Matrix in Template: how to get total rows?

Question

I need to know outside of the Matrix tag pair the total rows that it has. To get total rows within the tag pair, this works for me:

{matrix_field_short_name}
   <h1>{total_rows}</h1>
{/matrix_field_short_name}

Outside the tag pair, it seems like this should work: {matrix_field_short_name:total_rows} per http://pixelandtonic.com/matrix/docs/templates. However, instead of getting an integer, I'm getting the string http://domain.com/member_uploads/_s:total_rows/slide.jpg.

My Matrix field is names images and it contains the columns image (the file) and caption (a text field).

Any idea what might be going on?

EDIT 1: Code Snippet

<h1>{images:total_rows}</h1>                        

{images}                                            
    <div class="{if row_count == 1}active{/if} item">
        <img src="{image:250x250}" alt="{caption}"/>
    </div>
    <div class="carousel-caption">
        <p>{caption}</p>
    </div>  
{/images}

Answer 1

I agree with the name. I've run into that before. I have adapted a matrix naming convention of a small prefix from the matrix field then whatever I need : eg. seg-images if the matrix field is segments. In your case, it looks like you have images as the matrix field itself. Try naming it something like mx-images.