FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_24"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_24-b07)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 19.1-b02, mixed mode)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux mathilda 2.6.35-28-generic #49-Ubuntu SMP Tue Mar 1 14:39:03 UTC 2011 x86_64 GNU/Linux


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
This is how java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler is implemented:

public void close() {
flush();
}

In particular, this does not call super.close(), which in turn calls flushAndClose(). This is, however important to ensure that formatter.getTail() is written properly.

The fix is simple and obvious: call

super.close();


STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Use the sample code below or setup any Java program with config file

handlers=java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler, java.util.logging.FileHandler
java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.formatter=java.util.logging.XMLFormatter
java.util.logging.FileHandler.formatter=java.util.logging.XMLFormatter
java.util.logging.FileHandler.pattern=log.xml

Then just log something. The file will have the trailing </log>, the console will not.


EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
On both console and file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE log SYSTEM "logger.dtd">
<log>
<record>
  <date>2011-03-30T12:03:33</date>
  <millis>1301479413194</millis>
  <sequence>0</sequence>
  <logger></logger>
  <level>INFO</level>
  <class>java.util.logging.LogManager$RootLogger</class>
  <method>log</method>
  <thread>10</thread>
  <message>Test</message>
</record>
</log>
ACTUAL -
In file (correct)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE log SYSTEM "logger.dtd">
<log>
<record>
  <date>2011-03-30T12:03:33</date>
  <millis>1301479413194</millis>
  <sequence>0</sequence>
  <logger></logger>
  <level>INFO</level>
  <class>java.util.logging.LogManager$RootLogger</class>
  <method>log</method>
  <thread>10</thread>
  <message>Test</message>
</record>
</log>

In console (</log> missing):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE log SYSTEM "logger.dtd">
<log>
<record>
  <date>2011-03-30T12:03:33</date>
  <millis>1301479413194</millis>
  <sequence>0</sequence>
  <logger></logger>
  <level>INFO</level>
  <class>java.util.logging.LogManager$RootLogger</class>
  <method>log</method>
  <thread>10</thread>
  <message>Test</message>
</record>


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
public class LogTest {
}import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler;
import java.util.logging.FileHandler;
import java.util.logging.Logger;
import java.util.logging.XMLFormatter;

public class LogTest {
public static void main(String[] args) throws SecurityException, IOException {
Logger rootLogger = Logger.getLogger("");

ConsoleHandler consoleHandler = new ConsoleHandler();
consoleHandler.setFormatter(new XMLFormatter());
rootLogger.addHandler(consoleHandler);

FileHandler fileHandler = new FileHandler("log.xml");
fileHandler.setFormatter(new XMLFormatter());
rootLogger.addHandler(fileHandler);

rootLogger.info("Test");
}
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Make your own handler implementation