[TW5] Need to count number of characters

[Mat]

Is there any macro or other solution to count the number of characters in a text?

..or, actually, the goal is to set the height of a a text area editor to match the content. For instance, in the SideEditor opening the sideeditor for a tiddler that has not previously been opened by it (and thus has not saved size values) the editor shows only a few rows, regardless of actual text length.

It's enough with an approximate height for the frame, perhaps +/-10% for longer texts, so my idea is to (somehow) get the number of characters, divide it by a hard coded estimated number of characters in a row (or is there any chance to count characters until line wrap? I'd be surprised!) and divide the two to get a rough estimate for how many lines the editor should show by default.

It seems there are many small javascript solutions to pick from... but that ain't TW so I don't know how to use it.  I'm thinking there might already be a solution for "numbers of characters in a text" in tiddlyverse?

I did find @Skeeves Wordcount macro and @Jeds Wordcount - neither of which I get to work (hm!?) and I'd really prefer number of characters rather than the number of words, for this. There's also the steamingly fresh Count filter by @Tobias which counts number of tiddler titles - again not what I'm hoping for.

Hoping to get pointers or ideas. Thank you!

<:-)

[Tobias Beer]

Hi Mat,

If it can be avoided, let's not reinvent the wheel.

The EditTextWidget already allows to specify autoHeight.

Best wishes,

Tobias. 

[Mat]

Thanks Tobias

I don't know why, but autoHeight doesn't work here and I suspect it has to do with the circumstances I'm putting these text areas into. Now... um... it's part of a concept that I hope to present to the community soon (yes, it's revolutionary "No Mat, you don't say!") but I'd rather not link to it publically until some fundamental bits are working, of which the text area issue is one. (I wouldn't mind showing it to you though, can I? Come to think of it, it's very likely some of your recent creations will come in handy so maybe it's even a good idea!)

@everyone - meanwhile, my original question still holds. Anybody's got a spare letter counter...?

<:-)

[Tobias Beer]

Hi Mat,

 

I don't know why, but autoHeight doesn't work here and I suspect it has to do with the circumstances I'm putting these text areas into.

Can you describe more clearly why it won't work here?

If it is because you're not using a state or temporary tiddler,

I'd recommend you consider using one.

 

I wouldn't mind showing it to you though, can I?

Sure, drop a line with a pointer to some dropbox or such here:

http://tobibeer.github.io/tb5/#Contact

Come to think of it, it's very likely some of your recent creations will come in handy so maybe it's even a good idea!)

Perhaps, only you can tell. ;-)

Best wishes,

Tobias.

[Mat]

Can you describe more clearly why it won't work here?

I probably can not, but the circumstance I'm referring to is similar to that in my SideEditor plugin where, btw, the problem with faulty autoheight also occurs - sometimes. But I feel it is not a great example because the SideEditor does store a lot of meta data in a state tiddler about the size of the editor whereas the "new concept" does not.
 

If it is because you're not using a state or temporary tiddler,

I'd recommend you consider using one.

Hm, if that is how it ought to be, then maybe the whole EditTextWidget should have this build in, no? And how would one go about this in a good way?
And does this have to do with the very last sentences in the docs for that widget, i.e

In short the EditTextWidget can not change properties of the tiddler it is embedded in or part of. It can only change fields of other tiddlers. One could use ShadowTiddlers to accomplish the field storage if needed.

 

I wouldn't mind showing it to you though, can I?

Sure, drop a line with a pointer to some dropbox or such here:

Great. Later tonight or tomorrow.

Come to think of it, it's very likely some of your recent creations will come in handy so maybe it's even a good idea!)

Perhaps, only you can tell. ;-)

You'll see. For instance if I install your new appear plugin I will probably [quoting you] "come up with or implement some fancy use-casesthat are not already listed in the examples" :-)


<:-)

[Tobias Beer]

Hi Mat,

 

maybe the whole EditTextWidget should have this build in, no?

I think it does. I mean: I'm not sure what you're missing.

 

And how would one go about this in a good way?
And does this have to do with the very last sentences in the docs for that widget, i.e

In short the EditTextWidget can not change properties of the tiddler it is embedded in or part of. It can only change fields of other tiddlers. One could use ShadowTiddlers to accomplish the field storage if needed.

So, yes, you'd need some basic or otherwise temporary / state tiddler for the EditTextWidget to modify, i.e. it won't just give you a textarea providing autoHeight unless it is bound to some tiddler field. Should you have noticed bugs around autoHeight in the EditTextWidget, we should probably focus on fixing those rather than fiddle with other ways of making it all the way to Rome.

 

You'll see. For instance if I install your new appear plugin I will probably [quoting you] "come up with or implement some fancy use-casesthat are not already listed in the examples" :-)

Looking forward to that :)

Best wishes,

Tobias. 

[Alex Hough]

Mat

WordCount macro has its own wiki

 http://ooktech.com/jed/ExampleWikis/WordCount

It has options for character count

Alex

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