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switching_email_list_server_for_lctg

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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

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

  • They announced they'd stop providing many services late last year (2019)
  • No longer would email list be publicly viewable
  • No longer would they store email messages sent to the group
  • No longer would they retain presentation files
  • In fact, as of now, they have deleted presentation files and email list history

What Could We Do?

  • 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
  • No costs other than sweat for switching to Steve's Mailman and Wiki, and Steve was willing to put in the sweat
  • Committee decided to give Steve's option a try, noting that we could switch to another option later, if it didn't work out

How was the transfer effected?

First...Just-In-Case actions

  • Steve grabbed a list of Yahoo Group emails and names
  • CharlyS grabbed the presentation files
  • Steve grabbed the entire group message history

Setting Up the Replacement Mail 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, toku is short for “TO Keep Up” (maybe?)
  • Created an email list, LCTG@lists.toku.us
  • Configured the email list settings
  • Converted the email addresses CSV file to a list consisting of name person@email.com
  • Did a bulk add of all emails using this converted file

At this point, the email list was operational.
After it was deployed (used), Steve made tweaks to the configuration to handle issues and improve it

  • Removed bounce processing
  • Changed email header line to [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG]
  • Moderators are Steve, CharlyS, and JohnR
    • For non-list-members, posts must be moderated (prevents spam)
    • Process/approve (or not) requests to join the list

Preserving Files from Older Presentations

  • Uploaded presentation files from 2007 to 2018 to the Wiki
  • Created a Wiki page, showing all of the files by year, and linking to each
  • Linked to this page of older presentation files to the LCTG main page on the Wiki
  • Note that recent presentation files are on the Wiki

What about Historic email messages?

  • The messages are in a large (100MB) file
  • They are in raw format
  • They need processing before they can be easily read and searched
  • See an extract below
  • For now, we are not doing anything with these
  • If you would like to help process the messages to something useful, let me know (and thanks!)
  • 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)
    • Upcoming meetings
    • 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
    • How to access past presentations

Using the New Technology

Using the current (new) system

  • Email list
    • Send to the list – send email (from a subscribed email address) to LCTG@toku.us or LCTG@lists.toku.us
    • Reply to messages – go to sender of message only
    • Reply to message going to everyone – Reply All
    • Sign up for the email list – send email to LCTG-subscribe@toku.us with 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 link to your list options, at 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 page, you can
        • get your list password
        • change your list password
        • change your email address
        • turn on/off batch (digest) mode
        • turn on/off message delivery
        • get an acknowledgement when you send to the list

Behind The Curtains

The email list CSV format (names changed but format retained)

"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"

What it was changed to for entry to the new system

johndoe <JohnnieDoe@yahoo.com>
Albert Einstein <SuperWhiz@gmail.com>

Wiki page extract

^ 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?

  • General Options
    • Group name, administrators, descriptions of group, etc
  • Membership management
    • List management (unsubscribe, set moderation, don't sent messages to, etc)
    • Subscribing, Removing, and changing email address
  • Archiving options (they are archived, available only to members, new volume each 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

2733 page visits

switching_email_list_server_for_lctg.1578874463.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021.12.22 14:21 (external edit)