3. How do I find old TechLink messages?

All contributions to this list are automatically archived in log files. Older files are listed monthly; newer files are archived weekly. You can search for old messages, or you can request log files from the listserver. To obtain the available archive files (containing messages from past months):

Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: INDEX TECHLINK

To retrieve a specific monthly log file:

Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: GET TECHLINK LOGxxxxx
(xxxxx representing the year, month & week; i.e., LOG9810b)

4. Is there a digest form of TechLink?

Yes. Rather than receiving each e-mail message individually as it is posted, you can elect to receive one message a day with all that day's message traffic included.

Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SET TECHLINK DIGEST

From that point on, the messages from TechLink will be sent to you in one file starting the next day. The advantage is only a single file needs to be sent and all those messages are neatly bound together in a "magazine" (digest) format.

Depending on your e-mail software, you can request that your digest come in MIME format. With that parameter turned on, you can more easily view individual messages within the digest. Otherwise, you will just get one huge contiguous message. To set your digest to MIME format:

Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SET TECHLINK MIME

The disadvantage to receiving your messages in digest format is similar to print magazines: do you ever get the time to sit down and read them? It may be a matter of personal preference whether you want to see the messages "on the fly" or as a neat package. The choice is yours.

If you change your mind and want to receive individual messages again:

Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SET TECHLINK MAIL

5. How do I unsubscribe from TechLink?

Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SIGNOFF TECHLINK

If you have problems unsubscribing, send a message to TECHLINK-REQUEST@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG and someone will help you.

6. How can I temporarily suspend TechLink mail (due to vacations, etc.) but remain on the list?

Regular mail:
Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SET TECHLINK NOMAIL

To resume mail service:
Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SET TECHLINK MAIL

Digests:
Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SET TECHLINK NODIGEST

To resume digest service:
Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: SET TECHLINK DIGEST

7. How can I determine what my current setting options are?

Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG
Message body: QUERY TECHLINK

8. Why does the listserver not respond to my commands?

One of the most common problems associated with the inability to get the listserver to respond to your administrative requests, like database searches, changing to digest, or temporarily stopping mail delivery, is that your e-mail address changed. In other words, sometime between when you first subscribed to TechLink and the discovery of the problem, your e-mail address mutated to something different. Many computers use e-mail "aliases" so that your old address still works just fine for receiving mail, but the listserver only knows you by your old address and "thinks" your new address is alien and not part of the TechLink group. Your commands get bounced back with some cryptic message to that effect. To set things straight, send an e-mail to TECHLINK-REQUEST@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG and someone will get back to you to help. Many times you are not aware of this subtle change in your e-mail address, but it happens all the time.

Second, although it is very desirable that you attach your e-mail address to messages you send to the TechLink mailing list, it is not necessary and actually a small problem to send your "signature" file along to the listserver when using many of the administrative commands outlined above. Most e-mail software programs have the capability or option to temporarily turn off the signature when sending a message. It is generally a good idea to do this because the listserver thinks you are sending additional administrative commands and tries to interpret your signature as such. You will probably see the listserver's output indicate that the commands make no sense to it. No real harm done, but it can interfere with queries. You are just better off not sending your signature to the listserver.

Have a question that isn't answered here? Send an e-mail to TECHLINK-REQUEST@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG.

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Basic Netiquette

Send requests for information about administrative aspects of the list to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG, not to the list.

Do not feel like you have to comment on every message sent to the list. If you want your messages to be read, make them count.

Please do not send messages to everyone on the list asking whether the list is working or not. E-mail outages are not uncommon and are usually regional or temporary. Do not assume that if you are not receiving list messages that no one else is either. If you're concerned, contact the listowners directly at TECHLINK-REQUEST@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG or COMPMED-REQUEST@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG.

Do not forward posts such as computer virus warnings or e-mail chain letters to the list. Such posts are usually not valid.

Try to stick to the subject matter and topics the list was meant to cover. From time to time, it may be useful or necessary to go off-topic. Just use good common sense or invite the discussion to be off the list.

People often report on interesting scientific news in the media, or forward items from other newsgroups or mailing lists. Full citation of sources is always appropriate and appreciated. Requests for references or comments are also welcome, and, when posed as specific questions of general interest, frequently lead to successful discussions.

Don't forward messages to the list without the original author's permission, or forward list messages anywhere without the original author's permission—it's just common courtesy. Also, don't send message attachments to the list; they will not be easily translated by the listserve software and could potentially carry viruses. If you must send an attachment to someone, send it to the individual's e-mail, not the list. You can also offer the attachment to the list and ask that interested persons reply personally to you; you can then send the attachment just to those persons.

Always be professional; your next boss may be on the list. Keep focused on issues, not personalities. Never assume individuals speak for their organizations. Give yourself a 24 hour cool-off period. Avoid starting "flame wars" (messages sent in anger). If you simply must say something highly critical, consider sending it via personal e-mail, rather than posting or mailing to the group. The same goes for apologies—send them to individuals, not the list, if you make a mistake.

Include a descriptive subject heading with your messages. List messages are archived and the subject heading is the main source for looking up past topics. If you're replying to a message, retain the original subject heading with your replies unless you're changing the topic. If you post a question that results in many replies, send a summary of those replies to the list. Chances are others will have the same question in the future, and this summary will simplify their archive search. When compiling your summary, though, use discretion and tact.

Show respect for your colleagues' time and knowledge. Don't ask basic questions that you could have looked up in a book. Don't ramble, don't go off-topic, and don't point out other people's minor spelling errors.

Don't "spam" the list with commercial ads, political endorsements, etc., nor use the directory for same. Job postings may be submitted to CareerLine, and classified advertisements may be submitted on the Classifieds page. The listserves are intended for professional discussion, not advertisements.

Don't forget to set to NOMAIL or SIGNOFF if going on holiday or moving, especially if you have an out-of-office message. Nothing annoys list participants more than receiving an autoreply to every post.

Don't blame the listowner for someone else's bad behavior.

Above all else, remember that electronic mail is about communication with other people. Strive to keep your message as clear and easy to read as possible: form messages into logical paragraphs, keep sentences sensible lengths, use correct grammar and spelling, and keep abbreviations to a minimum. Use emoticons to imply "body language"—but use them sparingly. (If you see a smiley or acronym that you don't understand, look it up before asking the list for clarification. http://www.muller-godschalk.com/emoticon.html is a good place to start your search.) Limit text to 80 characters per line to avoid right margin overrun. Include your signature (or your name and e-mail address if you don't have a signature) at the end of messages; keep your signature and any quotes below your signature reasonably short. Don't type your messages in all-uppercase; it indicates shouting. Any time spent on making our e-mail clearer is time well spent.

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