SMTP Server Error Logging
Overview
A new logging feature has been added to help diagnose issues when sending email through your SMTP server. This log captures detailed information about each email transmission and records any error codes returned by the SMTP server.
By reviewing these logs, administrators can quickly identify configuration problems, connectivity issues, or server‑side restrictions that may prevent successful delivery.
Default Behavior
- Logging is disabled by default to avoid unnecessary file creation during normal operation.
- When disabled, no log files are generated.
Enabling Logging
To enable logging, you must add a command‑line parameter to the application shortcut:
- Locate the desktop icon for
EmailPaystubs.exe. - Right‑click the icon and select Properties.
- In the Target field, append the parameter <space>
-l(lowercase L) after the executable path.- Example: “C:\DataSoft Bulk Email Paystubs Standard\EmailPaystubs.exe” -l
- Ensure the executable path is enclosed in quotes if the folder name contains spaces.
- The
-lparameter must be placed outside the quotes.
- Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.
Log File Details
- Location: The log file is created in the same folder as
EmailPaystubs.exe. - Naming Convention: EamilPaystubs<date>.log
- is automatically replaced with the current date (e.g.,
EmailPaystubs2025-12-11.log).
Contents
- Timestamp of each email attempt
- Recipient address
- SMTP server response codes
- Error messages (if any)
Usage Notes
- Troubleshooting: Review the log file when emails fail to send. Look for SMTP error codes such as authentication failures, connection timeouts, or rate limits.
- File Growth: Logs are generated per day. If logging is left enabled, multiple log files may accumulate over time. Periodically archive or delete old logs to conserve disk space.
- Security: Logs may contain recipient addresses and error details. Handle them according to your organization’s privacy and security policies.
Example
After enabling logging, you might see a file named:
C:\DataSoft Bulk Email Paystubs Standard\EmailPaystubs2025-12-11.log
Opening this file will show entries like:
[2025-12-11 14:30:22] Sending email to john.doe@example.com [2025-12-11 14:30:23] SMTP Error: 421 Message submission rate exceeded