I need a really short ide ribbon cable for my external hd enclosure since the cable that came with it broke. If i try using a long one the enlcosure wont close. Where can i find such a cable, no luck so far.

First from the manufacturer. Second you could try making one from a regular IDE cable. The procedure is simple, crimp a 40 pin IDC the correct distance from an existing connector. You cut the ribbon cable before or after crimping the connector with a sharp scissors. The problem is making a good crimp. A special tool is usually used, but a vise with wide parallel jaws will do. The problem is aligning the ribbon in the connector with the proper orientation. The connectors can be brought at some electronics/computer stores or carefullt salvaged from an existing cable assembly.

most IDE cables have 3 plugs on them. The middle one is usually fairly close to one end. If you cut off the longer part of the cable, that should work - will that be short enough? When you cut the cable you must make sure it is a good clean cut - not have bits of wire hanging out and touching eachother.