ARCHIVED: On my LISTSERV list, how do I create welcome and farewell messages?

This content has been archived, and is no longer maintained by Indiana University. Information here may no longer be accurate, and links may no longer be available or reliable.

Note: IU retired its LISTSERV system in spring 2012, replacing it with IU List, a new mailing list service. See About IU List

When someone is added to a list, LISTSERV sends the new subscriber basic information about LISTSERV. You can also create a separate welcome message that provides the new subscriber with additional information about the list.

You can create welcome and farewell messages by using either LISTSERV email commands or the LISTSERV web interface.

On this page:

Using LISTSERV email commands
Using the IU LISTSERV web interface

Using LISTSERV email commands

Create a welcome or farewell message and insert it into the body of an email message addressed to your LISTSERV server.

Note: For Indiana University LISTSERV mailing lists, send all commands to the appropriate address for your list:

	Campus	Server address
	IU Bloomington	`listserv@indiana.edu`
	IUPUI	`listserv@iupui.edu`
	IU Kokomo	`listserv@iuk.edu`
	IU Northwest	`listserv@iun.edu`
	IU South Bend	`listserv@iusb.edu`
	IU Southeast	`listserv@ius.edu`

Never send commands to the address of the mailing list (e.g., to listname@indiana.edu). Send only messages intended for members of the list to the list's address.

Include the following command as the first line in the message:
```
  PUT listname.WELCOME PW=XXXXXXXX
```
Replace listname with the name of your list, and XXXXXXXX with your personal password. See ARCHIVED: In LISTSERV, how do I set or change a personal password?

Following is a sample message for creating a WELCOME file:

  PUT NT-DEMO-L.WELCOME PW=privatepassword

  Welcome to the NT-DEMO-L list.  This list is available 
  to persons interested in trying out LISTSERV.   

  If you have any questions, send email to
  NT-DEMO-L-REQUEST@host.domain.

You also may create a farewell message for people who leave your list. To do so, follow the first two steps outlined above, and then include the following command as the first line in the message:

  PUT listname.FAREWELL PW=XXXXXXXX

Replace listname with the name of your list, and XXXXXXXX with your personal password.

For more about LISTSERV, see L-Soft Documentation and Manuals.

Using the IU LISTSERV web interface

For Indiana University LISTSERV lists, visit the menu for your campus:
Log in using your IU email address and LISTSERV password, and then from the List Management menu at the top, select List Dashboard. Under "List Name", click Configure under the name of the list you wish to edit. If you do not have a LISTSERV personal password, see ARCHIVED: In LISTSERV, how do I set or change a personal password?
From the top, choose List Management, then Customization, and then Mail Templates.
Use the Select Template drop-down list to choose a message to edit, and then click Edit Template.
Fill in the "Subject" and "Contents" text boxes.
When you are finished, click Update.

For additional options and help, use the Tips links located at the bottom of the page.