diff --git a/doPlayback.go b/doPlayback.go
index 8482805..1489879 100644
--- a/doPlayback.go
+++ b/doPlayback.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func listChats(chats *chatpb.Chats) {
 // print out one line for each chat entry
 func listEntries(chat *chatpb.Chat) {
 	log.Printf("--- Entries for Topic: %s ---\n", chat.GetChatName())
-	width := getTerminalWidth()
+	width, _ := getTerminalWidth()
 
 	// Determine the maximum length of the author and time string
 	maxAuthorAndTimeLen := 0
diff --git a/termSize.go b/termSize.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3201f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/termSize.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"os"
+
+	"golang.org/x/term"
+)
+
+// getTerminalWidth returns the width of the active terminal.
+// If the output is not an interactive terminal (e.g., it's being piped to a file
+// or another command), it returns a default width and false.
+func getTerminalWidth() (int, bool) {
+	// term.IsTerminal checks if the given file descriptor is connected to a terminal.
+	// We use os.Stdout.Fd() to check the standard output.
+	if term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
+		// term.GetSize returns the dimensions of the given terminal.
+		width, _, err := term.GetSize(int(os.Stdout.Fd()))
+		if err != nil {
+			// If we can't get the size for some reason, fall back to the default.
+			log.Printf("could not get terminal size: %v", err)
+			return 120, false
+		}
+		return width, true
+	}
+
+	// If it's not a terminal, return the default width.
+	return 120, false
+}
+
+// truncateString shortens a string to the specified length, adding an ellipsis if truncated.
+func truncateString(s string, maxLength int) string {
+	if len(s) <= maxLength {
+		return s
+	}
+	// Subtract 3 to make room for the ellipsis "..."
+	if maxLength < 3 {
+		return "..."
+	}
+	return s[:maxLength-3] + "..."
+}
diff --git a/terminal_width.go b/terminal_width.go
deleted file mode 100644
index fe623c6..0000000
--- a/terminal_width.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"os"
-
-	"golang.org/x/term"
-)
-
-func getTerminalWidth() int {
-	width, _, err := term.GetSize(int(os.Stdout.Fd()))
-	if err != nil {
-		// Return a default width if there's an error
-		return 80
-	}
-	return width
-}