Keep a dated work log with Notepad

A plain-text work log is useful when you want a record you can search and back up without choosing a notes service. Notepad has a small feature for this: a file beginning with .LOG can append a date and time when it opens.

Create the file#

1. Open Notepad and put .LOG on the first line, using uppercase letters.

2. Press Enter and save the file as a text file, such as work-log.txt.

3. Close it, open it again, and check for the appended timestamp.

4. Write the entry beneath that timestamp and save your changes.

Microsoft documents this behavior in Help in Notepad. Check your installed version if it behaves differently.

Keep the limits in mind#

The timestamp comes from the computer's clock. It is a convenience, not an independently verified audit trail. A plain-text file also provides no password protection: anyone who can read the file can read the entries.

Keep sensitive information elsewhere and back up the log. If the path is awkward to reach, mapping a folder to a drive letter can make a working folder easier to open without moving its contents.