code: def elide_string_middle(text, max_length):
      """Replace the middle of the text with ellipses to shorten text to the desired length.
  
      Args:
          text (str): Text to shorten.
          max_length (int): Maximum allowable length of the string.
  
      Returns:
          (str) The elided text, e.g. "Some really long tex ... the end."
      """
      if len(text) <= max_length:
          return text
  
      half_len = (max_length - 5) // 2  # Length of text on either side.
      return "{} ... {}".format(text[:half_len], text[-half_len:])
  
imports: from streamalert.shared.publisher import AlertPublisherRepository, PublisherAssemblyError
label_desc: Use image node_id 1 for calling a global function with example usage: elide_string_middle(text, max_length) and returns: str, text