Is it possible to make log4j display which file it used to configure itself?

Solution 1:

Yes, simply add log4j.debug to the JVM system variables. For example:

java -Dlog4j.debug -cp ... some.class.name

Log4j will then output something like the following:

log4j: Trying to find [log4j.xml] using context classloader sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader@1f7182c1.  
log4j: Using URL [file:/C:/Users/matt/workspace/projectname/target/test-classes/log4j.xml] for automatic log4j configuration.  
log4j: Preferred configurator class: org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator  
log4j: System property is :null  
log4j: Standard DocumentBuilderFactory search succeded.  
log4j: DocumentBuilderFactory is: org.apache.xerces.jaxp.DocumentBuilderFactoryImpl  
log4j: debug attribute= "null".  
log4j: Ignoring debug attribute.  
log4j: reset attribute= "false".  
log4j: Threshold ="null".  
...

For reference see the manual and the FAQ.

Solution 2:

I am using Log4J2 and if you want to get the file from inside your Java Program this worked for me:

LoggerContext lContect = LogManager.getContext();
Field f = lContect.getClass().getDeclaredField("configuration");
f.setAccessible(true);
XmlConfiguration iWantThis = (XmlConfiguration) f.get(lContect);
System.out.println("Config File: " + iWantThis.getName());