This section describes how to modify your mailing list. You can change the text shown in certain administrative messages, add or remove users via telnet/SSH, block certain types of attachments, change a public list to a private list, and more.

Custom Subject Lines

To set up a custom Subject line, first navigate to your mailing list directory. For example, if your domain name is domain.com, your login name is "username" and your mailing list's name is "listname", the directory for that list would be found at:
/big/dom/xdomain/username/listname

In the "subject" directory is where you will need to create the following files, as desired, named as shown in all lowercase:following files can be created in all lowercase:

Subscribe result message - create a file named sub-ok. In this file, include one line of text to be used as the Subject line such as Your Email Address Has Been Added and hit [Enter] so there is a blank line after the subject text.

^*Note: With ezmlm-idx, each administrative email uses a unique subject that describes the purpose of the email (unlike the default "ezmlm response" subject used by ezmlm-legacy lists). In addition, ezmlm-idx allows you to specify a Subject line prefix for use on all mailing list posts to help subscribers more easily recognize the list emails in their INBOX. If the Subject Prefix selection is enabled, the default prefix is the name of the list [listname]. However, you may modify this text as you wish (such as using it to specify your organization's name, the purpose of the mailing list, etc). To convert your legacy ezmlm lists to ezmlm-idx, please visit your CNC.

Modifying Text in Mailing List Messages

You may edit the text in any of these files to change the look of your mailing list. Simply download the files you want to change to your own computer, edit them with your favorite text editor, and re-upload them in ASCII to where you found them. Remember while you're editing though, do not edit any lines that begin with an exclamation point ( ! ) as these lines are interpreted by the ezmlm software to display dynamic content. The following is a list of the files in the text directory along with a short description of what they do.

NOTE: Some items apply only to ezmlm-idx, not legacy ezmlm, lists where noted. Also, ezmlm-idx offers the ability for moderators to edit the files below via email. For a list of editable files, their use, and instructions for editing, send an email from a moderator address to LISTNAME-edit@lists.EXAMPLE.com (where you replace LISTNAME with your actual list's name and EXAMPLE.COM with the domain name on which the list is operating). Again, this feature ONLY applies to ezmlm-idx, not legacy lists.

bottom

This is the general command info displayed at the bottom of administrative messages, including subscribe, unsubscribe and help.

bounce-bottom

The text displayed at the bottom of a bounced message notice, with the body of the bounced message included below it.

bounce-num

Tells a user which message numbers have been bounced from their address, and explains how to retrieve those specific messages.

bounce-probe

After so many messages to a specific subscriber have bounced, ezmlm will send this probe to determine if their address is functioning. If not, that address will be automatically un-subscribed from the list in order to prevent further bounced messages.

bounce-warn

After so many messages to a specific subscriber have bounced, ezmlm will send this warning to determine if their address is functioning. If not, ezmlm will send a probe to that address (see above listing).

dig-bounce-num (ezmlm-idx)

Explains that digest messages have bounced and provides the message numbers and instructions on how to retrieve the missed messages.

edit-do (ezmlm-idx)

Instructions sent to the remote administrator together with a copy of a text file to be edited and editing instructions.

edit-done (ezmlm-idx)

Sent to the remote administrator after an edited text file has been successfully saved.

edit-list (ezmlm-idx)

A list of editable text files with a one-line description sent to a remote administrator in response to the -edit command.

faq (ezmlm-idx)

Sent in response to the faq command. Usually contains frequently asked questions and answers specific to that mailing list.

get-bad

If a subscriber attempts to retrieve a specific message and that message number does not exist, this is the reply that ezmlm sends the user.

help

The text displayed for a generic help message. Displayed below this text is the text located in bottom (see first listing).

info (ezmlm-idx)

Sent in response to the info command. Usually contains a description of the list, policies, etc.

mod-help (ezmlm-idx)

Sent to moderator in response to help command. It contains instructions for moderators. (Caution: Don't put secrets here.)

mod-reject (ezmlm-idx)

Response to the original sender when a moderator has rejected the post.

mod-request (ezmlm-idx)

The text that is sent to the moderator(s) to request moderator action on a posted message.

mod-sub (ezmlm-idx)

The text added to the subscribe/unsubscribe email for actions that were performed by a moderator. Replaces bottom and the copy of the requesting email which is normally sent in subscribe/unsubscribe emails. Not copying the requesting message hides the moderator identity from the subscriber.

mod-sub-confirm (ezmlm-idx)

Requesting that the moderator confirm a request to subscribe. (If this file does not exist, sub-confirm will be used.)

mod-timeout (ezmlm-idx)

Returned to original sender when the message timed-out without moderator action.

mod-unsub-confirm (ezmlm-idx)

Requesting that the moderator confirm a request to unsubscribe. (If this file does not exist, unsub-confirm will be used.)

post-confirm (ezmlm-idx)

Not implemented at this time.

sub-bad

Text displayed when a user submits an invalid confirmation number for a subscription request. Offers a new confirmation number to the user.

sub-confirm

Text contained in the email sent to the user in response to a subscribe request which instructs them how to confirm their subscription and be added to the list.

sub-nop

Text displayed when a user submits a subscription request for an email address that is already subscribed to that list.

sub-ok

Notifies a new subscriber that their address is now saved to the mailing list.

top

Message shown at the top of all administrative messages, including subscribe, unsubscribe and help.

trailer (ezmlm-idx)

Text added as a footer to all posts sent out from the list.

unsub-bad

Text displayed when a user submits an invalid confirmation number to unsubscribe. Offers a new confirmation number to the user.

unsub-confirm

Text contained in the email sent to the user in response to a unsubscribe request which instructs them how to confirm the request and have their address removed from the list.

unsub-nop

Text displayed when a user submits a request to unsubscribe an email address that is not on that list.

unsub-ok

Notifies a former subscriber that their address is no longer saved on the mailing list.

Adding, Removing, or Viewing Users

ezmlm-sub

Subscribes a specific email address to your mailing list. Type the following at your command prompt, replacing the italicized text with your actual information and user@domain.tld with the email address you want to add to the list:

ezmlm-sub /big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME user@domain.tld

You can subscribe multiple addresses at the same time by simply putting them all on the same line, separated by spaces. For example:

ezmlm-sub /big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME user@domain.tld user2@domain.tld user3@domain.tld

Multiple addresses can also be added to the subscriber list by creating a file with the addresses (one to a line, being sure to press [Enter] after the last address) and issuing the following command:

ezmlm-sub /big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME <FILENAME

Important Note: The above methods to add subscribers do NOT meet the Confirmed Opt-In requirement of the Terms of Service. You will need to retain proof that all subscribers have been added to your list only after they have confirmed their subscription via email.

ezmlm-unsub

Unsubscribes a specific email address from your mailing list. Type the following at your command prompt, replacing the italicized text with your actual information and user@domain.tld with the email address you want to remove from the list:

ezmlm-unsub /big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME user@domain.tld

You can unsubscribe multiple addresses at a time by simply putting them all on the same line, separated by spaces. For example:

ezmlm-unsub /big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME user@domain.tld user2@domain.tld user3@domain.tld

Multiple addresses can also be removed from the subscriber list by creating a file with the addresses (one to a line, being sure to press [Enter] after the last address) and issuing the following command:

ezmlm-unsub /big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME <FILENAME

ezmlm-list

Shows a list of all users subscribed to a specific mailing list with each address on its own line. Type the following at your command prompt, replacing the italicized text with your actual information:

ezmlm-list /big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME

Note for ezmlm-idx lists only (N/A to ezmlm legacy lists): If you have enabled the digest option on an ezmlm-idx list and/or if you are maintaining allow/deny lists, please refer to the ezmlm documentation for additional command options - ezmlm manual

Miscellaneous

Blocking Executable Attachments

To help prevent users from sending executable attachments to an ezmlm mailing list, you can manually edit the 'editor' file for that list. The editor file can be found at:

/big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME/editor
(where the italicized items above are changed to reflect your actual information)

Open the file named editor, either with the text editor in your CNC or a text editor on your local machine. Add the following as the very first line to that file:
| bouncesaying "No executables" /usr/local/fqdeliver/tests/no-exe

You can replace the No executables part to reflect the error message you would like sent to the user.

Save your changes, and be sure to upload the file in ASCII (if the text editor in the CNC was not used).

The above example should bounce any messages sent to your list that have a file attachment where the file extension is any of the following:
.BAT, .CHM, .COM, .EXE, .HLP, .HTA, .LNK, .PIF, .REG, .SCR, .SHS, .VBE, .VBS, .WSF, .WSH

IMPORTANT: When testing, remember to send the email with the exe attachment from an email account that is not blocking .exe attachments itself. Otherwise, you will not receive the bounce. (As always, testing should only be done on a non-production list.)

Warning: If you make manual modifications to your mailing list files, your changes may be overwritten (ie lost) in the future if you edit the list properties using the CNC Mailing List Manager.

Disable Archiving

Below applies ONLY to legacy ezmlm lists (not ezmlm-idx^*):

To disable automatic archiving of messages, delete the file named /archived within the mailing list's directory (/big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME). All messages that were already archived should remain archived, but all future messages will not be saved.

^*Archiving on your ezmlm-idx lists can be managed through the CNC. You can also convert any of your legacy ezmlm lists to ezmlm-idx using your CNC.

Changing Public List to Private

To turn a Public list into a Private list, delete the file named /public within the mailing list's directory (/big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME).. All existing users will remain subscribed, but new subscribers will have to be manually added via telnet/SSH (or through the CNC) - (see ezmlm-sub under Adding, Removing, or Viewing Users). Additionally, subscribers will not have access to the administrative email requests, such as the list-help@lists.domain.tld request nor the requests for retrieving messages from the list archives (for lists maintaining archives).

Modifying Owner Address

This modification will only affect the email address that receives messages sent to listname-owner@lists.yourdomain.tld. It will not change the List Owner (which is the email address messages must be "from" in order to post to Announcement lists).

By default, the List Owner will receive all messages sent to listname-owner@lists.yourdomain.tld.

To change this behavior and have the "owner" emails sent to a different address, you will need to modify the file named owner which is located within the mailing list's directory:
/big/dom/xDOMAIN/USERNAME/LISTNAME

(where the italicized items above are changed to reflect your actual information.)

You can make this change using the text editor in the CNC or by downloading the file and using your favorite text editor.

In the owner file, change ONLY the email address in the line that looks like:

&listowner@example.com

Replace the listowner@example.com part with the email address where you wish to have the "owner" email sent. Make sure that you only change that part and that you leave the & sign!

When finished, save and upload the revised file (if you didn't use the CNC). Note that you may want to make a backup of the original first, renaming it to something like owner.bak. Now whenever a user sends a message to listname-owner@lists.yourdomain.tld, it will be forwarded automatically to your own email box. You may want to set up a special mailbox for this, for example:
listowner@yourdomain.tld

More Information

For additional information on manually working with your ezmlm/idx lists, please refer to the ezmlm/idx manual.