CFLib.org – Common Function Library Project

Description:
This function will return the first paragraph it finds in a string. It requires that the string is properly formed (i.e. has a closing paragraph tag).

Return Values:
Returns a string.

Example:

<cfsavecontent variable="paragraphs">
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<p>Here's the second paragraph.</p>
<p>And finally, the third paragraph.</p>
</cfsavecontent>
<cfoutput>#paragraphs#</cfoutput>
<textarea id="newsExtract" name="newsExtract" cols="40" rows="5">
<cfoutput>#firstParagraph(paragraphs)#</cfoutput>
</textarea>

Parameters:

Full UDF Source:

/**
 * Finds the first paragraph in a given string.
 * 
 * @param str      String to parse. (Required)
 * @return Returns a string. 
 * @author Neil Merton (neil.merton@mewebdev.net) 
 * @version 1, December 7, 2006 
 */
function firstParagraph(str) {
    str = trim(str);
    endTag = findNoCase("</p>", str);
    if (endTag gt 0) {
        endTag = endTag + 3;
        extract = left(str, endTag);
    } else {
        extract = str;
    }
    return extract;
}