Scott Hanselman

NuGet Package of the Week #7 - ELMAH (Error Logging Modules and Handlers) with SQL Server Compact

May 24, 2011 Comment on this post [13] Posted in ASP.NET | ASP.NET MVC | NuGet | NuGetPOW
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The Backstory: I was thinking since the NuGet .NET package management site is starting to fill up that I should start looking for gems (no pun intended) in there. You know, really useful stuff that folks might otherwise not find. I'll look for mostly open source projects, ones I think are really useful. I'll look at how they built their NuGet packages, if there's anything interesting about the way the designed the out of the box experience (and anything they could do to make it better) as well as what the package itself does.

This week's Package of the Week is "ELMAH 1.2 with SQL Compact."

image

You may already use ELMAH. Don't stop reading now, because you're going to need this information!

Now, I've been blogging and promoting ELMAH (Error Logging Modules and Handlers) for years. It's the first thing I add to any ASP.NET project of any importance. It's one of the great little gems of ASP.NET open source.

I've shown "install-package elmah" in a number of talks and videos as my go-to demo for how NuGet and a well structured OSS package get you started quickly. Recently the ELMAH team has started to do some restructuring of their packages, and I wanted to showcase their work so you can not only learn from it, but also implement similar structures in your own packages.

First, spend a few minutes checking out how ELMAH works and how it can add to your ASP.NET project. Now, let's look at the (currently three, soon to be more) ELMAH packages that are up on NuGet.org.

There's currently:

  • ELMAH Core Library (no config) - "Core library for ELMAH (Error Logging Modules and Handlers) without any configuration"
    • This one includes just the library. If you already have a custom ELMAH configuration or you want to create a new one, you can use and depend on this "core" package.
  • ELMAH - "ELMAH with initial configuration for getting started quickly. ELMAH (Error Logging Modules and Handlers) is an application-wide error logging facility that is completely pluggable. It can be dynamically added to a running ASP.NET web application, or even all ASP.NET web applications on a machine, without any need for re-compilation or re-deployment."
    • This one includes the basics you'll need to for a drop-in/just-works configuration. This isn't the "core" library, but rather one that depends on the core. It's the "getting started" one.
  • ELMAH on MS SQL Server Compact - "ELMAH with configuration for getting started quickly on a Microsoft SQL Server Compact database as the error log."
    • This package depends on the Elmah library and Elmah.CoreLibrary package as well as SqlServerCompact and adds configuration for using them together.
    • Dependency chain: elmah.sqlservercompact -> elmah -> elmah.corelibrary

Here's the web.config.transform that elmah.sqlservercompact adds to your base ELMAH web.config:

<configuration>
<elmah>
<errorLogtype="Elmah.SqlServerCompactErrorLog, Elmah"connectionStringName="elmah-sqlservercompact"/>
</elmah>
<connectionStrings>
<addname="elmah-sqlservercompact"connectionString="Data Source=|DataDirectory|\Elmah.sdf"/>
</connectionStrings>
</configuration>

ELMAH Database Column StructureGive it a try, it's easy, just install-package elmah.sqlservercompact. This basic package dependency structure will enable the Elmah guys to create "quick starts" with different configurations that each depend on elmah, which depends on the elmah.corelibrary. 

ELMAH supports many formats for storing errors, but I think that SQL Server Compact is a great choice for small to medium size applications.

  • Everything in one place and queryable.
  • No mess of text files or XML files
  • Database survives application restarts/recycles

If you're using a WebFarm, you might want to use a central SQL Server instance, but I know a number of folks who run WebFarms and still prefer their errors on a per WebServer basis.

When your application starts up, ELMAH will put the Elmah.sdf in your ~\App_Data folder. The database is structured like this image at right. With the SQL Server Compact tooling that's added with Visual Studio 2010 SP1 you can open the SDF file right in VS and query it if you like.

If you prefer a different backend for your logs, we should soon see NuGet "quick start" packages for many of the supported ELMAH storage solutions. You can even get your errors as RSS or JSON!

Also, be aware that Elmah has just be updated to version 1.2 with a number of new features and fixes. ELMAH works in .NET 1.1 and .NET 2, so there's no excuse for not checking it out!

Screenshot of an ELMAH log

Enjoy, and thanks to the ELMAH team for putting up with my nagging, bug reports and reviews over the last few months! It's only because I love the project so much!

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About Scott

Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.

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May 24, 2011 3:03
Have you heard of anyone successfully getting Elmah running on Azure? Either with SQL Azure or table storage.
May 24, 2011 3:12
Dunno. You'd have to ask on their discussion list. Can't see why it'd be a big deal.
May 24, 2011 4:33
ELMAH works in .NET 1.1 and .NET 2, so there's no excuse for not checking it out!

True, but just a clarification: Nuget only works in Visual Studio 2010, so if you plan to use it on earlier projects (VS 2005 or 2008), you must upgrade the project to 2010 or configure it manually. If you are still using VS 2003, then your only choice is manual configuration.

Keep the great articles coming, Scott!
May 24, 2011 10:11
If you prefer a different backend for your logs, we should get NuGet "quick start" packages for many of the supported ELMAH stores these. You can even get your errors as RSS or JSON!


I believe that there is words missing in the first sentence quoted above. Can it please be corrected.
May 24, 2011 10:40
ELMAH is indeed very useful. There is also a new offline error viewer that I just started to use. Looks very promising. You find it at "http://code.google.com/p/elmahofflineviewer/"
May 24, 2011 11:45
I'm finding these Nuget highlights quite useful - caused me to go browsing the gallery actually when I stumbled across a few useful things.

Quick question Scott: how are you generating those command line graphics? They look cool.
May 24, 2011 15:09
@Adam Scott is probably screen shooting the graphic on the gallery page: http://nuget.org/List/Packages/elmah.sqlservercompact
May 24, 2011 17:22
Thanks for the article. I am wondering what is the closest ELMAH alternative for WPF applications? Anything you would recommend?
May 24, 2011 21:21
ELMAH rocks and NuGet makes it so simiple to integrate into any project!
May 25, 2011 0:32
Finally here,

We where using the old port from asp for a wile. Now it will be great to have this in silverlight also.
May 26, 2011 5:15
Hey Scott, can we configure the ELMAH to a table in exists Database to save messages.Thanks !
January 06, 2012 21:40
Hi,
Can you tell me a way by which I can store the Elmah logs in a table that is part of my application database? I am using SQL CE .sdf database in my web application.
January 19, 2012 0:00
Hello Gentlemen,
Perhaps you can help me. I am recruiting for my client, located in NNJ, who needs a Front-End Senior C# .Net Developer who has exp or knowledge of...
ELMAH (plus CSS, AJAX, Flex, Spark, JQuery - Grids in particular, and Squiggly). Contract, possible perm. I can offer a Competitive rate. Start asap. If interested, please contact me - thank you!
Regards,
Bob Sinno
Business Development Manager
Lancaster Systems, Inc.
IT Staffing Solutions Division
914-967-5700 (office)
bob@lancastersys.com

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.