Mail list, Need Help

[JustMeToo]

Hi everyone, I've been very pleased with Total Choice's service up until this point, and even now I think the good outweighs the bad. However, I just learned that most of the members on my mailing list probably haven't been receiving list mail due to the email limits in place. This has been going on supposedly for somewhere between 6 months and a year (I don't remember when my membership reached the member limit for emails sent out within 5 minutes).

 

I'm so disappointed that these limits weren't mentioned somewhere for TC clients, and it took repeated email bounces (only within the past severals days?) that brought out this fact. I don't know what has changed within the last several days for my mail to finally start bouncing, but I wish it would've happened sooner. I feel as if I have let my members down.

 

The technical support guys mentioned using DadaMail instead of Mailman software so I could send email out in batches. Can anyone point me to threads discussing this mailing list software, how to install it, and advice on how to configure multiple lists to make sure they don't exceed the low limits allowed for email distribution through the lists?

 

Thanks for any help you can provide. I just feel let down at this point and am looking forward to a way to resolve this. I would prefer not going to another host at this time because I've been happy with TC's service and fast response time to problems up until this point. I am disappointed in the lack of communication with this, however, and would like recommendations of other hosts as a back-up, if needed. They would need to be family-friendly, with good service, and up-front with their limits so that their clients won't let their members down unknowingly.

 

Thanks for your help,

Dianna

[TCH-Bruce]

This thread should help.

[TCH-Don]

Dadamail home page.

download and then I would go to their installation page and print it out to use as a check list.

Let us know if you have any problems with it.

[JustMeToo]

Thanks to both of you of your for your responses. That's one reason I don't want to leave TC. The atmosphere here is wonderful, and although I don't post often, I always get help when I ask. Thank you! {{{hugs}}} to you both.

 

Dianna

[JustMeToo]

Okay, I think I've made all the script changes I need to, but I have two questions before I proceed. I read in one of the threads that the files shouldn't be placed inside the public.htm directory for security reasons. However, my cgi.bin directory is within the public directory. Will that be a security problem?

 

Also, it tells me to chmod 755 a specific file. When I try, it won't let me... it stays at 644 (I think that's right). Is that a problem?

 

I hope these questions make sense.

 

Dianna

[TCH-Thomas]

The files mentioned can be (and should be)placed outside public_html and the others in cgi-bin as described in the instructions.

[TCH-Bruce]

Also, it tells me to chmod 755 a specific file. When I try, it won't let me... it stays at 644 (I think that's right). Is that a problem?

Yes, that's a problem For a script to execute (or if it's a directory) it must be 755. If it is 644 it is treated as a normal file and will not execute. If you are unable to change the permissions maybe you don't have file ownership. Open a ticket with the help desk and they can change it for you.

[TCH-Don]

Its best to follow their install page slowly step by step

and you will see ONLY the list folder is above the public_html folder.

 

When changing permissions

right click the folder or file in your ftp program

or if using file manager

select the file name (not the folder icon)

and on the right select permissioons and the check the boxes to change.

 

The first time

I printed out their install page and it was easier to follow.

[JustMeToo]

I did follow their install page step-by-step and it tells me to:

 

<<Log into your hosting account using your FTP program and navigate to your cgi-bin. In your cgi-bin, create a directory called, dada. Navigate into the dada directory you just created.

 

Upload the mail.cgi script and the DADA directory from the distribution that you downloaded into this newly created directory (dada) that's in your cgi-bin.>>

 

It tells me to put those two things in the dada folder I created in my cgi-bin, which is in the public_html folder. Am I missing something?

 

Thanks for you help!

Dianna

[TCH-Don]

Thats good

but back up to the

Variable #2: $FILES

step and they tell you to create a folder above public_html

called dada_files

In my home directory, I created a new directory called, dada_files. This is the directory that Dada Mail will use to save it's files in.

It's a very good idea to put this directory somewhere other than under your public html directory, as to assure you cannot view the list files from a web browser.

You need to change the permissions of the dada_files folder to 777 so Dadamail can write to it.

And that is where your lists are stored.

[JustMeToo]

Oops! I remember reading that now, but when I went back to double-check, I skipped over the variables section, thinking that there wasn't anything about where to place files in that section. Sigh... sorry! I'll reread everything, including the variables, and come back with any other questions I have (if you guys don't mind).

 

Dianna

Edited September 19, 2005 by JustMeToo

[TCH-Don]

Most have problems when editing the config file

they do not edit the right lines in the config.pm file

 

 

scroll dow a ways to

=cut

 

$PROGRAM_ROOT_PASSWORD = 'put-your-password-here';

 

=podd

 

 

and

 

=cut

 

$FILES = '/home/your-tch-user-name/dada_files';

 

=pod

 

 

and

 

=cut

 

$PROGRAM_URL ='http://your-tch-domain/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi';

 

=pod

[JustMeToo]

Well, I think I've got it now. I just want to run these things by all of you.

 

--I created the dada_files directory outside of the public_html folder, but didn't put anything into it (that directory is for DadaMail to write things into, right?).

 

--I transferred the DADA directory and the mail.cgi file into the dada folder I created in my cgi-bin folder, which is inside my public_html folder. Is that what I was supposed to do?

 

--I encrypted the password and updated the config file with the encrypted password.

 

--I ate a bag of M&Ms to congratulate myself. (Please don't tell me my self-congratulations was premature and that I made a mistake! ).

 

--I haven't created a list yet, though... just wanted to make sure I've gotten this part right first.

 

Dianna

Edited September 19, 2005 by JustMeToo

[TCH-Don]

Good, now create a list and you are set

 

You did change the dada_files folder permissions to 777, right.

[TCH-Thomas]

All looks correct if you have the following structure:

 

In cgi-bin you uploaded dada and in that you uploaded DADA Folder and mail.cgi

NOTE: mail.cgi does not go in to DADA folder

[JustMeToo]

Good, now create a list and you are set

 

You did change the dada_files folder permissions to 777, right.

 

I did create a test list and it seems to be fine. I forgot to change the permissions of the dada_folder to 777, though. I just did, however, but don't remember that being in the installation instructions. Why was that needed?

 

Thanks so much for all of your help!

 

Dianna

 

All looks correct if you have the following structure:

 

In cgi-bin you uploaded dada and in that you uploaded DADA Folder and mail.cgi

NOTE: mail.cgi does not go in to DADA folder

 

Thomas, I created a new directory called dada in the cgi-bin folder, then uploaded the DADA folder and mail.cgi (and the mail.cgi isn't in the DADA folder).

 

Is that right?

 

Dianna

Edited September 19, 2005 by JustMeToo

[TCH-Don]

If you were able to create a list before changing permissions

then fine.

Sometimes the folder needs to be changed for the script to be able to create files in side of it.

I remember this change from earlier installs. But it looks like it is not needed anymore.

If you like, change it back to 755.

 

It looks like you are all set, congrats!

[TCH-Thomas]

Thats correct Dianna.