Splash page: read all the advice here, still can’t get it…. help!

Hi there, sorry if I’m being totally clueless, but I really did try to fix this for hours looking through the forum and codex before posting… ??

So, I’ve been trying to create a home.php page to use as a spash page before entering the blog. I tried adapting the index.php file (taking out the regular content) and re-saving it as home.php. I tried cutting and pasting the recommended code for home.php in codex, changing the file path to what I think is the correct one as codex tells you to do. The codex page that is supposed to help with this says it needs editing and will be fixed soon. I think it’s just incorrect right now.

I tried creating a simple HTML doc and uploading it saved as home.php. (as a blind attempt at getting something to show up.)

When I do any of these things, a white page with a few lines of question marks and letters comes up. This tells me that I put the doc in the correct folder, but that there’s something wrong with it.

What I’d like to know, in very simple, step-by-step terms, how do I create a splash page, and how do I link the “enter” button to the index.php page?

Thanks for your help. I’m sure it’s simple and I’m just not getting it!