Loading Custom Blocks and Layouts

I'm new to Magento. I'm learning to add custom Module. I have created a custom module and able to load the controller. Now i'm learning to add Blocks and Layouts. I have added the files but i'm not getting the expected output.

I have used namespace 'Nikhil' and the Module name is 'MyModule'.

When it's executed, I can see the webpage, there are no errors. But its not showing the string "MyModule Block" or its not logging the message 'i'm in Block'.

I have spend several hours debugging it. Please help

The contents of the configuration file in \test\app\etc\modules\Nikhil_MyMdoule.xml is:

<?xml version="1.0"?> <config> <modules> <Nikhil_MyModule> <active>true</active> <codePool>local</codePool> </Nikhil_MyModule> </modules> </config> 

Config File: app\code\local\Nikhil\MyModule\etc\config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?> <config> <modules> <Nikhil_MyModule> <version>0.0.1</version> </Nikhil_MyModule> </modules> <frontend> <routers> <mymodule> <use>standard</use> <args> <module>Nikhil_MyModule</module> <frontName>nikhil</frontName> </args> </mymodule> </routers> <layout> <updates> <mymodule> <file>mymodule.xml</file> </mymodule> </updates> </layout> </frontend> <global> <blocks> <mymodule> <class>Nikhil_MyModule_Block</class> </mymodule> </blocks> </global> </config> 

Controller: app\code\local\Nikhil\MyModule\controllers\IndexController.php

 class Nikhil_MyModule_IndexController extends Mage_Core_Controller_Front_Action { public function indexAction() { Mage::log('im in Controller'); $this->loadLayout(); $this->renderLayout(); Zend_Debug::dump($this->getLayout()->getUpdate()->getHandles()); } public function testAction(){ echo "custom function"; } } 

Block file: app\code\local\Nikhil\MyModule\Block\MyBlock.php

class Nikhil_MyModule_Block_MyBlock extends Mage_Core_Block_Template { public function myfunction(){ Mage::log('im in Block'); return "MyModule Block"; } } 

Sorry missed to add following files.

\app\design\frontend\base\layout\mymodule.xml

<code> <?xml version="1.0"?> <layout version="0.1.0"> <mymodule_index_index> <reference name="content"> <block name="myblock" template="mymodule/mymodule.phtml" type="mymodule/myblock"/> </reference> </mymodule_index_index> </layout> </code> 

And from \app\design\frontend\base\template\mymodule.phtml

echo $this->myfunction(); 

I'm trying to call the index Action