80.2 Error Log

80.2.1 Overview

The error log is a second record, separate from the processing log. It captures technical errors from program operation - code exceptions, failed connections, corrupt files, conditions that lead to a notification display. Unlike the processing log (which has one entry per email), the error log contains technical program logs, independent of individual emails.

Split into four application components, a separate log file is kept per component:

  • Main - UI application
  • Watcher - service watchdog
  • Processor - processing engine (in service mode)
  • PostProcessor - downstream tasks (e.g. ZIP, mapping resolver)

This way problems of a single component can be isolated, without searching for the source in a mixed log.


80.2.2 Storage location

The log files reside in the AppData directory:

%APPDATA%\AutomaticEmailProcessor\ErrorLog_Main.json
%APPDATA%\AutomaticEmailProcessor\ErrorLog_Watcher.json
%APPDATA%\AutomaticEmailProcessor\ErrorLog_Processor.json
%APPDATA%\AutomaticEmailProcessor\ErrorLog_PostProcessor.json

In service mode the Watcher and Processor files reside in the AppData of the service account, not of the UI user.


80.2.3 Accessing the error log

The error log is stored as a JSON file in the AppData directory (see 80.2.2). There is no display dialog directly in the UI - instead, two functions are available in the main menu -> More:

Menu item Effect
Create error report… Bundles the error logs of all components together with system and version information into a single file on the desktop. Useful for support requests
Clear error logs Deletes the error logs (all components). Processing logs remain untouched

If you want to see the raw content, open the JSON file directly from the AppData directory (main menu -> More -> Open application data folder…).

Note: The error report may contain personal content (profile names, account addresses) - review before sending.


80.2.4 Retention

The error log keeps entries for 7 days. On program start or with each new entry, older entries are automatically removed. The period is not configurable - one week is typically enough to diagnose current problems.

If you want to archive longer, copy the JSON file manually or include it via the regular backup function.