How do I read a Raw Log File?

In CPanel, they download as .gz files

[Sal Collaziano]

I just downloaded two Log Analyzers and I can't figure out how to open the file that's downloading from my CPanel.. What's the trick?

Any help would be very greatly appreciated.. I've been trying to figure this out myself for a long time...

[bcolflesh]

Many Log Analyzers will read the compressed file, if yours does not, uncompress it with a tool like WinZip, WinRAR, or preferably, the free 7-zip:

7-zip.org/

[dmorison]

.gz is a "gzipped" file. You don't say what operating system you are using; but assuming that you are on a Windows Box, search for "win32 GNU utilities".

You will find gzip, and be able to use the command:

gzip -d <filename>

...to extract the log files.

I think WinRar may also be able to open .gz.

[Sal Collaziano]

Wow. People reply quickly here. That's great.. I'm on a Windows machine and I'm downloading the .gz file from CPanel onto my desktop. When I extract this file with 7-zip, it displays a folder with a .com file (which shows up as a DOS-application).. Does that sound right? If so, I can't figure out what to do with it...

Thank you!

[bcolflesh]

That's the way Cpanel names the log file - your domain.com (.org, .net, etc) - it's just a simple text file that any analyzer can read.

[edited by: bcolflesh at 9:19 pm (utc) on Jan. 14, 2004]

[dmorison]

If the .com file isn't too big try and open it in notepad.exe first.

If it is more than a few meg, go to DOS and use the type command to view the file and see if it is text;

type <filename> ¦ more

I very much doubt that it is a DOS executable.

[Sal Collaziano]

Okay. The file was too big for notepad so I did the "type" command in DOS. And it looks good there! That's just what the "demo" file that came with the Log Analyzer looked like. That file was a .log file.. Could I just save this as a .log and be finished? I'm going to try that now...

[Hunter]

Just get a decent pair of Raw Log File Glasses, mine are 3D (no need to drill down) :)

[edited by: Hunter at 9:30 pm (utc) on Jan. 14, 2004]

[nuevojefe]

What I do is download it, use winzip to open the file (not unzip it, just open it in classic view) then right click and "view with internal viewer" That displays pretty nicely although I have a few complaints like not being able to copy and paste(that I know of).

Hope that helps.

[Sal Collaziano]

This file is huge. It's the log from a few months now.. At the moment, I'm running a:

copy file.com file.log

...so that I can open it up in this Log Analyzer. Yes, I could get a pair of Raw Log File glasses :p but I might be better off with something that just tells me what things are. I'm really not all that experienced with this kind of stuff. I've always used Web Trends Live but now it costs far more than I can afford...

Anyways.. Let's see what happened.. The file is finished copying...

[satanclaus]

the log anaylyzer doesn't just let you open any file you choose and figure out for itself whether or not it can use it?

[Sal Collaziano]

It says something to the effect of "Unsupported File Type". I'm using a program called "WebLog Expert" and it's loading the file now.. Hopefully when it's done loading (almost a gig), I wont get that message...

[Sal Collaziano]

It worked! Thank you very much! You guys are an asset to this community. :) I've had this place bookmarked for quite awhile - figuring if I ever needed help, I could come here for it.. I was right. :)

Thanks again! I'll be back to help out too when I can...

[bcolflesh]

No reason to copy the file - you can just rename it - I used to use Windows Grep:

wingrep.com/

to check my logs, but someone here mentioned a better prog, V-the File Viewer:

fileviewer.com/