-----------------------------
--- leftbar.tpl           ---
-----------------------------
		<div id="leftnav">
				<div id="navmenu">
					{load_nav symbol='SMARTY' assign='nav'}
					{$nav}
				</div>
		</div>

-----------------------------
--- function.load_nav.php ---
-----------------------------

<?php

// setup our function for fetching nav
function fetch_nav($symbol)
{
   // put logic here that fetches $nav_items
	 
		$nav_items = '';
		$link = getConnection();
		$query = "SELECT pk_section_id, name FROM section";
		
		$result = mysql_query($query, $link);
		if(!$result) {
			die($die_msg);
		}
		else {
			$nav_items .= '<ul>';
			
			while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) {
				$nav_items .= '<li><a href="?section='  . $row['pk_section_id'] . 
					'" title="' . $row['name'] . '">' . $row['name'] . '</a></li>';
			}
			
			$nav_items .= '</ul>';
		}
  return $nav_items;
}

function smarty_function_load_nav($params, &$smarty)
{
   // call the function
   $nav_items = fetch_nav($params['symbol']);

   // assign template variable
   $smarty->assign($params['assign'], $nav_items);
}
?>