Imported From: http://groups.google.com/group/in-portal-bugs/browse_thread/thread/2a2ee5d35d079f8b#
simvolov. (first_chars,cut_first)
$first_chars = $this->SelectParam($params,'first_chars,cut_first');
if($first_chars)
{
$needs_cut = mb_strlen($value) > $first_chars;
$value = mb_substr($value, 0, $first_chars);
if ($needs_cut) $value .= ' ...';
}