior Developer
interactivetools.com

Re: [Dave] Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

By InHouse - July 28, 2009

Very reasonable approach Dave.

As for this code snippet:
Your genius shines through again. Works like a charm!

Many big thank yous!
J.

Re: [InHouse] Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

By InHouse - September 15, 2009

Just FYI and as a cautionary tale when using this helpful bit of code...

One site we're working on suddenly went wonky after a client entered an article with a table in it. We checked the code and apart from being too wide for the space allotted, it wasn't too bad.

Turns out though that they had paragraphs in each table cell. The table appeared in the article just after an intro paragraph. Since we were truncating the articles to show the first three paras on this page, the table was being cut off at the knees and never being properly closed. The unclosed table played havoc with rest of the table-less page layout.

Re: [InHouse] Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

By Perchpole - October 7, 2010

Hi, All -

I've just had first-hand experience of InHouse's cautionary tale regarding table use.

All was going well until the client started using tables. At this point the paragraph control code snippet started to cause problems (exactly as described above).

Is there a work-around? I'd be happy for the code to completely remove the table code and return plain text.

:0/

Perch

Re: [Perchpole] Truncating Content by Paragraph Count

By Perchpole - October 7, 2010

Actually...

<?php echo strip_tags($record['content']); ?>

...seems like a good place to start!

:0)

Perch