tail with color? - Unix

I'm using 'tail -f /var/log/mail.log' to keep an eye on my mail
logs while testing. I was wondering if there is any tools
similar that might have the ability to color keywords (maybe
based on REs)? This would help certain keywords stand out more.

Or can the output be piped through another application that may
be able to do it?

--
Troy Piggins
,-o
o ) Ubuntu linux 6.06 http://ubuntu.com RLU#415538 http://counter.li.org
`-o uptime: 12:17:59 up 18 days,17:46,2 users,load average:0.00,0.00,0.00

* Troy Piggins :
> I'm using 'tail -f /var/log/mail.log' to keep an eye on my mail
> logs while testing. I was wondering if there is any tools
> similar that might have the ability to color keywords (maybe
> based on REs)? This would help certain keywords stand out more.
>
> Or can the output be piped through another application that may
> be able to do it?

tail -f file | perl -pe 's/keyword/\e[1;31;43m$&\e[0m/g'

This only works on ANSI terminals, but all others have become virtually
extinct. \e[...m ist the ANSI escape sequence SGR "select graphic
rendition". The "..." can be replaced by some semicolon-separated
integers, with the meaning:

0 : all attributes off
1 : bold
31 : foreground red
43 : background yellow

"keyword", of course, can be any perl regular expression:

(foo|bar) highlight the strings foo and bar
\b((foo|bar)\b highlight the words foo and bar
.*\b((foo|bar)\b.* highlight the whole line that contains the words foo or bar

- Andi

* Andreas Karrer wrote:
> * Troy Piggins :
>> I'm using 'tail -f /var/log/mail.log' to keep an eye on my mail
>> logs while testing. I was wondering if there is any tools
>> similar that might have the ability to color keywords (maybe
>> based on REs)? This would help certain keywords stand out more.
>>
>> Or can the output be piped through another application that may
>> be able to do it?
>
> tail -f file | perl -pe 's/keyword/\e[1;31;43m$&\e[0m/g'
>
> This only works on ANSI terminals, but all others have become virtually
> extinct. \e[...m ist the ANSI escape sequence SGR "select graphic
> rendition". The "..." can be replaced by some semicolon-separated
> integers, with the meaning:
>
> 0 : all attributes off
> 1 : bold
> 31 : foreground red
> 43 : background yellow
>
> "keyword", of course, can be any perl regular expression:
>
> (foo|bar) highlight the strings foo and bar
> \b((foo|bar)\b highlight the words foo and bar
> .*\b((foo|bar)\b.* highlight the whole line that contains the words foo or bar

Wow - that's awesome! Thanks Andreas!

--
Troy Piggins
,-o
o ) Ubuntu linux 6.06 http://ubuntu.com RLU#415538 http://counter.li.org
`-o uptime: 16:39:26 up 18 days,22:08,2 users,load average:0.00,0.00,0.00

Troy Piggins wrote:
> I'm using 'tail -f /var/log/mail.log' to keep an eye on my mail
> logs while testing. I was wondering if there is any tools
> similar that might have the ability to color keywords (maybe
> based on REs)? This would help certain keywords stand out more.

Type "less /var/log/mail.log". Then type "/foo", where "foo" is
a regular expression matching whatever you want to highlight, and
hit return. Now type "F".

- Logan

* Logan Shaw wrote:
> Troy Piggins wrote:
>> I'm using 'tail -f /var/log/mail.log' to keep an eye on my mail
>> logs while testing. I was wondering if there is any tools
>> similar that might have the ability to color keywords (maybe
>> based on REs)? This would help certain keywords stand out more.
>
> Type "less /var/log/mail.log". Then type "/foo", where "foo" is
> a regular expression matching whatever you want to highlight, and
> hit return. Now type "F".

Thanks Logan, I didn't know less could 'follow'.

The other solution by Andreas I like because I can run through a
script and use 256 colors for all sort of regexes.

--
Troy Piggins
,-o
o ) Ubuntu linux 6.06 http://ubuntu.com RLU#415538 http://counter.li.org
`-o uptime: 19:57:53 up 20 days,1:26,2 users,load average:0.04,0.03,0.00

The carbonbased lifeform Troy Piggins inspired comp.unix.admin with:
> * Logan Shaw wrote:
>> Troy Piggins wrote:
>>> I'm using 'tail -f /var/log/mail.log' to keep an eye on my mail
>>> logs while testing. I was wondering if there is any tools
>>> similar that might have the ability to color keywords (maybe
>>> based on REs)? This would help certain keywords stand out more.
>>
>> Type "less /var/log/mail.log". Then type "/foo", where "foo" is
>> a regular expression matching whatever you want to highlight, and
>> hit return. Now type "F".
>
> Thanks Logan, I didn't know less could 'follow'.
>
> The other solution by Andreas I like because I can run through a
> script and use 256 colors for all sort of regexes.

Or use e.g. http://www.vanheusden.com/multitail/ , or
http://lofimo.anzac.at/ or another log-analyser

Theo
--
theo at van-werkhoven.nl ICQ:277217131 SuSE Linux
linuxcounter.org: 99872 Jabber:muadib at jabber.xs4all.nl AMD XP3000+ 1024MB
"ik _heb_ niets tegen Microsoft, ik heb iets tegen
de uitwassen *van* Microsoft"

* Theo v. Werkhoven wrote:
> The carbonbased lifeform Troy Piggins inspired comp.unix.admin with:
>> * Logan Shaw wrote:
>>> Troy Piggins wrote:
>>>> I'm using 'tail -f /var/log/mail.log' to keep an eye on my mail
>>>> logs while testing. I was wondering if there is any tools
>>>> similar that might have the ability to color keywords (maybe
>>>> based on REs)? This would help certain keywords stand out more.
>>>
>>> Type "less /var/log/mail.log". Then type "/foo", where "foo" is
>>> a regular expression matching whatever you want to highlight, and
>>> hit return. Now type "F".
>>
>> Thanks Logan, I didn't know less could 'follow'.
>>
>> The other solution by Andreas I like because I can run through a
>> script and use 256 colors for all sort of regexes.
>
> Or use e.g. http://www.vanheusden.com/multitail/ , or
> http://lofimo.anzac.at/ or another log-analyser

That's it! THankyou.

--
Troy Piggins
,-o
o ) Ubuntu linux 6.06 http://ubuntu.com RLU#415538 http://counter.li.org
`-o uptime: 09:43:19 up 20 days,15:12,2 users,load average:0.00,0.01,0.00

For bash I was not able to use the parameters for an alias. Therefor I created a function:

t() {
tail -f -n5000 $1 | perl -pe "s/$2/\e[1;31;43m$&\e[0m/g"
}

This function will tail the file given as parameter 1 and highlight the text given as parameter 2.
Example:
t myLog.log INFO

Martijn de Bruijn