Distribution Lists - General Principles

Distribution Lists are a powerful means to exchange information with selected people interested in a given topic. Messages are received as ordinary e-mail messages. The main difference with news groups is that one does not have to connect to a server to know if something new has happened: messages will arrive automatically in your mailbox. If no messages are delivered it just simply means that there is no exchange on the subject of the distribution list on a particular day.

Of course it does require some preliminary arrangement to register at a list server, called listserv, on a list which is devoted to a given subject. Each participant may unsubscribe from the list at any moment. Thus one remains master of the information received.

Using a listserv

We will first learn how to speak to the listserv and how to use a list.

The listserv is just a robot which understands a few commands to subscribe to a list and to unsubscribe. It also answers some very simple queries. Commands are sent to the listserv in the body of e-mail messages. Thus a listserv has an e-mail address just like ordinary people but its understanding is very limited. For instance the listserv which manages the IUCr distribution list is located at listserv@lmcp.jussieu.fr.

Messages among participants must not be sent to the listserv but to a special address. For instance messages to be distributed among crystallographers must be sent to iucr@lmcp.jussieu.fr, different from the listserv address. Such messages are distributed to all the others on the list.

A list may be moderated in which case the editor must validate any message before broadcasting them. Some lists are private, i.e. the editor must approve any registration.