Getting Started with Mailing Lists

Last Updated: 20 July 2001

What is a Mailing List?

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Mailing lists can be set up as open subscription, closed subscription, and/or moderated. In an open subscription mailing list, anyone can subscribe, while in a closed subscription mailing list, the list owner must approve all subscription requests. In a moderated mailing list, each posting to the list must be approved by the mailing list owner.

What is Majordomo?

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Important E-mail Addresses

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Send list postings to:

where listname is the name of your mailing list (e.g., umweb-l).

Send requests to create a new mailing list to:

Be sure to include the list name that you want to use, the e-mail address of the list owner, and a brief introductory message that explains the purpose of the mailing list. This message will be sent to individuals who subscribe to the list.

Subscribing & Unsubscribing

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in the message body. Leave the subject field blank. Once you are subscribed, you will receive copies of all messages that are posted to the mailing list.

To unsubscribe from a mailing list, send an e-mail message to md@listserv.olemiss.edu with the line:

in the message body.

Basic Commands for Everyone

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subscribe list
Subscribe yourself to the named list.

unsubscribe list
Unsubscribe yourself from the named list. which
Find out to which lists you are subscribed.

who list
Find out who is on the named list.

info list
Retrieve the general introductory information for the named list.

lists
Show the lists served by this Majordomo server.

help
Get a message showing all commands and their options.

index list
Get a message showing archives for this mailing list.

get list archivefile
Get a message that is a composite of all posts to this message over the time period covered by the archive file.

Commands for List Owners

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approve passwd subscribe list

This is to approve subscription actions that need approval by the list owner. Note that this is just a standard "subscribe" command prefixed with "approve passwd" (where you substitute the password for the list, for "password").

approve passwd unsubscribe list

This is to approve unsubscription actions that need approval by the list owner. Note that this is just a standard "unsubscribe" command prefixed with "approve passwd" (where you substitute the password for the list, for "password").

passwd list old_passwd new_passwd

This is to change the password for the list.

newintro list password

This is to replace the information file that people get when they do "intro list" or "subscribe list." Everything after the "newintro" command to end-of-message or the word "EOF" on a line by itself is read in as the new intro for the list.

newinfo list password This replaces the information file that people get when they do "info list." (This file is also sent by "subscribe list" if the intro file doesn't exist.) Everything after the "newinfo" command to end-of-message or the word "EOF" on a line by itself is read in as the new info for the list.

Majordomo FAQ

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http://www-uclink.berkeley.edu/major/major.faq.html

The Directory of Scholarly and Professional E-Conferences

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www.n2h2.com/KOVACS/

provides a comprehensive directory of mailing lists and also other kinds of electronic communications that are related to scholarly, pedagogical and professional activities.

For More Information

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