How can I get Windows to add the date in a .LOG file automatically?

Question

I used to know a trick so that every time I opened a text file in Notepad it would be populated with the current date and time and a pseudo-linebreak (i.e. =============).

I thought it was just calling the file whatever.LOG but it doesn't seem to work.

I was on Windows XP last time I knew this to work, now I'm on Windows 7. It seems like a pretty archaic feature but why would it be removed?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

Answer 1

Type .LOG on the first line, and then press ENTER to move to the next line.

Save the file. Each time you open it, it adds the time/date stamp.

More info here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;260563

Answer 2

The process is outlined in this Microsoft article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260563

The first line of your file must be .LOG and it's important that it be in upper case. I just tried it in Windows 7 and it still works.

Answer 3

I remembered! All you've gotta do is start your file contents with .LOG.

.LOG

22:25 18/01/2012
Something happened I should make a note of.

22:26 18/01/2012
Another thing has happened!

22:26 18/01/2012
Not again!