1.      Overview

This draft gives you an overview of all differences between the pro and the free version of Log4E.

2.      Editable Templates

The most valuable feature of the pro version is the possibility of editing a template for a specific logger framework. Thus you can adapt those templates to your own needs (i.e. for your own logger framework). See Figure 1 and Figure 2 below.

The free version has predefined templates for the most popular logger frameworks: Log4j, Jakarta Commons Logging, JDK1.4 Logging.

The pro version comes additionally with predefined templates for ATG Logging and SLF4J.

Figure 1: editable templates

Figure 2: Editable templates          

See Preferences:Templates for further reading.        

3.      Actions

Several actions are available for the pro version only:

3.1      “Log at this position…”

This action is limited in the free version.

These variables may be logged additionally in the pro version: Global variables, Available exceptions.

Also the use of the Jakarta String Generator is available in the pro version only (see Figure 3 below).

Figure 3: "Log at this position..." not limited

See Actions:Logger Insertions for further reading.

3.2      “Log errors of this class/method”

This action is available in the pro version only (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 below). It is a powerful method to log unexpected errors very quickly.

See Actions:Error Logger Insertions for further reading.

3.3      “Reapply in this class/method”

This action is available in the pro version only (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 below).

See Actions:Re-Application for further reading.

3.4      “Remove logger of this class”

This action is available in the pro version only (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 below).

See Actions:Removal of the current logger statements for further reading.

3.5       “Exchange logging framework of this class”

This action is available in the pro version only (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 below).

See Actions:Exchange of the current logger framework for further reading.

Figure 4: context menu of editor

Figure 5: context menu of package explorer

3.6      “Log this variable”

This action is limited in the free version. In the Free version variable declarations may be logged only. In the pro version the variable which has to be logged may appear almost anywhere within a method.

Figure 6: limitation on "Log this variable" in free version

See Preferences:Templates for further reading and see Screenshots:Quick Log for screenshots.

4.      Multi selections

The selection of multiple files in the Package Explorer is enabled in the pro version only. Also the selection of packages, source folders or even the whole project is available in the pro version only.

Figure 7: limitation on multiple selections in Free version

5.      Preview Wizard

The code generation of the Plug-in can be controlled by directly editing the output in the preview wizard. This can only be done in the pro version.

Also the preview wizard is enabled for multiple files in the pro version only.

Figure 8: Editable preview wizard for multiple files

See General for further reading.

6.      ToStringBuilder

The use of the Jakarta Commons ToStringBuilder is available in the pro version only. The ToStringBuilder can print almost any Java type in a more readable form than the simple toString() method.

Figure 9: ToStringBuilder preferences

See Preferences:ToStringGenerator for further reading.

7.      Preferences Scope

The scope of the Log4E preferences may be configured for each project (Go to: Project > Properties > Log4E) and for the whole workspace. See Figure 10 below.

Figure 10: preferences scope

See Preferences for further reading.

8.      Features and Preferences

See Preferencesfor the documentation about the preferences.

8.1      Format

These features are available in the pro version only:

• “Output only in one line” is available in the pro version only.

Figure 11: „Format“ preferences

8.2      Imports and Declaration

These features are available in the pro version only:       

• “Reapplication also to logger declaration when performing ‘Reapply’”
• “Declare logger in inner classes”

Figure 12: „ Imports and Declaration“ preferences

8.3      Misc

These features are available in the pro version only:       

• “Add //$NON-NLS-n$ comments at the end of line”
• “Enable anonymous class support”

Figure 13: "Misc" preferences   

8.4      Positions

These features of position “Method Start” are available in the pro version only:       

• Skip methods with empty body (configurable)
• Skip getter/setter (configurable)
• Skip toString(), equals() amd hashCode() method

Figure 14: "Method Start" preferences

These features of position “Catch Block” are available in the pro version only:                          

• “Skip toString(), equals() and hashCode() method”
• “Skip if catched exception is thrown again in catch block”
• “Skip empty catch block”
• Different level and message for empty catch block (configurable)
• “Log all variables available”

Figure 15: "Catch Block" preferences

8.5      Statements

These features of position “Catch Block” are available in the pro version only:

• “Use braces when embedding a is<Level>Enabled() statement”

Figure 16: "Statements" preferences    

9.      Update Manager

Updating the Plug-In through the Eclipse Update Manager is possible with the pro version only. See User Guide:Installation for more information.

10.         General

All features and bugfixes of the free version are included in the pro version.