Is this valid?

[wtf]

class declaredtype{sometime data;};

template <class thing>
typedef declaredtype<thing> a_name<thing>

???

[Bazzy]

Nope, but it will in C++0x
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%2B%2B0x#Template_aliases
If it's that simple you can use a #define

[wtf]

cool..