Problem extracting chat from logfile
 

I am trying to extract chat lines from my EQ2 logfiles for my bachelor thesis but i have a problem:

I run EQ2 in combination with profit reborn UI (play on Splitpawserver)
I use eq2logcleaner to filter my logfiles
The chat i want is from the following channels:
Level chat 1-70 + norrathtrade

I took a logfile example:

(1194361399)[Tue Nov 06 16:03:19 2007] Logging to 'logs/Splitpaw/eq2log_Tirin.txt' is now *ON*
(1194361399)[Tue Nov 06 16:03:19 2007] \aPC -1 Raukssnus:Raukssnus\/a tells norrathtrade (17), "Lvl 61 SK LFG for Nest"
(1194361408)[Tue Nov 06 16:03:28 2007] Lillemor gained an achievement point and now has 88 points.
(1194361417)[Tue Nov 06 16:03:37 2007] \aPC -1 Offkee:Offkee\/a tells Level_60-69 (5), "CoV grp looking for tank pst"
(1194361703)[Tue Nov 06 16:08:23 2007] Logging to 'logs/Splitpaw/eq2log_Tirin.txt' is now *ON*
(1194361739)[Tue Nov 06 16:08:59 2007] \aPC -1 Emmelita:Emmelita\/a tells Level_50-59 (6), "55sk LFG"
(1194361766)[Tue Nov 06 16:09:26 2007] \aPC -1 Echostorm:Echostorm\/a tells Level_50-59 (6), "what is a good lvl 50 place besides PoF"
(1194361770)[Tue Nov 06 16:09:30 2007] \aPC -1 Noooo:Noooo\/a tells norrathtrade (17), "any jeweler lfw?"
(1194361790)[Tue Nov 06 16:09:50 2007] \aPC -1 Evie:Evie\/a tells Level_50-59 (6), "lesser faydark"
(1194361803)[Tue Nov 06 16:10:03 2007] \aPC -1 Raukssnus:Raukssnus\/a tells Level_60-69 (5), "Group looking for more for fast Nest run. pst"
(1194361806)[Tue Nov 06 16:10:06 2007] \aPC -1 Raukssnus:Raukssnus\/a tells norrathtrade (17), "Group looking for more for fast Nest run. pst"
(1194361825)[Tue Nov 06 16:10:25 2007] \aPC -1 Elvenstorm:Elvenstorm\/a tells Level_10-19 (9), "what's the 2 main stats needed for a dirge plz?"
(1194361829)[Tue Nov 06 16:10:29 2007] \aPC -1 Portex:Portex\/a tells Level_60-69 (5), "lookin for healer to help with last mob for raincaller..pst"
(1194361836)[Tue Nov 06 16:10:36 2007] \aPC -1 Etheon:Etheon\/a tells Level_10-19 (9), "str and int"

and filtered it using EQ2logcleaner,
set to Inlcude Chat Types: say, tell, channels, shout, ooc
ran it and got this result:

[Tue Nov 06 16:03:19 2007] Raukssnus tells norrathtrade (17), "Lvl 61 SK LFG for Nest"
[Tue Nov 06 16:09:30 2007] Noooo tells norrathtrade (17), "any jeweler lfw?"
[Tue Nov 06 16:10:06 2007] Raukssnus tells norrathtrade (17), "Group looking for more for fast Nest run. pst"


My Questions:
1) This is a repeatable phenomenon. Even though the chat lines for norrathtrade and the lvl chats are the same, it will always only recognize norrathtrade???
I have a suspicion it may be because "norrathtrade" is a custom channel. but it should still get the lvl chat should it not?

2) why is there a "\apc -1" before all the chat lines?
3) what is that "\/a" after the names?

Please help me with any advice you have, my thesis is in danger here

The log file format was slightly changed with GU38, maybe that program you are using is choking on that and needs updating. Or its choking on the _ or - in the channel names.

You basically have two options, either contact the author directly to have him fix it, or just run a search & replace operation in your favorite text editor to change those channel names before running them through your program.

It looks like Sixes who wrote that chat cleaner program is still around so you probably should try sending him a PM or email.

2) why is there a "\apc -1" before all the chat lines?
3) what is that "\/a" after the names?

Those are code tags that are used so that you can click the names to do things. Much like the item tags. You can generate any name (I believe) using that, just as you can generate any item (so long as you know the item number, you shouldn't need the second number, i think thats a crc or hash).

And I would agree it's probably the _

Try creating a custom channel, such as cust_chan and see if it'll work. if it doesn't, then you know it's choking on the _.

Here try this, I tossed it together for you while I was idle at work, it'll parse the log you posted and some basic log files I had at work.

Tweaked it from logs off of game play tonight, it should only extract channel text now.