Log formatters

This article describes what a log formatter is.

Handlers may be configured with a formatter, which knows how to format log records. The event (represented by the log record object) is passed to the appropriate formatter by the handler. The formatter returns formatted output to the handler, which then writes it to the output device.

The formatter is responsible for rendering the event for output. This usually means the formatter uses the ResourceBundle specified in the event to look up the message in the appropriate language.

Formatters are attached to handlers using the setFormatter method.

WebSphere Application Server allows you to configure the formatter to be used with trace, SystemOut.log, and SystemErr.log log files:

• Basic (Compatible) - Preserves only basic trace information. The option allows you to minimize the amount of space taken up by the trace output.

• Advanced - Preserves more specific trace information. Advanced allows you to see detailed trace information for use in troubleshooting and problem determination.

• Log Analyzer - Preserves trace information in a format that is compatible with the Log Analyzer tool, so that use the trace output as input to the Log Analyzer tool.

We can select a formatter for a handler using the administrative console panels. See Diagnostic trace service settings for details.

We can find the java.util.logging documentation at http://java.sun.com/j2se/.

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See Also

Loggers
Log handlers
Log levels
Log filters

 

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