Dear Guru's, please forgive the newbie question but I have a problem I
can't seem to figure out.  I am supporting some old XSLT code and I see
the following code everywhere :

               <xsl:template name="left"/>
	<xsl:template name="middle">
		<xsl:call-template name="lixwelcom"/>
		<xsl:call-template name="lixlatnws"/>
		<xsl:call-template name="lislstreq"/>
		<xsl:if test="not($sec:group[@loc:id = 'LIBRARYSTAFF'])">
			<xsl:call-template name="lislstsub"/>
		</xsl:if>
	</xsl:template>
	<xsl:template name="right"/>
	<xsl:include href="../core/lixwelcom.xsl"/>
	<xsl:include href="../nws/lixlatnws.xsl"/>
	<xsl:include href="../req/lislstreq.xsl"/>
	<xsl:include href="../sub/lislstsub.xsl"/>
	<xsl:include href="../default.xsl"/>

My problem is with the tags named :
<xsl:template name="left"/>
<xsl:template name="right"/>

I understand what the tag <xsl:template name="middle"> is doing because
it is defined, however the tags left and right are confusing the heck
outta me.  I don't understand, if a template is undefined like that is
it legal?  Or am I reading the syntax wrong and are these tags actually
calling a template somewhere named left and right?

Are they just placeholders?

I really cant get my brain around this one.  Any help would be
appreciated and maybe an explanation as to why someone would use xslt
in this way.

Again thank you for your help
Regards