Logs are the backbone of diagnosing and resolving technical issues efficiently. Whether you’re managing workflows internally or working with external partners, Files.com’s robust logging system helps you track every action on the platform, enabling your team to pinpoint where, when, and why an issue occurred.

In this post, we’ll explore what logs you can access, where to find them, and how to use them to resolve problems quickly.

What Logs Can You Access?

Files.com provides extensive logging capabilities, covering every critical action taken on the platform. If you’re a user with log permissions, you can view:

• Settings Changes: Track any updates to site configurations.
• Site History: See a full audit of site-wide activities.
• Automations: Monitor automated workflows for success or failure.
• File Transfers: Includes FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV activities.
• Outbound Connections: Logs for remote servers used in syncs and mounts.
• Email Logs: Inbound and outbound email activity.
• Webhooks: Check logs for integrations and API calls.
• Logins: LDAP and SAML authentication attempts and sync logs.
• Public Hosting: Activity related to publicly hosted files.
• API Logs: Raw logs for every API call made on Files.com across any interface.

This comprehensive coverage ensures no action goes unnoticed, giving you full visibility into your platform's activity.

Where to Find Logs in the Web Interface

Accessing logs in the Files.com web interface is straightforward. Here’s how to locate the logs:

1. File History

• Navigate to the File Manager tab.
• Open the folder menu bar and click the “File history” button.
• This view provides a detailed log of actions within that folder, including:
• Date and time
• User responsible
• Summary of the action
• Interface used (e.g., API, web interface, CLI)

Filters are available to narrow down logs by:

• Start and end date
• User
• IP address
• Interface

2. Site-Wide Activity Logs

• Go to the Logging menu on the left-hand sidebar.
• Click the “History” tab to access logs for site-wide activity.
• Additional filters allow you to search by specific actions or folder paths.

These tools allow you to find the exact activity you need to investigate.

Using Logs to Solve Problems

Logs in Files.com aren’t just for tracking—they’re essential for troubleshooting and resolving issues efficiently. Here are two common examples of how logs can help:

1. Resolving File Permission Issues

If files, folders, or users fail to update or sync, it’s often due to limited or revoked permissions.

• Use the site history logs to identify the failed action, file path, and responsible user.
• Update permissions for the user in the User Accounts tab to resolve the issue.

2. Diagnosing File Transfer Failures

Imagine you’re receiving files from an external partner via email, and they report sending five image files—but only three are visible in the File Manager.

• Check the File History log to confirm the successful actions.
• Go to the Inbound Emails Log under the Logging menu. If a “partial failure” occurred, you’ll see a clear explanation, such as:
• “File type not allowed on this server.”
• From there, navigate to Folder Settings in the File Manager and adjust the allowed file extensions.

By reviewing logs, you can quickly identify and resolve issues without back-and-forth delays.

Accessing Logs through the Command Line Interface

Prefer using the command line? Files.com lets you access logs directly with a single command. You can:

• Display logs as a table for quick analysis.
• Export logs as a CSV file for detailed review or reporting.

This flexibility ensures you can integrate logs into scripts, automation workflows, or advanced diagnostics without relying solely on the web interface.

Why Logging Matters

Logs are critical for:

• Diagnosing Issues: Quickly identify the root cause of problems.
• Auditing Activities: Maintain transparency across user actions.
• Improving Workflows: Detect and resolve inefficiencies in automations or file transfers.
• Collaborating with Partners: Troubleshoot file delivery and ensure smooth collaboration.

Files.com’s comprehensive logging tools give you the insights you need to keep operations running smoothly and securely.

Conclusion

Files.com’s powerful logging system provides unparalleled visibility into platform activity, enabling you to troubleshoot problems, maintain compliance, and optimize workflows. Whether you’re using the web interface or the command line, accessing logs is simple and flexible, saving you time and ensuring no action goes unnoticed.