diff --git a/cpp_linter/run.py b/cpp_linter/run.py
index ea416cbf..c5782780 100644
--- a/cpp_linter/run.py
+++ b/cpp_linter/run.py
@@ -469,12 +469,16 @@ def capture_clang_tools_output(
                 tidy_notes.append(note)
             GlobalParser.tidy_notes.clear()  # empty list to avoid duplicated output
 
-        parse_format_replacements_xml(filename.replace("/", os.sep))
-        if GlobalParser.format_advice[-1].replaced_lines:
-            if not Globals.OUTPUT:
-                Globals.OUTPUT = "<!-- cpp linter action -->\n## :scroll: "
-                Globals.OUTPUT += "Run `clang-format` on the following files\n"
-            Globals.OUTPUT += f"- [ ] {file['filename']}\n"
+        if os.path.getsize("clang_format_output.xml"):
+            parse_format_replacements_xml(filename.replace("/", os.sep))
+            if (
+                GlobalParser.format_advice
+                and GlobalParser.format_advice[-1].replaced_lines
+            ):
+                if not Globals.OUTPUT:
+                    Globals.OUTPUT = "<!-- cpp linter action -->\n## :scroll: "
+                    Globals.OUTPUT += "Run `clang-format` on the following files\n"
+                Globals.OUTPUT += f"- [ ] {file['filename']}\n"
 
     if Globals.PAYLOAD_TIDY:
         if not Globals.OUTPUT:
@@ -651,19 +655,56 @@ def make_annotations(style: str) -> bool:
     # log_commander obj's verbosity is hard-coded to show debug statements
     ret_val = False
     count = 0
-    for note in GlobalParser.tidy_notes:
-        ret_val = True
-        log_commander.info(note.log_command())
-        count += 1
     for note in GlobalParser.format_advice:
         if note.replaced_lines:
             ret_val = True
             log_commander.info(note.log_command(style))
             count += 1
+    for note in GlobalParser.tidy_notes:
+        ret_val = True
+        log_commander.info(note.log_command())
+        count += 1
     logger.info("Created %d annotations", count)
     return ret_val
 
 
+def parse_ignore_option(paths: str):
+    """Parse a givven string of paths (separated by a '|') into `ignored` and
+    `not_ignored` lists of strings.
+
+    Args:
+        paths: This argument conforms to the CLI arg `--ignore` (or `-i`).
+
+    Returns:
+        A tuple of lists in which each list is a set of strings.
+        - index 0 is the `ignored` list
+        - index 1 is the `not_ignored` list
+    """
+    ignored, not_ignored = ([], [])
+    paths = paths.split("|")
+    for path in paths:
+        is_included = path.startswith("!")
+        if path.startswith("!./" if is_included else "./"):
+            path = path.replace("./", "", 1)  # relative dir is assumed
+        path = path.strip()  # strip leading/trailing spaces
+        if is_included:
+            not_ignored.append(path[1:])
+        else:
+            ignored.append(path)
+
+    if ignored:
+        logger.info(
+            "Ignoring the following paths/files:\n\t./%s",
+            "\n\t./".join(f for f in ignored),
+        )
+    if not_ignored:
+        logger.info(
+            "Not ignoring the following paths/files:\n\t./%s",
+            "\n\t./".join(f for f in not_ignored),
+        )
+    return (ignored, not_ignored)
+
+
 def main():
     """The main script."""
 
@@ -674,16 +715,7 @@ def main():
     logger.setLevel(int(args.verbosity))
 
     # prepare ignored paths list
-    ignored, not_ignored = ([], [])
-    if args.ignore is not None:
-        args.ignore = args.ignore.split("|")
-        for path in args.ignore:
-            path = path.lstrip("./")  # relative dir is assumed
-            path = path.strip()  # strip leading/trailing spaces
-            if path.startswith("!"):
-                not_ignored.append(path[1:])
-            else:
-                ignored.append(path)
+    ignored, not_ignored = parse_ignore_option("" if not args.ignore else args.ignore)
 
     # prepare extensions list
     args.extensions = args.extensions.split(",")
@@ -693,16 +725,6 @@ def main():
     # change working directory
     os.chdir(args.repo_root)
 
-    if ignored:
-        logger.info(
-            "Ignoring the following paths/files:\n\t%s",
-            "\n\t./".join(f for f in ignored),
-        )
-    if not_ignored:
-        logger.info(
-            "Not ignoring the following paths/files:\n\t%s",
-            "\n\t./".join(f for f in not_ignored),
-        )
     exit_early = False
     if args.files_changed_only:
         # load event's json info about the workflow run