On First Use:
When the application is started for the first time, no log will be opened, and there will be no users in memory. The first thing to do is to create at least one user. Before getting started, creating a Root Directory Filter (if necessary) is recommended. More information on users and root directory filers can be found below.
Users:
A user is someone who will be adding entries to the log. You can add up to 10 users per computer. The user's name is used in the log to identify who performed the changes. To add a user, type the name in the text entry box beside "Name:", and then either press 'enter' on the keyboard, or click 'Create New User'. You can delete a user by selecting it in the list box, and clicking 'Delete Current User'. You can change users anytime by clicking the list box, and selecting a name. If an entry is created without a user, it will be credited to Anonymous.
Opening Logs:
There are multiple ways of opening a log. If the 'Raw Log' button is selected, you can drag and drop a log into the viewing area to open it. Alternatively you can open a log by clicking the 'Open Log File' button, and selecting a file. The application will automatically load the last used log on startup, if possible.
Saving Logs:
When the 'Write To Log File' button is pressed, the log is automatically saved to the disk. To save another copy of the log, and to begin using the new copy, click the 'Save Log File As' button.
Creating Logs:
By clicking 'New Log File', you can create a new log, and specify where to save it. When Log Master is started for the first time, or when no log is open, you can begin to build a log, and when 'Write To Log File' is clicked, the new log will be created then.
File Types:
Romaco Log Master has the ability to try to open any type of log, but it is only designed to work with 2 main types.
Romaco Log (*.rlog) is a type of text based log that should only be opened by Log Master. It offers the ability to automatically update the file queue, and it cannot be easily opened by other log writers, making it more secure and less likely to be corrupted by other software.
Text-Based Log (*.txt) is a plain-text log, which is openable by almost any log writer. This type is the most supported, and can also be edited on a computer without Log Master by using Microsoft Wordpad. (Notepad has trouble with line breaks). Automatic updating of the file queue is disabled.
Creating Entries:
An entry is a pure text post that includes whatever you want it to. You can type in the entry field, but there are a few time saving features in Log Master. Since Log Master is designed for file management logs, Log Master is extremely effective at logging file and folder changes. The 'Entry Type' refers to the type of operation that was performed on the specific files/folders mentioned in the log entry. (Please see Log Entry Type). The text area is where you can list files and folders that have been changed. Instead of having to type out the files and paths, simply drag and drop multiple files and folders onto the text area to add them to the entry, one per line. If you do not want to drag and drop, you can click 'Add Files To Entry' and select multiple files, or you can click 'Add Folder To Entry' and select folders one at a time. If you want to remove a file, just remove it as if it were text. (To know more about how Log Master can handle file paths, please see Root Directory Filter). Entries automatically record the exact time and date of the post, the user who created it (Please see Users), the entry type, and the number of files/folders in the queue. (For more information on the queue, please see File Queue).
Log Entry Type:
The type of entry refers to the operation that the user performed to each file/folder. The current options are: Changed, Created, Removed, Uploaded, Moved, and Other. You can specify the other operation in the text entry box below the Entry Type area.
Root Directory Filter:
If you are working mostly within a folder or a main directory for something such as a website, this feature can be very useful. When enabled, it removes the directory prefix that is entered into the text box to the right of the 'Root Directory Filter' check box. For example if you were working on a website located at C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Site, every time you add a file, the full path is displayed. (e.g. C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Site\index.html, or C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Site\otherstuff\pic.jpg). With the filter on, and the path set to C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Site, all entries within that folder will be displayed without that prefix. (e.g. ~\index.html, or ~\otherstuff\pic.jpg). You can toggle this feature on and off by clicking the check box.
Current System Time:
This area at the bottom of the window shows the current time and date. This is the same time and date format used to stamp the logs. The time is 12 hour, and the date is in a MM-DD-YYYY format.
Write to Log Button:
When you are satisfied with the text in the entry box, the correct operation and user are selected, and the number of files in the queue are correct, clicking 'Write To Log' will append the entry to the bottom of the log, automatically scroll the log to the new entry, and save the new log to the disk. If you are starting a new log that has not been saved yet, a save dialog will be shown.
Log Viewer Type:
When 'Read Only Log Viewer' is selected, the log viewing panel shows the log as a user would want to see it. The text is locked from changes, except those made through the interface. When 'Raw Log' is selected, the pane shows the log with formatting, and it also allows you to edit it. It is recommended that this mode only be used for short periods of time, to avoid accidental corruption of the log. In order to drag and drop a log file to open it, 'Raw Log' must be selected.
File Queue:
This feature is more for websites, but it could be used creatively for something else. When a file is modified or created on a local site, it must be uploaded to the remote web server. In this case, the queue could represent how many files are to be uploaded. It could also represent how many files are left to be modified. This feature only has an implied use, as all it does is write the number to each log entry. What you do with it up to you. When the 'Automatically Update Queue' check box is checked, the application will automatically increase the number depending on how many files are added to the log entry. It will also automatically tally the current number from that of the last entry, performing all the math for you. This feature is not available with plain-text logs.
Scroll To End Of Log:
This button when pressed, will automatically scroll the log down to the last post made.
Exiting Log Master:
When the 'Exit' button is pressed, the log will be written to disk, and the application will close.