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 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.

7.2 Indexing Available Archive Notebooks

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

7.3 Deleting Existing Archive Notebooks

If your list is set to Notebook=Yes, you may occasionally need to delete archive notebook files to conserve disk space or to prevent general access to out-of-date information. In order to prevent accidental deletions of archive files, archive files may only be deleted by email.

First, you may need to find out what archive notebook files are available for your list. Send the following command:

INDEX listname

LISTSERV will then send a list of all the files associated with your list. For example:

Figure 7-1 Deleting an Archive Notebook File

* * Archive files for the MYLIST list at LISTSERV.EXAMPLE.COM * (monthly logs) * * filename filetype GET PUT size (bytes) date time * -------- -------- --- --- ------------ ---------- ------ MYLIST LOG0209 LOG OWN 3,198 2002-09-28 18:45:25 MYLIST LOG0210 LOG OWN 50,837 2002-10-11 16:29:09 MYLIST LOG0211 LOG OWN 34,639 2002-11-30 19:49:34 MYLIST LOG0212 LOG OWN 95,669 2002-12-26 09:30:16

If you wish to retain a copy of the archive file, you may request a copy of it with the GET command before you delete it. For instance:

GET MYLIST LOG0209

To delete an archive notebook file, simply execute a PUT operation for the notebook in question without sending any other text along with the PUT command line (turn off automatic signatures, and do not use a mail service that automatically adds text to every message sent). For instance, send an email message with the following text as the only content in the body of the message:

PUT MYLIST LOG0209 PW=yourpassword

This command without any other additional text would delete MYLIST LOG0209 (the file containing the September 2002 archives of the MYLIST list) from the server.

If you provide a digest for your list, you should not delete the current archive file.

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 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.