WD2000: Word Count for Comments Incorrect Using Words Property

ID: Q212648

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Visual Basic for Applications StoryRanges collection to return a word count for comments, as in the following example, you may not receive the results you expect. 


x = ActiveDocument.StoryRanges(wdCommentsStory).Words.Count


For example, if your comment consists of four words, the above code returns the value 6, instead of 4 as expected.


CAUSE

The Words property collection returns all the words in a range, selection, or document. Punctuation and paragraph marks in a document are included in the Words collection.


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 the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/


Method 1:
The following example returns the number of words found in all comments in a document but excludes punctuation and paragraph marks. 


Sub CountWordsInAllComments()
   Dim ctComment As Comment
   Dim lWordCount As Long
   For Each ctComment In ActiveDocument.Comments
      lWordCount = lWordCount + ctComment.Range.ComputeStatistics(wdStatisticWords)
   Next
   MsgBox lWordCount
End Sub


Method 2:

You can use the Word Visual Basic for Applications command ComputeStatistics method in place of the Words property.

x = ActiveDocument.StoryRanges(wdCommentsStory).ComputeStatistics(wdStatisticWords)
-or- 

x = ActiveDocument.Comments(1).Range.ComputeStatistics(wdStatisticWords)


For more information about Comment Object, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type "Comments" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.


MORE INFORMATION

The following sample comment text illustrates the difference between Word.Count and ComputeStatistics:



   
        [<User Initials>]This is, not bad, OK.
When you use run a macro using the Word.Count method, the value is 10. The ComputeStatistics property returns the value 5.
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q212536 OFF2000: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles


REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: vb vba vbe 


Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode word8 kbwordvba word97 wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999