Listserv Basics (version 17.5) for List Owners

Navigation

Select a link below to jump to that section:

• Overview
• List Management Drop-down
• List Dashboard Page
• Adding and Removing Subscribers (Managing Subscribers)
• The Subscriber Reports Page
• Changing the List Configuration
• Creating or Changing Your list.msu.edu Password
• Additional Resources and Information

Overview

IT Services provides a central electronic mailing list service at list.msu.edu (link)

The user interface for L-Soft version 17.5, which underlies list.msu.edu, is substantially different than in the previous version. The key differences are:

• Tasks and operations previously accessed by buttons on the mailing list management page are now accessed by way of drop-down menu items, links, and scripting from the menus.
• List Management options are available only after logging in.
• Cookies must be enabled.

The sections below outline basic navigation for the most common tasks. More comprehensive documentation from L-Soft is available from the Welcome page.

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List Management Drop-down

The List Management drop-down provides access to the various tasks involved in managing your lists. Remember that you must be signed in to view these options.

If you do not see this menu, it may be toggled off. Select the > symbol next to Michigan State University to toggle it on:

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List Dashboard Page

Select the List Management drop-down menu item and select List Dashboard.

The dashboard page displays the your mailing lists which you can then work with in a variety of ways. The listings include easy links to the List Configuration Wizard and to the Subscriber Reports pages for each list.

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Adding and Removing Subscribers (Managing Subscribers)

Select Subscriber Management from the List Management drop-down to manage subscribers one by one.

The Subscriber Management page is used for managing a single subscriber. The link for Bulk Operations has moved to the Subscriber Reports page.

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Using the Subscriber Reports option

The Subscriber Reports option allows you to see a list of subscribers along with their settings, and to make changes either individually or in bulk. The Subscriber Reports option is found below List Management on the left menu.

If you own multiple lists and are not already working with a particular list, after clicking Subscriber Reports you may need to choose a list from the dropdown menu to proceed.

From this page you can add someone to the list. Follow the example below the Add Subscriber box and add the person’s email address followed by their name. If you want them to receive a notification that they have been added, you can check the “Send Email Notification” checkbox. Then click the Add Subscriber button.

If instead you click on the words “Bulk Operations” above the Add Subscriber box you will be taken to the Bulk Operations feature. You will need to have a plain text file of addresses that you wish to either add, remove, or use to replace the current subscriber list.

Note: A “plain text” file is NOT a Word file or rich text file. It is a Notepad file. Each line should contain an email address optionally followed by first name and last name. If you have an Excel spreadsheet with a column for email address, a column for first name, and a column for last name, rearrange them so that the email address is on the left, followed by the first name and then the last name. Then copy that group of three columns to a Notepad.

The rest of the Subscriber Reports page is a listing of your list’s subscribers, along with their subscription options. You can search for a particular subscriber and click on them to be taken to the Subscription Management page to work with their subscription. If the list is long, you can use the filter at the top of the column and begin typing in part of their name or address. As you type, the list of subscribers shown will be narrowed down to show only the subscribers whose email address or name contains the string you have typed.

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Changing the List Configuration

List configuration, such as adding another owner, may be changed by using either the List Configuration Wizard or by selecting List Configuration Tasks from the List Management drop-down. The Wizard also displays if you select the corresponding Configuration link on the Dashboard page.

Common tasks include (may be done using either a Wizard, or Task):

• Edit list description info
• Add other Administrators
  • Owner
  • Configuration owner
  • Editor
  • Moderator
  • Error and Notify specifications
• Change Digest settings

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Creating or Changing Your list.msu.edu Password

First-time users must set a password by following the corresponding link on the log-in pages.

Existing users who wish to change their password can simply follow the link on the list.msu.edu log-in page.

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Additional Resources and Information

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