This page provides you with a list of specific questions and answers relating to counting Word files.

The character and line counts in Word's Statistics don't correspond to the results provided by TextCount. Why is this?

Differing results when counting a Word file with TextCount V5 and TextCount V6

I get different results when counting a Word file on different computers with TextCount V6

It takes an extremely long time to count certain Word files, and the progress bar indicates only very slow progress.

The character and line counts in Word's Statistics don't correspond to the results provided by TextCount. Why is this?

Unfortunately, we've not yet found any detailed information on how the counts in Word's Statistics are produced. After having conducted many comparisons and tests, we're able make the following comparison between the counting modes of TextCount and Word:

Features Word TextCount Comments - Settable Footnotes - Settable Headers - Settable Footers - Settable Text boxes - + Letters/characters Word counts every character, irrespective of whether it was generated by the program or the user. TextCount counts only the visible characters, i.e. only the letters/characters which the user entered via the keyboard. Several blank spaces between two words Word counts all blank spaces; irrespective of whether they were entered by the user. Some versions of Word do not count blank spaces. TextCount always counts only one blank space, even if several blank spaces follow each other. Several consecutive tabs Word counts all tabs, even if they were used incorrectly. TextCount always counts only one tab, even if several tabs follow each other. Lines/number of characters The way lines/characters are calculated in Word depends on the layout settings. TextCount always delivers the same result, irrespective of the layout settings. Lines/number of characters The way in which lines/number of characters are calculated in Word depends on what version of Word is being used. TextCount always delivers the same result, irrespective of which version of the word-processing program is being used. Simultaneous counting of multiple files or entire directories, including their subordinate subdirectories Not possible in Word No problem in TextCount.

We've provided a good example for you below. Check the character and line counts of this Document in Word's Statistics (File menu - Properties) and compare the result with the values provided by TextCount 6.

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Differing results when counting a Word file with TextCount V5 and TextCount V6

Q: I get different results when counting a Word file with TextCount V5 and TextCount V6. Does this mean that TextCount doesn't count correctly?

A 1: TextCount V5 counted Word files directly. As of the new Version 6.0, Word files are first converted to RTF format in the background and are then counted. This means that slight differences with respect to the TextCount V5 counting result are inevitable. The differences amount to less than 1 % of the total.

A 2: If you save the file to be counted as an RTF file and then count in this format, the results of Version 5.xx and 6.xx should be the same, provided the settings are identical in both versions.

Please note that Version 6 provides Options (menu RTF and Word Options) which weren't available in Version 5. TextCount V5 always counted hidden text and text deleted in Review mode. In order to obtain the same count result with TextCount 6, you must have checked both these options (Count hidden text and Count deleted text in review mode).
Please make sure for future counting that the Count hidden text and Count deleted text in review mode options are UNCHECKED in TextCount Version 6, since this type of texts are not an integral part of the translation and should therefore be excluded from counting.

Please also make sure you select the same parts of the document to be counted if you want to compare the count results of TextCount V5 and V6. (Option: RTF and Word Options / Document Sections)

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I get different results when counting a Word file on different computers with TextCount V6

Q: When counting a Word file with TextCount 6 on different computers, I get different results. Why is this?

A1: Please ensure that you've installed TextCount with the same build on both computers (e.g. 6.0A01 040714, see Help menu - About).

A2: Please ensure that you've set the same counting options on both computers. The counting options are saved in TextCount profile files (file extension tpf). To be on the safe side, you should copy the profile file used to the other computer.

A3: As of the new TextCount Version 6.0, Word files are first converted to RTF files in the background and are then counted. The Word version installed on the computer is used in the background to convert to RTF. We've established that there are slight differences between the individual Word versions and Service Packs in relation to the way in which files are converted to RTF. A file is counted as having 539 lines for instance, after conversion by Office2000 SP1, is counted as having 542 lines if SP3 is installed and is counted as having 543 lines if converting with Word XP SP2.
Unfortunately, these slight counting differences are unavoidable. If you detect differences greater than 1 %, please inform our Hotline and send us an example file and the count results of the relevant Word versions.

A4: If you establish major differences in count results, please inform us of this. Please send us an example file and the TextCount profile file (*.tpf) used and also tell us the versions of Word used on the PCs and the actual TextCount counts. We will attempt to establish the cause as quickly as possible.

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It takes an extremely long time to count certain Word files, and the progress bar indicates only very slow progress.

As of the new TextCount Version 6.0, Word files are first converted to RTF format in the background and are then counted. The version of Word installed on the computer is used in the background to convert to RTF. This may create very large files which then also take a long time to count accordingly. Of course, after counting, the files generated by TextCount are deleted again.

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