Add Timestamp to Trace.WriteLine()

Question

In my C# .NET application I have an issue with the Trace.WriteLine()-method. I uses this method alot, and want to add a TimeStamp every time I use it.

Instead of Trace.WriteLine(DateTime.Now + " Something wrong!"), is there a solution where the DateTime is on default?

Answer 1

You could write a wrapper method that did it:

public static void DoTrace(string message)
{
    DoTrace(message,true);
}

public static void DoTrace(string message, bool includeDate)
{
    if (includeDate) {
        Trace.WriteLine(DateTime.Now + ": " + message);
    } else {
        Trace.WriteLine(message);
    }
}

Answer 2

Just write your own "TraceLine(string msg)" method and start calling that:

void TraceLine(string msg, bool OmitDate)
{
    if (!OmitDate)
        msg = DateTime.Now + " " + msg;
    Trace.WriteLine(msg);
}

void TraceLine(string msg) {TraceLine(msg, false);}

Answer 3

We use log4net TraceAppender where you can config layout or filtering easily.

Answer 4

I thought actually, there was a way of override the method Trace.WriteLine(), like when you override ToString()?

Answer 5

You can configure the TraceOutputOptions flags enum.

var listener = new ConsoleTraceListener() { TraceOutputOptions = TraceOptions.Timestamp | TraceOptions.Callstack };
Trace.Listeners.Add(listener);

Trace.TraceInformation("hello world");

This does not work for Write and WriteLine, you have use the TraceXXX methods. This can also be configured in your App.config.