templates - Standard way of shortening C++ function signatures -

the templates lengthy when have vector , templated contained objects , end looks bunch of > > > > > > > hardly helps discern boundaries sometimes, this:

std::vector< std::pair< std::string, std::set< std::string > > > 

is there standard way reduce length, or make items distinguishable? actual code class declaration.

i have tried shortening function name , typedef-ing return value.

class event_maker {     public:          virtual ~event_maker() {};          // 1                                    *this juts out far   v         virtual std::vector< std::unique_ptr< event > > transfer_events( void ) = 0; }; 

is there standard way reduce length, or make items distinguishable?

type aliases using typedef can handy, example:

typedef std::unique_ptr<event> eventptr; typedef std::vector<eventptr> eventvector; virtual eventvector transfer_events( void ) = 0; 

btw, need space between >>, don't need after < or before >:

std::vector<std::pair<std::string, std::set<std::string> > > 

update

as @snowhawk04 , @mkrieger1 pointed out in comments, modern compilers don't need space between >> anymore. make sure use right compiler flags, example -std=c++0x g++. see more info about >> , template aliases.