Chebucto Suite Mailing List Administration

NAME - Mailing List Administration

OVERVIEW

CSuite uses a series of shell scripts to create an interface through which the administration of mailing lists (creation and updating/modification) is handled. The creation of mailing lists is usually controlled by a (volunteer) mailing list administrator. The shell scripts provide, on a temporary basis, the necessary system/file privileges to permit the actual creation of files in restricted system areas.

USER VIEW

Users request a new mailing list by using the browser to complete an on-line html/cgi form.

As distributed, CSuite is configured to reject forms that are not submitted by a user who is logged in to the community network. As a result a visitor accessing a community network site from the WWW is not permitted to submit a request.

The user is asked for:

+ the list sponsor - (Private or Information Provider)
+ who will be responsible for administering the list (the list owner)
+ the proposed name of the list
+ a short description: This appears when someone requests the listing of mailing lists maintained at the site by the mailing list server (majordomo)
+ a temporary password
+ whether the list is to be moderated
+ whether the list will be open or close: ...and if closed - a reason why a closed list has been requested
+ whether the list will be public or private: ...and if private - a reason why a private list has been requested
+ a long description of the list: This will be transmitted to new subscribers. Users are offered a link to examples of this info.

Users are able to use html links to access additional information about the terminology and the information required for each selection.

After processing the request, the proposed owner of the mailing list is sent a mail message confirming receipt of the request.

If an Information Provider request is received from anyone other than the IP 'Webmaster', mail is also sent to this individuals requesting approval/confirmation of the request.

ADMINISTRATIVE VIEW

Creating a Mailing List

Requests for mailing lists are stored on the system in a /spool directory and the mailing list administrator is notified by e-mail of the request.

The mailing list administrator uses a html/cgi form interface to select requests for processing.

The mailing list administrator is presented with the information provided by the user and is able to edit/revise this information as appropriate. Typically this might involve an ammendment to the list name if, (...as an example) the site has a policy of lower case letters separated by '-'s and the user submitted a request for a list named "My List" which would become "my-name".

The mailing list administrator is able to:

request clairification or additional information,
approve,
or decline approval of the request.

The mailing list administrator can if desired offer comments which are returned by email to the proposed list owner along with notification of the action taken. (I usually say "_good_luck"...;-)

Updating a Mailing List

***This is a new function, the script is currently (July 1996) being revised/tested***

IMPLEMENTATION

The creation of mailing lists involves three shell scripts:

mdml-request Request a mailing list.
mdml-create Process a request for a mailing list.
mkmdml Shell script called by mdml-create

Mailing list updates are handled by:

mdml-update Update a mailing list..