log4javascript quick start tutorial

Three step guide

  1. Download the code

    Unzip the distribution and copy log4javascript.js into the desired location. No other files are necessary.

  2. Initialize log4javascript in your web page

    Include log4javascript.js in your page using the code below. This code assumes log4javascript is stored in the same directory as your web page. 

    <script type="text/javascript" src="log4javascript.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
	var log = log4javascript.getDefaultLogger();
</script>

    The default logger uses a PopUpAppender which opens a pop-up window. By default, this window will open when the first log message is written. You will need to disable any pop-up blockers you may have in order for this to work.

  3. Include logging statements in your code

    You have six logging methods at your disposal, depending on the severity of the message you wish to log. By default, all messages are logged in the pop-up window. The logging methods are:

    • log.trace(message)
    • log.debug(message)
    • log.info(message)
    • log.warn(message)
    • log.error(message)
    • log.fatal(message)

    There are several configurable options and an in-page version of the PopUpAppender. See the manual for more details.

And that's it, log away. Below are some common scenarios with log4javascript.

Tweaking the default logger

The default logger is fine as a starting point, but what if you want the default logger with a few different options (say, bringing the pop-up to the front whenever a log message is logged, or having new log messages appear at the top of the pop-up rather than the bottom)?

In this case, you will need to create a new logger, then create a PopUpAppender, set options on it, and add it to the logger: 

<script type="text/javascript" src="log4javascript.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
	// Create the logger
	var log = log4javascript.getLogger(); 

	// Create a PopUpAppender with default options
	var popUpAppender = new log4javascript.PopUpAppender();
	
	// Change the desired configuration options
	popUpAppender.setFocusPopUp(true);
	popUpAppender.setNewestMessageAtTop(true);
	
	// Add the appender to the logger
	log.addAppender(popUpAppender);
	
	// Test the logger
	log.debug("Hello world!");
</script>

See this example in action (opens in new window)

Refer to the manual for more information about configuring appenders and more details about PopUpAppender.

Sending log messages to the server

For this you will need to use an AjaxAppender as follows: 

	var ajaxAppender = new log4javascript.AjaxAppender(URL);
	log.addAppender(ajaxAppender);

Now your log messages will appear in the pop-up window and be sent asynchronously to the URL you specify in the form of HTTP post parameters. No server-side code to process these requests is provided with log4javascript.

See AjaxAppender for more details on formatting log messages.

Changing the format of log messages

Using a Layout, you can format log messages however you like. For example: 

	var log = log4javascript.getLogger("mylogger");
	var layout = new log4javascript.PatternLayout("[%-5p] %m");
	var popUpAppender = new log4javascript.PopUpAppender(layout);

A call to

	log.debug("Hello world");

will now result in output in the pop-up window of

[DEBUG] Hello world

See PatternLayout for more details on formatting log messages.