Diese Seite in Deutsch
Logtext - Professional Logging
Home - Download - Documentation - Forum - Bug Report - Contact - License Agreement - External Links
 
 
Welcome to Logtext, the ultimate utility for logging from within programs and batch files for Windows operating systems. It is now a piece of cake to measure run-times of batch files, console programs, and your own Windows applications, to log processes and find errors and faults. Even months back.
 
 
 
 
News
 
2007-12-28 New version 1.6.21. The new version fixes a bug in logtext.exe that prevented the LINES option from working properly. The fix also causes a minor speed benefit for the DLL.
2007-12-11 New version 1.6.20. This version fixes a bug in logtext.dll when the NTFS_COMPRESS flag is used.
  Older news....

 
 
What is Logtext?
 
On one hand Logtext is a command line utility which is invoked from within command line scripts (batch files).
Command line utility Logtext  
It can store the output in log files and print it on a command line window, both at the same time or just one of them. It works as a filter (like, for instance, the command 'more') or as a command line utility which receives the text to log as a parameter.  
 
On the other hand Logtext is a DLL (Direct Link Library) for developers which is loaded and used from within self-written applications.
 
 
What is Logtext capable of?
  • Logtext is easy to handle. For instance, the command line utility is called by using a command like 
    logtext logfile/application text [options] [maxlogs] [maxzips]
    to log text. The DLL is loaded with LoadLibrary () and the logging functions are invoked by using the addresses returned by GetProcAddress ().
     
  • Automatically deletes old log files.
     
  • Automatically compresses (packs) old log files (default format is .gz from the library zlib, but an external packer can be used as well).
     
  • Statements like 'Keep the most recent 5 log files uncompressed and pack the remaining files into an archive".
     
  • Automatic log file rotation (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or no rotation at all).
     
  • Dates in file names according to ISO 8601 (YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-WXX).
     
  • Real-time logging via queue (FIFO buffer). Write operations into the log file and packing/compression are handled by a separate process thread. The calling process does not get delayed.
     
  • Rotation/compression can be handled via counter (for instance: "Check after 10,000 logged lines whether the log file has to be rotated/compressed").
     
  • Log files can be used as a ring buffer, i.e. the 'rotation' takes place within a single file. It is possible to distinguish between the maximum file size or a maximum amount of lines in the log file.
     
  • The log files are plain text files, i.e. they can be analysed by basically any arbitrary text editor (like for instance Notepad).
     
Log file in Notepad
Log file in a Notepad window
 
 
Log file in Notepad++
Log file in the text editor Notepad++
 
  • Logged lines always start with date and time in the format according to ISO 8601, alternatively with or without 'T' as a deliminator. Times additionally include the time zone by default.
     
  • The DLL logtext.dll can be configured outside the calling application via an Ini file (logtext.ini). For every application is an own section in this file available. Additionally, there is a [Default] section which is read for any application for which no section exists.
     
  • Logtext's internal actions like reading configuration, deleting and compressing log files are written to the log file as well. Of course, this behaviour can be suppressed by the caller.
     
How much is Logtext?
 
Logtext is for free! By saying for free we mean for free!  
 
For us, this means: No hidden advertising, no so-called "Adware", "Spyware", or whatever!  
 
You may download Logtext from this page and use it as often as you like. This applies to personal as well as commercial purposes. However, please note that there is a difference between for free and public domain software. The command line program Logtext and the DLL Logtext are copyrighted Software. Please read the License Agreement.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Home - Download - Documentation - Forum - Bug Report - Contact - License Agreement - External Links
(C) 2007 Thomas Belmer
Diese Seite in Deutsch