- You want to use a file with PHP code as a template? Fine.
- You want to use your variables in said template? Fine.
Just remember to separate logic and final output (presentation). This is better accomplished with a templating framework. But you dont have to learn something like Smarty.
- If you use Zend_View or similar you can use PHP code all the way.
Many people here have the correct reply. Smarty is not templating in PHP. Far from it. Smarty is there mostly for those who have to use designers (ie non-programmers) to edit and setup the display of pages. If everyone who are gonna change the layout of your pages can program, you can go with a more PHP code oriented templating system. But you really should have all your output data ready and send it to the template. If you let each page fetch, process and display the content, you will have to refactor it sooner then later.
