Getting Started

This guide will walk you through installing EQLogParser, running your first parse, and setting up audio triggers and overlays.

What is EQLogParser?

EQLogParser is a real-time combat analyzer and damage parsing application built specifically for the EverQuest MMO. It monitors and processes in-game log files to provide:

  • Damage dealt and received breakdowns (per player, mob, or encounter)
  • Spell casting counts and activity timelines
  • Audio triggers that play sounds or TTS speech when log patterns match
  • Visual overlays (damage meter, timers, text displays) that can show in OBS for streaming
  • Log search, automated backups, import/export of trigger packages, and one-click migration from NAG databases

At its core EQLogParser is a parser — open a character's log file and the stats take care of themselves. On top of that sits an optional trigger engine: audio callouts and visual overlays that react to anything in the log, which you only need if you want alerts or streaming graphics.

1. Download & Install

  1. Visit the Download page and grab the latest installer.
  2. Run EQLogParser-install-{version}.exe as Administrator (required for log file access).
  3. If .NET 8.0 Desktop Runtime is not already installed, the installer will prompt you to install it — follow the on-screen instructions.
  4. After installation, launch EQLogParser from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

2. Open Your First Log

EQLogParser is a parser first — no triggers or configuration required to get value out of it:

  1. Find your character's EverQuest log file — named like eqlog_{Character}_{Server}.txt, usually in your EverQuest folder.
  2. Choose File → Open and Monitor Log File and pick it (recently opened logs appear at the top of that menu).
  3. EQLogParser parses the file and keeps monitoring it in real time while you play:
    • Damage dealt and received shows up in the DPS/Healing/Tanking Summary (View menu)
    • Spell casts are tracked in Spell Counts
    • Timers show up in the Timeline charts

Tip: enable Options → Auto Monitor Last Log and EQLogParser will reopen that log and start monitoring automatically every time it launches.

3. Audio Triggers and Overlays

Want sounds, TTS callouts, or on-screen overlays? Those come from the trigger engine:

  1. Open the Trigger Manager (View → Triggers → Trigger Manager).
  2. Right-click in the tree → New Trigger, set a Name, enter a Pattern to match (see Triggers & Regex for syntax), and configure its display/speak/timer options.
  3. Tick the checkbox next to Check to Activate Triggers at the top of the window — that's the master switch for your monitored log.

Overlays (damage meter, timers, text) are set up the same way in the Overlays folder; see getting overlays into OBS if you're streaming.

4. Have More Than One Character?

The Trigger Manager starts in basic mode, where that one master switch covers whichever log you have open. To track several characters at once — each with its own log file, voice, and enable state:

  1. In the Trigger Manager, click Switch to Advanced at the top right of the window.
  2. A Manage Characters pane appears on the left. Pick New → New Character, enter the character's name exactly as it appears in-game, and use Select Log to point at that character's eqlog_{Character}_{Server}.txt file.
  3. Check the box next to each character to enable its triggers — the window header shows how many characters are active.

The choice is remembered, and you can flip back with Switch to Basic at any time.

5. Importing Triggers from GINA

If you're switching from GINA:

  1. In Trigger Manager, right-click the Triggers folder
  2. Select Import and choose your .gtp GINA package file
  3. Imported triggers will be highlighted — review and adjust patterns as needed

6. Migrating from NAG

If you're coming from NAG, EQLogParser can import your entire NAG database in one step:

  1. In the main menu, select Tools → Migrate NAG Database
  2. Choose your NAG database folder — the one that contains trigger-database.json
  3. Wait for the summary dialog (large databases take a moment)

What you get:

  • A new NAG Ingest - {date time} folder under Triggers with your NAG folders replicated. Triggers whose NAG folder was deleted are placed in an Orphaned Triggers sub-folder so nothing is lost
  • Your NAG overlays are imported alongside the triggers (except FCT overlays, which have no EQLogParser equivalent — the dialog tells you how many were skipped)
  • A summary dialog and an HTML report ("Open Report" button) listing every trigger with any features that have no EQLogParser equivalent (e.g. class level filtering, per-phrase action scoping). Check it before enabling triggers
  • Audio files are not copied — NAG stores them separately. Triggers referencing missing audio are listed in the report; copy the .wav/.mp3 files into EQLogParser's Sounds folder as needed (Tools → Open Sounds Folder)

Important:

  • All imported triggers start disabled, and per-character enable states are not carried over from NAG — enable what you want for your characters in the Trigger Manager
  • Running the migration again creates a new timestamped folder; it never updates an earlier import, so delete old ones once you've organized your triggers

Moving to a New PC

EQLogParser keeps all of its configuration — characters, triggers, custom variables, overlays, and app settings — in %AppData%\EQLogParser. The built-in backup tool packages that entire folder into a single zip file:

  1. On your old PC, select Tools → Create Backup File
  2. Save the .zip somewhere you can move it (USB drive, cloud storage, etc.) — the default filename includes the version and date/time
  3. Install EQLogParser on the new PC and launch it once
  4. Select Tools → Restore From Backup and choose your backup file
  5. Click OK on the confirmation dialog — EQLogParser replaces its configuration with the one from the backup and restarts automatically

If a restore fails partway through, your existing configuration is rolled back automatically. Creating a fresh backup before big changes is also a good habit — just keep the .zip somewhere safe.

Common Gotchas

  • Game log filters: Make sure EQ chat filters for DoT, spell, and combat messages are turned off (in-game: Options → Chat Settings). Otherwise, EQLogParser won't see the messages.
  • Windowed mode: Overlays work best when EverQuest is in windowed or borderless-windowed mode.
  • Overlay Taskbar setting: Set Overlay Windows Taskbar to off in EQ options for overlays to display correctly.
  • Character names: The parser uses naming conventions to distinguish players, pets, and NPCs. Use the Verified Players and Verified Pets lists (View → Windows) to correct misidentifications.

Next Steps