log file path

[lschiere]

The user should perhaps be able to decide where to save logs.

[rlaager]

Why? Are symlinks not sufficient? Are you concerned about win32?

[lschiere]

I created the ticket from the contents of our .todo files.

Possible rationales: 1)win32 users don't really have symlinks available to them 2)should a user need to mess with symlinks to change the log locations? 3)would we like to make the log location something a UI could change?

*shrugs* You can close/reject this if you like. I just thought it was worth posting to get revisited since it was considered worth adding a .todo item for it at one point.

[rlaager]

It seems to me that if you want to store your logs elsewhere, you probably want to do the same with your entire .gaim folder. For that, we have GAIM_HOME on win32 or symlinks or gaim -c on Unix. I'm going to close this. We can revisit it later. If you get any users asking about this, let me know.

[seanegan]

I'm going to reopen this. It seems common that people don't want their logs stored with their settings, especially on Windows. It's a minor priority enhancement, and even if we choose not to do it, at least well be able to resolve a ton of bugs as "duplicate of #207"

[mshkutkov]

Replying to lschiere:

Possible rationales: 1)win32 users don't really have symlinks available to them 2)should a user need to mess with symlinks to change the log locations? 3)would we like to make the log location something a UI could change?

1),3) I think it is not a rationales to change logs path. For what exact reasons You want to do movement?
2) Symlinks is rather common solution, so I think it's all right.

As for me, I've never been in need of such movement.

[billflu]

I am dual booting in both Windows Vista and Ubuntu 7.04, using Pidgin in both. I have enabled NTFS write support in Ubuntu. I am looking to change the path Pidgin writes its logs too in Ubuntu to be the same as the path they are written to in Windows, so the logs stay updated. This is one good use for this option.

[rlaager]

Make a symlink in Linux to point the logs directory to the Windows log directory.

[ydgmms]

I would like this feature (without having to mess with Registry settings or SymLinks?) because I have multiple desktops/laptops and a server. I currently dual boot on each WindowsXP and Ubuntu 7.04. I have been using another IM program - which does not work in Linux/WINE - which has allowed me to log all my IMs on any PC to the server on my network. It keeps everything up to date without having to deal with workarounds.

[menken]

Let me also pipe in for this. Let's say I use multiple (Windows) machines and would like to carry a USB key with my logs.

[rikhei]

I'd like this feature as well. I'm a librarian, and a number of my coworkers and I log into the same accounts to answer reference questions. It would be helpful if we could save all our chat logs on a networked drive. We're not the only library that wants to do this - in fact, I began looking for an answer because a distant colleague asked us how to do it.

[rlaager]

Replying to menken:

Let me also pipe in for this. Let's say I use multiple (Windows) machines and would like to carry a USB key with my logs.

Then you probably also want all of your [Pidgin] settings on there, which can already be accomplished.

[rlaager]

Replying to rikhei:

I'd like this feature as well. I'm a librarian, and a number of my coworkers and I log into the same accounts to answer reference questions. It would be helpful if we could save all our chat logs on a networked drive. We're not the only library that wants to do this - in fact, I began looking for an answer because a distant colleague asked us how to do it.

There's an SoC project underway that aims to produce a remote logger, probably based on a database.

[bob_]

This feature would be very useful on win32 machines that, for instance, have an encrypted partition which isn't the one the OS is running on, you might want to save logs on another drive without having to use registry settings or environement variables for that.

[rlaager]

Our latest plan seems to be to close enhancement requests we have no intention of working on. I'm re-closing this. It didn't stop the latest duplicate from being filed. I stand by my assertion that if you want to move your logs, you also want to move your entire .purple folder, which is already possible. If someone has a reason that isn't true for them personally (not for a hypothetical user), I would consider re-opening this.

[mikemol]

Replying to lschiere:

The user should perhaps be able to decide where to save logs.

I'd like to request that this be re-opened again, as GAIM_HOME seems to no longer be supported.

Our use case:

* Three operating systems on one machine: XP 32-bit, XP 64-bit, Vista 64-bit.

* Wish to share logs between all three.

After finding this ticket, trying GAIM_HOME, and discovering it was no longer supported, we used Sysinternals' Junction tool to create directory symlinks pointing all three .purple directories to the same directory. While junctions are supported on Windows, they're a pain to set up and don't allow one to point to a network share.

[deryni]

Have you looked at the FAQ recently?

[mikemol]

Replying to deryni:

Have you looked at the FAQ recently?

We had, but the mention of PURPLEHOME escaped us. Thank you.

[fsanders]

Replying to

rlaager: Our latest plan seems to be to close enhancement requests we have no intention of working on. I'm re-closing this. It didn't stop the latest duplicate from being filed. I stand by my assertion that if you want to move your logs, you also want to move your entire .purple folder, which is already possible. If someone has a reason that isn't true for them personally (not for a hypothetical user), I would consider re-opening this.

I'd like this to be reopened. My particular use case is that I'm trying to store my logs on a webdav mounted directory for backup, and more importantly search purposes. Having to drag along the certs, configuration settings, icons, and smileys when all I really want are the logs is far less than ideal.

[deryni]

On operating systems that support cross-device linking you can use a symlink (or similar mechanism) the fact that Windows doesn't allow this (except in Vista and Server 2008) is an OS shortcoming we don't particularly feel the need to work around.

[crkinard]

Replying to deryni:

Have you looked at the FAQ recently?

So we have to move the entire application storage directory to move the log files? What a hugely brilliant idea. The capacity to change the log file path and ONLY the log file path really needs to be in this application.

[Izken]

Here's how to relocate your logs folder without moving everything in Windows 7

1) Move the folders under "C:\Users\<username>\AppData?\Roaming\.purple\logs" to the new location 2) Delete the, now empty "C:\Users\<username>\AppData?\Roaming\.purple\logs" folder 3) Run the following command, in this example I'm using "C:\Data\Personal\Logs\Pidgin" mklink /d "C:\Users\<username>\AppData?\Roaming\.purple\logs" "C:\Data\Personal\Logs\Pidgin"

In my case I use multiple computers and use Microsoft Mesh\SkyDrive? to sync my C:\Data folder across all of my computers. With the above steps I now have my Pidgin logs on all of my computers.

Warning: Exit Pigin on other computers, otherwise duplicate files will be created or logs maybe overwritten if using Live Mesh or similar technology to keep folders in sync.