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how are you creating your new template?
if ur just editing the default template, then XOOPS won't allow you to change the default.. u have to clone it 1st..
or if you have done this already.. make sure in XOOPS admin/preferences general settings that you have selected XOOPS to use your new template instead of the default..
there are 2 selections in the settings..
1 which selects the theme and 1 which selects the template set to use..