how to initialize an array of typedef-ed type?

[MLT]

The fact that D has real typedef, not like the fake ones of C++ is, I think, one of its great features.

But the fact that there is no automatic cast, together with typedef is causing me problems.

The one I'm currently fighting with is initialization:

typedef long location ;

location a[] = [1,2,3,4] ; // doesn't work: Error: cannot implicitly convert expression

(btw. gdc has no problem, only dmd)

is there any nice way to do that? Using  [1L,2L,3L,4L] is uglier, and still doesn't work. The only thing that works is
location a[] = [cast(location)(1), cast(location)(2), cast(location)(3), cast(location)(4)];

which is SOMEWHAT ugly.

So, given that typedef is one of the great features of D, are you using it? How? Or are you usually using alias?

Thanks!