Diagnostics

DesignBuilder creates two types of diagnostics files on startup, "diagnostic log" files and "installation diagnostics log files":

 

  1. Diagnostics_dd_mm_yyyy_hh_mm_ss.log - files contain information about the operating system settings, hardware configuration and settings within the program. It also contains internal program information written out as the program runs which can help DesignBuilder support to track down problems.

  2. Installation Diagnostics_dd_mm_yyyy_hh_mm_ss.log - files contain information on the steps carried out during the final stage of software installation and any errors that may have occurred.

 

The "dd_mm_yyyy_hh_mm_ss" part of the filename is the date and time the file was originally created. For example the file "Diagnostics_01_08_2010_09_26_53.log" was created at 1 August 2010 at 9:26:53 am.

 

You may be asked to supply these files to DesignBuilder Support if you have problems with program operation on your computer. One typical request from the Support desk is to supply the diagnostics file from a particular program run and this will usually be the most recent one. To find the most recently created diagnostics file, simply sort the files in Windows Explorer by using the "Details" view and clicking on the "Date modified" column to carry out the sort. Alternatively you can scan the files by eye to find the most recently created file using the "dd_mm_yyyy_hh_mm_ss" part of the filenames.

Finding the diagnostics files

The diagnostics files are generated in the Diagnostic files folder which can be accessed from DesignBuilder the File > Folders > Diagnostic files folder menu command. When you select this menu option a Windows Explorer window opens and you will see the diagnostics and installation diagnostic log files.

 

If for any reason you are unable to start DesignBuilder then the diagnostics files can usually be found the folder:

 

 

Where User is your username on the computer.