Templates from $template_dir

Templates from the $template_dir do not require a template resource, although you can use the file: resource for consistancy. Just supply the path to the template you want to use relative to the $template_dir root directory.

// from PHP script
$smarty->display("index.tpl");
$smarty->display("admin/menu.tpl");
$smarty->display("file:admin/menu.tpl"); // same as one above

{* from within Smarty template *}
{include file="index.tpl"}
{include file="file:index.tpl"} {* same as one above *}