Questions about templates and content elements

Hi all,

I am thinking about doing my next EContent column on templates and I 
want some help with template architectures and how to describe their 
content elements included at runtime.

First the terminology. The reusable content blocks seem to have lots of 
names - portlets, slots, boxes, microcontent, etc. 

Will you please tell me the names you use or are familiar with. Great if 
you would mention the particular CMS. I will then add these names to our 
Glossary of CMS terms. 
http://www.cmswiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=ContentBlock

Where are templates usually stored?  Are they dynamically generated from 
the database and configured in a proprietary interface? Are they files 
requested by http and containing server-side includes for the content 
elements? Does an XML template differ in important ways from an HTML 
template? What is your experience?

What should we call it when content contributors can preview their work 
on a reusable content element inside the template with the full styling 
of the final delivered page?  Some call it "in-context editing."

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

-- 
Bob Doyle
Editor In Chief, CMS Review - http://www.cmsreview.com
Technology Adviser, CM Pros - http://www.cmprofessionals.org
CEO, skyBuilders - http://www.skybuilders.com
77 Huron Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-876-5678