Skip to main content
Participant
September 10, 2012
Question

How do I get a word count for a PDF doc or for a selected passage?

  • September 10, 2012
  • 11 replies
  • 155530 views

How do I get a word count for a PDF doc or for a selected passage?

11 replies

Participating Frequently
November 28, 2024

If you're looking for an easy and efficient way to count words, I recommend trying this pdf word counter. It’s a user-friendly tool that helps you track word counts in PDFs and other documents, making it a great option for anyone needing an accurate word count quickly. Check it out for a seamless word-counting experience!

JR Boulay
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 16, 2022
Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
Inspiring
September 15, 2022

for $15/month/user 

Inspiring
September 15, 2022

link is now dead (404)

Inspiring
September 15, 2022

does anyone know of a tool that doesn't cost $15/month/user?

 

yes, they have a free online tool, but if I can copy/paste into their web form, I can paste into Word and get the same count

Participant
June 25, 2020

Is it possible to do a word count using Adobe Acrobat DC? if so, how is it done?

Thank you

 

JR Boulay
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 25, 2020

Just install the (free) "Word Counter" plugin which is part of the (free) abracadabraTools: https://www.abracadabrapdf.net/?p=972

 

It is also available for Acrobat Reader.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
Inspiring
September 15, 2022

I tried this word counter. I got an up to 20% greater word count than using MS Word.

 

Some of the other tools look useful — basically one-click solutions to things that are done with Preflights. But if you're experienced enough to know how to use them properly* you likely already have custom preflight to do these things.

 

(* Crop, for example, says it "removes" marks and stuff outside the Trim. If you've ever cropped a PDF before you know it doesn't actually remove these items, just restricts them from view. This is important for people who believe they're removing sensitive data.)

Participant
July 24, 2019

I have a  multilined field named "Bio" that needs to have the words typed, counted. This field must also not allow the user to type in more then 65 words.  If less than 65 words the field is editable.  At 65 words the field becomes locked or read only. There is also field on the form, named "WordCount." This field will get/display the total words typed in the "Bio" field.

I hope someone can help.

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 24, 2019

Locking the field is a bad idea. What if the user made a mistake and wants to go back and edit it?

It's better to not allow more than 65 words to be entered by reject any new input when that happens.

To do that you would need to use a custom Keystroke script.

I've developed a similar (paid-for) tool that can count words "live" as the user types them into a field. It wouldn't be too hard to adjust it to also stop the user from entering more than a specific amount of words into it. You can find it here: Custom-made Adobe Scripts: Acrobat -- "Live" Characters and Words Counter

Known Participant
December 15, 2017

I have a script, counts words typed into text box and displays it in another box.

But the number of words only show up when you exit the field. I want the numbers to show as you type.... I tried on blur, mouse exit etc.....any ideas how to do it?

Validate / Run custom validation script

var aWords = event.value.split(" ");

this.getField("WordCount").value = aWords.length;

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 15, 2017

You need to create a custom Keystroke script, as that's the only one that is executed each time you type something into the field.

If you're interested I've already developed a tool that does just that: Custom-made Adobe Scripts: Acrobat -- "Live" Characters and Words Counter

Participant
March 5, 2017

I'd like to know how to get a word count on a PDF document? Also, how do I highlight an entire file (so I can copy it onto Word which gives me a word count) without highlighting the first line and scrolling down line by line. Email is:(Email Address removed by Moderator).

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 5, 2017

Reader doesn't have a word count feature.

Edit > Select all to highlight the text.

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
Participant
March 5, 2017

Where do I find "Edit" and "Select all"

In a message dated 3/5/2017 8:44:34 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,

forums_noreply@adobe.com writes:

Word count on Adobe

created by BarbBinder (https://forums.adobe.com/people/BarbBinder) in

Acrobat Reader - View the full discussion

(https://forums.adobe.com/message/9372213#9372213)

Legend
May 1, 2015

Select text, copy into Word, use Word's Properties.

d0nna6Author
Participant
May 1, 2015


That's the only way? Not so convenient with a long doc. Oh well. Thanks.

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 1, 2015

It can be done within Acrobat, but it requires a script. And it's more complicated with a passage. Basically that can't be done directly. You'll need to first do something like highlight the text using the Highlight commenting tool before a script could count the number of words in it.