c++ template function error, expected constructor, destructor, or type conversion

[parvtb]

I have the following code:

 
#include <list>
 
using namespace std;
 
template <typename T>
list<T>::iterator doStuff( list<T>::iterator myIter  ) //--error here
{
  list<T>::iterator iter = myIter;
.
 do_some_stuff
 .
 return iter;
 }
 
 
int main() {
 ....
  doStuff(anIterator);
...
}
 

While compiling it by gcc 4.2.2, I got this error message:
error: expected constructor, destructor, or type conversion before 'doStuff'
I searched online for some help and I added "typename" before <list T>
at the line labeled "--error here". Then error then became:
template declaration of ‘typename std::list<T, std::allocator<_CharT> >::iterator doStuff’
expected `)' before ‘myIter’

But if I don't use the STL list, i.e., use my own defined class name,

template <typename T>
typename myClass<T>::iterator doStuff(myClass<T>::iterator myIter)
 

then the program can be compiled.

What should I know to define/use template function/class? It looks like the problem lies
somewhere between the standard class and my own class.
What should I do to get the original program working?

[weaknessforcats]

list<T> is called a dependent type. According to the C++ standard, if a dependent type is to be used as a type, then you must use the typename keyword.\

This should do it:

template <typename T>
typename list<T>::iterator doStuff( typename list<T>::iterator myIter  )
{
  typename list<T>::iterator iter = myIter;
.
 do_some_stuff
 .
 return iter;
 }
 

[parvtb]

list<T> is called a dependent type. According to the C++ standard, if a dependent type is to be used as a type, then you must use the typename keyword.\

This should do it:

template <typename T>
typename list<T>::iterator doStuff( typename list<T>::iterator myIter  )
{
  typename list<T>::iterator iter = myIter;
.
 do_some_stuff
 .
 return iter;
 }
 

Yes, it works now.
Thanks very much.