Section 7 List Archives

The list archive consists of all of the notebook logs for your list. (If your list is coded "Notebook= No", then it does not have a list archive, of course.) Users can find out what notebook logs are available for a specific list by sending the command INDex listname to the appropriate LISTSERV host.

7.1 Setting Up and Managing Archive Notebooks

If your list is coded "Notebook= No", you should consult your LISTSERV maintainer before changing the keyword to create list archive notebooks. The LISTSERV maintainer will have to tell you where the notebook should be kept (the second parameter in the "Notebook=" keyword). Also, depending on local policies, you may or may not be allowed to archive your list, or keep more than a few months' or weeks' worth of archives available at a given time.

7.1.1 Indexing Available Archive Notebooks

To find out what archive notebooks are available for your list, simply send the INDex listname command to LISTSERV.

7.1.2 Deleting Existing Archive Notebooks

To delete an existing archive notebook, simply execute a PUT operation for the notebook in question without sending any other text along with the PUT command line. For instance, send an email with the following text as the only content in the body of the message:

PUT MYLIST LOG9607 PW=mypersonalpw

This command without any other additional text would delete MYLIST LOG9607 from the server.

Two important issues:

• This command MUST be issued by e-mail. It cannot be issued via the "Execute a LISTSERV command" facility of the web management interface.

• You MUST turn off your signature file (if one is enabled in your mail client) in order to successfully delete files. If you do not, LISTSERV will store your signature file in place of the file you are trying to delete instead of deleting the file.

7.2 Database Functions

This information is generally obsolete other than for VM servers, and has been moved to the Advanced Topics Manual for LISTSERV.