17gb MT4 build 406 log file

Yesterday I happened to check my hard drive stats and found that my available space had inexplicably declined from the usual 60-80% to less than 20%. After a little detective work I found that my Experts/Logs folder was over 17 GB, all created in a single day of running Strategy Tester. I normally do not use this function except for "shaking the bugs" out of a new EA, which is what I had done a day or two before.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? I was unable to open the logfile in question due to its size, but deleting the file returned my drive to normal...

I've been running MT4 (currently build 406) under Linux/Wine since about build 226 and have never had this happen before.

No big whoop, just a little potential glitch to keep an eye on if you are a regular user of the Strategy Tester.

Try using file splitters. There are some around (dont remember name) which will split the file into multiple number (as in settings) and then you can open or read.

Bigger RAM> lesser the splits...will work!

IMO, EA wrote a lot in log (Lot of print statements / same print statement executed per tick or something, probably)
AFA my experience is concerned, i had once a 80-100 Mb file (over a long period)

Do you have a lot of Print statements in your code?
If so comment them out once you longer need them or you will need to dump your log files often.

Since your running in Linux, if you want to read the contents of the file you can use 'less' in a shell (or you want want to 'tail -f' while running the expert). the 'less' program doesn't load the entire file only a screenful at a time.

Create a script to delete MT4 / MT5 log files.

Current builds at date of post are MT4 670 and MT5 965.

Note: This illustration relates to Windows 8.1 64 bit. Folder and file paths for Windows 8.1 32 bit and other versions of windows may or will need to be changed accordingly.

Location of the MT4 log files:

1. C:\Users\Your user name\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\32 character alphanumeric terminal identity\logs\
2. C:\Users\Your user name\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\32 character alphanumeric terminal identity\tester\logs\
3. C:\Users\Your user name\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\32 character alphanumeric terminal identity\MQL4\Logs\

Location of the MT5 log files:

As above except MQL4 would be MQL5.

Identification

If more that one MT4 / MT5 Terminal is installed the associated Terminal can be found via >> 32 character alphanumerical terminal identity >> original.txt.
The original.txt file will contain the Broker name and whether MT4 or MT5.

Create the deletion script:

1. The below Script Template contains an MT4 script block and an MT5 script block.
2. Copy the MT4 or - and MT5 scrip block/s from the below Script Template to a new MS Window Notepad or similar text editor that accommodates .bat extension.
3. If more than one MT4 or MT5 Terminal is installed duplicate the applicable code block as required..
4. What to change - a: you broker name b: instances of “T” between cd Users and cd AppData with “your user name” (excluding quotation marks). c: the 32 alphanumeric. d: any applicable path differences.
5. Omit MT4 or MT5 block if not required.
6. The final code must be saved with a .bat extension. Example: Deletelogs.bat. Note: Notpad will have to be changed from “txt” to “All files(*.*)” for saving and viewing. See - Save as type drop down.

NOTE: The FF editor is formatting the word log as l og in the below Script Template. This space must be eliminated when copied to Notepad.

Scipt Template

@ ECHO OFF

echo MT4 your broker name
cd c:\
cd Users
cd T
cd AppData
cd Roaming
cd MetaQuotes
cd Terminal
cd 9F51A4A5C91921D00F5E124F12F716EB
cd logs
del *.log
del %date:~6,4%%date:~3,2%%date:~0,2%.log
cd..
cd tester
del *.log
del %date:~6,4%%date:~3,2%%date:~0,2%.log
cd..
cd MQL4
cd logs
del *.log
del %date:~6,4%%date:~3,2%%date:~0,2%.log
cd..

echo MT5 your broker name
cd c:\
cd Users
cd T
cd AppData
cd Roaming
cd MetaQuotes
cd Terminal
cd 62FE5B6112847B69D1ABE633B337F1DA
cd logs
del *.log
del %date:~6,4%%date:~3,2%%date:~0,2%.log
cd..
cd tester
del *.log
del %date:~6,4%%date:~3,2%%date:~0,2%.log
cd..
cd MQL5
cd logs
del *.log
del %date:~6,4%%date:~3,2%%date:~0,2%.log

Duplicate the 32 alphanumeric without error.
(if required, use Ctrl+mouse wheel to enlarge images)

Step 1. Copy address as text.

Step 2. Past into MS Wordpad or similar text editor.

Step 3: Copy only the alphanumeric and paste into the script as replacement of the Script Template alphanumeric.

Using the script file

1. Save the log deletion script to a folder of choice (not the root C:\) and add a short cut to the desktop; allocate an appropriate icon; Shortcut keys can also be added.
2. Attached Image

   
3. The script can also be auto run at start up with practically zero additional PC resources. Save a copy of the script file to - C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\StatMenu\Programs\Stat-up
4. Attached Image (click to enlarge)

   
   
5. Run script and check if all log files are deleted.
6. Correct script if required.
7. Note: Log files can only be deleted from closed terminals. Log files of open terminals will not be deleted because they are in use.

The above icon is a short cut and as such lacks the Pin to Taskbar and Pin to Start properties.

To add these properties right click the icon → Properties → Shortcut → go to Target and type "explorer" (including quotations) in front of "C:\Users\Windows\........" → Click OK.


Right click the icon → Pin to Taskbar and Pin to Start properties should be visible.