INTRODUCTION TO LISTSERV MAILING LISTS FOR XBRL USERS
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Author |
Peter Calvert |
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Date |
23 October 2005 |
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Version |
1.0 |
Introduction
This document will help XBRL users get started with Listserv Mailing Lists. It is not a full tutorial, since help information is provided within Listserv itself.
Listserv Mailing Lists offer similar e-mail features to Yahoo e-groups, although Listserv has some additional features. These include the storage of e-mail attachments and more flexible ways of presenting archived e-mails.
In combination with Sharepoint websites, Listserv will provide the collaboration functions for XBRL working and jurisdiction groups. In general, a group will use a Listserv Mailing List for e-mail distribution and Sharepoint for document storage, meeting arrangements, organisation of tasks and similar functions.
Joining and Accessing Groups
The XBRL International website lists the home pages of individual groups on www.xbrl.org/GroupsList/.
Public Lists [not yet launched]
Anyone may access the pages of a public list and review archived messages. To do this, simply go to the home page of a public list and follow the links on-screen.
To post emails to a public list or to send and receive public list messages via your own e-mail program, it is necessary to join the list. To do this, follow the “Join, leave or alter subscription settings” link on the home page of the list and follow the instructions on screen. Joining is a simple, automated process.
The process also requires you to establish a Listserv login based on your e-mail address. This is described in the Login section below. ]
Member-Only Lists
Only members of XBRL Jurisdictions and direct participant members can join XBRL member-only lists. In order to obtain a log-in, members must first be registered for the Members’ Area of XBRL International Website... Please visit http://www.xbrl.org/registrationform.aspx to register.
To join a members-only group, please send an e-mail request as described on the website. Please put the group name in the headline and state (a) your name and (b) the login e-mail which you use to access the Members' Area of the website. Your e-mail must also be sent from that e-mail address so the administrator can verify your membership.
This single e-mail application will automatically cover all Listserv mailing lists and Sharepoint websites for the group concerned.
The website shows the e-mail administration address for each group. All requests on international groups should be sent to XII Groups Admin at groups@xbrl.org. Regional or jurisdiction groups have their own admin addresses.
You will receive confirmation messages once you have been permissioned for a group.
To take part in a group, you must also set up a Listserv login, if you have not already done so. This is described in the Login section below. You can then alter your user preferences and browse the archive pages of the list. You can also send and receive e-mails from a list using your ordinary e-mail program.
You will not find a list of member-only XBRL groups within Listserv itself. This is for security reasons. See the XBRL International e-Groups section at www.xbrl.org/Groups/ for links to all lists for members and other information. You can bookmark the home pages of any list which you wish regularly to access.
Login
To interact with a group, you must set up a Listserv login, if you have not already done so. To do so, go to the Register Password page (figure 1) at http://xbrl.org/scripts/wa.exe?GETPW1. (You will also see links to this page on the main Listserv login screen, which is shown in figure 2.) Fill in the e-mail address under which you applied for membership of the group and the password you require. A verification message will be sent your e-mail address – this is for security purposes. Simply follow the instructions in the e-mail to confirm your password. You can use the same screen for resetting your password, if you forget it.
When you attempt to access any member-only pages on a list, such as those for altering subscription settings, you will be required to log in. The login screen is shown in figure 2.
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Once you are logged in, a cookie is set on your PC and you will not have to log in again unless you delete the cookie, deliberately log off or access Listserv from another PC.
This cookie does NOT pose a threat to your privacy. It is used purely for controlling login to XBRL International Listserv pages.
You will be able to send or receive e-mails from a list as soon as you are permissioned for it, but you will need to log in to view archives or alter your preferences.
Note that the login process, IDs and passwords for Listserv are NOT the same as for Sharepoint. Please see the separate Sharepoint introduction document for information on Sharepoint login.
Main Functions
From the home page of a list, such as in Fig 2, a user can access the following main functions:
· Alter subscription (personal) settings
· Post to the list (although that may be done more conveniently from a user’s own e-mail program.)
· Review mails posted to the list which are archived by month.
· Search the mailing list archive by keyword and other features.
· Search across all mailing lists for which the user is permissioned by keyword and other features.
· Access the XBRL Archives home page which lists the public mailing lists.
Most functions should be self-explanatory. Listserv pages contain guidance and help text.
Ordinary users will not be able to access List or Server Management functions, which are restricted to administrators and list owners.
Fig 2 – Typical Home Page
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Personal Settings and Digests
Personal or “subscription” settings are set by default at the choices we expect users typically to require. That includes immediate receipt of e-mails sent to the list and automatic receipt of a copy of a user’s own postings. However, users are free to amend these settings.
Some users may prefer to receive daily digests of mails. There are a number of options for the format of these. The recommended format is [MIME – this is to be confirmed after review]. Users can also disable receipt of messages altogether if they wish.
See Help on the page for an explanation of the various options for different settings.
Monthly Mail Archives
When reviewing mails sent in the monthly archive, users may organise the mails by date, topic or author. If organised by time, mails may be viewed in either time or reverse-time order. The archives pages also give some other options for the detailed format of e-mails and archive display.
Mail Attachments
All types of attachments may be sent with mails and there is no fixed threshold on message size. However, users are expected to make sensible judgements on the size and type of attachments to send, given the typical bandwidth which recipients may have available. Really large files may be posted to Sharepoint for download rather than sent by e-mail.
Leaving a List
If users wish permanently to leave a list a group, they may e-mail the group administrator as listed on the website or alternatively go through the subscription settings link on the home page of a list. If a user opts to leave a mailing list, they will also be removed from the corresponding Sharepoint site for that group.
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