[merk]

Try putting the below into postbit_display_start

PHP Code:

if($post['postcount'] == 1)
{
$post['text_length'] = strlen($post['message']);
} 


Then, using conditionals

<if condition="$post['postcount'] == 1">
 <if condition="$post['text_length'] <= 500">This message is less than or equal  to 500 characters
 <else />
 <if condition="$post['text_length'] <= 700">so on
 <else />
 etc.....
 </if>
 </if>
</if>