The pros and cons of logging your chat
by Robin Torres 
Sep 13th 2007 at 1:00PM
Did you know that you can save your chat log in WoW? I didn't know how to until I read Mardraum's forum post today. Your chat log can be recorded in WoWChatLog.txt in the logs folder if you type /chatlog before the chat you want to record. If you want to record your combat or the current guild roster, use /combatlog or /saveguildroster respectively. Logging only works for that session, however.
If you want to automatically log all of your text, there is an add-on called Elephant (which I haven't tested) that will do just that and organize it all for you as well.
Here are a few of the benefits and drawbacks of recording your chat:
Pros
- You can use it as grist for your RP stories.
- You can record in-game interviews and events for blogging about later.
- It is a great way to record the minutes of guild meetings.
- You can record your intimacy sessions with your in-game love.
- Your significant other can find your intimacy sessions with your in-game love.
Why would (or do) you log your chat?
Filed under: How-tos, Odds and ends, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Addie Sep 13th 2007 1:07PM
I've logged RP meetings and events before. The raw chat log output is a HUGE mess especially if you use FlagRSP because that hidden channel babbles constantly. I might look into Elephant for the times I want a tidy log of stuff. No comment on the flirty bits O.o sheesh.
Matthew Sep 13th 2007 1:10PM
I have way too many in game loves to log
dekulink Sep 13th 2007 1:28PM
Matthew, many?! MANY!? You creep! I thought I was the only one!
Way to go WoW Insider, you broke my heart.
Coherent Sep 13th 2007 1:29PM
I had no idea that the /chatlog command existed, and I've actively looked for chatlogging options before! Go documentation, woo.
Sounds like they need to put in specific channel options though, either by number or name.
Hooper Sep 13th 2007 1:30PM
What happens in the Barrens stays in the Barrens.
Todd Sep 13th 2007 1:33PM
What happens in Goldshire stays in Goldshire.
Addie Sep 13th 2007 1:37PM
*nods* when I needed an actual transcript, I wound up dumping it all into excel so I could manipulate the heck out of it and sort and delete entire channels. It was wayyy time-consuming.
deviationer Sep 13th 2007 2:30PM
Hearing about RPing and/or seeing it put me in a place between puking and wanting to repeatably smack the person(s) RPing while yelling ITS A FREAKING GAME, STOP IT, JUST STOP IT. YOU NEED HELP.
Addie Sep 13th 2007 2:35PM
*offers #8 an airsick bag* ...just go puke in private plz :P
Erica Olson Sep 13th 2007 5:11PM
Would be good for proof if one is being harrasssed in-game.
Sorcefire Sep 13th 2007 2:50PM
Does anyone know if this feature works for capturing incoming whispers or /say or /yell commands? Off the cuff it sounds like it only records actual named channels (1,2,3, etc.).
Hollywood Ron Sep 13th 2007 3:02PM
If I had known about this, it would've been much easier to be secretary for guild and raid meetings.
Slarti Sep 13th 2007 3:26PM
I've enabled logging of everything (chat and combat log) to files a loooong time ago, and it does constantly pay off. Sometimes I can't remember something important somebody whispered me (there are quite some "some"s in that sentence :D), but with logging enabled constantly I can always take a look at the chatlog and don't have to ask the person in question. And there has been more than one occasion where it was useful to have an authentic and exact documentation of a conversation when there were some of the typical internal "guild drama" sort of things to settle.
Addie Sep 13th 2007 3:28PM
Yes, it includes say and whisper and yell and emotes too, I think.
Addie Sep 13th 2007 4:09PM
Yah, I just found an old one and it includes everything texty that you can see and even some you don't see, like that FlagRSP channel - except combat stuff but that's in the combat log. I'd post a snippet here, but... see #8, I'm scared! (No, I dunno if I'm more scared of the pukings or the smackings).
It creates a text file that doesn't update til you stop logging, either by typing /chatlog again or by logging out. First time I did it, I thought it wasn't working.
Freehugz Sep 13th 2007 4:17PM
i can't figure out what's going on in the background of that screenshot
Dawn Sep 13th 2007 4:25PM
I use WIM to log my whispers because when I'm online and playing I don't stop to chit chat. I can answer a question or make a comment while fighting, but I can't stop to take potion orders from guildies or write down screen names that people refer to and survive the bombings in Ogri'la at the same time. It's nice to know that anything said to me can be re-read or referenced at my convenience no matter how busy /1 or trade or guild chat are (or me for that matter). It's totally a convenience thing.
Lori Sep 13th 2007 4:35PM
I have saved combat chat and found it useful to go back and see what exactly was happening. For example, I found that my Felhunter actually removed Devotion and Daring from Juliette and Romulo. The only problem is that it is a royal pain to search thru all the text. Anyone know of software that formats the text into something more easily read?
Krystalle Voecks Sep 13th 2007 4:53PM
I use it for in-game interviews.
BTW, it records everything that comes across your primary (default) chat window. I've never had much success with getting it to log sub-channels if I had them tabbed off. As such, I generally just go into the tab options on the window and turn on/off all channels in the main window until I get to what I'm after and then start logging.
Very handy for Guild Meetings (my most common use), interviews, having to deal with Stupid Guild Drama, people being twits, etc. :)
Jashin Sep 13th 2007 6:46PM
If anything, for combat spam. The other stuff is not that important. Screen shot or it didn't happen. A text log can be altered.
Plus with the text limit thing, if you do see something you want to note...most of the time you can't scroll up far enough to reread/SS it.