

May 01, '12 07:30:00AM • Contributed by: Build a service to count characters, words and paragraphs



Launch Automator and create a new Service. Add the Run AppleScript script action, then paste the following code: on run {input, parameters} try set MyText to input as string set NombreSignes to the number of characters of MyText set NombreMots to the number of words of MyText set NombrePara to the number of paragraphs of MyText set LeResultat to "The selected text contains :" & return & "- " & NombreSignes & " sign(s) ;" & return & "- " & NombreMots & " word(s) ;" & return & "- " & NombrePara & " paragraph(s)." display dialog LeResultat buttons {"OK"} default button 1 with icon note on error errmsg number errnum display dialog errmsg & " [" & errnum & "]" buttons {"OK"} default button 1 with icon stop end try return input end run



To use the service, select any text in a text application (this does not work in Word, however), then choose your service in the contextual menu.



You can



[kirkmc adds: This works as advertised. For some reason, however, when I install the precompiled service, while its name is "Count characters in selection," it displays in the Services menu as "Compteur de signes," which is French for character counter. If you're unfamiliar with using services in OS X, you can see



We ran a hint using Apple does not provide any way to count the number of characters in a selected text. Fortunately, you can create your own very easily using Automator.Launch Automator and create a new Service. Add the Run AppleScript script action, then paste the following code:Now save the service and use a name such as "Count characters in selection."To use the service, select any text in a text application (this does not work in Word, however), then choose your service in the contextual menu.You can download a precompiled service here . This has been tested successfully on Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7.: This works as advertised. For some reason, however, when I install the precompiled service, while its name is "Count characters in selection," it displays in the Services menu as "Compteur de signes," which is French for character counter. If you're unfamiliar with using services in OS X, you can see this Macworld article I wrote earlier this year We ran a hint using AppleScript to count words and characters back in 2007, which uses a different approach, requiring that you copy text to the clipboard.]

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