NSIS logging

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

Thx
dB.

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

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:


See this for LogSet and LogText usage:


-Stu

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.

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

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

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.

The top page is now at:


As for the second question, check the second link.

-Stu