WD2000: Word Count for Comments Incorrect Using Words Property (212648)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q212648

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

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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:

212536 OFF2000: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

REFERENCES

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/17/2005
Keywords:kbdtacode kbnofix kbprb KB212648
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