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First Posted 30 Nov 1999
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WindowsNT Event Log Viewer

By | 30 Nov 1999 | Article
  • Download demo executable - 17 Kb
  • Download source files - 43 Kb
  • Sample Image

    The Event Viewer is intended to be run under WindowsNT System Manager (check the submission with the same name). This sample application uses (more or less) the same policy regarding MDI, child dialog encapsulation, controls etc., and these things are treated there. In this article you can see two thread routines which you may find interesting.
    1. The first is the routine which enumerates event entries, FillEventLogList. The structure passed as parameter to this thread routine is

    typedef struct _tagEVENTLOGFILTER
    {
       BOOL      fApplication;            /* 'Application' entries       */
       BOOL      fSecurity;            /* 'Security' entries       */
       BOOL      fSystem;               /* 'System' entries       */
       BOOL      fCustom;               /* 'Custom' entries: unused      */
       TCHAR      lpszComputerName[_MAX_PATH + 1];      /* computer name         */
       HWND      hwndLV;               /* list view handle      */
       HWND      hwndDlg;               /* encapsulated dialog handle   */
       HWND      hwndProgr;            /* progress bar handle      */
       HANDLE      hCancelEvent;            /* 'Cancel' event handle      */
       HANDLE      hCloseEvent;            /* 'Close' event handle      */
       unsigned   uThreadId;               /* thread ID         */
       TCHAR      lpszCustomEventFileName[_MAX_PATH + 1];   /* Custom file name: unused      */
    } EVENTLOGFILTER, *LPEVENTLOGFILTER;
    
    The routine looks like this:
    unsigned int __stdcall 
    FillEventLogList(LPVOID lpParam)
    {
       EVENTLOGFILTER *pelf = 0;
       int nRetVal = 0;
       HWND hParentWnd = 0, hwndDlg = 0, hwndLV = 0, hwndProgr = 0;
       HANDLE hEventLog = 0;
       DWORD dwEventLogRecords = 0, dwOldestEventLogRecord = 0, dwEvLogCounter = 0, dwNumberOfBytesToRead = 0, 
          dwBytesRead = 0, dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded = 0, dwCancel = 0, dwClose = 0;
       LPVOID lpEventLogRecordBuffer = 0;
       TCHAR chFakeBuffer;
       BOOL bRetVal = FALSE;
       BOOL fExit = FALSE;
       UINT uStep = 0, uStepAt = 0, uPos = 0, uOffset = 0;
       TCHAR lpUNCServerName[_MAX_PATH + 1], lpszEventLogSourceName[_MAX_PATH + 1], lpszErrMsg[1024];
    
       // get thread parameter structure address...
       pelf = (EVENTLOGFILTER *)lpParam;
       // ...and retrieve the appropriate handles
       hwndDlg   = pelf->hwndDlg;
       hwndLV   = pelf->hwndLV;
       hwndProgr = pelf->hwndProgr;
    
       // get parent window...
       hParentWnd = GetParent(hwndDlg);
       // ...and set user data to 1 (the window has thread running) - will be reset to 0 when thread will terminate
       SetWindowLong(hParentWnd, GWL_USERDATA, (LONG)pelf); 
    
       // resize dialog
       MDIChild_ResizeDlg(hwndDlg, TRUE);
    
       // format UNC machine name to work with
       wsprintf(lpUNCServerName, _T("\\\\%s"), pelf->lpszComputerName);
    
       // establish what kind of event log section will show the list
       if(g_fApplication)
          _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, _T("Application"));            //   APPLICATION
       else if(g_fSystem)
          _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, _T("System"));               //   SYSTEM
       else if(g_fSecurity)
          _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, _T("Security"));            //   SECURITY
       else if(g_fCustom)
          _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, pelf->lpszCustomEventFileName);   //   CUSTOM
       else
       {
          nRetVal = -1;
          goto _cleanup_;
       }
    
       //   lookup for close or cancel (ESC pressed) attempts to intrrerupt thread
       dwCancel = WaitForSingleObject(pelf->hCancelEvent, 0);
       dwClose = WaitForSingleObject(pelf->hCloseEvent, 0);
    
       while(!fExit)
       {
          if(g_fCustom)   //   never reached
             hEventLog = OpenBackupEventLog((LPCTSTR)lpUNCServerName, (LPCTSTR)lpszEventLogSourceName);
          else
             hEventLog = OpenEventLog((LPCTSTR)lpUNCServerName, (LPCTSTR)lpszEventLogSourceName);
    
          if(hEventLog)
          {
             if(GetNumberOfEventLogRecords(hEventLog, &dwEventLogRecords) && 
                GetOldestEventLogRecord(hEventLog, &dwOldestEventLogRecord))
             {
                //   establish step fro progress bar
                SendMessage(hwndProgr, PBM_SETRANGE, (WPARAM)0, (LPARAM)MAKELPARAM(0, 100));
                uStepAt = (dwEventLogRecords / 100) + 1;
    
                for(dwEvLogCounter = dwOldestEventLogRecord; 
                   dwEvLogCounter < (dwOldestEventLogRecord + dwEventLogRecords); 
                   dwEvLogCounter++)
                {
                   //   advance progress bar with step
                   uStep++;
                   if(uStep % uStepAt == 0)
                      hwndProgr && SendMessage(hwndProgr, PBM_SETPOS, (WPARAM)++uPos, 0);
    
                   dwCancel = WaitForSingleObject(pelf->hCancelEvent, 0);
                   if(dwCancel == WAIT_OBJECT_0)
                      goto _canceled_;
                   dwClose = WaitForSingleObject(pelf->hCloseEvent, 0);
                   if(dwClose == WAIT_OBJECT_0)
                      goto _close_;
    
                   //   this is a false call (intended to get the real structure size)
                   lpEventLogRecordBuffer      = (LPVOID)&chFakeBuffer;
                   dwNumberOfBytesToRead      = 1;
                   dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded   = 1;
    
       _retry_:
                   bRetVal = ReadEventLog(hEventLog, EVENTLOG_SEEK_READ | EVENTLOG_FORWARDS_READ, dwEvLogCounter, 
                      lpEventLogRecordBuffer, dwNumberOfBytesToRead, &dwBytesRead, &dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded);
    
                   if(!bRetVal)
                   {
                      g_dwLastError = GetLastError();
    
                      if(g_dwLastError == ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_BUFFER)
                      {
                         lpEventLogRecordBuffer = (LPVOID)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded);
                         if(lpEventLogRecordBuffer == (void *)0)
                            goto _allocationfailure_;
    
                         dwNumberOfBytesToRead = dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded;
                         goto _retry_;
                      }
                      else
                         goto _unknownerror_;
                   }
                   else   //   here we are with complete structure filled; proceed
                   {
                      PEVENTLOGRECORD pELR = 0;
                      TCHAR *lpszSourceName = 0, lpszUserName[_MAX_PATH + 1], *lpszComputerName = 0,
                         lpszRefDomainName[_MAX_PATH + 1], *szSIDType = 0, *szSIDName = 0, sz2[32],
                         *szExpandedString = 0, szSubmitTime[32], szWriteTime[32];
                      DWORD dwSourceNameLen = 0, dwComputerNameLen = 0, cbName = _MAX_PATH + 1, 
                         cbRefDomainName = _MAX_PATH + 1, dwSIDTypeLen = 0, dwSidSize = 0, dwEventTypeLen = 0;
                      PSID pUserSID = 0;
                      SID_NAME_USE _SidNameUse = (SID_NAME_USE)(SidTypeUser - 1);
                      BOOL bRetVal = FALSE;
                      LPBYTE pStrings = 0, pData = 0;
                      UINT x = 0, uSize, uStringOffset, uStepOfString = 0, uImage = 0;
    
                      //   the buffer
                      pELR   = (PEVENTLOGRECORD)lpEventLogRecordBuffer;
    
                      //   source name and advance offset
                      uOffset   = sizeof(EVENTLOGRECORD);
                      lpszSourceName = (TCHAR *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, (_MAX_PATH + 1) * sizeof(TCHAR));
                      strcpy(lpszSourceName, (LPTSTR)((LPBYTE)pELR + uOffset));
                      dwSourceNameLen = strlen(lpszSourceName);
    
                      //   computer name and advance offset
                      uOffset   += strlen(lpszSourceName) + sizeof(TCHAR);
                      lpszComputerName = (TCHAR *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, (_MAX_PATH + 1) * sizeof(TCHAR));
                      strcpy(lpszComputerName, (LPTSTR)((LPBYTE)pELR + uOffset));
                      dwComputerNameLen = strlen(lpszComputerName);
    
                      uOffset += strlen(lpszComputerName) + sizeof(TCHAR);
    
                      //   SID
                      dwSIDTypeLen = 32;
                      szSIDType = (TCHAR *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, (dwSIDTypeLen + 1) * sizeof(TCHAR));
    
                      //   retrieve SID
                      if(pELR->UserSidLength > 0)
                      {
                         pUserSID = (SID *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, pELR->UserSidLength);
                         memcpy(pUserSID, (PSID)((LPBYTE)pELR + pELR->UserSidOffset), pELR->UserSidLength);
                         
                         cbName = cbRefDomainName = _MAX_PATH + 1;
                         *lpszRefDomainName = *lpszUserName = '\0';
    
                         bRetVal = LookupAccountSid(0, pUserSID, 
                            lpszUserName, &cbName, 
                            lpszRefDomainName, &cbRefDomainName, 
                            &_SidNameUse);
    
                         if(bRetVal)
                         {
                            if(bRetVal)
                            {
                               dwSIDTypeLen = 32;
                               GetNameUse(_SidNameUse, szSIDType, &dwSIDTypeLen);
    
                               dwSidSize = (15 + 12 + (12 * (*GetSidSubAuthorityCount(pUserSID))) + 1) * sizeof(TCHAR);
                               szSIDName = (TCHAR *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, (dwSidSize + 1) * sizeof(TCHAR));
                               ConvertSid(pUserSID, szSIDName, &dwSidSize); 
                            }
                            else
                            {
                               strcpy(lpszRefDomainName, "N/A");
                               strcpy(lpszUserName, "N/A");
                               strcpy(szSIDType, "N/A");
                            }
                         }
                         else
                         {
                         }
                      }
                      else
                      {
                         strcpy(lpszRefDomainName, "N/A");
                         strcpy(lpszUserName, "N/A");
                         strcpy(szSIDType, "N/A");
                      }
    
                      //   Now we have to get the description strings.
                      uSize = 0, uStringOffset = pELR->StringOffset;
                      uSize = pELR->DataOffset - pELR->StringOffset;
    
                      // Strings
                      if(uSize > 0)
                      {
                         pStrings = (LPBYTE)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, uSize * sizeof(BYTE));
                         memcpy(pStrings, (LPBYTE)pELR + uStringOffset, uSize);
    
                         //   Strings
                         uStepOfString = 0;
                         szExpandedString = (TCHAR *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, (uSize + MAX_MSG_LENGTH) * sizeof(TCHAR));
                         for(x = 0; x < pELR->NumStrings; x++)
                         {
                            if(x == 0)
                            {
                               strcpy(szExpandedString, (TCHAR *)pStrings + uStepOfString);
                               if(x < (UINT)pELR->NumStrings - 1)
                                  strcat(szExpandedString, ",");
                            }
                            else
                               strcat(szExpandedString, (TCHAR *)pStrings + uStepOfString);
    
                            uStepOfString = strlen((TCHAR *)pStrings + uStepOfString) + 1;
                         }
                      }
    
                      //   Data
                      pData = (LPBYTE)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, pELR->DataLength * sizeof(BYTE));
                      memcpy(pData, (LPBYTE)((LPBYTE)pELR + pELR->DataOffset), pELR->DataLength);
    
                      dwEventTypeLen = 32;
                      GetEventLogType(sz2, pELR->EventType, &dwEventTypeLen);
                      GetEventLogImage(&uImage, pELR->EventType);
    
                      lstrcpyn(szSubmitTime, asctime(localtime((time_t *)&(pELR->TimeGenerated))), 25);
                      lstrcpyn(szWriteTime, asctime(localtime((time_t *)&(pELR->TimeWritten))), 25);
    
                      InsertRowInList(hwndLV, 9, &dwEvLogCounter, 
                         lpszSourceName, 
                         lpszUserName, 
                         szSIDName, 
                         lpszRefDomainName, 
                         sz2, uImage, 
                         szSubmitTime, szWriteTime);
    
                      SafeDeletePointer(pData, pELR->DataLength);
                      SafeDeletePointer(szExpandedString, uSize); 
                      SafeDeletePointer(pStrings, pELR->DataOffset - pELR->StringOffset);
                      SafeDeletePointer(szSIDName, dwSidSize + 1);
                      SafeDeletePointer(szSIDType, dwSIDTypeLen + 1);
                      SafeDeletePointer(lpszSourceName, dwSourceNameLen);
                      SafeDeletePointer(lpszComputerName, dwComputerNameLen);
                      SafeDeletePointer(pUserSID, pELR->UserSidLength);
                      SafeDeletePointer(lpEventLogRecordBuffer, dwNumberOfBytesToRead);
                   }
                }
    
                goto _cleanup_;
             }
             else
                ReportLastError(0, 0, TRUE);
    
       _unknownerror_:
             ReportLastError(lpszErrMsg, 0, TRUE);
             goto _cleanup_;
    
       _allocationfailure_:
             LoadString(g_hInstance, IDS_ERR_ALLOCATIONFAILURE, lpszErrMsg, 1024);
             MessageBox(0, lpszErrMsg, 0, MB_OK | MB_ICONSTOP);
             goto _cleanup_;
    
       _canceled_:
             nRetVal = 1;
             goto _cleanup_;
    
       _close_:
             nRetVal = 2;
             goto _cleanup_;
    
       _cleanup_:
             fExit = TRUE;
    
             CloseEventLog(hEventLog);
             hEventLog = 0;
          }
          else
          {
             fExit = TRUE;
             ReportLastError(0, 0, TRUE);
          }
       }
    
       // final cleanup on dialog
       if(nRetVal != 2)
       {
          if(IsWindow(hwndDlg))
             MDIChild_ResizeDlg(hwndDlg, FALSE);
          if(IsWindow(hParentWnd))
             SetWindowLong(hParentWnd, GWL_USERDATA, (LONG)0);
       }
    
       CloseHandle(pelf->hCancelEvent);
       CloseHandle(pelf->hCloseEvent);
    
       GlobalFree(pelf);
       pelf = 0;
    
       return nRetVal;
    }
    

    The key to understanding this king of enumeration and especially the using of structure PEVENTLOGRECORD resides in its definition:

    typedef struct _EVENTLOGRECORD { 
        DWORD  Length; 
        DWORD  Reserved; 
        DWORD  RecordNumber; 
        DWORD  TimeGenerated; 
        DWORD  TimeWritten; 
        DWORD  EventID; 
        WORD   EventType; 
        WORD   NumStrings; 
        WORD   EventCategory; 
        WORD   ReservedFlags; 
        DWORD  ClosingRecordNumber; 
        DWORD  StringOffset; 
        DWORD  UserSidLength; 
        DWORD  UserSidOffset; 
        DWORD  DataLength; 
        DWORD  DataOffset; 
        // 
        // Then follow: 
        // 
        // TCHAR SourceName[] 
        // TCHAR Computername[] 
        // SID   UserSid 
        // TCHAR Strings[] 
        // BYTE  Data[] 
        // CHAR  Pad[] 
        // DWORD Length; 
        // 
    } EVENTLOGRECORD; 
    

    Because this is a variable-length structure, the using of offsets, conversion and allocations seems to me the best approach. (By the way, spending more time you can easily rewrite a better routine).
    Also, you could spend some time reading the ConvertSid function, which retrieves the name of SID looking in some weird registry key. Again you have to deal with a nonstandard structure, SID, which cannot be manipulated manually, but only using the API specific routines.

    BOOL 
    ConvertSid(PSID pSid, LPTSTR pszSidText, LPDWORD dwBufferLen) 
    { 
         DWORD                     dwSubAuthorities; 
         DWORD                     dwSidRev = SID_REVISION; 
         DWORD                     dwCounter; 
         DWORD                     dwSidSize; 
         PSID_IDENTIFIER_AUTHORITY psia; 
     
         if(!IsValidSid(pSid))  
              return FALSE; 
     
         psia = GetSidIdentifierAuthority(pSid); 
    
         dwSubAuthorities =* GetSidSubAuthorityCount(pSid); 
     
         dwSidSize = (15 + 12 + (12 * dwSubAuthorities) + 1) * sizeof(TCHAR); 
     
         if (*dwBufferLen < dwSidSize)
        { 
              *dwBufferLen = dwSidSize; 
              SetLastError(ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_BUFFER); 
              return FALSE; 
        } 
     
         dwSidSize=wsprintf(pszSidText, TEXT("S-%lu-"), dwSidRev ); 
     
         if((psia->Value[0] != 0) || (psia->Value[1] != 0))
              dwSidSize += wsprintf(pszSidText + lstrlen(pszSidText), 
              TEXT("0x%02hx%02hx%02hx%02hx%02hx%02hx"), 
              (USHORT)psia->Value[0], 
              (USHORT)psia->Value[1], 
              (USHORT)psia->Value[2], 
              (USHORT)psia->Value[3], 
              (USHORT)psia->Value[4], 
              (USHORT)psia->Value[5]); 
         else 
              dwSidSize += wsprintf(pszSidText + lstrlen(pszSidText), 
                                   TEXT("%lu"), 
                                   (ULONG)(psia->Value[5]      )   + 
                                   (ULONG)(psia->Value[4] <<  8)   + 
                                   (ULONG)(psia->Value[3] << 16)   + 
                                   (ULONG)(psia->Value[2] << 24)   ); 
     
         for (dwCounter=0 ; dwCounter < dwSubAuthorities ; dwCounter++)
              dwSidSize+=wsprintf(pszSidText + dwSidSize, TEXT("-%lu"), *GetSidSubAuthority(pSid, dwCounter)); 
     
         return TRUE; 
    } 
    

    Double-clicking on an event log entry represented by a row in list, the data window appears, showing more detailed data about the entry you choose. You have to excuse me for the resize problems (sometimes - or I must say often? - resizing parent data window does not resize encapsulated dialog). Again, the job is done via another thread, which use the EVENTID structure

    typedef struct _tagEVENTID
    {
       TCHAR lpszMachineName[_MAX_PATH + 1];
       TCHAR lpszEventName[_MAX_PATH + 1];
       DWORD   dwEventId;
       HWND  hwndDlg;
    } EVENTID, *LPEVENTID;
    
    which simply identifies the record entry, and the routine:
    unsigned int __stdcall 
    ShowEventData(LPVOID lpParam)
    {
       LPEVENTID peid = (LPEVENTID)lpParam;
    
       int   nRetVal = 0;
    
       HWND  hwndDlg      = peid->hwndDlg;
       HWND  hwndEditStrings   = GetDlgItem(hwndDlg, IDE_STRINGS);
       HWND  hwndEditData      = GetDlgItem(hwndDlg, IDE_DATA);
       DWORD dwRecId      = peid->dwEventId;
    
       TCHAR  lpUNCServerName[_MAX_PATH + 1];
       TCHAR  lpSourceName[_MAX_PATH + 1];
    
       HANDLE  hEventLog         = 0;
       
       DWORD  dwEventLogRecords      = 0;
       DWORD  dwOldestEventLogRecord   = 0;
       DWORD  dwEvLogCounter      = 0;
    
       LPVOID lpEventLogRecordBuffer   = 0;
       char   chFakeBuffer      = ' ';
       DWORD  dwNumberOfBytesToRead   = 0;
       DWORD  dwBytesRead         = 0;
       DWORD  dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded   = 0;
       BOOL    bRetVal         = FALSE;
       TCHAR   lpszEventLogSourceName[_MAX_PATH + 1];
    
       wsprintf(lpUNCServerName, _T("\\\\%s"), peid->lpszMachineName);
       wsprintf(lpSourceName, _T("%s"), peid->lpszEventName);
    
       if(g_fApplication)
          _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, _T("Application"));
       else if(g_fSystem)
          _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, _T("System"));
       else if(g_fSecurity)
          _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, _T("Security"));
    //   else if(g_fCustom)
    //      _tcscpy(lpszEventLogSourceName, _T("Application"));
       else
       {
          nRetVal = -1;
          goto _cleanup_;
       }
    
       hEventLog = OpenEventLog((LPCTSTR)lpUNCServerName, (LPCTSTR)lpszEventLogSourceName);
       if(hEventLog)
       {
          if(GetNumberOfEventLogRecords(hEventLog, &dwEventLogRecords) && 
             GetOldestEventLogRecord(hEventLog, &dwOldestEventLogRecord))
          {
             for(dwEvLogCounter = dwOldestEventLogRecord; 
                dwEvLogCounter <= (dwOldestEventLogRecord + dwEventLogRecords); 
                dwEvLogCounter++)
             {
                if(dwEvLogCounter != dwRecId)
                   continue;
    
                lpEventLogRecordBuffer      = (LPVOID)&chFakeBuffer;
                dwNumberOfBytesToRead      = 1;
                dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded   = 0;
    
    _retry_:
                bRetVal = ReadEventLog(hEventLog, EVENTLOG_SEEK_READ | EVENTLOG_FORWARDS_READ,
                          dwEvLogCounter, lpEventLogRecordBuffer, dwNumberOfBytesToRead, 
                          &dwBytesRead, &dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded);
    
                if(!bRetVal)
                {
                   g_dwLastError = GetLastError();
    
                   if(g_dwLastError == ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_BUFFER)
                   {
                      lpEventLogRecordBuffer = (LPVOID)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded);
                      if(lpEventLogRecordBuffer == (void *)0)
                         goto _allocationfailure_;
    
                      dwNumberOfBytesToRead = dwMinNumberOfBytesNeeded;
                      goto _retry_;
                   }
                   else
                      goto _unknownerror_;
                }
                else
                {
                   PEVENTLOGRECORD pELR = 0;
                   LPBYTE         pData = 0;
                   HMODULE hModule = 0;
                   TCHAR szExeFile[_MAX_PATH + 1], szExeFilePath[_MAX_PATH + 1];
                   HKEY   hk                  = (HKEY)0;
                   TCHAR  szKeyName[_MAX_PATH + 1];
                   DWORD dwMaxPath;
                   DWORD dwType;
                   LPBYTE         pStrings = 0;
                   UINT uStringOffset;
                   TCHAR *szExpandedString;
                   LPVOID lpszBuffer = 0;
                   
                   pELR   = (PEVENTLOGRECORD)lpEventLogRecordBuffer;
    
                   pData = (LPBYTE)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, pELR->DataLength * sizeof(BYTE));
                   memcpy(pData, (LPBYTE)((LPBYTE)pELR + pELR->DataOffset), pELR->DataLength);
    
                   {
                      UINT x, uStepOfString = 0;
    
                      pStrings = (LPBYTE)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, pELR->DataOffset - pELR->StringOffse
                                                     * sizeof(BYTE));
                      memcpy(pStrings, (LPBYTE)pELR + pELR->StringOffset, pELR->DataOffset
                                                      - pELR->StringOffset);
    
                      szExpandedString = (TCHAR *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, (pELR->DataOffset
                                                    - pELR->StringOffset + 1024) * sizeof(TCHAR));
                      for(x = 0; x < pELR->NumStrings; x++)
                      {
                         if(x == 0)
                         {
                            strcpy(szExpandedString, (TCHAR *)pStrings + uStepOfString);
                            if(x < (UINT)pELR->NumStrings - 1)
                               strcat(szExpandedString, ",");
                         }
                         else
                            strcat(szExpandedString, (TCHAR *)pStrings + uStepOfString);
    
                         uStepOfString = strlen((TCHAR *)pStrings + uStepOfString) + 1;
                      }
    
                      wsprintf(szKeyName, _T("SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\EventLog\\%s\\%s"), 
                         lpszEventLogSourceName, peid->lpszEventName);
                      if(RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, szKeyName, 0L, KEY_READ, &hk) == NOERROR)
                      {
                         dwMaxPath = _MAX_PATH + 1;
                         if(RegQueryValueEx(hk, _T("EventMessageFile"), 0, &dwType, 
                                            (LPBYTE)szExeFile, &dwMaxPath) == NOERROR)
                         {
                            if(ExpandEnvironmentStrings(szExeFile, szExeFilePath, _MAX_PATH + 1) == 0)
                               strcpy(szExeFilePath, szExeFile);
    
                            hModule = LoadLibraryEx(szExeFilePath, 0, DONT_RESOLVE_DLL_REFERENCES);
                            if(hModule)
                            {
                               TCHAR **_sz = (TCHAR**)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, (pELR->NumStrings) 
                                                                     * sizeof(TCHAR *));
                               register UINT z;
    
                               uStringOffset = 0;
                               for(z = 0; z < pELR->NumStrings; z++)
                               {
                                  _sz[z] = (TCHAR *)GlobalAlloc(GPTR, 
                                     (strlen((TCHAR *)pStrings + uStringOffset) + 1) * sizeof(TCHAR));
                                  strcpy(_sz[z], (TCHAR *)pStrings + uStringOffset);
    
                                  uStringOffset += strlen((TCHAR *)pStrings + uStringOffset) + 1;
                               }
    
                               FormatMessage(
                                  FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER | 
                                  FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_HMODULE | 
                                  FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM | 
                                  FORMAT_MESSAGE_ARGUMENT_ARRAY,
                                  hModule, pELR->EventID, 0, (LPTSTR)&lpszBuffer, 1024, 
                                  _sz
                               );
    
                               for(z = 0; z < pELR->NumStrings; z++)
                               {
                                  SafeDeletePointer(_sz[z], strlen(_sz[z]));
                                  _sz[z] = 0;
                               }
                               SafeDeletePointer(_sz, (pELR->NumStrings) * sizeof(TCHAR *));
                               _sz = 0;
    
                               if(lpszBuffer)
                               {
                                  strcpy(szExpandedString, (TCHAR *)lpszBuffer);
                                  uStringOffset = strlen(szExpandedString);
                               }
    
                               if(lpszBuffer)
                                  LocalFree(lpszBuffer);
    
                               FreeLibrary(hModule);
                            }
                         }                  
                         RegCloseKey(hk);
                      }
    
                      SendMessage(hwndEditStrings, WM_SETTEXT, 0, (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)szExpandedString);
    
                      SafeDeletePointer(szExpandedString, strlen(szExpandedString));
                   }
    
                   {
                      TCHAR _str[1024];
                      _tcscpy(_str, _T(""));
                      if(pELR->DataLength > 0)
                      {
                         register UINT x;
    
                         for(x = 0; x < pELR->DataLength; x += 8)
                         {
                            TCHAR _strAux[1024];
                            register UINT y;
    
                            wsprintf(_strAux, "%.4x: ", x);
                            _tcscat(_str, _strAux);
    
                            for(y = x; y < x + 8; y++)
                            {
                               wsprintf(_strAux, "%.2x ", pData[y]);
                               _tcscat(_str, _strAux);
                            }
                            _tcscat(_str, _T("  "));
    
                            for(y = x; y < x + 8; y++)
                            {
                               if(!isprint((int)pData[y]))
                                  _tcscat(_str, _T("."));
                               else
                               {
                                  TCHAR s[2];
                                  s[0] = (TCHAR)pData[y];
                                  s[1] = '\0';
                                  _tcscat(_str, s);
                               }
                            }
                            _tcscat(_str, _T("\r\n"));
                         }
                      }
                      else
                         _tcscat(_str, _T("No data available."));
    
                      SendMessage(hwndEditData, WM_SETTEXT, 0, (LPARAM)(LPCTSTR)_str);
                   }
                }
             }
    
             goto _cleanup_;
          }
          else
             ReportLastError(0, 0, TRUE);
    
    _unknownerror_:
          MessageBox(0, TEXT("Unknown error."), 0, MB_OK | MB_ICONSTOP);
          goto _cleanup_;
    
    _allocationfailure_:
          MessageBox(0, TEXT("Allocation failure."), 0, MB_OK | MB_ICONSTOP);
          goto _cleanup_;
    
    _cleanup_:
          CloseEventLog(hEventLog);
          hEventLog = 0;
       }
       else
          ReportLastError(0, 0, TRUE);
    
       #pragma warning(disable:4127)
       SafeDeletePointer(peid, sizeof(EVENTID));
    
       return 0L;
    }
    
    Although the string szExpandedString is allocated with only 1024 length (so can truncate sometimes thre REAL value), again you can easily replace with the correct size doing some checkings before. The construction key is now a registry key specific to the record entry, located under SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Sevices\EventLog key. If opening of this key succeeds and the call of ExpandEnvironmentStrings leads to the binary file where .mc message entry resides, then a LoadLibraryEx call with the DONT_RESOLVE_DLL_REFERENCES flag set (to do not load other DLLs, but rather resource section) will lead us to the necessary .mc resource entry, which is a entry in the message table (usually created with message compiler tool). Now, the call
       FormatMessage
       (
          FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER | 
          FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_HMODULE | 
          FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM | 
          FORMAT_MESSAGE_ARGUMENT_ARRAY,
          hModule, 
          pELR->EventID, 
          0, 
          (LPTSTR)&lpszBuffer, 
          1024, 
          _sz
       );
    
    will offers us the message bound with this particular event log entry. The rest is history (hexa formatting, dialog stuff).

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    About the Author

    Sardaukar

    Web Developer

    Romania Romania

    Member



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    QuestionHow do i detect the status of the hardware Pinmemberpaul1000120:50 6 Sep '08  
    AnswerRe: How do i detect the status of the hardware PinmemberCristian Amarie6:43 11 Feb '09  
    QuestionHow to get Administration/User subscribe logging? PinmemberIngenious0012:23 31 Aug '07  
    Questionit's wrong, geting particular description of a record in windows vista Pinmemberraopeitao16:57 2 Aug '07  
    AnswerRe: it's wrong, geting particular description of a record in windows vista PinmemberCristian Amarie0:00 8 Sep '07  
    QuestionRegarding // CHAR Pad[] PinmemberAmit Papriwal23:56 22 Jul '07  
    AnswerRe: Regarding // CHAR Pad[] Pinmemberraopeitao17:12 2 Aug '07  
    GeneralVery cool :) PinmemberOddArne9:39 14 Oct '04  
    GeneralEvent loging on PDC Pinmembervijayv0:49 6 Feb '04  
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    GeneralRe: XP Pro PinmemberSardaukar19:59 21 Sep '03  
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    GeneralReadEventLog: Invalid Parameter Pinmembermassel2:04 17 Feb '03  
    GeneralRe: ReadEventLog: Invalid Parameter Pinmembermassel3:18 19 Feb '03  
    GeneralRe: ReadEventLog: Invalid Parameter Pinmembermassel3:40 20 Feb '03  
    GeneralRe: ReadEventLog: Invalid Parameter PinmemberTClegg7:26 29 Jan '04  
    QuestionHot to get the description text of an event? PinmemberRalph0:57 6 Feb '03  
    AnswerRe: Hot to get the description text of an event? PinsussMaria Jose7:53 21 Sep '03  
    GeneralRe: Hot to get the description text of an event? Pinmembergino_d_animal4:06 11 Mar '04  
    GeneralRe: Hot to get the description text of an event? Pinmembergino_d_animal11:10 6 Apr '04  
    GeneralRe: Hot to get the description text of an event? PinsussBrooks Younce3:45 14 May '05  
    GeneralRe: Hot to get the description text of an event? PinmemberTorben_Surmer22:39 7 Nov '05  
    Do somone try to run the code for the "security-log"? I got: "Run-Time Check Failure #2 - Stack around the variable 'lpP' was corrupted."
     
    Any idea, what causes the problem?
     

    Here is the code:
    >>>>
    #include
    #include
     
    #define BUFFER_SIZE 1024*64
     
    static char g_szLogfile[80];
     
    BOOL ReadEventSourceInfo(LPCSTR lpszESName, LPSTR lpszEvent) ;
     

    LPSTR GetEventMessage(
    HMODULE hDll, /* Handle to the event message file */
    DWORD dwEventIndex, /* Index of the event description message */
    DWORD dwLanguageID, /* Language ID of the message to retrieve */
    LPTSTR *lpInserts ) /* Array of insertion strings */
    {
    DWORD dwReturn;
    LPSTR lpMsgBuf = NULL;
    DWORD dwFlags = FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_HMODULE |
    FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER;

    if ( lpInserts )
    dwFlags |= FORMAT_MESSAGE_ARGUMENT_ARRAY;

    dwReturn = FormatMessage(
    dwFlags,
    hDll,
    dwEventIndex,
    dwLanguageID,
    (LPTSTR) &lpMsgBuf,
    0,
    lpInserts );
    return( lpMsgBuf );
    }
    LPSTR GetStringEx(EVENTLOGRECORD *pRecord, LPSTR source)
    {
    BOOL f;
    TCHAR szEvent[256],szBuffer[256], **first_sz;
    HMODULE hEvt;
    LPTSTR lpP[] = { "", "", "", "", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", ""};
    LPSTR lpBuf="";
    LPTSTR lpstrlpBuf = "";
    char* pStr;
     
    if (pRecord->NumStrings ) {
    pStr = (char*)((LPBYTE)pRecord + pRecord->StringOffset);
    } else {
    pStr = "";
    }
     
    if ( pStr )
    {
    DWORD i;
    for ( i = 0; i < pRecord->NumStrings; i++ )
    {
    lpP[i] = (LPSTR)pStr;
    pStr = strchr( (char*)pStr, '\0' ) + 1;
    }
    }
    //Get the file name(s) from the registry
    f = ReadEventSourceInfo( source, szEvent);
    if(strchr(szEvent, ';'))
    {
    int i=0, j, k, num_files=0, last=0;
    char *aux, *cad;
    aux = szEvent;
    while(aux = strchr(aux, ';'))
    {
    num_files++;
    aux++;
    }
    aux = szEvent;
     
    for(j=0; j<= num_files; j++)
    {
    int counter =0;
    while((szEvent[i]!= ';') && i ){
    i++;
    counter++;
    }
    first_sz= (TCHAR **)malloc(num_files * (sizeof(szEvent)));
    cad = (char *) malloc(counter+1);
    for(k = 0; k < counter; k++ ){
    cad[k] = szEvent[last+k];
    }
    cad[counter]= '\0';
    first_sz[j] = cad;
    i++;
    last = i;
    //Convert the %SystemRoot% stuff
    ExpandEnvironmentStrings(first_sz[j],szBuffer, 257);
     
    //We actually have to load an .exe or what not to read the messages
    hEvt = LoadLibraryEx(szBuffer, NULL, DONT_RESOLVE_DLL_REFERENCES );
     
    /* Load the event message file DLL */
    if ( hEvt )
    {
    /* Get the event message with the paramater strings inserted */
    lpBuf = GetEventMessage( hEvt, pRecord->EventID,
    MAKELANGID(LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_DEFAULT), lpP );
    FreeLibrary( hEvt );
    }
    }
    return (lpBuf);
    }
    else
    {
    ExpandEnvironmentStrings(szEvent,szBuffer, 257);
    hEvt = LoadLibraryEx(szBuffer, NULL, DONT_RESOLVE_DLL_REFERENCES );
    /* Load the event message file DLL */
    if ( hEvt )
    {
    /* Get the event message with the paramater strings inserted */
    lpBuf = GetEventMessage( hEvt, pRecord->EventID,
    MAKELANGID(LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_DEFAULT), lpP );
    FreeLibrary( hEvt );
    }
    }
    return (lpBuf);
    }
     
    BOOL ReadEventSourceInfo(LPCSTR lpszESName, LPSTR lpszEvent)
    {
    BOOL fResult = FALSE;
    HANDLE hKey;
    LONG lResult;
    DWORD dwBytesReturned;
    TCHAR szKeyName[128];
     
    /* Find the event source key */
    lstrcpy( szKeyName,
    "System\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\EventLog\\Security\\" );
    lstrcat( szKeyName, lpszESName );

    if ( RegOpenKeyEx( HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, szKeyName, 0, KEY_ALL_ACCESS,
    &hKey ) != ERROR_SUCCESS )
    {
    lstrcpy( szKeyName,
    "System\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\EventLog\\System\\" );
    lstrcat( szKeyName, lpszESName );

    if ( RegOpenKeyEx( HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, szKeyName, 0, KEY_ALL_ACCESS,
    &hKey ) != ERROR_SUCCESS )
    {
    lstrcpy( szKeyName,
    "System\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\EventLog\\application\\" );
    lstrcat( szKeyName, lpszESName );

    if ( RegOpenKeyEx( HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, szKeyName, 0, KEY_ALL_ACCESS,
    &hKey ) != ERROR_SUCCESS )
    {
    goto Exit_ReadEventSourceInfo;
    }
    }
    }

    fResult = TRUE; /* Found the registered event source key */
    dwBytesReturned = 256;
    if ( RegQueryValueEx( hKey, "EventMessageFile", NULL, NULL,
    lpszEvent, &dwBytesReturned ) != ERROR_SUCCESS )
    lpszEvent[0] = '\0';
     
    Exit_ReadEventSourceInfo:
    return( fResult );
    }
     

     

    void DisplayEntries( )
    {
    HANDLE h;
    EVENTLOGRECORD *pevlr;
    BYTE bBuffer[BUFFER_SIZE];
    DWORD dwRead, dwNeeded, dwThisRecord;
    LPSTR lpmessagetext = "";
    char* pStr;
    LPTSTR lpP[] = { "", "", "", "", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", ""};

    // Open the Application event log.

    h = OpenEventLog( NULL, // use local computer
    g_szLogfile); // source name
    if (h == NULL)
    {
    printf("Could not open the Application event log.");
    return;
    }

    pevlr = (EVENTLOGRECORD *) &bBuffer;

    // Get the record number of the oldest event log record.
     
    GetOldestEventLogRecord(h, &dwThisRecord);
     
    // Opening the event log positions the file pointer for this
    // handle at the beginning of the log. Read the event log records
    // sequentially until the last record has been read.

    while (ReadEventLog(h, // event log handle
    EVENTLOG_FORWARDS_READ | // reads forward
    EVENTLOG_SEQUENTIAL_READ, // sequential read
    0, // ignored for sequential reads
    pevlr, // pointer to buffer
    BUFFER_SIZE, // size of buffer
    &dwRead, // number of bytes read
    &dwNeeded)) // bytes in next record
    {
    while (dwRead > 0)
    {
    // Print the record number, event identifier, type,
    // and source name.
    lpmessagetext = GetStringEx(pevlr, ((LPSTR) ((LPBYTE) pevlr +
    sizeof(EVENTLOGRECORD))));
    printf("Event source/text/num: [%s]/[%s]/[%d]\n",
    (LPSTR) ((LPBYTE) pevlr + sizeof(EVENTLOGRECORD)), lpmessagetext,
    pevlr->NumStrings);

    if (pevlr->NumStrings ) {
    pStr = (char*)((LPBYTE)pevlr + pevlr->StringOffset);
    } else {
    pStr = "";
    }
     
    if ( pStr )
    {
    DWORD i;
    for ( i = 0; i < pevlr->NumStrings; i++ )
    {
    lpP[i] = (LPSTR)pStr;
    pStr = strchr( (char*)pStr, '\0' ) + 1;
    printf("--> [%s]\n", pStr);
    }
    }
    dwRead -= pevlr->Length;
    pevlr = (EVENTLOGRECORD *)
    ((LPBYTE) pevlr + pevlr->Length);
    }

    pevlr = (EVENTLOGRECORD *) &bBuffer;
    }

    CloseEventLog(h);
    }
     
    int main(int argc, char * argv[])
    {
    if (argc!=2)
    {
    printf("%s [logfile]\n", argv[0]);
    exit (0);
    }
    strcpy(g_szLogfile, argv[1]);
     

    DisplayEntries();
    return 1;
    }
     
    #if 0
    LPSTR GetString(EVENTLOGRECORD *pRecord, LPSTR source)
    {
    BOOL f;
    TCHAR szEvent[256],szBuffer[256];//, **first_sz;
    ZeroMemory(szEvent,256);
    ZeroMemory(szBuffer,256);
    HMODULE hEvt;
    LPTSTR lpP[] = { "", "", "", "", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", "","", "", ""};
    LPSTR lpBuf="";
    LPTSTR lpstrlpBuf = "";
    char* pStr;

    if (pRecord->NumStrings ) {
    pStr = (char*)((LPBYTE)pRecord + pRecord->StringOffset);
    } else {
    pStr = "";
    }

    if ( pStr )
    {
    DWORD i;
    for ( i = 0; i < pRecord->NumStrings; i++ )
    {
    lpP[i] = (LPSTR)pStr;
    pStr = strchr( (char*)pStr, '\0' ) + 1;
    }
    }
    //Get the file name(s) from the registry
    f = ReadEventSourceInfo( source, szEvent);
    if(strchr(szEvent, ';'))//we have more than 1 dll to resolve
    {
    CStringArray array;
    CString sEntry;
    CString s = szEvent;
    s += ";";
    int iLast=0,iCur=0;
    while(iLast != -1)
    {
    iLast = s.Find(';',iCur);
    if(iLast == -1){break;}
    sEntry = s.Mid(iCur,iLast-iCur);
    array.Add(sEntry);
    iCur=iLast+1;
    }
    for(int i=0; i
    {
    ExpandEnvironmentStrings(array[i],szBuffer, 257);
    hEvt = LoadLibraryEx(szBuffer, NULL, DONT_RESOLVE_DLL_REFERENCES );
    /* Load the event message file DLL */
    if ( hEvt )
    {
    /* Get the event message with the paramater strings inserted */
    lpBuf = GetEventMessage( hEvt, pRecord->EventID,
    MAKELANGID(LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_DEFAULT), lpP );
    FreeLibrary( hEvt );
    return (lpBuf);
    }
    }
    }
    else
    {
    ExpandEnvironmentStrings(szEvent,szBuffer, 257);
    hEvt = LoadLibraryEx(szBuffer, NULL, DONT_RESOLVE_DLL_REFERENCES );
    // Load the event message file DLL
    if ( hEvt )
    {
    // Get the event message with the paramater strings inserted
    lpBuf = GetEventMessage( hEvt, pRecord->EventID,
    MAKELANGID(LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_DEFAULT), lpP );
    FreeLibrary( hEvt );
    }
    }
    return (lpBuf);
    }
    #endif
     
    <<<< End code
     

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