code: def truncatechars(value,arg=50): 
      '''
      Takes a string and truncates it to the requested amount, by inserting an ellipses into the middle.
      ''' 
      arg = int(arg) 
      if arg < len(value): 
          half = (arg-3)/2 
          return "%s...%s" % (value[:half],value[-half:]) 
      return valuf truncatechars(value,arg=50): 
      '''
      Takes a string and truncates it to the requested amount, by inserting an ellipses into the middle.
      ''' 
      arg = int(arg) 
      if arg < len(value): 
          half = (arg-3)/2 
          return "%s...%s" % (value[:half],value[-half:]) 
      return value
docs: Takes a string and truncates it to the requested amount, by inserting an ellipses into the middle.