How to use tail.exe : Windows 2003 Resource kit tool

Question

Tail.exe from Windows 2003 Resource kit link to download page

I tried "option -f filename.xyz" - this doesnot seem to update. In my .net app, log file is updated using this code :

FileStream fileStream = File.Open(path, FileMode.Append, FileAccess.Write; ...

throws access exception, file in use by another tool which is Tail.exe

Am I missing something here.. how should tail.exe be used.

Answer 1

Have you tried a different tail port? E.g. the one included in UnxUtils which has worked for me with a log file opened in a similar manner.

These days I tend to prefer the follow functionality in less (press shift-F to follow when viewing a file) because I can switch out of follow to look back in the file.

Answer 2

You could try "Unix tail equivalent command in Windows Powershell". The nice thing about this solution is that there is no extra software to install provided that PowerShell is alreayd installed. Also, it may be more acceptable for your company to allow PS to be installed if is not already. It ships with Windows Vista and newer and is available for Windows XP via Windows Update.