New-List list has moved New URL: http://SCOUT.CS.WISC.EDU/scout/new-list/format.html New submission address: new-list@cs.wisc.edu near as I can tell, the submission instructions remain unchanged. New List announcement Don Wiss, 5/5/98 For any new list, or after any list is moved, it is *highly* recommended that you announce the list on the New-List mailing list. The following is a bit pendantic. Basically you need to send in the response to the INFO command, if you have set it up as explained in the OWNR-FAQ.MTPL document. For a moved list a bit more may be required. The following is the same as the file from NEW-LIST's archives, except references to the now obsolete BITNET have been removed, along with non-Listserv stuff. Also the below makes no reference to web archives. If they are public then that information can also be included. Don. NEW-LIST FORMAT 03/23/98 The Suggested Format for New-List List Announcements This document contains the suggested format of contributions to the NEW-LIST list (to NEW-LIST@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU). By following this format it makes the announcement more useful both to the readers and to folks who incorporate the announcements in other publications. NOTE CAREFULLY: While the editor of NEW-LIST choses what is announced on the list, we cannot be responsible for the content of the announcements. We do not have the resources to verify the information or services provided. We only announce E-mail lists which are used to periodically distribute items to a set of subscribers. We do NOT announce general WWW sites, new things on the net, or mailbots in general (other than used for legitimate list subscriptions). PLEASE help by being responsible in what you contribute. Any violations or deception will be frowned upon and reported to service providers which might have some use agreements controlling such abuse. Thank you! The language of the new-list list itself is English. We welcome announcements of lists which will communicate in other languages but we ask that the announcement itself be in English (or in English followed by the native language copy). If there is a preferred or required language for the list please be sure to include that information in the body of the announcement. As with any edited document, the editor reserves the right to make minor changes to the announcement to follow current conventions. The NEW-LIST announcements go out to over 16,000 people directly. Many of these people are busy and we try very hard to minimize the traffic on the list. PLEASE be sure the list is well tested and ready for new subscriptions before you send the announcement to new-list. We will repeat an announcement or make corrections if absolutely necessary but you must realize that by the time any correction is made the announcement may have been passed on to many people. Since we get busy with other things you might want to run the announcement by someone else before sending it to new-list. SPAM WARNING: As with any open, public list, we have no way of controlling who reads the information you post or how they will use it. "SPAMMERS" (those who send unsolicited and off-topic mail items to many lists or recipients) may use public information to target your list. Some list management software will try to detect such spams but the only way to eliminate them is to totally moderate your list or make it secret. Due to the large number of recipients and "other duties" of the editor, it may be several days before you announcement is issued to new-list. Please be patient but if you haven't seen the note after a week please be sure to contact us (send a note to new-list). We might have lost the item or missed it in our mail. We no longer do list searches on NEW-LIST. See the LISTSOF LISTS document for more information on how to find existing lists. To retrieve that document send e-mail to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU with the body containing the command GET LISTSOF.LISTS (note the 2nd S in listSof) * For information on starting your own mailing list you may send the command GET NEW-LIST.CREATE as described above. Thank you for your help. Marty Hoag new-list editor Preferred format for LISTSERV List Descriptions ----------------------------------------------- It is helpful to include a Subject in the headers similar to this for new lists: Subject: NEW: listname - List Description (use significant words) Other items sent to the new-list list should have similar one-word descriptions at the start of the Subject: in the headers: New Lists Subject: NEW: listname - List Description Changed Lists Subject: CHANGE: listname - List Description Using specific one-word topics will allow items to be categorized more easily and allows LISTSERV software to subset the mail by topic so subscribers can order just the types of announcements they want (see the file NEW-LIST README for details). NOTE: Please limit CHANGE: announcements to substantial changes such as changes in subscription addresses, the removal of a list, changes in news group mirrors/gateways, etc. In other words - things that will affect access to the list by new users. You must also include a description of the changes before the corrected version of the announcement. Many times the information from NEW-LIST is changed to a different format out in the network. Listing all the changes first helps compilers find the fields they have to change in their lists. In the BODY of the mail the first line should have the list name: listname on LISTSERV@node.name.domain optional short title If subscriptions are done manually then include that address after the word "via". For example: listname via listowner@some.host.some.where optional short title If there is more than one address list the preferred address first. In the past we used to indent the body but with the editors we are using now it is easier to edit the item if you just start each line at the left margin as usual. Leave a blank line between paragraphs and keep the format rather simple. Briefly describe the topic of the list. This should be brief and to-the-point. For example, you might begin "The LISTNAME list was formed in order to discuss the meaning of life. Related topics might include etc. etc...." If you can't describe in 20 lines or less what your list is about, then please try to edit the description to that size. If the description is too sketchy it may have to be edited by the by people using it. If it is too sketchy it may not be of value. You can use a little extra space if you have a Listserv FILELIST to go along with your list. For example: "Archives of LISTNAME and related files are stored in the LISTNAME FILELIST. To receive a list of files send the command INDEX LISTNAME to LISTSERV@NODENAME." Be sure to include information on any mirrors or gateways to news groups (ie. usenet news or netnews). After your description you should include instructions for subscribing. We suggest the following generic format for LISTSERV: To subscribe to LISTNAME, send the following command to LISTSERV@INTERNET.NODE.NAME in the BODY of e-mail: SUBSCRIBE LISTNAME yourfirstname yourlastname For example: SUBSCRIBE LISTNAME Joe Shmoe." Include just enough information to subscribe and perhaps a help command which can be used to get more information. Do NOT include a complete reference to all commands... Include Owner and/or Moderator/Editor Names and e-mail addresses. For example: Owner: Fred Icky --- Optional secondary owners and/or Editors --- EXAMPLE ANNOUNCEMENT Putting all this together here is an example of an announcement. No two announcements are exactly alike. The trick is to have enough information to either subscribe to the list or pass the announcement on to someone who might be interested without getting too long-winded. The announcement is sent to NEW-LIST@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU and will be passed to the editor. It may take several days before the announcement is actually distributed to the list. ---------------------- Start of Example ------------------------------ --- Subject Line: (this is in the "list headers") NEW: MONKEYS - Discussions of Monkeys --- BODY of the mail: --- MONKEYS on LISTSERV@SOME.HOST.EDU Monkeys Discussion MONKEYS is an open, unmoderated discussion list featuring monkeys. Things such as how to care for a pet monkey, monkey diseases, monkey lore, endangered species of monkeys, and monkey psychology are likely to be discussed. The list is NOT intended for monkey bashing. Archives of MONKEYS mail items are kept in monthly files. You may obtain a list files in the archives by sending the command INDEX MONKEYS in the BODY of e-mail to LISTSERV@SOME.HOST.EDU. The MONKEYS list is bidirectionally gatewayed with the news group "alt.animals.monkeys". To subscribe, send the following command in the BODY of mail to LISTSERV@SOME.HOST.EDU: SUB MONKEYS yourfirstname yourlastname For example: SUB MONKEYS Tar Zan Owner: Charles Darwin BEAGLE@SOME.HOST.EDU or BEAGLE@SOMEHOST.BITNET ----------------------- End of Example ------------------------------- NOTE: If you feel other information is essential, please put it AFTER the above format or explain briefly how to get it. Separate any additional data from the basic list format. Send the announcement to NEW-LIST@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU . ----------- Marty Hoag NEW-LIST Editor/Owner ND Higher Education Computer Network US Mail: NDSU Info Tech Svcs Phone: (701)-231-8639 Fax: (701)-231-8541 PO Box 5164 Fargo, ND 58105 Internet: hoag@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU