diff --git a/orte/dss/dss_internal.h b/orte/dss/dss_internal.h
index 7c254bef59..c413521ae9 100644
--- a/orte/dss/dss_internal.h
+++ b/orte/dss/dss_internal.h
@@ -43,6 +43,75 @@ extern "C" {
  */
 #define ORTE_DSS_DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE  1
 
+
+/*
+ * Internal type corresponding to size_t.  Do not use this in
+ * interface calls - use ORTE_SIZE instead.
+ */
+#if SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 1
+#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT8
+#elif SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 2
+#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT16
+#elif SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 4
+#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT32
+#elif SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 8
+#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT64
+#else
+#error Unsupported size_t size!
+#endif
+
+/*
+ * Internal type corresponding to bool.  Do not use this in interface
+ * calls - use ORTE_BOOL instead.
+ */
+#if SIZEOF_BOOL == 1
+#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT8
+#elif SIZEOF_BOOL == 2
+#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT16
+#elif SIZEOF_BOOL == 4
+#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT32
+#elif SIZEOF_BOOL == 8
+#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT64
+#else
+#error Unsupported bool size!
+#endif
+
+/*
+ * Internal type corresponding to int and unsigned int.  Do not use
+ * this in interface calls - use ORTE_INT / ORTE_UINT instead.
+ */
+#if SIZEOF_INT == 1
+#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT8
+#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT8
+#elif SIZEOF_INT == 2
+#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT16
+#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT16
+#elif SIZEOF_INT == 4
+#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT32
+#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT32
+#elif SIZEOF_INT == 8
+#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT64
+#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT64
+#else
+#error Unsupported int size!
+#endif
+
+/*
+ * Internal type corresponding to pid_t.  Do not use this in interface
+ * calls - use ORTE_PID instead.
+ */
+#if SIZEOF_PID_T == 1
+#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT8
+#elif SIZEOF_PID_T == 2
+#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT16
+#elif SIZEOF_PID_T == 4
+#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT32
+#elif SIZEOF_PID_T == 8
+#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT64
+#else
+#error Unsupported pid_t size!
+#endif
+
 /**
  * Internal struct used for holding registered dss functions
  */
diff --git a/orte/dss/dss_types.h b/orte/dss/dss_types.h
index 4b8ee13a34..7e3f9b3922 100644
--- a/orte/dss/dss_types.h
+++ b/orte/dss/dss_types.h
@@ -57,71 +57,6 @@ OBJ_CLASS_DECLARATION(orte_data_value_t);
 #define ORTE_DSS_STRUCTURED     true
 #define ORTE_DSS_UNSTRUCTURED   false
 
-
-/*
-    * ORTE type corresponding to size_t
- */
-#if SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 1
-#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT8
-#elif SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 2
-#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT16
-#elif SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 4
-#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT32
-#elif SIZEOF_SIZE_T == 8
-#define DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T ORTE_UINT64
-#else
-#error Unsupported size_t size!
-#endif
-
-/*
- * ORTE type corresponding to bool
- */
-#if SIZEOF_BOOL == 1
-#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT8
-#elif SIZEOF_BOOL == 2
-#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT16
-#elif SIZEOF_BOOL == 4
-#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT32
-#elif SIZEOF_BOOL == 8
-#define DSS_TYPE_BOOL ORTE_UINT64
-#else
-#error Unsupported bool size!
-#endif
-
-/*
- * ORTE type corresponding to int and unsigned int
- */
-#if SIZEOF_INT == 1
-#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT8
-#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT8
-#elif SIZEOF_INT == 2
-#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT16
-#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT16
-#elif SIZEOF_INT == 4
-#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT32
-#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT32
-#elif SIZEOF_INT == 8
-#define DSS_TYPE_INT ORTE_INT64
-#define DSS_TYPE_UINT ORTE_UINT64
-#else
-#error Unsupported int size!
-#endif
-
-/*
- * ORTE type corresponding to pid_t
- */
-#if SIZEOF_PID_T == 1
-#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT8
-#elif SIZEOF_PID_T == 2
-#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT16
-#elif SIZEOF_PID_T == 4
-#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT32
-#elif SIZEOF_PID_T == 8
-#define DSS_TYPE_PID_T ORTE_UINT64
-#else
-#error Unsupported pid_t size!
-#endif
-
     /**
      * Structure for holding a buffer to be used with the RML or OOB
      * subsystems.
diff --git a/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_packing_fns.c b/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_packing_fns.c
index 144d184d01..6ea5bfd15c 100644
--- a/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_packing_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_packing_fns.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_pack_value(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* pack the number of tokens so we can read it for unpacking */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(values[i]->num_tokens)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(values[i]->num_tokens)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return ORTE_ERROR;
         }
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_pack_value(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* pack the number of keyval pairs so we can read it for unpacking */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(values[i]->cnt)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(values[i]->cnt)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return ORTE_ERROR;
         }
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_pack_subscription(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* pack the number of values so we can read it for unpacking */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(subs[i]->cnt)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(subs[i]->cnt)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_pack_trigger(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* pack the number of values so we can read it for unpacking */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(trigs[i]->cnt)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(trigs[i]->cnt)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_pack_notify_data(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* pack the number of values so we can read it for unpacking */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(data[i]->cnt)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(data[i]->cnt)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_pack_notify_msg(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* pack the number of datagrams so we can read it for unpacking */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(msg[i]->cnt)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(msg[i]->cnt)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
diff --git a/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c b/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
index 992671f2a4..871d65f37f 100644
--- a/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/gpr/base/data_type_support/gpr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_unpack_value(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
 
         /* get the number of tokens */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(values[i]->num_tokens),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_unpack_value(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
 
         /* get the number of keyval pairs */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(values[i]->cnt),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_unpack_subscription(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
 
         /* get the number of values */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(subs[i]->cnt),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_unpack_trigger(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
 
         /* get the number of values */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(trigs[i]->cnt),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_unpack_notify_data(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
 
         /* get the number of values */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(data[i]->cnt),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ int orte_gpr_base_unpack_notify_msg(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
 
         /* get the number of datagrams */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(msg[i]->cnt),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
diff --git a/orte/mca/gpr/gpr_types.h b/orte/mca/gpr/gpr_types.h
index 949f465bc4..93564180f3 100644
--- a/orte/mca/gpr/gpr_types.h
+++ b/orte/mca/gpr/gpr_types.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ typedef uint8_t orte_gpr_notify_action_t;
 #define ORTE_GPR_NOTIFY_ACTION_T ORTE_UINT8
 
 typedef size_t orte_gpr_subscription_id_t;
-#define ORTE_GPR_SUBSCRIPTION_ID_T DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T
+#define ORTE_GPR_SUBSCRIPTION_ID_T ORTE_SIZE
 #define ORTE_GPR_SUBSCRIPTION_ID_MAX SIZE_MAX
 
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ typedef uint8_t orte_gpr_trigger_action_t;
 #define ORTE_GPR_TRIGGER_ACTION_T ORTE_UINT8
 
 typedef size_t orte_gpr_trigger_id_t;
-#define ORTE_GPR_TRIGGER_ID_T DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T
+#define ORTE_GPR_TRIGGER_ID_T ORTE_SIZE
 #define ORTE_GPR_TRIGGER_ID_MAX SIZE_MAX
 
 
diff --git a/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_packing_fns.c b/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_packing_fns.c
index 37a77e2164..565b706d8f 100644
--- a/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_packing_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_packing_fns.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ int orte_rmgr_base_pack_app_context(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
     for (i=0; i < num_vals; i++) {
         /* pack the application index (for multiapp jobs) */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(app_context[i]->idx)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(app_context[i]->idx)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int orte_rmgr_base_pack_app_context(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* pack the number of processes */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                        (void*)(&(app_context[i]->num_procs)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                        (void*)(&(app_context[i]->num_procs)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ int orte_rmgr_base_pack_app_context(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 
         /* Pack the map data */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer,
-                (void*)(&(app_context[i]->num_map)), 1, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                (void*)(&(app_context[i]->num_map)), 1, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
diff --git a/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c b/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
index 2ade28872c..714a45576a 100644
--- a/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/rmgr/base/data_type_support/rmgr_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ int orte_rmgr_base_unpack_app_context(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
         /* get the app index number */
         max_n = 1;
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(app_context[i]->idx),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ int orte_rmgr_base_unpack_app_context(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
         /* get the number of processes */
         max_n = 1;
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(app_context[i]->num_procs),
-                    &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                    &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ int orte_rmgr_base_unpack_app_context(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
         /* unpack the map data */
         max_n=1;
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, &(app_context[i]->num_map),
-                   &max_n, DSS_TYPE_SIZE_T))) {
+                   &max_n, ORTE_SIZE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             return rc;
         }
diff --git a/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_packing_fns.c b/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_packing_fns.c
index 46313f603c..1c04a8e37d 100644
--- a/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_packing_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_packing_fns.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ int orte_soh_base_pack_exit_code(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *src,
 {
     int rc;
 
-    if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer, src, num_vals, DSS_TYPE_INT))) {
+    if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_pack_buffer(buffer, src, num_vals, ORTE_INT))) {
         ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
     }
 
diff --git a/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_unpacking_fns.c b/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
index 001b0b82d5..91730c0833 100644
--- a/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/soh/base/data_type_support/soh_data_type_unpacking_fns.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ int orte_soh_base_unpack_exit_code(orte_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
 {
     int rc;
 
-    if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, dest, num_vals, DSS_TYPE_INT))) {
+    if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_dss_unpack_buffer(buffer, dest, num_vals, ORTE_INT))) {
         ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
     }