Step-by-Step Guide to Using HealthLink Email Lists

These instructions relate to the HealthLink Lyris list server. Thus there may be some differences when subscribing to lists run by other organisations, however the general principles apply. Lyris have comprehensive information and help about their list server in general on their web site, http://www.lyris.com

List addresses

Please note that the list server has an address, in this case lyris@healthlink.org.za. This is the address to use for all COMMANDS for controlling subscription and getting information about lists. Each list on the list server will have a name (which is usually less than 8 characters and often ends with -L to indicate it is a list rather than a normal email address). For discussion groups or conferences, the list address is made up of the list name and domain. This is the address you use to post messages to everyone on the list.

Example:

Note: When sending commands to the list server, they should be typed in the body of the message. You should leave the subject line blank and NOT include your signature or any other text. To be safe, you can type end on the line below the command, so that the list server ignores anything after this.

Replying to list messages

It is very important when participating in a list, to understand that email from lists may behave differently to normal email, and it can be a source of great embarrasment if you accidentally send a message to a list that is distributed to lots of people, when you only meant to send a message to one person on that list.

Lists generally have two types of default behaviours when it comes to replying to mail from the list:

1. Reply to list - this is common in discussion type lists - even though a message has come from a particular member on the list, when you REPLY to the message the email address inserted in the To field is that of the list, not the individual and your response will go out to everyone on the list.
2. Reply to author - this setting may be used on lists that mostly send information out rather than request discussion. In this case when you REPLY to a message from teh list, the email address inserted in the To field is that of the person who sent that message, and if you wish to contribute something to the list in response to a posting you need to change the To field to the list address.

So, when sending messages, CHECK what email is in the TO field, and CHECK AGAIN!

Help

Help in using HealthLink's lists can be obtained either by sending a blank email to help@lists.healthlink.org.za

or by sending an email to the list server lyris@lists.healthlink.org.za with the word HELP in either the subject or the body

To subscribe to a list

Once you have subscribed to a list, you will regularly receive information from the list, and be able to post messages to the list.

Note: You should subscribe to a list from the email address you want subscribed.

To unsubscribe or remove yourself from a list

Note: With most Lyris lists there is a unique unsubscribe command at the bottom of every message from the list.

To find out what lists are available

To check which lists you are currently subscribed to

To change your list settings

Moderation

When you are on a list you don't normally have to worry about this, but you may sometimes hear the term. If a list is moderated it means that every message sent to the list first goes to the list administrator to be checked that it is appropriate for distribution. Moderation will usually prevent spam messages, personal messages, administrative requests etc being sent to everyone. However if a list is moderated, you will usually notice that it takes longer for your message to come through because it has to wait for someone to check and approve it.

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