Index: lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/web/actions/AuthoringAction.java
===================================================================
diff -u -rbd376d76233dad7d0a0775762385918fcbb96f4c -rd7adf6de8184f09b4a96db90aa072276d6533067
--- lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/web/actions/AuthoringAction.java	(.../AuthoringAction.java)	(revision bd376d76233dad7d0a0775762385918fcbb96f4c)
+++ lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/web/actions/AuthoringAction.java	(.../AuthoringAction.java)	(revision d7adf6de8184f09b4a96db90aa072276d6533067)
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@
 			if(StringUtils.equals(modeStr, ToolAccessMode.TEACHER.toString())){
 				return errors;
 			}
-			if(!form.getForum().isAllowRichEditor()){
+			if(!form.getForum().isAllowRichEditor() && form.getForum().isLimitedInput()){
 				if(form.getForum().getLimitedChar() <=0){
 					ActionMessage error = new ActionMessage("error.limit.char.less.zero");
 					errors.add(ActionMessages.GLOBAL_MESSAGE, error);
Index: lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/web/actions/LearningAction.java
===================================================================
diff -u -rd07409f014674f056d1bd67d865ba77f0f8298e9 -rd7adf6de8184f09b4a96db90aa072276d6533067
--- lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/web/actions/LearningAction.java	(.../LearningAction.java)	(revision d07409f014674f056d1bd67d865ba77f0f8298e9)
+++ lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/web/actions/LearningAction.java	(.../LearningAction.java)	(revision d7adf6de8184f09b4a96db90aa072276d6533067)
@@ -198,9 +198,12 @@
 		}
 		
 		//set some option flag to HttpSession
+		// if allowRichEditor = true then don't restrict the number of chars
+		// if isLimitedInput = false then don't restrict the number of chars
+		// Indicate don't restrict number of chars by allowNumber = 0
 		Long forumId = forum.getUid();
 		Boolean allowRichEditor = new Boolean(forum.isAllowRichEditor());
-		int allowNumber = forum.getLimitedChar();
+		int allowNumber = forum.isLimitedInput() || forum.isAllowRichEditor() ? forum.getLimitedChar() : 0;
 		
 		// get notebook entry
 		String entryText = new String();
Index: lams_tool_forum/web/jsps/learning/message/bodyarea.jsp
===================================================================
diff -u -re32edf3f59266506e8fdbd10f7b61175111fc4dc -rd7adf6de8184f09b4a96db90aa072276d6533067
--- lams_tool_forum/web/jsps/learning/message/bodyarea.jsp	(.../bodyarea.jsp)	(revision e32edf3f59266506e8fdbd10f7b61175111fc4dc)
+++ lams_tool_forum/web/jsps/learning/message/bodyarea.jsp	(.../bodyarea.jsp)	(revision d7adf6de8184f09b4a96db90aa072276d6533067)
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@
 		<%-- Does not user general tag becuase this field need keep compatible with FCKEditor's content --%>
 		<lams:STRUTS-textarea rows="10" cols="40" tabindex="2" property="message.body" styleId="messageBody" />
 		<BR>
-		<fmt:message key="lable.char.left" />:  
-		<span id="charleftDiv"></span>
-		<input type="hidden" name="limitCount" id="limitCount" />
-		<script type="text/javascript">
+		<%-- If limitChars == 0, then we don't want to limit the characters at all. --%>
+		<c:if test="${sessionMap.limitedChars > 0}">
+			<fmt:message key="lable.char.left" />:  
+			<span id="charleftDiv"></span>
+			<input type="hidden" name="limitCount" id="limitCount" />
+			<script type="text/javascript">
 					<!--
 					var limit = <c:out value="${sessionMap.limitedChars}"/>;
 					var bodyTxt = document.getElementById("messageBody");
@@ -39,7 +41,8 @@
 					bodyTxt.onkeydown = calculateLeft;
 					bodyTxt.onkeyup = calculateLeft;
 					-->
-				</script>
+			</script>
+		</c:if>
 	</c:otherwise>
 </c:choose>
 <BR>