On my LISTSERV list, how do I create top and bottom banners?

LISTSERV uses mail templates to generate some of the mail messages it sends to users in response to commands. As the owner of a list, you can alter the text of these messages or add text to each message that is sent to the list. To do so, modify the default mail template file on the LISTSERV server.

You can use email to send a command to the LISTSERV server, or at Indiana University, you can also use the LISTSERV web interface.

On this page:

• Using LISTSERV commands
• Using the IU LISTSERV web interface

Using LISTSERV commands

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

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.

To add top or bottom banners to each message:

1. Get a copy of the default mail template file by sending the following command in the body (not the subject) of a message addressed to the LISTSERV server: GET default.mailtpl
2. When you receive your copy of the default template, save it to disk and modify it to suit your needs, for example:
   
   
   • To add a banner message to the top of each posting sent to your list, add these lines to the beginning of the template file: >>> TOP_BANNER Top Banner template .FO OFF Place the text for your top banner here. .FO ON

     Note: Any line starting with a period is processed as a formatting command.

   • To add a banner message to the bottom of each posting, add these lines to beginning of the template file: >>> BOTTOM_BANNER Bottom Banner template .FO OFF Place the text for your bottom banner here. .FO ON

     Note: The bottom banner message is best used to provide subscriber information, such as how to unsubscribe from the list and how to contact the owner.

3. To make your changes take effect, send the modified template file in the body of an email message to the LISTSERV server with the PUT command at the top of the file. For example, the first few lines of your mail message might look like the following: PUT listname MAILTPL PW=personal password >>> TOP_BANNER Top Banner template .FO OFF The text for your top banner. .FO ON >>> BOTTOM_BANNER .FO OFF The text for your bottom banner. .FO ON

   In this example, in the PUT command, replace listname with the name of your list, and personal password with your LISTSERV personal password. For more, see In LISTSERV, how do I set or change a personal password?

4. After you send the message to the LISTSERV server, you'll receive confirmation of your command in an email message, the body of which should look like the following: File "LISTNAME MAILTPL" has been successfully stored.

   In the message, the name of your list will be substituted for LISTNAME. To make further changes to the template, use the GET command again, specifying the name of the new template, for example:

   GET listname.mailtpl

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Using the IU LISTSERV web interface

1. For Indiana University LISTSERV lists, visit the menu for your campus:

   • IU Bloomington
   • IUPUI
   • IU Kokomo
   • IU Northwest
   • IU Southeast
   • IU South Bend

   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 In LISTSERV, how do I set or change a personal password?

2. From the top choose List Management, then Customization, and then Mail Templates.
   
   
3. Next to "Select Template Category", use the drop-down list to select Postings and Digests.
   
   
4. Use the Select Template drop-down list to choose a message to edit, and then click Edit Template.
   
   
5. Enter a subject and contents for your message.
   
   
6. When you are finished, click Update.

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

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