# File lib/active_record/calculations.rb, line 44
      def count(*args)
        options     = {}
        column_name = :all
        # For backwards compatibility, we need to handle both count(conditions=nil, joins=nil) or count(options={}) or count(column_name=:all, options={}).
        if args.size >= 0 && args.size <= 2
          if args.first.is_a?(Hash)
            options     = args.first
          elsif args[1].is_a?(Hash)
            options     = args[1]
            column_name = args.first
          else
            # Handle legacy paramter options: def count(conditions=nil, joins=nil)
            options.merge!(:conditions => args[0]) if args.length > 0
            options.merge!(:joins => args[1])      if args.length > 1
          end
        else
          raise(ArgumentError, "Unexpected parameters passed to count(*args): expected either count(conditions=nil, joins=nil) or count(options={})")
        end

        if options[:include] || scope(:find, :include)
          count_with_associations(options)
        else
          calculate(:count, column_name, options)
        end
      end