# Auto Instance Log
Auto Instance Log is a lightweight World of Warcraft addon that automatically enables Combat Logging when you enter eligible instances, then disables it when appropriate based on ownership rules and your settings. It is designed to make logging for tools like Warcraft Logs effortless, without forcing global logging behavior when you do not want it.
## Features
- Automatically enables Combat Logging in dungeons (`party`) and raids (`raid`)
- Tracks ownership (manual vs addon-enabled) to avoid disabling logs you turned on yourself
- Optional Mythic+ only mode for dungeons
- Raid difficulty filtering (LFR / Normal / Heroic / Mythic)
- Optional Max level only logging
- Optional grouped-only logging gate
- Per-character participation toggle
- Account-wide or per-character settings scope
- Quiet modes and message suppression options
- Output messages to ChatFrame or UIErrorsFrame
- Resilient handling of zone changes and instance swaps (debounced logic)
- Optional logging boundary reset on instance swap (dungeon ↔ raid)
- Optional forced boundary even when manual logging is already ON
- Separate enable/disable timing delays for zoning reliability
- “Dry run” test mode to preview behavior without changing logging state
- Export and Import settings string for easy sharing
- Sync settings between account and character scopes
## Installation
Manual installation:
1. Download or clone this repository.
2. Copy the `AutoInstanceLog` folder into your WoW AddOns directory.
Retail path:
World of Warcraft\_retail_\Interface\AddOns\
3. Verify the folder structure:
AutoInstanceLog/
AutoInstanceLog.toc
AutoInstanceLog.lua
Important:
- Folder name should be exactly `AutoInstanceLog`.
- Avoid nested folders like `AutoInstanceLog/AutoInstanceLog/AutoInstanceLog.toc`.
- If installing from a GitHub ZIP, rename extracted folder (for example `autoinstancelog-main`) to `AutoInstanceLog`.
4. Launch World of Warcraft and enable Auto Instance Log from the AddOns menu.
Git clone (development):
git clone <your-repo-url> "World of Warcraft/_retail_/Interface/AddOns/AutoInstanceLog"
## Usage
Type the following in-game to see all available commands:
/autolog help
Common commands:
- /autolog on | off
- /autolog status | debug | test | ui
- /autolog both | raids | dungeons
- /autolog grouped on|off
- /autolog maxlevel on|off
- /autolog mplusonly on|off
- /autolog preset raidprog|mplus
- /autolog raidfilter lfr|normal|heroic|mythic on|off
- /autolog participate on|off
- /autolog quiet [off|auto|all]
- /autolog output chat|errors
- /autolog boundarymanual on|off
- /autolog delays enable <sec> | disable <sec>
- /autolog export | import
- /autolog scope account|character
- /ail (alias)
## Settings Panel
Open via:
Esc → Options → AddOns → Auto Instance Log
Available options include:
- Enable or disable the addon
- Per-character participation
- Dungeon, raid, or combined logging modes
- Max level only logging
- Mythic+ only dungeon logging
- Raid difficulty filters
- Quiet and message suppression controls
- Output destination (chat or UIErrorsFrame)
- Sync account ↔ character settings
- Export / Import configuration
- Dry-run test button
## Recommended Configurations
Raid logging (Normal+):
- Mode: raids or both
- Raid difficulties:
- Normal: ON
- Heroic: ON
- Mythic: ON
- LFR: OFF (optional)
Mythic+ only logging:
- Mode: dungeons or both
- Mythic+ only: ON
## How It Works
Decision flow:
1. On zone/instance events, the addon debounces evaluation to avoid rapid state thrash.
2. It checks eligibility gates: enabled, participate, grouped-only, max-level, mode, and filters.
3. If eligible, it enables logging (with configurable delay) unless manual ownership should be respected.
4. On leave/swap, it applies your disable/swap boundary settings, including optional strict leave disable.
## Behavior Notes
Manual logging ownership:
If combat logging is already enabled when you enter an instance, the addon can treat it as manually enabled and avoid disabling it later. This prevents the addon from interfering with user-controlled logging unless explicitly configured to do so.
Instance swap handling:
When enabled, the addon can reset logging boundaries during dungeon ↔ raid transitions by briefly disabling and re-enabling logging to ensure clean log segmentation.
UI lock behavior:
When the custom UI is locked, controls remain usable but move/resize actions are disabled.
Advanced Combat Logging:
When enabled, the addon sets AdvancedCombatLogging=1, which is recommended for Warcraft Logs.
## Troubleshooting
Logging did not enable:
1. Run /autolog debug
2. Confirm:
- Addon is enabled
- Participation is enabled for the character
- You are in a dungeon or raid
- Mythic+ only mode is not blocking logging
Logging disabled unexpectedly:
- Enable “Respect manual logging” in settings
- Disable the strict “disable on leaving any instance” option if enabled

