The template system for DnsZone is implemented using CGI::FastTemplate, so if you want a better understanding of how the templating system actually works you will need to read the pod in CGI::FastTemplate.

Easiest way to create a new set of templates is to copy all of the existing templates into a new directory and edit them from there, that way you are sure to get everything that is needed to make DnsZone work.

It is important that you do not change any of the variable names in the template files since all language operations depend on them.

In your template directory you need the following files:

layout.tpl
menu.tpl
settings.tpl
list_domain_record.tpl
login.tpl
a/edit.tpl
a/add.tpl
a/remove.tpl
cname/edit.tpl
cname/add.tpl
cname/remove.tpl
view_domain.tpl
list_domain.tpl
soa/edit.tpl
ns/edit.tpl
ns/remove.tpl
ns/add.tpl
txt/edit.tpl
txt/remove.tpl
txt/add.tpl
mx/edit.tpl
mx/remove.tpl
mx/add.tpl
view_domain/a.tpl
view_domain/a_record.tpl
view_domain/soa.tpl
view_domain/cname.tpl
view_domain/cname_record.tpl
view_domain/mx_record.tpl
view_domain/mx.tpl
view_domain/ns_record.tpl
view_domain/ns.tpl
view_domain/txt_record.tpl
view_domain/txt.tpl

reserved for later:
help.tpl

Generally speaking the layout is formed like this in the standard template with DnsZone:

+----------------------------+
| layout                     |
| +------------------------+ |
| | menu                   | |
| +------------------------+ |
| +------------------------+ |
| | main                   | |
| |                        | |
| |                        | |
| |                        | |
| +------------------------+ |
+----------------------------+

Each file and what needs to be in it:

layout.tpl:
This file contains the layout that will be used for generating all pages.
Interpolated variables from this template: $TITLE, $MENU, $MAIN

menu.tpl:
This file contains the menu links in the top of the standard layout. 
It is advised to use the standard file for this template so you get the links right.
Interpolated variables from this template: $ADDITIONAL_MENU, $SETTINGS, $LOGOUT

All other templates have their content displayed where the $MAIN variable is.

$MAIN => 
         settings.tpl

         list_domain.tpl 
             $LIST => list_domain_record.tpl

         login.tpl

         view_domain.tpl 
             $SOA_RR => view_domain/soa.tpl
             $A_RR => view_domain/a.tpl $A_RECORD => view_domain/a_record.tpl
             $CNAME_RR => view_domain/cname.tpl $CNAME_RECORD => view_domain/cname_record.tpl
             $MX_RR => view_domain/mx.tpl $MX_RECORD => view_domain/mx_record.tpl
             $NS_RR => view_domain/ns.tpl $NS_RECORD => view_domain/ns_record.tpl
             $TXT_RR => view_domain/txt.tpl $TXT_RECORD => view_domain/txt_record.tpl

         soa/edit.tpl

         a/add.tpl

         a/edit.tpl

         a/remove.tpl

         cname/add.tpl

         cname/edit.tpl

         cname/remove.tpl

         mx/add.tpl

         mx/edit.tpl

         mx/remove.tpl

         ns/add.tpl

         ns/edit.tpl

         ns/remove.tpl

         txt/add.tpl

         txt/edit.tpl

         txt/remove.tpl