Because I noticed that the OpenOffice WP is quite slow to update a document's word count (a save does not necessarily update the count, if ever), I started saving, quitting, and reopening in order to prod an update out of it--it was the simplest way, when I am impatient to know. If I just waited, how long would it take? Does anyone know?

I tried to see how the word count behaved in OpenOffice 2.2, and when I open up the word count dialog, it won't let me change my text until I close it again. If I write more and then open up the word count dialog, the stats have updated properly.

Is the same thing happening to you - except that the word count stays the same as the first time you checked it? Some clarification on what behavior your experiencing would be helpful. Also, what version of OpenOffice you are using?

I'll try to clarify. I don't think I have ever seen the count update itself within a short time--say, five minutes--whether or not I save (or have autosave on). The only way I can force an update is to quit and reopen. More typing does not cause an update for me as you say it does for you. And my OO version is 2.2.

You wouldn’t happen to be using .doc files, are you? I did some digging around in the OpenOffice issue tracker, and found this bug: http://documentation.openoffice.org/...g.cgi?id=74537 It says that with .doc files, the word count would display old numbers unless the program was restarted. Which sounds a lot like what you are experiencing.

That bug, among a few others, indicate that OpenOffice has been known to exhibit some strange word counting behavior with .doc files. Try saving with the standard OpenOffice format, .odt. If you already are using .odt, then I have no idea what to suggest. Good luck!

Yup...that was it. Thank you.