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Latest News: Listserv upgraded to version 15.5

Listserv was successfully upgraded to version 15.5 on March 14, 2008.

Some of the answers to the Frequently Asked Questions are related to the old version, 14.5. Please be patient as we update this site to reflect the current version. You can also email cit-listserv@buffalo.edu with any List Owner question.


LISTSERV List Owner Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I ...



How do I add a message to the bottom of every message that goes out to my list (bottom banner)?
  1. Point your web browser to the UB List Owner's Web Interface .
  2. Select your list after login.
  3. From the List Management pull-down navigation menu, choose "Customization", then "Mail Templates"
  4. Toggle "Select Template Category" to read "All Templates"
  5. Under "Select Template", choose "Bottom Banner for plain text postings [BOTTOM_BANNER]" and click the "Edit Template" button.
  6. Add or Edit the text in the "Contents:" box and click "Update" when finished. This should be a plain-text only message.
  7. Optional: If desired, repeat steps 5 and 6 for "Bottom Banner for HTML posting [BOTTOM_BANNER_HTML]". You can use HTML code here to create a HTML message.
  8. The listserv machine will choose the correct template, [BOTTOM_BANNER] or [BOTTOM_BANNER_HTML], based on the content type of the message being distributed to the list.

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How do I add a message to the top of every message that goes out to my list (top banner)?
  1. Point your web browser to the UB List Owner's Web Interface .
  2. Select your list after login.
  3. From the List Management pull-down navigation menu, choose "Customization", then "Mail Templates"
  4. Toggle "Select Template Category" to read "All Templates"
  5. Under "Select Template", choose "Top Banner for plain text postings [TOP_BANNER]" and click the "Edit Template" button.
  6. Add or Edit the text in the "Contents:" box and click "Update" when finished. This should be a plain-text only message.
  7. Optional: If desired, repeat steps 5 and 6 for "Top Banner for HTML posting [TOP_BANNER_HTML]". You can use HTML code here to create a HTML message.
  8. The listserv machine will choose the correct template, [TOP_BANNER] or [TOP_BANNER_HTML], based on the content type of the message being distributed to the list.

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How do I add or edit the Welcome message to my list?

  1. Point your web browser to the UB List Owner's Web Interface .
  2. Select your list after login.
  3. From the List Management pull-down navigation menu, choose "Customization", then "Mail Templates"
  4. Under "Select Template", choose "Welcome Message". and click the "Edit Template" button.
  5. Add or Edit the text in the "Contents:" box and click "Update" when finished. This should be a plain-text only message.

Your welcome message will be sent out to each new subscriber, unless they are added 'quietly'.

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How do I add a Farewell message to my list?

  1. Point your web browser to the UB List Owner's Web Interface .
  2. Select your list after login.
  3. From the List Management pull-down navigation menu, choose "Customization", then "Mail Templates"
  4. Under "Select Template", choose "Farewell Message". and click the "Edit Template" button.
  5. Add or Edit the text in the "Contents:" box and click "Update" when finished. This should be a plain-text only message.

Your farewell message will be sent out to each subscriber signing off, unless they are deleted 'quietly'.

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How do I add files to my list catalog?

Before you can add files to your list you need to send email to cit-listserv@buffalo.edu so they can create the necessary listname.catalog file and add it to the site.catalog file.

Remember to put the real name of your list everywhere in the below steps where I have the word 'listname'.

Once that is ready you can:

Send listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu the command:

GET listname.catalog PW=your-personal-listserv-password

The file you receive will look something like this:

*
*
listname.catalog /ssa/listserv/notebooks/listname/listname.catalog ALL OWNER(listname)
listname.welcome /ssa/listserv/notebooks/listname/listname.welcome ALL OWNER(listname)

NOTE: This file is wider than 80 characters and care MUST be taken to ensure that the lines wrap and DO NOT break!

You should add a line to this file for each file you want to make available similar to the lines already there. For example:

name-of-your-file /ssa/listserv/notebooks/listname/name-of-your-file ALL OWNER(listname)

Once you have edited the listname.catalog file you email it back to listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu

If all goes well you should get back a success message.

You also need to add a PUT command as the first line of that file similar to this:

PUT name-of-your-file listname PW=your-personal-listserv-password

Then email that file to listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu

If all goes well you should get back a success message.

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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 send email to cit-listserv@buffalo.edu so they can modify your list header for you. The Notebook= fields is on of the list header settings which the list owner cannot change.

If you already have archiving and would like to make your archive available via the web then you also need to send email to cit-listserv@buffalo.edu so they can modify your list header for you.

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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 a backup owner.
  • Remember to have the new list owner / editor subscribe to the list. Unless they are subscribed, they will not receive any list email.

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 "How do I change the header settings of my list?" for additional information on editing the list header.

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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 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.

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How do I add someone to my list?

If you have access to a web browser then visit the List Owner Web Interface.

  1. Log on with your email address and listserv password
  2. Select the list to add / remove subscribers from the pull down list (if you own more than one list)
  3. Select "Subscriber Management" from the "List Management" pull down menu.
  4. 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.buffalo.edu 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

Use the word "quiet" (without quotes) before "add" or "del" if you do not want the person receive notification.

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How do I change the header fields of my list?
  • The NEW way:
    1. 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:
    1. Send listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu the command:

      get listname (head nolock

    2. When you get the list header back in your email forward or mail it back to listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu
      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
      While in the editor:
      1. Removed all the lines above the PUT listname LIST PW=XXXXXXXX line
      2. Change the XXXXXXXX in that line to whatever your personal LISTSERV password is (see How do I get a personal LISTSERV password?)
      3. Change whatever header fields you want to change
      4. Send the mail and wait for the "success" mail message back from LISTSERV

See the LISTSERV List Owner Manual Appendix B for more information about header settings.

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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.

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How do I delete a list I no longer need?

Send cit-listserv@buffalo.edu a mail message asking that your list be deleted.

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How do I find out the settings for my list?

Send listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu the command:

get listname (head nolock

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How do I find out who is on my list?

Send listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu 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 *@*

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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.

To get a Personal LISTSERV Password visit the site: https://listserv.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?GETPW1=LMGT1 on the web, or send

listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu the command:

pw add what-you-want-for-a-password

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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. Please note that only cit-listserv@buffalo.edu can change the value of the * Notebook= list header field so you need to email them if you want that field changed.

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.

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How do I remove someone from my list?

If you have access to a web browser then visit the UB List Management web site.

If you don't have web access then you can send listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu the command:

quiet del listname email-address

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How do I rename a list? Send cit-listserv@buffalo.edu a mail message asking that your list be renamed and include the current name and the new name for your list. This is not a simple process so please be patient.

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How do I reuse my class list?

If you have a class discussion list from a previous semester and you want to reuse it for this semester you need to send the following commands to listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu to remove all the old subscribers and then re-add yourself:

quiet del listname *@*
sub listname your-firstname your-lastname

Once you've done that you can either:

  1. Tell your students to send listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu the command: sub your-list your-firstname your-lastname

  2. Add them yourself by sending listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu a set of add command. For example:

    add your-list userid@acsu.buffalo.edu their-firstname their-lastname
    add your-list userid@acsu.buffalo.edu their-firstname their-lastname

  3. Send email to cit-listserv@buffalo.edu with the registration number for your course and ask them to add your currently registered students to your list. Be sure to tell them the name of your list and any other email addresses that should be on your list, such as other instructors and teaching assistants.

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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.buffalo.edu 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.buffalo.edu

If all goes well you should get back a success message.

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How do I update files in my list catalog?

Remember to put the real name of your list everywhere in the below steps where I have the word 'listname'.

To update a file, first send listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu the command:

    GET name-of-file.you-want-to-update listname.catalog

Make sure you add a line similiar to this as the very first line of the file you want to update: PUT name-of-file.you-want-to-update PW=your-personal-listserv-password

Once you have edited that file you should email it back to listserv@listserv.buffalo.edu

If all goes well you should get back a success message.

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How do I find out what lists I currently own?

Send an Email to: cit-listserv@buffalo.edu requesting that we check to see what lists you own. Make sure to include ALL email addresses that you use and may be listed as owner for.

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How do I edit or delete my list archives?

You can edit your archives to remove a post or edit the complete archives. Instructions are available at: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8d/qs/editlogs.html

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