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Where to find and how to use PLATO Pathways error logs?

Details

Resolution

Where the logs are located

There are two main error logs that can be used for general troubleshooting; they are ERRORLOG.TXT and TROEXCPT*.LOG.

The error logs are in the \PWAY folder in either the \TRACKLOG folder (called \ERRLOG on Pathways systems prior to v. 4.2) or the \BIN subfolder, on both networked and standalone workstations. The file names may be slightly different, depending on your PLATO Pathways version.

Here are the file paths and error log file names:

\PWAY\BIN\ERRORLOG.TXT (PLATO Pathways 4.X systems)
\PWAY\BIN\TROEXCPTN.LOG (PLATO Pathways 4.X systems)

Typical information in the logs

Typical information collected in the error logs may include the following:

• Date of the error
• Exact time the error occurred
• Application (or component of Pathways) that the error occurred in
• Type of error, Error ID, or Name of error (for example, "701 error"
• Error message
• Version of PLATO Pathways
• Workstation number
• Source, File version, Value, or Location
• User ID or information, if available

The error logs can be used as tools to help identify reoccurring errors, patterns in errors, network problem areas, and missing or corrupt files or tables. The information usually most critical to troubleshooting includes the following:

• the error message
• the application where the error occurred
• the workstation number
• the user information (if available)

Examples of error log messages

Example from ERRORLOG.TXT:

Exception at 3/5/05 3:15:17 PM
Program : WCMIADMN.EXE
Type : EWin32Error
Message : Win32 Error. Code: 87. The parameter is incorrect
Application : Q:\PWAY\BIN\WCMIADMN.EXE 4.1.0.2
Workstation : 11
Source : TfrmActivityPage (unhandled)
User : 256 (100) administrator

Example from TROEXCPTN.LOG

16:00:54.836 Exception in L:\PWAY\PRIVDB\107\Attend.Edit
16:00:54.926 Date of Msg : 3/23/2005
16:00:54.986 Application : L:\PWAY\BIN\WCMILRNR.EXE (PLATO? Pathways
Learner)
16:00:55.036 Type :EDBEngineError
16:00:55.087 Message : Record locked by another user. Table:
L:\PWAY\PRIVDB\107\ATTEND.DB
16:00:55.087 User: ANDERSON
16:00:55.147 Workstation : 42235
16:00:55.197 User ID : 263 (107) KA

Identifying specific workstations that are having problems

If one or more workstations are producing most of the errors in the logs, you can identify where the workstations are at in your network and troubleshoot them individually.

1. First, look at the workstation number in the error messages. This workstation number correlates with the WSID (workstation ID number) located in the WCMIWS.INI file on each PLATO Pathways workstation.
2. Download the SEEWSID.BAT file and save it to a floppy disk or CD.
3. SEEWSID.BAT will enable you to quickly view the workstation ID numbers for each workstation on your network.
4. Insert the floppy disk or CD at a workstation and click SEEWSID.BAT.
5. The utility will find and automatically open the workstation's WCMIWS.INI file. The file opens in a DOS window and contains several lines of information.
6. Look for the line that says WSID=x. "X" is the workstation ID number that correlates with the workstation number in error logs and may contain one or more digits.
7. Look at the error messages the workstation is receiving in the error logs. Using key words from the error messages, search the knowledge base to locate articles that will help you resolve the error messages.