Xint0 wrote: Try adding an implicit conversion from Object to CustomThing. I already thought of that, but it doesn't even compile because you can't have a user-defined conversion to or from the base class, so object is definitely out for that.:(

You can wrap the FileStream in a StreamReader object like this: FileStream fs = New FileStream("filepath", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite); StreamReader sr = New StreamReader(fs); You'll then have all the advantages of the StreamReader, with the access flexibility of the FileStream. -- modified at 17:47 Friday 18th August, 2006 Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP - Visual Basic

That's very strange. The DateTime.UtcNow property simply calls the GetSystemTimeAsFileTime API to get the current UTC system time. There is no caching involved, so the result should be the same as calling the GetSystemTime API directly. "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

Unfortunately, I get the same error. I'm using Office 2000 and I suspect that it might be a problem with this version of office. I had a co-worker with the same PC configuration run this app and he got the same error. I'm leaving for two weeks of vacation tomorrow, so I'll have to put this issue on hold until I'm back. Thanks for your help!