WD98: Word Count for Comments Number Incorrect

ID: Q183871

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,

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

you may not receive the results you expect.

For example, if the author name for a comment is two words long and the comment contains four words, the total word count returned is 6 (instead of 4 as expected).

CAUSE

The number of words returned includes the names of the commenting authors.

In addition, this count is cumulative. That is, if there are two comments in a document, the number of words in the comment author's name will be counted for each comment. For example, if each comment contains 4 words and John Doe is the author of both comments, the total word count returned is 12 instead of 8 as expected.

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/

The following example will return the number of words found in all comments in a document, but will exclude the number of words in the comment author's name:

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

For more information about the Comment Object, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "Comment Object," click Search, and then click to view "Comment Object."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q181058
   TITLE     : OFF98: 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:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications

Additional query words: wordcon vb vba vbe
Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA kbmacroexample macword98 
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999