LISTSERV - Common Lists Tasks for Owners

Overview

This article provides instructions for accessing LISTSERV and using both email and the web interface to communicate with LISTSERV.

Accessing LISTSERV

You can perform actions in LISTSERV by sending a command through email or using the Web interface (link). Some commands are only available to LISTSERV administrators and list owners while other commands are available to subscribers and non-subscribers as well.

Using the Web Interface to Communicate with LISTSERV (Recommended)

Sending email messages containing commands to LISTSERV and posting messages to the list is sometimes confusing for people who are new to mailing lists. To simplify this process, the Web interface provides a centralized location for interaction with LISTSERV. You can use the Web interface to issue commands directly to LISTSERV and post simple messages to the list.

To access the Web interface, visit https://listserv.hawaii.edu/ and sign in using your email address (example@hawaii.edu). First time users must submit an account request by registering a password.

Using Email to Communicate with LISTSERV

There are two main email addresses that are used to work with LISTSERV lists. One is to communicate with the LISTSERV program — a “command address.” The other is used to post mail to the list — the “list address.” If you want to change a list configuration or subscription setting, email listserv@lists.hawaii.edu. If you want to post a message to the list, email the list address (ex: examplelist-l@lists.hawaii.edu). 

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Common Tasks

Web Interface (Recommended)

Adding a Subscriber

To add one subscriber at a time:

  1. Under the List Management options in the navigation pane on the left, click on Subscriber Reports
  2. Select the list you would like to manage from the drop-down menu
  3. In the text field beneath Add Subscriber, enter the email address you would like added to the list
  4. Click the Add Subscriber button

Remove a Subscriber

To remove one subscriber at a time:

  1. Under the List Management options in the navigation pane on the left, click on Subscriber Reports
  2. Select the list you would like to manage from the drop-down menu
  3. Click the checkbox next to each subscriber’s address to select them. If you need to search for specific subscribers, the search bar underneath the Subscribers column header can be used to filter email addresses
  4. Once all subscribers that need to be deleted have been selected, click on Delete Subscribers at the bottom of the page
  5. A message will appear asking if you are sure you would like to delete the selected subscribers
  6. Press Delete to confirm
  7. Verify that the subscribers no longer exist by searching for them

Adding or Removing Multiple Subscribers

To make add or removed multiple subscribers at once:

  1. Create a text (.txt) file with the subscribers you want to add to or remove from the list. The file should contain one email address, optionally followed by the subscriber's first and last name separated by a space, per line. (e.g. jdoe@hawaii.edu John Doe)
  2. Under the List Management options in the navigation pane on the left, click on Subscriber Reports
  3. Select the list you would like to manage from the drop-down menu
  4. Click on Bulk Operations
  5. Select the option corresponding to the action you would like to take, click Choose File, and upload the text file you created in Step 1 using the resulting prompt
  6. Click on the Import button to add or remove the subscriber(s). Some text in blue should appear detailing the changes made to your list

Email

If you are used to using email to make changes to your list, you can continue to do so. To issue commands to LISTSERV:

  1. Compose an email to listserv@lists.hawaii.edu 
  2. The Subject line should remain blank
  3. The body of the message should contain only commands to LISTSERV with one command per line
    • Lines containing non-commands will result in an error message being returned
    1. Be careful not to include your signature in your email if you have one set up, as LISTSERV will attempt to interpret the signature text as commands and return “Invalid command” errors

Obtain a List of All Public Mailing List on the UH Server

  • In the Body of the email, enter list

Adding a Subscriber

  • In the Body of the email, enter add listname-l username@hawaii.edu FirstName LastName

Removing a Subscriber

  • In the Body of the email, enter delete listname-l username@hawaii.edu

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Configuring Lists

To make changes to your list configuration:

  1. Under the List Management options in the navigation pane on the left, click on List Configuration
  2. Select the list you would like to manage from the drop-down menu
  3. Make the desired changes to your list settings and click on Update

See LISTSERV - Common List Configurations (link)

Changing List Ownership

Whenever your career ends at the University, or you are no longer managing a list, it is highly advised to transfer ownership of the LISTSERV:

  1. From the LISTSERV home page (link), click on Log In in the top-right corner and sign in using your email address and LISTSERV password
  2. On the far left, click the arrow next to University of Hawai'i LISTSERV
  3.  On the List Configuration page, select the list that you are modifying from the drop-down menu below Select List
  4. Enter the email address(es) of the new owner(s) with one address per line, review the address(es) entered for typos, and click on Update when done
  5. Notes:
    • If you only own one list, it will be selected by default.
    • Any owner listed under "Quiet:" will have list management rights, but will not receive any delivery error or administrative mail from LISTSERV.
    • If you are removing yourself as an owner, once you click on submit you will immediately lose access to manage the list. Be sure this is what you want to do!
    • Only a LISTSERV site administrator can add other lists as owners of a list

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