Eczema Mailing List - Help for Subscribers

Help for Subscribers

5. Using the List Archives

6. Contacting the Eczema Mailing List Owners

1. Getting Started

Getting started with the Eczema Mailing List (the "List") is as simple as sending and receiving any e-mail, but please read the Rules and Guidelines for Posting before sending a message.

1.1 Important E-mail and Web Addresses

You should note somewhere both the e-mail address and the full name under which you are subscribed to the List. You are identified on the List by this e-mail address.

1.1.1 Important e-mail addresses

There are three e-mail addresses that you will use (note: the addresses are not case-sensitive). You should add these addresses to the address book of your e-mail program:

eczema@listserv.icors.org -- to send messages to the other subscribers, in other words, to the "List".
listserv@listserv.icors.org -- to send commands to the computer that runs the List when you want to change your subscription options.
eczema-unsubscribe-request@listserv.icors.org -- to sign off from the List.
eczema-request@listserv.icors.org -- to contact a List Owner about a question or problem concerning the administration of the List.

It is important that you do not confuse these three addresses.

1.1.2 Important Web addresses

You should bookmark these important Web addresses:

http://website.lineone.net/~eczema

http://website.lineone.net/~eczema/charter.htm

http://website.lineone.net/~eczema/guidelines.htm

http://website.lineone.net/~eczema/help.htm

http://listserv.icors.org/archives/eczema.html

From ECZEMA@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG you can access the List archives, as well as leave the List or change your subscription options.

Read on and hopefully all will become clear.

1.2 Receiving Messages from the List

You will soon begin receiving messages sent to the List from other subscribers. You do not need to do anything further to receive messages.

New subscribers are set initially to receive what is called the "Digest". This is a single message that is sent out once a day that combines all the messages sent to the List in the previous 24 hours. You may change this subscription option if you wish to receive messages individually.

If you do not receive your first Digest within a day or two of receiving the confirmation that you have been subscribed to the List, contact a List owner.

1.3 Sending Messages to the List

To send a message to all the other subscribers, simply e-mail your message to:

eczema@listserv.icors.org

Your message will be automatically distributed to the List subscribers and added to the daily Digest.

You may also send messages to the List by using the Reply feature of your e-mail program to reply to a message from the List. If you receive the Digest form of the List, you must take care not to quote the entire Digest in your message when using Reply. You also will need to edit the subject field of your message to insert a new subject or the subject of the message to which you are replying.

2. Managing Your Subscription

You are expected to manage your own subscription to the List. This is not complicated, as there are only a few instances where you need do anything either to change your subscription options or to sign off (leave) the List.

2.1 Understanding Your Subscription Options

Subscription options are settings that determine how, and if, you receive e-mail from the List. Your options are initially set to a default that you may change. The most important of these options are:

2.1.1 MAIL/NOMAIL

This is the subscription option that you will change most often. Your subscription is set initially to MAIL, which means that you receive e-mail from the List. You may set this option to NOMAIL, which will suspend e-mail delivery without unsubscribing you from the List. Setting the option back to MAIL resumes delivery.

Setting your subscription temporarily to NOMAIL is useful if, for example, you will be on holiday, or if you simply want a break from the daily e-mail. With your subscription set to NOMAIL, you may still read the messages to the List in the archives and may even send messages to the List.

Note: If you do not suspend e-mail from the List when you are away, your mailbox may become full and any e-mail sent to you will not be delivered. This may also cause Listserv to automatically delete your subscription.

2.1.2 DIGEST/NODIGEST

Your subscription is set initally to DIGEST. This means that you receive one e-mail a day that contains all the messages sent to the List during the previous 24 hours. You may choose instead to have messages delivered individually by setting your subscription to NODIGEST. There are usually between 10 and 20 messages a day sent to the list.

If you receive messages individually, instead of in the Digest, you may find it easier to focus on messages of interest, as well as to reply to messages. With most e-mail programs in use today, you can create a folder for messages from the List, then create a filter or rule that automatically moves new messages from the List to this folder when they are delivered, so that they do not fill up your InBox.

You may choose to receive the Digest in MIME format, if your e-mail program supports MIME digests, which few do at this point. You may also choose to receive the Digest in HTML (Web-like) format, but this is not recommended, as the HTML Digests are much larger than the plain-text version and it is more difficult to reply to messages.

2.1.3 FULLHDR/SUBJECTHDR

Your subscription is initially set to FULLHDR (Full Header), which refers to the contents of the header of messages from the list. The only change that you may wish to make in this option is to set it to SUBJECTHDR (Subject Header), which will insert "[ECZEMA]" at the beginning of the subject line of messages from the list. This is especially usefully if you receive the List messages individually.

2.2 Talking to Listserv

To manage your subscription, you need to communicate with Listserv. Listserv is the software that runs the List and is hosted by ICORS, a non-profit charity. You "talk" to Listserv either by using the Web services at ICORS or by using E-mail. In either case, you will sometimes need to confirm an instruction you give Listserv before Listserv will carry out the instruction.

After you issue an instruction that requires confirmation, Listserv will e-mail you a confirmation message, which includes instructions. Usually, you will be able to confirm either by clicking on a Web address in the message or by replying by e-mail. If you use the Web method, a page should open in your Web browser that displays a message from Listserv verifying that your instruction has been carried out. If you reply by e-mail, you will receive the same message from Listserv in an e-mail message.

Note: You cannot confirm by using the Web if you use Web mail, such as HotMail or Yahoo Mail, for your subscription.

2.3 Registering and Using a Listserv Password

You must have a Listserv password to:

access the List archives on the Web
send messages to the List from the Web
change the e-mail address used for your subscription

You do not need a password to leave the list or change your subscription options.

2.3.1 Registering a Listserv password

You may create a password by clicking on the "Register a Listserv password" link on the ECZEMA@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG home page. You will be asked to enter a password and an e-mail address. This must be the address that you use to receive mailings from the Eczema Mailing List.

Or, you may e-mail listserv@listserv.icors.org. In the body of the message, type "PW REP EnterYourPassword" (without the quotes) and nothing else. Send this message from the e-mail address used for your subscription.

Or, you may create a password from the login screen that you will see the first time you use a Web service requiring a password.

Either way, Listserv will e-mail you a confirmation message.

You may change your Listserv password at any time by going through the steps to register a password again. If you forget your password, you will need to create a new password.

In order to protect the privacy of the List, do not reveal your password to anyone.

Note: If you are subscribed to other mailing lists hosted at ICORS, you may use one password for all lists, provided that you use the same e-mail address for all the subscriptions.

2.3.2 Saving your Listserv password on your computer

The first time that you use a Web service requiring a password, you will be prompted with a login screen where you enter your e-mail address and password. You have the option at this point to save your password in a "cookie". A cookie is a bit of text that is saved in a special file created by your browser on your computer.

If you choose to save your password, you will not need to login every time you use the Web services. This only works, though, if you are using the same computer and same browser that you were using when you chose to save the password. If you choose not to save your password, you will need to login to use the Web services. You also will be prompted to login again every 15 minutes, when your authentication expires.

It is a personal preference whether or not to save a password in a cookie. While the Web services are easier to use if you do, it also allows anyone using the computer on which the password is saved to access the Web services under your login. So, you might not want to save your password on a computer that you use at work, for example, but do choose to save it on the computer you use at home.

Note: Even if you have saved your password, Listserv does not automatically log you in, when you access the services to leave the list or change your subscription options.

3. Using the Web Services to Manage Your Subscription

An easy way to manage your subscription is by using the Web services at:

http://listserv.icors.org/archives/eczema.html

Use of the Web services is fairly self-explanatory with instructions and help on each page. You can use the Web services from any computer and any of the Internet accounts that you have, as long as you provide the e-mail address used for your subscription when prompted and, for some services, your Listserv password.

3.1 Leaving the list or changing your subscription options

Clicking on the "Join or leave list, or change subscription options" link will take you to a form from which you can unsubscribe from the List or change your subscription options. Instructions are provided on the form.

You do not need a Listserv password to use this Web form. You also may choose not to login, even though you may have a Listserv password. If you do not have a password or do not login, Listserv will e-mail you a confirmation message.

If you do have a Listserv password, you have the option of logging in by clicking the "login with your LISTSERV password" link on the form. If you login, changes you make, including unsubscribing from the List, take effect immediately without e-mail confirmation.

3.2 Examples of changing your subscription options

Here are two examples of how to use the Web form to change your subscription to NOMAIL without and with logging in.

Example 1: Set NOMAIL without logging in.

Fill in your e-mail address and name on the form, then check the "Mail delivery disabled temporarily [NOMAIL]" box at the bottom of the form. Then, click the "Join the list" button. The page will redisplay with a message saying that you have been sent a confirmation message to which you need to reply before the change in your subscription option will take effect.

Example 2: Set NOMAIL with logging in.

Click on the "login with your LISTSERV password" link. If you have saved your password, the form will redisplay with the confirmation that you are subscribed to the List. If not, the login screen will appear. Fill in your e-mail address and password, then click the "Login" button after which the "Join or leave the list" page redisplays. Then, check the "Mail delivery disabled temporarily [NOMAIL]" box at the bottom of the form and click the "Update options" button. The page will redisplay with a message confirming that your subscription options have been changed.

3.3 Changing the e-mail address of your subscription

You may use the Web services to change the e-mail address that is used for your subscription, but:

you must have access to both the "old" e-mail account and the "new" e-mail account.
you must have registered a Listserv password.

From the ECZEMA@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG home page, click on the "Join or leave list, or change subscription options" link to access the "Join or leave list" form. Click on the "login with your LISTSERV password" link. Login, if necessary, using the e-mail address currently used for your subscription. Enter your new e-mail address on the "Join or leave list" form. Click the "Update options" button.

The page will redisplay with the message that Listserv is e-mailing a confirmation message to the new address. Upon confirmation, the change will take effect. All your subscription settings will be copied, except for your Listserv password. You will need to set a new password for the new account.

Note: If you do not have access to both your "old" and "new" e-mail addresses, contact a List owner to have your e-mail address changed.

4. Using E-mail to Manage Your Subscription

4.1 Leaving the list

To leave the list, send a blank e-mail to:

eczema-unsubscribe-request@listserv.icors.org

You will be removed from the List immediately. If you wish to say goodbye to the people on the List, you must first do so in a separate message to the List.

4.2 Changing your subscription options

You may manage your subscription by sending e-mail messages to Listserv at:

listserv@listserv.icors.org

You put some simple commands, and only commands, in the body of your message. You do not need to put anything in the subject line.

You must send e-mail to Listserv from the e-mail address under which you are subscribed. This is how Listserv identifies you. This address will normally be the address to which messages from the list are delivered. After issuing some commands to Listserv, you will receive a confirmation message to which you need to reply in order for the commands to take effect.

Note: Although the commands are shown below in upper case they may be entered in either upper case or lower case.

Send the following commands to change your subscription options.

SET ECZEMA NOMAIL -- to temporarily suspend getting messages from the List

SET ECZEMA MAIL -- to resume receiving messages from the List.

SET ECZEMA NODIGEST -- to receive the messages sent to the List individually.

SET ECZEMA DIGEST -- to switch back to the digest form of the List.

SET ECZEMA SUBJECTHDR -- to have "[ECZEMA]" inserted at beginning of subject line.

QUERY ECZEMA -- to see what your current subscription options are.

4.3 Changing the e-mail address of your subscription

You may change the e-mail address that is used for your subscription, but:

you must have access to both the "old" e-mail account and the "new" e-mail account.
you must have registered a Listserv password.

Send the command:

CHANGE ECZEMA newaddress PW=YourListservPassword

from the e-mail address currently used for your subscription.

Listserv will send a confirmation message to the new address. Upon confirmation, the change will take effect. All your subscription settings will be copied, except for your Listserv password. You will need to set a new password for the new account.

Note: If you do not have access to both your "old" and "new" e-mail addresses, contact a List owner to have your e-mail address changed.

4.4 Getting files from Listserv

You may get a copy of the Eczema Mailing List FAQ, the List Charter, and the Rules and Guidelines for Posting e-mailed to you from Listserv. You also may get List archive files, called LOG files.

Use the following commands:

GET ECZEMA FILELIST - to get a list of files available. The listing provides the name of the file that must be used to get the file itself.

GET ECZEMA filename - to get a regular file.

GET ECZEMA logname PW=YourListservPassword- to get one of the archive files. You must have a Listserv password to get archive files.

The archive files are currently generated for a weekly period. The files are named LOGYYMMW, where YY=year, MM=month, and W=week. Listserv begins counting weeks from the first day of a month and letters the weeks A, B, C, D, E. So, "log0001c" is the archive of all messages sent to the list the third week of January 2000.

Note: The version of the FAQ on the server may not be as up to date as the version on the Web site.

4.5 Quick links for e-mailing Listserv

If supported by your Web browser and e-mail program, you may click on the following links to generate an e-mail message to send to Listserv.

Signoff (leave) the list
Set subscription to NOMAIL
Set subscription to MAIL
Set subscription to NODIGEST
Set subscription to DIGEST
Set subscription to SUBJECTHDR
Set subscription to FULLHDR
Get current subscription options
Get list of files available

5. Using the List Archives

The List archives are a set of files containing the messages sent to the List for at least the last two years. They contain a wealth of information and may answer many of your questions about eczema. You may view and search the archives at:

http://listserv.icors.org/archives/eczema.html

Access to the List archives is available only to current subscribers. Therefore, you must have a Listserv password to view the archives. If you have not saved your password, you will be prompted to login.

To view the messages in an archive file, simply click on the link under "Browse the List Archives". (You may be prompted to login.) Newer archive files cover a week; older files cover a month. After clicking on an archive file, you may then review the list of messages contained in that file and select to view any message that interests you. You may choose to change the way messages are sorted and displayed in the messages list by clicking on the links at the top of the archive file page.

To search the archive files, click on the "Search the archives" link. You may search the entire set of archive files. For help searching, click on any of the links on the search page. You may be prompted to login when you initiate the search.

6. Contacting the Eczema Mailing List Owners

If you have any questions, problems, or comments pertaining to the administration of the Eczema Mailing List, send an e-mail message to:

eczema-request@listserv.icors.org

You will receive an automated reply from ListServ, but your message will be forwarded to a real person. Do not send such messages to the Eczema Mailing List or directly to ListServ.

Note: The List Owners are fellow eczema sufferers who volunteer their time to administer the Eczema Mailing List. The List Owners are not qualified to privately answer questions about eczema and its treatment. You should post all such questions to the List.