Customize subjects
Hi there, we have just started with internal tests around Mailman3 before we want to use it productively. Our instance runs on a virtualised Debian server. We have now started to work with the templates and created a new template ‘list:user:action:subscribe.txt’ under /var/lib/mailman3/templates/site/de. Unfortunately, we can't find out how to customise the subject of the email. Can anyone help us here? Regards Johannes
johannes.wolf--- via Mailman-users writes:
Unfortunately, we can't find out how to customise the subject of the email. Can anyone help us here?
You can add a prefix in Settings > List Identity > Subject Prefix. If you want the conventional square brackets "[]" you must put them in yourself. If you want a serial number, you can add a Python "%d" spec (you can specify the width and zero-padding as usual). You cannot customize the serial number itself. I believe it resets every time the digest volume number is incremented.
If you want more than that, that's the responsibility of the MUA.
-- GNU Mailman consultant (installation, migration, customization) Sirius Open Source https://www.siriusopensource.com/ Software systems consulting in Europe, North America, and Japan
Hi, thanks for your feedback. We now the setting for the prefix but we would like to completely customize the subject. At the moment the subject looks something like this: "Your confirmation is needed to join the placeholder@placeholder.com mailing list." This text needs to be customized as we only have older users which need it in their native language (German). ;) Thanks and regards
On July 14, 2025 10:55:56 AM EDT, "johannes.wolf--- via Mailman-users" <mailman-users@mailman3.org> wrote:
This text needs to be customized as we only have older users which need it in their native language (German). ;)
If you set the list's preferred language to German, the subject should be translated.
-- Mark Sapiro <mark@msapiro.net> Sent from my Not_an_iThing with standards compliant, open source software.
The lists preferred language is already German and I also set this language as default in the Mailman Settings but without any success. When I register for the list I still get the English subject in my customised confirmation email template: "Your confirmation is needed to join the placeholder@placeholder.com mailing list." Any further ideas?
On Wed, Jul 16, 2025 at 11:42 AM johannes.wolf--- via Mailman-users < mailman-users@mailman3.org> wrote:
The lists preferred language is already German and I also set this language as default in the Mailman Settings but without any success. When I register for the list I still get the English subject in my customised confirmation email template: "Your confirmation is needed to join the placeholder@placeholder.com mailing list." Any further ideas?
I decided to test this functionality on my MM3 server. I have created a list, then set the default language to "German". That is the only setting I changed. I then logged out and went back to subscribe another address I have, and the initial email came in German as seen here - https://imgur.com/a/T4rgYJC
I am running my MM3 using the virtual environment (venv) method. I see you are using the OS package - because you refer to /var/lib/mailman3/templates/site/de/ In a virtualenv method, that would be /opt/mailman/mm/var/templates/site/de. Anyway, in my test I did not create any template at all. I only set the list language. So, how about you delete your OS package and use the virtualenv method - https://docs.mailman3.org/en/latest/install/virtualenv.html - so that we are walking on the same road? Then test again. By just setting the list language, it appears it works as expected. I only use the /opt/mailman/mm/var/templates/lists/LISTNAME/en/ to customize the templates when I want to override the default. If you're curious enough, check your mailbox for a message from my MM3 instance and let me know if it is like what you expected.
-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254 7 3200 0004/+254 7 2274 3223 In an Internet failure case, the #1 suspect is a constant: DNS. "Oh, the cruft.", egrep -v '^$|^.*#' ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ :-) [How to ask smart questions: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html]
On 7/16/25 1:42 AM, johannes.wolf--- via Mailman-users wrote:
The lists preferred language is already German and I also set this language as default in the Mailman Settings but without any success. When I register for the list I still get the English subject in my customised confirmation email template: "Your confirmation is needed to join the placeholder@placeholder.com mailing list." Any further ideas?
As Odhiambo confirms, it should work. You have said 'Our instance runs on a virtualised Debian server.' Does this mean you've installed the Debian Mailman package? If so, this may be a Debian issue and should be reported to Debian.
If not, what is your Mailman core version and how was it installed?
-- Mark Sapiro <mark@msapiro.net> The highway is for gamblers, San Francisco Bay Area, California better use your sense - B. Dylan
Hi there, I just installed MM3 new in a virtual environment like Odhiambo suggested and now it works. Thank you very much for your help in this matter! Regards Johannes
participants (4)
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johannes.wolf＠kaaw.de -
Mark Sapiro -
Odhiambo Washington -
Stephen J. Turnbull