printer: support previews for long lines

This commit adds support for showing a preview of long lines. While the
default still remains as completely suppressing the entire line, this
new functionality will show the first N graphemes of a matching line,
including the number of matches that are suppressed.

This was unfortunately a fairly invasive change to the printer that
required a bit of refactoring. On the bright side, the single line
and multi-line coloring are now more unified than they were before.

Closes #1078

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ Feature enhancements:
 
 * [FEATURE #855](https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep/issues/855):
   Add `--binary` flag for disabling binary file filtering.
+* [FEATURE #1078](https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep/pull/1078):
+  Add `--max-column-preview` flag for showing a preview of long lines.
 * [FEATURE #1099](https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep/pull/1099):
   Add support for Brotli and Zstd to the `-z/--search-zip` flag.
 * [FEATURE #1138](https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep/pull/1138):

GUIDE.md

@@ -538,8 +538,9 @@ formatting peculiarities:
 
 ```
 $ cat $HOME/.ripgreprc
-# Don't let ripgrep vomit really long lines to my terminal.
+# Don't let ripgrep vomit really long lines to my terminal, and show a preview.
 --max-columns=150
+--max-column-preview
 
 # Add my 'web' type.
 --type-add

complete/_rg

@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ _rg() {
     $no"--no-crlf[don't use CRLF as line terminator]"
     '(text)--null-data[use NUL as line terminator]'
 
+    + '(max-column-preview)' # max column preview options
+    '--max-column-preview[show preview for long lines (with -M)]'
+    $no"--no-max-column-preview[don't show preview for long lines (with -M)]"
+
     + '(max-depth)' # Directory-depth options
     '--max-depth=[specify max number of directories to descend]:number of directories'
     '!--maxdepth=:number of directories'

grep-printer/src/standard.rs

@@ -17,10 +17,7 @@ use termcolor::{ColorSpec, NoColor, WriteColor};
 use color::ColorSpecs;
 use counter::CounterWriter;
 use stats::Stats;
-use util::{
+use util::{PrinterPath, Replacer, Sunk, trim_ascii_prefix};
-    PrinterPath, Replacer, Sunk,
-    trim_ascii_prefix, trim_ascii_prefix_range,
-};
 
 /// The configuration for the standard printer.
 ///
@@ -37,6 +34,7 @@ struct Config {
     per_match: bool,
     replacement: Arc<Option<Vec<u8>>>,
     max_columns: Option<u64>,
+    max_column_preview: bool,
     max_matches: Option<u64>,
     column: bool,
     byte_offset: bool,
@@ -60,6 +58,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             per_match: false,
             replacement: Arc::new(None),
             max_columns: None,
+            max_column_preview: false,
             max_matches: None,
             column: false,
             byte_offset: false,
@@ -264,6 +263,21 @@ impl StandardBuilder {
         self
     }
 
+    /// When enabled, if a line is found to be over the configured maximum
+    /// column limit (measured in terms of bytes), then a preview of the long
+    /// line will be printed instead.
+    ///
+    /// The preview will correspond to the first `N` *grapheme clusters* of
+    /// the line, where `N` is the limit configured by `max_columns`.
+    ///
+    /// If no limit is set, then enabling this has no effect.
+    ///
+    /// This is disabled by default.
+    pub fn max_column_preview(&mut self, yes: bool) -> &mut StandardBuilder {
+        self.config.max_column_preview = yes;
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Set the maximum amount of matching lines that are printed.
     ///
     /// If multi line search is enabled and a match spans multiple lines, then
@@ -1023,43 +1037,11 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
             )?;
             count += 1;
             if self.exceeds_max_columns(&bytes[line]) {
-                self.write_exceeded_line()?;
+                self.write_exceeded_line(bytes, line, matches, &mut midx)?;
-                continue;
+            } else {
+                self.write_colored_matches(bytes, line, matches, &mut midx)?;
+                self.write_line_term()?;
             }
-            if self.has_line_terminator(&bytes[line]) {
-                line = line.with_end(line.end() - 1);
-            }
-            if self.config().trim_ascii {
-                line = self.trim_ascii_prefix_range(bytes, line);
-            }
-
-            while !line.is_empty() {
-                if matches[midx].end() <= line.start() {
-                    if midx + 1 < matches.len() {
-                        midx += 1;
-                        continue;
-                    } else {
-                        self.end_color_match()?;
-                        self.write(&bytes[line])?;
-                        break;
-                    }
-                }
-                let m = matches[midx];
-
-                if line.start() < m.start() {
-                    let upto = cmp::min(line.end(), m.start());
-                    self.end_color_match()?;
-                    self.write(&bytes[line.with_end(upto)])?;
-                    line = line.with_start(upto);
-                } else {
-                    let upto = cmp::min(line.end(), m.end());
-                    self.start_color_match()?;
-                    self.write(&bytes[line.with_end(upto)])?;
-                    line = line.with_start(upto);
-                }
-            }
-            self.end_color_match()?;
-            self.write_line_term()?;
         }
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -1074,12 +1056,8 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
         let mut stepper = LineStep::new(line_term, 0, bytes.len());
         while let Some((start, end)) = stepper.next(bytes) {
             let mut line = Match::new(start, end);
-            if self.has_line_terminator(&bytes[line]) {
+            self.trim_line_terminator(bytes, &mut line);
-                line = line.with_end(line.end() - 1);
+            self.trim_ascii_prefix(bytes, &mut line);
-            }
-            if self.config().trim_ascii {
-                line = self.trim_ascii_prefix_range(bytes, line);
-            }
             while !line.is_empty() {
                 if matches[midx].end() <= line.start() {
                     if midx + 1 < matches.len() {
@@ -1102,14 +1080,19 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
                         Some(m.start() as u64 + 1),
                     )?;
 
-                    let buf = &bytes[line.with_end(upto)];
+                    let this_line = line.with_end(upto);
                     line = line.with_start(upto);
-                    if self.exceeds_max_columns(&buf) {
+                    if self.exceeds_max_columns(&bytes[this_line]) {
-                        self.write_exceeded_line()?;
+                        self.write_exceeded_line(
-                        continue;
+                            bytes,
+                            this_line,
+                            matches,
+                            &mut midx,
+                        )?;
+                    } else {
+                        self.write_spec(spec, &bytes[this_line])?;
+                        self.write_line_term()?;
                     }
-                    self.write_spec(spec, buf)?;
-                    self.write_line_term()?;
                 }
             }
             count += 1;
@@ -1140,15 +1123,11 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
                 )?;
                 count += 1;
                 if self.exceeds_max_columns(&bytes[line]) {
-                    self.write_exceeded_line()?;
+                    self.write_exceeded_line(bytes, line, &[m], &mut 0)?;
                     continue;
                 }
-                if self.has_line_terminator(&bytes[line]) {
+                self.trim_line_terminator(bytes, &mut line);
-                    line = line.with_end(line.end() - 1);
+                self.trim_ascii_prefix(bytes, &mut line);
-                }
-                if self.config().trim_ascii {
-                    line = self.trim_ascii_prefix_range(bytes, line);
-                }
 
                 while !line.is_empty() {
                     if m.end() <= line.start() {
@@ -1205,7 +1184,10 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
         line: &[u8],
     ) -> io::Result<()> {
         if self.exceeds_max_columns(line) {
-            self.write_exceeded_line()?;
+            let range = Match::new(0, line.len());
+            self.write_exceeded_line(
+                line, range, self.sunk.matches(), &mut 0,
+            )?;
         } else {
             self.write_trim(line)?;
             if !self.has_line_terminator(line) {
@@ -1218,50 +1200,114 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
     fn write_colored_line(
         &self,
         matches: &[Match],
-        line: &[u8],
+        bytes: &[u8],
     ) -> io::Result<()> {
         // If we know we aren't going to emit color, then we can go faster.
         let spec = self.config().colors.matched();
         if !self.wtr().borrow().supports_color() || spec.is_none() {
-            return self.write_line(line);
+            return self.write_line(bytes);
-        }
-        if self.exceeds_max_columns(line) {
-            return self.write_exceeded_line();
         }
 
-        let mut last_written =
+        let line = Match::new(0, bytes.len());
-            if !self.config().trim_ascii {
+        if self.exceeds_max_columns(bytes) {
-                0
+            self.write_exceeded_line(bytes, line, matches, &mut 0)
-            } else {
+        } else {
-                self.trim_ascii_prefix_range(
+            self.write_colored_matches(bytes, line, matches, &mut 0)?;
-                    line,
+            self.write_line_term()?;
-                    Match::new(0, line.len()),
+            Ok(())
-                ).start()
+        }
-            };
+    }
-        for mut m in matches.iter().map(|&m| m) {
+
-            if last_written < m.start() {
+    /// Write the `line` portion of `bytes`, with appropriate coloring for
+    /// each `match`, starting at `match_index`.
+    ///
+    /// This accounts for trimming any whitespace prefix and will *never* print
+    /// a line terminator. If a match exceeds the range specified by `line`,
+    /// then only the part of the match within `line` (if any) is printed.
+    fn write_colored_matches(
+        &self,
+        bytes: &[u8],
+        mut line: Match,
+        matches: &[Match],
+        match_index: &mut usize,
+    ) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.trim_line_terminator(bytes, &mut line);
+        self.trim_ascii_prefix(bytes, &mut line);
+        if matches.is_empty() {
+            self.write(&bytes[line])?;
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        while !line.is_empty() {
+            if matches[*match_index].end() <= line.start() {
+                if *match_index + 1 < matches.len() {
+                    *match_index += 1;
+                    continue;
+                } else {
+                    self.end_color_match()?;
+                    self.write(&bytes[line])?;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+
+            let m = matches[*match_index];
+            if line.start() < m.start() {
+                let upto = cmp::min(line.end(), m.start());
                 self.end_color_match()?;
-                self.write(&line[last_written..m.start()])?;
+                self.write(&bytes[line.with_end(upto)])?;
-            } else if last_written < m.end() {
+                line = line.with_start(upto);
-                m = m.with_start(last_written);
             } else {
-                continue;
+                let upto = cmp::min(line.end(), m.end());
-            }
-            if !m.is_empty() {
                 self.start_color_match()?;
-                self.write(&line[m])?;
+                self.write(&bytes[line.with_end(upto)])?;
+                line = line.with_start(upto);
             }
-            last_written = m.end();
         }
         self.end_color_match()?;
-        self.write(&line[last_written..])?;
-        if !self.has_line_terminator(line) {
-            self.write_line_term()?;
-        }
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn write_exceeded_line(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
+    fn write_exceeded_line(
+        &self,
+        bytes: &[u8],
+        mut line: Match,
+        matches: &[Match],
+        match_index: &mut usize,
+    ) -> io::Result<()> {
+        if self.config().max_column_preview {
+            let original = line;
+            let end = BStr::new(&bytes[line])
+                .grapheme_indices()
+                .map(|(_, end, _)| end)
+                .take(self.config().max_columns.unwrap_or(0) as usize)
+                .last()
+                .unwrap_or(0) + line.start();
+            line = line.with_end(end);
+            self.write_colored_matches(bytes, line, matches, match_index)?;
+
+            if matches.is_empty() {
+                self.write(b" [... omitted end of long line]")?;
+            } else {
+                let remaining = matches
+                    .iter()
+                    .filter(|m| {
+                        m.start() >= line.end() && m.start() < original.end()
+                    })
+                    .count();
+                let tense =
+                    if remaining == 1 {
+                        "match"
+                    } else {
+                        "matches"
+                    };
+                write!(
+                    self.wtr().borrow_mut(),
+                    " [... {} more {}]",
+                    remaining, tense,
+                )?;
+            }
+            self.write_line_term()?;
+            return Ok(());
+        }
         if self.sunk.original_matches().is_empty() {
             if self.is_context() {
                 self.write(b"[Omitted long context line]")?;
@@ -1444,13 +1490,26 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
         if !self.config().trim_ascii {
             return self.write(buf);
         }
-        self.write(self.trim_ascii_prefix(buf))
+        let mut range = Match::new(0, buf.len());
+        self.trim_ascii_prefix(buf, &mut range);
+        self.write(&buf[range])
     }
 
     fn write(&self, buf: &[u8]) -> io::Result<()> {
         self.wtr().borrow_mut().write_all(buf)
     }
 
+    fn trim_line_terminator(&self, buf: &[u8], line: &mut Match) {
+        let lineterm = self.searcher.line_terminator();
+        if lineterm.is_suffix(&buf[*line]) {
+            let mut end = line.end() - 1;
+            if lineterm.is_crlf() && buf[end - 1] == b'\r' {
+                end -= 1;
+            }
+            *line = line.with_end(end);
+        }
+    }
+
     fn has_line_terminator(&self, buf: &[u8]) -> bool {
         self.searcher.line_terminator().is_suffix(buf)
     }
@@ -1506,14 +1565,12 @@ impl<'a, M: Matcher, W: WriteColor> StandardImpl<'a, M, W> {
     ///
     /// This stops trimming a prefix as soon as it sees non-whitespace or a
     /// line terminator.
-    fn trim_ascii_prefix_range(&self, slice: &[u8], range: Match) -> Match {
+    fn trim_ascii_prefix(&self, slice: &[u8], range: &mut Match) {
-        trim_ascii_prefix_range(self.searcher.line_terminator(), slice, range)
+        if !self.config().trim_ascii {
-    }
+            return;
-
+        }
-    /// Trim prefix ASCII spaces from the given slice and return the
+        let lineterm = self.searcher.line_terminator();
-    /// corresponding sub-slice.
+        *range = trim_ascii_prefix(lineterm, slice, *range)
-    fn trim_ascii_prefix<'s>(&self, slice: &'s [u8]) -> &'s [u8] {
-        trim_ascii_prefix(self.searcher.line_terminator(), slice)
     }
 }
 
@@ -2280,6 +2337,31 @@ but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for him and dusted,
         assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn max_columns_preview() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("exhibited|dusted").unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .max_columns(Some(46))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(false)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for [... omitted end of long line]
+and exhibited clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn max_columns_with_count() {
         let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("cigar|ash|dusted").unwrap();
@@ -2305,6 +2387,86 @@ but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for him and dusted,
         assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn max_columns_with_count_preview_no_match() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("exhibited|has to have it").unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .stats(true)
+            .max_columns(Some(46))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(false)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for [... 0 more matches]
+and exhibited clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn max_columns_with_count_preview_one_match() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("exhibited|dusted").unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .stats(true)
+            .max_columns(Some(46))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(false)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for [... 1 more match]
+and exhibited clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn max_columns_with_count_preview_two_matches() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(
+            "exhibited|dusted|has to have it",
+        ).unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .stats(true)
+            .max_columns(Some(46))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(false)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for [... 1 more match]
+and exhibited clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn max_columns_multi_line() {
         let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("(?s)ash.+dusted").unwrap();
@@ -2330,6 +2492,36 @@ but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for him and dusted,
         assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn max_columns_multi_line_preview() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(
+            "(?s)clew|cigar ash.+have it|exhibited",
+        ).unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .stats(true)
+            .max_columns(Some(46))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(false)
+            .multi_line(true)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+can extract a clew from a wisp of straw or a f [... 1 more match]
+but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for [... 0 more matches]
+and exhibited clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn max_matches() {
         let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("Sherlock").unwrap();
@@ -2619,8 +2811,40 @@ Holmeses, success in the province of detective work must always
         assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn only_matching_max_columns_preview() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("Doctor Watsons|Sherlock").unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .only_matching(true)
+            .max_columns(Some(10))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .column(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(true)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+1:9:Doctor Wat [... 0 more matches]
+1:57:Sherlock
+3:49:Sherlock
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn only_matching_max_columns_multi_line1() {
+        // The `(?s:.{0})` trick fools the matcher into thinking that it
+        // can match across multiple lines without actually doing so. This is
+        // so we can test multi-line handling in the case of a match on only
+        // one line.
         let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(
             r"(?s:.{0})(Doctor Watsons|Sherlock)"
         ).unwrap();
@@ -2649,6 +2873,41 @@ Holmeses, success in the province of detective work must always
         assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn only_matching_max_columns_preview_multi_line1() {
+        // The `(?s:.{0})` trick fools the matcher into thinking that it
+        // can match across multiple lines without actually doing so. This is
+        // so we can test multi-line handling in the case of a match on only
+        // one line.
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(
+            r"(?s:.{0})(Doctor Watsons|Sherlock)"
+        ).unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .only_matching(true)
+            .max_columns(Some(10))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .column(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .multi_line(true)
+            .line_number(true)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+1:9:Doctor Wat [... 0 more matches]
+1:57:Sherlock
+3:49:Sherlock
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn only_matching_max_columns_multi_line2() {
         let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(
@@ -2680,6 +2939,38 @@ Holmeses, success in the province of detective work must always
         assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn only_matching_max_columns_preview_multi_line2() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(
+            r"(?s)Watson.+?(Holmeses|clearly)"
+        ).unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .only_matching(true)
+            .max_columns(Some(50))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .column(true)
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .multi_line(true)
+            .line_number(true)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+1:16:Watsons of this world, as opposed to the Sherlock
+2:16:Holmeses
+5:12:Watson has to have it taken out for him and dusted [... 0 more matches]
+6:12:and exhibited clearly
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn per_match() {
         let matcher = RegexMatcher::new("Doctor Watsons|Sherlock").unwrap();
@@ -2875,6 +3166,61 @@ Holmeses, success in the province of detective work must always
         assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn replacement_max_columns_preview1() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(r"Sherlock|Doctor (\w+)").unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .max_columns(Some(67))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .replacement(Some(b"doctah $1 MD".to_vec()))
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(true)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+1:For the doctah Watsons MD of this world, as opposed to the doctah   [... 0 more matches]
+3:be, to a very large extent, the result of luck. doctah  MD Holmes
+5:but doctah Watson MD has to have it taken out for him and dusted,
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn replacement_max_columns_preview2() {
+        let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(
+            "exhibited|dusted|has to have it",
+        ).unwrap();
+        let mut printer = StandardBuilder::new()
+            .max_columns(Some(43))
+            .max_column_preview(true)
+            .replacement(Some(b"xxx".to_vec()))
+            .build(NoColor::new(vec![]));
+        SearcherBuilder::new()
+            .line_number(false)
+            .build()
+            .search_reader(
+                &matcher,
+                SHERLOCK.as_bytes(),
+                printer.sink(&matcher),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let got = printer_contents(&mut printer);
+        let expected = "\
+but Doctor Watson xxx taken out for him and [... 1 more match]
+and xxx clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+        assert_eq_printed!(expected, got);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn replacement_only_matching() {
         let matcher = RegexMatcher::new(r"Sherlock|Doctor (\w+)").unwrap();

grep-printer/src/util.rs

@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ impl Serialize for NiceDuration {
 ///
 /// This stops trimming a prefix as soon as it sees non-whitespace or a line
 /// terminator.
-pub fn trim_ascii_prefix_range(
+pub fn trim_ascii_prefix(
     line_term: LineTerminator,
     slice: &[u8],
     range: Match,
@@ -366,14 +366,3 @@ pub fn trim_ascii_prefix_range(
         .count();
     range.with_start(range.start() + count)
 }
-
-/// Trim prefix ASCII spaces from the given slice and return the corresponding
-/// sub-slice.
-pub fn trim_ascii_prefix(line_term: LineTerminator, slice: &[u8]) -> &[u8] {
-    let range = trim_ascii_prefix_range(
-        line_term,
-        slice,
-        Match::new(0, slice.len()),
-    );
-    &slice[range]
-}

src/app.rs

@@ -582,6 +582,7 @@ pub fn all_args_and_flags() -> Vec<RGArg> {
     flag_line_number(&mut args);
     flag_line_regexp(&mut args);
     flag_max_columns(&mut args);
+    flag_max_column_preview(&mut args);
     flag_max_count(&mut args);
     flag_max_depth(&mut args);
     flag_max_filesize(&mut args);
@@ -1443,6 +1444,30 @@ When this flag is omitted or is set to 0, then it has no effect.
     args.push(arg);
 }
 
+fn flag_max_column_preview(args: &mut Vec<RGArg>) {
+    const SHORT: &str = "Print a preview for lines exceeding the limit.";
+    const LONG: &str = long!("\
+When the '--max-columns' flag is used, ripgrep will by default completely
+replace any line that is too long with a message indicating that a matching
+line was removed. When this flag is combined with '--max-columns', a preview
+of the line (corresponding to the limit size) is shown instead, where the part
+of the line exceeding the limit is not shown.
+
+If the '--max-columns' flag is not set, then this has no effect.
+
+This flag can be disabled with '--no-max-column-preview'.
+");
+    let arg = RGArg::switch("max-column-preview")
+        .help(SHORT).long_help(LONG)
+        .overrides("no-max-column-preview");
+    args.push(arg);
+
+    let arg = RGArg::switch("no-max-column-preview")
+        .hidden()
+        .overrides("max-column-preview");
+    args.push(arg);
+}
+
 fn flag_max_count(args: &mut Vec<RGArg>) {
     const SHORT: &str = "Limit the number of matches.";
     const LONG: &str = long!("\

src/args.rs

@@ -746,6 +746,7 @@ impl ArgMatches {
             .per_match(self.is_present("vimgrep"))
             .replacement(self.replacement())
             .max_columns(self.max_columns()?)
+            .max_column_preview(self.max_column_preview())
             .max_matches(self.max_count()?)
             .column(self.column())
             .byte_offset(self.is_present("byte-offset"))
@@ -1142,6 +1143,12 @@ impl ArgMatches {
         Ok(self.usize_of_nonzero("max-columns")?.map(|n| n as u64))
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if and only if a preview should be shown for lines that
+    /// exceed the maximum column limit.
+    fn max_column_preview(&self) -> bool {
+        self.is_present("max-column-preview")
+    }
+
     /// The maximum number of matches permitted.
     fn max_count(&self) -> Result<Option<u64>> {
         Ok(self.usize_of("max-count")?.map(|n| n as u64))

tests/feature.rs

@@ -630,6 +630,41 @@ rgtest!(f993_null_data, |dir: Dir, mut cmd: TestCommand| {
     eqnice!(expected, cmd.stdout());
 });
 
+// See: https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep/issues/1078
+//
+// N.B. There are many more tests in the grep-printer crate.
+rgtest!(f1078_max_column_preview1, |dir: Dir, mut cmd: TestCommand| {
+    dir.create("sherlock", SHERLOCK);
+    cmd.args(&[
+        "-M46", "--max-column-preview",
+        "exhibited|dusted|has to have it",
+    ]);
+
+    let expected = "\
+sherlock:but Doctor Watson has to have it taken out for [... omitted end of long line]
+sherlock:and exhibited clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+    eqnice!(expected, cmd.stdout());
+});
+
+rgtest!(f1078_max_column_preview2, |dir: Dir, mut cmd: TestCommand| {
+    dir.create("sherlock", SHERLOCK);
+    cmd.args(&[
+        "-M43", "--max-column-preview",
+        // Doing a replacement forces ripgrep to show the number of remaining
+        // matches. Normally, this happens by default when printing a tty with
+        // colors.
+        "-rxxx",
+        "exhibited|dusted|has to have it",
+    ]);
+
+    let expected = "\
+sherlock:but Doctor Watson xxx taken out for him and [... 1 more match]
+sherlock:and xxx clearly, with a label attached.
+";
+    eqnice!(expected, cmd.stdout());
+});
+
 // See: https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep/issues/1138
 rgtest!(f1138_no_ignore_dot, |dir: Dir, mut cmd: TestCommand| {
     dir.create_dir(".git");