Text Wrap Function

[dougcranston]

I have a need to be able to format long strings for inclusion in an email message. I have one that works but it is VBScript. What I want is a Javascript function.

I am looking for a function that can take an string of text and based on the line length, insert \n at the nearest "blank" space.

Searching the web, I have found a couple of Javascripts that will break up text, but it does so at the exact line length resulting in words being split. Looks ugly. Example of one is found at:

http://javascript.internet.com/forms/line-wrapper.html

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

DougC

 

[chessbot]

Here is one (made spontaneously)

function lineBreaks(text, maxlength)
{
  var len = text.length;
  var pos = -1;
  for (var i=maxlength; i<len; i += maxlength)
  {
    for (var pos = i; text.charAt(pos) != " "; pos++)
    {
      if (pos == i-maxlength)
      {
        pos = i;
        break;
      }
    }
    text = text.substring(0,pos)+"\n"+text.substring(pos,len-1);
  }
  return text;
}

This probably requires some editing.

--Chessbot

"See the TURTLE of enormous girth!"
-- Stephen King, The Dark Tower series

 

[trollacious]

Try this:

<script language="javascript">

var maxlength=20;
function splitstring(onestring)
{
var lastslash = onestring.lastIndexOf('\n');
do
{
var newslash = lastslash + maxlength;
while (onestring.charAt(newslash) != ' ' && newslash > -1)
{
newslash--;
}
if (newslash > -1)
{
onestring=onestring.substr(0, newslash) + '\n' + onestring.substr(newslash + 1);
}
lastslash = onestring.lastIndexOf('\n');
}
while (onestring.length - lastslash > maxlength);
return onestring;
}

</script>

 

[trollacious]

You can set the maxlength to whatever you want, or pass the parameter to the function like chessbot did in his example.

Lee

 

[chessbot]

Here is a version that actually works:

function lineBreaks(text, maxlength)
{
  var len = text.length;
  var pos = -1;
  var replace = true;
  for (var i=maxlength; i<len; i += maxlength)
  {
    var separator = "\n"
    for (var pos = i; text.charAt(pos) != " "; pos--)
    {
      if (pos == i-maxlength)
      {
        pos = i;
        separator += text.charAt(pos);
        len++;
        break;
      }
    }
    text = text.substring(0, pos) + separator + text.substring(pos+1, len-1);
    i = pos;
    replace = true;
  }
  return text;
}

--Chessbot

"See the TURTLE of enormous girth!"
-- Stephen King, The Dark Tower series

 

[dougcranston]

trollacious and chessbot,

Outstanding.. Just got to my desk and found your responses.

Both look great. Will be trying them out shortly.

On quick glance they both will do the job..

Again.. Thank you.. I do appreciate the quick response.

Dougc