From LO-Wiki
[edit] LISTSERV List Owner Frequently Asked Questions
[edit] I'm a new list owner. How do I get started?
The first thing to do is create a LISTSERV password (see below). The password allows you to log onto LISTSERV's List Management Interface, from which you can administer your lists. Next, print out the ACOR LISTSERV List Owner's Guide, glance through it, and keep it handy for reference. When you're ready to start administering your list--e.g., adding or deleting subscribers--visit the ACOR LISTSERV List Management Interface.
[edit] How do I add a message to the bottom of every message that goes out to my list (footer)?
ACOR List Owner's Web Interface .
Select your list after login and click Templates. There will be a pull down menu of all the templates available. The one for the footer is called:
Bottom banner for list postings [BOTTOM_BANNER]
Select that one and click Edit form. From there you just type in the text you want to add and click Update to save the changes.
(see the simple example below or study a more complex one).
Here's a sample:
.FO OFF To unsubscribe this list send the command: unsub name-of-this-list to listserv@listserv.acor.org .FO ON
[edit] How do I add a message to the top of every message that goes out to my list (header)?
Point your web browser to the
ACOR List Owner's Web Interface .
Select your list after login and click Templates. There will be a pull down menu of all the templates available. The one for the header is called:
Top banner for list postings [TOP_BANNER]
Select that one and click Edit form. From there you just type in the text you want to add and click Update to save the changes.
sample below or look at a longer example).
Here's a sample:
>>> TOP_BANNER .FO OFF To unsubscribe this list send the command: unsub name-of-this-list to listserv@listserv.acor.org .FO ON
[edit] How do I add a Welcome message to my list?
Using the web interface
Visit http://listserv.acor.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ACOR.EXE?LMGT1 .
- Enter your email address as listed as the owner of your list and your listserv password (there is a link to get one if you don't already have a listserv password on that web page) and click on the "login" button.
- On the next screen enter the listname and click on the "Edit mail and WWW templates" button.
- On the next screen choose the "Welcome message" from the drop down menu bar and click on the "Edit form" button.
- In the "Subject:" box type in: Welcome Message
- In the large text box area type in your welcome message and then click on the "Update" button.
Your welcome message will be saved on LISTSERV in a file called "listname.welcome" and wil be sent out to each new subscriber.
Return to top.
[edit] How to I get rid of generic "welcome" message when using WELCOME file
After creating a listname.WELCOME file, you want to use it instead of the generic message LISTSERV sends to new subscribers. But you can't figure out how to get rid of the generic message and I don't want both messages to go out. How do you do that?
There are actually two different ways to do this.
Method #1: Change the generic template for your list so that it says what you want it to say. This involves changing the ADD1, SIGNUP1, and $SIGNUP mail template forms, which is most easily done via the web interface but which can also be done by mail. $SIGNUP is probably the most important form because it is the one that contains all of the information you probably are trying to change. $SIGNUP is included by the ADD1 and SIGNUP1 template forms when you manually ADD a user or when a user SUBSCRIBEs himself, respectively. The upside to this method is that you don't have a separate WELCOME file that you have to deal with, and you can use variable substitutions which can't be used in the WELCOME file (like &LISTNAME). This makes it simpler to just cut and paste templates from list to list. If you chose this solution you will discard your WELCOME message
Method #2: Disable the generic templates and just use the WELCOME file, as you've already indicated you want to do. Note carefully that WELCOME files can't use variable substitutions, so everything you want to say in the WELCOME file has to be coded right into the file. In order to disable the generic templates you simply replace the text in the ADD1 and SIGNUP1 template forms with the text ".QQ", ie,
>>> ADD1 Not needed .QQ >>> SIGNUP1 Not needed .QQ
As with the other solution, this is most easily done via the web interface.
[edit] How do I add a Farewell message to my list?
Using the web interface
Visit
http://listserv.acor.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ACOR.EXE?LMGT1 .
- Enter your email address as listed as the owner of your list and your listserv password (there is a link to get one if you don't already have a listserv password on that web page) and click on the "login" button.
- On the next screen enter the listname and click on the "Edit mail and WWW templates" button.
- On the next screen choose the "Farewell message" from the drop down menu bar and click on the "Edit form" button.
- In the "Subject:" box type in: Farewell Message.
- In the large text box area type in your welcome message and then click on the "Update" button.
Your farewell message will be saved on LISTSERV in a file called "listname.farewell" and wil be sent out to each subscriber when they sign-off the list.
[edit] Examples
You can see here 2 examples from ACOR lists.
COLON.FAREWLL
Dear Subscriber, Hello. Sorry to bother you, but we see you are leaving us. Will you take a minute to tell us why? We hope it is because you found the help you needed or, better still, you found you didn't need our help. If you are leaving because you were helping someone who died from colorectal cancer, please accept our condolences. We are very sorry. If it is not for these reasons would you please tell us why you are leaving? What needs to be improved or corrected? We are sincere in wanting to make our list the very best that it can be. If the number of messages is a problem, did you know there is a "digest" option which means you would get longer but far fewer messages? In a digest all the messages for each day are compressed into one long message. You can set the digest mode in two ways: Resubscribe and then send this message -- set COLON digest -- in the body of your email. Send the message to listserv@listserv.acor.org Alternatively, go to http://listserv.acor.org/archives/colon.html Click on "Join or leave the list or change settings." Click on "Login with your listserv password" Which will take you to a page where you can update settings to Digest. We are happy to help you with joining again or setting Digest. If we're not providing the information you need, please visit http://www.acor.org for a listing of other cancer lists online. Once again, please write us if there is anything we should know about why you are leaving us so we can correct and improve the list. And if you are too busy to respond, that is perfectly understandable. If you wish, you can reply to this message, or email us at: jrice@lvcisp.com or katemm@adelphia.net Thank you for being part of the Colon List family. Jim Rice and Kate Murphy COLON Co-Listowners
NHL.FAREWELL
Dear Subscriber, This is a message from the NHL mailing list owners. We're sorry to bother you, but we see you are leaving us. Will you take a minute to tell us why? We hope it is because you found the help you needed or, better still, you found you didn't need our help. If it is not for these reasons would you please tell us why you are leaving? What needs to be improved or corrected? We are sincere in wanting to make our list the very best that it can be. If the number of messages is a problem, did you know there is a "digest" option which means you would get longer but far fewer messages? If this would solve your problem, just reply to this message telling us so and we will set it up for you. Remember that you can keep in touch with us by visiting our searchable archives at http://listserv.acor.org/archives/NHL.html, however you must be a subscriber to use the archives, although you can subscribe but turn off mail if you would like. If we are not providing the information you need, please visit http://www.acor.org for a listing of other cancer lists online. Once again, please write us if there is anything we should know about why you are leaving us so we can correct and improve the list. And if you are too busy to respond, that is perfectly understandable. To your good health!! The NHL Mailing List Owner Respond to List Owner: NHL-request@LISTSERV.ACOR.ORGReturn to top.
[edit] How do I add a message logs (archiving) to my list?
If the Notebook= field of your list header is set to "No" then you need to modify your list header.
If you already have archiving and would like to make your archive available via the web then you also need to modify your list header.
See the FAQ " How do I change the header settings of my list? " for additional information on editing the list header.
Return to top.
[edit] How do I add or edit the Owners / Editors on my list?
In order to do this, you will need to edit the list header configuration. Log into the
List Owner Web Interface , select your list and click 'Configuration'. You need to use the cursor to modify the Owner= and/or Editor= lines in the header of your list to remove, edit, or add Owners and Editors. The syntax for these lines is:
Owner= userid@node.net (firstname lastname)
Editor= userid@node.net (firstname lastname)
Make sure to click 'Update' when you have finished!
Tips and tricks:
- You may have more than one Owner= and Editor= for your list. In fact, we encourage each list to have at least 1 backup owner. Some of the best ACOR lists have 3 or 4 listowners that can easily share the workload.
- Remember to have the new list owner / editor subscribe to the list. Unless they are subscribed, they will not receive any list email.
[edit] See Also
See the FAQ " What are the differences between an owner and editor? " for details on the differences between a List Owner and Editor.
See the FAQ " Sharing the load with editors/moderators? " for details on using the Moderator keyword to help share the review workload between various individuals.
See the FAQ "How do I change the header settings of my list? " for additional information on editing the list header.
[edit] What are the differences between a list owner and list editor?
Every list must have at least one list owner. This is defined by one of more Owner= lines in the list header configuration.
- An owner is defined as a person with the ability to edit the list header configuration, and add / remove subscribers to a list.
- An owner does not have the ability to post email to or receive email from the list, unless they are also listed as a subscriber. Do not assume that since they are an owner then they can "do anything ."
- If in the list header configuration, Errors-to= Owner (singular) is displayed, then only the first owner listed (nearest the top of the header) receives all the error messages. If Errors-to= Owners (plural) is displayed, all the owners receive any error messages.
An editor is only needed for a moderated list (only when Send= Editor is used in the list header configuration. If Send= Public or Send= Private is used, an Editor is meaningless.
- An editor is defined as a person with the ability to post to a moderated list.
- The first editor listed (nearest the top of the header) acts as the moderator. They receive all the postings from subscribers to approve.
- If you want all the editors to be able to approve posting, you must use the keyword Moderator= All, emailaddress1, emailaddress2, ...
- An editor will not receive list email unless they are also subscribed to the list.
Tips and tricks:
See the FAQ " How do I add or edit the Owners / Editors on my list? " for additional information on editing the list header.
[edit] How do I add someone to my list?
If you have access to a web browser then visit the List Owner Web Interface .- Log on with your email address and listserv password
- Select the list to add / remove subscribers from the pull down list (if you own more than one list)
- Click the "Subscribers" button
- Follow the directions and examples on the page to either examine and delete a a subscriber, or to add one
If you don't have web access then you can send listserv@listserv.acor.org the command: add listname username@domain firstname lastname
Example: add test-list jpublic@buffalo.edu Joe Public
To remove people from your list, use the command: del listname username@domain
Note: Use the word "quiet" (without quotes) before "add" or "del" if you do not want the person receive notification.
[edit] How do I change the header fields of my list?
- The NEW way:
- Visit the List Owner Web Interface . You will need to enter your email address and personal listserv password to log on. Select the list you wish to edit from the pull-down list and click the "Configuration" button to directly edit the list header.
- The OLD way still works:
- Send listserv@listserv.acor.org the command:
get listname (head nolock
- When you get the list header back in your email forward or mail it back to listserv@listserv.acor.org
The important thing here is to make sure:- it doesn't contain any lines before the PUT line
- it doesn't contain any '>' signs
- your signature file is not attached at the beginning or end
- Removed all the lines above the PUT listname LIST PW=XXXXXXXX line
- Change the XXXXXXXX in that line to whatever your personal LISTSERV password is (see How do I get a personal LISTSERV password? )
- Change whatever header fields you want to change
- Send the mail and wait for the "success" mail message back from LISTSERV
- Send listserv@listserv.acor.org the command:
See the LISTSERV List Owner Manual Appendix B for more information about header settings.
[edit] How do I change my owner or editor address on my list?
If your email address changes, LISTSERV will no longer recognize you as an owner of your list. Hopefully you will have some advance warning that your email address is going to change and can take the steps to ensure that you will continue to be able to maintain your list.
If your list is setup to be moderated, i.e. your header setting is Send= Editor, then you also need to add your new address in the Editor= line in your list header.
What you need to do is modify the Owner= and/or Editor= line to the header of your list with the address of the new owner. The syntax for these lines is:
* Owner= userid@node.net (firstname lastname)
* Editor= userid@node.net (firstname lastname)
Once you do this you will be able to maintain your list from your new email addresses. You may have more than one * Owner= and Editor= for your list. In fact, we encourage each list to have a backup owner.
If you change your address, you should also unsubscribe from the the ubown-l list and re-subscribe from your new address.
See the FAQ " How do I change the header settings of my list? " for information.
[edit] How do I delete a list I no longer need?
Send [[1]] a mail message asking that your list be deleted.
[edit] How do I find out the settings for my list?
Send listserv@listserv.acor.org the command:
get listname (head nolock
[edit] How do I find out who is on my list?
Send listserv@listserv.acor.org the command:
review listname
To find all the subscribers who may have set their subscription to CONCEAL send the command:
query listname with conceal for *@*
[edit] How do I find out the date people subscribed to the list?
(Both of these solutions require LISTSERV 1.8d or later. If you have an earlier version, there is no way to determine the subscription date.)
There are two ways to do this.
- If you are interested only in a particular person's subscription date, issue a QUERY listname FOR userid@host command for that user.
- If you want a complete list of people on the list with their subscription dates, issue a REVIEW listname NOHEADER BY DATE command. This returns a columnar list of users and subscription dates. Note that this command (like all of the REVIEW commands we have mentioned above) does not return data for users who are set to the CONCEAL option. Also, if a person subscribed to the list when it was running under an earlier version of LISTSERV, the subscription date field will contain "[UNKNOWN]", as LISTSERV did not log that data prior to version 1.8d.
[edit] How do I get a personal LISTSERV password?
LISTSERV no longer uses list-based passwords. It now allows each list owner to have their own Personal LISTSERV Password which they can use to interact with LISTSERV when they need to modify/maintain their list.
You can choose between 2 methods to get a personal LISTSERV Password.
Preferred Method: Visit the webpage http://listserv.acor.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ACOR.EXE?GETPW1=LMGT1 and follow the simple instructions.
Alternate Method: Via email send to listserv@listserv.acor.org the command:
pw add what-you-want-for-a-password
Note: If you cannot remember your password you can reset it on the same webpage
[edit] How do I make my list archives available via the web interface?
If you want your list archives available via the web interface you have to follow the following guidelines. Visit http://listserv.acor.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ACOR.EXE?LMGT1 .
- Enter your email address as listed as the owner of your list and your listserv password (there is a link to get one if you don't already have a listserv password on that web page) and click on the "login" button.
- On the next screen enter the listname and click on the "Configuration" button.
- On the next screen choose the "Welcome message" from the drop down menu bar and click on the "Edit form" button.
- In the "Subject:" box type in: Welcome Message
- In the large text box area type in your welcome message and then click on the "Update" button.
Your welcome message will be saved on LISTSERV in a file called "listname.welcome" and wil be sent out to each new subscriber.
If you want the archives to be wide open, you must code
- Confidential= No
* Notebook= Yes,where,interval,Public
If you want the archives to be "wide open" but don't want a link on the main archives page, you would code
- Confidential= Yes
* Notebook= Yes,where,interval,Public
If you want the archives to be accessible only by subscribers (with a password) and to have a link on the main archives page, you would code
- Confidential= No
* Notebook= Yes,where,interval,Private
And if you want the archives to be accessible only by subscribers (with a password) but you do not want a link on the main archives page, you would code
- Confidential= Yes
* Notebook= Yes,where,interval,Private
Finally, if you want the archives to be available via the interface (either with or without a password), and you want a link on the main archives page, but you do not want your list to appear in the CataList or global list of lists, you would need to code
- Confidential= Service
and "Notebook=" would be either Public or Private depending on your preference, as above.
Please note carefully that coding the Confidential= keyword has other implications. For instance, if you want your list to show up in the CataList or be available via the Global List Exchange (GLX), you must set "Confidential= No". Thus advertising your list globally is not compatible with having your archives available via the web but not having a link on the server's main archives index page.
[edit] How do I remove someone from my list?
If you have access to a web browser then visit the ACOR List Management web site.
If you don't have web access then you can send [[2]] the command:
quiet del listname email-address
[edit] How do I rename a list?
Send acor-listserv@acor.org a mail message asking that your list be renamed and include:
- the reason for changing the listname,
- the current name and
- the new name for your list.
This is not a simple process so please be patient.
Return to top.
[edit] How do I setup automatic subscriber renewal for my list?
If you'd like LISTSERV to automatically (and on a regular basis) send out a note to each of your subscribers to check to see if their email addresss is still correct you need to modify (or add) the "Renewal=" setting on your list header . The format for the Renewal setting is:
Renewal= interval1,interval2...,intervalx,Delay(number),Probe
The "Probe" parameter causes listserv to send out the PROBE1 and PROBE2 messages which are defined in the default.mailtpl file. If you'd like to design your own messages you need to add the PROBE1 and PROBE2 sections to your listname.mailtpl file. If you don't already have a listname.mailtpl file you need to send email to [cit-listserv@buffalo.edu] so they can create the necessary listname.mailtpl (if you don't already have a listname.mailtpl file).
Once that is ready you can add the PROBE1 and PROBE2 templates to your listname.mailtpl file.
To update your listname.mailtpl file, first send listserv@listserv.acor.org the command:
GET listname.mailtpl
Make sure you add a line similiar to this as the very first line of that file you want to update:
PUT listname.mailtpl PW=
your-personal-listserv-password
Once you have edited that file you should email it back to listserv@listserv.acor.org
If all goes well you should get back a success message.
[edit] How do I find out what lists I currently own?
Send an Email to: mylists@acor.org. Make sure to include ALL email addresses that you use and may be listed as owner for, putting only one per line.
[edit] How do I edit or delete my list archives?
ACOR list archives are not editable.
Return to top.
[edit] What is bouncing and How do I deal with it?
It's the email equivalent of a telephone busy signal (soft bounce) or a "this number has been disconnected" message (hard bounce) for a telephone number.
Soft bounces (busy signal) happen when the recipient's email box fills up and new mail gets returned with a "mailbox full" message.
Hard bounces (number disconnected) happen when someone cancels their email address or changes ISPs. Messages to the old email address will get returned with a "user unknown" type of message. Also, some free email services like Yahoo and Hotmail will deactivate an email address if the user doesn't log in to their service within some time period and then you'll see "account deactivated" type of messages, these are also hard bounces.
For a list of bounce codes see the Table of SMTP Error Codes
Return to top.[edit] Listowners Monitoring FAQ
[edit] How do I intercept messages from a troublesome subscriber
If you are having difficulties with a subscriber and would like to make sure he/she can't disrupt the normal flow of communication:
[edit] What you can do without changing your list configuration
- the 1st line of defense is to set the subscriber on REVIEW
- the 2nd line of defense if the subscriber remains troublesome after he/she has been put on review is to set the subscriber NOPOST. This gives you the ability to stop all incoming mail to the list by the troublesome individual.
- the 3rd line of defense is to ask the LISTSERV Postmaster (the site maintainer) to SERVE OFF the troublesome list member
In some extreme cases, troublesome users with an understanding of the various technologies used to run mailing lists, can use additional email accounts to create aliases. Remember, with LISTSERV, the only intangible data used by the software to identify a list subscriber is the email address used to subscribe to the list. A list member that has been served off, put on review, or removed can easily go to Yahoo, MS, Hotmail, GMail or any other provider of free email addresses and subscribe anew to the list with this new email address and hide his/her true identity. As we have seen obver the years he/she can, on rare occasions, even do this repeatedly. DO NOT Despair. There are solutions!
[edit] What you can do by changing your list configuration
If your list is subjected to the regular abuse by one or more disgruntled subscriber who understand how LISTSERV works with open lists, you must change the list setup. Almost all ACOR lists are setup in the following way:
- Subscription is set "Open,Confirm". That means that the only requirement for subscription is a reply to the subscription request sent by listserv to the address used to join the list. This is an appropriate setup to stop most spammers and email addresses aggregators. But when you know that someone will join the list under various aliases you should change to: Subscription: Owners. This works best if the list is setup with multiple listowners who can shared the additional burden of adding all new subscriptions manually.
- Make sure your header file has the following: Review: Owners.
- Add a short questionnaire to the subscription process. This becomes a new way to validate the identity of those who wish to subscribe. The questionaire should be part of the template ADDREQ1. See the [#ADDREQ1_example|example]] below.
- Change the default subscription options. At least add this: Default-Options= review. This way, any message from new subscribers will automatically be sent for review by one of the listowners. Once you know you can trust the new subscriber, you can change their subscription option to NOREView
[edit] Examples
ADDREQ1 Example:
.* force reply to generic &LISTNAME-request@host owner address .RE OWNERS .* force send this to subscriber .TO &WHOM CC: subs_check@genetics.acor.org
IMPORTANT: &LISTNAME Pre-Subscription Questionnaire &WEEKDAY, &DATE &TIME .FO OFF
(NOTE: Please make sure when you REPLY to this message that it goes back to the email address &LISTNAME-Request@&MYHOST. Also, if you are using AOL, Compuserve, or another mail program that does NOT automatically 'quote' the original msg when forming a Reply, that you must manually use the mouse/cursor to 'copy' this entire msg into your reply. Thank you!)
READ CAREFULLY. BY ANSWERING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE YOU AGREE TO ADHERE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS SERVICE.
You have asked to join the &LISTNAME discussion list. It is designed mainly as a communication forum between leiomyosarcoma patients and caregivers.
Subscription to this list is a PRIVILEGE that can be revoked at any time, without notice.
[edit] ===========================================
TO SUBSCRIBE TO &LISTNAME you MUST answer the following questions:
1. What is your interest in this list??
2. Do you agree that :
a. Subscription to the list is a privilege.
___ Yes __ No
3. Are you:
a. a patient suffering from the disease
b. A caregiver for a patient
c. A health Professional
d. Other. Please explain:
4. What is your real name? (without your name your subscription will not be approved) NOTE: subscribing under a false name will result in
a. your immediate removal of this list
b. a ban of all ACOR email services
5. What phone number shall we use to verify your identity? NOTE: Cell phone numbers cannot be easily verified. Please list either a non-cell number OR an address.
All subscription requests will be kept confidential. Information is deleted once verification is complete.
.FO ON
.ce --------------
Your list membership will be confirmed by the List Owner if it is accepted. You should receive a message confirming your membership shortly. Thank you!
.FO OFF
Below For List Owner's Use Only (FWD to listserv)
.* LISTSERV will format name & correct address ready to ADD
// JOB PW=zzzzzzz
ADD &LISTNAME &WHOM &USERNAME
// EOJ
.*
.ce &WA_URL;?LCMD=&URLENCODE(ADD &LISTNAME &WHOM &USERNAME);&MOREOPT
OMH-------------------- .dd &MAILHEADER
