Hostname: naic.nasa.gov
Directory path: files/general_info/
Filename: subscribing-to-mailing-lists.txt
Updated: July 12, 1993 (mks)


SUBSCRIBING TO NAIC MAILING LISTS

NASA's Network Applications and Information Center (NAIC) provides an
easy to use service for subscribing to online mailing lists.  For
maintaining mailing lists, NAIC runs a utility program called
listmanager* which was written to automatically handle the everyday
administration of electronic mailing lists with very little human
intervention.  Listmanager understands routine user input commands
such as "subscribe", "unsubscribe", "lists", and "help".  All user
interactions with listmanager take place through electronic mail.

To interact with the NAIC listmanager, simply send an electronic mail message
containing a standardized command to

			 listmanager@nasa.gov

In the body of your message, include one of the commands from the
table below.  (PLEASE NOTE: All commands should be placed in the body
of the message.  Any text in the subject line will be ignored.)
Listmanager automatically sends back appropriate replies to all
messages it receives.

Users can subscribe to two different types of mailing lists: closed
(or restricted) and open (or unrestricted).  Closed lists require the
approval of the list owner whereas open lists do not.  In the event
that a user requests subscription to a closed (restricted) list, or
requests a subscription to a list on behalf of other users, the reply
message from listmanager will indicate that the request must be
approved by the list owner.  Once the list owner approves the user's
request, the user will be notified by listmanager.

If you need help subscribing to a mailing list, or have any comments,
suggestions or questions about this service, please contact us:

   NASA Network Applications and Information Center (NAIC)
   NASA Ames Research Center
   M/S 233-18
   Moffett Field, CA  94035-1000
   
   Telephone:   +1-800-858-9947 or +1-415-604-0600
   FAX:         +1-415-604-7300

   To send email from an Internet host:         naic@nasa.gov
   To send email from a DECNET host:            EAST::"naic@nasa.gov"


LISTMANAGER USER COMMANDS

The following table shows the user command, the purpose of the
command, and the response from listmanager.  In this table, variable
user input is enclosed by < > and optional variable user input is
enclosed by [ ].

==============================================================================
   subscribe <list> [<address>]

      Purpose: Subscribe yourself (or <address> if specified)
      to the named <list>.

      (NOTE: If <address> is not specified in the message body,
      by default listmanager places the mailbox in the "from" field
      of your message header on the specified mailing list.  If the
      address specified in the message body is different from that
      in your message header, listmanager forwards the request to
      the list owner for approval.)

      Listmanager response: To the address specified in the request,
      not to the address from which user sent request, listmanager
      sends (a) a message indicating that the subscribe command
      succeeded and (b) a welcome message with general information and
      information about unsubscribing.  A return message is sent to
      the requester indicating that listmanager has forwarded the
      request to the list owner.

    unsubscribe <list> [<address>]

      Purpose: Unsubscribe yourself (or <address> if specified) from
      the named <list>.

      (NOTE: If <address> is not specified in the message body, by
      default listmanager removes the mailbox in the "from" field of
      your message header from the specified mailing list.  If the
      address specified in the message body is different from that in
      your message header, listmanager forwards the request to the
      list owner for approval.)  A return message is sent to the
      requester indicating that listmanager has forwarded the request
      to the list owner.

      Listmanager response: Listmanager responds with acknowledgment
      that user has been unsubscribed from named list.

Command:   which [<address or string>]

      Purpose: Find out which lists you (or <address or string>, if
      specified) are on.

      Listmanager response: Listmanager responds with names of lists
      that user is on.

Command:   who <list>

      Purpose: Find out who is on the named <list>.

      Listmanager response: Listmanager responds with members of named
      list.

Command:   info <list>

      Purpose: Retrieve the general introductory information for the
      named <list>.

      Listmanager response: Listmanager responds with general
      information about named list.

Command:   lists

      Purpose: Show the lists served by listmanager.

      Listmanager response: Listmanager responds with names of lists
      served by listmanager.

Command:   help

      Purpose: Retrieve a general help message.

      Listmanager response: Listmanager responds with general help
      information about listmanager.

Command:   end

      Purpose: Stop processing commands (useful if your mailer adds a
      signature at the end of your message).

      Listmanager response: Listmanager sends acknowledgment that end
      of command list was reached.
==============================================================================



(* NAIC's listmanager implementation is based on a program called
Majordomo which was written by D. Brent Chapman at Great Circle Associates,
Mountain View, CA.)

