LOST in Cyberspace

L.O.S.T. Workshop: Locating and Using Discussion Lists for Information and Inter-librarian Networking, Exercises

Presented by Diane Kovacs

*Subscribing to E-Conferences (Listserv Discussion Lists, Usenet Newsgroups, etc.), Reviewing, Setting NOMAIL, MAIL, DIGEST, and othe options.*

Most e-conferences (also known as listservs, discussion lists, mailing lists, etc.) are subscribed to via an email message sent to a designated address. Sometimes this is a Listserv@some.node and sometimes it is a somename-Request@some.node address. The basic skill required in these cases is using your local email system.

In this exericise you will subscribe to Help-Net and then unsubscribe. Help-Net is a discussion list for the purposes of solving user problems with utilities and software related to the Internet. As a result it is very active. In addition, LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU maintains a set of low-level help files intended to help the beginning user acclimatize himself to the network systems. Both novice and experienced users are encouraged to join the discussion list, either to ask questions, or to answer them.

1. Address a message to LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU
2. Leave the subject line blank.
3. The text of the message must read: Sub HELP-NET YourFirstname YourLastname
4. Send the message. Within a few minutes (sometimes longer) you will receive confirmation and a new subscriber memo that you should read and save.

   *Unsubscribing to HELP-NET@VM.TEMPLE.EDU

5. Repeat Steps 1-2. The message must read: UNSUB HELP-NET

   *Subscribing to an e-conference or e-journal of your choice

   1. Select an e-conference or e-journal by using the Directory of Electronic Journals, Newsletters and Academic Discussion Lists or using the Directory through the Internet: http://WWW.mid.net/KOVACS or gopher://gopher.usask.ca/1/Computing/Internet Information/Directory of Scholarly Electronic Conferences
   2. Follow the instructions given in the first section of Exercise 3 . Use the information provided in the Directory as appropriate. Ask the Instructor(s) if you need assistance intepreting the instructions.
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   *Setting DIGEST, NOMAIL, MAIL, REVIEWING, UNSUBSCRIBING etc.

   
   We will do as many of these options as time permits.

   ****Please note all of these command rely on the address under which you are subscribed. If your address changes or if your mailer identifies your address differently these commands will not work. If they fail send email to the moderator****

   DIGEST

   Digest will compile all messages posted during a given period of time and send them to you as a single message with a list of subject headings at the top. This is useful to cut down on confusion in your email box. To set your subscription to DIGEST address electronic mail to LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU leave the subject line blank the message must read: SET HELP-NET DIGEST

   NOMAIL

   Nomail will stop the distribution of mail to your signon without unsubscribing you from the list. This is useful when you go on vacation, etc. To set your subscription to NOMAIL address electronic mail to LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU leave the subject line blank the message must read: SET HELP-NET NOMAIL

   MAIL

   Send the message SET HELP-NET MAIL to the LISTSERV when you are ready to receive mail again.

   REVIEW

   Review requests the LISTSERV program to send you a copy of the file which identifies HELP-NET as a unique discussion list. The file includes some of the parameters which control operation of the list, the names of the LISTOWNERS, identifies who is the current editor and the names and email addresses of everyone who is subscribed to the list. Don't worry. You can't alter any of the parameters unless you are the LISTOWNER. Address electronic mail to LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU leave the subject line blank the message must read: REV HELP-NET

   UNSUBSCRIBING

   Address electronic mail to LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU leave the subject line blank the message must read: UNSUB HELP-NET

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   LISTSERV Discussion List Archives Searching

   LISTSERV archives form databases that are keyword searchable.

   (For more information, retrieve LISTDB.MEMO via an email message to listserv@kentvm.kent.edu, leave the name and subject lines blank, the message MUST read: INFO DATABASE)

   Search Options

   Boolean Operators

   • AND - is implicit, so: s internet email in HELP-NET is the same as s internet AND email in HELP-NET.
   • OR - s Internet OR Email in HELP-NET.
   • NOT - s Internet NOT Email in HELP-NET.
   Terms can be nested: s (ppp OR slip) AND netscape in HELP-NET

   Limiting by Date Ranges: Request messages since or between a specified date or dates

   • To search since January 1, 1993: s slip or ppp in HELP-NET since 93/01/01
   • To search between January 1, 1992 and May 1, 1993: s slip or ppp in HELP-NET from 92/01/01 to 93/05/01

     Searching

     1. Address an email message to LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU.
     2. Leave the name and subject lines blank, press .
     3. Type in the message -- the message is the batch job. It should look exactly like this:

        /
        Database Search DD=Rules
        /Rules DD *
        s Internet and Email in HELP-NET
        Index
        Print All
        

     4. Send the email message.
     5. We get back two things. An email message that tells us how the job went and the actual output file, called DATABASE OUTPUT. It may take a few seconds or several minutes (or longer) for LISTSERV to process your search. +++
     6. If you want to select only individal message(s) that you wish to see in full. Address another email message to LISTSERV@VM.TEMPLE.EDU the message must be the same batch file as previously used. Substitute the command Print # # # where the # is the item number provided in the Index file.

     Hint: You must request specific item numbers immediately after retrieving the index as they will change every time a new posting is added to the database.

     Hint: You can use these examples as templates for your own searches. I have two template files (one per job stage) that I edit and "get" in the appropriate email message for the server. Different procedures will be used on different kinds of accounts. On the Kent IBM/VM accounts set up your template file by typing: XEDIT ARCHIVES TEMPLATE (at the Ready screen) and typing the example searches into it. Whenever you want to do an archives search address the LISTSERV of the LISTSERV e-conference archives you want to search and place the cursor on the command line within the message.

   • Type: Get ARCHIVES TEMPLATE and the file will be included in your email message. Just edit the message to fit to search the archives you want and the keywords you wish to search on.

     Remember only LISTSERV managed e-conferences have archives that can be searched with LDBASE. Some keep them for varying frequencies of time and not all of them keep archives.

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   Usenet newsgroups

   Usenet newsgroups are distributed through a variety of mechanisms. Thousands of sites worldwide contribute to the maintenance of Usenet newsgroup distributions. Users do not subscribe to newsgroups directly, rather they use a newsreader to read and post to them. According to information posted to news.lists there are more than 58402 different Usenet sites more than 200747 different users and more than 10696 different newsgroups worldwide.

   Usenet is divided into hierarchically arranged subject divisions. Some of these are useful for researchers and professionals. Most Usenet newsgroups are recreational or social in their focus. The top level hierarchies are: MISC, SCI, SOC, COMP, REC, TALK and NEWS. Many Listserv discussions have Usenet feeds. These have the hierarchical definitions BIT.LISTSERV.Listname. ALT groups are those that were established outside of the usual Usenet group formation guidelines. "A Primer on How to Work With the Usenet Community", "Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Usenet", and "USENET Software: History and Sources" are available via anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu steps in Exercise 5)

   Access to Usenet newsgroups varies from system to system. Consult with your local computer systems people to determine if you have access or try the following commands on your system:

   On the IBM/VM mainframe accounts: Type: nnr and wait. On other systems: Type: tin, trn, rn or nn and see what happens.

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