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
-
Gnome OS Transitioning Toward a General-Purpose Distro
If you're looking for the perfectly vanilla take on the Gnome desktop, Gnome OS might be for you.
-
Fedora 41 Released with New Features
If you're a Fedora fan or just looking for a Linux distribution to help you migrate from Windows, Fedora 41 might be just the ticket.
-
AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 Gives Power Users a Sneak Preview
If you're looking to kick the tires of AlmaLinux's upstream version, the developers have a purrfect solution.
-
Gnome 47.1 Released with a Few Fixes
The latest release of the Gnome desktop is all about fixing a few nagging issues and not about bringing new features into the mix.
-
System76 Unveils an Ampere-Powered Thelio Desktop
If you're looking for a new desktop system for developing autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle solutions. System76 has you covered.
-
VirtualBox 7.1.4 Includes Initial Support for Linux kernel 6.12
The latest version of VirtualBox has arrived and it not only adds initial support for kernel 6.12 but another feature that will make using the virtual machine tool much easier.
-
New Slimbook EVO with Raw AMD Ryzen Power
If you're looking for serious power in a 14" ultrabook that is powered by Linux, Slimbook has just the thing for you.
-
The Gnome Foundation Struggling to Stay Afloat
The foundation behind the Gnome desktop environment is having to go through some serious belt-tightening due to continued financial problems.
-
Thousands of Linux Servers Infected with Stealth Malware Since 2021
Perfctl is capable of remaining undetected, which makes it dangerous and hard to mitigate.
-
Halcyon Creates Anti-Ransomware Protection for Linux
As more Linux systems are targeted by ransomware, Halcyon is stepping up its protection.
Visual Word Count
Word count should be in the status bar.