YES this works thank nemeth: <?php function previewString($showcatvar) { $minitxt = $showcatvar; $len = strlen($minitxt); if ($len > 235) { $len = 235; } else { $len = $len; } $newstring = substr($minitxt,0,$len); $previewtext = $newstring; return $previewtext; } ?> and to display it: <?php echo previewString($row_show_cat['text']); ?> cheers Dwayne ""Németh Zoltán"" <znemeth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1174667018.5030.24.camel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > 2007. 03. 23, péntek keltezéssel 16.55-kor Dwayne Heronimo ezt írta: >> Dear all, >> >> hmm.. sorry the $previewstext thing was a typo in my mail. >> >> But yes it is working but it will only display the first record of the >> recordset. I have like a list for items with short text in a page and of >> course made a query to make the database variables available. Which where >> the variable $row_show_cat['text']; comes from. >> >> This is why I thought that i may have to rewrite it into a function to >> display the $row_show_cat['text']; in a repeated reagion. >> >> >> I have rewritten my function: >> >> <?php >> function previewString($showcatvar) { >> >> $minitxt = $showcatvar; >> $len = strlen($minitxt); >> >> if ($len > 235) >> { >> $len = 235; >> } >> else >> { >> $len = $len; >> } >> >> $newstring = substr($minitxt,0,$len); >> >> $previewtext = $newstring; >> >> $previewtext = $whowcatvar; > > what is the meaning of the above line??? > you are giving an undefined value (default NULL) to $previewtext, just > after you gave it the right value > delete that line and you might be well > > greets > Zoltán Németh > >> >> return $previewtext; >> } >> ?> >> >> And to to show it later in the page: >> <?php echo previewString($row_show_cat['text']); ?> >> but this still won't anywould display anything. :S >> >> Please let me know. >> >> ""Tijnema !"" <tijnema@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message >> news:d8269d910703230826o39de7e53we1f3ac6267a2f0a4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> > On 3/23/07, Dwayne Heronimo <dwayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> >> Dear All, >> >> >> >> I am very new to programming. I want to make a preview text that would >> >> display only a part of the text that is a text field in a database. >> >> >> >> //Begin Make preview string >> >> >> >> $minitxt = $row_show_cat['text']; >> >> $len = strlen($minitxt); >> >> >> >> if ($len > 235) >> >> { >> >> $len = 235; >> >> } >> >> else >> >> { >> >> $len = $len; >> >> } >> >> >> >> $newstring = substr($minitxt,0,$len); >> >> >> >> $previewtext = $newstring; >> >> >> >> //End Make preview string >> >> >> >> But if I want to display this somewhere in the page it will only >> >> display >> >> the >> >> first record of at every text column row <?php echo $previewstext ?> >> >> >> >> Althought I am very new to php and programming. I thought maybe I >> >> should >> >> rewrite it into a function. But my function won't work. >> >> >> >> >> >> function previewString($showcatvar) { >> >> >> >> $minitxt = $showcatvar; >> >> $len = strlen($minitxt); >> >> >> >> if ($len > 235) >> >> { >> >> $len = 235; >> >> } >> >> else >> >> { >> >> $len = $len; >> >> } >> >> >> >> $newstring = substr($minitxt,0,$len); >> >> >> >> $previewtext = $newstring; >> >> >> >> $previewtext = $whowcatvar; >> >> >> >> } >> >> >> >> >> >> and to display it in the page: >> >> >> >> <?php echo previewString($row_show_cat['text']) ?> >> >> >> >> IT displays notthing. But I think I am doing somthing wrong. I am >> >> assigning >> >> the wrong variables to the $row_show_cat['text']) ??? >> >> >> >> Please let me know >> > >> > I'm currently not sure why your first piece of code isn't working, but >> > the second is quite simple. You aren't returning any variable in your >> > function, and so it won't output anything. Add the following: >> > return $previewtext; >> > Just before the } >> > >> > Then it will return something, but i think not what you wanted to :( >> > >> > Tijnema >> >> >> >> -- >> >> PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >> >> To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php >> >> >> >> >> -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php