chopping down a string

**DevNull** · 07-23-2004, 12:30 PM

I have a blob of text on a string, with new line characters and all. What I need to do is to pick the first (Say) 200 characters for a summary of the blob. Long story short it has been a looooong day and I can't figure anything out anymore.

Oh, and I'm using PHP 4 so chunk_split($row[6], 200); is not an option :\

Anybody care to throw this dog a bone?

- DN

**Ron** · 07-23-2004, 12:48 PM

http://us4.php.net/manual/en/function.substr.php

$two_hundred_character_piece = substr($CompletePiece,0,200);

**DevNull** · 07-23-2004, 01:10 PM

Thanks. I kept going up and down the manual and I didn't see that one

- DN

**Vin DSL** · 07-23-2004, 01:41 PM

I don't exactly what you're trying to do, but if it's what I'm thinking...

When I want to get rid of trailers, I use a little known PHP function called 'rtrim'. It's the function equivelent of 'chomp' in Perl. You might give that a try.

EDIT: Okay, nevermind. I see what you're up to. Anyway, stick 'rtrim' in the back of your mind, for future reference. It's quite handy!

**Ron** · 07-23-2004, 01:42 PM

Been almost a year since you posted, Dude! Where ya been hiding? Missed you!

**Ron** · 07-23-2004, 01:43 PM

Never mind...

**Vin DSL** · 07-23-2004, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by Ron
He said: How does that fit your guess?

Yep, just saw that and edited my post. I guess we 'doubled'...

**Vin DSL** · 07-23-2004, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by Ron
Been almost a year since you posted, Dude! Where ya been hiding? Missed you!

I've got too many irons in the fire right now!

I've been putting together a HDTV entertainment system. That required a LOT of study, but I did that at the keyboard. Now, I'm into the physical stuff, e.g. going out and buying it. And, returning it. Then, buying something else and returning it.

What put me over the top was, I begrudgingly agreed to repair the computer of a co-worker. It had a worm, 300 spyware files, and a bad power supply. The OS had to be totally reinstalled (he lost the installation code) and updated, along with all the drivers, et cetera. You get the idea - 3 days of pure hell!

Then, my computer took a dump too (pure coincidence - trust me), and I had to do the same things to mine, minus the PS. I just got that completed last night.

Add to that, work, sleep, admin'ing my site and others - working on my 'VinGoogle DSL' proggie, blah, blah, blah...

I wish there were 72 hours in a day. Then, I'd be fine...

**Ron** · 07-23-2004, 02:07 PM

I think you need some more sleep!

I was referring to DevNull. You've posted more recently than a year ago, though not as much as usual.

**Vin DSL** · 07-23-2004, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by Ron
I think you need some more sleep!

I was referring to DevNull. You've posted more recently than a year ago, though not as much as usual.

I see! I thought you were being enigmatic, like usual; the king of obscure thought...

**Ron** · 07-23-2004, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by Vin DSL
I see! I thought you were being enigmatic, like usual; the king of obscure thought...

Obscure?

**Vin DSL** · 07-23-2004, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by Ron
Missed you!

Ah, I overlooked that the first time. Should have been the dead giveaway...

**Vin DSL** · 07-23-2004, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by Ron
Obscure?

Yes! You seem to have a rather disjointed mental process, and it's reflected in your writings. Most of the time, I pass it off as an attempt at humor. Other times, I just pass it by...

I thought you were trying to be funny...