(function($) {
    // jQuery function to set a maximum length or characters for a page element. It can handle multiple elements
        $.fn.createExcerpts = function(elems,length,more_txt) {
        $.each($(elems), function() {
            var item_html = $(this).html(); //
            item_html = jQuery.trim(item_html);  //trim whitespace
            $(this).html(item_html.substring(0,length)+more_txt);  //update the html on page
        });
        return this; //allow jQuery chaining
    }
})(jQuery);