mklist

#! /usr/bin/python
# mklist (Python script) -- reformats a list and wraps it if necessary
# Wrapping is done at the separator; i.e a list entry won't be split across
# lines.

import sys

separator = " . "
maxwidth = 60

if len( sys.argv ) == 1:
  input_stream = sys.stdin
else:
  input_stream = file( sys.argv[1] )

strlump = ""    # string that builds up the current output line

def do_output():
  """Output the currently buffered string"""
  
  # the strlump-not-empty test avoids a greater-than-maxwidth entry or
  # no-entries-found from outputting a null line
  if strlump != "":
    print strlump + ";"

def process_entry(entry):
  global strlump
  # check how long the current line combined with the new entry would be
  if len(strlump) + len(entry) + 2 > maxwidth:
    # ...if it would be too long, dump the current line, then replace it with the entry
    do_output()
    strlump = entry
  else:
    # ...otherwise just append it and don't output anything
    if strlump == "":
      strlump = entry
    else:
      strlump = strlump + "; " + entry;

for line in input_stream.readlines():
  for entry in line.split(separator):
    process_entry(entry)

# output whatever's left in <strlump>
do_output()