Joedee,
If you look at a stock home.tpl, you'll usually see a 3 column setup -- that is, there are (3) <td> columns -- so if you want to lose the 3rd column, "simply" remove the rightmost <td> and move it's contents to the leftmost <td>
For example, find this code in 4.1.3's home.tpl:
Code:
<td class="VertMenuRightColumn">
{if $active_modules.SnS_connector && $config.SnS_connector.sns_display_button eq 'Y' && $sns_collector_path_url ne ''}
{include file="modules/SnS_connector/button.tpl"}
<br />
{/if}
{if $active_modules.Feature_Comparison ne "" && $comparison_products ne ''}
{include file="modules/Feature_Comparison/product_list.tpl" }
<br />
{/if}
{include file="customer/menu_cart.tpl" }
<br />
{if $login eq "" }
{include file="auth.tpl" }
{else}
{include file="authbox.tpl" }
{/if}
{include file="news.tpl" }
{if $active_modules.XAffiliate ne ""}
<br />
{include file="partner/menu_affiliate.tpl" }
{/if}
{if $active_modules.Interneka ne ""}
<br />
{include file="modules/Interneka/menu_interneka.tpl" }
{/if}
<br />
{include file="poweredby.tpl" }
<br />
<img src="{$ImagesDir}/spacer.gif" width="150" height="1" alt="" />
</td>
This is the entire "right column" of your home.tpl. If you want to insert these items on the left column and eliminate the right column, take everything between the <td> and the </td> and paste it after:
Code:
{include file="help.tpl" }
<img src="{$ImagesDir}/spacer.gif" width="150" height="1" alt="" />
And of course, delete the right column <td> and </td>
I hope you have some basic xhtml skills? home.tpl is a relatively simple layout -- it basically is a shell for the entire site and it mostly comprises "includes" to other templates and modules. home.tpl is a great place to start visualizing where things live since there's not much "content" - but mostly links to other templates that have the content.
This can be a nest of insanity, but home.tpl is usually your starting place.
When in doubt, use WEBMASTER MODE to help you sort out what lives where.
Good luck!
Jeremy