If you know some html, then Smarty is easy to pick up. I find it very easy to work with visually.

Perhaps put your PHP education on hold until you get your store looking the way you want it to. In my experience you will spend much more time working with templates than you will with PHP and Smarty is far easier to learn.

I am opening my 2nd e-commerce store this month and hopefully a third one next month. Once you get comfortable with X-Cart it just keeps getting easier and easier.

Good luck!

I use HotDog software (www.sausage.com). They have a 30 day trial (so that part is free! :) ). Does great for color coding many web related files (html's, css, php, tpl, asp, etc..). And it won't do stupid stuff to your files and try to do things for you unless you specifically ask it to do something for you. It's great for beginners to advanced. I've used it for 8 years now I think.

This link may also help with smarty. http://smarty.php.net/docs.php

Good luck!

Carrie

I use Perled for both tpls and php files, works very nicely and it doesn't screw up EOLS :)