ftp.wwiv.com/ftp.wwiv.com.zip/ftp.wwiv.com/pub/PPPBCKP/MLST0413.ZIP/MLST0413.FAQ

Text File | 1998-04-25 | 18KB | 451 lines

Eileen Stone #2 @172 [AutoSend]
Fri Apr 24 00:22:30 1998
"FILEnet Mailing Lists for Dummies FAQ"
FAQ version 0.15
Written by Eileen Stone of the MultiVersal Dreams BBS, [e-mail]
Revised April 13, 1998


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The mail's subject line must be mail4dummies or mailinglistfaq.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
===========================================================================
I.    Files and Information needed to run the Project.
II.   Altering the network files to connect you to the Internet node.
    1.  Create Group 99 in your BBSLIST.0 file.
    2.  Create/Alter BBSLIST.99 file.
    3.  Create/Alter CONNECT.99 file.
    4.  CALLOUT.NET entry format.
    5.  Force Analysis of your FILEnet Network connection.
III.  Configuring the PPP Project files for your systems set up.
    1.  [MAILLIST] subsection must be there and uncommented.
    2.  SMPT / Mail server in NET.INI must be defined, of course.
    3.  [MAIL] Section of NOSPAM.TXT.
IV.   Setting up an incoming Mailing List.
    1.  Subscribe to the Mailing List through the BBS.
    2.  Add Source line under the NET.INI header of [MAILLIST].
        "SAMPLE MAILLIST SECTION FROM NET.INI"
    3.  Optional text to search on for some lists.
    4.  Create sub in //Boardedit.
    5.  Where to find a list of List Servers on the Internet.
    6.  User internet accounts, and subscribed Mailing Lists.
V.    Hosting a Mailing List (How to offer a bbs sub on the Internet!).
    1.  Create sub in //Boardedit.
    2.  Create M*.NET, and put subscriber's addresses in.
    3.  Procedure for Subscribers to mail to Hosted List.
    4.  Auto-Subscription Feature for hosted Mailing Lists.
    5.  R<subtype>.RLZ file system in response to subscription.
    6.  A list of your Lists: bbs\gfiles\MAILLIST.TXT
    7.  Things to keep in mind when starting a Hosted List.
    8.  A use for NOSPAM.TXT... Mailing List Twit Filter.
VI.   Removing a Mailing List.
    1.  Unsubscribe from the Mailing List as the List instructs.
    2.  Remove the sub from //boardedit if you recieved it that way.
    3.  Remove the mailing list line from NET.INI.
    4.  Delete the M*.NET file for the hosted list.
VII.  Mod to allow the "/" in callout net to parse as hours, not days.
    1.  Explanation of the mod, and the mod code.
    2.  Proper use of the mod.
==========================================================================


I.   Firstly, are you set up with the latest files, version 1.4 or better?
A good place to look is at http://www.owt.com/users/quixotic/ppp-wwiv.

The four files you need are:

pppp4j14.zip, -- The newest basic file.
ppp15b40+.zip, -- The latest upgrade.
klospppw.zip, -- Use this if you run a multitasker.  Use Freeware v1.43
exp097.zip,   -- The module for exporting to mail or newsgroups,
                 or the EXP module distributed with the project.
                 Recent versions of the software come with a EXP module.

It is also recommended that you get Quixotic Quest's FAQ, and the latest
version of this FAQ.  Quixotic's FAQ goes into much more detail in sections
I-II than this one does.  This FAQ only covers those subjects as they
relate to problems a reader might have with his newsgroup connection.


II.  Second, make sure you are connected to the Internet node:
Altering the FILEnet Network files in the drive:\bbs\net\FILE* dir.

(1)
Check to see if there is a group 99 in the bottom of the BBSLIST.0 file.
If there is not, add it to the file, in the same manner as the others
are listed.

(2)
Creat a BBSLIST.99 file, if you need one, and check to see if there is
a node @32767, in the BBSLIST.99 file, like this:
@32767   *999-PPP-NEWS #00300   !$   [-1]   "Internet Newsgroups and Mail"

(3)
Your CONNECT.99 file, which you may have to create, should look like this:

@your node 32767
@32767 your node

(4)
In your CALLOUT.NET; besides your other connects (and after them), you
should have a line that looks like this:

@32767 &

NOTE: It is VERY important that you DO NOT have the semi-colon ( ; ) used
for compression on this line.  You cannot connect to the newsgroups if
you have this character included.

(5)
Force a network analysis using the command Network3 .x Y from the DOS
prompt in the main BBS directory.  Where x is one less than the network
number for FILEnet as shown in INIT.  Check the feedback from FILEnet.
If all is OK, you should have one system routing through @32767.  If you
have zero, make sure you edited the above files properly.  If you have
more than one, then make sure that @32767 is not listed in any of the
other BBSLIST.x or CONNECT.x files.  (Node @32767 is a fictional node, used
to trick the software to download newsgroups and Internet mail.  If more
than one system routes through #32767, you will lose all network traffic
attempting to use that path.)


III.  Altering the PPP Software configuration files.

(1)
At the bottom of the same file, there should be a subsection called:
[MAILLIST].  Make sure it's not commented out by having a semi-colon
(;) in front of this line.  See section IV-2 for the format.

(2)
You must set up your SMPT / MAIL server, defining it NET.INI's general
section, found in the main bbs directory.  If this isn't set right,
you're in trouble anyway, because the entire project will not work
without it.

(3)
The Spam Filter file NOSPAM.TXT has a section specifically for mail
starting with Beta 77.  Quotes may be added as before to define
embedded spaces.  You must put in section headers like:

[GLOBAL]
;For use in parsing against both E-Mail *and* Newsgroups.
make money fast
" MLM "
$$$$$
"free "
"live "
[NEWS]
;For use in filtering out unwanted Usenet posts.
.UUE
.JPG
.GIF
.ZIP
[Mail]
;Used to killfile those you wish to exclude from E-Mailing you.
@money
money@


IV.  Then, once you are connected to the Internet node:

(1)
Subscribe to the Mailing List you want to recieve at the BBS.  However you
recieve your response, you will want to examine the headers very carefully,
because the Project only recognizes a small number of possible source lines.
It would be wise to retain the welcome letter, to know how to unsubscribe
from the list, should you wish to do so in the future.

NOTE: It is Neccessary to set Allmail to = Y to import Mailing lists.

(2)
Identify the Source Line.  Look for things like...

REPLY-TO:                     [Originally supported Line, Beta 28.]
FROM:                         [Supported Beta ?]
RETURN-PATH:                  [Support finalized Beta 33.]
SENDER:                       [Support added Beta 34.]
X-SENDER:                     [Support added Beta 42.]
X-REPLY-TO:                   [Support added Beta 49.]
X-TO:                         [Supported Beta ?]
To: Multiple recipents of...  [Supported Beta 62.]

[According to Frank, they are parsed in the following order:]

    From:
    Return-Path:
    Sender:
    X-Sender:
    X-To:
    Reply-To:
    X-Reply-To:

Use the source address in the following format:


SAMPLE MAILLIST SECTION FROM NET.INI

; Mailing List Section - used to define internet mailing lists that are
; to be retrieved into a message base rather than EMAIL.
;
[MAILLIST]
;(source address) *subtype [Note: Asterisk REQUIRED!] "Text to search for"
; [e-mail] *1000 {or} *ABCD {or} *ABC123 "text"
;
[e-mail] *1000
[e-mail] *ABCD
[e-mail] *ABC123

NOTE: Numerical subtypes (like *1000), and Alphabetical only subtypes
(like *JMSLIST) work for an incoming Mailing List.  I presume that an
Alphanumeric would also be ok.  This is VERY different from the hosted
lists, where Goose specifies that it must be an alphabetical ONLY for
it to work.  Please note the distinction.

I have a suspicion that just as with the NEWS.RC, the subtypes MUST BE
All-Caps.  Just to be sure, you might want to try it.

HINT: If you are unsure of the proper source, try several possible
source lines pointed at the same subtype.  Once the list starts
importing, comment them out one by one until you identify the working
source line.  [ Thanks to The Weatherman for the Suggestion. ]

(3)
Some mailing lists take a bit more effort to get to come in properly.
Beta 62 added a way to search for optional defined text to support
List-Processor mailing lists which address mail as:

"To: Multiple recipients of list <LISTNAME or address>".

To use this method, add a distinct text element from the "To:" line
after the normal list definition in NET.INI, for example:

        [MAILLIST]
        [e-mail] *SUBTYPE "WX-TALK"

This method also may clear up problems where the regular source address
is found on a second line, or where nothing else seems to work.

(4)
Create a sub for the list in //Boardedit.  The subtype must be the same as
the *subtype defined in NET.INI.  Make sure that the N*.NET files are
created (from CHANGES.DOC for Beta-28).  Add 32767 to the FILEnet N*.NET
file.

32767 can be the Host in //Boardedit if the bbs isn't hosting the list.
The Sysop may wish to do this if it's a one-way list, or to Net-Validate
the responses.  This is similar to the Newsgroup rationale, and eliminates
the need for N*.NET files for the sub.  [Information from Wiz.]

(5)
If you want to know what listserves are available, check out:

http://www.lsoft.com/lists/listref.htm

(6)
With Betas 78/79, it became possible to check and import seperate POP
mail accounts into the BBS, and dump them into a user's mailbox.  The
Duplicate checking routine designed for Packets has been removed when
the BBS checks the secondary accounts.  That way the users will get
all their mail, even if the sysop has already recieved it.

These other mailboxes means the Sysop can point all Packets and such
to Postmaster, and still have personal internet mail (from a seperate
account) come into the #1 account.  Why is this in this FAQ?  Because
if the user has a Mailing List coming to that POP mailbox, it will now
come into the BBS, and into their account.  If the user is the host
of a Hosted Mailing List/Sub, that is still supported however.

To check additional mailboxes now, create a file named ACCT.INI in the
FILEnet directory.  The format of this file is:

ACCTx = userid@pophost password
USERx = userid@domain
USERy = another@somewhere
USERz = jdoe@another



V.   How to Host a Mailing List (How to offer a sub to the Internet!).

(1)
Create the List sub in //Boardedit, with you as the host.  The subtype
*MUST* be Alphabetic ONLY for a Hosted list.  Add 32767 to the Filenet
N*.NET file.  (Where * is the Subtype defined in //BE.)  It must be
more than 1 character long.

(2)
Create a file called M*.NET.  (Where * is the *Alphabetical* Subtype
defined in //BE.)  List the subscribers in the file, one to a line,
or let subscribers send a join message... see (4) below.

(3)
For Internet subscribers to post to the Hosted List/Sub, they would send
their message to the following versions of incoming addresses of the bbs,
with JOKES being the example subtype.  Doesn't work or won't send?
Try removing the space between the subtype and address.

[ Works with Eudora, AOL, and with Yahoo. ]
        [e-mail] (JOKES)

[ Works with Netscape Communicator/Messenger/AOL. ]
        <"[e-mail](JOKES)">

[ Works Yahoo, and Netscape Communicator/Messenger. ]
        "JOKES" <[e-mail]>

[ Works with Hotmail. ]
        "JOKES"<[e-mail]>

[ Works with Pine, and with Yahoo. ]
        JOKES <[e-mail]>

NOTE: This is the BBS's address as found in ADDRESS.NET, etc., with a
"user/real name" note of the List's Alphabnumeric Subtype.

(4)
As of Beta 73, Frank and Goose added autosubscribe to hosted mailing lists.
If the subject of a message is either "Subscribe LIST" or "Unsubscribe
LIST" (case insensitive), the user will is added/removed from M<LIST>.NET,
and a response is generated advising them of the action taken.

NOTE 1: The M<LIST>.NET must exist, even if it's empty.  If the file isn't
there, the requesting system is told that it's an invalid mailing list.
This saves the trouble of parsing SUBS.XTR to see if the mailing list
is valid.

NOTE 2: The program does not support mailing lists with a single character
for a subtype.  This is to prevent a malicious attempt to write undesirable
data to the M1.NET through M9.NET macro files supported by CALLOUT.NET.

(5)
When someone requests a mailing list you host, the software will search
the FILEnet directory for a R<subtype>.RLZ file if it exists.  If that
file does not exist, it next searches the FILEnet directory for a
GLOBAL.RLZ file.  [Beta 76.]

NOTE: Unlike the BBS\GFILES version of GLOBAL.RLZ, this version, and
the R<subtype>.RLZ files *canNOT* contain any ANSI, upper ASCII, or
Control codes, including Pipes or Hearts, etc.  Using any of this in
these files will crash your mail host!

(6)
In Beta 78, the project will autovend a list of your Mailing lists
with the file bbs\gfiles\MAILLIST.TXT.  Use this file to give
instructions on how to subscribe to your lists.
Here's a sample version:

-----
Thanks for inquiring about <your bbs here> Mailing Lists.
=========================================================
We are offering the following Lists:

The List's Full name.                 : List Code
---------------------------------------------------
The First Mailing List I host         : SUBTYPE1
The Second Mailing List I host        : SUBTYPE2
...                                   : ...

In order to subscribe to the Mailing lists, write an email...
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Subscribe LISTCODE
Body: n/a

In order to subscribe to the Mailing lists, write an email...
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Unsubscribe LISTCODE
Body: n/a

When you are subscribed you will recieve a acknowledging letter,
and an information file, if one is defined.

In order to recieve this mail, you emailed...
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Subscribe LISTS
Body: n/a

Please mail again in the future if you have any questions, and
thanks for asking about our Mailing Lists; the Sysadmin.
-----

(7)
If the list was not a regular sub first, don't add @32767 to the
Nsubtype.net, until you are ready and have actual subscribers --
or else you get posts in s32767.net that have nowhere to go
( via Nsubtype.net ) and you may get imcomplete email messages
created to go out that might hiccup when you dial out to your ISP.

So... when you have the sub set up in BoardEdit *and* you have folks
that want to subscribe and they have requested it, *then* create the
Nsubtype.net with 32767 in it... this way posts will go out as email
like they should... and you won't have the likelihood of interim
hiccups that has been encountered before folks ask via email to join
( a Sub that you are Hosting as ) a Mailing List from your BBS.

(8)
As mentioned in Beta 77, it includes a NOSPAM.TXT with sections, like
[GLOBAL], [NEWS], and [[MAIL].  Since a List can't be validated, and
any incoming mail that is properly addressed WILL go out on the List,
regardless of the Host's wishes, if you add a List abuser's address
to your twit file, s/he WILL stay off your List.  I hope.



VI.  How to Remove a Subscribed or Hosted Mailing List.

(1)
Follow the List's instructions for sending mail to unsubscribe
that you should of kept when you first subscribed.

(2)
Remove the Mailing list subboard as usual in Boardedit.

(3)
Then remove the line in NET.INI that has that Mailing List defined.

(4)
If you were Hosting the List, delete M*.net.



VII.  FILEnet mod for CALLOUT.NET

(1)
Since newsgroups are fairly active on the Internet, and most providers
don't increase your costs with a high number of calls, you might want to
have your board call out every few hours to pick up the latest messages
and/or network packets.  To do this, you'll need to make a mod to your
source code.  For WWIV 4.23 through 4.24a (and perhaps beyond), you need
to change one line in NETSUP.C, void attempt_callout(void):

      if ((ok) && (i2!=-1)) {
        if (ncn[i2].bytes_waiting==0L)
          if (con[i].call_anyway) {
            l1=(l-ncn[i2].lastcontact+60*3)/SECONDS_PER_HOUR;   /* change */
            if (((unsigned char)l1 < con[i].call_anyway) ||
               ((con[i].options & options_sendback)==0))
              if (!net_only)
                ok=0;

(2)
To activate this "call anyway" feature, you need to add the / parameter to
CALLOUT.NET.  Make your @32767 entry look like:

@32767 & /3

to force a callout roughly every three hours.  (Note without the mod, this
means force a callout every three days).  You might want to make the same
change to your other FILEnet Internet connects as well, to speed up the
normal network packets as well.


==========================================================================
Hope this helps, and I will update this file as the situation requires,
and repost it as needed.  I can autopost it monthly, and if there are any
problems or suggestions, please email me.

Maillist FAQ maintainer: Eileen Stone, #2 @172.FILEnet