>>Interesting, this
>>

>>Dim myval As Decimal = oReader("priorpmt")
>>Response.Write(myval.ToString("$ #0,0.00"))
>>

>>will work, but
>>

>>Response.Write(oReader("priorpmt").ToString("$ #0,0.00"))
>>

>>will not. So it looks like the reader is presenting a string and not a number.
>
>As far as I know, oReader returns an Object. May be that's why the extra variable is important. Can you try oReader("myField").Value.ToString... ?

Response.Write(oReader("priorpmt").GetType)    ' Reports that is is indeed a Decimal

RetVal += "<td>" + oReader("priorpmt").value.ToString("$ #0,0.00") + "</td>"    ' Reports an error that says Value is not a member of decimal