SYMPA – FAQ for List Owners
Table of contents
Red Fields After Updating Settings
Q: Why are some fields marked in red after saving the settings?
A: This is a software bug in SYMPA that currently cannot be fixed. The red markings have no functional impact and can be ignored.
User Synchronization with an external Database
Q: How often are user data synchronized when an external database is used as the source?
A: The synchronization is based on the Time-to-Live (TTL) value. It is recommended not to set the synchronization interval too short — for example, once per day.
Changing the Synchronization Interval
Q: I set the TTL to five minutes as a test, but the data still hadn’t synchronized even after 15 minutes. Why?
A: The new TTL takes effect only after the current interval has expired. By default, the TTL is one hour. This means that changes take effect no sooner than after this default interval has expired.
Variables in Headers and Footers
Q: How can I configure headers and footers with variables (e.g., from Majordomo) in SYMPA?
A: Headers and footers are defined in the menu «Admin» → «Customize texts». However, SYMPA does not support variables there.
Display of Headers and Footers
Q: Why aren’t my headers and footers simply inserted at the beginning or end of the email?
A: If the internal structure of an email must not be modified—for example, in signed, formatted, or multipart emails — SYMPA adds headers and footers as attachments or, in some cases, omits them entirely.
Tip: To prevent headers and footers from appearing as separate message parts, go to the Administration section under «Send/Receive» and change the «Attachment Type» parameter from mime to append.