xiconet · May 8, 2017 15:44 · May 8, 2017 · Apr 25, 2017
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+"""Collect utilities here
+__VERSION: 0.1
+__AUTHOR: xiconet
+"""
+
+MAXLEN = 60
+START_AT = 2
+
+
+def shorten(s, maxlen=MAXLEN):
+    """Shorten a string while keeping its last two words"""
+    words = s.split(" ")
+    left_part = words[:-2]
+    right_part = words[-2:]
+    while len(s) > maxlen:
+        left_part.pop()
+        s = " ".join(left_part + ["..."] + right_part)
+    return s
+
+
+def shorten_at(s, start_at=START_AT, maxlen=MAXLEN):
+    """shorten a string at the chosen word position, 
+    counting from the LEFT end
+    """
+    if len(s) == maxlen:
+        return s
+    words = s.split(" ")
+    N = start_at
+    if not 0 < N < len(words):
+        print "error: start_at must be an integer N such as 0 < N < num(words in string)"
+        return s
+    lp = words[:-N]
+    rp = words[-N:]
+    while len(s) > maxlen:
+        try:
+            left_part.pop()
+        except IndexError as err:
+            print "error: unsuited start_at value: %s" % err
+            return s
+        s = " ".join(lp + ["..."] + rp)
+    return s