Question

I have a large text field taken from a database

rs.Item("content")

How can I limit this to say 100 characters but not cut off the last word. eg “limit this to 100 cha…”

Id like to add the… onto the end also.

Thanks

Answer 1

I use the following method:

''' <summary>
''' Creates a shortend version of a string, with optional follow-on characters.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="stringToShorten">The string you wish to shorten.</param>
''' <param name="newLength">
''' The new length you want the string to be (nearest whole word).
''' </param>
''' <param name="isAbsoluteLength">
''' If set to <c>true</c> the string will be no longer than <i>newLength</i>.
''' and will cut off mid-word.
''' </param>
''' <param name="stringToAppend">
''' What you'd like on the end of the shorter string to indicate truncation.
''' </param>
''' <returns>The shorter string.</returns>
Public Shared Function ShortenString(stringToShorten As String, newLength As Integer, isAbsoluteLength As Boolean, stringToAppend As String) As String
  If Not isAbsoluteLength AndAlso (newLength + stringToAppend.Length > stringToShorten.Length) Then
    ' requested length plus append will be longer than original
    Return stringToShorten
  ElseIf isAbsoluteLength AndAlso (newLength - stringToAppend.Length > stringToShorten.Length) Then
    ' requested length minus append will be longer than original
    Return stringToShorten
  Else
    Dim cutOffPoint As Integer

    If Not isAbsoluteLength Then
      ' Find the next space after the newLength.
      cutOffPoint = stringToShorten.IndexOf(" ", newLength)
    Else
      ' Just cut the string off at exactly the length required.
      cutOffPoint = newLength - stringToAppend.Length
    End If

    If cutOffPoint <= 0 Then
      cutOffPoint = stringToShorten.Length
    End If

    Return stringToShorten.Substring(0, cutOffPoint) + stringToAppend
  End If
End Function