Myth correction - Distribution Lists

[john dolan]

In trying to get to the bottom of what was causing the problems with
Tom's list, I believe I created a myth (that commas and periods inside of
quotes can cause problems). In looking at the one Puller Update message
I did receive from Tom a few months ago, the following "Bartz, Paul" did
not cause problems since I did get the message. There were many other
issues with that message though(such as names associated with email
addresses but with no-quotes, one-quote, spaces without quotes, etc) but
the fact that I got it may have to do with were I was on the list (that
is how many errors before me, etc).

I think most of the other comments by other readers and myself are still
valid. Such as if you are making the list manually anyway, just use the
address and comma delimiters; put your email address at the end of the
list; find out if your ISP has a limit on how many addressees a message
can have, how many errors in addresses tolerated before giving up on
a message, etc.

I would welcome any comments (off-list to avoid reader fatigue... and
then I will provide a summary of any further comments)

Regards,
John
- --
"I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to..."
John said, err "Frosty the Snowman" said, from inside a 1974 Glacier.

 

[john dolan]

A week ago or so, I posted the following message on Quotes and Commas and
< >'s etc., and I received (offline) some very informed responses...
SO is it a myth or not? Well it all depends on what version of software
your ISP uses. That's why there was so much variability in the results.

Older versions of sendmail were not as smart as newer versions of
sendmail. Some of the newer version can handle very long lists of
recipients (with or without quotes around English names) with or without
< >'s around actual email addresses, etc.

One of the GMCnetters, who is actually in the business, says their firm
actually recommends keeping lists as short as possible for reliability.
(even with the latest version of Sendmail software.) One other thing I
need to correct on my part (I recommended using just the actual addresses
separated by commas) well there is an old version still in use that
wants just addresses separated by ; So if you want to be the most
generic use ; instead of ,



>
> In trying to get to the bottom of what was causing the problems with
> Tom's list, I believe I created a myth (that commas and periods inside
> of quotes can cause problems). In looking at the one Puller Update
> message I did receive from Tom a few months ago, the following "Bartz,
> Paul" did
> not cause problems since I did get the message. There were many other
> issues with that message though(such as names associated with email
> addresses but with no-quotes, one-quote, spaces without quotes, etc) >
> but
> the fact that I got it may have to do with were I was on the list (that
> is how many errors before me, etc).
>
> I think most of the other comments by other readers and myself are
> still
> valid. Such as if you are making the list manually anyway, just use the
> address and comma delimiters; put your email address at the end of the
> list; find out if your ISP has a limit on how many addressees a message
> can have, how many errors in addresses tolerated before giving up on
> a message, etc.
>
> I would welcome any comments (off-list to avoid reader fatigue... and
> then I will provide a summary of any further comments)
>
> Regards,
> John


- --
"I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to..."
John said, err "Frosty the Snowman" said, from inside a 1974 Glacier.

 

[john dolan]

Well I just decided to try out that new piece of information I learned
about using ; instead of , and guess what, it screws up on my ISP
with semicolons but commas work. So I guess whatever version my ISP is
using is not backward compatable.

I guess the best advice I can give is, find out from your ISP what
version of Sendmail they are using and what are the acceptable formats
for multiple addressees for that version, and whether they send error
messages back to you when there is a problem (and how many errors are
tolerated before it just aborts)

- --
"I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to..."
John said, err "Frosty the Snowman" said, from inside a 1974 Glacier.