+ ##############
+
+ # echoes the maximum number of columns that the terminal supports. usually
+ # anything you print to the terminal with length less than (but not equal to)
+ # maxcols will never wrap.
+ function get_maxcols()
+ {
+ # calculate the number of columsn in the terminal.
+ local cols=$(stty size | awk '{print $2}')
+ echo $cols
+ }
+
+ ##############
+