Re: [MF 3D] New list

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Greg Erker wrote:
 
>   So does this new list SW give
> us any side benefits like a web
> based archive (searchable?) or
> anything like that?

One so far that I managed to slip in:
the [MF 3D] in the subject line.  :-)

Actually this list is on the same software
that Joel used before Majordomo (though it
is likely a later version).  So it is not
totally new to this group.

The software does keep some messages "archived"
but it is a "recent messages" archive, intended
to permit "catch-up" if you are new or have
been away for a while.  You have to send
commands to the request address to retrieve
the "archived" (recent) messages."

I have a special e-mail account on RMM3D
set up to receive copies of the digests
(and nothing else).  I think I should be
able to simply copy that e-mail file to
another directory on rmm3d.com to make the
complete archives available.  It should
be possible to add on at least a CGI search
routine to make the file searchable.  But
I'll have to come up with a strategy for
easily busting up the file into pieces...
otherwise the search will always return
the entire history of the list.

However........

I've already seen that for a variety of reasons,
working with the mail list software could easily
turn into a full-time career.  It's powerful, but
probably not the best bet for someone running just
one list and who has to interact with the software
from a remote Wintel machine.  I think my initial
plan back in July to go with the UNH list was the
right approach.  I'm still very much under the
weather and haven't been able to work full time
today, but ALL the work I did do all day Friday
was related to this mailing list (and that's on
top of several days cumulative time over the past
two months).  So I'd say odds are high that I'll
make the switch...very soon.  

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Paul Talbot