Here's what I have at the top of my chat.php file, if this will help.
PHP Code:
<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);
// pre-cache templates used by all actions
$globaltemplates = array('header,navbar,chat');
// ## Grabs global.php ##
require("./global.php");
// ## yeap what it says ##
define('NO_REGISTER_GLOBALS', 1);
// ## defines this script as chat if you use phpinclude_start for this page at all ##
define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'chat');
and then I call the navbar template like this (right above the call I make for the chat template):
PHP Code:
eval('$navbar = "' . fetch_template('navbar') . '";');
Then just make a template for what you want to have in it with the standard headinclude, header and footer in it and that should get you on your way.