def truncate content  #:nodoc:
      _maxlen = @maxlen || @width-@internal_width
      _maxlen = @width-@internal_width if _maxlen > @width-@internal_width # take care of decrease in width
      if !content.nil? 
        if content.length > _maxlen # only show maxlen
          @longest_line = content.length if content.length > @longest_line
          #content = content[@pcol..@pcol+maxlen-1] 
          content.replace(content[@pcol..@pcol+_maxlen-1] || "")
        else
          if @pcol > 0
              content.replace(content[@pcol..-1]  || "")
          end
        end
      end
      content
    end
def truncate content  #:nodoc:
      _maxlen = @maxlen || @width-@internal_width
      _maxlen = @width-@internal_width if _maxlen > @width-@internal_width # take care of decrease in width
      if !content.nil? 
        if content.length > _maxlen # only show maxlen
          @longest_line = content.length if content.length > @longest_line
          #content = content[@pcol..@pcol+maxlen-1] 
          content.replace(content[@pcol..@pcol+_maxlen-1] || "")
        else
          if @pcol > 0
              content.replace(content[@pcol..-1]  || "")
          end
        end
      end
      content
    end
returns only the visible portion of string taking into account display length
 and horizontal scrolling. MODIFIES STRING