returning x amount of words + mysql

[stretchy]

I am doing a query on a text field in a mysql database which returns the string into a variable called $body, I would only like to have x number of words from $body displayed and a link to follow to show the entire article (more...). The link I have no problem with. The returning of x number of words I do.

I have found an archived article in this forum but it did not work for me. [http://www.phpbuilder.com/forum/read.php3?num=2&id=104658&thread=104655]

Can anyone offer a suggestion?
Rick

[veron]

The archived article you mention is the best way to go about the display of only so many words, but had a few error. Below is the revised code with the small error corrected.

$article = explode(" ", $articlestring);
$shortarticle = "";
for ($i=0;$i<25;$i++) {
$shortarticle .= " " . $article[$i];
}

//This will print the new string
print $shortarticle;

[Anon]

Depending on which database you're using, you can do it with the query:

In MySQL, you can do something like:

SELECT SUBSTRING_INDEX(theColumn," ",10) FROM tablename

Basically this will return a string up until the 10th space character in theColumn

Scroll down to about half way down this following page for more information
http://www.mysql.org/doc/S/t/String_functions.html

I've always believed you should as much possible work with the database query.