log4j - Configure RollingFileAppender for backup log files as DailyRollingFileAppender

Question

Whether we can configure RollingFileAppender get function as DailyRollingFileAppender. That mean I want to backup (rotates) logs files daily basis with the usage of 'max file size' and 'max number of dates witch log files can keep' (RollingFileAppender related maxBackupIndex and maxFileSize properties). Issue is, with DailyRollingFileAppender we can not configure maxBackupIndex and maxFileSize properties. Thanks.

Gaillard

What's the question? – Darcie

It's not clear from above two line what exactly you are trying to achieve ? Update your question to get solution. – Rees

Answer 1

Unfortunately, this is not possible using the standard API of log4j or even with the extras ¹.

However, you can use the class uk.org.simonsite.log4j.appender.TimeAndSizeRollingAppender ² developed by Simon Park:

If you use XML-based configuration, here is an example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<!DOCTYPE log4j:configuration>
<log4j:configuration>

    <appender name="ROLL" class="uk.org.simonsite.log4j.appender.TimeAndSizeRollingAppender">
        <param name="File" value="app.log"/>
        <param name="DatePattern" value=".HHmmss"/>
        <param name="MaxFileSize" value="10KB"/>
        <param name="MaxRollFileCount" value="5"/>
        <layout class="org.apache.log4j.SimpleLayout" />
    </appender>

    <root>
        <appender-ref ref="ROLL"/>
    </root>

</log4j:configuration> 

For this particular example, the generated files are similar to:

app.log
app.log.155144.1
app.log.155144.2
app.log.155144.3
app.log.155144.4
app.log.155144.5
app.log.155400.1
app.log.155400.2
app.log.155400.3
app.log.155400.4
app.log.155400.5
app.log.161646.1
app.log.161646.2
app.log.161646.3
app.log.161646.4
app.log.161646.5
app.log.161706.1
app.log.161706.2
app.log.161706.3
app.log.161706.4

---

Notes

1. Apache Extras™ for Apache log4j™ in http://logging.apache.org/log4j/extras/
2. You need to download the respective jar from http://www.simonsite.org.uk/download.htm or if you are using Maven, add to your pom.xml:

    <repositories>
        <repository>
            <id>opencast-public</id>
            <url>http://repository.opencastproject.org/nexus/content/repositories/public/</url>
        </repository>
        ...
    </repositories>
    ...
    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>uk.org.simonsite</groupId>
            <artifactId>log4j-rolling-appender</artifactId>
            <version>20131024-2017</version>
        </dependency>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>log4j</groupId>
            <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
            <version>1.2.17</version>
        </dependency>
        ...
    </dependencies>

Whomever

Due to I want daily rolling, according to following configuration it will not delete old log files related to "MaxRollFileCount" parameter value. Thanks a lot. <appender name="error" Cass="uk.org.simonsite.log4j.appender.TimeAndSizeRollingAppender"><param name="File" value="logs/error.log" /><param name="Threshold" value="error"/><param name="DatePattern" value="'.'yyyy-MM-dd" /><param name="MaxFileSize" value="5KB"/><param name="MaxRollFileCount" value="2"/><layout class="org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout"><param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d{DATE} %-5p %c{1} - %m%n"/></layout></appender> – Gaillard

How can I set the Threshold of log? I set threshold is INFO but it still apply DEBUG – Fragonard