getlist - Get a list from an NNTP server

getlist obtains a list from an NNTP server and sends it to standard output.  list may be one of "active"
       (which is the default value), "active.times", "distrib.pats", or "newsgroups".  "active" contains a list
       of all newsgroups carried by the server with the high and low article numbers in the group, and the group
       status field.  "active.times" is a list of newsgroups, their creation times (in seconds since epoch), and
       the creator of the group.  "distrib.pats" is a list of relevant distributions and the newsgroups they
       apply to.  "newsgroups" is a list of newsgroups along with their short descriptions.

       For more information on the formats of these files, see active(5), active.times(5), distrib.pats(5) and
       newsgroups(5).

       The listing files other than the active file are common extensions to the NNTP protocol and may not be
       available on all servers.  For instance, "counts" "distributions", "headers", "moderators", "motd",
       "overview.fmt" and "subscriptions", amongst other, may be available.  Moreover, a uwildmat pattern
       pattern may also be usable for some of these listing files.

       For more information on the formats of these files, see distributions(5), moderators(5), motd.news(5) and
       subscriptions(5).  The overview fields obtained with "overview.fmt" are the ones for which the overview
       database is consistent (see extraoverviewadvertised in inn.conf for more information).  The list obtained
       with "headers" contains the fields that can be retrieved using the HDR command (pattern can then be
       either "msgid" or "range").  The list obtained with "counts" is like the "active" one except that the
       number of articles in a newsgroup is mentioned just before the flag of this newsgroup.

       The pattern parameter may be used with a list value of "active", "active.times" or "newsgroups" to limit
       the output.  If given, only entries corresponding to newsgroups that match the uwildmat pattern pattern
       will be printed.

       If the list parameter is "active", a third parameter, types, may also be used to restrict the list.  If
       given, only entries corresponding to newsgroups with a newsgroup mode found in types will be printed.
       For example, a types value of "y" would only show unmoderated groups, and a types value of "ym" would
       show all unmoderated and moderated groups but not aliased groups or groups that disallow postings.

       The following command will obtain the one-line descriptions of all newsgroups found on UUNET:

           getlist -h news.uu.net newsgroups

       The  following  command  will show the active file entries for all moderated comp.* groups on the default
       server:

           getlist active 'comp.*' m

       The following command lists all groups where local postings are permitted, are moderated or aliased:

           getlist active '*' ym=

       Note that the wildcard character "*" has to be quoted by simple quotes to protect it from the shell.

       Written by Landon Curt Noll <chongo@toad.com>  for  InterNetNews.   Rewritten  in  POD  by  Russ  Allbery
       <eagle@eyrie.org>.

       getlist - Get a list from an NNTP server

-A  Try  to authenticate using the username and password information in passwd.nntp(5) before issuing the
           LIST command.

       -hhost
           Connect to the server host rather than to the value of  server  in  inn.conf  or  the  value  of  the
           NNTPSERVER environment variable.

       -pport
           Connect to the port port, which is by default "119".

       -R  Try  to switch to nnrpd with a MODE READER command before issuing the LIST request.  It can be useful
           in case a feeding access exists for the news server: more information can be  retrieved  from  nnrpd,
           compared with innd.

active(5),   active.times(5),   distrib.pats(5),   distributions(5),   inn.conf(5),   libinn_uwildmat(3),
       moderators(5), motd.news(5), newsgroups(5), nnrpd(8), passwd.nntp(5), subscriptions(5).

INN 2.7.3                                          2025-02-21                                         GETLIST(1)

getlist [-AR] [-hhost] [-pport] [list [pattern [types]]]