reading database with ADOB

[pelegk2]

i tried this code to read from access DB
and when i access a cell that is empty and not null with this code :

name =_strdup((char*) ((_bstr_t)(pConnectRead->GetFields()->GetItem("name")->GetValue())) ); 

then i get an error : type mismatch
why is that?
thnaks in advance
peleg