def tmpl_first(text, count=1, skip=0, sep=u'; ', join_str=u'; '):
        """
        * synopsis: ``%first{text}`` or ``%first{text,count,skip}`` or \
            ``%first{text,count,skip,sep,join}``
        * description: Returns the first item, separated by ; . You can use \
            %first{text,count,skip}, where count is the number of items \
            (default 1) and skip is number to skip (default 0). You can also \
            use %first{text,count,skip,sep,join} where sep is the separator, \
            like ; or / and join is the text to concatenate the items.

        :param text: the string
        :param count: The number of items included
        :param skip: The number of items skipped
        :param sep: the separator. Usually is '; ' (default) or '/ '
        :param join_str: the string which will join the items, default '; '.
        """
        skip = int(skip)
        count = skip + int(count)
        return join_str.join(text.split(sep)[skip:count])