diff --git a/src/app/commands/count.rs b/src/app/commands/count.rs
index 4a30a0c10..754b6db80 100644
--- a/src/app/commands/count.rs
+++ b/src/app/commands/count.rs
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                     .count
                     .as_ref()
                     .filter(|m| m.target.is_some())
-                    .map(|m| m.result(&self.tabs[i].scene.document).counted.len())
+                    .map(|m| m.count(&self.tabs[i].scene.document))
                     .unwrap_or(0),
             ),
             "COUNTPALETTESTATE" => Some(self.count_palette.show as usize),
@@ -374,9 +374,12 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                 .collect(),
             _ => Vec::new(),
         };
-        if targets.is_empty() && matches!(area_tokens.first(), Some(&"C") | Some(&"E") | None) {
+        // List all blocks: the palette, counting in the area when one was drawn.
+        if targets.is_empty() {
             self.set_count_palette(true);
-            return;
+            if matches!(area_tokens.first(), Some(&"C") | Some(&"E") | None) {
+                return;
+            }
         }
         let Some((area, boundary)) = self.resolve_count_area(i, area_tokens) else {
             return;
@@ -403,7 +406,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
         }
         let mode = CountMode { area, boundary, target, cursor: None, epoch: 0 };
         if let Some(name) = mode.target_name() {
-            let n = mode.result(&self.tabs[i].scene.document).counted.len();
+            let n = mode.count(&self.tabs[i].scene.document);
             self.command_line.push_output(&format!("{name} ...... {n}"));
         }
         self.tabs[i].count = Some(mode);
diff --git a/src/app/control/actions.rs b/src/app/control/actions.rs
index e39367343..e49f72008 100644
--- a/src/app/control/actions.rs
+++ b/src/app/control/actions.rs
@@ -1088,6 +1088,8 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                     "link_text" => F::HyperlinkText(v.into()),
                     "link_url" => F::HyperlinkUrl(v.into()),
                     "plot_scale" => F::PlotScale(index(codec::fields::PLOT_SCALE_FORMATS.len())?),
+                    "count" => F::CountExpression(v.into()),
+                    "show_instances" => F::ShowCountInstances,
                     _ => return Err(failure("invalid_value", "Unknown field dialog key")),
                 })
             }
diff --git a/src/ui/window/count_palette.rs b/src/ui/window/count_palette.rs
index 7da66744c..877ad92c0 100644
--- a/src/ui/window/count_palette.rs
+++ b/src/ui/window/count_palette.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,15 @@ impl CountMode {
         }
     }
 
+    /// What the count shows: the counted references, or 1 for a group whose
+    /// objects all exist.
+    pub fn count(&self, doc: &CadDocument) -> usize {
+        match &self.target {
+            Some(CountTarget::Group(handles)) => usize::from(handles.iter().all(|h| doc.get_entity(*h).is_some())),
+            _ => self.result(doc).counted.len(),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// The name the toolbar and the command line show for the target.
     pub fn target_name(&self) -> Option<String> {
         match &self.target {
@@ -421,7 +430,7 @@ fn mode_view<'a>(palette: &'a CountPalette, mode: &'a CountMode, doc: &CadDocume
         let mut details = column![button(
             row![
                 crate::ui::icons::themed_success(CHECK_ICON, 12.0),
-                text(format!("{name}: {}", result.counted.len())).size(12).width(Fill),
+                text(format!("{name}: {}", mode.count(doc))).size(12).width(Fill),
             ]
             .spacing(6)
             .align_y(iced::Center),
@@ -504,7 +513,7 @@ fn bar_button<'a>(icon: Element<'a, Message>, tip: String, m: Option<CountMsg>)
 pub fn toolbar<'a>(mode: &CountMode, doc: &CadDocument) -> Element<'a, Message> {
     let has_target = mode.target.is_some();
     let result = mode.result(doc);
-    let count = if has_target { result.counted.len().to_string() } else { "-".to_string() };
+    let count = if has_target { mode.count(doc).to_string() } else { "-".to_string() };
     let status: Element<'a, Message> = if !result.errors.is_empty() {
         crate::ui::icons::themed_warning(WARNING_ICON, 14.0)
     } else if has_target {