Savoynet is run by a program called a listserver. The listserver's primary job is to receive messages from subscribers and distribute them to all current members of the list. However, the server is also capable of responding to various commands. An example of a listserver command is the SUBSCRIBE message that you send when you join Savoynet.

All listserv commands for Savoynet are addressed to listserv@bridgewater.edu, NOT the posting address (the address you use to post new messages). In each case, put the command (and nothing but the command) in the message body, leaving the subject line blank.

Please Note: Savoynet's listserv does not accept "rich text" or "HTML formatted" e-mail. If you receive an incomprehensible error message from the listserv, you have probably sent a "rich text" message. This is the most common reason why listserv commands fail. All e-mail systems have the capability of sending plain text. Your command cannot succeed unless you send plain text.

The commands likely to be found most useful are as follows:

SUBSCRIBE SAVOYNET Your Name

This is the command you send to join Savoynet.

UNSUBSCRIBE SAVOYNET

We hope you'll enjoy Savoynet, but if you feel the need to leave us for any reason, send this message to the listserver. You will be dropped from our rolls. (You can always join again later, if you change your mind.)

We would particularly appreciate it if folks who know they are losing their internet connection (such as students at the end of the school year) would take the trouble to unsubscribe. This saves the listowner the trouble of dealing with hundreds of bounced messages.

INDEX SAVOYNET

Savoynet maintains an archive of all messages ever posted since the list's inception. There is roughly one file per month (but there may be more for months that had particularly heavy traffic). Send this command to the listserver, and you'll get back a list of all the files in the archive. To retrieve a file that interests you....

GET SAVOYNET archive-file-name

The listserver will email you the requested file. (Note: the Savoynet archive is separate and distinct from the WWW-based Gilbert and Sullivan Archive.)

REVIEW SAVOYNET

In response to this command, the listserver will send you a list of all the current members of Savoynet, except for concealed members.

STATISTICS SAVOYNET

The listserver will send you a list of non-concealed subscribers along with the number of messages each one of them has sent to the list. Note that this can be deceiving, because it takes no account of how long each person has been a subscriber.

HELP

The listserver will send you mail explaining all the commands it knows about.

HELP topic

The listserver will send you mail explaining the requested topic (which would ordinarily be a command name).

Through the listserver, you can customize the behavior of your subscription to Savoynet using variables called settings. Listserv commands affecting your settings are described below:

SET SAVOYNET

The listserver will send you mail detailing your current Savoynet settings.

SET SAVOYNET MAIL ACK

The listserver will include you in the distribution list for your own postings. This is the default behavior.

SET SAVOYNET MAIL NOACK

The listserver will not include you in the distribution list for your own postings.

SET SAVOYNET MAIL DIGEST

Instead of receiving each Savoynet posting as an individual mail message, you will receive periodic digests in which numerous postings are concatenated together. This option is useful if you have very limited mailbox space, or if you want to speed up your mail download time.

SET SAVOYNET MAIL POSTPONE

Tells the listserver not to send you any more Savoynet postings. The setting remains until you send the listserver another message setting MAIL to ACK, NOACK or DIGEST. Postponing is extremely similar to unsubscribing, except that the listserver still has a record that you're a member of the list. This setting is useful if you expect to be away from email for an extended period, and your incoming mailbox is likely to reach its capacity while you are gone. Once you return, you can use the INDEX and GET commands to retrieve archives of the Savoynet traffic that occurred during your absence.

SET SAVOYNET CONCEAL YES

Makes you a concealed member of the list, meaning that your name and email address will not be disclosed to subscribers who issue the REVIEW command. This would be useful if you wish to lurk and do not want other subscribers to know of your participation. Note, however, that if you post a message to the list, your return address will appear on the posting, regardless of your concealed status.

SET SAVOYNET CONCEAL NO

Reverses the effect of the above message.