Re: Autoresponder for mail sent to bug-sh-utils, and other obsolete lists

[James Youngman]

On 4/6/07, Philip Rowlands <address@hidden> wrote:

> I think it's wise to discourage people simply re-posting their query to
> bug-coreutils,

I did that by not giving the name of the replacement mailing list in
the post, I think.

> however the given text here is backwards IMHO.
>
> > ---8<---
> > Thanks for your mail about GNU software.  Unfortunately, you have sent
> > email to an out-of-date mailing list name.   The mailing list has been
> > renamed because the package itself has been renamed.
>
> "software package itself" ?

Changed.
[...]

> Perhaps a better
> suggestion in the first instance is to check for vendor updates, e.g.
> "It would be worth checking with the person or organisation which
> provided the software whether a newer version is available from them."

Added; thanks.

> Unnecessary port separator?

Removed.

> I think the best place to direct people for self-help, in order, is:
[...]

Well, I have updated the text following your suggestions, but they
still don't appear in the same order, principally because the existing
text didn't scan if I mde just those changes.   Maybe with a rewrite
the information could be presented in a more appropriate order.
Thanks for the help though.

James.

--- 8< ---
Thanks for your mail about GNU software.  Unfortunately, you have sent
email to an out-of-date mailing list name.   The mailing list has been
renamed because the software package itself has been renamed.

The fact that you are using an out-of-date list (and package) name
implies that the software you have been using is now very out of date.
If you are writing to report a bug, please take the time to download
the updated version of the software.   It is likely that your problem
has already been fixed in the updated version of the software.

If your original email was to one of these lists ...

  address@hidden
  address@hidden
  address@hidden

... then you should download a copy of GNU coreutils, which replaced
the three packages textutils, sh-utils and fileutils on 2002-09-01.

If you prefer not to compile the software yourself, it would be worth
checking with the person or organisation which provided the software
whether a newer version is available from them.

The source code for GNU coreutils is also available directly from the
GNU project's FTP site, and so you can download the most up-to-date
version of the package by downloading it from there.

GNU coreutils is available from ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/coreutils.
GNU coreutils is under active maintenance and enhancement, while the
software version you appear to be using is at least 6 years old.
Within the coreutils source distribution is a file called
README-package-renamed-to-coreutils.  That file contains pointers to
the replacement mailing list.  It also contains pointers to list
archives; you may even find an answer to your question or a solution
to your problem by searching it.

If the problem you are having is not fixed by upgrading the software,
you may in fact find that the GNU coreutils Frequently Asked Questions
list (http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/faq/coreutils-faq.html)
contains the information you need.  If not, you may find it helpful to
search the mailing list archives at
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-coreutils/.

Thanks,
The GNU coreutils community