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switching_email_list_server_for_lctg

Switching eMail List Server for LCTG

How it used to be, using Yahoo Groups

  • Yahoo Groups email list
  • Yahoo Groups maintained history of email messages
  • Yahoo Groups held posted presentation files
  • We had thought about switching away, always too much trouble, no real reason to switch
  • Steve set up a Wiki page containing presentation videos and materials
  • Everything was working OK and we could worry about other things (what's for dinner, etc)

So why did we need to change away from Yahoo Groups?

  • Yahoo pushed the point!
  • They announced they'd stop providing many services late last year (2019)
  • They'll stop storing email messages and delete older ones
  • They'll stop allowing file storage and delete ones stored
  • They'll change the way the email list works and how it's managed
  • As of the end of 2019, they have deleted all files and message history from YahooGroups

What Could We Do?

When we learned this what YahooGroups was planning…

  • We formed committee to discuss alternatives
  • Groups.io and Steve's Mailman service & Wiki were considered
  • We perceived costs associated with switching to Groups.io
  • We noted No costs other than sweat for switching to Steve's Mailman and Wiki
  • Steve was willing to put in the sweat to effect the switch
  • Committee decided to give Steve's option a try
  • Committee agreed that we could switch to another option later

How was the transfer effected?

Protect the past and set up for the future

First...Just-In-Case actions

  • Steve grabbed a list of YahooGroup emails and names
  • CharlyS grabbed the presentation files from YahooGroup
  • Steve grabbed the entire YahooGroup message history

And we have a bunch of files. Now need to make them useful and replace YahooGroup functionality.

Set Up the Replacement Mail List

We had a list of all members on the YahooGroups list.

  • Created a domain LCTG.toku.us
    • actually it's a Subdomain of toku.us
    • Note that toku.us is a domain owned by Steve, it can be short for “TO Keep Up with US” (maybe?)
  • Created an email list, LCTG@lists.toku.us
  • Configured the email list settings
  • Converted the email addresses CSV file from YahooGroups to a list consisting of name person@email.com needed for Mailman
    • Banned members - some were banned on YahooGroup, and were set as banned on Mailman
    • Digest - some members had daily digests of messages on YahooGroup, set this for them on Mailman
  • Did a bulk add of all emails into Mailman using this converted file

At this point, the email list was operational.

Tweak it

After it was deployed (put into operation), Steve made tweaks (fixes, improvements) to the configuration, for example:

  • Remove/eliminate bounce processing
  • Changed email header line to [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] (from [LCTG])
  • Set moderators as Steve, CharlyS, and JohnR. What are moderator's duties?
    • Moderate (approve or deny) posts by non-list-members (e.g. spam)
    • Process and approve (or not) requests to join the email list (also prevents improper use)
    • This is a low-overhead job (maybe 1 join request/month, maybe 3-4 message moderates/year)
    • Anyone else want to be a Moderator?

Posted Files from Older Presentations

We had a directory with zillions (figuratively) of files from presentations, want to make 'em available somehow

  • Wanted ease of use to see what's there and access stuff you want
  • Decided to put these files in the Wiki
    • decided against FTP server
    • decided against using cloud storage e.g., Google, Dropbox
  • Uploaded presentation files from 2007 to 2018 to the Wiki
  • Created a Wiki page that…
    • shows all of the files by year
    • links to each so you can view or download them by clicking
  • Linked to this page to the LCTG main page on the Wiki
  • Note that recent presentation files are on the Wiki and not on this “older files” page

What About the Email Message Archive?

  • We have a large file holding old email list messages (100MB+)
  • Messages are in a raw format, hard to read by most humans
  • Message file needs processing before you can search and read messages (unless you are a Super Whiz)
  • (See an extract below)
  • We are not doing anything with these for now
  • If you would like a copy of this message archive, let me know
  • If you would like to help process the messages or extract useful ones, let me know
  • But is it worthwhile? Is there sufficient benefit?

LCTG Information Page -- the Wiki [[http://LCTG.toku.us]]

  • Nearly 2 years ago, Steve created a Wiki page holding information:
    • About the computer group (LCTG)
    • About upcoming meetings
    • About past meetings with link to video recording and presentation slides and other materials
  • Over time he has enhanced this Wiki:
    • Adding info on how to join the group
    • How to see past email messages (Mailman system)
    • How to access past presentations

Using the New Technology

Using the current (new) system; you'll find the links here at the bottom of every email you get from the list.

Email list

  • Send to the list – send email (from a subscribed email address) to LCTG@toku.us or LCTG@lists.toku.us
    • Sends from non-subscribed email are Moderated
  • Reply to messages – go to sender of message only
  • Reply to message going to everyone – Reply All
  • View message archives – go to http://lists.toku.us/listinfo.cgi/lctg-toku.us
  • Sign up for the email list – send email to LCTG-subscribe@toku.us (this can be you if you're not on the list, or a friend) and include
    • your full name
    • town where you live
    • brief intro and why you're interested in the group, and
    • topics you might present to the group
  • Get off the email list – send email to LCTG-unsubscribe@toku.us from the email account you want to unsubscribe
  • Change your subscription
    • see the link to see/change your list options, at the bottom of emails sent to you
    • For example: http://lists.toku.us/options.cgi/lctg-toku.us/SuperWhiz@gmail.com (if you are subscribed as SuperWhiz@gmail.com)
    • On this, your membership (subscription options) page, you can
      • get your list password sent to you
      • change your list password
      • change your email address
      • turn on/off batch (digest) mode
      • turn on/off message delivery
      • get an acknowledgement whenever you send to the list

Presentation files

Behind The Curtains

Some more technical information for those with inquiring minds

The email list CSV format (example) received from YahooGroups

"Display Name",Email,Status,Delivery,Posting,Joined
johndoe,JohnnieDoe@yahoo.com,Member,"Individual Emails",Allowed,"August 31, 2011"
Albert Einstein,SuperWhiz@gmail.com,Member,"Individual Emails",Allowed,"November 13, 1938"
Dinald Trimp,bigguy@twh.gov,Member,"Daily Digest",Allowed,"January 20, 2017"

What it was changed to for entry to the new system

johndoe <JohnnieDoe@yahoo.com>
Albert Einstein <SuperWhiz@gmail.com>
Dinald Trimp <bigguy@twh.gov>

After the email addresses were read into Mailman, Steve manually changed subscriptions for those banned and those getting a daily digest.

Wiki page extract

Here's what part of the LCTG Wiki page looks like (the table holding past and upcoming meetings)

^ Date^ Topic^
|Jan 1, 2020|//New Year's Day -- no meeting//\\ Your homework this week is to pray (to whichever deity you prefer) for health, wealth, and happiness in the new year.|
|Jan 8, 2020| **Ig Nobel 2019 Awards** //awards for dubious inventions// (Peter Albin)  [[https://youtu.be/mfzs8ZIPVIA|presentation]] [[https://www.improbable.com/}|link to Improbable Research page]]|

How Mailman is Administered?

The list administrator can make changes to the way the list operates and membership data. The user interface provides many pages grouped by function:

  • General Options
    • See/change Group name, Administrators, Moderators, Descriptions of group, [ ] message tag, etc
  • Membership management
    • List management (manually unsubscribe, set moderation, don't sent messages to, etc, for specific members)
    • Subscribing and removing members
  • Archiving options (our messages are archived, available only to members, creating a new volume of messages every month)

Opening PDFs

A How-To, from Gary Patrick

  • Click on the 3-dot “Customize Chrome” icon near the upper right corner of any Chrome page.
  • Select “settings” and open the “Advanced” portion at the very bottom.
  • In “Privacy and Security,” scroll down to and click on “PDF documents.”
  • Slide the “Download PDF files . . ” button to “Off.”

Extract from messages archive, 101.1MB total

This shows that the archive isn't really useful as it stands.

From DummyAddressAndDate Thu Sep 16 11:42:17 2010
X-Yahoo-Msgnum: 1
Return-Path: <jeplewis@yahoo.com>
X-Sender: jeplewis@yahoo.com
X-Apparently-To: LexingtonComputerGroup@yahoogroups.com
Received: (qmail 85934 invoked from network); 5 Sep 2007 21:42:57 -0000
Received: from unknown (66.218.66.72)
  by m43.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 5 Sep 2007 21:42:57 -0000
Received: from unknown (HELO n10b.bullet.sp1.yahoo.com) (69.147.64.104)
  by mta14.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 5 Sep 2007 21:42:57 -0000
Received: from [216.252.122.218] by n10.bullet.sp1.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 05 Sep 2007 21:41:51 -0000
Received: from [66.218.69.2] by t3.bullet.sp1.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 05 Sep 2007 21:41:51 -0000
Received: from [66.218.66.80] by t2.bullet.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 05 Sep 2007 21:41:51 -0000
Date: Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:41:50 -0000
To: LexingtonComputerGroup@yahoogroups.com
Message-ID: <fbn7qu+sush@eGroups.com>
User-Agent: eGroups-EW/0.82
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="2-2537035772-2107687812=:0"
X-Mailer: Yahoo Groups Message Poster
X-Yahoo-Newman-Property: groups-compose
X-eGroups-Msg-Info: 1:6:0:0:0
From: "jeplewis" <jeplewis@yahoo.com>
Subject: Proposed List of Topics for Presentations 2007/2008
X-Yahoo-Group-Post: member; u=118236784; y=xpShhNfnSYE26-Qqx7U8MFn2GMM_VanruiZBq2j2QPLrw9o
X-Yahoo-Profile: jeplewis


--2-2537035772-2107687812=:0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Introduction: In response to requests from members, this is a list of
sugge=
sted topics for possible presentations for the 2007/2008 season.
The list w=
as gathered during the first meeting of the season held on
Wednesday 5th Se=
ptember 2007
Meeing Chaired by Shep

      Topics For Future Meeings (Not e=
dited =96 not formatted)
      5th September 2007

General Refresher - Wind=
ows XP - basics

Spread sheets  HowTo

Photography
Editing Pictures
Picasa =
/ Web Albums -              (Volunteer - Paul)

Opening the Calculator - Od=
ds and Ends on computer use
Email - send an article via email
Problems in o=
pening attachments

How to use your browser - Internet Explorer and Firefox=
 - how to setup
and use

Searching the web / Get reviews on computer-relate=
d equipment - Try PC
World

How to replace your computer - when the evil da=
y comes and your present
computer dies.
Should you opt for Windows XP or Wi=
ndows Vista?

Intro to Vista

How to move from Windows XP to the Apple Mac =
(two ways)

Computer Security - HowTo  (Volunteer - Paul)
Spyware/ Adware/ =
Browser Hijacker / Key Logger
Anti-virus Anti-Spyware

General Interest
iTu=
nes -

Blogs - what are they

Stock Market -

Digital Camers - how to use /=
 How to choose one

YouTube How to

Google Maps / Satelite view / pull your=
 route away from the Google route

Saving your precious data  Backups

Reco=
rding on to CD-ROM and DVD

Compiled by Paul Lewis
All complaints, suggesti=
ons, comments additions, should be addressed to
Paul
PS. The next meeting w=
ill be on 19th September 2007







--2-2537035772-2107687812=:0
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Introduction: In response to requests from members, this is a list of sugge=
sted topics for possible presentations for the 2007/2008 season. <br>The li=
st was gathered during the first meeting of the season held on Wednesday 5t=
h September 2007 <br>Meeing Chaired by Shep<br><br><div align=3D"center"><b=
>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Topics For Future Meeings (Not edited =96 not for=
matted)</b><br><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5th September 2007</b><br></div>=
<br>General Refresher - Windows XP - basics<br><br>Spread sheets&nbsp; HowT=
o&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Photography<br>Editing Pictures<br>Picasa / Web Album=
s -&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp; (Volunteer - Paul)<br><br>Opening the Calculator - Odds and Ends on =
computer use <br>Email - send an article via email<br>Problems in opening a=
ttachments<br><br>How to use your browser - Internet Explorer and Firefox -=
 how to setup and use <br><br>Searching the web / Get reviews on computer-r=
elated equipment - Try PC World<br><br>How to replace your computer - when =
the evil day comes and your present computer dies.<br>Should you opt for Wi=
ndows XP or Windows Vista?<br><br>Intro to Vista<br><br>How to move from Wi=
ndows XP to the Apple Mac (two ways)<br><br>Computer Security - HowTo&nbsp;=
 (Volunteer - Paul)<br>Spyware/ Adware/ Browser Hijacker / Key Logger<br>An=
ti-virus Anti-Spyware<br><br>General Interest<br>iTunes - <br><br>Blogs - w=
hat are they <br><br>Stock Market - <br><br>Digital Camers - how to use / H=
ow to choose one<br><br>YouTube How to <br><br>Google Maps / Satelite view =
/ pull your route away from the Google route<br><br>Saving your precious da=
ta&nbsp; Backups<br><br>Recording on to CD-ROM and DVD <br><br>Compiled by =
Paul Lewis<br>All complaints, suggestions, comments additions, should be ad=
dressed to Paul <br>PS. The next meeting will be on 19th September 2007<br>=
<br><br><br><br><br>

--2-2537035772-2107687812=:0--


From DummyAddressAndDate Thu Sep 16 11:42:17 2010
X-Yahoo-Msgnum: 22
Return-Path: <paul@computerhomehelp.com>

etc

3016 page visits

switching_email_list_server_for_lctg.txt · Last modified: 2021.12.22 13:51 by 127.0.0.1