Copyright: ® Soft Ventures


Help Contents
Contents

Quick Start

Installation

What is SVList

Quick Start

Operation

Overview

Main Screen Controls

Command Actions

Setup

Preferences

List Maintenance

Digest Maintenance

Support Files

Questions and Answers

Shareware Registration

Shareware Registration


Installation

SVList is distributed via shareware as a single zipped file SVLxxx.ZIP (where xxx in the current version, e.g.: SVL110.ZIP for version 1.10)

Installation is a two step process:

Step 1. Unzip SVLxxx.ZIP into a temporary directory like C:\Temp.

Step 2. Run SETUP.EXE to install SVList.

See Quick Start for information on initial setup of your newly installed SVList.


What is SVList

SVList is a mailing list server designed for use with any PC running Windows 95 and having a SMTP mail account with an Internet service provider. You can easily set up your own mail list.

SVList features:

- Can be setup to use any SMTP/POP3 mail account.

- Supports Mail List and List Digest functions. Mail list members get list messages as they come into the server, digest members get a periodic single mail message with all the incoming messages in it.

- Simple command set: SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, DIGEST SUBSCRIBE, DIGEST UNSUBSCRIBE, HELP, WHO, PRIVATE.

- Simple security features: You can ban problem users, enable/disable WHO command, ignore/process messages from non-list members, etc.

- Uses simple text files for Welcome and Help messages.

- You define list and digest names, digest number sequence.

- Inexpensive ($20.00 US) way to get your own mailing list up an running.


Quick Start - Quick Start
Quick Start

1. Start SVList

2. Menu File|Properties/Preferences to bring up the Property Sheet dialog.

3. On the Setup Tab enter:

Your Email Address

POP server address, can be either "204.50.1.250" style or "cadvison.com" style.

Real Name, like "Rob Stevens"

User ID, the user id you use to log into your service provider.

Password, the password you use to log into your service provider.

4. On the Preferences Tab enter:

List name

Digest name.

5. Thats about it.

You are now ready to accept list and digest activity.


Overview

SVList offers two basic function:

the List - incoming messages are sent one at a time, as a message comes in it is forwarded out to all members of the List.

the Digest - incoming messages are appended to a message file, when you wish, you compile and send the digest which is the collection of messages that have come in since the last digest was sent.

There are two types of messages, as far as SVList is concerned; command messages and list messages. SVList reads incoming mail and processes messages according to a few simple rules:

- If a message contains a command keyword in its subject - it is treated as a command. See Command actions for details.

- If a message does not contain a command keyword, it is treated as a list message and sent to all active persons on the list (list member).

- The non-command message is also added to the current digest message for sending to digest members.

- You, as list administrator, can set SVList to post all incoming, non-command, messages to the list or just messages from active members.


Main Screen Controls

Check Mail Now

This causes SVList to connect to the POP3 mail server and retrieve all waiting mail. This version of SVList cannot control dialup network access so you must make your connection to your service provider before clicking Check Mail Now.

Next Scheduled Mail Check

This tells when SVList will next connect in to get mail. This time is determined by your "Check mail every x minutes" setting in the preferences tab under File|Properties/Preferences.

Compile/Send Digest Now

This button will initiate a digest build and send. All messages that have been received since this was last done will be placed in a single message an mailed to all digest members. This activity would normally be done on a daily basis.

List Members / Digest Members

These boxes indicate the current count of members in each category.

NOTE:

All mail is stored in simple text files in SVList.

There is no direct connection between SVList and the message files. The count is incremented and reset as messages are added and removed. If you open the message file and manually add or remove messages - the count will NOT reflect these manual changes.

View Current Digest

This button will open Windows Notepad with the digest message file displayed.

Current Digest Message Count

This count indicates how many messages are in the digest message file.

Master, Command and Private Message List

These buttons will open Windows Notepad with the appropriate message file displayed.

Master, Command and Private Message Count

This count indicates how many messages are in the respective message file.


Command Actions

Subscribe

Adds the originator's Email address to the List Member list. You can manually de-activate any one you want via the List Maintenance tab of File|Properties/Preferences.

Subscribe Digest

Adds the originator's Email address to the Digest Member list. You can manually de-activate any one you want via the Digest Maintenance tab of File|Properties/Preferences.

UnSubscribe

Removes the originator's Email address from the List Member list.

Unsubscribe Digest

Removes the originator's Email address from the Digest Member list.

Who

This command will cause a list of current list and digest members to be emailed to the requester. You can disable the Who command from the Preferences tab of File|Properties/Preferences.

Help

This command will cause the current help file to be emailed to the requester. You can customize the help to reflect list policies and rules as well as SVList commands.

The help file is SVLHelp.txt - feel free to modify it.

Private

This command tells SVList that the message is intended for you, the list administrator, rather than posting. You can view private messages from the button on the main screen. Once the message has been viewed, you can delete it and reset the Private message counter.  This version does not support reply to private messages.

Note: Commands are NOT case sensitive,

i.e.: subscribe = SUBSCRIBE = SubScribe

Note Also: Commands in SVList are just key words in the subject of messages. If a list member inadvertently puts one of these command in to the subject of his/her message, it will be processed as a command. For example, a list member might send a message with the subject "A message from You-Know-Who" - this will be processed as a WHO command and not posted to the list. It is advised that you explain this in your Welcome files.

Future versions of SVList may allow you to redefine commands, perhaps making the who command "\WHO" or some other character string - let me know if you fell this would be a worthwhile enhancement.


Setup

The Setup tab under File|Properties/Preferences is used to enter basic connection information needed to allow SVList to talk to your POP3 mail server. It also contains the Shareware key entry box.

Email Address

Enter your Email address, it is used as the 'from' address on outgoing mail.

POP Server

Enter your POP3 server address in either "204.50.1.250" style or "cadvison.com" style.

Real Name

Enter your real name - like "Rob Stevens"

User ID

Enter the user id you use to login to your Internet service provider.

Password

Enter the password you use to login to your Internet service provider.

Shareware Key

Upon receipt of registration payment, Soft Ventures will issue you a Registration Key. Once this key is entered, SVList will no longer put the text "Unregistered Shareware" in your messages.

Beside the key entry box is an indicator of the status of the key - Active, Invalid or Expired.

Commands time out after..

The time out value is the time SVList will wait after issuing a request to your mail server before giving up and returning a failure. SVList allows you to tailor it's patience to your mail server. On slow mail servers you can set the time out up to 60 seconds. On faster servers you may know that if it does not respond in 10 or 15 seconds it isn't going to respond at all. If a time out occurs you will get a message "Interrupted system call.."

Enable logging..

When troubleshooting problems on SVList it is sometimes nice to log SVList's activities so you can see where it stopped and what is was doing. You turn on logging with this checkbox. Note: this log file grows quite quickly so you might want to only use it if you need it. If you contact me with a problem I will probably ask for you to email me this log.


Preferences

This screen is used to tailor the basic operation of SVList to suit your needs.

Check Mail every xx minutes

Enter the number of minutes between mail checks here. Entering 0 will cause SVList to only check mail when you press the "Check Mail Now" button on the main screen. Remember, SVList cannot start/stop your PPP connection to your service provider so you must have the connection up all the time for this feature to work. It is primarily intended for users with continuous Internet connections.

Check mail on startup

Check this box if you want SVList to check mail when it is first started.

List Name, Digest Name

Enter the name you wish for your list. This name will appear as the subject for outgoing list and digest mail. (Unregistered Shareware message will replace this name until Shareware is registered)

Note: your list members send Email to your Email account, this list/digest name only appears on outgoing mail.

Ignore WHO requests

Check here to turn off SVList's response to the WHO command if you do not want members to use it.

Only post messages from Members

If you wish to limit the posted messages to those messages coming from list members check here. This can be handy if you use the mail account for personal mail as well as SVList. Messages that are sent to you from people not on the list will be ignored by SVList. See also the Private command.

Limit Maximum message size to xx bytes.

You can have SVList truncate large messages by selecting this option and specifying a maximum size. This is useful when you get list members who use 'Reply' and have their mail readers set to quote back the message being replied to - if it is a digest, the entire digest will be re-posted as the quote. Also some people like putting graphics in their signature - makes for BIG messages.

Process 'subscribe' requests as..

SVList offers two basic function:

the List - incoming messages are sent one at a time, as a message comes in it is forwarded out to all members of the List.

the Digest - incoming messages are appended to a message file, when you wish, you compile and send the digest which is the collection of messages that have come in since the last digest was sent.

Your users can subscribe to the list with 'subscribe' and the digest with 'subscribe digest'.

This setup option allows you to run only a List, only a Digest or both.

If you select Normal all subscribe messages will be processed as above.

If you select List Only, incoming 'subscribe' messages will be handled normally but incoming 'subscribe digest' messages will be treated as 'subscribe'.

If you select Digest Only, incoming 'subscribe digest' messages will be handled normally but incoming 'subscribe' messages will be treated as 'subscribe digest'.

Note: Changing this setting has no effect on members already existing in the List or Digest.


List Maintenance

The top section of the List Maintenance tab is a list box showing current list members. The name, Email address, status and last changed dates are shown.

You can change the state of a list member by selecting him/her from the list and clicking on the button corresponding to the desired status - Full Access, Recv Only, Post Only, InActive, Banned.

Full Access = Can post to list and will receive list messages.

Recv Only = Can not post to list but will receive list messages.

Post Only = Can post to the list but will not receive list messages.

InActive = Has unsubscribed and will not receive list messages.

Banned = You can set a person so that they can not re-activate their account. This might be used for trouble makers that you want kept off the list. Hopefully you will never need this setting.

Delete = Remove the currently selected person from the List.

Add New = Manually add people to the List. Be careful to get the email address correct.

Welcome File

When a person first subscribes to the list SVList will send out a welcome-to-the-list message. This Welcome file can tell the new user the policies and procedures you wish followed for the list.


Digest Maintenance

The top section of the Digest Maintenance tab is a list box showing current digest members. The name, Email address, status and last changed dates are shown.

You can change the state of a digest member by selecting him/her from the list and clicking on the button corresponding to the desired status - Active, InActive, Banned.

Full Access = Can post to digest and will receive digest messages.

Recv Only = Can not post to digest but will receive digest messages.

Post Only = Can post to the digest but will not receive digest messages.

InActive = Has unsubscribed and will not receive digest messages.

Banned = You can set a person so that they can not re-activate their account. This might be used for trouble makers that you want kept off the digest. Hopefully you will never need this setting.

Delete = Remove the currently selected person from the Digest.

Add New = Manually add people to the Digest. Be careful to get the email address correct.

Next Digest number

SVList puts an automatically incrementing number on each digest it sends out. This makes it easier for digest members to know they have not missed any digests. This setting allows you to determine the starting value for the digest numbers.

Welcome File

When a person first subscribes to the digest SVList will send out a welcome-to-the-list/digest message. This Welcome file can tell the new user the policies and procedures you wish followed for the digest.

Header File

If you wish you can create a standard header to be attached to the beginning of all outgoing digests. This might contain general information such as rules of the digest or subscribe/Unsubscribe instructions.

Footer File

If you wish you can create a standard header to be attached to the end of all outgoing digests. This might contain general information such as rules of the digest or subscribe/Unsubscribe instructions.


Support Files

Files you can edit to customize SVList:

SVLHelp.txt - Help file to be sent in reply to 'help' command.

SVLRefuse.txt - File to send when requested command is refused.

SVLListWelcome.txt - The welcome file sent to newly subscribed list	  members.

SVLDigestWelcome.txt - The welcome file sent to newly subscribed digest  members.

DigestHeader.txt - A file containing test to be added to the beginning of outgoing digests.

DigestFooter.txt - A file containing test to be added to the end of outgoing digests.

Files generated by SVList:

SVLTemp.txt - Temporary message file.

SVLWho.txt - Who file created in response to a WHO command.

SVLog.txt - Activity log - turned on/off from setup screen.

Unsubscribe.txt - Sent to confirm successful unsubscribe.

Files used internally by SVList:

SVList.dat - List members.

SVDList.dat - Digest members.

SVLCmd.dat - Command message file.

SVLMsg.dat - Master message file.

SVLDgst.dat - Digest message file.

SVLPrivate.dat - Private message file.


Questions and Answers

clicking on 'view current digest', I can edit out messages?

Yes, messages get added to the digest text file then when you want to post the digest that file gets sent out. If you edit out messages, they will not be sent. I was not designed with that in mind but it should work fine.

what is master message list?

This is a log of all messages, command and list messages. It is just a log for your information.

How do I as the administrator, add information to send out to the subscribers?

You would just post a message to the list and all subscribers would get it.

I have about 2 dozen folks that I need to get added to my site. How should this be done?

You should email your people with instructions on how to 'Subscribe' to your list. You can manually add people to the Digest be then they won't get the Welcome File.

I want to make sure the instructions for subscribe/Unsubscribe etc. appears at the start of each digest and list that is sent out. Is there a permanent 'header' I can create?

Yes, you create the header file with NOTEPAD, WORDPAD or some other text editor, then go into the Digest Maintenance setup screen and tell SVList where the "Header File" is located. Footer files can be added the same way.

Can SVList run a moderated list? Can I pre-approve messages before they are sent out?

The List is designed to receive and resend messages without your intervention so you cannot pre-approve them.

The Digest stores messages in a text file. You can review the file and remove messages before sending the digest.


Shareware Registration - Shareware Registration
Shareware Registration

Soft Ventures retains all rights to SVList. SVList is being marketed as Shareware, NOT free software. The Shareware concept is simple: try before you buy. If you like SVList and wish to continue using it, you are required to register with Soft Ventures. Upon receipt of your $20.00 registration fee, Soft Ventures will Email you a registration KEY that will remove the Shareware notice from SVList.

Future upgrades are available FREE on my web page.

Note: No disks are mailed unless specifically requested. Shipping charges shown below.

Email ONLY

USA	Canada	Others

$20.00 US$	$25.00 CDN$	$20.00 US$

_____________	    1.75 GST	_____________

$20.00 US$	$26.75 CDN$	$20.00 US$

With disk

USA	Canada	Others

$20.00 US$	$25.00 CDN$	$20.00 US$

    3.00 shipping	 	    3.00 shipping	    5.00 shipping

_____________	    1.96 GST	_____________

$23.00 US$	$29.96 CDN$	$25.00 US$

To Order:

Send cheque or money order to payable to Rob Stevens (address below).

SVList can also be registered via CompuServe.

GO SWREG, program ID = 10496  ($20.00 US, no disks, Email only)

Rob Stevens

Soft Ventures

Box 22183 Bankers Hall

Calgary, Alberta Canada

T2P 4J5

CompuServe 71441,734

Internet	:

stevensr@cadvision.com

OR 71441.734@compuserve.com

http://www.cadvision.com/softventures/SoftVentures.htm


Glossary of Terms

digest member

list member

command keyword


digest member

Person who has subscribed to the digest version of the list, will receive one periodic message with all list messages in it.


list member

Person who has subscribed to the list in order to receive list messages.


command keyword

SVList keywords:

subscribe, digest, unsubscribe, who, help and private.