magento - rendering blocks and child blocks within a theme -

i trying better understanding of how blocks work in magento. have looked @ of files better idea , has helped little, complex limited skills @ moment , still not have proper understanding of going on , how implement them site. realise essential understand working magento thought set list of things try , achieve:

1. display block (done)

2. display block , child block

3. display block within magento layout

4. position block on page of magento layout

5. learn commonly used 'type' attributes , when use them

so far have put _index_index namespace/module/etc/config.xml

<frontend>     ....     <layout>         <updates>             <learningblocks>                 <file>namespace/module/childblocks.xml</file>                 <file>namespace/module/blocks.xml</file>             </learningblocks>         </updates>     </layout> </frontend> 

namespace/module/controllers/indexcontroller.php

class namespace_module_indexcontroller     extends mage_core_controller_front_action {     public function indexaction()     {         $this->loadlayout('learningblocks')->renderlayout();     }      public function blocksaction()     {         $this->loadlayout('blocknode')->renderlayout();     } } 

frontend/base/default/layout/namespace/module/blocks.xml

<layout>     <blocknode>         <block type="core/text" name="blocktest" output="tohtml" >             <action method="settext">                 <args>some text display on screen</args>             </action>         </block>     </blocknode> </layout> 

the above worked expected , displayed string 'some text display on screen' on white page. thats i've been able do, cannot child blocks render onto screen , cannot display within theme, let alone try , move within theme

below 1 of attempts cant seem work. why not working?

frontend/base/default/layout/namespace/module/childblocks.xml

<layout>     <abcde>         <block type="core/template" name="childblocks" output="tohtml" template="namespace/module/childblocks.phtml">             <block type="core/text" name="anyname">                 <action method="settext">                     <args>some text add page</args>                 </action>             </block>         </block>     </abcde>      <learningblocks_index_index>         <update handle="abcde" />     </learningblocks_index_index> </layout> 

frontend/base/default/template/namespace/module/childblocks.phtml

<p>from childblock.phtml page</p><?php $this->getchildhtml(); ?> 

nb: have changed namespaces , module names more generic, in hope easier read (they wern't chosen names).

i know not complete answer, may have struggled same problem. have not gone great depth assume if searching answer have read this article , covers all, assume have same issue did i.e. misunderstanding of had learnt tutorial.

on reading answer please aware new magento , there inaccuracies in here, if there sure correct me , edit accordingly.

firstly wrong

public function indexaction() {     $this->loadlayout('learningblocks')->renderlayout(); } 

it should this

public function indexaction() {     $this->loadlayout()->renderlayout(); } 

and have map learningblocks node in layout xml action module_controller_action. doing display block in page within theme.

so render child block

add in layout.xml

<module_controller_action>     <reference name="content">         <block type="module/blockname" name="unique_name" output="tohtml" template="path/toyou/template.phtml" >               <block type="module/blockname" name="another_unique_name" output="tohtml" template="path/toyou/template.phtml" />         </block>     </reference> </module_controller_action>   

then in template file echo out

$this->getchildhtml('another_unique_name') 

if want remove blocks page use remove node such as

<remove name="right"/> <remove name="left"/> 

this page offer list of attributes can used honest found looking through magento files helped more page though