Activity Logging
Activity Logging provides a comprehensive audit trail of all file operations performed by Sortio, including source locations, destinations, timestamps, and the rules or prompts that triggered each action.
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What is Activity Logging?
Activity Logging is Sortio's built-in accountability feature that records every file operation in a secure, searchable log. Every time Sortio moves, renames, or organizes a file, the operation is documented with full details. This creates a complete history of your file organization activities, essential for compliance requirements, troubleshooting, and understanding how your files have been organized over time.
How It Works
When Sortio performs any file operation, it creates a log entry containing: the original file location, the destination location, the timestamp, the rule or prompt that triggered the action, and file metadata before and after the operation. Logs are stored securely on your device with optional encryption. You can search, filter, and export logs at any time. Sortio maintains detailed logs of all file operations including what files were moved, when, and where.
Key Capabilities
- Detailed logs of all file movements
- Timestamp and location tracking for every operation
- Before and after states recorded
- Searchable log history
- Export logs for compliance reporting (JSON or CSV)
- Secure, encrypted log storage
- Customizable retention periods
Getting Started
Activity logging is enabled by default—no setup required
Access logs via the Activity tab in Sortio
Use the search bar to find specific files or operations
Filter by date range, operation type, or folder
Export logs using the Export button
Adjust retention settings in Settings > Logging
Use Cases
Compliance Requirements
Maintain audit trails required for legal, financial, or healthcare compliance
Undo Operations
Review logs to understand what was changed and restore files to previous locations if needed
Workflow Analysis
Analyze organization patterns to optimize your folder structure and sorting rules
Troubleshooting
Understand why a file ended up in a particular location
Team Accountability
Track file organization activities in shared environments
Configuration Options
Retention Period
Set how long logs are kept: 30, 90, 365 days, or forever
Detail Level
Choose between basic logging (operations only) or verbose (includes metadata changes)
Export Format
Export logs as JSON for programmatic access or CSV for spreadsheet analysis
Log Encryption
Enable encryption for stored logs containing sensitive file paths
Best Practices
- Set retention periods appropriate for your compliance requirements
- Export logs regularly if you need long-term records
- Use verbose logging for important folders or sensitive documents
- Review logs periodically to refine your sorting rules
- Enable log encryption if file paths contain sensitive information
Frequently Asked Questions
Do logs include the actual file contents?
No. Logs only contain metadata about operations: file paths, timestamps, and operation types. File contents are never logged, keeping log files small and maintaining privacy.
Can I use logs to undo a sorting operation?
Logs show you exactly what was moved and where. While logs themselves don't provide automatic undo, Sortio backs up your files before making any changes, allowing you to revert to the original organization at any time from within the app.
How much storage do logs use?
Logs are very compact, typically a few KB per operation. A year of active use might generate 10-50MB of logs depending on your activity level.
Can I share logs with my IT department?
Yes. Logs can be exported as JSON or CSV files, making them easy to share, import into other systems, or analyze with external tools.
Related Glossary Terms
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