Alan: I'm posting my reply directly to LSTSRV-L since I'll go home soon. It
      will probably reach the list before your question so I'm using
      REPLY TEXT.
 
> Does AFD use distribute?
No.
 
> Can it be made to?
Not yet, but I'm considering doing something in this direction (only if there
is no prolog of course).
 
> Can distribute be given a TO which specifies a list?
No problem, or more simply, just SENDFILE the stuff to the list userid (and
set Files=Yes and FormCheck=No or something like that). It will go
automatically via DISTRIBUTE without your having to build a job header.
 
>
> Basically, I want to:
>
>   - Accept subscriptions for mailer distributions from authorized users
>     such as :contact for himself or for a designated user (e.g. similar
>     to FOR command).
Note that you can use LSVNAD(userid@node) (returns a boolean) to do that.
It also checks for alternate contacts, etc.
 
>   - Periodically cause an updated distribution to be sent out via
>     DISTRIBUTE to the users in the subscription list.
That's no problem
 
>   - Do something similar for KERMIT files more along the lines of
>     an AFD since those files get updated at different intervals and
>     are not really a single package like mailer updates are.
Sounds great, but I must change the code then. Maybe an AFD=DISTRIBUTE
in the filelist header or something like that?
 
>     For
>     KERMIT too I would like to restrict who can subscribe to prevent
>     multiple subscriptions at the same site.
That's a little more difficult to check (you have to look into AFDLIST FILE)
but it's feasible.
 
>     Also, maybe KERMIT
>     could be distributed out to several listserv sites?
I'll let the list answer this one. Not me -- not enough DASD space.
 
> Am I making sense?
Sure. The network would bless you if all KERMIT traffic could be lowered by
just a mere little small 30%... :-)
 
 
  Eric