X-No-Archive
Encyclopedia
X-No-Archive, also known colloquially as xna, is a newsgroup
message header field used to prevent a Usenet
message from being archived in various servers
.
1036 and 977, used in existing newsgroups. In addition to the standard header fields used in all newsgroup messages (including Path:, From:, Subject:, and Date:), news reader software allows a user to add optional fields to a header. These additional fields are prefixed with the label X- so that they can be ignored by news servers and newsreaders. The phrase "No Archive" was coined as a way to state "Do not archive this message," and the X- prefix was added to complete the term X-No-Archive.
The proper field to prevent a message from being archived is: X-No-Archive: Yes (abbreviated as "XNAY").
Some software systems also do not archive if the first line in the body of the message contains this text. This is useful for those users who cannot change the header of messages they send out. If the X-No-Archive field is set to "No", or the field is absent, a Usenet archive will not recognize a prohibition on archiving the message.
, Google continued to honor the X-No-Archive directive. Beginning in 2005, Google's newsgroup service (Google Groups
) changed its handling of X-No-Archive, allowing messages with the field to be archived and made available for view for six days, after which the message is made unavailable in the archive. Other newsgroup archiving services have also followed in DejaNews' footsteps, though the decision not to archive X-No-Archive messages has been entirely voluntary.
Many popular newsreader and posting software programs, such as Forté Agent
, include, as a standard option, the ability to insert an X-No-Archive field into messages at the user's request.
Mozilla Thunderbird
has the ability to insert custom fields into the header of both email and Usenet messages. This feature must be manually enabled by editing the mailnews.js file (instructions are included in the .js file). However, custom fields are not automatically inserted into messages by Thunderbird - the user must add them manually to each message as desired.
Newsgroup
A usenet newsgroup is a repository usually within the Usenet system, for messages posted from many users in different locations. The term may be confusing to some, because it is usually a discussion group. Newsgroups are technically distinct from, but functionally similar to, discussion forums on...
message header field used to prevent a Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
message from being archived in various servers
News server
A news server is a set of computer software used to handle Usenet articles. It may also refer to a computer itself which is primarily or solely used for handling Usenet. A reader server provides an interface to read and post articles, generally with the assistance of a news client. A transit...
.
Origin
The need for X-No-Archive began when DejaNews debuted in 1995. DejaNews was the first large-scale commercial attempt to archive the Usenet news feed, and several newsgroup participants were concerned about privacy rights and about the possibility that their messages could be re-posted through DejaNews in the future. DejaNews addressed these concerns by announcing that it would not archive Usenet messages containing the X-No-Archive header field.How it works
X-No-Archive was designed to follow the standard message header protocol, RFCRequest for Comments
In computer network engineering, a Request for Comments is a memorandum published by the Internet Engineering Task Force describing methods, behaviors, research, or innovations applicable to the working of the Internet and Internet-connected systems.Through the Internet Society, engineers and...
1036 and 977, used in existing newsgroups. In addition to the standard header fields used in all newsgroup messages (including Path:, From:, Subject:, and Date:), news reader software allows a user to add optional fields to a header. These additional fields are prefixed with the label X- so that they can be ignored by news servers and newsreaders. The phrase "No Archive" was coined as a way to state "Do not archive this message," and the X- prefix was added to complete the term X-No-Archive.
The proper field to prevent a message from being archived is: X-No-Archive: Yes (abbreviated as "XNAY").
Some software systems also do not archive if the first line in the body of the message contains this text. This is useful for those users who cannot change the header of messages they send out. If the X-No-Archive field is set to "No", or the field is absent, a Usenet archive will not recognize a prohibition on archiving the message.
Newsreader software programs
When DejaNews was purchased by GoogleGoogle
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, Google continued to honor the X-No-Archive directive. Beginning in 2005, Google's newsgroup service (Google Groups
Google Groups
Google Groups is a service from Google Inc. that supports discussion groups, including many Usenet newsgroups, based on common interests. The service was started in 1995 as Deja News, and was transitioned to Google Groups after a February 2001 buyout....
) changed its handling of X-No-Archive, allowing messages with the field to be archived and made available for view for six days, after which the message is made unavailable in the archive. Other newsgroup archiving services have also followed in DejaNews' footsteps, though the decision not to archive X-No-Archive messages has been entirely voluntary.
Many popular newsreader and posting software programs, such as Forté Agent
Forté Agent
Forté Agent is an email and Usenet news client used on the Windows operating system. Agent was conceived, designed and developed by Mark Sidell and the team at Forté Internet Software in 1994 to address the need for an online/offline newsreader which capitalized on the emerging Windows GUI framework...
, include, as a standard option, the ability to insert an X-No-Archive field into messages at the user's request.
Mozilla Thunderbird
Mozilla Thunderbird
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open source, cross-platform e-mail and news client developed by the Mozilla Foundation. The project strategy is modeled after Mozilla Firefox, a project aimed at creating a web browser...
has the ability to insert custom fields into the header of both email and Usenet messages. This feature must be manually enabled by editing the mailnews.js file (instructions are included in the .js file). However, custom fields are not automatically inserted into messages by Thunderbird - the user must add them manually to each message as desired.