Generating List Management Reports in the Web Interface

The Web Interface makes it possible for those list owners with multiple lists to obtain reports on their lists and search these lists for specific characteristics.

Tip: The List Report contains a “search” option. Use this to search for a specific list or group of lists.

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Optionally select a Report Format. The default is a web-based table viewed On Screen. You can also get the results in a "Comma-separated values" (CSV) format that can then be saved from your web browser to a file on your computer, allowing you to import the data into any reporting software that supports CSV files. For the CSV format, you can select either CSV Format (Subset) or CSV Format (All).

Note: For reports that span multiple pages, the CSV Format (Subset) option will only include data from the current screen in the report. For example, if a list contains 100 subscribers but only 50 subscribers are shown on screen at a time, then the CSV file will only contain the 50 subscribers shown on screen. Also, if you are using any narrowing options, only the data that fits the search criteria is included in the CSV file. The CSV Format (All) option, on the other hand, will include all the data in the CSV file regardless of the number of pages or any search or narrowing options.

Note: Each column heading is a clickable link that will sort the column in ascending or descending order. A small arrow pointing up or down will appear indicating the order. Each list name in the report is a clickable link to the list configuration page for that particular list.

To create a report, select the list or lists to generate the report for. By default, you will see all of the lists you own. Next, select the columns you want to include in the report. Finally, click [Submit].

The report generated is not just a simple report. It also provides the means of manipulating the reported data. Once the list owner has generated a report, it is possible to change subscription settings or delete one or more subscribers. It is also possible to add subscribers to the list.

The Subscriber Report also lets you add a subscriber to a list. To add a new subscriber to the list, type the user's email address followed by the full name. Then, choose whether or not to notify the user that he has been added and click on the [Add Subscriber] button.

The Subscriber Report also lets you change subscriber setters. Once the report has been generated, it becomes possible to change any subscriber's settings (except for the subscription date):

•	Select the subscriber by checking the box to the left of the subscriber name. Check the Invert box to select every subscriber EXCEPT those that you have checked off.

•	Make the change at the bottom of the column using the drop down boxes. All of the the selections for changing the current options will be listed. Highlight the new option by clicking it.

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•	Click the [Submit] button to save your changes. If you would like your subscribers to receive an email notification that their options have been changed, check the Send email notification of changes box. Otherwise, no notification will be sent.

To view and make changes to the subscription options of individual subscribers, click on the subscriber name. If a name is not available, click on the No Name Available link. The Subscriber Management screen will open for the selected individual. Make any changes and then click [Update].

Each column heading is a clickable link that will sort the column in ascending or descending order. A small arrow pointing up or down will appear indicating the order.

Two types of activity reports can be generated using this Interface. The first report is a history report. This report simply displays the changelog records that match the selection criteria, one record per line, similar to reading the changelog yourself. The second report is a statistics report, which allows you to reduce the changelog records to numbers, based on several different criteria. This is where you can determine (for instance) how many postings were made to a given list on a range of specified dates, how many times a particular LISTSERV command was issued, and so forth.

You should generally choose only one report column on which to report statistics (Event or Email Address or Details) as each value of the text field is counted independently and sorted in alphabetical order, and rows could then include unrelated values and cause some confusion.

Changelog reports are only available for lists where the Change-Log listheader keyword is set to Yes, and only for the time span it was enabled. Enabling Changelogs in the list header will not suddenly make it possible to view past list activity. If Changelogs are enabled, but set to rotate over time (for example, monthly changelogs), the reports are only available for the current report.

•	Define the Report Type to create a historical or statistical report or both. If you check both report fields, you will get two reports. The historical report shows the actual changelog entries. The statistical report shows counts and averages.

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