FYI, the error was occuring in the first do_placeholder_query line after it echos the "Importing Category:" line (sorry, I don't know the line #). Apparently, it was trying to insert null values into the database (all three fields), which is not allowed. The source vars_cats.cgi file had only a CRLF in it, which I removed, and then the script ran fine and passed into the next stage - importing the forums. But now I'm stuck there with the exact same 'smarty' error -- probably another DB problem. It sure would help if it printed the errors! I'll keep you posted if I can figure out anything else. Please let me know if you find a way for the script to print the error messages. Thanks!
