"Immature artists imitate. Mature artists steal."I am proud to say that not a single word in this entire lesson is mine :)
-- Lionel Trilling, in Esquire
Actually, I want to thank James Milles (the Head of Computer Services at the Saint Louis University Law Library) for giving me permission to reprint his "Discussion Lists: Mail Server Commands" file. James is a "net-guru" in my book, and his support really means a lot to me.
We covered some basic LISTSERV commands yesterday. Today's lesson is going to show you some more advanced LISTSERV commands, as well as some new commands for other mail list servers. These additional mail servers include Listproc, Mailbase, Mailserv, and Majordomo.
Unlike LISTSERV, there is no set way to figure out if a mailing list is running on a Listproc, Mailbase, Mailserv, or Majordomo without someone telling you. So, today's lesson is really just a review of some of the LISTSERV commands we went over yesterday, an introduction to some new LISTSERV commands, and a reference sheet for other mail server commands that you can use later.
-----
James Milles
Saint Louis University Law Library
millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu
1. E-mail discussion lists constitute one of the most popular methods of group communication on the Internet. Discussion lists support group communication by providing, at minimum, two basic functions: (1) the ability to distribute a message to a group of people by sending it to a single, central address, and (2) the ability to quietly join and leave the list at any time.
1.1. In order to provide these separate functions, an e-mail discussion list typically has two addresses associated with it: (1) a "listname address," the address to which you send any messages that you intend to be read by the list subscribers; and (2) an "administrative address," the address to which you send any commands or requests that affect your subscription to the list. It's easy to remember this distinction by thinking of your local newspaper: the first address is somewhat analogous to sending a "letter to the editor," while the second is like sending a letter to the newspaper's subscription office.2. When you subscribe to a list, you will typically receive a "welcome" message, describing the purpose of the list and telling you how to unsubscribe. Save this message! It tells you which program the discussion list is run under, and how to get further help.1.2. With most discussion lists, the "administrative address" is a computer program that allows the subscriber to subscribe and unsubscribe automatically, without external intervention. There are at least five popular mail server programs used to manage Internet discussion lists: REVISED LISTSERV (also called BITNET LISTSERV), Unix ListProcessor (or Listproc), Mailbase, Mailserv, and Majordomo. The commands for subscribing and unsubscribing under most of these programs are the same; however, other useful commands differ greatly from one program to another, and some programs support features that others do not.
1.3. This document does not describe all the features supported by any of these programs, only those most commonly used. For more information on any of these programs, send a message containing only the word "help" to the appropriate mail server. Additional programs and commands will be added in future revisions of this document.
1.4. This document also does not deal with discussion lists to which one subscribes by sending a message to "listname-request." There are a great many discussion lists of this type; some are distribution lists maintained manually by the listowner, while others use some form of mailer software ranging from a simple script to a fairly sophisticated mailing list program. Some require that subscription requests be placed in the message text; others require them to be included in the Subject: line. Because of the variety of methods of maintaining these lists, it is impossible to generalize about their command features. However, as a rule, assume that any discussion list with an administrative address of "listname-request" is maintained manually by a human being. Accordingly, you should subscribe by sending a friendly message in plain English to "listname-request." If a program responds with instructions for subscribing, follow the instructions.
1.5. The latest version of this document is available by e-mail and by anonymous ftp:
E-mail: Send a message containing only the line
GET MAILSER CMD NETTRAIN F=MAIL
to LISTSERV@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu.FTP: Anonymous ftp to ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu
cd /nettrain
get mailser.cmd-- or --
anonymous ftp to sluaxa.slu.edu
cd /pub/millesjg
get mailser.cmd
2.1. Mail servers can be confusing. Many people use the term "listserv" generically, to refer to any list mail server program. To make things worse, the Unix ListProcessor (listproc) program was originally called "listserv," just like REVISED LISTSERV. Many listproc hosts are still configured with the name "listserv," and will accept commands addressed to "listserv@host" as well as to the correct name, "listproc@host."3. Remember to send all commands to the "administrative address"--mailserver@host--not to the "listname address". Mailserver is the program that maintains the list (either listproc, LISTSERV, mailbase, mailserv, or majordomo); host is the address of the host computer (for example, ucdavis.edu or cleo.murdoch.edu.au).2.2. Usually--but not always--you can find out which program a discussion list is run under by examining the message headers. For instance, listproc lists should include a line saying "Unix ListProcessor." However, the best practice is to save any "welcome" message you receive when you subscribe, and to note at that time which set of commands is applicable.
3.1. Be sure to leave the Subject: line blank, and to delete any signature file if your mailer allows you to do so.3.2. Always include the name of the list in the message to mailserver@host. Most mailserver sites maintain many different discussion lists, and it is essential that you tell the mail server which list you are talking about.
3.3. For instance, to join the discussion list law-lib@ucdavis.edu, send an e-mail message containing only the command
SUBSCRIBE LAW-LIB John Doe
to listproc@ucdavis.edu.
The other examples used below are:
INT-LAW@UMINN1.BITNET (REVISED LISTSERV),
law-europe@mailbase.ac.uk (Mailbase),
envirolaw@oregon.uoregon.edu (Mailserv),and
elaw-j@cleo.murdoch.edu.au (Majordomo).
Join a list:
Listproc: SUBSCRIBE listname Firstname Lastname
(e.g., SUBSCRIBE LAW-LIB John Doe)
LISTSERV: SUBSCRIBE listname Firstname Lastname
(e.g., SUBSCRIBE INT-LAW John Doe)
Mailbase: JOIN listname Firstname Lastname
(e.g., JOIN LAW-EUROPE John Doe)
Mailserv: SUBSCRIBE listname Firstname Lastname
(e.g., SUBSCRIBE ENVIROLAW John Doe)
(Optionally, include the e-mail address at
which you wish to receive list mail:)
SUBSCRIBE listname Firstname Lastname address
Majordomo: SUBSCRIBE listname
(e.g., SUBSCRIBE ELAW-J)
(Optionally, include the e-mail address at
which you wish to receive list mail:)
SUBSCRIBE listname address
Leave a list:
Listproc: UNSUBSCRIBE listname
LISTSERV: UNSUBSCRIBE listname
Mailbase: LEAVE listname
Mailserv: UNSUBSCRIBE listname
(UNSUBSCRIBE listname address
if you subscribed under a different e-mail
address.)
Majordomo: UNSUBSCRIBE listname
(UNSUBSCRIBE listname address
if you subscribed under a different e-mail
address.)
Receive the list in digest format (multiple messages compiled
into a single mailing, usually daily or weekly):
Listproc: SET listname MAIL DIGEST
LISTSERV: SET listname DIGEST
Mailbase: Not supported.
Mailserv: Not supported.
Majordomo: SUBSCRIBE listname-DIGEST
(in the same message, unsubscribe from the
undigested version:)
UNSUBSCRIBE listname
(Note: with those programs that support the digest option,
whether or not to offer the digest format is within the
discretion of the listowner; consequently not all lists offer
digests.)
Cancel digest format; receive the list as separate mailings:
Listproc: SET listname MAIL ACK
LISTSERV: SET listname MAIL
Mailbase: Not supported.
Mailserv: Not supported.
Majordomo: UNSUBSCRIBE listname-DIGEST
(in the same message, subscribe to the
undigested version:)
SUBSCRIBE listname
Suspend mail temporarily (without unsubscribing):
Listproc: SET listname MAIL POSTPONE
LISTSERV: SET listname NOMAIL
Mailbase: SUSPEND MAIL listname
Mailserv: Not supported.
Majordomo: Not supported.
Resume receipt of messages:
Listproc: SET listname MAIL ACK
-- or --
SET listname MAIL DIGEST
LISTSERV: SET listname MAIL
-- or --
SET listname DIGEST
Mailbase: RESUME MAIL listname
Mailserv: Not supported.
Majordomo: Not supported.
Receive copies of your own messages:
Listproc: SET listname MAIL ACK
LISTSERV: SET listname REPRO
(to simply receive an automatic
acknowledgement that your message has been
sent to the list, use:)
SET listname ACK
Mailbase: Standard feature; you always receive your own
messages.
Mailserv: Same as mailbase.
Majordomo: Same as mailbase.
Do not receive copies of your own messages:
Listproc: SET listname MAIL NOACK
LISTSERV: SET listname NOREPRO
Mailbase: Not supported.
Mailserv: Not supported.
Majordomo: Not supported.
Obtain a list of subscribers:
Listproc: RECIPIENTS listname
LISTSERV: REVIEW listname F=MAIL
(can also be sorted by name or by country:)
REVIEW listname BY NAME F=MAIL
-- or --
REVIEW listname BY COUNTRY F=MAIL
Mailbase: REVIEW listname
Mailserv: SEND/LIST listname
Majordomo: WHO listname
Hide your address, so that it does not appear on the list of
subscribers:
Listproc: SET listname CONCEAL YES
(to reverse this command, use:)
SET listname CONCEAL NO
LISTSERV: SET listname CONCEAL
(to reverse this command, use:)
SET listname NOCONCEAL
Mailbase: Not supported.
Mailserv: Not supported.
Majordomo: Not supported.
Obtain a list of lists maintained by this mail server:
Listproc: LISTS
LISTSERV: LISTS
(to obtain a list of all known LISTSERV
lists, send the command
LISTS GLOBAL;
to search for LISTSERV lists with a given
keyword or character string in the
description, send the command
LISTS GLOBAL /keyword,
e.g., LISTS GLOBAL /LAW.)
Mailbase: LISTS
Mailserv: DIRECTORY/LIST
Majordomo: LISTS
Obtain a listing of archive files for a particular list:
Listproc: INDEX listname
LISTSERV: INDEX listname
Mailbase: INDEX listname
Mailserv: INDEX listname
Majordomo: INDEX listname
Retrieve an archive file:
Listproc: GET listname filename
(e.g., GET LAW-LIB feb94)
LISTSERV: GET filename filetype listname F=MAIL
(e.g., GET INT-LAW LOG9406 INT-LAW F=MAIL)
Mailbase: SEND listname filename
(e.g., SEND LAW-EUROPE 05-1994)
Mailserv: SEND filename
(e.g., GET ENVIROLAW smith.txt)
Majordomo: GET listname filename
(e.g., GET ELAW-J BOYLE.TXT)
Search the archives for keywords (where available--some lists do
not keep archives):
Listproc: SEARCH listname "keywords"
Boolean searches are possible using the
symbols "&" (and), "|" (or), and "~" (not).
For example, to search for "mead" or "mdc" in
law-lib, use the command
SEARCH LAW-LIB "mead | mdc"
LISTSERV: LISTSERV uses a sophisticated and powerful
search engine that does lots of neat things
like finding "sounds like" matches; however,
it uses a difficult, batch-coded search
language to construct queries. I find it
useful to keep a "template" file in my
Internet account, and then edit the file as
appropriate when I need to do a search.
Here's the search file:
// JOB Echo=No
Database Search DD=Rules
//Rules DD *
Search nafta in int-law since 93/6/1
Index
/*
To run a search, send this file in an e-mail
message to LISTSERV@[host]. The Search line
can be modified as needed. The date is
optional; Boolean combinations, nesting with
parentheses, and a great number of other
capabilities are supported. For a full
description of LISTSERV search functions,
send the command
GET LISTDB MEMO F=MAIL
to LISTSERV@UMINN1.BITNET.
Once you've received a list of messages
matching your query, send another message to
LISTSERV@[host] to retrieve the specific
messages you want:
// JOB Echo=No
Database Search DD=Rules
//Rules DD *
Search nafta in int-law since 93/6/1
Print all of 636 637 640
/*
Mailbase: Archives of Mailbase lists are searchable
through the Mailbase Gopher (gopher
mailbase.ac.uk). Mailbase does not support
batch searching by e-mail request.
Mailserv: Not supported.
Majordomo: Not supported.
James Milles Voice: (314) 658-2759 Head of Computer Services FAX: (314) 658-2966 Saint Louis University Law Library millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu 3700 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108
ROADMAP: Copyright Patrick Crispen 1994, 1995. All rights reserved.
To unsubscribe from any Roadmap workshop, please send an e-mail letter to LISTSERV@UA1VM.UA.EDU which says UNSUB * in the body of your letter.
The address that sent this e-mail letter (CRISPEN@UA1VM.UA.EDU) is actually the address of an automated error processor. Please DO NOT reply to this e-mail letter as the error processor will consider your reply to be an error message and will delete your letter unread. To contact Patrick Crispen, please use my PCRISPE1@UA1VM.UA.EDU address.
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