NSIS logging - NSIS Forums

dblock
7th January 2005 19:33 UTC

NSIS logging
Is there a way to log NSIS actions to a file?
Similar to msiexec /l*v options.

Thx
dB.

Instructor
7th January 2005 22:26 UTC

nsExec::Exec '"${NSISDIR}\makensis.exe" /OFILE.LOG FILE.nsi'

Afrow UK
7th January 2005 22:38 UTC

I think dblock wants to log actions of an installer, not the makensis compiler.

You need to download the Advanced Login build of NSIS from:
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/download/specialbuilds/

See this for LogSet and LogText usage:
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Docs/Chapter4.html#4.9.12

-Stu

dblock
10th January 2005 15:17 UTC

You are right, that's more of what I am looking for. But I'd really like an automatic logger enabled through command line like msiexec has. Something that logs all standard actions without me having to add LogText in the code or enable logging for all installations.

With an MSI you can do msiexec /l*v out.log /i installer.msi and you're on.

Thx
dB.

stb
10th January 2005 15:36 UTC

Another solution (but somewhat less automatic). This solution is similar to LogText (you need to log every line explicitly). I needed logging before INSTDIR gets created. Here's my solution.

First logging happens in TMP, after creating INSTDIR, logfile will be moved and continued there.


; logging
Var MY_LOGFILE
!define MY_LOGFILENAME "MyInstall.log"
!macro _logline LINE
  ; Messagebox MB_OK "logline $MY_LOGFILE ${LINE}"
  StrCmp "$MY_LOGFILE" "" +10
  Push $R0
  Push $R1
  StrCpy $R1 "${LINE}"
  FileOpen $R0 "$MY_LOGFILE" a
  FileSeek $R0 0 END
  FileWrite $R0 "$R1$\r$\n"
  FileClose $R0
  Pop $R1
  Pop $R0
!macroend

!macro LogToTmpDir
  StrCpy $MY_LOGFILE "$PLUGINSDIR\MyInstall.log"
!macroend

!macro LogToInstDir
  IfFileExists "$MY_LOGFILE" 0 +3
  StrCmp "$MY_LOGFILE" "$INSTDIR\MyInstall.log" +3
  CopyFiles /SILENT "$MY_LOGFILE" "$INSTDIR\MyInstall.log"
  StrCpy $MY_LOGFILE "$INSTDIR\MyInstall.log"  
!macroend

!macro LogDelete
  IfFileExists "$MY_LOGFILE" 0 +2
  Delete "$MY_LOGFILE"
  StrCpy $MY_LOGFILE ""
!macroend

!define logline `!insertmacro _logline`

You have to call those macros in Functions or Sections:


Function .onInit
  InitPluginsDir
  !insertmacro LogToTmpDir
  ${logline} "log to tmp"
FunctionEnd

Section SecTest
  SetOutPath "$INSTDIR"
  !insertmacro LogToInstDir  
  ${logline} "log to instdir"
SectionEnd

Afrow UK
10th January 2005 20:15 UTC

You can turn Logging on and off using LogSet on/off
You can read command-line parameters using the GetParameters function in the NSIS docs. There are more functions on the archive for getting command-line switches and values etc. A search on there should help you.

-Stu

MrEyes
3rd November 2005 12:45 UTC

Originally posted by Afrow UK
I think dblock wants to log actions of an installer, not the makensis compiler.

You need to download the Advanced Login build of NSIS from:
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/download/specialbuilds/

See this for LogSet and LogText usage:
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Docs/Chapter4.html#4.9.12

-Stu

Apologies for resurecting and old thread but its better to keep everything in one place for future searchers

The url given above for the Logging build points to an empty Wiki page. Does this build still exist somewhere?

if it does exist how does it work, i.e. do you have to logging commands into the script (e.g. LogThis "My Log Entry") or does NSIS log what it is doing without explicit log commands.

Afrow UK
3rd November 2005 17:42 UTC

The top page is now at:
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Special_Builds

As for the second question, check the second link.

-Stu