INFORMATION SYSTEMS SERVICES Using a Mailing List A step-by-step guide t using mailing lists n the Mailman server. AUTHOR: ISS DATE: 10 January 2006 VERSION: 1.0 UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
Cntents Abstract... 2 Intrductin... 3 Acknwledgements... 4 What Is A Mailing List?... 5 What is GNU Mailman?... 6 Translating Frm Our Examples T Real Lists... 7 Mailman s Interfaces... 8 The Web Interface... 9 The Email Interface... 10 I Need T Talk T a Human!... 11 Subscribing and Unsubscribing... 12 Passwrds... 14 Hw D I Get My Passwrd?... 15 Hw D I Change My Passwrd?... 16 Hw D I Turn Passwrd Reminders On r Off?... 17 Hw D I Turn Mail Delivery On r Off?... 18 Hw Can I Avid Getting Duplicate Messages?... 19 Hw D I Change My Subscriptin Address?... 20 Hw D I Stp r Start Getting Cpies f My Own Psts?... 21 Hw Can I Tell That My Psting Has Reached The List?... 22 I Dn t Seem T Be Getting Mail Frm the List. What Shuld I D?... 23 Hw Can I Start r Stp Getting the List Psts Gruped int One Big Email?... 25 What Are MIME and Plain Text Digests? Hw D I Change Which One I Get?... 26 Mailing List Tpics... 27 Hw D I Make Sure That My Pst Has The Right Tpic... 28 Hw D I Subscribe T All Or Only Sme Tpics On A List?... 29 Hw D I Get Or Avid Messages With N Tpic Set?... 30 Change Glbally? Set Glbally? What Des That Mean?... 31 Hw D I Change My Name As Mailman Knws It?... 32 Hw D I Set My Preferred Language... 33 Hw D I Avid Having My Name Appear n The Subscribers List?... 34 Hw D I View The List Archives?... 35 What Des Mailman D T Prtect Me Frm Unslicited Bulk Email (spam)?... 36 Email Cmmands Quick Reference... 37 Member Optins Quick Reference... 38 Cpyright (c) 1999, 2000 Aurra University, Christpher Klar. Permissin is granted t cpy, distribute and/r mdify this dcument under the terms f the GNU Free Dcumentatin License, Versin 1.1 r any later versin published by the Free Sftware Fundatin; with n Invariant Sectins, with n Frnt- Cver Texts specified, and with n Back-Cver Texts specified. A cpy f the license is included in the sectin entitled "GNU Free Dcumentatin License". - 1 -
Abstract This dcument describes the list member interface fr GNU Mailman 2.1. It cntains instructins fr subscribing, unsubscribing, viewing the archives, editing user ptins, getting passwrd reminders, and ther subscriber-level tasks. It als answers sme cmmn questins f interest t Mailman list members. GNU Mailman - List Member Manual, 7 Octber 2003, Release 2.1 This dcument was riginally generated using the LaTeX2HTML translatr. LaTeX2HTML is Cpyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, Niks Draks, Cmputer Based Learning Unit, University f Leeds, and Cpyright 1997, 1998, Rss Mre, Mathematics Department, Macquarie University, Sydney. The applicatin f LaTeX2HTML t the Pythn dcumentatin has been heavily tailred by Fred L. Drake, Jr. Original navigatin icns were cntributed by Christpher Petrilli. - 2 -
Intrductin This dcument is intended t help the members f a Mailman 2.1 mailing list learn t use the features available t them. It cvers the use f the web and email interfaces fr subscribing and unsubscribing, changing member ptins, getting passwrd reminders and ther subscriber-level tasks. It als answers sme cmmn questins f interest t Mailman list members. Infrmatin fr list and site administratrs is prvided in ther dcuments. This dcument need nt be read in rder. If yu are simply lking fr an answer t a specific questin, jump t the apprpriate place and references t ther sectins will be prvided if necessary r ptentially helpful. Nte: Fr the purpses f this dcument, we assume that the reader is familiar with cmmn terms related t email (eg: Subject line, bdy f the message) and web sites (eg: drp-dwn bx, buttn) r can lk them up. We als assume that the reader can already use his r her email prgram and web brwser well enugh that instructins such as "send email t this address'' r "visit this web page'' r "fill in the frm prvided'' are clear. If yu are nt familiar with these actins, yu may want t cnsult ther dcumentatin t learn hw t d these things with yur particular setup. - 3 -
Acknwledgements Sectins f this dcument have been brrwed frm the List Administratr Manual fund in Mailman CVS, which was written by Barry A. Warsaw, and frm the in-line help fr Mailman 2.1. The rest f this manual has been written by Terri Oda. Terri has been maintaining mailing lists since the year she attained vting age in Canada, althugh the tw are nt related. She currently versees the mailing lists at Linuxchix.rg, as well as several smaller servers. In the wrld utside f list administratin, Terri is ding wrk with an artificial life spam detectr, and is actually mre f a prgrammer than technical writer. Thanks t Margaret McCarthy, Jasn Waltn and Barry Warsaw fr their help in prfreading and therwise imprving this manual. Thanks als t Ikeda Sji, wh has made a Japanese translatin f this dcument. - 4 -
What Is A Mailing List? A mailing list is simply a list f addresses t which the same infrmatin is being sent. If yu were a magazine publisher, yu wuld have a list f the mailing addresses f all the subscribers t the magazine. In the case f an electrnic mailing list, we use a list f email addresses frm peple interested in hearing abut r discussing a given tpic. Tw cmmn types f email mailing lists are annuncement lists and discussin lists. Annuncement lists are used s that ne persn r grup can send annuncements t a grup f peple, much like a magazine publisher's mailing list is used t send ut magazines. Fr example, a band may use an annuncement mailing list t let their fan base knw abut their upcming cncerts. A discussin list allws a grup f peple t discuss tpics amngst themselves, with everyne able t send mail t the list and have it distributed t everyne in the grup. This discussin may als be mderated, s nly selected psts are sent n t the grup as a whle, r nly certain peple are allwed t send t the grup. Fr example, a grup f mdel plane enthusiasts might use a discussin mailing list t share tips abut mdel cnstructin and flying. Sme cmmn terms: A "pst'' typically dentes a message sent t a mailing list. (Think f psting a message n a bulletin bard.) Peple wh are part f an electrnic mailing list are usually called the list's "members'' r "subscribers.'' "List administratrs'' are the peple in charge f maintaining that ne list. Lists may have ne r mre administratrs. A list may als have peple in charge f reading psts and deciding if they shuld be sent n t all subscribers. These peple are called list mderatrs. Often mre than ne electrnic mailing list will be run using the same piece f sftware. The persn wh maintains the sftware which runs the lists is called the "site administratr.'' Often the site administratr als administrates individual lists. - 5 -
What is GNU Mailman? GNU Mailman is sftware that lets yu manage electrnic mailing lists. It supprts a wide range f mailing list types, such as general discussin lists and annunce-nly lists. Mailman has extensive features which make it gd fr list subscribers, such as easy subscriptin and unsubscriptin, privacy ptins, and the ability t temprarily stp getting psts frm the list. The list member features are cvered in this dcument. Mailman als has many features which make it attractive t list and site administratrs. These features are cvered in the list and site administratr manuals. - 6 -
Translating Frm Our Examples t Real Lists Often, it's easier t simply give an example than explain exactly hw t find the address fr yur specific list. As such, we'll frequently give examples fr a fictinal list called LISTNAME@lists.leeds.ac.uk whse list infrmatin page can be fund at http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/listinf/listname. The capital letters used fr the list-specific part f each address shuld make it easier t see what shuld be changed fr each list. Althugh specific list cnfiguratins may be different, yu will prbably be able t just replace the wrds given in capital letters with the apprpriate values fr a real list: LISTNAME - The name f yur list. EMAIL - The email address yu use t subscribe t the list. As a real-life example, if yu are interested in the mailman-users list, yu'd make the fllwing substitutins: LISTNAME=mailman-users. As such, fr the mailmanusers@lists.leeds.ac.uk mailing list, the list infrmatin page can be fund at the URL http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/listinf/mailman-users. (These, unlike mst f the examples given in this dcument, are real addresses.) Mst lists will have this infrmatin stred in the List-*: headers. Many mail prgrams will hide these by default, s yu may have t chse t view full headers befre yu can see these infrmatinal headers. - 7 -
Mailman s Interfaces Mailman has tw different interfaces fr the list subscriber: the web interface and the email interface. Mst discussin list subscribers use the email interface, since this includes the email address yu use t send mail t all the subscribers f that list. The interface yu use fr changing ptins is largely a matter f preference, since mst (but nt all) f the ptins which can be changed frm the web interface can als be changed by email. Usually it is easier t use the web interface fr changing ptins, since the web interface prvides instructins as yu g, but there are times when peple may prefer the email interface, s bth are prvided. - 8 -
The Web Interface The web interface f Mailman is its selling pint fr many peple, since it makes it much easier fr subscribers and administratrs t see which ptins are available, and what these ptins d. Every mailing list is als accessible by a number f web pages. List infrmatin (listinf) page Fund at http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/listinf/listname The listinf page is the starting pint fr the subscriber interface. As ne wuld assume frm the name it's given, it cntains infrmatin abut the LISTNAME list. All the ther subscriber pages can be accessed frm this pint, s yu really nly need t knw this ne address. Member ptins page Fund at http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/ptins/listname/email This page can als be accessed by ging t the listinf page and entering yur email address int the bx beside the buttn marked "Unsubscribe r Edit Optins'' (this is near the bttm f the page). The member ptins page allws yu t lg in/ut and change yur list settings, as well as unsubscribe r get a cpy f yur passwrd mailed t yu. T lg in t yur member ptins page: If yu are nt already lgged in, there will be a bx near the tp fr yu t enter yur passwrd. (If yu d nt knw yur passwrd, see page 15 fr mre infrmatin n getting yur passwrd.) Enter yur passwrd in the bx and press the buttn. Once yu are lgged in, yu will be able t view and change all yur list settings. List Archives Usually fund at http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/pipermail/listname if the list is publicly archived, and http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/private/listname if the list is privately archived. The default fr all lists is t have a private archive. The list archive pages have cpies f the psts sent t the mailing list, usually gruped by mnth. In each mnthly grup, the psts are usually indexed by authr, date, thread, and subject. Nte: Pipermail is the name f the default archiver that cmes with Mailman. Other archive prgrams are available. If the archive is private, yu will need t supply yur subscribed email address and yur passwrd t lg in. (See page 15 fr mre infrmatin n getting yur passwrd.) - 9 -
The Email Interface Every mailing list has a set f email addresses t which messages can be sent. There's always ne address fr psting messages t the list, ne address t which bunces are sent, and addresses fr prcessing email cmmands. Fr a fictinal mailing list called mylist@lists.leeds.ac.uk, yu'd find these addresses: mylist@lists.leeds.ac.uk - this is the email address peple shuld use fr new pstings t the list. mylist-jin@lists.leeds.ac.uk - by sending a message t this address, a new member can request subscriptin t the list. Bth the Subject: header and bdy f such a message are ignred. Nte that mylist-subscribe@lists.leeds.ac.uk is an alias fr the -jin address. mylist-leave@lists.leeds.ac.uk - by sending a message t this address, a member can request unsubscriptin frm the list. As with the -jin address, the Subject: header and bdy f the message is ignred. Nte that mylistunsubscribe@lists.leeds.ac.uk is an alias fr the -leave address. mylist-wner@lists.leeds.ac.uk - This address reaches the list wner and list mderatrs directly. This is the address yu use if yu need t cntact the persn r peple in charge. mylist-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk - This address reaches a mail rbt which prcesses email cmmands that can be used t set member subscriptin ptins, as well as prcess ther cmmands. A list f members' email cmmands is prvided n page 37. mylist-bunces@lists.leeds.ac.uk - This address is used in Mailman's autmatic bunce prcessing. mylist-cnfirm@lists.leeds.ac.uk - This address is used fr prcessing cnfirmatin messages fr subscriptin and unsubscriptin requests. There's als an -admin address which als reaches the list administratrs, but this address nly exists fr cmpatibility with lder versins f Mailman. Fr changing ptins, we use the LISTNAME-request address (fr example, mylistrequest@lists.leeds.ac.uk). Cmmands can appear in the subject line r the bdy f the message. Each cmmand shuld be n a separate line. If yur mail prgram autmatically appends a signature t yur messages, yu may want t put the wrd "end'' (withut the qutes) n a separate line after yur ther cmmands. The end cmmand tells Mailman nt t prcess the email after that pint. The mst imprtant cmmand is prbably the `help'' cmmand, since it makes Mailman return a message full f useful infrmatin abut the email cmmands and directins t the web interface. Quick references t the subscriber cmmands have been n pages 37 and 38. (These have been slightly adapted frm the utput f the help cmmand.) - 10 -
I Need T Talk T a Human! If yu have any truble with any f these cmmands, yu can always reach the persn r peple in charge f a list by using the list administratr email address. The list administratrs can help yu figure ut hw t d smething, subscribe/unsubscribe yu, r change yur settings if yu are unable t change them yurself fr sme reasn. Please remember that many mailing list administratrs are vlunteers wh are dnating their spare time t run the list, and they may be very busy peple. This list administratr email address is in the frm LISTNAME-wner@lists.leeds.ac.uk, where LISTNAME is the name f the list (eg: mailman-users). This email address, alng with the email addresses f specific administratrs, is given n the bttm f the list infrmatin pages. See page 9 fr mre infrmatin n finding the list infrmatin page fr yur list - 11 -
Subscribing and Unsubscribing Since subscribing (jining) and unsubscribing (leaving) lists are ften the nly things a list member needs t knw, these can bth be dne withut requiring yu t knw a passwrd. There are tw cmmn ways yu can subscribe t a Mailman mailing list. Using the web interface G t the list infrmatin page fr the list yu want t jin. (This will be smething like http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/listinf/listname) Lk fr the sectin marked "Subscribing t LISTNAME'' and fill in the bxes. Yu can fill in the fllwing: Yu must enter yur email address. Using the email interface Yu may chse t supply yur real name. Yu may chse a passwrd. If yu d nt chse ne, Mailman will generate ne fr yu. Warning: D NOT use a valuable passwrd, since this passwrd may ccasinally be mailed t yu in plain text. If the list supprts mre than ne language, yu may be able t chse yur preferred language. Nte: This setting des nt affect psts t the list, nly Mailman texts that cme frm the list sftware, such as yur member ptins page. Press the subscribe buttn. A new page shuld appear telling yu that yur subscriptin request has been received. This page will prvide yu with further instructins, such as the need t wait fr and reply t a cnfirmatin messages, depending n the list's subscriptin plicies. Open a mail prgram which sends mail frm the address yu want t subscribe. Send a mail t the list subscriptin address, which will be in the frm LISTNAMEjin@lists.leeds.ac.uk. The subject and bdy f the message will be ignred, s it desn't matter what yu put there. After fllwing ne f these sets f instructins (yu dn't need t d bth!), there are a few pssible utcmes depending upn the settings fr that list. Yu may receive an email message asking fr cnfirmatin that yu really want t be subscribed t the list. This is t prevent anyne frm subscribing yu t lists withut yur permissin. Fllw the instructins given in the message t cnfirm yur wish t be subscribed. A mderatr may als need t cnfirm yur subscriptin if yu are subscribing t a clsed list. Or yu may have t wait fr a mderatr and fllw the instructins in the cnfirmatin mail. Once this is dne, yu will likely receive anther message welcming yu t the list. This message cntains sme useful infrmatin including yur list passwrd and sme quick links fr changing yur ptins, s yu may want t save it fr later reference. Nte: Subscribing can be dne in ther ways as well. See page 37 fr mre advanced email subscribing cmmands. Dn't want t be n a list any mre? If yu're just ging n vacatin r are t busy t read mails and want t temprarily turn them ff, yu may want t stp mail delivery rather than unsubscribing. This means yu keep yur passwrd and ther settings s yu can, fr - 12 -
example, still have access t private list archives. If this is what yu'd prefer, see page 18 fr instructins n disabling mail delivery temprarily. If yu actually want t leave the list, there are tw cmmn ways yu can unsubscribe frm a Mailman mailing list. Using the web interface G t the list infrmatin page fr the list yu want t leave. (This will be smething like http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/listinf/listname) Lk fr the sectin marked "LISTNAME subscribers'' (fund near the bttm f the page). There shuld be a buttn marked "Unsubscribe r Edit Optins.'' Enter yur email address in the bx beside this buttn and press the buttn. Yu shuld be brught t a new page which has an "Unsubscribe'' buttn. Press it t unsubscribe and fllw the instructins given. Using the email interface Open a mail prgram which sends mail frm the address yu want t unsubscribe. Send a mail t the list unsubscribe address, which will be f the frm LISTNAMEleave@lists.leeds.ac.uk. The subject and bdy f this message will be ignred, s it desn't matter what yu put there. After fllwing ne f these sets f instructins (yu dn't need t d bth!), yu will be sent a cnfirmatin mail and must fllw the instructins given in that mail t cmplete the unsubscriptin. This is t stp peple frm unsubscribing yu withut yur permissin. In additin, a mderatr may need t apprve yur unsubscriptin. (Administratr-apprved unsubscriptins are uncmmn.) If yu d nt receive this cnfirmatin mail with instructins, make sure that yu typed yur email address crrectly (if yu were using the web interface t unsubscribe) and that the address yu tried t unsubscribe is, indeed, actually subscribed t that list. Fr security reasns, Mailman generates the same member ptins page regardless f whether the address entered is subscribed r nt. This means that peple cannt use this part f the web interface t find ut if smene is subscribed t the list, but it als means that it's hard t tell if yu just made a typ. Once yur unsubscriptin has been prcessed, yu will will prbably receive anther message cnfirming yur unsubscriptin frm the list, and at that pint yu shuld stp receiving messages. If yu wish t skip the cnfirmatin prcess (fr example, yu might be unsubscribing an address which n lnger wrks), it is pssible t bypass it by using yur passwrd instead and either lgging in t yur ptins page using it (See page 9), r sending it with yur email cmmands t LISTNAME-request (See page 37 fr advanced email unsubscriptin cmmands). See page 15 fr mre infrmatin n getting yur passwrd. - 13 -
Passwrds Yur passwrd was either set by yu r generated by Mailman when yu subscribed. Yu prbably gt a cpy f it in a welcme message sent when yu jined the list, and yu may als receive a reminder f it every mnth. It is used t verify yur identity t Mailman s that nly the hlder f the passwrd (yu!) and the administratrs can view and change yur settings. Warning: D NOT use a valuable passwrd fr Mailman, since it can be sent in plain text t yu. - 14 -
Hw D I Get My Passwrd? If yu've frgtten yur passwrd and haven't saved the welcme message r any reminder messages, yu can always get a reminder thrugh the web interface: G t the list infrmatin page fr the list frm which yu wish t get yur passwrd (This will be smething like http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/listinf/listname) Lk fr the sectin marked "LISTNAME subscribers'' (this sectin is usually fund near the bttm f the page). There shuld be a buttn marked "Unsubscribe r Edit Optins.'' Enter yur email address in the bx beside this buttn and press the buttn. Yu shuld be brught t a new page which has an "Passwrd Reminder'' sectin. Press the "Remind'' buttn t have yur passwrd emailed t yu. If yu d nt receive the passwrd reminder email after ding this, make sure that yu typed yur email address crrectly and that the address yu used is, indeed, actually subscribed t that list. Fr security reasns, Mailman generates the same member ptins page regardless f whether the address entered is subscribed r nt. This means that peple cannt use this part f the web interface t find ut if smene is subscribed t the list, but it als means that it's hard t tell if yu just made a typ. Yu can als get a reminder using the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand passwrd Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 15 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) If yu are nt sending mail frm yur subscribed address, yu can als specify this address by sending the cmmand passwrd address=<address>. - 15 -
Hw D I Change My Passwrd? Warning: D NOT use a valuable passwrd, since this passwrd may be mailed t yu in plain text. Frm the web interface Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr instructins n hw t d this.) Lk fr the passwrd changing bxes n the right-hand side f the page and enter yur new passwrd in the apprpriate bxes, then press the buttn marked "Change My Passwrd.'' This can als be changed fr multiple lists at the same time if yu are subscribed t mre than ne list n the same dmain. See page 31 fr infrmatin abut changing settings glbally. Frm the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand passwrd <OLDPASSWORD> <NEWPASSWORD>. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 16 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) If yu are nt sending mail frm yur membership address, yu can als specify this address with address=<address> after <NEWPASSWORD> Fr example, if kathy@lists.leeds.ac.uk wanted t change her mylist passwrd frm zirc t mik, but she was sending mail frm her hme address kathy@hme.cm, she culd send a message t mylist-request@elists.leeds.ac.uk with the subject set t passwrd zirc mik address=kathy@lists.leeds.ac.uk. - 16 -
Hw D I Turn Passwrd Reminders On r Off? If yu dn't wish t the reminder email including yur passwrd every mnth, yu can disable it frm the member ptins page. (Yu can always get the passwrd mailed ut when yu actually want it. See page17 fr instructins.) Using the web interface Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr instructins n hw t d this.) Lk fr the sectin marked "Get passwrd reminder email fr this list?'' and change the value accrdingly. This can als be changed fr multiple lists at the same time if yu are subscribed t mre than ne list n the same dmain. See page 31 fr infrmatin abut changing settings glbally. Using the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set reminders n r set reminders ff. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message Set it t "n'' t receive reminders, and "ff'' t stp receiving reminders. - 17 -
Hw D I Turn Mail Delivery On r Off? Yu may wish t temprarily stp getting messages frm the list withut having t unsubscribe. If yu disable mail delivery, yu will n lnger receive messages, but will still be a subscriber and will retain yur passwrd and ther settings. This can be handy in a many different cases. Fr example, yu culd be ging n vacatin r need a break frm the list because yu're t busy t read any extra mail. Many mailing lists als allw nly subscribers t pst t the list, s if yu cmmnly send mail frm mre than ne address (eg, ne address fr at hme and anther fr when yu're travelling), yu may want t have mre than ne subscribed accunt, but have nly ne f them actually receive mail. Yu can als use this as a way t read private archives even n a list which may be t busy fr yu t have sent directly t yur mailbx. All yu need t d is subscribe, disable mail delivery, and use yur passwrd and email t lg in t the archives. T disable/enable mail delivery using the web interface: Lg in t yur ptins page. (See page 9 fr instructins.) G dwn t the sectin marked "Mail delivery'' and select "Disabled'' t stp receiving mail, and "Enabled'' t start receiving mail. This can als be changed fr multiple lists at the same time if yu are subscribed t mre than ne list n the same dmain. See page 31 fr infrmatin abut changing settings glbally. T disable/enable mail delivery using the email interface: Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set delivery ff r set delivery n. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 10 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) Set it t "ff'' t stp receiving psts, and "n'' t start receiving them again. - 18 -
Hw Can I Avid Getting Duplicate Messages? Mailman can't cmpletely stp yu frm getting duplicate messages, but it can help. One cmmn reasn peple get multiple cpies f a mail is that the sender has used a "grup reply'' functin t send mail t bth the list and sme number f individuals. If yu want t avid getting these messages, Mailman can be set t check and see if yu are in the T: r CC: lines f the message. If yur address appears there, then Mailman can be tld nt t deliver anther cpy t yu. This means yu get nly the cpy sent by the riginal sender, and nt a cpy which been altered by Mailman (t include headers and fters, strip attachments, etc.). T turn this n r ff using the web interface: Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) Scrll dwn t the bttm f the page t the sectin marked "Avid duplicate cpies f messages?'' and change the value accrdingly. This can als be changed fr multiple lists at the same time if yu are subscribed t mre than ne list n the same dmain. See page 31 fr infrmatin abut changing settings glbally. T turn this n r ff using the email interface: Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set duplicates n r set duplicates ff. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 10 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) Set it t "n'' t receive list cpies f messages already sent t yu, set it t "ff'' t avid receiving these duplicates. - 19 -
Hw D I Change My Subscriptin Address? T change yur subscriptin address, Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) In the sectin marked "Changing yur LISTNAME membership infrmatin,'' enter yur new address. If yu wish t change yur address fr all subscriptins using the ld address, select the "Change glbally'' bx. If yu have subscriptins under anther address r fr lists n a different dmain, these will have t be dne separately. See page 31 fr mre infrmatin abut changing settings glbally. A cnfirmatin message will be sent t yur new address, and the change will nt happen until yu cnfirm the change by fllwing the instructins in that message. There is n special way t d this frm the email interface, but yu can subscribe and unsubscribe fr mre r less the same effect. (See page 12 fr mre infrmatin n subscribing and unsubscribing.) - 20 -
Hw D I Stp r Start Getting Cpies f My Own Psts? By default in Mailman, yu get a cpy f every pst yu send t the list. Sme peple like this since it lets them knw when the pst has gne thrugh and means they have a cpy f their wn wrds with the rest f a discussin, but thers dn't want t bther dwnlading cpies f their wn psts. Nte: This ptin has n effect if yu are receiving digests. Yu may als want t see page 22, which discusses acknwledgement emails fr psts sent t the list. T set this using the web interface Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) Lk fr the sectin marked "Receive yur wn psts t the list?'' Set it t "Yes'' t receive cpies f yur wn psts, and "N'' t avid receiving them. T set this using the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set mypsts n r set mypsts ff. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 10 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) Set it t "n'' t receive cpies f yur wn psts, and "ff'' t avid receiving them. - 21 -
Hw Can I Tell That My Psting Has Reached The List? On mst lists, yu will simply receive a cpy f yur mail when it has gne thrugh the list sftware, but if this is disabled (See page 30), yur list mail delivery is disabled (See page 18), yu are nt subscribed t that tpic (See page 29) r yu simply want an extra acknwledgement frm the system, this ptin may be useful t yu. Nte: If yu are nt subscribed t the list, this ptin cannt be used. Yu must either check the archives yurself (if the list has public archives), ask smene wh is subscribed t the list, r subscribe t use this ptin. T set this using the web interface Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) Lk fr the sectin marked "Receive acknwledgement mail when yu send mail t the list?'' Set it t "Yes'' t receive a mail letting yu knw yur pst has been received, and "N'' t avid receiving such an acknwledgement. T set this using the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set ack n r set ack ff. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 10 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) Set it t "n'' if yu wish t receive mail letting yu knw yur pst has been received, and "ff'' t avid receiving such an acknwledgement. - 22 -
I Dn t Seem T Be Getting Mail Frm the List. What Shuld I D? There are a few cmmn reasns fr this: N ne has sent any mail t the list(s) yu're n fr a little while. T check if this is the case, try visiting the archives f the list (assuming that the list has archives). If the list has n archives, yu may have t ask anther subscriber. (See page 9 fr help in finding the list archives.) Nte: Generally, it is cnsidered implite t send test messages t the entire list. If yu feel a need t test that the list is wrking and fr sme reasn yu cannt simply cmpse a regular message t the list, it is less disruptive t send a help message t the list request address (LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk) t see if that wrks, r t cntact the list administratr (LISTNAME-wner@lists.leeds.ac.uk) t ask if the list is wrking. Yu were buncing mail and have had mail delivery (temprarily) disabled by the list sftware. If yur mail prvider "bunces'' t many messages (that is, it tells Mailman that the message culd nt be delivered) Mailman eventually stps trying t send yu mail. This feature allws Mailman t gracefully handle addresses which n lnger exist (fr example, the subscriber has fund a new Internet service prvider and frgt t unsubscribe the ld address), as well as addresses which are temprarily ut-f-service (fr example, the subscriber has used up all f the alltted space fr his r her email accunt, r the subscriber's mail prvider is experiencing difficulties). Even if yu are unaware f any difficulties with yur mail prvider, it is a gd idea t check this. Sme ppular webmail prviders and internet servers are nt as reliable as ne might assume, nr is the internet as a whle. Yu may want t als send yurself a test message frm anther accunt r ask a friend t send yu a test message t make sure yur subscribed address is wrking. T check if this may be the reasn yu are nt receiving messages, lg in t the yur ptins page (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this) and lk at yur ptins. If yur subscriptin has been disabled r Mailman has received bunces frm yur email address, there will be a big banner at the tp f this page. T re-enable mail delivery, lk fr an ptin marked "Mail Delivery'' and set it t "Enabled'' t start receiving mail again. T get rid f yur bunce scre, yu can disable and then re-enable delivery. Fr mre instructins n disabling r enabling mail delivery, see page 18. Nte: Even if yu have nt been disabled at the time yu check, yu culd be buncing messages and nt have reached the threshld fr yur subscriptin t be disabled. Yu may need t check again. There is a delay r break in the netwrks between yu and the list server. N matter what many f us wuld like, the internet is nt 100% reliable, nr is it always fast. Smetimes, messages simply take a lng time t get t yu. Try t be patient, especially if the server is far (in terms f netwrks, nt gegraphy, althugh ften ne implies the ther) frm yur internet service prvider. - 23 -
T check if this might be causing yur prblem, yu can try pinging the list server r tracing the rute between yu and it. (Instructins n hw t d this varies frm platfrm t platfrm, s yu may want t use a search engine t find thse apprpriate fr yu.) The mail server r Mailman might nt be functining prperly. This can happen if the system is verladed with viruses r spam and the mail system that hsts Mailman has truble keeping up. T test if this is a case, try visiting the list's web interface and try sending a message t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand "help'' (withut the qutes) in the Subject:. If neither f these wrks after a reasnable length f time, this may be the prblem. Yu may wish t cntact either the list r site administratr(s). - 24 -
Hw Can I Start r Stp Getting the List Psts Gruped int One Big Email? Grups f psts are called "digests'' in Mailman. Rather than get messages ne at a time, yu can get messages gruped tgether. On a mderately busy list, this typically means yu get ne email per day, althugh it may be mre r less frequent depending upn the list. Yu may als want t lk at page 26 which discusses MIME and plain text digests. T turn digest mde n r ff using the web interface Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) Lk fr the sectin marked "Set Digest Mde.'' Set it t "On'' t receive messages bundled tgether in digests. Set it t "Off'' t receive psts separately. T turn digest mde n r ff using the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set digest plain r set digest mime r set digest ff. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 10 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) Set it t "ff'' if yu wish t receive individual psts separately, and t "plain'' r "mime'' t receive psts gruped int ne large mail. See page 26 fr mre infrmatin n plain versus MIME digests. - 25 -
What Are MIME and Plain Text Digests? Hw D I Change Which One I Get? MIME is shrt fr Multipurpse Internet Mail Extensins. It is used t send things by email which are nt necessarily simple plain text. (Fr example, MIME wuld be used if yu were sending a picture f yur cat t a friend.) A MIME digest has each message as an attachment inside the message, alng with a summary table f cntents. A plain text digest is a simpler frm f digest, which shuld be readable even in mail readers which dn't supprt MIME. The messages are simply put ne after the ther int ne large text message. Mst mdern mail prgrams d supprt MIME, s yu nly need t chse plain text digests if yu are having truble reading the MIME nes. Nte: This ptin has n effect if yu are nt receiving mail bunched as digests. (See page 25 fr mre infrmatin n receiving mail as digests.) T set yur digest type using the web interface Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) Lk fr the sectin marked "Get MIME r Plain Text Digests?.'' Set it t "MIME'' t receive digests in MIME frmat, r "Plain text'' t receive digests in plain text frmat. This can als be changed fr multiple lists at the same time if yu are subscribed t mre than ne list n the same dmain. See page 31 fr infrmatin abut changing settings glbally. T set yur digest type using the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set digest plain r set digest mime. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 10 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) Set it t "plain'' t get psts bundled int a plain text digest, r "mime'' t get psts bundled tgether int a MIME digest. - 26 -
Mailing List Tpics Sme lists are set up s that different tpics are handled by Mailman. Fr example, the curses list n Linuxchix.rg is a discussin list fr curses being run by linuxchix members, and ften there are several curses being run at the same time. (eg: Netwrking fr beginners, C prgramming, L A TEX dcument mark up.) Each f the curses being run is assciated with a separate tpic n the list s that peple can chse nly t receive the curse they want t take. These tpics must be cnfigured by the list administratr, but it is the respnsibility f each pster t make sure that their pst is put with the crrect tpic. Usually, this means adding a wrd r tag f sme type t the subject line (eg: [Netwrking] What type f cables d I need?) r making sure the Keywrds: line has the right infrmatin. (By default, yu can put a Keywrds: sectin in the beginning f the bdy f yur message, but this can be cnfigured by yur list administratr.) Nte that these tags are case-insensitive. - 27 -
Hw D I Make Sure That My Pst Has The Right Tpic When a list administratr defines a tpic, he r she sets three things: a tpic name a regular expressin (regexp.) a descriptin Yu can view this infrmatin by lgging in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) and clicking n the "details'' link fr any tpic that interests yu. T pst n a given tpic, yu need t make sure that the Keywrds: r Subject: headers in a message match the regular expressin fr that tpic. A regular expressin is a pattern which may match mre than ne thing. Regular expressins can actually be fairly cmplex, s yu may want t just ask the list administratr if yu dn't knw hw t make heads r tails f the expressin given. If yu really want t knw mre abut regular expressins, read n, but fr the mst part, yur list administratr shuld include in the tpic descriptin what yu need t add t yur Keywrds r Subject line t match the tpic pattern. Mst Mailman tpic expressins will be fairly simple regular expressins, s in this dcument we will simply give yu sme cmmn examples. Regular expressins are a bit t cmplex t teach in a few lines here, s if yu really want t understand hw the regular expressins wrk, yu shuld find a tutrial r reference elsewhere. Here are sme examples f pssible regular expressins and matching lines: A few ntes: Regular expressin Matching lines zuff Keywrds: zuff zuff Keywrds: ZUFF zuff Keywrds: Zuff zuff Keywrds: amaryllis, zuff, applesauce zuff Subject: [zuff] D yu have the right stuff fr zuff? zuff Subject: D yu have the right stuff fr zuff? zuff Subject: What is zuff? \[zuff\] Keywrds: [zuff] \[zuff\] Subject: [zuff] D yu have the right stuff? \[zuff\] Subject: Online zuff tutrials (was Re: [zuff] What is zuff?) The matching is case-insensitive, s if zuff matches, s will ZUFF, zuff, and any ther variatins in capitalizatin. Sme characters have special meaning in a regular expressin, s t match thse characters specifically, they must be "escaped'' with a backslash (\). As yu can see in the abve example, [ and ] are such characters. (Others include ".'', "?'', and "*''). The backslash is als used fr ther things (I wasn't kidding abut regular expressins being cmplex: cnsult ther dcumentatin fr details abut ther uses f the backslash character), but this is the mst likely use in a tpic expressin. - 28 -
Hw D I Subscribe T All Or Only Sme Tpics On A List? If tpics have been set up by yur mailing list administratr, yu can chse t subscribe t nly part f a list by selecting the tpics yu want t receive. If yu wish t get all messages sent t the list, make sure yu are nt subscribed t any tpics. Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) Lk fr the sectin marked "Which tpic categries wuld yu like t subscribe t?'' If any tpics are defined, yu can select thse yu wish. If yu d nt select any tpics f interest, yu will receive all psts sent t the list. Yu prbably als want t lk at page 30 which discusses changing yur settings fr messages where n tpic is set. - 29 -
Hw D I Get Or Avid Messages With N Tpic Set? Sme messages will nt match any predefined tpic pattern. Yu can chse t receive r ignre such nn-matching messages. If yu wish t get all messages sent t the list, make sure yu are nt subscribed t any specific tpic. (See page 28) If yu are nly subscribed t sme tpics, yu can either chse t either receive r nt receive messages with n tpic set, much the way yu can chse t subscribe nly t certain tpics. T change this setting, Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) Lk fr the sectin marked "D yu want t receive message that d nt match any tpic filter?'' If yu wish t receive messages with n tpic set, select "Yes.'' If yu d nt wish t receive such messages, chse "N.'' This setting has n effect if yu are nt subscribed t any tpics. - 30 -
Change Glbally? Set Glbally? What Des That Mean? Fr sme f the ptins given in yur member ptins page, there is a checkbx which says "Change Glbally'' r "Set Glbally.'' This means that if yu change this ptin, yu can als have the change made fr all yur ther subscriptins n the same dmain. This can be handy if, fr example, yu want t make sure all yur passwrds are the same, r yu are ging n vacatin and want t turn ff mail delivery frm all the lists. - 31 -
Hw D I Change My Name As Mailman Knws It? T change yur subscriptin name, Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr mre details n hw t d this.) In the sectin marked "Changing yur LISTNAME membership infrmatin,'' enter yur new name in the apprpriate bx. This can als be changed fr multiple lists at the same time if yu are subscribed t mre than ne list n the same dmain. See page 31 fr infrmatin abut changing settings glbally. Nte: Yu d nt need t have a subscriptin name set. - 32 -
Hw D I Set My Preferred Language Mailman is multi-lingual, meaning its interface has been translated t many different languages. Yur list administratr can enable varius languages fr their use when interacting with Mailman. (Fr a cmplete listing f the languages see http://www.list.rg/i18n.html.) If yur list has ther languages enabled, yu may be able t have the web interface, etc. in a language f yur chice. Nte: This des NOT necessarily mean that all the psts sent t the list will be in the language yu selected. Only the pre-prepared texts presented by Mailman will be affected by this setting. Psts are in whatever language the pster uses. Yur preferred language is set when yu subscribe (see page 33), and can be changed later if the list supprts mre than ne language. T change yur preferred language in Mailman, Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr instructins n hw t d this.) G t the sectin marked "What language d yu prefer?'' and chse the apprpriate language frm the drp-dwn list. If there is n drp-dwn list f languages, the list yu are n prbably nly supprts ne language. - 33 -
Hw D I Avid Having My Name Appear n The Subscribers List? If yu d nt want t have yur email address shw up n the subscriber list fr any reasn, yu can pt t have it cncealed. Cmmn reasns fr ding this include aviding unslicited bulk email (spam). By default, the subscribers list is bscured t hinder spam harvesters, but if yu feel this is insufficient it's easy enugh t remve yur address frm the subscriber list given in the infrmatin pages r by email request. (Nte that this des nt cnceal yur address frm the list administratrs.) Yu may wish t see page 36 fr mre infrmatin n what Mailman can d t help avid spam. T change this setting using the web interface Lg in t yur member ptins page. (See page 9 fr instructins n hw t d this.) G t the sectin marked "Cnceal yurself frm subscriber list?'' and chse "Yes'' t hide yur name frm the list, r "N'' t allw yur name t appear n the list. T change this setting using the email interface Send a mail t LISTNAME-request@lists.leeds.ac.uk with the cmmand set hide n r set hide ff. Cmmands can appear in either the bdy r the subject f the message. (See page 10 fr mre infrmatin abut sending mail cmmands.) Set it t "n'' t cnceal yur email address frm the membership list, r "ff'' t stp cncealing yur address. - 34 -
Hw D I View The List Archives? If the list is being archived, previusly psted messages can be viewed by ging t the archive's web pages, a link t which can be fund n the list infrmatin page and in the List- Archive: header f every psted message (unless yur list administratr has disabled such headers). Many mail prgrams hide the List-Archive: mail header, s yu may have t tell yur mail prgram t allw yu t view full headers befre yu will be able t see it. Public archives have addresses f the frm http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/pipermail/listname/ and private archives have addresses f the frm http://lists.leeds.ac.uk/mailman/private/listname. See page 9 fr mre infrmatin n finding the addresses f a list. - 35 -
What Des Mailman D T Prtect Me Frm Unslicited Bulk Email (spam)? A technical list's archives may include answers t a range f different questins. Often, the peple wh have psted these answers wuld be happy t help smene wh desn't quite understand the answer, and dn't mind giving their address ut fr that purpse. But althugh it wuld be wnderful if everyne culd cntact each ther easily, we als want t make sure that the list and list archives are nt abused by peple wh send spam. T make a range f ptins available t list administratrs, Mailman allws a variety f cnfiguratins t help prtect email addresses. Many f these settings are ptinal t the list administratr, s yur particular list may be set up in different ways. List administratrs must walk a fine line between prtecting subscribers and making it difficult fr peple t get in tuch. Subscriber lists The list administratr can chse t have the subscriber list public, viewable nly t list members, r viewable nly t list administratrs. The subscriber list is shwn with the addresses bscured t make it difficult fr spam harvesters t cllect yur address. Yu can chse t have yur address hidden frm the subscriber list. (See page 34 fr mre infrmatin.) Nte: The entire subscriber list is always available t the list administratrs. List archives The list administratr can chse fr the archives t be public, viewable nly t members (private), r cmpletely unavailable. The HTML archives which are created by Pipermail (the archiving prgram which cmes default with Mailman) cntain nly bscured addresses. Other archiving prgrams are available and can d different levels f bfuscatin t make addresses less readable. If yu wish t be mre sure, yu can set the mail header "X-N-archive: yes'' and Mailman will nt archive yur psts. Similarly, yu can set the mail header "X-Archive: n'' t disable archiving. Warning: This des nt stp ther members frm quting yur psts, pssibly even including yur email address. Limited psting t the lists The list administratr can chse wh can pst t the list. Mst lists are either mderated (a mderatr r administratr reviews each psting), set s nly subscribers may pst t the list, r allw anyne t pst t the list. By allwing nly subscribers t pst t a list, Mailman ften blcks all spam and sme viruses frm being sent thrugh the list. As such, this is a fairly cmmn setting used by list administratrs. Annymus lists Lists can als be made fully annymus: all identifying infrmatin abut the sender is stripped frm the header befre the message is sent n. This is nt typically used fr anti-spam measures (it has ther uses), but it culd be used in that way if desired. Of curse, many address-bscuring methds can be circumvented by determined peple, s be aware that the prtectins used may nt be enugh. - 36 -
Email Cmmands Quick Reference cnfirm <CONFIRMATION-STRING> end Cnfirm an actin. The cnfirmatin-string is required and shuld be supplied within a mailback cnfirmatin ntice. Stp prcessing cmmands. Use this if yur mail prgram autmatically adds a signature file. help Receive a cpy f the help message. inf Get infrmatin abut this mailing list. lists See a list f the public mailing lists n this GNU Mailman server. passwrd [<OLDPASSWORD> <NEWPASSWORD>] [address=<address>] Retrieve r change yur passwrd. With n arguments, this returns yur current passwrd. With arguments <OLDPASSWORD> and <NEWPASSWORD> yu can change yur passwrd set... Set r view yur membership ptins. Use `set help' (withut the qutes) t get a mre detailed list f the ptins yu can change. This list is als given n page 38. Use `set shw' (withut the qutes) t view yur current ptin settings. subscribe [<PASSWORD>] [digest ndigest] [address=<address>] Subscribe t this mailing list. Yur passwrd must be given t unsubscribe r change yur ptins, but if yu mit the passwrd, ne will be generated fr yu. Yu may be peridically reminded f yur passwrd. The next argument may be either: `ndigest' r `digest' (n qutes!). If yu wish t subscribe an address ther than the address yu sent this request frm, yu may specify `address=<address>' (n brackets arund the email address, and n qutes!) unsubscribe [<PASSWORD>] [address=<address>] Unsubscribe frm the mailing list. If given, yur passwrd must match yur current passwrd. If mitted, a cnfirmatin email will be sent t the unsubscribing address. If yu wish t unsubscribe an address ther than the address yu sent this request frm, yu may specify `address=<address>' (n brackets arund the email address, and n qutes!) wh [<PASSWORD>] [address=<address>] See everyne wh is n this mailing list. The rster is limited t list members nly, and yu must supply yur membership passwrd t retrieve it. If yu're psting frm an address ther than yur membership address, specify yur membership address with `address=<address>' (n brackets arund the email address, and n qutes!) - 37 -