Question

We’re using Log4Net with a FileAppender to log errors during a process. As the process is finishing, we want to email the log file but we can’t do that as it Log4Net still has a lock on the file and we get a message that the file is in use by another process. Any ideas?

We’re using a config like this:

  <appender name="WarnFileAppender" type="log4net.Appender.FileAppender">
    <file value="d:\for-review-log.txt" />

    <layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout">
      <conversionPattern value="%date %logger - %message%newline" />
    </layout>
    <filter type="log4net.Filter.LevelRangeFilter">
      <levelMin value="INFO" />
      <levelMax value="WARN" />
    </filter>
    <filter type="log4net.Filter.DenyAllFilter" />
    <appendToFile  value="false"></appendToFile>
    <lockingModel type="log4net.Appender.FileAppender+MinimalLock" />
  </appender>

Answer 1

I assume log is from some kind of service, so the log will be locked until service is running.

You probably want to use shared lock while reading the file for sending.

Or you can copy the file and send the copy.