The fetch_template how do I test to see if the templete exist in PHP

[whitejeep]

In the following PHP code

I want to test the what the templatecache or the database
or both how do it in PHP of the line below.

$dummy = fetch_template('groups_index_listbit'); // returns a string
echo $dummy;

What is actualy being returned here ?
string fetch_template (string $templatename);
where
string $templatename: Name of template to be fetched

So How do I debug this and echo the values correctly above here.

Note: This works fine here and I can echo the values in the actaul array.

echo $groupslist[id];
echo "<br>";
echo $groupslist[groupname];
echo "<br>";

eval('$groupslist .= "' . fetch_template('groups_index_listbit') . '";');

Why does the line above need the . dot operator is it becuse it is a string type being returned ?

How does the eval work in the above case in vbullutin please explain. THANKS