Download The Abacus version 3.0...

Note: If you have MS Word 2003 or 2007, you will need to make changes to your Word security settings to allow Abacus to work. These changes are outlined in the Abacus FAQ which will be in your Abacus folder when you install Abacus. If you would rather not have to deal with these security issues, you may prefer to use the standalone version, Abacus SE.

Download the self-extracting file (recommended): To download The Abacus as a self-extracting and self-installing file,
click here
and the ZIPPED installation file "abacus30exe.zip" can be downloaded to your computer. Then double click on the file to yield the Abacus installation file, "abacus30.exe", which you then double click on to install. The Abacus program files will be copied to their correct locations on your computer, and a program group with icons will be created. The program group will include icons for the Readme file and the Abacus Uninstall utility. It will NOT include an icon for The Abacus, as you must start it from inside Word.

Download the zipped file without self-extracting and installing: To download The Abacus in the zipped format,
click here
This file will not contain the program's Setup or Uninstall utility. The Abacus files must be manually installed. To do this, unzip the downloaded file, "abacus30.zip". This will produce 4 new files. Here's what you do with them:

  • Copy the file "abacus.dot" to Word's "startup" folder. This is usually located on your hard drive in "c:\program files\microsoft office\office\startup";
  • Copy the file "abacus30.dll" to the "c:\windows" folder (which on Windows NT or Windows 2000 will be named "c:\winnt");
  • Create a folder named "abacus" on your C: hard drive and copy the other two files ("faq.htm" and "readme.htm") to this folder.
    That's it.

    Download an older version of the Abacus: To download version 2.1 of The Abacus,
    click here
    and the installation file "abacus21.exe" will start or can be downloaded to your computer.

    How to Start The Abacus:

    You start The Abacus after first starting Word. You cannot run The Abacus independently from Word, as Abacus is a Word "add-in" program. It automatically starts when you start Word. The Abacus program itself can be found in Word's "startup" folder, and is named "abacus.dot".

    The Abacus has a built in shortcut key which can be used to easily start Abacus when you have a document open in Word and are ready to count its lines. Simultaneously press the key combination "Ctrl-Shift-A" to start The Abacus. You can also start Abacus by placing it on Word's menu or toolbar. (See the Word "Help" file or the Abacus "Readme" file for instructions if you are unsure how to do this.) If you find that the shortcut key does not work properly, you may have to reset Word's hotkeys. This can easily be done from the Word keyboard screen, accessed by clicking on "Tools->Customize->Keyboard".

    You can also start The Abacus as you would start a macro. To do so, simultaneously press the Alt-F8 keys to open Word's "Macros" screen. On this screen you should see the file "abacus.dot" listed in the "Macros in:" dropdown box. You should also see the individual Abacus macros in the "Macro name:" box. If you click on the macro named "AbacusCountLines" and then click on the "Run" button, Abacus will start. If you click on the macro named "AbacusLogFile", you will open the currently active Abacus log file as a text document in Word. If you click on "AbacusMakeInvoice", an invoice will be created out of a log file, if one is currently open in Word.

    Need more help?

    FAQ page | Readme page

    • Top of page