5
hmm, it's not only browser cache it's templates_c file also. If this way doesn't make whatever you had display again, then it could be that the default theme you have is corrupt and you'll need to restore the default one first or it is something in your admin configuration.
Tables are turning to be archaic but ¿Layers
? ... you mean layers as in what dreamweaver creates in layer mode? Nobody uses layers anymore. Espn was once many years ago a layered based site and it has been redesigned as css site with all the content enclosed in div's, that's the advanced way of designing now.
If you want to see an example of a completely tableless, css based XOOPS theme, you can see Zeta Reticuli as perfect example, Leo did a really superb work on the structure of this one, just do a search for it, it's in the news.
There are other tableless themes at xoopsfactory.com