FLTeach - Foreign Language Teaching Forum

Listserv Subscriber Options

After subscribing, many FLTEACH Subscriber Options (MAIL, NOMAIL, UNSUB, INDEX, DIGEST, etc.) may be set by sending a command to LISTSERV. For even more information about using less common LISTSERV commands check out the manuals by L-Soft, the company that makes LISTSERV.

Preferred options

Most subscribers use the regular mail options and receive each FLTEACH posting as a separate email to which they can easily reply. It is possible to use your email software's filters to separate this list mail from other mail, into its own folder. This makes it easier to keep track of it and not have to hunt through list messages to find personal mail. The SUBJECTHDR option (see below) can help make it easier to set up a good filter for FLTEACH.

Many prefer to receive all FLTEACH postings in a single DIGEST email each day. The two best formats for DIGEST are MIME and HTML.

MIME will look like plain text but with correct accents. In some email software the MIME Digest messages can be shown as separate attachments or folders, and you may even be able to reply to individual messages.

HTML also displays accents correclty, but is also includes internal links and listings of topics. However some of these internal links do not work properly in many email environments.

A traditional Plain Text DIGEST exists for those who have trouble with MIME or HTML, but it does not handle things like accents well.

Sample MIME Digest / Sample HTML Digest / Sample Plain Text Digest

An INDEX will send you a daily email containing only the subjects and authors of all of the day's FLTEACH posts. Each of these has an associated index number that serves as a reference to the post on the FLTEACH LISTSERV server. Using this number, you can get only the messages that you choose.

HTML INDEX is a popular option for people with a broadband Internet connection. This daily INDEX of messages allows you to click on a message index number to see this mesage in the FLTEACH archives through your web browser. From the archive page, you can also reply to the message or send a new message. Note that for security rerasons you need to be logged into the LISTSERV site with your LISTSERV password to see the addresses of subscribers who sent those messages.

A traditional Plain Text INDEX also exists, but it requires you to send reply to the INDEX email from LISTSERV to order the messages that you want to see. To do this you need to delete the lines pertaining to those mesages that you do not wish to see. The messages ordered will be sent back to you via another email message. Instructions for doing this are included in every INDEX.

Sample HTML Index / Sample Plain Text Index

Each email client is different and may not handle these options in exactly the same way (especially for MIME and HTML DIGETS). You still need to try it with your own email software to be sure how it works for you. Also note that in some email programs, a view pane and an open message window may display such messages differently.

WWW Interface for controlling your subscription

You can also SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, or change any OPTIONS using our WWW interface page. For this to work, you first need to create and confirm an FLTEACH password. It's easy and safe, just follow the directions on the WWW interface page. If you forget your FLTEACH password, you can just make yourself a new one. When using this feature, be sure to type your email address EXACTLY as it appears in your FLTEACH subscription or it will not work.

Email Interface for controlling your subscription

FLTEACH subscribers can change a number of useful LISTSERV subscriber options to control the way their FLTEACH subscription operates. For example, setting FLTEACH to HTML INDEX mode is a common way to deal with the large volume of individual FLTEACH postings by receiving a listing of all daily messages in a single email with hyperlinks to the individual messages.

* Send a message to: LISTSERV@listserv.buffalo.edu
* In the message put only the following: SET FLTEACH HTML INDEX

Send the message just like that--no signature or anything else. You will get a reply from LISTSERV telling you that your subscriber options have been reset.

Here are some other commonly used LISTSERV commands:

SET FLTEACH NODIGEST: Turn off the DIGEST option and return to normal mail (individual separate messages).

SET FLTEACH MIME (or NOMIME): Turn on or off the MIME DIGEST option that displays accents correctly and allows some email readers to explode a digest into separate messages that may appear as attachments.
SET FLTEACH INDEX: To get an INDEX of each day's postings. You can then request individual postings by following the instructions using your email REPLY command. Better yet, use the HTML INDEX to avoid the additional step and access selected messages directly through the web.
SET FLTEACH NOINDEX: Turn off the INDEX option and return to normal mail (individual separate messages).
SET FLTEACH HTML (or NOHTML): Turn on or off the HTML option to put clickable hyperlinks to individual messages in the Digest or Index.
SET FLTEACH SUBJECTHDR: Include the word [FLTEACH] at the beginning of every FLTEACH subject line. Great for helping your email software filter or sort FLTEACH mesages into a separate FLTEACH folder.
SET FLTEACH NOMAIL: Turn off FLTEACH mail temporarily. Also useful for remaining subscribed while you use the web interface to read FLTEACH messages.
SET FLTEACH MAIL: Turn mail back on or change from INDEX or DIGEST to normal mail. If your email host has been having problems, you sometimes might neet to turn your mail back on.
QUERY FLTEACH: Find out how your subscriber options are now set.
UNSUB FLTEACH: Remove your subscription from the LIST
HELP: Get information about available LISTSERV commands.
INFO REFCARD: Get a reference card explaining various LISTSERV commands.

If you need any help setting your subscriber options, please be sure to contact the moderators at FLTEACH@cortland.edu.