Building a Web Message Board using Visual Studio 2008, Part I - The Basic Message Board

using System;
using System.Data;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Security;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.HtmlControls;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts;
using System.Xml.Linq;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
using MessageBoard.Web;

/// <summary>
/// A utility class for formatting data
/// </summary>
public static class Utility
{
    public static String GetFormattedTime(DateTime dateTime)
    {
        return TimeZoneUtility.ConvertToCurrentTimeZone(dateTime).ToString("MMMM dd, MM:hh tt");
    }

    public static String GetFormattedText(string text)
    {
        if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
            return String.Empty;


        return Regex.Replace(HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(text), @"\r\n|\n|\r", "<br/>");
    }

    public static String GetPreviewText(object textObject)
    {
        string text = textObject as string;

        if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
            return String.Empty;

        //Extract around fifty words and add ...
        string extract = text.Substring(0, Math.Min(150, text.Length));

        if (text.Length > 150)
            extract += "...";

        extract = Regex.Replace(HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(extract), @"\r\n|\n|\r", "<br>");


        return extract;
    }
}