Completed Clientside Logging

[Cindy]

Suggestion:

Add a client-side logs folder under steamapps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod\data\helix\logs. It should make a new folder for each date/day, and within that folder separate logs between "All logs" which features everything that goes through console (errors aside) and "IC logs" that show only the appropriate message types such as talking aloud, /radio, dispatch, event text, etc.

Why it would be worth adding:

The ritual of frequently saving logs directly from console because it could be washed away before you even realize you may need it feels entirely unnecessary when this can be achieved.

Necessary content:

 

[Cindy]

For clarity: This refers to the PERSONAL logs that a player sees print out in their console. This isn't the same as admin logs which are omniscient across the server.

 

[ovxy]

The

-condebug

launch option supposedly logs all console output in real-time into a console.log file, and since player chat is printed into the console, it’s the closest thing.

-condebug tends to cause performance issues, latency spikes, etc. So it’s not recommended to use it for long periods of time.
I believe that since a built-in feature puts strain on the engine, a server one could strain the server itself, especially since it will have to handle multiple people at a time, but I’m not a code expert.

 

[Cindy]

The

-condebug

launch option supposedly logs all console output in real-time into a console.log file, and since player chat is printed into the console, it’s the closest thing.

-condebug tends to cause performance issues, latency spikes, etc. So it’s not recommended to use it for long periods of time.
I believe that since a built-in feature puts strain on the engine, a server one could strain the server.

I'm not talking about the built-in logging capabilities but rather having a gamemode-specific ability to save logs. I'll have to bug @Erkor when he wakes up so he can screenshot an example of what I mean from his folders (as I purged mine about 2 years ago-ish when I quit) but this was a thing that the TnB scripts have used for well over a decade at this point with zero issue to the performance/stability of the server.

They've been extremely useful in sorting out issues between players such as PK appeals, ban requests, rogue auths, etc.

 

[ovxy]

I'm not talking about the built-in logging capabilities but rather having a gamemode-specific ability to save logs. I'll have to bug @Erkor when he wakes up so he can screenshot an example of what I mean from his folders (as I purged mine about 2 years ago-ish when I quit) but this was a thing that the TnB scripts have used for well over a decade at this point with zero issue to the performance/stability of the server.

They've been extremely useful in sorting out issues between players such as PK appeals, ban requests, rogue auths, etc.

nice

 

[Erkor]

lets see do i still have them...

a-ha!

okay, so: The logging system Cindy talks about involves effectively saving everything you see in the chat into a text file. This allows you, in the case of conflict, get ample information from the chat while supplementing it from the console if you have to get off the game. Here's an example of this:

** CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999 looks up to the open door. He nods concisely to the exiting colleague.
** CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145 takes a step out of station, looking to the sky before glancing to 989. She nods in return. "Evening, unit."
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: Mhm.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: Quiet night?
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: It looks that way. I clocked in a few minutes ago.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: -- Good. Beats the mess we've had over the past couples weeks.
[OOC] C107-SERVITOR.13687: Player imagine roleplaying on gmod has joined the game
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: Mess?
[OOC] CP.C107-BASTION.01.15042: garry mod
** CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999 looks over.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: ... yeah, mess. The fights, shootings, yellow status.
** CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999 looks down the street again.
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: I wasn't there.
[TAC-1] C107-SERVITOR.13687: Hello?
[TAC-1] CIC.C107-TL.ANDERS: Anders; I read you.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: Mm. You new here?
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: I transferred in yesterday.
CP.C107-AfC.50055: [LOCAL-OOC] do u have a custom model
CP.C107-AfC.50055: [LOCAL-OOC] cause your model is fucked up for me
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: Welcome, then. Quite a city we've got here. Where you from?
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: [LOCAL-OOC] update your content bitch
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: [LOCAL-OOC] get tnb expanded heads
CP.C107-AfC.50055: asshole getting new models and shi...
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: City 44.
** CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999 turns away again. He leans against the railing by the door. "Iraq."
CP.C107-BEAR.03.67466: Fun.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: ... huh. What was it like there?
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: Hard. Overwatch is deployed there more often than not.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: Never a good time when those guys show up. Someone'll be having a bad day.
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: Baghdad has secessionists in its government.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: You talkin' like; corrupt city administration?
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: The head of the local labour union is Saudi.
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: An old man. A wahhabist.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.67466: That means he's a nice guy, right?
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: No.
** CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145 glances down to 674, shrugging. "Yeah. I got no idea what that word means."
CP.C107-BEAR.03.67466: I've heard nothing but good things about wahhabism.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.67466: That's a joke. Sorry.
CP.C107-BEAR.03.80145: Wahha-who-what-now?
** CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999 looks down the street again.
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: Think about it this way;
CP.C107-BEAR.03.67466: It's like... well, he can probably explain it better.
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: Our government - here - focuses on the things here and now.
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: Work. Life.
CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999: The church down there is only there because -some- people use it.

These are the chat logs of roleplay between myself (CP.C107-BEAR.04.98999) and some other cops. The log also contains other things i was able to see in the chat: Local OOC, radio messages, global OOC. Naturally, this did not log anything I couldn't see, such as radio channels I have no access to, or roleplay happening far away from me.

I think adding this would be a cool idea! It'd let people review their chatlogs for the HL2RP² Quotes thread or allow them to sift through things like chatlogs when making a report or request on anything at another time. Cross-referencing them with server logs shouldn't be that difficult, right? I doubt ServerGuard changed much since I was admin.

 

[Gary]

This is something I can have a look at, although would go through a setting which will need to be enabled if it is added

 

[Gary]

I've added a basic version which can be enabled in your settings, "Logging Enabled"

Will save your chat logs into garrysmod/data/helix/ixhl2rp/logs/todaysdate.txt

Let me know how it is

 

[Cindy]

I've added a basic version which can be enabled in your settings, "Logging Enabled"

Will save your chat logs into garrysmod/data/helix/ixhl2rp/logs/todaysdate.txt

Let me know how it is

Hell yeah.

Does it separate any of the chat logs at all? Or is it all currently just one log for all messages that hit your console? Would be extremely worthwhile to separate it between "All logs" and "IC only" I think.

 

[Gary]

Hell yeah.

Does it separate any of the chat logs at all? Or is it all currently just one log for all messages that hit your console? Would be extremely worthwhile to separate it between "All logs" and "IC only" I think.

It just prints them 1:1 whatever enters your chat box with a time stamp next to them, it’s easier to just filter them than create two seperate files for each log I’d say

Does not log console, it logs your chatbox

 

[Cindy]

Fair dues. Thank you for your efforts!