WD: Word Count Does Not Count Spaces

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This article was previously published under Q114180

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SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word, when you use the Word Count command on the Tools menu, the result for characters does not include the number of spaces and tabs in your document.

If you choose Summary Info from the File menu and click Statistics, the result for characters also doesn't include spaces and tabs.

The character count feature includes alphabetic and numeric characters including punctuation marks and special symbols, such as periods and commas, but excludes spaces and tabs.

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WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs.
If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or Microsoft Advisory Services. For more information, visit these Microsoft Web sites:

Microsoft Certified Partners - https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104 (https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104)

Microsoft Advisory Services - http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice)

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;cntactms) The following macro counts all the characters in the document including spaces and tabs- Example 1:

   Sub MAIN
      If IsMacro() Then
         MsgBox "This will not run in a macro window."
      Else
         ScreenUpdating
         EditBookmark .Name = "NumCharPlaceHolder", .Add
         EditSelectAll
         Number = Len(Selection$()) - 1
         StartOfDocument
         If SelInfo(12) <> - 1 Then
            EditGoTo .Destination = "t"
         EndIf
         While SelInfo(12) = - 1
            If SelInfo(12) = - 1 Then
               Rows = SelInfo(15) * 2
               While SelInfo(13) <> SelInfo(15)
                  NextCell : Count = Count + 2
               Wend
               Count = Count + (SelInfo(18) * 2)
            End If
            Number = Number - Count - Rows
            count = 0
            EndOfRow 1
            CharRight 2
            EditGoTo .Destination = "t"
         Wend
         EditBookmark .Name = "NumCharPlaceHolder", .Goto
         EditBookmark .Name = "NumCharPlaceHolder", .Delete
      End If
      MsgBox "Character Count:" + Str$(Number)
   End Sub

Below is an additional macro which counts all the characters in the document including spaces and tabs to workaround this problem- Example 2:

   StartOfDocument
   Count = 0
   While CmpBookmarks("\sel", "\endofdoc") <> 0
       CharRight 1
       Count = Count + 1
   Wend
   MsgBox "word count" + Str$(Count + 1)
         ' If you would not like to count the last Paragraph mark make
         ' the last line of the macro read:
         ' Msgbox "Word Count" + Str$(Count)

NOTE: These macros include tabs, spaces and paragraph marks (except the last one in the document). These macros do not take into consideration inline objects. They count each inline object as one character. They do not count text and graphics positioned in the drawing layer.

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MORE INFORMATION

This functionality is different in Word 2.x for Windows, which includes spaces, tabs, and paragraph marks in the count.

In Word 97 for Windows and Word 98 Macintosh Edition, the count of characters includes spaces but not tabs.

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REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, page 101

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APPLIES TO

Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Word 6.0a
Microsoft Word 6.0c
Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
Microsoft Word 95a
Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh

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kbmacro kbmacroexample kbprb KB114180

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Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

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