LOG - Save a log of commands

 Purpose:    Save a log of commands to a disk file. 
             
 Format:     LOG [/H /W file ] [ON | OFF | text ] 
             
             file :  The name of the file to hold the log. 
             text :  An optional message that will be added to the log. 
             

             /H(istory log)                  /W(rite to). 
 
 See also:  HISTORY. 

 Usage 

 LOG keeps a record of all internal and external commands you use, whether 
 they are executed from the prompt or from a batch file.  Each entry 
 includes the current system date and time, along with the actual command 
 after any alias or variable expansion.  You can use the log file as a 
 record of your daily activities. 

 LOG with the /H option keeps a similar record called a "history log". 
  The history log records only commands entered at the prompt; it does not 
 record batch file commands.  In addition, the history log does not record 
 the date and time for each command, and it records commands before 
 aliases and variables are expanded. 

 The two logging options are independent.  You can have both a regular log 
 and a history log enabled simultaneously. 

 By default, LOG writes to the file CMD.EXELOG in the root directory of 
 the boot drive.  The default file name for the history log is 
 CMD.EXEHLOG.  You can set the default log file names on the Options 2 
 page of the OPTION dialogs, or with the LogName and HistLogName 
 directives in CMD.INI. 

 Entering LOG or LOG /H with no parameters displays the name of the log 
 file and the log status (ON or OFF): 

 
         [c:\] log
         LOG (C:\CMD.EXELOG) is OFF
 

 To enable or disable logging, add the word "ON" or "OFF" after the LOG 
 command: 

 
         [c:\] log on
 

 or 

 
         [c:\] log /h on
 

 Entering LOG or LOG /H with text writes a message to the log file, even 
 if logging is set OFF.  This allows you to enter headers in the log file: 
 

 
         [c:\] log "Started work on the database system"
 

 The LOG file format looks like this: 

 
         [date  time]  command
 

 where the date and time are formatted according to the country code set 
 for your system. 

 The LOG /H output can be used as the basis for writing batch files. 
  Start LOG /H, then execute the commands that you want the batch file to 
 execute.  When you are finished, turn LOG /H off.  The resulting file can 
 be turned into a batch file that performs the same commands with little 
 or no editing. 

 You can have both a regular log (with time and date stamping) and a 
 history log (without the time stamps) enabled simultaneously. 

 Options 

    /H:     (History log) This option makes the other options on the 
            command line (after the /H) apply to the history log.  For 
            example, to turn on history logging and write to the file 
            C:\LOG\HLOG : 

            
                    [c:\]  log /h /w c:\log\hlog
            

            
    /W:     (Write) This switch specifies a different filename for the LOG 
            or LOG /H output.  It also automatically performs a LOG ON 
            command.  For example, to turn logging on and write the log to 
            C:\LOG\LOGFILE : 

            
                    [c:\] log /w c:\log\logfile
            

            
            Once you select a new file name with the LOG /W or LOG /H/W 
            command, LOG will use that file until you issue another LOG /W 
            or LOG /H/W command, or until you reboot your computer. 
             Turning LOG or LOG /H off or on does not change the file 
            name.