On my LISTSERV list, why might LISTSERV reject administrative commands or my new list header file?

If LISTSERV rejects administrative commands or a new list header file, consider the following:

• You can't modify the header unless you are an owner of the list.
  
  
• LISTSERV personal passwords are linked to an email account, not to a specific list. Make sure you use the correct personal password that corresponds with the email account you're using to communicate with the LISTSERV server.
  
  
• The account you are using and the "From:" mail header should match the owner address listed in the header information exactly.
  
  
• Each line in the list header must begin with an asterisk ( * ).
  
  
• When you send your list header back to LISTSERV, include the following line as the first line in the body of the message: PUT listname LIST PW=personal password

  Replace listname with the name of the list, and personal password with your LISTSERV personal password.

• If your mail program indents paragraphs by default, such that each header line does not start in column 1, LISTSERV will not recognize your messages as a list header.
  
  
• Send the header file back as plain text in the body of the message, not as an attachment.

For a sample list header, see What information is stored in a LISTSERV list header file?

Warning: Do not attempt to add subscribers by adding them to the bottom of a list header PUT operation. If you do this, and the list is not locked (e.g., you've done a GET with the NOLOCK option, or have unlocked the list manually prior to your PUT), LISTSERV will replace all of your existing subscribers with the new subscribers you've added at the bottom of your list header.

Note: For Indiana University LISTSERV mailing lists, send all commands to the appropriate address for your campus:

Never send commands to the address of the mailing list (e.g., to  listname@indiana.edu ). Send only messages intended for members of the list to the list's address.

Comments/Questions/Corrections