In my example data is passed between objects using a Data_Source. I want to hide the method data is passed from what the value is of the data. So a object receiving it does not need to be concerned with whether the data is coming from a file or database. In my situation I have three data sources for information: a file, memory pointer or database. Each of these data sources can handle a std::string, a Memory_Object, and a Graph_Object type as its internal data structure. The question I want to understand is how to create a generic interface to create the appropriate factory. Here is the table of the possible data source combinations (3 types * 3 sources = 9 possible). So more types and more sources can make creating the right Data_Source an ugly experience for maintaining the code. I don't want to have to have 9 separate functions. ----------------------------------------------------------- | File_Data_Src | Memory_Data_Src | Graph_Data_Src ----------------------------------------------------------------------- std::string | x | x | x ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Memory Obj | x | x | x ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Graph Obj | x | x | x ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At initialization I give a interger the Data_Source_Factory_Creator to represent what kind of factory I want. When a call is made to the Data_Source_Factory_Creator::get_Factory I want the apporpriate factory returned based upon the integer value given during initialization. Right now I get the right compilor error for Data_Source_Factory_Creator::get_Factory() because given Data_Source_Factory is a template class I need to instantiate this template correctly. I don't know how to make this function return a generic type so that I can do: Data_Source_Factory* m_factory = Data_Source_Factory_Creator::get_Factory(); Any ideas? Stephen -- Email: storri@torri.org