diff --git a/mdio/dataset_test.cc b/mdio/dataset_test.cc
index b7b433a..a97f0fb 100644
--- a/mdio/dataset_test.cc
+++ b/mdio/dataset_test.cc
@@ -583,6 +583,19 @@ TEST(Dataset, selRange) {
   ASSERT_TRUE(sliceRes.ok()) << sliceRes.status();
 }
 
+TEST(Dataset, legacySliceDescriptor) {
+  std::string path = "zarrs/selTester.mdio";
+  auto dsRes = makePopulated(path);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(dsRes.ok()) << dsRes.status();
+  auto ds = dsRes.value();
+
+  mdio::SliceDescriptor ilRange = {"inline", 2, 5, 1};
+
+  // ds.sel does not, and will not, support the legacy slice descriptor
+  auto sliceRes = ds.isel(ilRange);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(sliceRes.ok()) << sliceRes.status();
+}
+
 TEST(Dataset, selRangeFlippedStartStop) {
   std::string path = "zarrs/selTester.mdio";
   auto dsRes = makePopulated(path);
diff --git a/mdio/variable.h b/mdio/variable.h
index fcd0e54..34d16b2 100644
--- a/mdio/variable.h
+++ b/mdio/variable.h
@@ -62,6 +62,24 @@ struct extract_descriptor_Ttype;
 template <typename T>
 struct outer_type;
 
+/**
+ * @brief A descriptor for slicing a Variable or Dataset.
+ * @tparam T The type of the range. Default is `Index` for `isel` based slicing.
+ * @param label The label of the dimension to slice. The recommended is to use a
+ * label instead of an index.
+ * @param start The start index or value of the slice.
+ * @param stop The stop index or value of the slice.
+ * @param step The step index or value of the slice. Default is 1.
+ */
+template <typename T = Index>
+struct RangeDescriptor {
+  using type = T;
+  DimensionIdentifier label;
+  T start;
+  T stop;
+  Index step = 1;
+};
+
 /**
  * @brief A descriptor for slicing a Variable.
  * A struct representing how to slice a Variable or Dataset.
@@ -88,24 +106,9 @@ struct SliceDescriptor {
   Index start;
   Index stop;
   Index step;
-};
 
-/**
- * @brief A descriptor for slicing a Variable or Dataset.
- * @tparam T The type of the range. Default is `Index` for `isel` based slicing.
- * @param label The label of the dimension to slice. The recommended is to use a
- * label instead of an index.
- * @param start The start index or value of the slice.
- * @param stop The stop index or value of the slice.
- * @param step The step index or value of the slice. Default is 1.
- */
-template <typename T = Index>
-struct RangeDescriptor {
-  using type = T;
-  DimensionIdentifier label;
-  T start;
-  T stop;
-  Index step = 1;
+  // Implicit conversion to RangeDescriptor
+  operator RangeDescriptor<Index>() const { return {label, start, stop, step}; }
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/mdio/variable_test.cc b/mdio/variable_test.cc
index 860d748..44f8cd3 100644
--- a/mdio/variable_test.cc
+++ b/mdio/variable_test.cc
@@ -548,6 +548,28 @@ TEST(Variable, slice) {
   std::filesystem::remove_all("name");
 }
 
+TEST(Variable, legacySliceDescriptor) {
+  auto variable =
+      mdio::Variable<>::Open(json_good, mdio::constants::kCreateClean).value();
+
+  // compile time example
+  mdio::SliceDescriptor desc1 = {"x", 0, 5, 1};
+  mdio::SliceDescriptor desc2 = {"y", 5, 11, 1};
+
+  auto result = variable.slice(desc2, desc1);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(result.ok());
+
+  auto domain = result->dimensions();
+
+  EXPECT_THAT(domain.labels(), ::testing::ElementsAre("x", "y"));
+
+  EXPECT_THAT(domain.origin(), ::testing::ElementsAre(0, 5));
+
+  EXPECT_THAT(domain.shape(), ::testing::ElementsAre(5, 6));
+
+  std::filesystem::remove_all("name");
+}
+
 TEST(Variable, sliceTyped) {
   auto variable = mdio::Variable<mdio::dtypes::int16_t>::Open(
                       json_good, mdio::constants::kCreateClean)