Folder Formats can be quite complex, which is the price we pay for flexibility. (If they were simple, the answer would usually be "you can't do what you want".)
But these three guides should make things much clearer, if you haven't read them:
[ul][li]Folder Formats: Quick Guide -- Set the view mode, columns etc. used for all directories.[/li]
[li]Folder Formats: Special Folders (Computer, Network, etc.)[/li]
[li]Folder Formats: Detailed Guide[/li][/ul]
The 3rd one is most relevant in this case. It explains the different types of formats that you can create and how they interact. It also explains how to tell where the current format for a window is coming from by hovering over the lock icon (don't click it, just put the mouse over it until the tooltip appears).