The most important part of the preferences are the templates. They affect which logger should be used.
Templates are defined in the "Log4E" preferences root page. Several predefined templates are available (Log4j, Jakarta Commons Logging, JDK 1.4 Logging and ATG Logging).

Options:

• Show
  Shows ready-made template definitions. These views are read only. Modifications are not saved!
• Edit [Pro version only]
  Opens a template definition for selfdefined templates which can be edited. The modification will be saved immediately when pressing "OK".
• Duplicate [Pro version only]
  One can duplicate a template to adapt it to his own logger.
• Rename [Pro version only]
  Rename a selfdefined template.
• Remove [Pro version only]
  Only selfdefined templates are allowed to remove. To confirm the deletion one must press "OK" or "Apply".

Template Definitions

After presssing "Show" or "Edit" a popup window with the definitions is shown.


Sample Template definition:
${logger}.error("${enclosing_method}${delimiter}${message}${delimiter} ${message_user}${delimiter}${variables}${delimiter}${return_value}", ${exception})



Variables

• ${delimiter}
  The delimiter is defined in Log4E > Format prefence page. It is very important when using the "Modification" task.
• ${delimiter_msg}
  The delimiter_msg is defined in Log4E > Format prefence page. It is used when invoking "Insert Log Statements At This Position..." to separate the informations within a message (the message itself and the variables of the enclosing method). The default is " : ". It should be different to ${delimiter}
  
  Example:
  logger.debug("myMethod() - my message : int i = " + i);
• ${enclosing_method}
  The given enclosing method WITH arguments. It is expected that the variable is embedded in a String context.
  
  e.g. myMethod(String str = " + str + ")
• ${enclosing_method_arguments}
  The arguments of the given method (${enclosing_method_only}) . It is expected that the variable is embedded in a String context.
  
  e.g. String str = " + str
• ${enclosing_method_only}
  The given enclosing method WITHOUT arguments. e.g. myMethod
• ${enclosing_package}
  The given package.
• ${enclosing_type}
  The given enclosing class.
• ${exception}
  The given exception in a catch clause.
• ${logger}
  The "logger name" is defined in the Declaration Tab of the Log4E > Imports and Declaration prefence page.
  
• ${message}
  The message is defined in Log4E > Positions prefence page.
  
• ${message_user}
  It is a user generated message. It is used by the "Substitute" und "Log this position..." tasks.
  
• ${return_value}
  The given return value of the method. It is replaced only if Log4E > Positions > Method Exit > Move invocation ... is checked.
• ${variables}
  It decouples ${message} from local vars (generated in "Log this position...").
  



Declaration Tab

Options:

• Imports
  defining logger imports. example: "org.apache.log4j.Logger"
• Initializer
  Declaration and Initializing the Logger for a class.
  
  Example:
  

  /**
   * Logger for this class
   */
  private static final Logger ${logger} = 
           Logger.getLogger(${enclosing_type}.class)

  
  If this field is left blank, the logger won't be declared.
  
  As a result the logger imports and declaration is automatically inserted like in that example:
  

  import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
  public class MyClass {

  	/**
  	 * Logger for this class
  	 */
  	private static final Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(MyClass.class);
  
  

  Note:

  In this example the Logger is declared as static. Also the default templates declare the logger as static.
  Please be aware that approach might not fit for you, especially when you work in a shared environment
  like an application in an servlet engine (e.g. Tomcat) or application server (e.g. Weblogic).
  
  More information at SLF4J FAQ and the commons-logging WIKI.

Level Statements Tab

You can specify level statements for any of these levels:
FINEST, FINER, TRACE, DEBUG, INFO, WARN, ERROR, FATAL.
The denotation of the levels is a mixture between Commons Logging and JDK 1.4 logging denotation. FINEST is the lowest level and is only used in JDK 1.4 logging. FATAL is the highest level and is equivalent to SEVERE in JDK 1.4 logging.

Note that these level and methods are not available for all loggers (e.g. Log4j doesn't support TRACE, but the Apache Commons Logger does).

Options:

• trace() Statement
  the method which should be invoked if level is TRACE.
  
  Example:
  ${logger}.trace("${enclosing_method}${delimiter} ${message}${delimiter}${message_user}${delimiter}${variables}${delimiter}${return_value}")
  
  As a result the logger statements are automatically inserted like in that example:
  

  public String myMethod(String arg1) {
  	logger.debug("myMethod() - start");
  		
  	//Your code....
  		
  	logger.debug("myMethod() - end - return value = myString");
  	return "myString";
  }
  
  

Is<Level>Enabled Statements Tab

Define the methods which check the level before executing the log statement here.
These statements are only used if specified in the Log4E > Statements preference page.

Options:

• isTraceEnabled() Statement
  the method which checks the if logger level is TRACE.
  
  Example:
  ${logger}.isTraceEnabled() or ${logger}.isLoggable(Level.FINER)
  
  As a result the logger statements are automatically inserted like in that example:
  

  public String myMethod(String arg1) {
  	if (logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
  		logger.debug(...);
  	}
  
  	//Your code....
  }
  
  

Position Statements Tab

"Position Statements" is an alternative to the level statements described above. They are introduced in JDK 1.4 logging and are special statements for particular method entries:

Options:

• Start Statement
  E.g ${logger}.entering("${enclosing_type}", "${enclosing_method}", "${message}${delimiter}${message_user}") in JDK 1.4 logging. It will be inserted at start position if Log4E > Positions > Method Start > Use position log statements ... is checked.
• End Statement
  E.g ${logger}.exiting("${enclosing_type}", "${enclosing_method}", "${message}${delimiter}${message_user}${delimiter}${return_value}") in JDK 1.4 logging. It will be inserted at end position if Log4E > Positions > Method Exit > Use position log statements ... is checked.
• Throwing Statement
  E.g ${logger}.throwing("${enclosing_type}", "${enclosing_method}", ${exception}) in JDK 1.4 logging. It will be inserted at catch position if Log4E > Positions > Catch Block > Use position log statements ... is checked.
  
  As a result the logger statements are automatically inserted like in that example:
  

  public String myMethod(String arg1) {
  	logger.entering("MyClass", "myMethod()", "start");
  
  	//Your code....
  	logger.entering("MyClass", 
  		"myMethod()", "end - return value = myString");
  	return "myString";
  }
  

 

Is<Position>Enabled Statements Tab

These statements are equivalent to the Is<Level>Enabled Statements described above.

Options:

• isStartEnabled Statement
  E.g. ${logger}.isLoggable(Level.FINER)
  This statement is only used if specified in the Log4E > Statements preference page.
• isEndEnabled Statement
  E.g. ${logger}.isLoggable(Level.FINER)
  This statement is only used if specified in the Log4E > Statements preference page.
• isThrowingEnabled Statement
  E.g. ${logger}.isLoggable(Level.FINER)
  This statement is only used if specified in the Log4E > Statements preference page.
  
  As a result the logger statements are automatically inserted like in that example:
  

  public String myMethod(String arg1) {
  	if (logger.isLoggable(Level.FINER)) {
  		logger.entering(...);
  	}
  
  	//Your code....
  }
  

Format

Define the specific format settings for this logger framework.

• Variable placeholder (SLF4J style)
  E.g. {}
  It represents the placeholder syntax for this framework.
  
  As a result the logger statements are automatically inserted like in that example:
  

  public String myMethod(String arg1) {
  
  	int myVar = 1;
  	logger.debug("myMethod() - myVar={}", myVar);
  	
  	//Your code....
  
  }