The second version of Aborior's Encore Web Forum is now edging closer towards its beta test, which will hopefully get under way early next week. As such, we're on a quest for people interested in helping out as beta testers.

Encore Web Forum II is an elegant new message board running as an application of Aborior's own Simplex Database system. It is written in Perl, and supports both MySQL and flat-file databases. SQL Server and Microsoft Access support is currently being polished up also. The forum itself boasts such features as user polls, chat, private messaging, built-in mailing list, e-mail notification, post pre-moderation, message reports, IP banning, themes and a myriad of others. It is also completely template driven, with over 250 templates governing every aspect of the forum from headers and footers, admin system pages and posting forms to the most minute detail.

We're looking for a range of testers from novices to experts, so there's no need to be shy if you're interested but have never installed a CGI script before. While those who know their stuff are invaluable in dealing with performance and other technical matters, novices are just as invaluable when it comes to ensuring ease of use.

The Aborior team will, of course, be working closely with testers, listening to and considering all suggestions, massaging out bugs and providing support where necessary.

For more information on the beta test, visit http://www.aborior.com/products/encore/encoreIIbeta.shtml You can also send a blank e-mail off to betatest@aborior.com to receive an auto-responder with even more information.

For more information on the software itself, you can visit the preview page at http://www.aborior.com/products/encore/encoreIIpreview.shtml and the Simplex Community, currently running an alpha version of the software, http://www.aborior.com/products/simplex

And, of course, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to post in the Encore II topics on the Simplex Community or shoot us an e-mail.