I have a database in mysql and i want to show only the first 200 caracters of the description and then have a read more button - where a visitor can then go on to read more.
This is my code:

PHP Code:

<table><tr><td>Description: '.$UsersRow['description'].'
  <p><a href="results.php?id='.$UsersRow['id'].'">Read More</a></td></tr></table> 


Can some one help me and tell me what do to do so only the first 200 caracters come out when displaying the 'description'

Thanks
Rachel

PHP Code:

<table><tr><td>Description: '.substr($UsersRow['description'],0,200).'
  <p><a href="results.php?id='.$UsersRow['id'].'">Read More</a></td></tr></table> 


For more info about substr take a look at: The PHP Manual

Is something like this what you're looking for?

Originally Posted by johnncyber

PHP Code:

<table><tr><td>Description: '.substr($UsersRow['description'],0,200).'
  <p><a href="results.php?id='.$UsersRow['id'].'">Read More</a></td></tr></table> 


For more info about substr take a look at: The PHP Manual

Thanks - that was a great help!

i believe the term you're looking for is 'truncate'.

heres a function to help you.

PHP Code:

<?php
function trunc($string, $limit) {
 if (strlen($string) > $limit) {
  $string = substr($string, 0, $chars);
  $trunc_at = strrpos($string, ' ');
  if($trunc_at !== FALSE) {
   $string = substr($string, 0, $trunc_at);
  }
 }
 return $string;
}
?>

this will truncate to the closest word under $limit characters.

Also could use Mysql LEFT function http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/...#function_left

"SELECT * , LEFT(description, 200) AS description FROM tbl_whatever" // limits column description to 200 characters and assigns it an alias 'description'.