def truncate_str(str_, maxlen=110, truncmsg=' ~~~TRUNCATED~~~ '):
    """
    Removes the middle part of any string over maxlen characters.
    """
    if NO_TRUNCATE:
        return str_
    if maxlen is None or maxlen == -1 or len(str_) < maxlen:
        return str_
    else:
        maxlen_ = maxlen - len(truncmsg)
        lowerb  = int(maxlen_ * .8)
        upperb  = maxlen_ - lowerb
        tup = (str_[:lowerb], truncmsg, str_[-upperb:])
        return ''.join(tup)
Removes the middle part of any string over maxlen characters.