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Word Count Validator: Difference between revisions

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==The Validator==
==The Validator==


The validator is available from the user's profile (under 'Edit Novel Info')  Whereas previously the file had to be uploaded as a .txt file (which often caused issues with users who did not save in this format and were not aware of how to convert it), the current validator allows a simple copy and paste into a text box.  The entire process is done by computers, so the words are never seen by human eyes and are deleted off the site once counted.  The validator cannot handle exceptionally large volumes of text and tends to time out around 110,000 words; [[Overachiever|overachievers]] above that mark must submit only a portion and then correct their wordcount manually.  Users are encouraged to check the validator regularly to avoid surprises as some programs (such as a known glitch in Open Office involving smart (curly) quotes) produce higher wordcounts than the validator due to bugs or different algorithms.
The validator is available from the user's profile (under 'Edit Novel Info'). Whereas previously the file had to be uploaded as a .txt file (which often caused issues with users who did not save in this format and were not aware of how to convert it), the current validator allows a simple copy and paste into a text box.  The entire process is done by computers, so the words are never seen by human eyes and are deleted off the site once counted.  The validator cannot handle exceptionally large volumes of text and tends to time out around 110,000 words; [[Overachiever|overachievers]] above that mark must submit only a portion and then correct their wordcount manually.  Users are encouraged to check the validator regularly to avoid surprises as some programs (such as a known glitch in Open Office involving smart (curly) quotes) produce higher wordcounts than the validator due to bugs or different algorithms.


Although it is unknown exactly what algorithm the validator uses, it is believed to function by counting the number of things between spaces, similar to the 'wordcount' (wc) function of Unix.  Because it does not identify different types of non-space characters, the phrase "Well...no" will be counted as one word, whereas "Well - no" will be three.  It also does not distinguish characters used to place a break between scenes - the characters "***" will be read as one word, whereas "* * * * * * * *" will be read as eight.  Some Wrimos use this as a form of [[padding]].
Although it is unknown exactly what algorithm the validator uses, it is believed to function by counting the number of things between spaces, similar to the 'wordcount' (wc) function of Unix.  Because it does not identify different types of non-space characters, the phrase "Well...no" will be counted as one word, whereas "Well - no" will be three.  It also does not distinguish characters used to place a break between scenes - the characters "***" will be read as one word, whereas "* * * * * * * *" will be read as eight.  Some Wrimos use this as a form of [[padding]].


[[Category:NaNoWriMo terms]]
[[Category:NaNoWriMo terms]]