Listserv does provide other facilities, but none of it without
user involvement of some sort
 
1) TOPICS
 
2) INDEX
 
3) new lists
 
4) REPLY-TO= SENDER
 
5) more education (via a WELCOME file)
 
TOPICS -- requires the cooperation of the list-owner to initially
(and on rare occasion continually) to setup a list definition
keyword that defines topics.  Topics are "slugs" that appear on
the SUBJECT: line of a posting in a particular snntax.  Then
posters must/should select the topical area for each posting, and
subscribers should have previously altered their subscription
distibution topical "filter." This only works in individual
e-mail distributions, and NOT DIGEST nor INDEX.  Works best with
advanced e-mail users or moderated postings.
 
INDEX -- is a method of distribution that sends the user a table
of contests of recent postings (list must be archived) and a
LISTSERV script (in LDBASE format) for retrieving one or more of
those postings.
 
New Lists -- Self explanatory
 
REPLY-TO: SENDER -- Another list definition keyword that tells
the LISTSERV to generate distributions so that if the user
invokes the standard e-mail REPLY function, that the posting will
be returned to the original poster and not to the entire list.
(This technique has just been started to be used on one of the
hyperactive lists that I co-operate -- time will tell how the
subscribership likes it).
 
WELCOME file -- Each list can have a welcome file sent to new
subscribers.  In there, among other things, you describe expected
topics, expected behaviour, how to deal with other netiquette
items.
 
--  co-owner INFOSYS, TQM-L, CPARK-L, ERAPPA-L, JANITORS, LDBASE-L, et -L
URL:mailto:[log in to unmask]          "Is your Kiosk system beer-proof?"
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