Im trying to use interfaces to call different subroutines with different types, however, it doesnt seem to work when i use the pointer attribute. for example, take this sample code MODULE ptr_types TYPE, abstract :: parent INTEGER :: q END TYPE TYPE, extends(parent) :: child INTEGER :: m END TYPE INTERFACE ptr_interface MODULE PROCEDURE do_something END INTERFACE CONTAINS SUBROUTINE do_something(atype) CLASS(parent), POINTER :: atype ! code determines that this allocation is correct from input ALLOCATE(child::atype) WRITE (*,*) atype%q END SUBROUTINE END MODULE PROGRAM testpass USE ptr_types CLASS(child), POINTER :: ctype CALL ptr_interface(ctype) END PROGRAM This gives error Error: There is no specific subroutine for the generic 'ptr_interface' at (1) however if i remove the pointer attribute in the subroutine it compiles fine. Now, normally this wouldnt be a problem, but for my use case i need to be able to treat that argument as a pointer, mainly so i can allocate it if necessary. Any suggestions? Mind you I'm new to fortran so I may have missed something edit: forgot to put the allocation in the parents subroutine, the initial input is unallocated EDIT 2 this is my second attempt, with caller side casting MODULE ptr_types TYPE, abstract :: parent INTEGER :: q END TYPE TYPE, extends(parent) :: child INTEGER :: m END TYPE TYPE, extends(parent) :: second INTEGER :: meow END TYPE CONTAINS SUBROUTINE do_something(this, type_num) CLASS(parent), POINTER :: this INTEGER type_num IF (type_num == 0) THEN ALLOCATE (child::this) ELSE IF (type_num == 1) THEN ALLOCATE (second::this) ENDIF END SUBROUTINE END MODULE PROGRAM testpass USE ptr_types CLASS(child), POINTER :: ctype SELECT TYPE(ctype) CLASS is (parent) CALL do_something(ctype, 0) END SELECT WRITE (*,*) ctype%q END PROGRAM however this still fails. in the select statement it complains that parent must extend child. Im sure this is due to restrictions when dealing with the pointer attribute, for type safety, however, im looking for a way to convert a pointer into its parent type for generic allocation. Rather than have to write separate allocation functions for every type and hope they dont collide in an interface or something. hopefully this example will illustrate a little more clearly what im trying to achieve, if you know a better way let me know