EverQuest Raid Log Taker - README

This guide will help you set up and run the Python script that extracts player information from your EverQuest logs and saves it to a separate file.

What's New in Version 1.1.0

• Player Count in Filename: The script now includes the number of players in the filename (e.g., "2025-03-15_21-02-22_46-Players.txt")
• Improved Log Format: Only includes the essential player information in the output file
• Enhanced Visual Feedback: Displays the total number of players found during extraction
• Optimized Processing: Better handling of log file formats and character data

What This Script Does

This script:

• Reads your EverQuest log file
• Finds the most recent player list (who's online)
• Saves this information to a separate file with a timestamp and player count
• Shows you how many players are in your zone
• Displays a cool "XANAX LOVES YOU!!" message
• Automatically closes after 7 seconds

Installation Instructions

Step 1: Install Python

1. Check if you already have Python installed:

   • Press Win + R on your keyboard
   • Type cmd and press Enter
   • In the black window that appears, type python --version and press Enter
   • If you see something like "Python 3.x.x", you already have Python and can skip to Step 2

2. If Python is not installed:

   • Go to python.org/downloads
   • Click the big "Download Python" button (get the latest version)
   • Run the downloaded file
   • IMPORTANT: Check the box that says "Add Python to PATH" at the bottom of the installer
   • Click "Install Now"
   • Wait for installation to complete and click "Close"

Step 2: Download the Script

1. Create a folder where you want to keep the script (e.g., C:\LogsTaken)
2. Copy the Python script to this folder
3. Make sure the file is named takelogs.py

Step 3: Edit the Script for Your Computer

1. Right-click on the takelogs.py file

2. Select "Edit with Notepad" or just "Edit"

3. Look for these lines (they're near the bottom):

   log_file_path = 'D:\\TAKPv22HD\\eqlog_Xanax_pq.proj.txt'
   output_dir = 'E:\\FormerGlorySite\\Logs'

4. Change these to match your own paths:

   • log_file_path: This should point to your EverQuest log file
   • output_dir: This is where you want the extracted logs to be saved

5. For example:

   log_file_path = 'C:\\EverQuest\\Logs\\eqlog_YourCharacter_YourServer.txt'
   output_dir = 'C:\\EQLogger\\SavedLogs'

6. IMPORTANT: Always use double backslashes (\\) in file paths, not single ones

7. Save the file (File > Save or press Ctrl+S)

Step 4: Create a Shortcut (Optional but Recommended)

1. Right-click on the takelogs.py file
2. Select "Create shortcut"
3. Move the shortcut to your desktop or somewhere easy to access

Before Running the Script

Step 1: Enable Logging in EverQuest

Before the script can extract player information, you need to make sure EverQuest is saving logs:

1. Enable logging in one of these ways:

   • Edit your eqclient.ini file and set Log=TRUE
   • OR simply type /logs on in the game chat and press ENTER

2. Verify logging is enabled - you should see a message in-game confirming logs are on

Step 2: Generate the Player List in EverQuest

1. While playing EverQuest, type /who guild and press ENTER
2. This command will write the list of guild members in your current zone to your log file
3. The script will extract this information when run

Running the Script

Method 1: Direct Double-Click

1. Simply double-click the takelogs.py file or its shortcut
2. A command window will appear showing:
   • Information about the log file being processed
   • The number of players in your current zone
   • The "XANAX LOVES YOU!!" ASCII art
   • A 7-second countdown before closing

Method 2: Command Prompt (If Double-Click Doesn't Work)

1. Right-click in the folder where your script is located while holding Shift
2. Select "Open command window here" or "Open PowerShell window here"
3. Type python takelogs.py and press Enter
4. The script will run and show the same information as Method 1

What to Expect When It Runs

When the script runs successfully:

1. A black command window will open
2. You'll see log processing messages
3. You'll see a line showing how many players are in your zone
4. The "XANAX LOVES YOU!!" ASCII art will display
5. The window will show where the log was saved
6. A 7-second countdown will begin before the window closes

Output Files

The script creates files with the following naming convention:

• YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS_XX-Players.txt where XX is the number of players found

Troubleshooting

If the script doesn't work:

• Make sure Python is installed correctly
• Check that you've edited the file paths correctly (with double backslashes)
• Ensure your log file exists at the specified location
• Make sure you have permission to write to the output directory

Need Help?

If you continue to have issues:

• Take a screenshot of any error messages
• Check that your EverQuest log file is being created properly
• Make sure you're using the correct character name in the log file path

This script will help you track who's playing EverQuest without having to manually copy the information!