Limit text amount from database?

[kpowning]

Lets say I have the following text in my database:

My name is Ralph and I'm new to the area. I'm interested in many activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting and many more. I play soccer and since this is some sample text I dont really know what the heck to type so all of this is just some fill in information.

At the top of my page I want to limit the amount show say to this:

My name is ralph and I'm new to the area. (More)...

And then somewhere else in my page I want to finish the rest of the text:

I'm interested in many activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting and many more. I play soccer and since this is some sample text I dont really know what the heck to type so all of this is just some fill in information.

What would be the best way to do this? And is there a way? Any examples are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[zcketcher]

$snip = '';
$full = '';

if ($result = mysql_query('SOME QUERY TO GET VALUE')) {
     $row = mysql_fetch_row($result);
     $full = $row[0];
     if (strlen($full) > 60) {
          $snip = substr(0, 60) . ' (More)...';
     } else {
          $snip = $full;
     }
}

[NogDog]

Here's a little function that prevents the text from breaking in the middle of a word:

<?php
function first_part($text, $numChars)
{
   if(strlen($text) > $numChars)
   {
      $text = array_shift(explode("\n", wordwrap($text, $numChars))).'...';
   }
   return($text);
}
$testText = "This is a test. It is only a test. The end.";
echo first_part($testText, 20);
?>