Basically. If you use CDate, The sting should meet
System.Globalization.CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat.ShortDatePattern. Otherwise you should use Convert.ToDateTime(String, IFormatProvider).

If you use string to insert date column. The string should persist with SQL
server datatime format set from control panel-->Regional Options

Kevin,

I made a sample for you, maybe you can try if it does the job for you.

\\\
Public Class Main
   Public Shared Sub Main()
       Dim Conn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection _
       ("Server=localhost;DataBase=Northwind;Integrated Security=SSPI")
       Try
           Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = _
                            New Globalization.CultureInfo("en-US")
           'The above only because my system setting is nl-NL

           Dim strSQL As String = "INSERT INTO Employees " & _
           "(LastName, FirstName, HireDate)" & _
           "VALUES ('Kevin', 'Hodgson',  @HireDate)"
           Dim cmd As New SqlClient.SqlCommand(strSQL, Conn)
           Dim myparam As New SqlClient.SqlParameter
           myparam.DbType = DbType.DateTime
           myparam.ParameterName = "@HireDate"
           myparam.Value = CDate("12-31-2005")
           cmd.Parameters.Add(myparam)
           Conn.Open()
           cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
       Catch ex As SqlClient.SqlException
           MessageBox.Show(Ex.ToString)
       Catch ex As Exception
           MessageBox.Show(Ex.ToString)
       End Try
   End Sub
End Class
///

I hope it helps?

Cor
"Kevin Hodgson" <kevin@caseware.com>