Convert multiple line into one big string in Emacs

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This command converts selected region in Emacs into one string and put it into the kill ring.

Why I need this command? I'm doing some web developement now. I've got a javascript API whose parameter is a string in html syntax. I write that beautifully indented multiple lines string in html editor to make sure the string is correct. Then I convert the multiple lines string into one string without line breaks so that I can paste the one line string into my javascript code.

In certain situation, this method actually makes code more readable.

Here is code you can paste into your .emacs: 

(defun strip-convert-lines-into-one-big-string (beg end)
"strip and convert selected lines into one big string which is copied into kill ring.
When transient-mark-mode is enabled, if no region is active then only the
current line is acted upon.

If the region begins or ends in the middle of a line, that entire line is
copied, even if the region is narrowed to the middle of a line.

Current position is preserved."
  (interactive "r")
  (let (str (orig-pos (point-marker)))
  (save-restriction
    (widen)
    (when (and transient-mark-mode (not (use-region-p)))
      (setq beg (line-beginning-position)
            end (line-beginning-position 2)))

    (goto-char beg)
    (setq beg (line-beginning-position))
    (goto-char end)
    (unless (= (point) (line-beginning-position))
      (setq end (line-beginning-position 2)))

    (goto-char beg)
    (setq str (replace-regexp-in-string "[ \t]*\n" "" (replace-regexp-in-string "^[ \t]+" "" (buffer-substring-no-properties beg end))))
    ;; (message "str=%s" str)
    (kill-new str)
    (goto-char orig-pos)))
  )
(global-set-key (kbd "C-c C-y") 'strip-convert-lines-into-one-big-string)
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