# Customize a gem method

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/customize-a-gem-method/138954>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [May 29, 2008, 10:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/customize-a-gem-method/138954 "2008-05-29T10:42:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![abir84](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@abir84](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/abir84)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 10:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/customize-a-gem-method/138954/1 "2008-05-29T10:42:39Z")

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Hello,  
I want to customize a method of a gem wuthout changing the source code  
of this gem .  
Is that possible?  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![abir84](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@abir84](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/abir84)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/customize-a-gem-method/138954/2 "2008-05-29T22:46:25Z")

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On Thu, May 29, 2008 at 9:42 AM, Abir B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Hello,  
> I want to customize a method of a gem wuthout changing the source code  
> of this gem .  
> Is that possible?

Sure is:

require ‘rubygems’  
require ‘pdf/writer’

w = PDF::Writer.new  
w.text\_width(“Hello World”) # =\> 51.67

class PDF::Writer  
def text\_width(s)  
42.0  
end  
end  
w.text\_width(“Hello World”) # =\> 42.0

Regards,  
Sean