---
title: Character limits and notes for segments
description: You have the option to set a character limit for the segments in Matecat UI. You can also add a note to the segment.
---

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# Character limits and notes for segments

## Set character limits for target segments and add notes about the source text

### How to create a project with character limits and notes

When creating a project it may be necessary to set character limits for target segments or add notes for the translator to take into account while translating. Matecat allows you to do so by **uploading spreadsheet files** **formatted in a specific way** (.xlsx, .xls and Google Sheets), **json files** and standard-compliant **XLIFF files**.

#### Character limits in spreadsheet files

If you want to set character limits, add a column to the file that has **"cell\_character\_limit" in row 1** and enter the desired character limit (if anything but numbers is entered in the relevant cells, Matecat will show an error). When you do this, the first row of the file will not be imported (the header of any other column becomes irrelevant) and **the limit declared will be applied to any cell in the same row**. The content in cells with a character limit **will not be segmented**. **Column order is irrelevant**: the position of the character limit column will not affect whether character limits are applied or not.

Below is an example that illustrates the desired format of the file (keep in mind that the order of the columns does not invalidate the file). Click on the image to download the sample file.

[![](https://guides.matecat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Dec-12-2023-04-29-26-7517-PM.png?width=441&height=129&name=image-png-Dec-12-2023-04-29-26-7517-PM.png)](https://guides.matecat.com/hubfs/Sample%20file%20for%20character%20limits-1.xlsx?hsLang=en)

In Matecat's editor, the character limit will be shown in the top right section of the segment, along with a count of the current number of characters in the segment:

![](https://guides.matecat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Dec-12-2023-04-36-45-8845-PM.png?width=660&height=214&name=image-png-Dec-12-2023-04-36-45-8845-PM.png)

 

 If the number of characters in the target text is over the limit set, Matecat will flag it by making the current number of characters red and showing an error below the target segment.

#### Segment notes in spreadsheet files

If you want to add notes to segments, add a column to the file that has **"cell\_notes" in row 1**, the information in this column will be used as notes for the translator. When you do this, the first row of the file will not be imported (the header of any other column becomes irrelevant) and the **notes will be applied to any cell in the same row**. The content in cells with notes **will be segmented** unless they also have a character limit associated. **Column order is irrelevant**: the position of the notes column will not affect whether notes are applied or not.

Below is an example that illustrates the desired format of the file (keep in mind that the order of the columns does not invalidate the file). Click on the image to download the sample file.

[![](https://guides.matecat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Dec-12-2023-04-48-00-4364-PM.png?width=437&height=129&name=image-png-Dec-12-2023-04-48-00-4364-PM.png)](https://guides.matecat.com/hubfs/Sample%20file%20for%20notes.xlsx?hsLang=en)

The notes will appear in the **"Messages" tab** in Matecat's editor:

![messages tab](https://guides.matecat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/messages%20tab.png?width=660&height=153&name=messages%20tab.png)

#### Can a spreadsheet file have both character limits and notes?

**A file can have both character limits and notes**: just include both the character limit column and the notes column to have both applied to the cells in the same row. **Column order is irrelevant** and **any cell with a character limit will not be segmented**.

Below is an example that illustrates the desired format of the file (keep in mind that the order of the columns does not invalidate the file). Click on the image to download the sample file.

[![](https://guides.matecat.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Dec-13-2023-01-48-10-9017-PM.png?width=590&height=134&name=image-png-Dec-13-2023-01-48-10-9017-PM.png)](https://guides.matecat.com/hubfs/Sample%20file%20for%20notes%20and%20character%20limits.xlsx?hsLang=en)

#### What if my spreadsheet file has multiple sheets?

If your file has multiple sheets, **the filter will only apply to the sheet where the "cell\_character\_limit"  or "cell\_notes" columns are found**. For example, if you have a file with two sheets and only the first sheet has one of the columns, the character limits and /or notes will only be applied to cells in that sheet.

#### Json files

You can indicate **the keys whose content should be extracted as character limits or notes** for the translatable keys inside the same object. You can find further details in the [dedicated article](https://guides.matecat.com/file-import?hsLang=en#:~:text=Character%20limit%20keys%3A).

#### XLIFF files

Both the [XLIFF 1.2 standard](https://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/v1.2/os/xliff-core.html#SectionIntroduction) and [XLIFF 2.0 standard](https://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/xliff-core/v2.0/xliff-core-v2.0.html#d0e269) support notes and character limits for segments. If the tool you have exported the XLIFF file from is standard-compliant, it will be fully compatible with Matecat's features.

 

**Character counter settings**

Matecat offers different character counter settings to accommodate various translation needs. You can find more information on how to set up the character counter in Matecat in [this](https://guides.matecat.com/settings?hsLang=en#character-count)article.

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