Are you sure that the Entity.smallIntField is defined as short and that it's also defined as short in the DataRow?
You also might get this error if the column contains a DBNull.Value (not 100% sure of the error message you'll get with the null).
~~Bonnie
>hi
>
>Whats wrong with the statement below? I get the error message "specified cast is not valid ". I have tried int and short and get the same error. the field is a smallint.
>
>this.Entity.smallIntField = (Int16)row[("smallIntField")];
><\PRE>
>
>TIA
>
>Stuart