Cross-posted to NETTRAIN, law-lib, teknoids, and lawprof.
Apologies for duplications.
---------------------------
This is a handout I have prepared for a workshop on the Internet
that I will be conducting at the AALL conference in Seattle next
week. Since it is probably of general interest, I am sharing it
here.
Jim Milles (listowner, NETTRAIN@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu)
Head of Computer Services
Saint Louis University Law Library
millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu
---------------------------
DISCUSSION LISTS: MAIL SERVER COMMANDS
Version 1.0
June 30, 1994
James Milles
Saint Louis University Law Library
millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu
1. There are at least five widely-used mail server programs used
to manage Internet discussion lists: REVISED LISTSERV (also
called BITNET LISTSERV), Unix ListProcessor (or Listproc),
Majordomo, Mailserv, and Mailbase. The commands for subscribing
and unsubscribing under each 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.
1a. 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
as appropriate in future versions of this document.
1b. 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
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.
3. Remember to send all commands to [mailserver]@[host].
[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). For instance, to join the discussion list
law-lib@ucdavis, send 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@mailbase.ac.uk)
Mailserv: subscribe [listname] Firstname Lastname
(e.g., subscribe envirolaw John Doe)
Majordomo: subscribe [listname]
(e.g., subscribe elaw-j)
Leave a list:
Listproc: unsubscribe [listname]
LISTSERV: unsubscribe [listname]
Mailbase: leave [listname]
Mailserv: unsubscribe [listname]
Majordomo: unsubscribe [listname]
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])
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, send the line
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 if you prefer
digest format)
LISTSERV: set [listname] mail
(or set [listname] digest if you prefer
digest format)
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]
Obtain a list of archive files:
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
best to keep a "template" file in my Internet
account, and then just edit the file as
appropriate when I need to do a search.
Here's the search file (copy it in exactly):
// JOB Echo=No
Database Search DD=Rules
//Rules DD *
Search nafta in int-law since 93/6/1
Index
/*
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
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
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