string_brief.rb

class String

    # Returns short abstract of long strings; not exceeding +range+
    # characters. If range is an integer then the minimum is 20%
    # of the maximum. The string is chopped at the nearest word
    # if possible, and appended by +ellipsis+, which defaults
    # to '...'.
    #
    # CREDIT: George Moschovitis, Trans

    def brief(range=76, ellipsis="...")
      if Range===range
        min = range.first
        max = range.last
      else
        max = range
        min = max - (max/5).to_i
        range = min..max
      end

      if size > max
        cut_at = rindex(/\b/, max) || max
        cut_at = max if cut_at < min
        xstring = slice(0, cut_at)
        xstring.chomp(" ") + ellipsis
      else
        self
      end
    end

end