diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-push.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-push.yml
index b3d1ff0..b453e1b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate-push.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-push.yml
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ jobs:
           # email body as text
           body: |
             Run date ${{ steps.date.outputs.date }}
+            By: ${{ github.actor }}
             ${{ github.repository }} files added or updated:
             --
             Added
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b50e23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Restrict commits to Spase XML files and occasional updates to github workflow yml files
+# The '!' character negates blocking - use that to allow specific file types
+
+# Ignore all to start
+*
+
+# Allow necessary root files
+!.gitignore
+!README.*
+!LICENSE
+
+# Allow folders
+!*/
+
+# Allow xml files
+!*.xml
+!*.XML
+
+# Allow workflow files (the .github folder currently does not get blocked at all)
+!.github/workflow/*.yml