JavaScript to split a string into an array of strings close to the specified length.

split_to_fit.coffee

split_to_fit = (string, allowable_width) ->
  # console.log("splitting '#{string}' to fit #{allowable_width}")
  splitters = [' ', ',', '-', '.'] # allowable splitters
  new_strings = []
  for w in [allowable_width..0]
    # console.log("trying width=#{w}, which returns '#{string[w]}'")
    if string[w] in splitters
      # console.log("found a splitter at #{w} in #{string}")
      if string[w] is ' '
        end_of_word = w-1
      else 
        end_of_word = w
      new_strings.push string[0..end_of_word]
      shorter_string = string[w+1..]
      if shorter_string.length > allowable_width
        next_split = split_to_fit(shorter_string, allowable_width)
        # console.log("split_to_fit is joining in", next_split, " to ", new_strings)
        new_strings = new_strings.concat(next_split)
        # console.log("after joining in", next_split, ", split_to_fit has ", new_strings)
      else 
        new_strings.push shorter_string
      break
    else if w is 0
      # If you didn't find a break on the inside, 
      # then get desperate and search for a break on the outside.
      for w2 in [0..string.length]
        if string[w2] in splitters
          if string[w2] is ' '
            end_of_word = w2-1
          else 
            end_of_word = w2
          new_strings.push string[0..end_of_word]
          shorter_string = string[w2+1..] 
          if shorter_string.length > allowable_width
            next_split = split_to_fit(shorter_string, allowable_width)
            # console.log("split_to_fit is joining in", next_split, " to ", new_strings)
            new_strings = new_strings.concat(next_split)
            # console.log("after joining in", next_split, ", split_to_fit has ", new_strings)
          else 
            new_strings.push shorter_string
          break   
        else if w2 == string.length 
          # If you still don't find one, then return the string without a break.
          # console.log("no split found in '#{string}', returning it anyways!")
          new_strings.push string
  # console.log('split_to_fit is returning', new_strings)
  return new_strings

split_to_fit.js

// compiled from split_to_fit.coffee
split_to_fit = function(string, allowable_width) {
        var end_of_word, new_strings, next_split, shorter_string, splitters, w, w2, _i, _j, _ref, _ref1, _ref2;
    
        splitters = [' ', ',', '-', '.'];
        new_strings = [];
        for (w = _i = allowable_width; allowable_width <= 0 ? _i <= 0 : _i >= 0; w = allowable_width <= 0 ? ++_i : --_i) {
          if (_ref = string[w], __indexOf.call(splitters, _ref) >= 0) {
            if (string[w] === ' ') {
              end_of_word = w - 1;
            } else {
              end_of_word = w;
            }
            new_strings.push(string.slice(0, +end_of_word + 1 || 9e9));
            shorter_string = string.slice(w + 1);
            if (shorter_string.length > allowable_width) {
              next_split = split_to_fit(shorter_string, allowable_width);
              new_strings = new_strings.concat(next_split);
            } else {
              new_strings.push(shorter_string);
            }
            break;
          } else if (w === 0) {
            for (w2 = _j = 0, _ref1 = string.length; 0 <= _ref1 ? _j <= _ref1 : _j >= _ref1; w2 = 0 <= _ref1 ? ++_j : --_j) {
              if (_ref2 = string[w2], __indexOf.call(splitters, _ref2) >= 0) {
                if (string[w2] === ' ') {
                  end_of_word = w2 - 1;
                } else {
                  end_of_word = w2;
                }
                new_strings.push(string.slice(0, +end_of_word + 1 || 9e9));
                shorter_string = string.slice(w2 + 1);
                if (shorter_string.length > allowable_width) {
                  next_split = split_to_fit(shorter_string, allowable_width);
                  new_strings = new_strings.concat(next_split);
                } else {
                  new_strings.push(shorter_string);
                }
                break;
              } else if (w2 === string.length) {
                new_strings.push(string);
              }
            }
          }
        }
        return new_strings;
      };