The source program: #include #include #include const int values[] = { 1,2,3,4,5 }; const int NVALS = sizeof values / sizeof (int); int main() { using namespace std; typedef map valmap; valmap m; for (int i = 0; i < NVALS; i++) m.insert(make_pair(values[i], pow(values[i], .5))); valmap::iterator it = 100; // error valmap::iterator it2(100); // error m.insert(1,2); // error return 0; } First, an unfiltered run using the MinGW gcc 3.2 compiler: d:\src\cl\demo>c++2 rtmap.cpp rtmap.cpp: In function `int main()': rtmap.cpp:19: invalid conversion from `int' to ` std::_Rb_tree_node >*' rtmap.cpp:19: initializing argument 1 of `std::_Rb_tree_iterator<_Val, _Ref, _Ptr>::_Rb_tree_iterator(std::_Rb_tree_node<_Val>*) [with _Val = std::pair, _Ref = std::pair&, _Ptr = std::pair*]' rtmap.cpp:20: invalid conversion from `int' to ` std::_Rb_tree_node >*' rtmap.cpp:20: initializing argument 1 of `std::_Rb_tree_iterator<_Val, _Ref, _Ptr>::_Rb_tree_iterator(std::_Rb_tree_node<_Val>*) [with _Val = std::pair, _Ref = std::pair&, _Ptr = std::pair*]' E:/GCC3/include/c++/3.2/bits/stl_tree.h: In member function `void std::_Rb_tree<_Key, _Val, _KeyOfValue, _Compare, _Alloc>::insert_unique(_II, _II) [with _InputIterator = int, _Key = int, _Val = std::pair, _KeyOfValue = std::_Select1st >, _Compare = std::less, _Alloc = std::allocator >]': E:/GCC3/include/c++/3.2/bits/stl_map.h:272: instantiated from `void std::map<_ Key, _Tp, _Compare, _Alloc>::insert(_InputIterator, _InputIterator) [with _Input Iterator = int, _Key = int, _Tp = double, _Compare = std::less, _Alloc = st d::allocator >]' rtmap.cpp:21: instantiated from here E:/GCC3/include/c++/3.2/bits/stl_tree.h:1161: invalid type argument of `unary * ' And a filtered run using the gcc-specific Proxy c++: d:\src\cl\demo>c++ rtmap.cpp *** {BD Software Proxy c++ for gcc v3.01} STL Message Decryption is ON! *** rtmap.cpp: In function `int main()': rtmap.cpp:19: invalid conversion from `int' to `iter' rtmap.cpp:19: initializing argument 1 of `iter(iter)' rtmap.cpp:20: invalid conversion from `int' to `iter' rtmap.cpp:20: initializing argument 1 of `iter(iter)' stl_tree.h: In member function `void map::insert_unique(_II, _II)': [STL Decryptor: Suppressed 1 more STL standard header message] rtmap.cpp:21: instantiated from here stl_tree.h:1161: invalid type argument of `unary *' STL Decryptor reminder: Use the /hdr:L option to see all suppressed standard lib headers [Note: demo runs were performed in an 80-column console window with STLFilt's intelligent line wrapping enabled, and with internal switches set to produce messages as terse as possible. More detail is available by tailoring the Decryptor's options.]