In the text of the page, put "X character limit." Then $text = substr($text, 0, X)

You can also add the following as a guide to your form-submitters.

<input value="X" size="3" name="msgCL" disabled>

    <script language="JavaScript">
    <!--
    var supportsKeys = false
    function tick() {
      calcCharLeft(document.forms[0])
      if (!supportsKeys) timerID = setTimeout("tick()",200)
    }

    function calcCharLeft(sig) {
      clipped = false
      maxLength = 200 //Change this.
      if (document.creator.signature.value.length > maxLength) {
        document.creator.signature.value = document.creator.signature.
+value.substring(0,maxLength)
        charleft = 0
        clipped = true
      } else {
        charleft = maxLength - document.creator.signature.value.length
      }
      document.creator.msgCL.value = charleft
      return clipped
    }

    tick();
    //-->
    </script>
[download]

Hope this helps