Dim WithEvents db1 As Binding
 
    Private Sub Init()
 
        '....
        db1 = New Binding("Text", bs, "Date")
        TextBox1.DataBindings.Add(db1)
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub db1_Format(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As _
      System.Windows.Forms.ConvertEventArgs) Handles db1.Format
        If e.Value Is DBNull.Value Then
            e.Value = "[null]"
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub db1_Parse(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As _
      System.Windows.Forms.ConvertEventArgs) Handles db1.Parse
        If e.Value Is Nothing OrElse e.Value = String.Empty OrElse e.Value = _
        "[null]" Then
            e.Value = DBNull.Value
        End If
    End Sub

Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do - Isaac Asimov