[QCWA] Reflector Survey

[Jeffrey Angus]

> There are two options available on the reflector that deal
> with who an email will be sent to when you hit "Reply".
> This doesn't effect "Reply All"

Apparently there is a bit of confusion about what exatly is meant by "Reply"

There are two things to take into consideration here.

1. How the reflector handles your request when you hit reply

2. How your email client handles your request when you hit reply.

The email "envelope" as it is, consists of several lines of information. the 
original sender and a reply to: line. 

With regards to the reflector, the question is wether or not to have just the 
original sender, or an additional reply to: line to intercept your reply 
and send it to the list rather than the original sender.

Traditionally, and correctly so, a reflector, or mail digest should have all 
replies sent back to the reflector mail handler which in turn then 
distributes it to everyone on the list.

This is how it is supposed to work. This is also how usenet news works when 
it is configured properly.

Hitting the "reply" button on your email client should pick up the "reply 
to:" line and send the mail back to that address. In this case the 
reflector.

As far as your email client is concerned, when you hit the reply button (on 
ANY email) First it checks to see if there is a specific "reply to:" field, 
and lacking that will attempt to reply to the sender.

Hitting the "Reply to All:" button will send the reply to the original sendor 
(or their specificed reply to field, AND everyone else in the To and Cc 
fields.

I'm thinking that Bob's original question with regard to the reflector set up 
is to wheter or not have the originator listed as "the sender" in addition 
to the reply to field set tot he QCWA reflector system.

As it stands right now, the sender is the reflector and the reply to is the 
reflector. Hitting reply or reply all will just send the reply to the 
reflector.

If Bob has the refelctor settings changed to include the original sender as 
THE sender, but keeps the reply to field as the reflector it will still 
send the reply to the reflector UNLESS you hit reply ALL at which poin it 
will send the reply to both the reflector and the original sender.

It is at this point, when the reply is being composed, you can delete the 
reflector from the To: list and only have your reply go to the original 
sender if that is what you wish.

Mail via the internet is handled by system called "SMTP" or simple mail 
transport protocol. It is defined by several RFCs or Request For Comments, 
notably RFC 821, 1123 and 2821.

Bob, I think this is what you meant to convey, if not, please let me know.

Jeff-1.0
wa6fwi