Overview
Character Counter displays real-time character counts on message and text fields in JobTread. See exactly how many characters you've typed and how many remain before hitting field limits. Color-coded warnings help you stay within bounds.
Key Features
- Real-Time Count - Updates as you type
- Color-Coded Warnings - Visual alerts as you approach limits
- Smart Field Detection - Automatically detects field type and limit
- Multiple Field Support - Works on messages, notes, names, and more
- Over-Limit Alerts - Clear indication when you've exceeded the limit
- Inline Display - Counter appears in the toolbar, not obstructing your view
Character Limits by Field Type
| Field Type |
Character Limit |
| Messages & Comments |
4,096 characters |
| Notes & Descriptions |
5,000 characters |
| Name, Title, Subject |
255 characters |
| Email |
255 characters |
| Phone |
50 characters |
| Address |
500 characters |
| Default (Unknown) |
4,096 characters |
Visual Feedback
Color Coding
The counter changes color based on how close you are to the limit:
| Status |
Color |
Remaining |
| Safe |
Gray |
More than 15% remaining |
| Warning |
Orange (Bold) |
5-15% remaining |
| Danger |
Red (Bold) |
0-5% remaining |
| Over Limit |
Dark Red (Bold) |
Exceeded limit |
Display Format
- Normal:
123 / 4096 - Current count / Maximum
- At Limit:
Limit reached
- Over Limit:
50 over limit - Shows how many characters to remove
How It Works
Automatic Detection
The counter automatically appears when you focus on a text field. It detects the field type using:
- HTML maxlength attribute
- Field name or ID patterns
- Placeholder text
- Aria-label attributes
- Parent element context
Counter Location
The counter appears inline in the message toolbar, typically next to action buttons like "Send" or the writing assistant icon. This keeps it visible without obstructing your typing area.
Getting Started
-
Enable the Feature
Open JT Power Tools popup and enable "Character Counter"
-
Navigate to Messages
Go to any page with a message or text field
-
Start Typing
Click in a text field and the counter appears automatically
-
Monitor Your Count
Watch the counter update in real-time as you type
Common Use Cases
Customer Messages
When writing messages to customers, the counter ensures your entire message will be delivered without truncation.
Daily Log Entries
Keep track of character usage when entering detailed daily log notes to ensure nothing gets cut off.
Budget Descriptions
Monitor description length when adding detailed budget line item descriptions.
Job Notes
Ensure your job notes stay within the allowed limit for complete storage.
Tips & Best Practices
Staying Within Limits
- Watch for the orange warning - it's your cue to start wrapping up
- If you go over, the "X over limit" message tells you exactly how much to cut
- Consider splitting long messages into multiple messages
- Use bullet points or abbreviations to save space when needed
Performance
- Counter updates are optimized to not slow down typing
- Works efficiently even on pages with many text fields
- No impact on JobTread's normal functionality
Compatibility
- Dark Mode - Counter colors adjust for dark background
- Text Formatter - Works alongside the formatting toolbar
- All JobTread Pages - Automatically detects text fields across the app
Troubleshooting
Counter Not Appearing?
- Make sure the feature is enabled in the extension popup
- Try clicking directly in the text field
- Some custom fields may not be detected automatically
Wrong Character Limit?
- The counter uses best-guess detection for field types
- If a field is misdetected, it defaults to 4,096 characters
- JobTread will enforce the actual limit when you submit
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