The Distribution List Object

The GroupWise distribution list is simply a mailing list, sometimes called a group. eDirectory group objects can also be used like GroupWise distribution lists. An eDirectory group object functions in the normal manner in which users can inherit rights. A GroupWise distribution list does not give users eDirectory rights. GroupWise distribution lists are more flexible as mailing lists than eDirectory groups, though. For example, with a GroupWise distribution list you can specify whether recipients are TO, CC, or BC recipients; with eDirectory groups you cannot.

As with every other GroupWise object, the distribution list has an Identification window in ConsoleOne. (See Figure 5.12.)

Figure 5.12. The distribution list object properties window

The Distribution List Identification Property Page

As shown in Figure 5.12, this page has only a few fields to examine:

• Distinguished Name: This is the eDirectory name and context for this distribution list object.

• Post Office: This is the name of the GroupWise domain and post office that contains this distribution list. This field cannot be edited.

• Description: This field appears in the GroupWise address book, and it might therefore be very helpful to your users. Distribution list descriptions can explain the purpose of the mailing list, and even whom to contact to change the membership list.

• Visibility: Distribution list visibility, although populated with the same values as the visibility for users and resources, works a little bit differently. If you know the GroupWise address of a user, you can send mail to that user even though the user does not show up in the address book. A distribution list cannot be sent to in this way, unless you use the Replication Override field, which is explained just a little later.

  The Visibility field is extremely useful for preventing unauthorized users from using a single distribution list to send to the entire company. Simply restrict the visibility to Post Office, and only users on the same post office as the distribution list can send to the list.

• Replication Override: By default, a distribution list cannot be sent to unless it is visible in a user's address book. However, let's say you don't want a group to be visible beyond the post office it is on, but you would like to allow users who are aware of the distribution list's name to be able to send to the distribution list. You could do this by setting the Visibility of the group to Post Office, and setting the Replication Override to Replicate Everywhere Regardless of Visibility.

Distribution lists are a powerful means of communicating to a lot of people. Just make sure you've configured them correctly so that they are not abused within your GroupWise system.

The Distribution List Internet Addressing Property Page

The Internet address of a distribution list is not visible to users outside the GroupWise system. However, if on the GWIA you have the Expand Groups on Incoming Messages option enabled, this dialog box helps you define the name of the distribution list. Generally it is not recommended that you enable this option. The ramification of having this feature enabled is that senders on the Internet can potentially flood your system with email.

The Distribution List Membership Property Page

From the Membership property page you can see all the users currently associated to a distribution list and make changes to the list. Figure 5.13 shows the interface you use to change a distribution list.

Figure 5.13. The distribution list Membership property page

Clicking the Add button gives you a browser dialog box from which you can add users to a list. The Participation button enables you to change a user's participation in the list from TO to CC or even BC. The Delete button removes the selected user or users from the distribution list.

As with almost all details window operations, membership changes are not committed to the domain database until the details window is dismissed with the OK button.

The Distribution List Nicknames Property Page

A nickname on a distribution list allows the distribution list to be sent to using a different name than the distribution list's actual name.