Beginning March 2nd, 2020 the Mailing Lists functionality on RootsWeb will be discontinued. Users will no longer be able to send outgoing emails or accept incoming emails. Additionally, administration tools will no longer be available to list administrators and mailing lists will be put into an archival state.
Administrators may save the emails in their list prior to March 2nd. After that, mailing list archives will remain available and searchable on RootsWeb
Good afternoon all,
I am researching James COCK and Barbara ADAMS of St Winnow, Cornwall
married 1794 Fowey, Cornwall.
If anyone is connected to this family or wants more information, please
contact me.
Maryanne
South Australia
Hello, folks,
within the next few days, RootsWeb will be changing its mail list
software from "Smartlist" to "Mailman". (The software used by the Boards
will also be changing but THIS notice deals with the change in List
software only.) You can access a software migration schedule that will
tell you when to expect this list to be migrated at:
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/migrate_sched.html
If you have any questions pertaining to the migration schedule, you can
contact me at the admin address for this list:
mailto:[INSERTLISTNAME]-admin@rootsweb.com .
How will this change in maillist software affect you as a user? The plan
is "Not Much", but there are a number of changes of which you should be
aware:
1. Most importantly, the distinction between "list" mode and "digest"
mode will change such that users can only access one of these two modes
using a single e-mail address. If you wish to subscribe to both modes,
you must do so using two different addresses.
2. As a result, the "list" mode will no longer require the "-L" for
subscriptions, unsubscriptions, and to send mail to the list. You will
still be able to send messages to the list using the
mailto:[INSERTLISTNAME]-L@rootsweb.com address you use now OR you can
choose to drop the "-L" and send your messages to
mailto:[INSERTLISTNAME]@rootsweb.com . Both addresses will work after
the list has been migrated. (The "-D" will still be required for all
"digest" mode actions.)
3. The deletion of the "-L" for "list" mode mail means that some of you
will have to do some tweaking to your mail filters, but this should not
be too onerous a task.
4. Unlike Smartlist, Mailman is more restrictive in respect of
subscribes and unsubscribes. To subscribe or unsubscribe, the word
SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE MUST now be in the Subject line of the e-mail
... just putting it in the text will be insufficient. On the plus side,
there will be a "NO MAIL" mode now!
5. There will also be changes to the way in which (a) bounces, and (b)
e-mail address on the "Reject" list are handled ... for example, List
Admins. now won't be notified of any bounce until the bounce threshold
for the list has been met, at which time the address(es) will be
automatically unsubbed. This will take me some getting used to because I
won't see from post to post who's bouncing, or why ...
Why change at all? The "why" is that Smartlist, the software that is
currently used for Rootsweb's lists is not only no longer supported but
is held together with generations of bailing wire and bubble gum. The
choice to migrate to new software was really no longer a choice, but a
necessity if we are to continue to enjoy the ease of doing genealogy via
our email in boxes.
Take a deep breath. Count to ten. Do not panic. The tutorial (YES, there
will be a tutorial available!) is very user-friendly. The software is
easy to use. It will take a wee bit of getting accustomed to and life
with it will be a bit different. There is also a new list for anyone to
ask questions, seek advice, etc., on the new maillist software, and has
been designed for list subscribers to discuss the updates and get/give
peer assistance in adjusting e-mail filters, etc.:
LIST-UPDATE(a)rootsweb.com
(NOTE: No "-L"!! ... subscribe at
mailto:LIST-UPDATE-request@rootsweb.com OR at
mailto:LIST-UPDATE-D-request@rootsweb.com ).
No doubt there will be other things that arise from time to time as
well. As we enter this brave new world, pls contact me at the above
admin address with any questions ... as usual, I'll try to assist as
quickly as possible!
Thanks, and continued good hunting!
Peter Wyant
List Admin.