Robert, I just now got home to try adding the two NVP wrappers you suggested. The old problems went away, but there's a new set: Merrill Succ.h=========================================== #include "boost/serialization/nvp.hpp" #include "boost/test/test_tools.hpp" namespace MyNS { class Succ { friend class Succ_Test; private: size_t mInputIndex; bool mIsInbound; friend class boost::serialization::access; template<class Archive> void serialize(Archive& ar, const unsigned int version) { ar & BOOST_SERIALIZATION_NVP(mInputIndex); ar & BOOST_SERIALIZATION_NVP(mIsInbound); }//serialize() public: Succ() {} // needed by serialization Succ(size_t inputIndex, bool isInbound); virtual ~Succ(); size_t inputIndex() const; bool isInbound() const; };//Succ }//MyNS Succ_Test.cc=================================== #include <fstream> #include "Succ.h" #include "boost/archive/xml_iarchive.hpp" #include "boost/archive/xml_oarchive.hpp" #include "boost/test/test_tools.hpp" using namespace std; namespace MyNS { class Succ_Test { public: void run(); };//Succ_Test //============================================================================= void Succ_Test::run() { const char* archiveFile = "temp/Succ_archive.xml"; size_t inputIndex = 65; bool isInbound = true; Succ* testObj_out = new Succ(inputIndex, isInbound); { // save data to archive ofstream outStream(archiveFile); boost::archive::xml_oarchive outArchive(outStream); // write class instance to archive outArchive << BOOST_SERIALIZATION_NVP(testObj_out); } // archive and stream closed when destructors are called Succ* testObj_in;// = new Succ(); { // create and open an archive for input ifstream inStream(archiveFile); boost::archive::xml_iarchive inArchive(inStream); // read class state from archive inArchive >> BOOST_SERIALIZATION_NVP(testObj_in); } // archive and stream closed when destructors are called return; }//run() }//MyNS compile stderr======================================== Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp: In static member function `static void boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::save(Archive&, const T&, const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer*) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]': Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:467: instantiated from `static void boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::invoke(Archive&, TPtr) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:536: instantiated from `void boost::archive::save(Archive&, const T&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, T = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/basic_xml_oarchive.hpp:99: instantiated from `void boost::archive::basic_xml_oarchive<Archive>::save_override(const boost::serialization::nvp<T>&, int) [with T = MyNS::Succ*, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_oarchive.hpp:78: instantiated from `Archive& boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator<<(T&) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/test/src/Succ_Test.cc:48: instantiated from here Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:438: error: invalid use of undefined type `struct boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/serialization/type_info_implementation.hpp:26: error: declaration of `struct boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:439: error: invalid use of undefined type `struct boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/serialization/type_info_implementation.hpp:26: error: declaration of `struct boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:439: error: `save' is not a member of `<declaration error>' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp: In static member function `static T* boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::pointer_tweak(const boost::serialization::extended_type_info&, void*, T&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]': Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:493: instantiated from `static void boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::invoke(Archive&, Tptr&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:572: instantiated from `void boost::archive::load(Archive&, T&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, T = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/basic_xml_iarchive.hpp:80: instantiated from `void boost::archive::basic_xml_iarchive<Archive>::load_override(const boost::serialization::nvp<T>&, int) [with T = MyNS::Succ*, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/xml_iarchive.hpp:74: instantiated from `void boost::archive::xml_iarchive_impl<Archive>::load_override(T&, int) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_iarchive.hpp:76: instantiated from `Archive& boost::archive::detail::interface_iarchive<Archive>::operator>>(T&) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/test/src/Succ_Test.cc:58: instantiated from here Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:475: error: incomplete type `boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' used in nested name specifier Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp: In constructor `boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T, Archive>::pointer_oserializer() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]': Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:198: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_oarchive> boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_oarchive>::instance' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:190: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T, Archive>& boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T, Archive>::instantiate() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:515: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer& boost::archive::detail::instantiate_pointer_oserializer(Archive*, T*) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_oarchive.hpp:58: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer* boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::register_type(const T*) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:344: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer* boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::non_abstract<T>::register_type(Archive&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:360: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer* boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::register_type(Archive&, T&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:460: instantiated from `static void boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::invoke(Archive&, TPtr) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:536: instantiated from `void boost::archive::save(Archive&, const T&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, T = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/basic_xml_oarchive.hpp:99: instantiated from `void boost::archive::basic_xml_oarchive<Archive>::save_override(const boost::serialization::nvp<T>&, int) [with T = MyNS::Succ*, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_oarchive.hpp:78: instantiated from `Archive& boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator<<(T&) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/test/src/Succ_Test.cc:48: instantiated from here Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:233: error: incomplete type `boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' used in nested name specifier Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:233: error: incomplete type `boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' used in nested name specifier Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp: In constructor `boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<T, Archive>::pointer_iserializer() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]': Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:211: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_iarchive> boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_iarchive>::instance' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:203: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<T, Archive>& boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<T, Archive>::instantiate() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:546: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer& boost::archive::detail::instantiate_pointer_iserializer(Archive*, T*) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_iarchive.hpp:57: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer* boost::archive::detail::interface_iarchive<Archive>::register_type(T*) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:449: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer* boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::non_abstract<T>::register_type(Archive&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:465: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer* boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::register_type(Archive&, T&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:485: instantiated from `static void boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::invoke(Archive&, Tptr&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:572: instantiated from `void boost::archive::load(Archive&, T&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, T = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/basic_xml_iarchive.hpp:80: instantiated from `void boost::archive::basic_xml_iarchive<Archive>::load_override(const boost::serialization::nvp<T>&, int) [with T = MyNS::Succ*, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/xml_iarchive.hpp:74: instantiated from `void boost::archive::xml_iarchive_impl<Archive>::load_override(T&, int) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_iarchive.hpp:76: instantiated from `Archive& boost::archive::detail::interface_iarchive<Archive>::operator>>(T&) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/test/src/Succ_Test.cc:58: instantiated from here Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:339: error: incomplete type `boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' used in nested name specifier Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:339: error: incomplete type `boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' used in nested name specifier Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp: In constructor `boost::archive::detail::oserializer<Archive, T>::oserializer() [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]': Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:135: instantiated from `static boost::archive::detail::oserializer<Archive, T>& boost::archive::detail::oserializer<Archive, T>::instantiate() [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:235: instantiated from `boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T, Archive>::pointer_oserializer() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:198: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_oarchive> boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_oarchive>::instance' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:190: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T, Archive>& boost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<T, Archive>::instantiate() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:515: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer& boost::archive::detail::instantiate_pointer_oserializer(Archive*, T*) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_oarchive.hpp:58: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer* boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::register_type(const T*) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:344: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer* boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::non_abstract<T>::register_type(Archive&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:360: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_oserializer* boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::register_type(Archive&, T&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:460: instantiated from `static void boost::archive::detail::save_pointer_type<Archive, TPtr>::invoke(Archive&, TPtr) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, TPtr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:536: instantiated from `void boost::archive::save(Archive&, const T&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive, T = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/basic_xml_oarchive.hpp:99: instantiated from `void boost::archive::basic_xml_oarchive<Archive>::save_override(const boost::serialization::nvp<T>&, int) [with T = MyNS::Succ*, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_oarchive.hpp:78: instantiated from `Archive& boost::archive::detail::interface_oarchive<Archive>::operator<<(T&) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_oarchive]' Foo/test/src/Succ_Test.cc:48: instantiated from here Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/oserializer.hpp:108: error: incomplete type `boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' used in nested name specifier Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp: In constructor `boost::archive::detail::iserializer<Archive, T>::iserializer() [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]': Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:146: instantiated from `static boost::archive::detail::iserializer<Archive, T>& boost::archive::detail::iserializer<Archive, T>::instantiate() [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:340: instantiated from `boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<T, Archive>::pointer_iserializer() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:211: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_iarchive> boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<MyNS::Succ, boost::archive::xml_iarchive>::instance' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:203: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<T, Archive>& boost::archive::detail::pointer_iserializer<T, Archive>::instantiate() [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:546: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer& boost::archive::detail::instantiate_pointer_iserializer(Archive*, T*) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, T = MyNS::Succ]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_iarchive.hpp:57: instantiated from `const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer* boost::archive::detail::interface_iarchive<Archive>::register_type(T*) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:449: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer* boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::non_abstract<T>::register_type(Archive&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:465: instantiated from `static const boost::archive::detail::basic_pointer_iserializer* boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::register_type(Archive&, T&) [with T = MyNS::Succ, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:485: instantiated from `static void boost::archive::detail::load_pointer_type<Archive, Tptr>::invoke(Archive&, Tptr&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, Tptr = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:572: instantiated from `void boost::archive::load(Archive&, T&) [with Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive, T = MyNS::Succ*]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/basic_xml_iarchive.hpp:80: instantiated from `void boost::archive::basic_xml_iarchive<Archive>::load_override(const boost::serialization::nvp<T>&, int) [with T = MyNS::Succ*, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/xml_iarchive.hpp:74: instantiated from `void boost::archive::xml_iarchive_impl<Archive>::load_override(T&, int) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/interface_iarchive.hpp:76: instantiated from `Archive& boost::archive::detail::interface_iarchive<Archive>::operator>>(T&) [with T = const boost::serialization::nvp<MyNS::Succ*>, Archive = boost::archive::xml_iarchive]' Foo/test/src/Succ_Test.cc:58: instantiated from here Foo/boost-1_33_1/include/boost/archive/detail/iserializer.hpp:115: error: incomplete type `boost::serialization::extended_type_info_null<MyNS::Succ>' used in nested name specifier make: *** [test/obj/Succ_Test.o] Error 1 //========================================================