# Output window

The **Output window** appears at the bottom of IDA's interface by default and serves two key purposes:

* Displays various IDA messages and notifications.
* Provides a command line interface (CLI) for executing IDC or IDAPython commands.

![Output window](/files/jufqTeClQLLSP4JKnNhd)

If closed, you can reopen it via **Windows -> Output window**.

## Context Menu Options

Right-click in the Output window to access these options:

* **Select All**: Selects all content in the window
* **Find/Find next**: Searches for a specific string
* **Clear**: Removes all previous messages from the window
* **Copy to CLI**: Places selected text into CLI field
* **Save to file**: Exports window content to a .log file
* **Show timestamps**: Displays time information with each message
* **Font...**: Customizes the text appearance (font, style, size)

You can duplicate all messages appearing in this window to a file. To do this, you have to define an environment variable before starting IDA:

```
set IDALOG=logfile
```


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.hex-rays.com/8.5/user-guide/user-interface/menu-bar/windows/output-window.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
