... or more precisely, error: type âaccessor_parameter<T, (sizeof (T) > sizeof (T*))>â is not derived from type âC3Variable<T>â In this case, I can work around this, but I'd like to understand what is going on here. The accessor_parameter is a return type of a method of template class C3Variable (an otherwise trivial getter method of an instance var of type T). (The main point is to automate the decision of transferring a value or a pointer to the value, thus the condition.) gcc -v: Using built-in specs. Target: x86_64-linux-gnu Configured with: ../src/configure -v --with-pkgversion='Ubuntu/Linaro 4.4.4-14ubuntu5' --with-bugurl=file:///usr/share/doc/gcc-4.4/README.Bugs --enable-languages=c,c++,fortran,objc,obj-c++ --prefix=/usr --program-suffix=-4.4 --enable-shared --enable-multiarch --enable-linker-build-id --with-system-zlib --libexecdir=/usr/lib --without-included-gettext --enable-threads=posix --with-gxx-include-dir=/usr/include/c++/4.4 --libdir=/usr/lib --enable-nls --with-sysroot=/ --enable-clocale=gnu --enable-libstdcxx-debug --enable-objc-gc --disable-werror --with-arch-32=i686 --with-tune=generic --enable-checking=release --build=x86_64-linux-gnu --host=x86_64-linux-gnu --target=x86_64-linux-gnu Thread model: posix gcc version 4.4.5 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.4.4-14ubuntu5) Oh, just in case it matters: template < class C, bool > struct accessor_parameter { }; template <> template < class C > struct accessor_parameter <C, true > { typedef const C & type; }; template <> template < class C > struct accessor_parameter <C, false > { typedef C type; }; # define accessor_pt(T) \ accessor_parameter < T, (sizeof(T) > sizeof(T *)) >::type ... and more macros, ending in ACCESSOR_R(name, type) for a getter, ACCESSOR_W(name, type) for a setter, and so on. I believe this is the first time I tried to use this in a template class, however. Mit freundlichen GrÃÃen aus MÃnster / with kind regards - Kai Henningsen -- SPUeNTRUP Software An der KleimannbrÃcke 52 D-48157 MÃnster, Germany Reg: MÃnster Nr.29047 Fon: +49 700 CALL CATS (=22552287) Fon: +49 251 322 311 0 Fax: +49 251 322 311 99 Web: http://www.cats.ms Mail: support-kh-i@xxxxxxx