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WebAIM List Commands, Formatting of Digest Version, and Coding of Online Archive Version

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From: Philip Kiff
Date: Oct 21, 2004 7:45AM

Some list maintenance questions and some thoughts for future possible
changes to the way the list is stored and sent.


First, my question.

I'd like to switch from receiving the Digest version to receiving the
regular version. The information on the WebAIM site doesn't quite explain
how to do this. I assume that I send a new message with the SUBSCRIBE
command, but this time don't include the DIGEST command. If that's correct,
then it would be useful to include that info on the subscribe page: it seems
a bit counterintuitive to me to have to "subscribe" a second time in order
to change one of my subscription options. I'm on a good number of other
mailing lists, most of them run using Listserv software, and I find the
WebAIM list a bit awkward since I don't have access to some of the user
controls that I'm used to. For instance, I know that after I start getting
the normal mailings, I will want to be able to turn off my messages
temporarily when I go away on vacation or something, but I'm not sure that I
will be able to do that.


Next, a couple notes about the different methods of delivery.

What I would actually prefer is to read the WebAIM list online only, and not
be subscribed to the list at all. Unfortunately, I find the online
Discussion Archive very difficult to read. This is not due to adaptive
technology issues, but simply due to the way the email texts are stored in
the online verison: many postings appear with raw HTML or with portions of
raw HTML. Also, it appears that the sort by thread function doesn't quite
work correctly -- many messages appear to be mis-sorted. As a result, I
just don't find it a good way to browse through the list messages.

I've been using the Digest version, but am getting frustrated with it, too,
since many replies include copies of previous emails, meaning I have to
scroll through multiple copies of the same message repeated in each
subsequent reply. This is normal for most Digest versions of lists, I
suppose, but at this point I'm finding the single day archive too long to
scroll through easily this way.

I wonder if there has been any thought about using a standard, off-the-shelf
mailing list or bulletin board software package for distributing and storing
messages for the WebAIM Forum. Maybe you are using one now, I'm not sure.
My impression is that some of these other software packages would be as
accessible as the system that the WebAIM list is currently using, and these
would have the added advantage of being already familiar to some users who
belong to a range of other mailing lists or bulletin boards.


Lastly, some positive feedback so you know that I'm not at all grouchy about
the list ;-)

I'm finding that this list has become increasingly interesting for me over
the past 3-4 months, and part of the reason I am commenting now on these
list maintenance items is that I think this list is worth reading and worth
making easier to read. Congrats to WebAIM and to the many contributors who
have been contributing to make this list as useful as it is becoming.


Thanks for taking a moment to think about these list maintenance issues.


Phil.

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Philip Kiff
Networking & Information Consultant
New Brunswick Easter Seal March of Dimes
65 Brunswick Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 1G5
Phone: (416) 760-7343
Fax: (416) 760-8324
Email: <EMAIL REMOVED>
WWW : www.nbeastersealmarchofdimes.ca
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Living with Disabilities Affiliate
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