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Creating Email Distribution Lists 
for a Class Section


Contents


Introduction

Email distribution lists can be easily created for each class section that a faculty member teaches. Such lists make it possible to send messages to all the students in your section. You will need access to the Student Information System (SIS) database. If you do not already have access to this system, please complete a TTUMIS Request Form, print it and return it to Records, Box 5026.

Remember that this information is confidential and no one other than the instructor of the course should be allowed access to the created lists.

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Creating the Email Distribution List

On or after the first day of classes:

Main Menu (20341 bytes)

Class List Menu (13789 bytes)

You will see the message shown below. Your request for an email distribution list is submitted to the VMS batch queue for processing. This may take some time depending on the number of jobs submitted.

Batch Message: Your list is being submitted to batch 
for processing.  Your distribution file will be emailed to you...Subject is section ID.(8974 bytes)

A list of email addresses for this class section in the form abc1234@tntech.edu will be mailed to your default email address. This file will also include the student’s first and last name. Each field will be separated by commas.

?>leave [Enter]

Please note: Distribution lists can be created for the current term on or after the first day of classes for that term. Once you have created a list for your class section, your file will not be automatically updated when a student drops or adds class sections. You can recreate an updated list any time by repeating the steps above. You may especially wish to do this after the drop/add deadline.

If you have any questions or problems using this menu, please contact Administrative Support at 3976 (Kay Hume) or 3973 (Richard Cashion).

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Next you will need to import the addresses into the mail program of your choice.

Go to the section which applies to you:

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Importing the Email Distribution List into an  Outlook Express style Address Book

Locate the distribution list message:

Save the attachment:
  • Click on the paper clip and then on the filename.
  • Select Save to disk.
  • Browse to a convenient location to save the file.
  • Click Save.

Minimize Outlook Express and open Windows Explorer to Create an Address Book:

Opening a file with the extension .wab causes the Address Book Accessory to run, so that you may import the class addresses into this specific address book.

Please note that the steps on the following pages all take place in the Address Book Accessory and not directly in Outlook Express.

 

To import this information into your address book:

Import Text (34924 bytes)

Text Files (10563 bytes)

 

Map the fields to your address book:

• Click to check the EMAIL box under Text Field. Import Fields (11253 bytes)
• To indicate where to import this information, select the field, E-mail Address, from the pulldown menu.
• Click OK.

• Click to check the FIRSTNAME box.
• Select First Name from the pulldown menu.
• Click OK.

• Click to check the LASTNAME box.
• Select Last Name from the pulldown menu.
• Click OK.

Map Fields Screen (19538 bytes)

• Click the Finish button.
• Click OK in the Address book import has been completed successfully box.
• Click Close to close the file type selection box.

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Sending Email to your Class from the Address Book Accessory

To create a group:

  • Select File —› New Group 
       or New button —› New Group
  • Type a group name such as Math431
  • Click the Select Members button.
  • Click on the first name in the list, scroll down, 
       Shift + Click on the last name.
  • Click on the Select button to move all the names at once into your group.
  • Click on OK when you are done selecting names.
  • Click on OK to close your new Group.
To send an email message to your class without a large header:
  • Select File —› New Contact  
       or New button —› New Contact 
  • Create a new contact to represent your own email address, but use the class name instead of your own name.  
    (See example.) —›
  • Click OK
  • Select your new entry which shows your own email address with the class name 
       (e.g. Math 431 Spring 2000) from the list of names in the address book. 
  • From the menu, Tools —› Action —› Send Mail 
       (Or in earlier versions Tools —› Send Mail). 
  • A new message window will appear showing the message is from you, and is to the class. 
  • Click on the Bcc: icon  (In earlier versions, if you don't see the Bcc:, just click on To: to get to the selection window.) 
  • Highlight the class group name, such as Math431 
  • Click on the Bcc: button. 
  • Click OK.
  • Click on the Send button.

Using this technique, each class member will see that the message is to the class name (e.g. Math 431 Spring 2000) and will not see a long list of the entire class’s email addresses.

Remember to open each address book directly to send mail. Double-click on the address book filename from within Windows Explorer. These address books are separate from the one you have set up in Outlook Express and not directly accessible from there.

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Outlook 98

Locate the distribution list message:

Save the attachment:

  • Click on the paper clip and then on the filename.
  • Select Save to disk.
  • Browse to a convenient location to save the file, such as My Documents.
  • Click Save.

Importing the addresses:

If you are using Outlook 98 to maintain a list of contacts, there are two approaches you may take:

  1. Follow the instructions under using an Outlook Express style address book.  You will create separate address books for each class and send email to the class from the Address Book Accessory.
  2. Edit the attachment file in WordPad or Notepad (use a plain text editor) and in the header line (first line), change the word EMAIL to E-MAIL, then save.  Then follow the instructions for Outlook 2000, omitting the Map Custom Fields steps.  This mapping will be done automatically and correctly if the name change is made to the header.  You must make this change to each file which you wish to directly import into a folder in Outlook 98.

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Outlook 2000

Locate the distribution list message:

Save the attachment:

  • Click on the paper clip and then on the filename.
  • Select Save to disk.
  • Browse to a convenient location to save the file, such as My Documents.
  • Click Save.

Create a folder for each class:

Create a folder under your existing Contacts folder into which you will import the email addresses for your class.
  • From the menu, select
         File —› New —› Folder 
  • Type a name for your folder reflecting the class name, such as Math431.
  • Click on Contacts to select the location where this folder will be created.
  • Click OK.

Import the addresses into this folder.

  • From the menu, select 
    File —› Import and Export...
  • Select Import from another program or file
  • Click Next

 

  • Scroll to the bottom of the list.
  • Select Tab Separated Values (Windows)
  • Click Next

 

  • Under File to Import:  Click on Browse to locate the file with the email addresses.  For example, this may be in My Documents if that is where you stored it.
  • Select the appropriate option:
    • Do not import duplicate items
  • Click Next

 

  • Expand Contacts by clicking on the plus sign + and select the folder you created with your class name (for example Math 431).
  • Click Next

 

Note that the box is checked indicating that you wish to import a text file into a folder.
  • Expand Name by clicking on the plus sign +

Note that FIRSTNAME and LASTNAME are automatically correctly mapped from the text file into the Outlook 2000 fields First Name and Last Name respectively.

You will be returned to the previous wizard view.

You will now see your class list in the folder of that name.

When selecting names to send email, remember to switch to the specific class folder.

See above for instructions on how to send a message to your class without a large header.

Contents


Importing the Email List into a 
Netscape Communicator
Address Book

Please note that while Netscape Communicator is not supported by Information Technology Services, here are some brief instructions for those who may be using it.

Locate the distribution list message:

Save the attachment:

Create a new address book for each class:

Note that you can create a new address book for each class section.

Import the email addresses:

  • Select this address book by clicking on it in the directory list.
  • From the menu, select File—› Import.
Select Address Book (8969 bytes)
  • Select the last file type listed: Text file
  • Click Next
Select Text File Format (13457 bytes)
  • File Format: Comma Separated (CSV)
  • Click Browse to locate your saved attachment.
Select Comma Separated Format (3942 bytes)
  • In the Open file window near the bottom, under Files of type: select Text Files (*.txt) so that you can see files with this ending.
  • Locate your file where you selected to store it.
  • Double-click to select the file.
Select Text Files (10563 bytes)

Map the fields to your address book:

Note that in Netscape, the header line will also be imported as FIRSTNAME LASTNAME.  Select and delete that entry from your address book.

Map Fields in Netscape (46980 bytes)

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Create a List Consisting of Class Members in Netscape Messenger

  • Move the Mailing List window to one side, so that you can see class members in the address book listing.
  • Click on the first name in the list. Hold the shift key down and click on the last name in the list.
  • Drag the names to the mailing list 
  • Click OK.
  • Close the Address Book.
List Members (7754 bytes)

To send a message to your class section:

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Getting Help

With SIS and ClassWindow:

If you have a question about SIS and ClassWindow, please contact Kay Hume at 3976 or Richard Cashion 3973.

With Outlook Express:

For questions on Outlook Express or the Address Book Accessory, you may wish to consult the online help included with each.  From the menu, select Help —›  Contents and Index.

Handouts on using Outlook Express and other programs are available on the web from the TTU home page under Computing —› Documentation (at www.tntech.edu/its/pubs/).

With Outlook:

For questions on Outlook, you may wish to consult the online help.  
From the menu, select Help —›  Microsoft Outlook Help.

If you have a question about Outlook, Outlook Express or the Address Book Accessory that the online help does not address, please contact your college contact or the Microcomputer Support Office at 372-6315.

With Netscape Communicator Messenger:

To get help with Netscape Communicator consult the online help included with it:
Help —›  Help Contents.

This program is not currently supported by Information Technology Services.

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October 31, 2003