When you no longer need a listserv, please e-mail ASTARK@UNL.EDU to request its removal.
The name of the list must be 3-16 characters without spaces. Something easily recognized by the list members will help if you would like them to correspond using the list. You may use letters and numbers, but do not use punctuation characters other than hyphen ("-") or underline ("_").
Examples: ANNOUNCE-STAFF, EDEVENTS, LISTOWNERS, NEDEAF-L, NUBEEF-L
NOTE for Classes: It is suggested that use department four character abreviation,
course number and section number. Separate course number
and section number with a hypen.
Examples: ACCT202-006, AGRI103-159, CHEM106-001
For more examples, you can get a list of the UNL Public Listservs, by sending e-mail to:
You can also search for Listservs of the world via web through the "CataList" interface.
This is also known as the "short description" of the list. This "short description" becomes part of how the list announces itself to the world, both in the global list of lists and in the "From:" and "Sender:" lines of mail coming from your list.
Example: Discussion List for Nebraska Deaf Issues
For more examples, you can use the use the same information as found at the end of
Item 1 - Name of List section.
You must use your exact Internet E-Mail Address or else when issuing commands to Listserv, it will not to recognize you as an owner, because your e-mail account is not an exact match.
Use the e-mail address as configured in you e-mail program. In other words, what appears in the "From:" line when you send a message. Full client Lotus Notes users, or anyone uncertain, may send a message to WhatIsMyEmail@UNL.EDU to verify their program's setting of their Internet e-mail address. Sending e-mail to above address can contain as little information as you like in the subject and message fields as it a machine set up to automatically respond back to the address sending the e-mail in minutes.
Be careful when using an alias or short name e-mail account for an owner, it can work, but you must have your e-mail program configured accordingly. This is true for nodes, as well as e-mail accounts. So check how your account is setup. If your program uses UNLNOTES01.UNL.EDU and you enter UNLNOTES.UNL.EDU (or visa versa) on this form, Listserv will not recognize you as an owner. Remember that alias and shortnames can be useful to simplify addresses for humans, Listserv is just a machine and works with exact, not close, information.
Only 1 owner is required, but you may have up to 4 owners. Owners can add/delete members as needed, regardless of subscription setup. They also will receive that list's error messages, which most frequently are e-mail addresses on the list, that no longer exist. Brief owner instructions will help guide you on how to add, delete and review the membership list.
In reality, there is very little an owner can not do for their own listserv's setup, once the listserv is established. Complete manuals and documentation, in a variety of formats, from L-Soft International, Inc. will provide you with complete details.
NOTE: Just because you are owner, you are not are a member by default. You must add or subscribe yourself, if you want to receive the mailings.
If "Editor" is selected, then only the editor, or moderator, can send mail to list. When anyone else sends mail to the list, it is forwarded directly to the editor. The editor then may choose to forward the note to the list as is, or send only a portion, combine with other messages, ignore or whatever.
In the case of this of this form, when "editor" is selected, all owners will also be assigned as an "editor" to the list. Therefore, all owners will have the editor capability of sending messages to the list, however ONLY owner #1 will receive messages directed to the list by non-editors, as Listserv can only direct them to one e-mail address.
Generally it is best to select the OPEN option and let users subscribe them self, as the e-mail address is entered correctly. The owners are notified of all additions as they occur.
If the BY OWNER option is selected, all requests will be forwarded to the owners. An owner will need to approve/add each member.
If the CLOSED option is selected then all requests to join are denied and the requester is notified of that fact. The owners are NOT notified at all of such requests. An owner must add each member.
Regardless of subscription option selected, any member may unsubscribe at any time, and the owner will when this action is taken.
This is the default for the list, individuals may alter setting for them self. Generally it is best not to send either an acknowledgement or a copy of the message sent to the sender as they will have a copy of message in their e-mail "out" box if needed. If they questioning if their message went to the list or not, remember they get back undeliverable mail.
Example of acknowledgement that a sender would receive if ACK option is selected:
Return-Path: <LISTSERV@UNL.EDU>
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1 1998 08:06:13 -0600
From: "L-Soft list server at UNIVERSITY OF NE - LINCOLN (1.8c)"
<LISTSERV@crcyms.unl.edu>
Subject: Message ("Your message dated Wed, 13 Nov 1 1996 08:08:17...")
To: Alfred Stark <ASTARK1@UNL.EDU>
Your message dated Wed, 13 Nov 1 1998 08:08:17 -0600 with subject "Question
about new web browsers" has been successfully distributed to the CRUISE-L
list (1678 recipients).
Provides the opportunity for the subscriber to receive one posting daily, rather than individual messages as they are processed by Listserv. Used most often by lists with a higher volume of messages. A member with digest set on receives a single note, digest of several notes, rather than the individual notes. Digested message is sent out in early morning hours (Central Time).
If you select to archive, the list will NOT be Confidential (Item 6) and ALL MESSAGES will be archived and made available to all Internet users via web. Your archived messages will be automatically added to the UNL Public Listserv Archives at: