Add Instant Word Count Feature to OpenOffice.org Writer

Productivity Sauce
While the Writer's Tools extension for OpenOffice.org is developed and maintained by your truly includes the Visual Word Count tool, it does have one serious drawback: it uses a modal window, i.e., you can't do anything until you close the Visual Word Count window. Fortunately, there is an alternative solution that solves that problem. The Live Word Count macro for OpenOffice.org is written in Python, so it uses a non-modal window which can be opened alongside the current document. To install the macro, create a folder called python in the /home/USER/.openoffice.org/3/user/Scripts directory (where USER is your actual user name), grab the latest version of the script and put it in the created folder. To run the macro, launch OpenOffice.org Writer and choose Tools | Macros | Run Macro. Select then My Macros | wc | wordCount and press the Run button.
Instead of navigating through the menus every single time you want to launch the macro, you can create a menu item for it. To do this, choose Tools | Customize and select the desired menu (e.g., Tools) from the Menu drop-down list in the Menus section. Press the Add button and select the OpenOffice.org Macros | My Macros | wc | wordCount macro. This adds the macro to the selected menu. You can then use the Up and Down buttons to move the created menu item. To change the item's name, press the Modify button, choose Rename, and give the menu item a descriptive name (e.g., Live Word Count). Press OK, and you are done.
Thanks to Leif Lodahl for the tip.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.
-
SUSE Going Private (Again)
The company behind SUSE Linux Enterprise, Rancher, and NeuVector recently announced that Marcel LUX III SARL (Marcel), its majority shareholder, intends to delist it from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by way of a merger.
Visual Word Count
Word count should be in the status bar.