Here is an example that I believe represents the problem. The problem comes down to how to define the vertex property. What I have so far, which is incorrect, is: typedef property< vertex_index_t, uint32_t, property< vertex_name_t, boost::shared_ptr<Data> > > VertexProperty; typedef adjacency_list<setS, // OutEdgeList setS, // VertexList directedS, // Directed VertexProperty> // VertexProperties Graph_Type; Data, in my example code attached, is a template so this of course is the incorrect way to use a template. Hopefully this together with my original post will help me to learn more about C++, boost and the correct way to solve this problem. Stephen