How to Write Java server logs to separate log file

Question

Hi, Right now we are using a customized logger method for our application but now we have a stand alone code for which we need to write to a separate log file. We have little idea about log4j. I just want to know where to change properties if any so that i don't disturb the existing logger application as well as we write our logs into new log file.

Answer 1

Just use FileAppender and specify a new filename in the constructor.

Answer 2

First define a file appender:

log4j.appender.LOGFILE=org.apache.log4j.FileAppender
log4j.appender.LOGFILE.File=/mylogfile.log
log4j.appender.LOGFILE.Append=true
log4j.appender.LOGFILE.layout=org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout
log4j.appender.LOGFILE.layout.ConversionPattern=%d [%t] %-5p %c %x - %m%n

Then point your package to use this appender:

log4j.logger.mypackage=LOGFILE
log4j.additivity.mypackage=false

The last line is important if you do not want your package to inherit the global appender. Doing so will result in the log messages from mypackage also printed at the default appender.

Answer 3

in log4j you can direct log entries to separate files based upon pacakge name.

log4j.logger.your.package1= LOG,STDOUT

log4j.additivity.your.package1=false

log4j.logger.your.package2= DEBUG, STDOUT

log4j.additivity.your.package2=false

Answer 4

Hi "kgiannakakis". How do I implement this in Java code? And what does represent "mypackage"? Because I always fall in the fault of log inside the logger declared in rootCategory.

Thanks.

Answer 5

I use XML configuration.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE log4j:configuration SYSTEM "log4j.dtd">
<log4j:configuration xmlns:log4j="http://jakarta.apache.org/log4j/"&gt;
<appender name="logfile" class="org.apache.log4j.FileAppender">
 <param name="file" value="app.log"/>
 <layout class="org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout">
  <param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d-%5p(%F:%L)-%m%n"/>
 </layout>
</appender>
<appender name="myLogfile" class="org.apache.log4j.FileAppender">
 <param name="file" value="myFile.log"/>
 <layout class="org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout">
  <param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d-%5p(%F:%L)-%m%n"/>
 </layout>
</appender>
<logger name="org.myApp">
 <level value="INFO"/>
    <appender-ref ref="myLogfile" />
</logger>
<root>
 <level value="ERROR" />
 <appender-ref ref="logfile" />
</root>
</log4j:configuration>