How to parse  the log file using Notepad + +

As part of a daily testing routine with the log file, I  analyze the log file using Notepad++. 

Various tools in the market provide a convenient parse solution to the logs, but from my experience, most of the testers and developers who work with logs use Notepad++. 

In this post, I will explain how easily can be configured Notepad++  for log analysis.

In most of the cases, a common search keyword that tester searches “Fatal”, “Error” or “Warn”.

An easy way to identify the Exception in the log to mark each search entry in color. You could write a script and save it as an XML file, see an example:

– <NotepadPlus>

– <UserLang name=”server lag” ext=”log“>

– <Settings>

  <Global caseIgnored=”no” />

  <TreatAsSymbol comment=”no” commentLine=”no” />

  <Prefix words1=”no” words2=”no” words3=”no” words4=”no” />

  </Settings>

– <KeywordLists>

  <Keywords name=”Delimiters“>(00)00</Keywords>

  <Keywords name=”Folder+” />

  <Keywords name=”Folder-” />

  <Keywords name=”Operators” />

  <Keywords name=”Comment” />

  <Keywords name=”Words1“>FATAL</Keywords>

  <Keywords name=”Words2“>ERROR</Keywords>

  <Keywords name=”Words3“>WARN</Keywords>

  <Keywords name=”Words4” />

  </KeywordLists>

– <Styles>

  <WordsStyle name=”DEFAULT” styleID=”11” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”FOLDEROPEN” styleID=”12” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”FOLDERCLOSE” styleID=”13” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”KEYWORD1” styleID=”5” fgColor=”8000FF” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”1” />

  <WordsStyle name=”KEYWORD2” styleID=”6” fgColor=”FF0000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”1” />

  <WordsStyle name=”KEYWORD3” styleID=”7” fgColor=”FF8000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”1” />

  <WordsStyle name=”KEYWORD4” styleID=”8” fgColor=”003162” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”COMMENT” styleID=”1” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”COMMENT LINE” styleID=”2” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”NUMBER” styleID=”4” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”OPERATOR” styleID=”10” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”1” />

  <WordsStyle name=”DELIMINER1” styleID=”14” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”EAEAEA” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”DELIMINER2” styleID=”15” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  <WordsStyle name=”DELIMINER3” styleID=”16” fgColor=”000000” bgColor=”FFFFFF” fontName=”” fontStyle=”0” />

  </Styles>

  </UserLang>

  </NotepadPlus>

What are you using to logs analyzing? Comment here your best practices with an logs. 

Is this post helpful for you? Share your thoughts in comments on how it helped you. 

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