Thread: Java Parser

Hi Guys,

Apologies if the post is found in the wrong area.

I am fairly new to Java and am trying to make a little program to make my life a bit easier. The idea is to be able to parse a log file with specific messages (FIX protocol messages) and display them in a meaningful table. For Example:

Message on log file is:

|INFO|FIX.4.2:STP_SERVER->STP_CLIENT: 8=FIX.4.2
9=76
35=0
34=1125
49=STP_SERVER
52=20100817-22:17:00.926
56=STP_CLIENT
10=201

17-08-10 22:17:00.929|QFJ Timer|quickfixj.trace|DEBUG|FIX.4.2:STP_SERVER->STP_CLIENT: File store: set(1125)

Would display an output like:


So basically not only return tokens but add a description to them as well. Any help/ideas would be appreciated.

many thanks

Can you explain how you get the data for the 4 columns from the log file record?
And how to create the error messages.
Or is this question only for someone that knows what a "FIX protocol" message is?

Thank you for replying

Can you explain how you get the data for the 4 columns from the log file record?

The data that you see in the table is really a manual key-in.
Tag = numeric values 1 to 3 digits. These values are what we see in the FIX messages
Field = description of the Tag
Value = what value the Tag represents
Description = what the string of Tag's mean

so for example in 8=FIX.4.2 35=0
Tag:8 and 35, Field: version of FIX and MsgType, Value=4.2 and 0, Description: version and HeartBeat message

All FIX protocol has is Tag's and Description which collectively form a message.

All I want to do is pick up all the Tag's in the string and add some useful information to them. This will allow me to make it more readable and based on the values of the tags I will be able to make sense of how the protocol is behaving.

So, for example, in an ideal world I would drag-drop a text file with a list of messages into a GUI and it will nicely format it for me into a table.

hope it is more clearer now

many thanks

The drag and drop part should be easy once the parser is done.
I think there needs to be a much more detailed definition of the records you posted to be able to parse them.
In the record shown below, I see the following special characters: :, ->, =, |, ]
Plus I see what are probably key words: INFO, FIX, STP_CLIENT, DEBUG, QF

|INFO|FIX.4.2:STP_SERVER->STP_CLIENT: 8=FIX.4.29=7635=034=112549=STP_SERVER52=20100817-22:17:00.92656=STP_CLIENT10=201
17-08-10 22:17:00.929|QFJ Timer|quickfixj.trace|DEBUG|FIX.4.2:STP_SERVER->STP_CLIENT: File store: set(1125)

I don't see the sub message (8=FIX.4.2 35=0) in the above.

Bottom line, no way with what you described to parse this.