DEED-MAPPER-USERS-L Archives

Archiver > DEED-MAPPER-USERS > 2006-08 > 1156192529


From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: Upcoming List Changes
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:35:29 -0400


RootsWeb.com has just changed its mail list software for this
DEED-MAPPER-USERS (DMU) list from the "Smartlist" program
to the "Mailman" program. RootsWeb will be making other changes
relative to this in the future, but most of those changes will not
affect list such as this.You may have seen an earlier announcement
about this from RootsWeb.com. A schedule of the change is posted at:
<http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/migrate_sched.html>;

If you have any questions pertaining to the migration schedule, you
can contact me at the admin address for this list:
<>.

How will this change in maillist software affect you as a user? The
plan is "Not Much", but there are a number of changes of which you
should be aware:

1. Most importantly, the distinction between "list" mode and "digest"
mode has changed. After the change, users can subscribe to only one
of these two modes using a single e-mail address. So if you wish to
subscribe to both modes, you must do so using two different
addresses. At the time of the change, I believe only three persons
were subscribed under the same address to both the List and to the Digest.

Most who wish to subscribe to both modes will already have a second
e-mail address available to them and will not be affected except they
must subscribe to the Digest mode with that second address. Those
who do not already have a second address will need to acquire one if
they wish to subscribe to both modes. There are a number of free
addresses available (gmail, juno, etc.) from which another address
may be obtained. Also you may also be able to have your ISP assign a
second address to your account for free.

2. As a result of the change, the "list" mode will no longer require
the "-L" for subscriptions, unsubscriptions, and to send mail to the
list. You will still be able to send messages to the list using the
<>
address you have always used OR you can choose to drop the "-L" and
send your messages to
<>.
Both addresses will work. If you ever sent mail to the list using the
Digest address, then you need to drop the -D from that address and
use the regular list address either with the -L or without it.

The request address will also change in the same way for regular
mode. That is, the regular mode subscribe and unsubscribe requests
no longer need the -L for those requests. So you may use either the
<>
or
<>.
Similar requests for the Digest mode will still require the -D as in
<>.

3. The combining of "-L" for "list" mode and "-D" for "Digest" mode
mail means that many of you will have to do some tweaking to your
mail filters, but this should not be too big a job. So if you
normally filter your messages so mail from the DEED-MAPPER-USERS list
goes to a special box or folder and other mail goes to other boxes/folder,
then the DEED-MAPPER-USERS related filter may not continue to work
right and will need adjusting. If you don't use e-mail message filters then
you will not be affected.

4. Unlike Smartlist, Mailman is more restrictive in respect of
subscribes and unsubscribes. To subscribe or unsubscribe, the word
"subscribe" or "unsubscribe" (no quotes) MUST now be in the Subject
line of the e-mail ... just putting it in the text will be
insufficient. On the plus side, there will be a "NOMAIL" mode
soon! More about this later.

5. There will also be changes to the way list administrators do our
job. So far, it looks easier and better which translates to making
things better for you indirectly.

6. Digest mode subscribers may see a change in the way they receive
the Digest. That is, in the past, you may have received the Digest
as a single long text-only message or you may have received it as a
message with multiple attachments. If the way you receive the Digest
after the change is different AND if you want the other kind, just
send me a message at the list admin address
<>
and I will change it for you.


Now to ask a question that I am sure some will have. Thungs seem to
have been going okay, so why change at all? The "why" is that
Smartlist, the software that was used for Rootsweb's lists is not
only no longer supported but was being held together with generations
of bailing wire and bubble gum. The choice to migrate to new
software was really no longer a choice, but a necessity if we are to
continue to enjoy the ease of doing genealogy via our email
addresses. In addition, this change will allow RootsWeb.com to
provide us even more capability in the future as to how we use the lists here.

For now, take a deep breath, and count to ten. Do not panic. You will
probably not notice a great deal of difference. No doubt there will
be other things that arise from time to time as well. As we enter
this brave new world, please contact me at the list admin address
<>
with any questions ... as usual, I'll try to assist you as quickly as possible!

Thanks!

Hope this helps -

Lee
DEED-MAPPER-USERS List Administrator





This thread: