I want to allow the user to specify if a function returns a raw pointer or a shared_ptr from a creation type function. The code I've started with is as follows: class Track{}; class Tm{}; template R create(void) { R temp(new T()); return temp; } This allows to the user to call the function like: Tm* tm3 = create(); boost::shared_ptr<Tm> tm4 = create(); I would like to have a class that has this create function and upon creation of the class specify if the create function returns a raw pointer or shared_ptr. template <class U> //The U specifies is the create function returns a raw or shared pointer class Rdi { template <class S> U create(void) { U temp(new S()); return temp; } }; How would I modify this class to allow the user to make the following calls? Rdiboost::shared_ptr fun1; Tm* tm3 = fun1.create<Tm>(); Rdi fun2; boost::shared_ptr<Tm> tm4 = fun2.create<Tm>(); Any help would be appreciated. Ryan