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Creating Text Versions of Trace Logs

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The trace messages that are generated during trace log sessions are saved in trace logs, which are binary files that are designed to store large volumes of trace messages efficiently. TraceView has several convenient methods for creating human-readable versions of these files.

Creating a listing file for a real-time trace session

The Create Listing File option creates a listing file (.out), a text file of all trace messages that are generated during the session. You can use this option only while creating a trace session. To create a listing file for a real-time trace session, do the following:

  1. From the File menu, select Create New Log Session.

  2. Add providers, and then click Next.

  3. In the Log Session Options page, click Advanced Log Session Options.

  4. In the Output Files tab, click Create Listing File.

For more information, see Setting Advanced Trace Session Options

Creating a listing file for an existing log file

While starting a trace log session, you can use the Create Listing File option to create a text version of the trace log. To create a listing file for an existing log file, do the following:

  1. On the File menu, click Open Existing Log File.

  2. In the Log File Selection dialog box, select Create Listing File.

  3. In the Log File Name box, specify the name of the existing event trace log (.etl) file.

When you display the trace log, TraceView creates the listing file. For more information, see Setting Trace Log Options.

For more information, see TraceView -process.

Copying the Trace Message List

You can copy trace messages directly from the Trace Message List for an existing trace log or running trace session.

This procedure gives you the most control over the display. You can copy the messages after grouping trace sessions, selecting the columns (that is, trace message properties) that you want to display, and sorting and filtering the trace messages. You can also select individual messages from the display. To copy trace messages from the Trace Message List, do the following:

  1. Select the trace messages that you want to copy. You can use SHIFT+Click to select consecutive messages or CTRL+Click to copy non-consecutive messages.

  2. Press CTRL+C. Or, right-click any cell of any selected messages and click Copy.

The messages are copied in a tab-delimited format. You can paste them into a text file or spreadsheet file for saving and analysis.