# etc ##
##

sub read_template {
    my ($templfile, $hashref) = @_;
    my ($line, $dest, $stuff);

    my $fh = new FileHandle("<$templfile");

    # This looks like a C idiom.
    # $dest is initially set to point to $stuff (which is  
    # undef).
    # 
    # If a template start is found, the hash key is set with
    # the template name, and
    # $dest is re-pointed at the value corresponding to this 
    # hash key.
    # 
    # Subsequent lines are appended to $dest (and hence to 
    # the hash value),
    # until a closing tag is found, at which point $dest is  
    # re-set to $stuff again.
    # 
    # The hash is a reference, so we are also modifying the 
    # caller at the same time.  Nothing is explicitly 
    # returned.
    # 
    $dest = \$stuff;
    while ($line = <$fh>) {
      if ($line =~ /^\s*<\s*TEMPLATE\s+NAME="(.*)"\s*>/i) {
          $hashref->{$1} = '';
          $dest = \$hashref->{$1};
      } elsif ($line =~ /^\s*<\s*\/\s*TEMPLATE\s*>/i) {
          $dest = \$stuff;
      } else {
          ${ $dest } .= $line;
      }
    }

    $fh->close;
}