Lee:

Once again thanks for all your help and time.

Here is the output in the immediate window when I implemented your latest suggestion.

?CType(Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetType("JG.B MTStore.DAL.SqlClient.SqlStoreProvider")), StoreProvider)

CXX0017: Error: symbol "Type" not found

When I run the code as originally written here is the results in the immediate window:

?CType(Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetType(JG.BM TStore.Globals.Settings.Store.ProviderType)), StoreProvider)

CXX0017: Error: symbol "JG" not found

In stepping through the application once the application hits the CreateInstance method the program goes into the configsection and pulls back a complete storeElement and then it goes back to the configsection and correctly builds the ProviderType.

Does the above CXX0017 Errors mean anything to you?

I'm really stumped with this.