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| ACK | Receive a brief message acknowledging your posting. |
| REPRO | Receive a copy of your own posting. |
| Receive postings from the list. If you are going to be unable to read your e-mail for a while and are concerned about the number of messages you will have to read later, you can turn this option off to stop receipt of messages without signing off from the list. Remember to turn it back on when you want to receive messages again. | |
| DIGEST | If the list owner has enabled digests, you can set this option to receive only one message for the digest period (usually each day) that contains all of the messages sent that day rather than receiving each individual message. You must have MAIL set for this option to work. |
| INDEX | If the list owner has established an "archive" (notebook) and has enabled digests, you can set this option to receive a list of messages posted for the digest cycle rather than the individual messages. This can be used in place of the NOMAIL option if you are not able to read your e-mail for a while. Its advantage is that you at least know the subjects of messages posted during that period and can retrieve the ones of interest. |
The easiest way to review and change your options is to use the Listserv Command Web script provided by OIT.
Why do I need a password?
A normal subscriber to a Mailing List does not need a password unless s/he wants to change subscription options and the list has been configured by the owner with the maximum security level.A Mailing List owner needs a password in order to change the way the list is configured and for a few other little used procedures.
How can I get more information about Mailing Lists?
The OIT Listserv Commands Web script has a section on obtaining information. This information is sent to you by e-mail and some of the documents are quite large.L-Soft International also has documentation available via the Web for either downloading or on-line reading.
How can I see old messages?
Mailing Lists distribute their messages by e-mail with the storage of those messages occurring in your mailbox. If you turn off receipt of messages or delete messages from your mailbox, there is normally no way of retrieving them. However - some Mailing Lists are configured to "archive" all messages sent to them. In this case there are methods of retrieving messages you either have never received or have deleted.The normal way of retrieving messages from the archive is to send commands to the listserv. At this point these commands are not included in the OIT Listserv Commands Web script and their format is beyond the scope of this document. You should refer to the documentation described above for details.
Some Mailing Lists have also created a Web Interface to their archives, allowing you to search for and view documents on-line.
What about privacy of my messages?
To put it simply, do not expect your postings to a Mailing List to be private! If you are posting to an "open" list, you have no control over who belongs to the list and, therefore, receives your posting. Even with a "restricted" list you have no control over what other members of the list do with your posting after they receive it. Finally, if the list has established a Web-accessible archive, everyone on the Internet can search for and review your posting.One other thing. When you post to a Mailing List you become, in the eyes of the law, a "publisher" and therefore fall under control of all the laws which cover publishing (copyright, libel, pornography/obscenity, etc.).
List Owner Questions
How do I set up a Mailing List?
A Mailing List at VCU must support a valid "University-related" activity. It may not be used for any illegal activities or for any non University-approved commercial activities.Faculty and staff may request the creation of a Mailing List by completing and submitting the Mailing List Request Form.
Student organizations must follow the procedures set up by Student Affairs on their Web page Electronic Communications Guidelines for Student Organizations in order to request a Mailing List for their organization.
Mailing Lists for professional organizations or other non-University groups must be requested by the head of the requesting department and will be submitted to the Vice Provost, Academic Technology, for approval.
What's involved in "owning" a Mailing List?
For most Mailing Lists there is very little activity involved in being an owner once the initial setup of the list is accomplished. You will normally receive additional e-mail pertaining to the operation of the list but most of the messages do not require a response.However, if you decide to restrict subscriptions to the list and/or decide to moderate the list, there will be extra work involved. Restricting subscriptions will mean that you either have to approve (via e-mail) all subscriptions to the list or, at the highest level of restriction, will actually have to subscribe and sign-off individual users by means of listserv commands. If the list is "moderated", either you as the owner or whoever you designate as "Editor" or "Moderator(s)" will have to approve (via e-mail) each message sent to the list.
There can also be additional duties involved in saving files, creating welcome and farewell screens, etc., depending on how sophisticated you want your list to be.
How do I configure my Mailing List?
When your Mailing List has been approved, you will be given the URL for a Web form to fill out that will provide the initial configuration for your list. This configuration uses basic Keywords. Later, if you want to change some of the original configuration Keywords or add some more advanced Keywords, you will have to "GET" the list "header" via e-mail, make the appropriate changes and e-mail it back to the listserv (you will need a "personal password" to do this). The easiest way to GET your list header is to use the Listserv Commands Web Script provided by OIT.Remember - when you GET your list header, you "lock" your Mailing List, preventing people from subscribing, until you either PUT your list header back or UNLOCK the list.
What are the Keywords for a Mailing List?
The list and values of Keywords goes beyond the scope of this FAQ. There is a separate document describing them or refer to the Mailing List Owner's documentation.How do I let people know about my Mailing List?
A Mailing List is usually aimed at a specific group of people - an organization, department, class, etc. If you know who this group is, you can let them know about the list at a meeting, via e-mail, on the telephone, or by any other means of communication. If the group has a Web page, you can advertise the list there and also provide a means for subscribing to the list using our Mailing List Subscription script.Finally, if you designate your list as "World-Wide" (Confidential= No), it will be included in CataList, the official catalog of LISTSERV lists. Note: this is not recommended for classes, University Departments, or local organizations.
How can I learn more about owning a Mailing List?
The OIT Listserv Commands Web script has a section on obtaining information. This information is sent to you by e-mail and some of the documents are quite large.L-Soft International also has a "Quick Start" and a full Mailing List Owner's Manual available via the Web for either downloading or on-line reading.