If you just want to add a character counter for your excerpt, use this function and js.
The Php for your functions.php
// This goes in your functions.php file inside your themes folder
// Add theme support for post formats
add_theme_support( 'post-formats', array( 'aside', 'status' ) );
// Add the character counter to the admin UI
function wpse16854_char_count_script( $page )
{
$post = get_post( $_GET['post'] );
$post_type = $post->post_type;
if ( 'page' !== $post_type )
if ( 'post.php' === $page OR 'post-new.php' === $page )
wp_enqueue_script( 'excerpt-counter', get_template_directory_uri().'/excerpt-counter.js', array('jquery') );
}
add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', 'wpse16854_char_count_script' );
The JavaScript
// This should be saved inside a file named 'excerpt-counter.js' inside your themes folder
jQuery( document ).ready( function($)
{
$( "#excerpt" ).after( "<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><small>Excerpt length: </small><input type=\"text\" value=\"0\" maxlength=\"3\" size=\"3\" id=\"excerpt_counter\" readonly=\"\"> <small>character(s).</small></p>" );
$( "#ilc_excerpt_counter" ).val( $("#excerpt").val().length );
$( "#excerpt" ).keyup( function()
{
$( "#ilc_excerpt_counter" ).val( $("#excerpt").val().length );
} );
} );
The Loop
Then just use the post format “status” (or aside or whatever) when publishing a “twitter like” post and place the following inside your loop:
// place the following inside your loop
if ( has_post_format( 'status' ) OR 'status' == get_post_format( $GLOBALS['post']->ID ) OR is_object_in_term( $GLOBALS['post']->ID, 'post_format', 'status' ) )
{
the_excerpt();
}
else
{
the_content(); // or however you want to treat normal posts
}