excerpt functions

/*============================================================
Add Custom Excerpt Legnth
============================================================*/
function custom_excerpt($new_length = 15, $new_more = 'Read more . . .') {

  // use the variable passed from $new_length as the length of the excerpt
  add_filter('excerpt_length', function () use ($new_length) {
    return $new_length;
  }, 999);

  // determine what comes at the end of the excerpt (in this case ...)
  add_filter('excerpt_more', function () use ($new_more) {
    return $new_more;
  });

  // generate the current excerpt
  $output = get_the_excerpt();

  // use wptexturize to basically sanitize the excerpt
  $output = apply_filters('wptexturize', $output);

  // convert_chars to remove metadata tags and convert others to unicode
  $output = apply_filters('convert_chars', $output);

  // wrap it back up in p tags

  // the above line may not be needed depending on the status of wpautop

  // echo that sucker
  echo $output;
}

/*============================================================
Add Read More Link To Excerpt
============================================================*/
function new_excerpt_more($more) {
    global $post;
    return '<a href="'. get_permalink($post->ID) . '"> Read more . . .</a>';
}
add_filter('excerpt_more', 'new_excerpt_more');