val(fetch_template(

[Blootix]

Is eval(fetch_template( still used to output the xml? or is it custom to use some sort of vb class

[Dismounted]

The XML of what? fetch_template(), as its name suggests, fetches the template from the cache (or database) in its already parsed form. eval() is a default PHP function and treats the string inside as PHP code.

[Blootix]

The XML is for AJAX processing. I'm asking if I should just write a template in XML or use some sort of XML output construction class.

[Dismounted]

Use the class "vB_AJAX_XML_Builder" to build and output XML. Have a look at ajax.php. :)