The mailing list creation tool is Sympa's web interface. However, this web feature has only been available from version 2.7 onwards. Users of previous versions will need to create new lists using their favorite text file editor.
This chapter describe how to create a mailing list without using
web tools. See 12, page ![[*]](crossref.png)
for
instructions on the use of WWSympa, which is no doubt the easier method.
The only part of list creation requiring system privileges is the declaration of new system-wide mail aliases. All the other steps should be performed by the sympa user, which will ensure that the files created have the correct access permissions.
For each new list, it is necessary to create three mail aliases (the location of the sendmail alias file varies from one system to another).
For example, to create the mylist list, the following aliases must be added:
mylist: "|/home/sympa/bin/queue mylist" mylist-request: "|/home/sympa/bin/queue mylist-request" mylist-editor: "|/home/sympa/bin/queue mylist-editor" mylist-owner: "|/home/sympa/bin/bouncequeue mylist mylist-subscribe: "|/home/sympa/bin/queue mylist-subscribe" mylist-unsubscribe: "|/home/sympa/bin/queue mylist-unsubscribe"
The address mylist-request should correspond to the person responsible for managing mylist (the owner). Sympa will forward messages for mylist-request to the owner of mylist, as defined in the ~sympa/expl/mylist/config file. Using this feature means you would not need to modify the alias file if the owner of the list were to change.
Similarly, the address mylist-editor can be used to contact the list editors if any are defined in ~sympa/expl/mylist/config. This address definition is not compulsory.
The address mylist-owner is the address receiving
non-delivery reports. The bouncequeue program stores these messages
in the queuebounce directory. WWSympa ((see 1.2, page )
may then analyze them and provide a web access to them.
The address mylist-subscribe is an address enabling users to subscribe in a manner which can easily be explained to them. Beware: subscribing this way is so straightforward that you may find spammers subscribing to your list by accident.
The address mylist-unsubscribe is the equivalent for unsubscribing. By the way, the easier it is for users to unsubscribe, the easier it will be for you to manage your list!
Each list has its own directory whose name defines the list name. We recommend creating it with the same name as the alias. This directory is located in ~sympa/expl (or any other home which you might have defined in the/etc/sympa.conf file).
Here is a list of files/directories you may find in the list directory :
archives/ bye.tpl config info invite.tpl homepage message.header message.footer reject.tpl remind.tpl removed.tpl stats subscribers welcome.tpl
The configuration file for the mylist list is named ~sympa/expl/mylist/config. Sympa reads it into memory the first time the list is referred to. This file is not rewritten by Sympa, so you may put comment lines in it. It is possible to change this file when the program is running. Changes are taken into account the next time the list is accessed. Be careful to provide read access for Sympa to this file !
You will find a few configuration files in the sample directory. Copy one of them to ~sympa/expl/mylist/config and customize it.
List configuration parameters are described in the list creation section, 13, page .
This first example is for a list open to everyone:
subject First example (an open list) visibility noconceal owner email Pierre.David@prism.uvsq.fr send public review public
The second example is for a moderated list with authenticated subscription:
subject Second example (a moderated list) visibility noconceal owner email moi@ici.fr editor email big.prof@ailleurs.edu send editor subscribe auth review owner reply_to_header value list cookie 142cleliste
The third example is for a moderated list, with subscription controlled by the owner, and running in digest mode. Subscribers who are in digest mode receive messages on Mondays and Thursdays.
owner email moi@ici.fr editor email prof@ailleurs.edu send editor subscribe owner review owner reply_to_header value list digest 1,4 12:00
WARNING: Sympa will not use this file if the list is configured with include or database user_data_source.
The ~sympa/expl/mylist/subscribers file is automatically created and populated. It contains information about list subscribers. It is not advisable to edit this file. Main parameters are:
E-mail address of subscriber.
Information about subscriber (last name, first name, etc.) This parameter is optional at subscription time.
digestBORDER="0"
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ALT="$\vert$">
digestBORDER="0"
SRC="img6.png"
ALT="$\vert$">
"
ALT="$<file name>, <date value>$">)
Update certificate revocation lists (CRL) which are expired or will expire before the date value. The file stores the CRL's URLs.
Model files may have a scenario-like title line at the beginning.
When you change a configuration file by hand, and a task parameter is created or modified, it is up to you to remove existing task files in the task/ spool if needed. Task file names have the following format :
<date>.<label>.<model name>.<list name | global> where :
title.fr mise a jour quotidienne des listes de révocation title.us daily certificate revocation list update title.hu napi frissítése a hitelesítési bizonylatok visszavonásának /ACTION update_crl (CA_list, [execution_date]+1d) next ([execution_date] + 1d, ACTION)