[image] I have the character limit set to 128 characters. Since at 128 characters the timeline bar aligns perfectly at 100% or more zoom. You can get around this first line width by just posting multiple lines. I want to keep things clean so I am wanting to force this. I tried keeping the formatting with CSS but nothing I tried worked to get it to look the way I wanted. This is the best solution.

Please don’t use a plugin for this, unnecessary: [image] Composer Character Count Theme component information_source Summary A Theme Component to simultaneously display count the number of characters typed in the composer as well as the required number to post. Tracks Post body and Topic Title separately. hammer_and_wrench Repository Link GitHub - merefield/discourse-tc-character-count: A Theme Component to simultaneously count the number of characters typed in the composer as well as the required number to post! open_book Install Guide Installing a theme or theme compo…

Hmm… have you seen this plugin? [image] Discourse Characters Required Plugin discourse2 Summary Discourse Characters Required adds a count of characters required in the composer. hammer_and_wrench Repository Link https://github.com/discourse/discourse-characters-required open_book Install Guide How to install plugins in Discourse Features If installed, users will see an indicator of how many characters are required before their post can be made: [screenshot] Last edited by @JammyDodger 2024-06-03T22:00:39Z (UTC) play_button Check document

That is definitely helpful. I still think people will write like this and circumvent that. But I will add it as I think it will lead to better quality first lines.

I don’t think that plugin works to force users to write exactly 128 characters into the first paragraph of their post. Maybe a form template with a field at the top that is configured to require at least 128 characters and no more than 128 characters could work. But the template only works on first posts and isn’t enforced on edits. Choosing words to exactly meet a character requirement might be a really frustrating experience.

Yeah doesn’t need to be exact just more.

Looking at the code of the plugin, it seems completely redundant as a plugin since there’s no backend logic?? I’m surprised it hasn’t been converted…

It was. That’s what my theme component was derived from (albeit updated) - hence the credit.

Thanks works well, nice that I can change the color of the counter also.

Is there a way to force people to write exact characters for a single line?

Product Support

merefield (Robert) May 2, 2026, 10:57am 6

Please don’t use a plugin for this, unnecessary:

Topic		Replies	Views
Going over the character limit should be presented earlier Feature	3	1066	May 6, 2019
Character count when writing description Feature composer , characters-required	14	2242	March 24, 2025
Suggestion for the "Characters Required" plugin Feature	11	632	March 24, 2025
Composer Character Count Theme component	6	505	August 19, 2026
Discourse Characters Required Plugin official , characters-required	0	3770	January 3, 2018

Is there a way to force people to write exact characters for a single line?

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