17. Miscellaneous

17.1 How do I quickly change the properties of my list?

ezmlm-make (idx >=0.21) has a -e switch for ``edit''. If you have a standard list setup (i.e. one created by ezmlm-0.53+/-idx, or ezmlm-make with an arbitrary config file, BUT without manual changes), you can use the same ezmlm-make arguments WITH the ``-e'' switch and with other switches changed to your desired setup. In this mode, ezmlm-make will not complain about already existing directories, overwrite existing files (without touching message counters and the archive) and remove any flags (DIR/remote, DIR/modpost, DIR/modsub) that are not consistent with the new setup.

If the list was created or has been previously edited with ezmlm-make(1) from ezmlm-idx>=0.23, the ezmlm-make(1) arguments are stored in DIR/config. To edit the list, all you need to do it to specify the ezmlm-make ``-e'' switch, all ``letter'' switches that you wish to use (i.e. no memory), all ``digit'' switches with arguments that you wish to change (i.e. memory), and the list directory:

        % ezmlm-make -e[c] letter_switches DIR

If your current setup has message moderation and you wish to (temporarily) make it an open list, remove DIR/modpost.

If your current setup has subscription moderation and you wish to (temporarily) make subscription open, remove DIR/modsub.

If your current setup has remote admin, and you switch to (temporarily) disable this feature, remove DIR/modsub.

If your current setup lacks remote admin and subscription moderation, you need to:

% mkdir DIR/mod DIR/mod/subscribers
% touch DIR/modsub         
% touch DIR/remote         

If your current setup has subscription moderation or remote admin, and you want to add remote admin or subscription moderation, just create the appropriate file (DIR/remote or DIR/modsub), since the moderator database already exists.

In many cases, it is easier to use the ezmlm-make(1) ``-e'' switch, since this will adjust all the DIR/text/ files as well. Beware, however, that this will overwrite any direct manual customization done with means other than editing ezmlmrc(5) (see Customizing ezmlm-make operation).

ezmlm-idx>=0.313 has the ezmlm-make(1) ``-+'' switch. It works like ``-e'', but all switches are sticky, i.e. the defaults are the switches currently active for the list.

17.2 Open archived list with daily digests

This is the default setup. The main list generates digests in response to a mailed request or when a message arrives and the amount of messages since the last digest exceeds set limits (see ezmlm-tstdig(1)). Alternatively, ezmlm-get(1) can be invoked from the command line. In both cases, the generated digest message is disseminated to the subscribers stored in DIR/digest/subscribers/, i.e. the subscriber database with the base directory DIR/digest/.

• See setting up a digest list on how to set up the lists.
• See Generating daily digests on how to trigger daily digests via e-mail.
• See Generating digests after a certain time, number, or amount of messages on how to generate digests directly, dependent on a number of criteria.

17.3 Variations in moderation

You can set up lists with combinations of message moderation, subscription moderation, and remote administration, easiest by combining ezmlm-make(1) ``-m'' ,``-s'', and ``-r'' switches. You can use a non-default moderator db, by specifying a directory starting with a slash in DIR/modsub or DIR/remote (for remote admin and subscription moderation - always the same db for both functions) or in DIR/modpost for message moderation. You can point several lists to the same moderator db, thus using the same moderators for several lists. NOTE: The user controlling the list must have read/write access to the files (specifically, must be able to write the lock file).

Some of these setups are not trivial. However, you can make them trivial by modifying ezmlmrc(5) so that ezmlm-make(1) can set up the desired lists by default or when the user uses e.g. the ``-y'' or ``-z'' switches (see Customizing ezmlm-make operation).

17.4 Lists that allow remote admin, but not user initiated subscription or archive retrieval.

Create a regular remote admin list, but remove DIR/public. This allows moderators to (un)subscribe users and have archive access, but rejects all user requests. Posts work as usual. Naturally, this can be combined with message moderation or ezmlm-issub SENDER checks (see Restricting message posting to the list).

17.5 Lists that allow remote admin, user archive retrieval, but not user-initiated subscription.

Create a regular remote admin list, remove DIR/public, and add the ``-p'' [public] switch to the ezmlm-get(1) command line in DIR/manager. This overrides the normal DIR/public effect on ezmlm-get(1) and archive retrieval, allowing full archive access to anyone, but rejecting user -help and subscription commands. It is assumed that the users know archive retrieval commands without help. If you want to provide specific help, just link ~/.qmail-listname-help to DIR/help, and invoke a script that copies help info from there. See ezmlm-check(1) for an example.

17.6 Lists that restrict archive retrieval to subscribers.

Use a standard list, but add the ezmlm-get(1) ``-s'' command line switch in DIR/manager. Only subscribers can receive archive excerpts. Digests work as usual. This can be set up using the ezmlm-make(1) ``-g'' switch.

17.7 Lists that do not allow archive retrieval at all.

Use a standard list, but add the ``-C'' switch to both the ezmlm-get(1) and ezmlm-manage(1) command lines in DIR/manager. No archive retrieval commands will be honored. Digest can be created as usual (See Restricting archive retrieval).

17.8 Lists that do not allow archive retrieval and do not allow digest triggering per mail.

For maximal archive security, set up a normal indexed and archived list, then remove the ezmlm-get(1) line from DIR/manager and add the ``-C'' switch to the ezmlm-manage(1) command line. You can still create digests by direct invocation of ezmlm-get(1) from a script or crontab entry. (See Disabling digest triggering by mail).

17.9 Lists that allow archive retrieval only to moderators, but allow user-initiated subscription.

Create a normal remote admin (+ subscription moderated) list, and add the ``-P'' (not public) switch to the ezmlm-get(1) command line in DIR/manager. Subscription will not be affected, but ezmlm-get(1) will send archive excerpts only to moderators. Digests are unaffected.

17.10 Lists that do not require user confirmation for (un)subscription.

The need for a user handshake can be eliminated by the ezmlm-manage(1) ``-S'' (subscribe) and/or ``-U'' (unsubscribe) switches. Alone, this is very insecure. However, there may be some use for it in local lists with subscription moderation, or alone for notifications where ease of use is more important than preventing users from (un)subscribing others. If the list has subscription moderation or remote administration, any user subscribe or unsubscribe request is forwarded to the moderators if the SENDER and target address do not match, even if the ``-U/-S'' switches are specified. This is put in place to make a ``-U/-S'' list similar to other list managers, not for security (it's not secure, since a malicious outsider can easily fake the SENDER address). Unsubscribe confirmations are sent also to the target in this case, to avoid situations where the user needs moderator ``permission'' to get off the list.

17.11 Announcement lists for a small set of trusted posters

Set up the list with ezmlm-store(1) ``-P'' and add the ``trusted E-mail addresses'' to DIR/mod/ with

% ezmlm-sub DIR/mod address@host

17.12 Announcement lists allowing moderated posts from anyone

This is useful in many circumstances. A list announcing new programs for a system, where both the main developers and other users may have contributed programs.

Set up the list with ezmlm-store(1) and the main developers as moderators. When any of these posts, that user alone is asked to confirm. Posts from other E-mail addresses are sent to all moderators/developers. To use a different set of E-mail addresses as ``trusted e-mail addresses'' and moderators for other posts, use the ezmlm-store(1) ``-S'' switch and make a separate address database for the ``trusted E-mail addresses''. Put the name of the basedir for the ``trusted e-mail addresses'' database in DIR/modpost (needs leading ``/''), and add the post moderator(s) to DIR/mod/ using ezmlm-sub(1) as shown above.

17.13 Announcement lists with less security and more convenience.

A general solution for SENDER checking is to configure list with ezmlm-gate(1). ezmlm-gate(1) takes as arguments any number of basedirs for subscriber lists. Posts from SENDERs that are found are posted. For others ezmlm-store(1) is invoked. If DIR/modpost exists, ezmlm-store(1) will send out other messages for moderation. To bounce such messages, create DIR/modpost, and use the ezmlm-gate(1) ``-P'' switch (will be passed on to ezmlm-store(1) to bounce any posts not from a moderator).

By default, ezmlm-gate(1) accepts messages from subscribers. However, this is overridden if any ``basedirs'' are put on the ezmlm-gate(1) command line. Common would be to create a address list and put its ``basedir'' on the ezmlm-gate(1) command line. Trusted E-mail addresses can then be added with:

% ezmlm-sub basedir trusted@host