gistfile1.rb

  # At the first word-break past length, span the rest of the string with a
  # class 'full-text' and append a link with a class of 'more-link'.
  #
  # This is tightly coupled to the page_scripts added to
  # views/shop/results.rhtml and the knowledge that the category sidebar text
  # is going to be rendered within a p tag.
  def hide_past text, length=200, interstitial="..." # ought to take options for link_text, link_class, and span_class
    return text if text.length <= length
    text.sub(/\A(.{0,#{length}}\b)(.*?)(<\/p>)?\z/m) {|match|
      $1 + content_tag(:span, $2, :class => 'full-text') +
      link_to(interstitial, '#', :class => 'more-link', :title => 'toggle full text') #+ $3
    }
  end