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Broadcast lists are keyed off a field based on location. To ensure that location data is entered consistently, System Administrators edit the indexData.ini file and enter the appropriate data once. That location data is then made available through a pull down menu in Unified Messaging System Administration (UMSA).
System Administrators manage broadcast lists and make them available to specific people through an access list. The access list can be different for different lists. It is the System Administrator's responsibility to inform staff about the lists they have created and who has access to them.
Broadcast lists include a message aging option. When that option is configured at the COS level (Broadcast Expire attribute), broadcast messages are deleted from the users' inboxes after the message aging period has expired. (The DefaultExpDays attribute in UM.ini sets the default number of days before a broadcast message expires. The MaxExpDays attribute in UM.ini sets the maximum number of days that a subscriber is allowed to set the broadcast message expiration.)
uOne uses the Text-to-Speech feature to speak the name of the broadcast list. If a TTS resource is not available, the application speaks "broadcast list <broadcast list number>."
Broadcast lists are similar to distribution lists; both types of lists allow you to send a common message to a group of subscribers. However, unlike distribution lists, broadcast lists are dynamically created at the time the message is sent based upon search criteria defined for the broadcast list. The following example illustrates this difference between dynamically generated broadcast lists and static distribution lists.
Let's say you create a distribution list with 50 numbers on it. What happens if some people move and are no longer valid entries on your list? Nothing, those 50 names remain on the list until you modify it. Let's say you also create a broadcast list for your building. What happens if some people move and are no longer valid entries on that list? They automatically disappear from the list. That's because broadcast lists are keyed off of LDAP directory attributes. Every time you use the list, UM accesses the LDAP directory and generates an up-to-date listing based on of your criteria.
Other differences between Broadcast lists and Distribution lists include:
Before you start administering Broadcast Message Services, ensure that the following tasks have been completed:
You perform the following tasks to customize the Broadcast Messaging feature:
uOne subscribers may be grouped for the purpose of sending broadcast messages. You edit the indexData.ini file to set up the LDAP search filter options that are used to group subscribers for that purpose.
One way of grouping subscribers for broadcast messaging is by location. The [l] search filter (location) is typically set up in the indexData.ini file during the initial configuration of your system (Figure 4-1).
You can add [l] search filter options or additional search filters as needed.
Step 1 Go to the GateServer where the indexData.ini file resides for UMSA.
Step 2 Login as spmaster.
Step 3 Type:
cd /home2/spmaster/ADMIN/cgi-bin/MSGadmin/MSGdata.
Step 4 Edit indexData.ini files and set the following attributes.
[filterindex]
numOfOptions=<XX>
option<YY>=<value>,< name>
defaultValue=<value>
| Attribute | Description | Valid Values |
|---|---|---|
[filterindex] | The options list label. | Should not be edited. |
NumOfOptions=<XX> | The number of LDAP search filter options that will be displayed in the options list for this search filter. Ensure that this value matches the number of listed LDAP search filter options. | XX—a number |
option<XX>=<value>, <name> | option<XX> is the label. For the [l] search filter, <XX> indicates the order in which the options will appear in the drop-down list box for the Subscriber Location field on the UMSA screen. <value> is the data that will be stored in the LDAP database <name> is the name of the search filter group. For the [l] search filter, this name will appear in the drop-down list box for the Subscriber Location field. | <XX>—A number. There must be no gaps in the numbering of options. <value—Alphanumeric characters <name—Alphanumeric characters. Do not use commas in the name. |
DefaultValue=<value> | The <value> of the option to be used for the default. This field can be edited, but should not be removed. | A <value> listed in for this search filter. |
Step 1 Locate the appropriate option<XX> line and then delete that line.
Step 2 Update the numOfOptions field with total number of OptionXX lines.
Step 3 Correct any gaps in the numbering of the option<XX> labels.
Perform the following steps to provide the UM application with the default number of days before a broadcast message expires and the maximum number of days that a subscriber is able to set in uOne for broadcast message expiration.
Step 1 Go to the GateServer where the UM application resides and log in as spmaster.
Step 2 Type: cd $PARMLIB/apps/UM
Step 3 Edit the UM.ini files and set the following attributes (Table 4-2).
[Broadcast]
DefaultExpDays=
MaxExpDays=
You can use the defaults for these attributes.
| Attribute | Description | Valid Values |
|---|---|---|
The default number of days before a broadcast message expires. | A reasonable number Default = 3 | |
The maximum number of days that a subscriber is able to set in uOne for broadcast message expiration. | A reasonable number. Default = 365 |
You can allow subscribers who are authorized to send broadcast messages to set a message expiration time period for broadcast messages. To allow authorized subscribers to do so, set the Broadcast Expire attribute to Yes on the Add/Modify Class of Service screen in UMSA. See "Adding a Class of Service" section for more information.
Step 1 Access UMSA.
Step 2 Click on the Broadcast List button.
Step 3 Click on Add a Broadcast List. The Add Broadcast List page displays (Figure 4-3).
Step 4 Enter the appropriate data in the input fields on the Add a Broadcast List Page (Table 4-3).
| Attribute | Description | Valid Values |
|---|---|---|
Recommended range: 900 to 999 | ||
Email Address | The e-mail address used to send a broadcast message to the members of this broadcast list. | A complete e-mail address, e.g., broadcast_925@<domain_name> |
Broadcast List Description | Describes the Broadcast list, usually an option defined in the "For" attribute section on the LDAP Filter Creator screen. | Alphanumeric characters |
Entry DN | Indicates where in the LDAP database this entry resides. This is the entry distinguished name (dn) to which the broadcast list belongs. | Select a dn from the drop-down menu. |
Domain name for this Broadcast list. | Displays all available mail hosts. Select the appropriate mail host from the drop-down menu. |
Step 5 Click on Add and Modify.
The broadcast list number is added to the LDAP database.
The Modify Broadcast List page displays containing the Broadcast list number entry that you added (Figure 4-4).
Step 6 Click on the Modify button in the LDAP Filter field.
The LDAP Filter Creator page displays (Figure 4-5).
Step 7 Enter the appropriate data in the input fields (Table 4-4).
| Attribute | Description | Valid Values |
|---|---|---|
Search the | Identifies where in the specified database to start the search. |
Default = Whole Directory |
From the Base DN | The database on the Directory Server to use for the search. | Select a valid database from the drop-down menu. Default = the search base of the administrator |
For | Defines how the database will be searched. The first entry box identifies the filter file attribute to use. The second entry box identifies which operation to use during the search with this filter. | First Entry Box
Default = location Second entry box
Default = is |
Search String | Defines the word or phrase that will be used as the search string during the database search with this filter. | Only alphanumeric characters. |
Step 8 Click on the Test button.
The system indicates the number of entries that exist on the database that match the criteria in the filter.
Step 9 Perform one of the following:
Your changes are submitted to the LDAP database.
The Modify a Broadcast List page displays.
Step 10 Click on the Modify button in the Access List field on the Modify a Broadcast List page (Figure 4-4).
Step 11 Enter the e-mail addresses of the subscribers who are authorized to use the new broadcast list. (Figure 4-6).
Step 12 Click on Modify.
The list of authorized subscribers is added to the LDAP database.
Step 13 Click on Return to go back to the Modify a Broadcast List page.
Step 14 Click on Submit.
The filter information is added to the broadcast list number entry on the LDAP database.
Step 15 To add another broadcast list, repeat steps Step 3 to Step 14 .
Step 1 Access UMSA.
Step 2 Click on the Broadcast List button.
Step 3 Click on Modify a Broadcast List. The Modify Broadcast List page displays (Figure 4-4).
Step 4 Click on the appropriate broadcast list.
Step 5 If necessary, enter a new description in the Description field.
Step 6 To change the filter, click on the Modify button in the LDAP Filter field. The LDAP Filter Creator page displays.
Step 7 Enter the appropriate data in the input fields (Table 4-4).
Step 8 Click on the Test button.
The system indicates the number of entries that exist on the database that match the criteria in the filter.
Step 9 To re-define the filter, click on Reset. Go to step Step 7.
To use the filter, click on Submit.
Your changes are submitted to the LDAP database.
The Modify a Broadcast List page displays.
Step 10 To change the access list, click on the Modify button in the Access List field on the Modify a Broadcast List page.
Step 11 To add a subscriber to the access list, enter the subscriber's e-mail addresses in the next available Value field (Figure 4-6).
To delete the subscriber from the access list, click in the appropriate checkbox. (Figure 4-7)
Step 12 Click on Modify.
Step 13 Click on Return to go back to the Modify a Broadcast List page.
Step 14 Click on Submit.
The filter information is added to the broadcast list number entry on the LDAP database.
Step 15 To modify another broadcast list, repeat steps Step 3 to Step 14.
Step 1 Access the Unified Messaging System Administration interface. <link to UMSA>
Step 2 Click on the Broadcast List button.
Step 3 Click on Delete a Broadcast List.
Step 4 Click on the appropriate broadcast list number.
Step 5 To delete the selected broadcast list, click on Delete.
Step 6 To delete another broadcast list, repeat steps Step 3 to Step 5.
Occasionally, you may want to send messages to all uOne subscribers, for example, to notify subscribers when new features are available on the uOne system. The easiest way to do this is to create a broadcast list that addresses all subscribers.
When you send a message to a broadcast list, keep the message short and send it during non-peak hours. Sending lengthy broadcast messages to a large group of subscribers can affect system performance.
To send a message to a broadcast list:
Step 1 Access the uOne system.
Step 2 Log into your mailbox.
Step 3 Press 2 from the Main menu.
Step 4 Enter the broadcast list number and press #.
Step 5 Perform one of the following actions:
Step 6 After you hear the tone, record your message and press # when you're done recording.
Step 7 If you are satisfied with the message, press 1 to send it, or follow the prompts to edit the message.
Posted: Mon Sep 25 19:38:47 PDT 2000
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