Logging to file in asp net core using nlog

In this video we will discuss how to log to a file in ASP.NET Core using NLog.

Text version of the video
https://csharp-video-tutorials.blogspot.com/2019/05/logging-to-file-in-aspnet-core-using.html

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https://csharp-video-tutorials.blogspot.com/2019/05/logging-to-file-in-aspnet-core-using_30.html

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ASP.NET Core supports several third-party logging providers like the following
NLog
Serilog
elmah
Sentry
JSNLog

If we know how to work with one of the third-party logging providers, working with the other’s is similar.

To use NLog in ASP.NET Core

Step 1 : Install NLog.Web.AspNetCore nuget package

Once the NLog package is iinstalled, you will see the PackageReference included in the .csproj file

Step 2 : Create nlog.config file

Create nlog.config file in the root of your project. Please use the configuration available at the following link.
https://csharp-video-tutorials.blogspot.com/2019/05/logging-to-file-in-aspnet-core-using.html

To learn more about the nlog.config file please refer to the following github wiki page
https://github.com/NLog/NLog/wiki/Configuration-file

Step 3 : Enable copy to bin folder

Right click on nlog.config file in the Solution Explorer and select Properties. In the Properties window set
Copy to Output Directory = Copy if newer

Step 4 : Enable NLog as one of the Logging Provider

In addition to using the default logging providers (i.e Console, Debug & EventSource), we also added NLog using the extension method AddNLog(). This method is in NLog.Extensions.Logging namespace.

public class Program
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
CreateWebHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
}

public static IWebHostBuilder CreateWebHostBuilder(string[] args) =]
WebHost.CreateDefaultBuilder(args)
.ConfigureLogging((hostingContext, logging) =]
{
logging.AddConfiguration(hostingContext.Configuration.GetSection(“Logging”));
logging.AddConsole();
logging.AddDebug();
logging.AddEventSourceLogger();
// Enable NLog as one of the Logging Provider
logging.AddNLog();
})
.UseStartup[Startup]();
}

If you want only NLog as the logging provider, clear all the logging providers and then add NLog.

public class Program
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
CreateWebHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
}

public static IWebHostBuilder CreateWebHostBuilder(string[] args) =]
WebHost.CreateDefaultBuilder(args)
.ConfigureLogging((hostingContext, logging) =]
{
// Remove all the default logging providers
logging.ClearProviders();
logging.AddConfiguration(hostingContext.Configuration.GetSection(“Logging”));
// Add NLog as the Logging Provider
logging.AddNLog();
})
.UseStartup[Startup]();
}

Next video : Control what is logged using the LogLevel configuration setting.