[Python] word wrap

[ipaqman23]

Hi,

i got a problem with a long string in Python -

Script Snippet:


# get movie information from db
movie = self.db.Movie.get_by(number=number)
if movie is not None:
if print_number == True:
c.setFont(fontName, 10)
c.drawCentredString(pageWidth/2, 530, number)

c.setFont(fontName, 16)
c.rotate(90)
c.drawString(60, (-pageWidth/2)-8, movie.o_title.encode('utf-8'))
c.rotate(-90)
if movie.image is not None and movie.image != '':
tmp_dest = self.locations['posters']
image = str(os.path.join(tmp_dest, str(movie.image)+".jpg"))
c.drawImage(image, x=(pageWidth-30)/2, y=470, width=30, height=50)
# print movie info
c.setFont(fontName, 8)
textObject = c.beginText()
textObject.setTextOrigin(pageWidth-cover_x, 500)
textObject.setFont(fontName, 8)
textObject.textLine(_("Original Title").encode('utf-8')+': '+str(movie.o_title).encode('utf-8'))
textObject.textLine(_("Title").encode('utf-8')+': '+str(movie.title).encode('utf-8'))
textObject.textLine("")
textObject.textLine(_("Director").encode('utf-8')+': '+str(movie.director).encode('utf-8'))
textObject.textLine("")
textObject.textLine(_("Running Time").encode('utf-8')+': '+str(movie.runtime).encode('utf-8')+ _(" min").encode('utf-8'))
textObject.textLine(_("Country").encode('utf-8')+': '+str(movie.country).encode('utf-8'))
textObject.textLine(_("Genre").encode('utf-8')+': '+str(movie.genre).encode('utf-8'))
textObject.textLine("")
textObject.textLine(_("Handlung").encode('utf-8')+': '+str(movie.plot).encode('utf-8'))
c.drawText(textObject)
# draw bigger poster image
if poster == True and movie.image is not None:
c.drawImage(image, x=(pageWidth-(pageWidth-cover_x)-235), y=(pageHeight/2)-125, width=180, height=250)
c.showPage()
c.save()
self.widgets['print_cover']['window_simple'].hide()
cover_file = os.path.join(self.griffith_dir, "cover.pdf")


Problem:
Variable movie.plot is very long and the script prints just one very long line - not very appealing!

So how can I force word wrap for this string??

[mike_g]

First hit on google came up with this:
http://code.activestate.com/recipes/148061/
Edit: lol, its got a -1 rating tho so its probably not all that great

Edit2: second hit might be better:
http://www.saltycrane.com/blog/2007/09/python-word-wrap-function/
Although you might want to search for a function with a justified option; looks much nicer IMO

Edit3: apparently theres a textwrap function in the standard library too:
http://docs.python.org/lib/module-textwrap.html

[Glaxed]

If you don't feel like wasting your time, here's a little nugget that does the job nicely;



# python
def print_plot(text):
if len(text) < 76:
print text[:76]
print_plot(text[77:])
else:
print text


If you want shorter lines, then replace "76" with the amount of chars you want per line. Change "77" accordingly. You could add a 'width' argument if you wanted to get all fancy.

[mike_g]

# python
def print_plot(text):
if len(text) < 76:
print text[:76]
print_plot(text[77:])
else:
print text
Erm, are you sure thats right? And the width may also be better as a parameter.

[Glaxed]

Mmmhmm, right you are, I flipped the "<" sign. Here's the corrected one;



def print_plot(text, width):
if len(text) > width:
print text[:width]
print_plot(text[width+1:])
else:
print text

[ghostdog74]

Mmmhmm, right you are, I flipped the "<" sign. Here's the corrected one;



def print_plot(text, width):
if len(text) > width:
print text[:width]
print_plot(text[width+1:])
else:
print text


your print_plot takes in 2 arguments. your script will get an error.
Also, please take your function on an actual text file and see if you get the correct results.

[pp.]

Mmmhmm, right you are, I flipped the "<" sign. Here's the corrected one

I do not object to recursive solutions as a matter of principle. However, given the way Python works and given the minuscule complexity of the problem, I think that an iteration would be preferable.

[ipaqman23]

A friend of mine found the following solution which looks pretty elegant:


from textwrap import wrap
plot_string = str(movie.plot)
plot_string_newline = '\n'.join(wrap(plot_string, 80))
textObject.textLines (str(plot_string_newline).encode('utf-8'))

But now it appears a new problem - what is when the string is too long and overlaps the cover? Is there a substring function in Python? Replace string from char ## with "..."?

[mike_g]

You could remove any lines after a set limit to constrain it to you container, or you could create a viewport of the area you are drawing to.