How to output NLog messages to Visual Studio’s Output Window

asp.netnlog

I'm trying to send the output to the console (or colouredconsole) … which I'm hoping would (also?) go to the Visual Studio's Output window for any ASP.NET web site/app/mvc app.

It doesn't by default, but if I change the target to 'file' then it works for sure.

Can NLog output to the Output window for web apps?

Best Answer

You can use this configuration file (nlog.config in the app path):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<nlog xmlns="http://www.nlog-project.org/schemas/NLog.xsd"
      xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

  <targets>
        <target name="debugger" xsi:type="Debugger" layout="${logger}::${message}"/>
  </targets>

  <rules>
    <logger name="*" minlevel="Trace" writeTo="debugger" />
  </rules>
</nlog>

-Scott