>>I tested it with this code. Both returned -1.
>
>I think it has to do with how the dataset is created. This is how I create it:
>
>

>            oDataSet = New DataSet
>
>            ' By default, .NET does not add the specific field length, which is needed in XML as at the other end
>            ' someone would always get memo field instead of character field
>            oDataAdapter.MissingSchemaAction = MissingSchemaAction.AddWithKey
>
>            oDataAdapter.Fill(oDataSet)
>

Yes, but that signifies the need for explicitly asking the schema (which should be default IMHO and you should instead tell explicitly that you don't want a schema - strange why did they decide to do it the other way).
Cetin