This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

How to Search the SQFT Listserv

SEARCHING THE SQFT LISTSERV

All Listserv commands must be sent to the Listserv,  not the List.
This is the address-

listserv@umslvma.umsl.edu.

Because the Listserv requires syntax to be exact,  I suggest that the
following examples are cut & pasted to your mail editor and then
modified to your requirement.

All examples are to be used in the message body,  the subject header
may be left blank.

SEARCHING FOR MESSAGES THAT CONTAIN A SPECIFIC WORD

This example will search for every message containing the word
'parsnips'.  The Listserv will return a list of the messages (5th
line) and then return a copy of each message (6th line).

You can omit the 6th line if you just want to see a list of the
messages and not the messages themselves.

Example --------------------------------------------------------

//SEARCH JOB ECHO=NO
DATABASE SEARCH DD=RULES
//Rules DD   *
SEARCH PARSNIPS IN SQFT
INDEX
PRINT
-------------------------------------------------------------------

USING DATES

You might wish to retrieve only messages written since a certain date

Example --------------------------------------------------------

//SEARCH JOB ECHO=NO
DATABASE SEARCH DD=RULES
//Rules DD   *
SEARCH PARSNIPS IN SQFT SINCE 01-AUG-96
INDEX
PRINT
-------------------------------------------------------------------

The following date/time examples are valid-

FROM 14 july TO oct 87.
SINCE 86
UNTIL 23-JUN-87
SINCE today 11:30

SEARCHING BY SENDER

You might wish to retrieve messages sent by a particular person.  In
order to retrieve messages by sender it is necessary to be accurate
when specifying the name.  The best way to do this is to send a single
line message to the Listserv containing the line REVIEW SQFT. This
will return a list of the names and addresses of all the list
subscribers. I have found that using the address from the left margin
as far as the '@' sign will do the trick.  Make sure to use the SaMe
CaSe.  So it might be 'john.major',  or if Tony Blair has a CompuServ
address then '106123.1234' for example. Use brackets to enclose the
name.

Example --------------------------------------------------------

//SEARCH JOB ECHO=NO
DATABASE SEARCH DD=RULES
//Rules DD   *
SEARCH * IN SQFT WHERE SENDER CONTAINS (john.major)
INDEX
PRINT
-------------------------------------------------------------------

You might wish to search for messages about 'parsnips' written by John
Major

Example --------------------------------------------------------

//SEARCH JOB ECHO=NO
DATABASE SEARCH DD=RULES
//Rules DD   *
SEARCH PARSNIPS IN SQFT WHERE SENDER CONTAINS (john.major)
INDEX
PRINT
-------------------------------------------------------------------

You could search for messages containing the word 'parsnips' written
by John Major since 1986 etc.

BUT if you write a complex search that exceeds the length of one
line it must be split up in such a way to let the Listserv know that
the next line is a continuation of the previous.  The way to do this
is to finish the line with a space and a hyphen and start the new line
with a space.

Example --------------------------------------------------------

//SEARCH JOB ECHO=NO
DATABASE SEARCH DD=RULES
//Rules DD   *
SEARCH PARSNIPS IN SQFT -
 WHERE SENDER CONTAINS (john.major) -
 SINCE 01-AUG-1996
INDEX
PRINT
-------------------------------------------------------------------

SEARCHING FOR MESSAGES THAT CONTAIN
PARTICULAR WORDS IN THE SUBJECT

If you want to search for posts that contain a particular word or
words in the subject title- (Use single quotes).

Example --------------------------------------------------------

//SEARCH JOB ECHO=NO
DATABASE SEARCH DD=RULES
//Rules DD   *
SEARCH * IN SQFT -
 WHERE SUBJECT CONTAINS 'POWDERY MILDEW' -
 SINCE 01-OCT-91
INDEX
PRINT
-------------------------------------------------------------------

THE 2000 LINE LIMIT

The Listserver will not respond with more than 2000 lines.  If you
send a search and print command and the Listserv finds more than 2000
lines of messages.  The end of the database output to you will contain
something like

'2000 Lines - Limit exceeded'

The easiest way to overcome this problem is to note the date of the
last message (they are returned in date order) and send a new search
using the 'SINCE' or 'FROM & TO' date options shown above.  For a
really large search output you might have to do this several times.

The speed of response from Listservs varies a little and depends on
how busy the host computer is etc.  Everything else being equal I
usually find that there is a return from the Listserv in a few
minutes.

I apologise for any inaccuracies that I may have made in these
instructions and I hope that they are clear enough to be
of use.

For the truly dedicated Listserv searcher - there is an entire
Listserv list devoted entirely to Listserv searching,  it is run by
the person who writes the Listserv software.

NOTE:

These examples can be used to search other lists that you are
subscribed to,  provided that -

a)  You modify the Listserv address.
b)  You modify the list name,  eg. SQFT in the above examples.
c)  The list server runs Listserv software (not all do).
d)  The Listserv has the necessary search software installed (not all
do,  for example the OGL list runs Listserv software but did not have
the necessary components installed last time I tried.  A polite
request to the list maintainer might remedy this...)

If I have missed out anything or more explanation is needed please let
me know.  The SQFT Listserv is a great resource and many questions
have already been answered!  If I can help anyone with searches please
mail me.

Joe Hemmens
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index