Why isn't there a trace level in log4Net ?

Question

Hi

I was just wondering why there isn't a trace level in log4Net. This level seems to be missing and I sometimes feel the need to use it, for example to output what events are being executed in an application. This feature is a part of log4J.

I know I can create a custom level like is talked about here but I don't want to put time and effort in something I feel should be part of the library itself.

Do you know about a log4net extension library which implements this or why this wasn't a part of the port to .net ?

Answer 1

There is a trace level http://logging.apache.org/log4net/release/sdk/log4net.Core.Level.Trace.html

Answer 2

The log4net.ILog interface only exposes methods and properties for Fatal,Error,Warn,Info and Debug levels.

I agree this is a bit limiting, and would like to see one more level in there. But then the optimal number of levels is probably "one more than the current number of levels" - you'll always find yourself occasionally wanting one more level.

Answer 3

You can add a Verbose (or Trace level) to log4net by using extension methods. This is what I'm using:

public static class ILogExtentions
{
    private static readonly log4net.ILog log = 
        log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);

    public static void Trace(this ILog log, string message, Exception exception)
    {
        log.Logger.Log(System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType, 
            log4net.Core.Level.Trace, message, exception);
    }

    public static void Trace(this ILog log, string message)
    {
        log.Trace(message, null);
    }

    public static void Verbose(this ILog log, string message, Exception exception)
    {
        log.Logger.Log(System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType, 
            log4net.Core.Level.Verbose, message, exception);
    }

    public static void Verbose(this ILog log, string message)
    {
        log.Verbose(message, null);
    }

}

Usage example:

public class ClientDAO
{
    private static readonly log4net.ILog log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(typeof(ClientDAO));

    public void GetClientByCode()
    {
        log.Trace("your verbose message here");
        //....
    }
}

Source:

http://www.matthewlowrance.com/post/2010/07/14/Logging-to-Trace-Verbose-etc-with-log4net.aspx