About the BLKBRD-L Web Interface

• view an archive (past postings) in several sort orders (time, topic, author)
• search the archive
• post a new message
• reply to previous postings
• subscribe (join/leave) the list
• set various subscription options (individual mail, daily digest, no mail, etc.)

The Key to the Web Interface: A LISTSERV password

To access the Web Interface, a subscriber must establish a LISTSERV password.

Establishing a LISTSERV password is a 2 step process (you have to do this only once)

1. Register your LISTSERV password by going to
   
   http://lists.asu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?GETPW1=SUBED1=blkbrd-l
   
   and entering your email and desired password. You will be need to use the e-mail address you used when you subscribed to the list, otherwise you will not be recognized as a valid user.
   
   
2. Wait for a confirmation message to arrive via e-mail (arrives almost instantaneously, unless there a problem with your e-mail account) and follow the instruction in this message. If you use a mail program that recognizes links you will be able to simply click on a link contained in this message. In your browser window you will see a message that your password has been registered successfully.
   If you ever forget your LISTSERV password, go through this process again. Any existing password will be overwritten.

Armed with your password you are ready to make full use of the web interface. The BLKBRD-L web interface and archives are located at:

http://lists.asu.edu/archives/blkbrd-l.html

Usage Hints for the Web Interface

If you are prompted to log in when you visit the web interface, use your email address and the password that you previously set as your login information. The web interface itself is pretty self-explanatory - additional explanations are just a mouse click away. However, sometimes it is easy to overlook the obvious, so here are a few select hints.

• If you just want to check recent postings click on the link to latest volume (month) of postings.
  By default, postings are shown in reverse chronological order (most recent posting first), but you can change the display order (to by author or by topic) by clicking on an icon at the top. If you are unsure what the icons mean, move the mouse on an icon to get a verbal description of its function.
• If you are looking for information on a specific topic (e.g., copyright) use the "search the archives" link; the information you are looking for may be in an older posting
• If you want to post to the list, it's a good idea to check for postings on the same or similar topics first and "reply" to such a posting rather than starting a new "thread" by going straight to the "post to the list" link. This way, other subscribers will see your postings in a fitting topical context.
  BLKBRD-L is not moderated; all postings get distributed immediately and as posted. There is a short delay (typically less than one hour) before a new posting appears in the archive.
• If you want to change your subscription settings (full postings, digests, index, nomail, temporarily disable mail) you need to follow the link to Join or leave the list (or change settings)
• If you want to change your subscription from "nomail" to some form of automatic notification via e-mail (full postings, digests, index) you need to uncheck the box in the "miscellaneous" section of the "Join/change settings" screen. This is easily missed as you need to scroll all the way down. Selecting a notification form in the top section alone will not do it, as "nomail" is seen as "temporarily" suspending whatever form of e-mail notification you have chosen.
  

Further Help

LISTSERV user's guide.

Feel free to contact us via e-mail with any additional questions you may have about using the web interface and/or managing your [BLKBRD-L] subscription.

Drag this link [BLKBRD-L] to your favorites/bookmarks or Links bar to add a shortcut to the BLKBRD-L web interface.

Thanks to Manfred Kuechler for sharing his LISTSERV directions - which I customized to create this page.
Last updated 04.30.2002 by ruvi