I reported the same number three times. All three were wrong.

Description and use

During cleanup of templated text across 385 pages, the author repeatedly reported incorrect counts by using stale snapshots and two undefined metrics. The solution was a script that reads fresh disk data and hard‑codes the definitions, ensuring accurate counts.

Problem

Repeatedly quoting outdated counts of templated pages during cleanup, leading to incorrect reporting.

Outcome

Accurate counts prevented further misreporting and allowed focus on high‑value tasks.

Workflow

• 1. Rewrite pages as needed.
• 2. Run a fresh scan script that reads current disk state.
• 3. Use hard‑coded EXACT and SKELETON definitions to count duplicates.
• 4. Quote the resulting numbers before proceeding.
• 5. Stop when template boilerplate is within acceptable band.

Evidence

I counted from a snapshot I had already changed.

Source

I used two different definitions without saying which one.

Source

A script with the definitions hard‑coded into it, run fresh every time:

Source

It reads from disk on every run. No cached counts, no remembering what the number was last time.

Source