autoShortener.js

(function($) { 
	$.fn.autoShortener = function(options){
		// merge the options with the default settings before looping over each node that is
		// found by the css selector engine
		var settings = {
			"length":10,
			"message":"Show More"
		};
		
		if(options) $.extend(settings, options);
		
		return this.each(
		
			function() {
				//get the children
				var item = $(this);
				var kids = item.children();

				if(kids.length > settings.length) {

					kids.slice(settings.length).hide();
					
					$(this).append("<a href='#' class='showMoreLink'>" + settings.message + "</a>");
					
					$(".showMoreLink", item).click(function(e) {
						item.children().show();
						$(this).hide();
						e.preventDefault();
					});

				}
			}
		);
	};
})(jQuery);