• I. Introduction
• II. Viewing a list of Temple groups
• III. Subscribing to a list
• IV. Creating a password
• V. Sending a message to a list
• VI. Replying to a message
• VII. Suspending Listserv mail or changing options
• VIII. Unsubscribing from a list
• IX. Troubleshooting

I. Introduction

People all around the world participate in Listserv and other discussion groups, which are also referred to as "distribution lists" or just "lists." Each Listserv list resides on a host computer and Listserv hosts are connected to one another through the Internet. To subscribe to a list, you must know which system is hosting the list.

You can subscribe to a list and participate in the discussion group by receiving and posting messages through your e-mail account. You can also use the web to perform these same functions and to access the archives of a list. This guide provides instructions for using the web to participate in discussion groups hosted on listserv.temple.edu.

II. Viewing a list of Temple groups

To see Temple's Listserv web site, go to http://listserv.temple.edu.

Then, to view a list of some of the discussion groups hosted at Temple, click on LIST WEB SITES. The discussion groups hosted at Temple include both public and private lists. The public lists at Temple will appear, however, the private lists will not appear.

If you are interested in a list hosted at Temple that is not shown on the web site, go back to Temple's Listserv web site and include the list name, in lowercase letters, followed by .html in the web address, as in this example using the list named history 101:

http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/history101.html

Be aware that some lists, such as ones pertaining to certain courses, are private so not everyone can access these lists or subscribe to them.

At the List archives site, you can click on a group link to get a sampling of the topics discussed on the list. Note that you may need to subscribe to a list and set up a password in order to browse the archives. In the archives, posts are sorted by month and, within each month, you can select a post by author, date, or topic.

To participate in a list, you must first subscribe to the list and then create a password to send messages to the list.

III. Subscribing to a list

In order to subscribe to a list, you must send a request to subscribe to the list from the web and then confirm your request. (If you are already subscribed to a list and wish to use the web for Listserv functions, you must first create a web Listserv password, as explained in section IV.)

To request to subscribe to a list:

1. Go to Temple's Listserv site at:

http://listserv.temple.edu

2. Then, click on LIST WEB SITES.

3. From the List archives at LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU, click on the list to which you wish to subscribe. If you do not see the list, type the list name, in lowercase letters, followed by .html in the web address, as in this example using the list named history 101:

http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/history101.html

4. Click on Join or leave the list.

5. Enter your e-mail address and your name.

6. You can accept the default settings for subscription options, such as Subscription type and Mail header style, or you can select your own settings. For an explanation of an option and the settings for that option, you can click on the subscription option link.

For example, as an alternative to receiving each posting as a separate mail message, you can receive postings in digest format. This means that you will receive one e-mail message per day containing all the previous day's postings.

7. Finally, click on Join the list.

Important: Listserv will send a message to your e-mail account. You will then have to reply to confirm your request to subscribe to the list, as explained next.

To confirm your subscription request:

1. Log into your e-mail account.

2. Open the message from L-Soft list server.

3. Reply to this message by sending an e-mail with the word ok as the only text in your message. You can also reply by copying the web address from the message, pasting it into a web browser window, and then pressing Enter.

After you reply, you will receive two messages from the Listserv. The first message will inform you that your request has been forwarded to the list owner; the second message will confirm your subscription.

IV. Creating a password

In order to send a message to the list using a web browser, you must create a web Listserv password. If you are a list manager, you will also need to create a web Listserv password that will overwrite your existing Listserv password. After you do this, you can post to or manage the list using the web.

In order to set up a password, you must create your password using the web and then confirm your password.

To create your password:

1. Go to Temple's List archives site at

http://listserv.temple.edu/archives

and click on the list to which you subscribed. If you do not see the list, type the list name, in lowercase letters, followed by .html in the web address, as in this example using the list named history 101:

http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/history101.html

2. Then, click on Post to the list.

3. Click on get a new LISTSERV password first.

4. Enter your e-mail address.

5. Enter your password and then enter your password again.

6. Click on Register password. The screen will then display a message that your password registration information has been accepted.

Important: Listserv will send a message to your e-mail account. You will then have to reply to confirm the registration of your password, as explained next.

To confirm your password:

1. Log into your e-mail account.

2. Open the message from L-Soft list server.

3. Reply to this message by sending an e-mail with the word ok as the only text in your message. You can also reply by copying the web address from the message, pasting it into a web browser window, and then pressing Enter.

After you confirm your password, you will receive two messages from the Listserv. The first message will inform you that your password was registered successfully; the second message will confirm the registration of your password. At this time, your password is activated and you can now post messages to the Listserv from the web.

Be careful in choosing Listserv lists. Some can be very prolific and fill-up your account and/or hard disk with mail. Make sure to regularly delete unneeded messages. As an alternative, you can also subscribe to a list in digest format as described in section III. You can also select Mail delivery disabled temporarily under the Miscellaneous option and read the posts in the archives on the web.

V. Sending a message to a list

Participating in a list is simply a matter of going to the archive page of the list, clicking on Post to the list, entering your e-mail address and password, composing your message, and sending it. Your message will then be forwarded to all subscribers.

Messages that you send to a list are read by many people. As a courtesy to others, consider the following:

• Do not abuse or insult anyone, or knowingly make false statements.
• Only send messages you want others to read.
• Only send a message if it pertains to a list's topic and keep your message brief.
• Include a subject in each message you send, so readers can readily determine its topic.

VI. Replying to a message

In addition to posting a new message to a list, you can reply to a message someone else posted. Usually, the reply will be sent to all members of the list. Sometimes, however, the reply will be sent by default only to the originator of the message.

To reply, click on the Reply button at the top of the message. Enter your e-mail address and password, compose your reply, and then send the message.

VII. Suspending Listserv mail or changing options

You can use the web to change your subscription options. For example, if you are planning on being away and want to stop receiving Listserv messages, you can set an option to disable your Listserv mail.

To change an option:

1. Go to Temple's List archives site at http://listserv.temple.edu/archives and click on the list to which you subscribed. If you do not see the list, type the list name in lowercase letters followed by .html in theweb address, as in this example using the list named history 101:

http://listserv. temple.edu/archives/history101.html

2. Click on Join or leave the list.

3. Click on login with your LISTSERV password.

4. Enter your e-mail address and your password and click on Login.

5. Select the subscription option(s) that you wish to change or set. For example, to temporarily stop receiving messages from a list, go to Miscellaneous and then click on Mail delivery disabled temporarily.

6. Finally, click on Update options.

VIII. Unsubscribing from a list

1. Go to Temple's List archives site at

http://listserv.temple.edu/archives and click on the list to which you subscribed. If you do not see the list, type the list name, in lowercase letters, followed by .html in the web address, as in this example using the list named history 101:

http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/history101.html

2. Click on Join or leave the list.

3. Enter your e-mail address and your name, and then click on Leave the list.

Important: Listserv will send a message to your e-mail account. You will then have to reply to confirm your request to leave the list, as explained next.

To confirm your request:

1. Log into your e-mail account.

2. Open the message from L-Soft list server.

3. Send a reply to this message with the word ok as the only text in your message.

IX. Troubleshooting

If you have problems using Listserv, call the Help Desk at (215) 204-8000.

©Copyright 2003. Temple University.
All rights reserved.
Revised 9/03