Using the SetTracing Utility

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About the SetTracing Utility
Start the SetTracing Utility
Notes

Download the SetTracing utility from the Microsoft Download Center.

About the SetTracing Utility

Microsoft® Project Server 2002 logs all application errors to the Event Viewer as application errors. The Microsoft Project Server SetTracing utility allows you to redirect the tracing output to a log file instead of to the Event Viewer. You can also direct the output to both simultaneously. Directing application errors to a text file allows you to send that file, along with any additional information that may be helpful, to Microsoft Corporation. This information helps Microsoft Product Support services determine the cause of the errors.

The SetTracing utility can be downloaded and saved to your hard drive, or opened and run from the Web site. When you save the SetTracing utility to your hard drive, only the SetTracing.exe file is saved; no additional files are installed.

Start the SetTracing Utility

Use the SetTracing utility to enter values for logging events using Microsoft Project Server Tracing Service. Once you set values and start SetTracing, Microsoft Project Server Tracing Service creates or updates a log file, and the Event Viewer based on these values. These values will be saved and used as the default settings for the logging parameters the next time you run the SetTracing utility.

To start the SetTracing utility

1. Open the SetTracing utility, either from the location where you saved SetTracing.exe, or from the link in your Web browser.

1. In the Microsoft Project Server Tracing Service Settings dialog box, check one or both of the following:

• Text Provider Enabled: Select this option to create a TXT file that tracks the service settings you want to see in the tracing service. You can then send this text file to Microsoft Product Support services should you encounter any errors.

• Event Log Provider Enabled: Select this option to write the output data to the Event Viewer instead of a text file. You can view the log information by accessing the Event Viewer.

1. Set values for each of the fields you want to trace:

• Success indicates that an operation was completed successfully. Enter a value of 5000 to log maximum information or 0 so that no logging occurs for this field.

• Error indicates that a significant problem, such as a loss of data, has occurred. Enter a value of 5000 to log maximum information or 0 so that no logging occurs for this field.

• Warning indicates an event that is not necessarily significant, but may indicate some future problem. Enter a value of 5000 to log maximum information or 0 so that no logging occurs for this field.

• Information indicates successful loading of a program, driver, or service, and logs all successful events of this type. Enter a value of 5000 to log maximum information or 0 so that no logging occurs for this field.

• Audit Success Microsoft Project Server 2002 does not perform this function. Entering a value in this field will not generate any log information. Leave the default setting at 0.

• Audit Failure Microsoft Project Server 2002 does not perform this function. Entering a value in this field will not generate any log information. Leave the default setting at 0.

1. Optional: If you select Text Provider Enabled, accept the default Output File name or type the path and name to the location of the file you want to create.

1. Click Save. The SetTracing utility saves your settings and closes. Logging then runs in the background.

The Microsoft Project Tracing Service is installed during Microsoft Project Server 2002 setup, and is started by default. If it is not turned on, you must start the service in order to perform logging.

To start Microsoft Project Tracing Services

1. On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.

1. Click Microsoft Project Tracing Services in the list of services.

1. If Microsoft Project Tracing Services is not running, click Start on the toolbar.

1. Close the Services console.

To stop the Microsoft Project Server Trace Services utility

1. Open the SetTracing utility, either from the location where you saved SetTracing.exe, or from the link in your Web browser.

1. In the Microsoft Project Server Trace Services utility dialog box, clear the Text Provider Enabled and/or the Event Log Provider Enabled checkbox.

1. Click Save.

Notes

• If you use the SetTracing utility to log information in addition to what is logged to the Event Viewer, first gather the information you need to capture the errors. Then open the SetTracing utility and set the values of any fields you are tracing to 0. Information in the output file could possibly compromise your security. In addition, when the Microsoft Project Server Tracing Service is running in the background, it will continue to use your computer's system resources to collect information.

• If you are running the Microsoft Project Server Tracing Service utility against a busy site and the Text Provider Enabled option is selected, you should periodically create a new text file or backup and delete the existing file. As the tracing service runs, it will continually append information to the current file. As that file grows in size, system performance slows.

• Do not modify the text in your TXT file. The contents of this file might help Microsoft developers and Product Support specialists determine where an error is occurring.

• If you are looking at the contents of your text file or are viewing information in the Event Viewer, be aware that in some cases information you think may be wrong may actually be a false-positive return value. There can be instances when an event logs as a failure, but then later logs as a success. When looking at events in the event log, look for trends that include the same error, as opposed to those events that only occur once.