Logging#

The following logging guidelines are best practices discovered through implementing logging services and modules within PyAnsys libraries. Suggestions and improvements are welcomed.

For logging techniques, see Logging HOWTO in the Python documentation. These tutorials are particularly helpful:

Logging overview#

Logging helps to track events occurring in the app. A log record is created for each event. This record contains detailed information about the current app operation. Whenever information must be exposed, displayed, and shared, logging is the way to do it.

Logging is beneficial to both users and app developers. It serves several purposes, including these:

  • Extracts some valuable data for users to know the status of their work

  • Tracks the progress and course of app usage

  • Provides the developer with as much information as possible if an issue happens

The message logged can contain generic information or embed data specific to the current session. Message content is associated with a severity level, such as INFO, WARNING, ERROR, and DEBUG. Generally, the severity level indicates the recipient of the message. For example, an INFO message is directed to the user, while a DEBUG message is directed to the developer.

Logging best practices#

The logging capabilities in PyAnsys libraries should be built upon Python’s standard logging library. A PyAnsys library should not replace the standard logging library but rather provide a way for both it and the PyAnsys library to interact. Subsequent sections provide best logging practices.

Avoid printing to the console#

A common habit while prototyping a new feature is to print a message into the command line executable. Instead of using the common print method, you should use a stream handler and redirect its content. This allows messages to be filtered based on their severity level and apply formatting properly. To accomplish this, add a Boolean argument in the initializer of the logging.Logger class that specifies how to handle the stream.

Turn on and off handlers#

You might sometimes want to turn off a specific handler, such as a file handler where log messages are written. If so, you must property close and remove the existing handler. Otherwise, you might be denied file access later when you try to write new log content.

This code snippet shows how to turn off a log handler:

for handler in design_logger.handlers:
    if isinstance(handler, logging.FileHandler):
        handler.close()
        design_logger.removeHandler(handler)

Use app filters#

An app filter shows all its value when the content of a message depends on some conditions. It injects contextual information in the core of the message. This can be used to harmonize message rendering when the app output varies based on the data processed.

Using an app filter requires the creation of a class based on the logging.Filter class from the logging module and the implementation of its filter() function. This function contains all modified content to send to the stream:

class AppFilter(logging.Filter):
    def __init__(self, destination=None, extra=None):
        if not destination:
            self._destination = "Global"
        if not extra:
            self._extra = ""

    def filter(self, record):
        """Modify the record sent to the stream.

        Parameters
        ----------
        record :

        """

        record.destination = self._destination

        # This will avoid the extra '::' for Global that does not have any extra info.
        if not self._extra:
            record.extra = self._extra
        else:
            record.extra = self._extra + ":"
        return True
class CustomLogger(object):
    def __init__(self, messenger, level=logging.DEBUG, to_stdout=False):
        if to_stdout:
            self._std_out_handler = logging.StreamHandler()
            self._std_out_handler.setLevel(level)
            self._std_out_handler.setFormatter(FORMATTER)
            self.global_logger.addHandler(self._std_out_handler)

Use %-formatting for strings#

Although using the f-string for formatting most strings is often recommended, when it comes to logging, using the former %-formatting is preferable. When %-formatting is used, the string is not evaluated at runtime. Instead, it is evaluated only when the message is emitted. If any formatting or evaluation errors occur, they are reported as logging errors and do not halt code.

logger.info("Project %s has been opened.", project.GetName())

App and service logging modules#

PyAnsys libraries use app and service logging modules to extend or expose features from an Ansys app, product, or service, which can be local or remote.

For a PyAnsys library, there are two main loggers that expose or extend a service-based app:

These loggers are customized classes that wrap the logging.Logger class from the logging module and add specific features to it. This image shows the logging approach used by PyMAPDL and the scopes of the global and instance loggers.

Logging in PyMAPDL

You can see the source for a custom PyAnsys logger in the first of the following collapsible sections and in the pyansys_logging.py file in the pyansys-dev-guide repository. The second collapsible section shows some unit tests that show how to use this custom PyAnsys logger:

Example of a custom PyAnsys logger
from copy import copy
from datetime import datetime
import logging
from logging import CRITICAL, DEBUG, ERROR, INFO, WARN
import sys

# Default configuration
LOG_LEVEL = logging.DEBUG
FILE_NAME = "PyProject.log"


# Formatting
STDOUT_MSG_FORMAT = (
    "%(levelname)s - %(instance_name)s - %(module)s - %(funcName)s - %(message)s"
)
FILE_MSG_FORMAT = STDOUT_MSG_FORMAT

DEFAULT_STDOUT_HEADER = """
LEVEL - INSTANCE NAME - MODULE - FUNCTION - MESSAGE
"""
DEFAULT_FILE_HEADER = DEFAULT_STDOUT_HEADER

NEW_SESSION_HEADER = f"""
===============================================================================
       NEW SESSION - {datetime.now().strftime("%m/%d/%Y, %H:%M:%S")}
==============================================================================="""

string_to_loglevel = {
    "DEBUG": DEBUG,
    "INFO": INFO,
    "WARN": WARN,
    "WARNING": WARN,
    "ERROR": ERROR,
    "CRITICAL": CRITICAL,
}


class InstanceCustomAdapter(logging.LoggerAdapter):
    """Keeps the reference to a product instance name dynamic.

    If you use the standard approach, which is supplying ``extra`` input
    to the logger, you would need to keep inputting product instances
    every time a log is created.

    Using adapters, you just need to specify the product instance that you refer
    to once.
    """

    # level is kept for compatibility with ``suppress_logging``,
    # but it does nothing.
    level = None
    file_handler = None
    stdout_handler = None

    def __init__(self, logger, extra=None):
        self.logger = logger
        self.extra = extra
        self.file_handler = logger.file_handler
        self.std_out_handler = logger.std_out_handler

    def process(self, msg, kwargs):
        kwargs["extra"] = {}
        # These are the extra parameters sent to log
        # here self.extra is the argument pass to the log records.
        kwargs["extra"]["instance_name"] = self.extra.get_name()
        return msg, kwargs

    def log_to_file(self, filename=FILE_NAME, level=LOG_LEVEL):
        """Add file handler to logger.

        Parameters
        ----------
        filename : str, optional
            Name of the file where the logs are recorded. By default
            ``PyProject.log``
        level : str, optional
            Level of logging, for example ``'DEBUG'``. By default
            ``logging.DEBUG``.
        """

        self.logger = add_file_handler(
            self.logger, filename=filename, level=level, write_headers=True
        )
        self.file_handler = self.logger.file_handler

    def log_to_stdout(self, level=LOG_LEVEL):
        """Add standard output handler to the logger.

        Parameters
        ----------
        level : str, optional
            Level of logging record. By default ``logging.DEBUG``.
        """
        if self.std_out_handler:
            raise Exception("Stdout logger already defined.")

        self.logger = add_stdout_handler(self.logger, level=level)
        self.std_out_handler = self.logger.std_out_handler

    def setLevel(self, level="DEBUG"):
        """Change the log level of the object and the attached handlers."""
        self.logger.setLevel(level)
        for each_handler in self.logger.handlers:
            each_handler.setLevel(level)
        self.level = level


class PyAnsysPercentStyle(logging.PercentStyle):
    def __init__(self, fmt, *, defaults=None):
        self._fmt = fmt or self.default_format
        self._defaults = defaults

    def _format(self, record):
        defaults = self._defaults
        if defaults:
            values = defaults | record.__dict__
        else:
            values = record.__dict__

        # Here you can make any changes that you want in the record. For
        # example, adding a key.

        # You could create an ``if`` here if you want conditional formatting, and even
        # change the record.__dict__.
        # If you don't want to create conditional fields, it is fine to keep
        # the same MSG_FORMAT for all of them.

        # For the case of logging exceptions to the logger.
        values.setdefault("instance_name", "")

        return STDOUT_MSG_FORMAT % values


class PyProjectFormatter(logging.Formatter):
    """Customized ``Formatter`` class used to overwrite the defaults format styles."""

    def __init__(
        self,
        fmt=STDOUT_MSG_FORMAT,
        datefmt=None,
        style="%",
        validate=True,
        defaults=None,
    ):
        if sys.version_info[1] < 8:
            super().__init__(fmt, datefmt, style)
        else:
            # 3.8: The validate parameter was added
            super().__init__(fmt, datefmt, style, validate)
        self._style = PyAnsysPercentStyle(fmt, defaults=defaults)  # overwriting


class InstanceFilter(logging.Filter):
    """Ensures that instance_name record always exists."""

    def filter(self, record):
        if not hasattr(record, "instance_name"):
            record.instance_name = ""
        return True


class Logger:
    """Logger used for each PyProject session.

    This class lets you add a handler to a file or standard output.

    Parameters
    ----------
    level : int, optional
        Logging level to filter the message severity allowed in the logger.
        The default is ``logging.DEBUG``.
    to_file : bool, optional
        Write log messages to a file. The default is ``False``.
    to_stdout : bool, optional
        Write log messages into the standard output. The
        default is ``True``.
    filename : str, optional
        Name of the file where log messages are written to.
        The default is ``None``.
    """

    file_handler = None
    std_out_handler = None
    _level = logging.DEBUG
    _instances = {}

    def __init__(
        self,
        level=logging.DEBUG,
        to_file=False,
        to_stdout=True,
        filename=FILE_NAME,
        cleanup=True,
    ):
        """Initialize Logger class."""

        self.logger = logging.getLogger(
            "pyproject_global"
        )  # Creating default main logger.
        self.logger.addFilter(InstanceFilter())
        self.logger.setLevel(level)
        self.logger.propagate = True
        self.level = self.logger.level  # TODO: TO REMOVE

        # Writing logging methods.
        self.debug = self.logger.debug
        self.info = self.logger.info
        self.warning = self.logger.warning
        self.error = self.logger.error
        self.critical = self.logger.critical
        self.log = self.logger.log

        if to_file or filename != FILE_NAME:
            # We record to file.
            self.log_to_file(filename=filename, level=level)

        if to_stdout:
            self.log_to_stdout(level=level)

        self.add_handling_uncaught_expections(
            self.logger
        )  # Using logger to record unhandled exceptions.

        self.cleanup = cleanup

    def log_to_file(self, filename=FILE_NAME, level=LOG_LEVEL):
        """Add file handler to logger.

        Parameters
        ----------
        filename : str, optional
            Name of the file where the logs are recorded. By default FILE_NAME
        level : str, optional
            Level of logging. E.x. 'DEBUG'. By default LOG_LEVEL
        """

        self = add_file_handler(
            self, filename=filename, level=level, write_headers=True
        )

    def log_to_stdout(self, level=LOG_LEVEL):
        """Add standard output handler to the logger.

        Parameters
        ----------
        level : str, optional
            Level of logging record. By default LOG_LEVEL
        """

        self = add_stdout_handler(self, level=level)

    def setLevel(self, level="DEBUG"):
        """Change the log level of the object and the attached handlers."""
        self.logger.setLevel(level)
        for each_handler in self.logger.handlers:
            each_handler.setLevel(level)
        self._level = level

    def _make_child_logger(self, sufix, level):
        """Create a child logger.

        Create a child logger either using ``getChild`` or copying
        attributes between ``pyproject_global`` logger and the new
        one.

        """
        logger = logging.getLogger(sufix)
        logger.std_out_handler = None
        logger.file_handler = None

        if self.logger.hasHandlers:
            for each_handler in self.logger.handlers:
                new_handler = copy(each_handler)

                if each_handler == self.file_handler:
                    logger.file_handler = new_handler
                elif each_handler == self.std_out_handler:
                    logger.std_out_handler = new_handler

                if level:
                    # The logger handlers are copied and changed the
                    # loglevel if the specified log level is lower
                    # than the one of the global.
                    if each_handler.level > string_to_loglevel[level.upper()]:
                        new_handler.setLevel(level)

                logger.addHandler(new_handler)

        if level:
            if isinstance(level, str):
                level = string_to_loglevel[level.upper()]
            logger.setLevel(level)

        else:
            logger.setLevel(self.logger.level)

        logger.propagate = True
        return logger

    def add_child_logger(self, sufix, level=None):
        """Add a child logger to the main logger.

        This logger is more general than an instance logger which is designed
        to track the state of the application instances.

        If the logging level is in the arguments, a new logger with a
        reference to the ``_global`` logger handlers is created
        instead of a child.

        Parameters
        ----------
        sufix : str
            Name of the logger.
        level : str
            Level of logging

        Returns
        -------
        logging.logger
            Logger class.
        """
        name = self.logger.name + "." + sufix
        self._instances[name] = self._make_child_logger(self, name, level)
        return self._instances[name]

    def _add_product_instance_logger(self, name, product_instance, level):
        if isinstance(name, str):
            instance_logger = InstanceCustomAdapter(
                self._make_child_logger(name, level), product_instance
            )
        elif isinstance(name, None):
            instance_logger = InstanceCustomAdapter(
                self._make_child_logger("NO_NAMED_YET", level), product_instance
            )
        else:
            raise TypeError(
                f"``name`` parameter must be a string or None, not f{type(name)}"
            )

        return instance_logger

    def add_instance_logger(self, name, product_instance, level=None):
        """Create a logger for an application instance.

        This instance logger is a logger with an adapter which add the
        contextual information such as <product/service> instance
        name. This logger is returned and you can use it to log events
        as a normal logger. It is also stored in the ``_instances``
        attribute.

        Parameters
        ----------
        name : str
            Name for the new logger
        product_instance : ansys.product.service.module.ProductClass
            Class instance. This must contain the attribute ``name``.

        Returns
        -------
        InstanceCustomAdapter
            Logger adapter customized to add additional information to
            the logs. You can use this class to log events in the
            same way you would with a logger class.

        Raises
        ------
        TypeError
            You can only input strings as ``name`` to this method.
        """
        count_ = 0
        new_name = name
        while new_name in logging.root.manager.__dict__.keys():
            count_ += 1
            new_name = name + "_" + str(count_)

        self._instances[new_name] = self._add_product_instance_logger(
            new_name, product_instance, level
        )
        return self._instances[new_name]

    def __getitem__(self, key):
        if key in self._instances.keys():
            return self._instances[key]
        else:
            raise KeyError(f"There are no instances with name {key}")

    def add_handling_uncaught_expections(self, logger):
        """This just redirects the output of an exception to the logger."""

        def handle_exception(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback):
            if issubclass(exc_type, KeyboardInterrupt):
                sys.__excepthook__(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback)
                return
            logger.critical(
                "Uncaught exception", exc_info=(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback)
            )

        sys.excepthook = handle_exception

    def __del__(self):
        """Close the logger and all its handlers."""
        self.logger.debug("Collecting logger")
        if self.cleanup:
            try:
                for handler in self.logger.handlers:
                    handler.close()
                    self.logger.removeHandler(handler)
            except Exception as e:
                try:
                    if self.logger is not None:
                        self.logger.error("The logger was not deleted properly.")
                except Exception:
                    pass
        else:
            self.logger.debug("Collecting but not exiting due to 'cleanup = False'")


def add_file_handler(logger, filename=FILE_NAME, level=LOG_LEVEL, write_headers=False):
    """Add a file handler to the input.

    Parameters
    ----------
    logger : logging.Logger or logging.Logger
        Logger where to add the file handler.
    filename : str, optional
        Name of the output file. By default FILE_NAME
    level : str, optional
        Level of log recording. By default LOG_LEVEL
    write_headers : bool, optional
        Record the headers to the file. By default ``False``.

    Returns
    -------
    logger
        Return the logger or Logger object.
    """

    file_handler = logging.FileHandler(filename)
    file_handler.setLevel(level)
    file_handler.setFormatter(logging.Formatter(FILE_MSG_FORMAT))

    if isinstance(logger, Logger):
        logger.file_handler = file_handler
        logger.logger.addHandler(file_handler)

    elif isinstance(logger, logging.Logger):
        logger.file_handler = file_handler
        logger.addHandler(file_handler)

    if write_headers:
        file_handler.stream.write(NEW_SESSION_HEADER)
        file_handler.stream.write(DEFAULT_FILE_HEADER)

    return logger


def add_stdout_handler(logger, level=LOG_LEVEL, write_headers=False):
    """Add a stream handler to the logger.

    Parameters
    ----------
    logger : logging.Logger or logging.Logger
        Logger where to add the stream handler.
    level : str, optional
        Level of log recording. By default ``logging.DEBUG``.
    write_headers : bool, optional
        Record the headers to the stream. By default ``False``.

    Returns
    -------
    logger
        The logger or Logger object.
    """

    std_out_handler = logging.StreamHandler(sys.stdout)
    std_out_handler.setLevel(level)
    std_out_handler.setFormatter(PyProjectFormatter(STDOUT_MSG_FORMAT))

    if isinstance(logger, Logger):
        logger.std_out_handler = std_out_handler
        logger.logger.addHandler(std_out_handler)

    elif isinstance(logger, logging.Logger):
        logger.addHandler(std_out_handler)

    if write_headers:
        std_out_handler.stream.write(DEFAULT_STDOUT_HEADER)

    return logger
How to use the PyAnsys custom logger
import io
import logging
import os
import sys
import weakref

import pyansys_logging


def test_default_logger():
    """Create a logger with default options.
    Only stdout logger must be used."""

    capture = CaptureStdOut()
    with capture:
        test_logger = pyansys_logging.Logger()
        test_logger.info("Test stdout")

    assert (
        "INFO -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_default_logger - Test stdout"
        in capture.content
    )
    # File handlers are not activated.
    assert os.path.exists(os.path.exists(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "PyProject.log")))


def test_level_stdout():
    """Create a logger with default options.
    Only stdout logger must be used."""

    capture = CaptureStdOut()
    with capture:
        test_logger = pyansys_logging.Logger(level=logging.INFO)
        test_logger.debug("Debug stdout with level=INFO")
        test_logger.info("Info stdout with level=INFO")
        test_logger.warning("Warning stdout with level=INFO")
        test_logger.error("Error stdout with level=INFO")
        test_logger.critical("Critical stdout with level=INFO")

        # Modify the level
        test_logger.setLevel(level=logging.WARNING)
        test_logger.debug("Debug stdout with level=WARNING")
        test_logger.info("Info stdout with level=WARNING")
        test_logger.warning("Warning stdout with level=WARNING")
        test_logger.error("Error stdout with level=WARNING")
        test_logger.critical("Critical stdout with level=WARNING")

    # level=INFO
    assert (
        "DEBUG -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Debug stdout with level=INFO"
        not in capture.content
    )
    assert (
        "INFO -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Info stdout with level=INFO"
        in capture.content
    )
    assert (
        "WARNING -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Warning stdout with level=INFO"
        in capture.content
    )
    assert (
        "ERROR -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Error stdout with level=INFO"
        in capture.content
    )
    assert (
        "CRITICAL -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Critical stdout with level=INFO"
        in capture.content
    )
    # level=WARNING
    assert (
        "INFO -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Info stdout with level=WARNING"
        not in capture.content
    )
    assert (
        "WARNING -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Warning stdout with level=WARNING"
        in capture.content
    )
    assert (
        "ERROR -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Error stdout with level=WARNING"
        in capture.content
    )
    assert (
        "CRITICAL -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_level_stdout - Critical stdout with level=WARNING"  # noqa: E501
        in capture.content
    )

    # File handlers are not activated.
    assert os.path.exists(os.path.exists(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "PyProject.log")))


def test_file_handlers(tmpdir):
    """Activate a file handler different from `PyProject.log`."""

    file_logger = tmpdir.mkdir("sub").join("test_logger.txt")

    test_logger = pyansys_logging.Logger(to_file=True, filename=file_logger)
    test_logger.info("Test Misc File")

    with open(file_logger, "r") as f:
        content = f.readlines()

    assert os.path.exists(
        file_logger
    )  # The file handler is not the default PyProject.Log
    assert len(content) == 6
    assert "NEW SESSION" in content[2]
    assert (
        "==============================================================================="
        in content[3]
    )
    assert "LEVEL - INSTANCE NAME - MODULE - FUNCTION - MESSAGE" in content[4]
    assert (
        "INFO -  - test_pyansys_logging - test_file_handlers - Test Misc File"
        in content[5]
    )

    # Delete the logger and its file handler.
    test_logger_ref = weakref.ref(test_logger)
    del test_logger
    assert test_logger_ref() is None


class CaptureStdOut:
    """Capture standard output with a context manager."""

    def __init__(self):
        self._stream = io.StringIO()

    def __enter__(self):
        sys.stdout = self._stream

    def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
        sys.stdout = sys.__stdout__

    @property
    def content(self):
        """Return the captured content."""
        return self._stream.getvalue()

Global logger#

A global logger named py*_global is created when importing ansys.product.service (ansys.product.service.__init__). This logger does not track instances but rather is used globally. Consequently, its use is recommended for most scenarios, especially those where simple modules or classes are involved.

For example, if you intend to log the initialization of a library or module, import the global logger at the top of your script or module:

from ansys.product.service import LOG

If the default name of the global logger is in conflict with the name of another logger, rename it:

from ansys.product.service import LOG as logger

The default logging level of the global logger is ERROR (logging.ERROR). You can change the output to a different error level like this:

LOG.logger.setLevel("DEBUG")
LOG.file_handler.setLevel("DEBUG")  # if present
LOG.stdout_handler.setLevel("DEBUG")  # if present

Alternatively, to ensure that all handlers are set to the desired log level, use this approach:

LOG.setLevel("DEBUG")

By default, the global logger does not log to a file. However, you can enable logging to both a file and the standard output by adding a file handler:

import os

file_path = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "pylibrary.log")
LOG.log_to_file(file_path)

If you want to change the characteristics of the global logger from the beginning of the execution, you must edit the __init__ file in the directory of your library.

To log using the global logger, simply call the desired method as a normal logger:

>>> import logging
>>> from ansys.mapdl.core.logging import Logger
>>> LOG = Logger(level=logging.DEBUG, to_file=False, to_stdout=True)
>>> LOG.debug("This is LOG debug message.")

| Level    | Instance   | Module       | Function    | Message
|----------|------------|--------------|-------------|---------------------------
| DEBUG    |            | __init__     | <module>    | This is LOG debug message.

Instance logger#

An instance logger is created every time that the _MapdlCore class is instantiated. Using this instance logger is recommended when using the pool library or when using multiple instances of MAPDL. The main feature of the instance logger is that it tracks each instance and includes the instance name when logging. The names of instances are unique. For example, when using the MAPDL gRPC version, the instance name includes the IP and port of the corresponding instance, making the logger unique.

You can access instance loggers in two places:

  • _MapdlCore._log for backward compatibility

  • LOG._instances, which is a field of the dict data type with a key that is the name of the created logger

These instance loggers inherit from the pymapdl_global output handlers and logging level unless otherwise specified. An instance logger works similarly to the global logger. If you want to add a file handler, use the log_to_file method. If you want to change the log level, use the logging.Logger.setLevel() method.

This code snippet shows how to use an instance logger:

>>> from ansys.mapdl.core import launch_mapdl
>>> mapdl = launch_mapdl()
>>> mapdl._log.info("This is an useful message")

| Level    | Instance        | Module   | Function    | Message
|----------|-----------------|----------|-------------|--------------------------
| INFO     | 127.0.0.1:50052 | test     | <module>    | This is an useful message

Ansys product loggers#

An Ansys product, due to its architecture, can have several loggers. The logging library supports working with a finite number of loggers. The logging.getLogger() factory function helps to access each logger by its name. In addition to name mappings, a hierarchy can be established to structure the loggers’ parenting and their connections.

For example, if an Ansys product is using a pre-existing custom logger encapsulated inside the product itself, the PyAnsys library benefits from exposing it through the standard Python tools. You should use the standard library as much as possible. It facilitates every contribution to the PyAnsys library, both external and internal, by exposing common tools that are widely adopted. Each developer is able to operate quickly and autonomously. The project takes advantage of the entire set of features exposed in the standard logger and all the upcoming improvements.

Custom log handlers#

You might need to catch Ansys product messages and redirect them to another logger. For example, Ansys Electronics Desktop (AEDT) has its own internal logger called the message manager, which has three main destinations:

  • Global which is for the entire project manager

  • Project, which is related to the project

  • Design, which is related to the design, making it the most specific destination of the three loggers

The message manager does not use the standard Python logging module, which can be a problem when exporting messages and data from it to a common tool. In most cases, it is easier to work with the standard Python module to extract data. To overcome this AEDT limitation, you must wrap the existing message manager into a logger based on the standard logging library:

Loggers message passing flow.

The wrapper implementation is essentially a custom handler based on a class inherited from the logging.Handler class. The initializer of this class requires the message manager to be passed as an argument to link the standard logging service with the AEDT message manager:

class LogHandler(logging.Handler):
    def __init__(self, internal_app_messenger, log_destination, level=logging.INFO):
        logging.Handler.__init__(self, level)
        # destination is used if when the internal message manager
        # is made of several different logs. Otherwise it is not relevant.
        self.destination = log_destination
        self.messenger = internal_app_messenger

    def emit(self, record):
        pass

The purpose of the logging.Handler class is to send log messages in the AEDT logging stream. One of the mandatory actions is to overwrite the emit() function. This function operates as a proxy, dispatching all log messages to the message manager. Based on the record level, the message is sent to the appropriate log level, such as INFO, ERROR, or DEBUG, into the message manager to fit the level provided by the Ansys product. As a reminder, the record is an object containing all kind of information related to the event logged.

This custom handler is use in the new logger instance (the one based on the logging library). To avoid any conflict or message duplication, before adding a handler on any logger, verify if an appropriate handler is already available.