Objective
- To provide general guidance on selecting and modifying popular LISTSERV configuration settings according to list purpose and intended audience
User
Environment
Guidelines
List configuration settings can be established at two points:
- When requesting the list: LISTSERV list request form allows you to use drop-down lists to select from the available options for each configuration setting
- After the list is created: Change the list settings after your distribution list is created by editing its header manually or by using the configuration tabs in the web interface. For details on how to access the List Configuration menu tabs, see the related item Changing LISTSERV list security settings.
Attachments
LISTSERV can handle attachments in several different ways. These settings are found on the Attachments tab on the List Configuration screen. For more information, review LISTSERV's Access Control Keywords.
| Settings Action |
Description |
List Header Keyword and Value |
| Allow all attachments |
All attachments sent to list are distributed to all subscribers
This simple method can also open a list to virus-related attachments |
Attachments= Yes |
| Remove attachments from messages |
All attachments are stripped from incoming messages before messages are distributed to list
This protects list from email-borne viruses, but prevents subscribers from posting legitimate attachments for distribution |
Attachments= No,Filter |
| Reject messages with attachments |
Any messages with attachments are rejected and sent back to sender without being distributed to list
Often, previous option will be more effective |
Attachments= No |
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List Visibility
Most lists appear in an index of Miami LISTSERV lists at listserv.miamioh.edu/archives. This option allows a list owner to control whether a list appears in this index or not. These settings are found on the Security tab in the List Configuration (Listname) menu. For more information, review LISTSERV's Security Keywords.
| Settings Action |
Description |
List Header Keyword and Value |
| List visible |
Makes list name, title, and subscriber count appear on list index |
Confidential= No |
| List hidden |
Prevents list from appearing on list index
If list has public archives, these archives will still be web-accessible, but there will be no link to archives on list index page |
Confidential= Yes |
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Archives
LISTSERV can keep archives of all messages sent. IT Services policy requests the creation of these archives as a way to identify lists that fall into disuse and can be deleted. These archives can be very useful to list subscribers who have accidentally deleted a message or want to refer to older list messages. Archives are available at http://listserv.miamioh.edu/archives/listname.html where listname is the name of the list. These archives will exist and be available even if List Visibility is set to hidden (Confidential= Yes), there simply will not be a link to the archives on the list index page. For more information, review LISTSERV's List Maintenance and Moderation Keywords.
| Settings Action |
Description |
List Header Keyword and Value |
| List archives are public |
Allows anyone to visit and read list archives |
Notebook= Public |
| List archives are restricted to subscribers |
Allows only subscribers to visit and read list archives after logging in to LISTSERV web interface |
Notebook= Private |
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Reply-To
Replies to list messages can either be directed back to the message's sender or back to the entire list. This option allows a list owner to set this behavior for a list. Please note that changing this option does not change the behavior for messages previously sent to the list, it only affects the Reply-To behavior of new messages. For more information, review LISTSERV's Distribution Keywords.
| Settings Action |
Description |
List Header Keyword and Value |
| Replies to list messages go to message sender |
Replies default back to original message sender
Subscribers must explicitly reply to list, if they desire |
Reply-To= Sender,Respect |
| Replies go back to list |
Replies default back to entire list
May be troublesome: Subscribers who are unfamiliar with mailing lists can easily send personal replies back to entire list |
Reply-To= List,Ignore |
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Subscriber Review
By default anyone can request a list of subscribers for any given list. This option lets a list owner control who has access to this feature. For more information, review LISTSERV's Access Control Keywords.
| Settings Action |
Description |
List Header Keyword and Value |
| Only subscribers can request list of subscribers |
Restricts subscriber review to only current list subscribers |
Review= Private |
| Anyone can request list of subscribers |
Opens subscriber review to anyone
May create security and privacy issues |
Review= Public Only |
| List owners can request list of subscribers |
Restricts subscriber review to only the list owners
Useful for lists on which subscribers shouldn't know about other subscribers |
Review= Owner |
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Send
LISTSERV allows a list owner to restrict who can send messages to a list. This option provides several possibilities. For more information, review LISTSERV's Access Control Keywords.
| Settings Action |
Description |
List Header Keyword and Value |
| Anyone can post to list |
Allows all incoming messages to be distributed to list
Works well for public discussion list, or any list to which general public should be allowed to send messages |
Send= Public |
| Only subscribers can post to list |
Allows subscribers to post to list and rejects messages from non-subscribers
Works well for private discussion list, like fraternity or sorority
Will expose problems with subscribers whose messages contain different From address than their subscription address |
Send= Private |
| All messages are sent to editor for approval |
Blocks all incoming messages and sends them to editor for approval
Often used for an announcement-only list on which subscribers should not be allowed to send messages to list |
Send= Editor,Hold,Confirm |
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Subscription
Subscription options allow a list owner to determine how subscription requests are handled. These settings are found on the Subscription tab in the List Configuration (Listname) menu. For more information, review LISTSERV's Subscription Keywords.
| Settings Action |
Description |
List Header Keyword and Value |
| Anyone can subscribe to list |
Allows anyone to subscribe to list via web interface or email — no approval is necessary |
Subscription= Open,Confirm |
| Owner must approve all subscription requests |
Allows anyone to request subscription to list, pending approval of list owner
If owner approves, requestor will be subscribed to list |
Subscription= By_owner |
| No subscription requests are honored |
Rejects all subscription requests with message stating that list is closed to subscriptions |
Subscription= Closed |
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