CREN's ListProcessor
wave at the University of New Hampshire

This document is an introduction to the CREN ListProc electronic mailing list manager as installed by Computing & Information Services. It briefly explains what this type of software does and how to find out more about using it.

If you are reading a printed copy of this document, you will find the latest version available via the World Wide Web as: 

          http://www.unh.edu/NIS/Docs/ListProc/intro.html
or by sending the command: 
          get  listproc  intro.txt
in the body of an e-mail message to the ListProc@lists.unh.edu server address.

The document you are reading now was last updated on 12-MAY-1998.

Topics Covered

Note: In the summer of 1997 the "cisunix.unh.edu" domain was introduced as a common domain name for all of the UNH central UNIX systems. A supplemental document regarding how this change relates to ListProc is available at: 
          http://www.unh.edu/NIS/Docs/ListProc/cisunix.html
or by sending the command: 
          get  listproc  cisunix.txt
in the body of an e-mail message to the ListProc@lists.unh.edu server address.

What is ListProc?

ListProc (a.k.a. ListProcessor) is a software package that implements an electronic mailing list system. With such a system it is possible to create and maintain lists of e-mail addresses of several individuals who share a common interest. This list in turn is assigned its own unique Internet e-mail address; sending a message to this single address causes a copy of the message to be re-distributed to all the addresses on the list.

ListProc is just one example of a Mailing List Manager (MLM) software package. You may have also heard of other MLM's such as TULP, SmartList, and Majordomo. Without a doubt, the MLM software package most recognized by name is LISTSERV, so much so that people often mistakenly use the name LISTSERV generically when they mean any MLM (much like the brand name Kleenex is often casually used to mean any facial tissue).

CREN ListProc is a version of the public domain ListProc package and is distributed and supported by the non-profit Corporation for Research and Educational Networking. UNH Computing & Information Services (CIS) has licensed this package for general use by the University community.

How do I get started using ListProc?

Since the role of the list server is to manage e-mail, it shouldn't be surprising that the way you interact with the server is by sending e-mail messages to it. A brief summary of all ListProc commands is available by sending e-mail to the local CIS ListProc server: 
          +----------------------------------------------------------------
          | To     : listproc@lists.unh.edu
          | Subject: 
          | ----- Message Text -----
          |
          | help
          |

A plain ASCII document will be sent back as an ordinary electronic mail message. Extensive documentation is also available via the Internet. See "What documentation is available?" below for more information.

How do I find out what lists I can subscribe to?

To find out what lists are sponsored locally by UNH, send e-mail to the local CIS ListProc server with the "LISTS LOCAL" request: 
          +----------------------------------------------------------------
          | To     : listproc@lists.unh.edu
          | Subject: 
          | ----- Message Text -----
          |
          | lists  local
          |

The information returned includes the list's e-mail address and a short comment about the list. For example: 
          +----------------------------------------------------------------
          | From: ListProc@lists.unh.edu
          | To  : (you)
          | Subj: LISTS local
          |
          | Here is the current active list...
          |
          | Civic.Wagon.Forum@lists.unh.edu	   Honda Civic Wagon Ownrs
          | Golden.Fuzzbutts@lists.unh.edu         Golden Retrievers Group
          | NH.Seacoast.Divings@lists.unh.edu      SCUBA Diver's Forum
          | Phrenology.Forum@lists.unh.edu         Phrenology Club of NE
          |   :
          |   :
          |

Most lists have an associated information file that explains more about the list and its policies. Use the INFO command followed by the list's name: 
          +----------------------------------------------------------------
          | To     : listproc@lists.unh.edu
          | Subject: 
          | ----- Message Text -----
          |
          | info  civic.wagon.forum
          |

to receive this information file by return e-mail.

To sign-up for a list, send a subscription request to ListProc with the name of the list and your own name: 

          +----------------------------------------------------------------
          | To     : listproc@lists.unh.edu
          | Subject: 
          | ----- Message Text -----
          |
          | subscribe  civic.wagon.forum  Rick Shaw
          |

A confirmation of your subscription will be returned, usually within a few minutes.

How do I sponsor my own electronic mailing list?

A list-sponsor is an UNH affiliated individual or organization that initiates the request for a new list to be created and assumes responsibility for it. A list-owner is an UNH affiliated individual who performs the actual hands-on day-to-day management of the list. Often the list sponsor and list owner are one in the same person.

If you are interested in sponsoring a list, you will want to read the following document:

If you will be the owner of the list, i.e. you will be doing the day-to-day management of the list itself, you will also want to read:

Information on how alternate ways to access each of these documents is covered in detail below.

What documentation is available?"

ListProc documentation is freely available in a variety of file formats via the Internet. Contact List.Admin@unh.edu if you need help picking the most appropriate type and method for you.

Internet Access Methods:

All of the available ListProc documentation is available via the Internet using one or more of the following access methods:

Available File Formats:

Documents available via FTP and electronic mail are available in one or more of the following file formats:

ListProc Features Not Available:

Note that the standard CREN documentation makes references to some ListProc features that have not been implemented in the CIS installation of this program. These features include:

Questions about the CIS implementation of ListProc should be directed to the List.Admin@unh.edu e-mail address.

Documentation Categories

There are four basic categories of ListProc documentation: user, list-sponsor, list-owner, and list-administrator.

Trademarks Used in this Document