When adding a Logs Directory to XpoLog, you can configure any of the following advanced settings:

• Files Filters – enables specifying which files in the logs directory are to be scanned
• Scan Method – enables selecting the mechanisms used to match patterns to the logs during scanning
• Files Name Pattern – enables defining how to process files of similar names
  
  

Defining the Files Filters

By default, XpoLog scans all files from the selected directory. Especially in cases where the directory has many files, you may want to limit the number of files that XpoLog scans. In the File Filters advanced option, you can specify the names of the files to include and/or exclude in the scan, define to add only log files with last updated time that is within the specified time interval, and also define the number of subdirectory levels to scan.

To define the files filters:

1. Under Advanced Settings, click Files Filters. 
   The Files Filters definitions open.
2. In Include Files, type the names of the files to include in the scan, separated by commas.
3. In Exclude Files, type the names of the files to exclude from the scan, separated by commas.
4. In Include files from the last, type the time interval and select the time interval unit.
5. In Include the last, type the maximum number of log files that are added per log type.
6. In Subdirectories levels to scan, select Unlimited or a number from 1 to 10. 

Defining the Scan Method

By default, during scanning, the automatic patterns that are matched to the logs are taken from an existing configuration that is based on log names, log content, and an automatic patterns generator. You can select to activate all these mechanisms (the default), or select the mechanisms to use.

To define the scan method:

1. Under Advanced Settings, click Scan Method. 
   The Scan Method options open.
2. Select one of the following options:
   Use existing configuration (file names and content) and automatic matching (the default) – Select this option to try and match patterns to detected logs by matching existing log patterns and log templates. In case no match is detected, runs automatic assignment of patterns. This method captures all readable files during scanning; however, it is the slowest method.
   Use existing configuration (file names and content) – Select this option to try and match patterns to detected logs by matching existing log patterns and log templates. Files for which no existing log patterns or templates are matched are not captured.
   Use existing configuration (file names only) – Select this option to try and match patterns by log templates only. Files for which no templates are matched are not captured. 

Defining Files Name Patterns

By default, XpoLog applies generic name patterns to files with the same naming convention. However, XpoLog enables you to set the wizard to capture each file separately.

To define files name patterns:

1. Under Advanced Settings, click Files Name Pattern. 
   The Files Name Pattern options open.
2. Select one of the following options:
   Unite files with similar names (apply name pattern automatically) (the default) – All files with similar names (such as rotating files, files with date suffixes, and files with numerical prefixes) will be captured as a single log type using a general name pattern.
   Unite files with similar suffix (apply name pattern only at the end of the file name) – All files with similar name suffixes (such as rotating files, files with date suffixes) will be captured as a single log type using a general name pattern.
   Capture each file separately (without name pattern) – A log type will be created for each file.