Log PHP Extension Reference Documentation

CkLog

Current Version: 11.5.0

Chilkat.Log

Build readable structured diagnostic logs with nested context and tagged values.

Chilkat.Log is a lightweight structured logging helper for creating readable diagnostic logs from application code. It can record nested operation contexts, informational messages, error messages, timestamps, integers, 64-bit integers, tagged values, binary data, Base64 data, hex data, shortened data previews, and computed hashes. It is useful when code needs a clear step-by-step record of operations, inputs, outputs, and diagnostic values for troubleshooting.

Nested operation context

Use EnterContext and LeaveContext to group log entries under readable operation names.

Messages and errors

Add informational messages, error messages, and tagged text values to explain what the application is doing.

Numbers and timestamps

Log integers, 64-bit integers, timestamps, and date/time values when tracing state changes or timing-sensitive workflows.

Binary diagnostics

Record binary data as Base64, hex, or shortened previews so byte-level values can be inspected safely in text logs.

Hash logging

Compute and log hashes of data when comparing content, verifying transformations, or avoiding full data dumps.

Clear and reuse

Clear the log and continue building new diagnostic output during repeated operations or test runs.

Common pattern: Create a Log object, enter a named context for the operation, log the important values and decisions as the code runs, leave the context, and inspect the resulting text if troubleshooting is needed. Use Chilkat.Log for application-level diagnostic output; use LastErrorText on Chilkat objects for detailed diagnostics from Chilkat method calls.

Object Creation

$obj = new CkLog();

Properties

DebugLogFilePath
string debugLogFilePath();
void put_DebugLogFilePath(string strVal);

If set to a file path, this property logs the LastErrorText of each Chilkat method or property call to the specified file. This logging helps identify the context and history of Chilkat calls leading up to any crash or hang, aiding in debugging.

Enabling the VerboseLogging property provides more detailed information. This property is mainly used for debugging rare instances where a Chilkat method call causes a hang or crash, which should generally not happen.

Possible causes of hangs include:

  • A timeout property set to 0, indicating an infinite timeout.
  • A hang occurring within an event callback in the application code.
  • An internal bug in the Chilkat code causing the hang.

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LastErrorHtml
(read-only)
string lastErrorHtml();

Provides HTML-formatted information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastErrorText
(read-only)
string lastErrorText();

Provides plain text information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastErrorXml
(read-only)
string lastErrorXml();

Provides XML-formatted information about the last called method or property. If a method call fails or behaves unexpectedly, check this property for details. Note that information is available regardless of the method call's success.

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LastMethodSuccess
bool get_LastMethodSuccess()
void put_LastMethodSuccess(bool boolVal);

Indicates the success or failure of the most recent method call: true means success, false means failure. This property remains unchanged by property setters or getters. This method is present to address challenges in checking for null or Nothing returns in certain programming languages. Note: This property does not apply to methods that return integer values or to boolean-returning methods where the boolean does not indicate success or failure.

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Utf8
bool get_Utf8()
void put_Utf8(bool boolVal);

When set to true, all string arguments and return values are interpreted as UTF-8 strings. When set to false, they are interpreted as ANSI strings.

In Chilkat v11.0.0 and later, the default value is true. Before v11.0.0, it was false.

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VerboseLogging
bool get_VerboseLogging()
void put_VerboseLogging(bool boolVal);

If set to true, then the contents of LastErrorText (or LastErrorXml, or LastErrorHtml) may contain more verbose information. The default value is false. Verbose logging should only be used for debugging. The potentially large quantity of logged information may adversely affect peformance.

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Version
(read-only)
string version();

Version of the component/library, such as "10.1.0"

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Methods

Clear
void Clear(string $initialTag);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Clears the log. The initialTag is the initial top-level context tag for the new log.

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EnterContext
void EnterContext(string $tag);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Enters a new context labelled with the given tag. Must be paired with a matching call to LeaveContext.

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LeaveContext
void LeaveContext();
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Leaves the current context. A context that is entered and exited without any logging within the context is automatically removed from the log. (To say it another way: Empty contexts are automaticallly removed from the log upon leaving the context.)

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LogData
void LogData(string $tag, string $message);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Adds a tagged message to the log (i.e. a name/value pair).

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LogDataMax
void LogDataMax(string $tag, string $message, int $maxNumChars);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs a string, but only up to the 1st maxNumChars characters of the string.

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LogDateTime
void LogDateTime(string $tag, bool $gmt);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs the current date/time in RFC822 format. If gmt is true, then the GMT/UTC time is logged. Otherwise it is the local time.

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LogError
void LogError(string $message);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs an error within the current context.

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LogInfo
void LogInfo(string $message);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs an informational message within the current context.

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LogInt
void LogInt(string $tag, int $value);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs an integer.

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LogInt64
void LogInt64(string $tag, int64 $value);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs a 64-bit integer.

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LogTimestamp
void LogTimestamp(string $tag);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs the current time in HH:MM:SS:mmm format.

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Deprecated

LogDataBase64 Deprecated
void LogDataBase64(string $tag, CkByteData $data);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs binary data in base64 format.

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LogDataHex Deprecated
void LogDataHex(string $tag, CkByteData $data);
Introduced in version 9.5.0.44

Logs binary data in hex format.

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