def limited_join(sep, items, max_chars=30, overflow_marker="..."):
    """Join a number of strings to one, limiting the length to *max_chars*.

    If the string overflows this limit, replace the last fitting item by
    *overflow_marker*.

    Returns: joined_string
    """
    full_str = sep.join(items)
    if len(full_str) < max_chars:
        return full_str

    n_chars = 0
    n_items = 0
    for j, item in enumerate(items):
        n_chars += len(item) + len(sep)
        if n_chars < max_chars - len(overflow_marker):
            n_items += 1
        else:
            break

    return sep.join(list(items[:n_items]) + [overflow_marker])