dateTime casting

I'm trying to set a property that is a datetime type (actually, I'm trying to use the sqldatetime type). in the db where the value is coming from, it's null. I get a cast error when trying to set the property. I've tried all sorts of stuff, can anyone give me an idea of how you resolve the problem?

well, I got the cast error to stop nagging me:

VB Code:

If reader.IsDBNull(30) Then
                        .Repaired = Nothing
                    Else
                        .Repaired = reader.Item("Repaired")
                    End If

but now, when I display that value, if it's NOTHING, the value is 12:00:00 AM (i guess by default). How do I get this to display blank?

.net datetime values cannot be null, (as an integer cannot be null... ints must either be a 0 , <1, or >1...)

If the db object is null, you could pass .Repaired a DateTime.MinValue (Jan 1, 1 AD).

Then inside the class that .Repaired is a property of, in the Get operator, if the DateTime = DateTime.MinValue, pass back nothing.

ok, what I tried is :

VB Code:

Public Property Repaired() As DateTime
       Get
            If dteRepaired = DateTime.MinValue Then
                Return Nothing
            Else
                Return dteRepaired
            End If
        End Get
 
        Set(ByVal Value As DateTime)
            dteRepaired = Value
        End Set

If the db is sent a minvalue when inserting data, and it's checked when retrieving that data, i would say .repaired = nothing, is that what you are talking about?

BUT, isn't that the same as the method I used above?