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// this AGE_INDEX does not on gcc but DOES compile on MSVC8 typedef AgedMap<T>::AGEDMAPTYPE::index<agetag>::type AGE_INDEX; The correct syntax is typedef typename AgedMap<T>::AGEDMAPTYPE::template index<agetag>::type AGE_INDEX;

(note the intervening template keyword) which, just for succintness, in your particular ought to be the same, I think, as .....

The above works (combo change of typename and ::template) so I've settled on using for brevity: typedef typename MIContainer::template index<agetag>::type AGE_INDEX; typedef typename AGE_INDEX::iterator AGE_ITER; thanks, Mark