CString conversion problem while compling with /clr switch

[npotnis]

Hi All,

I am trying to compile an existing C++ unamanaged application with the /clr switch in VS.Net 2003, as I need to use managed extensions in the code.

In a cpp file I have the following code :

CString strRet;
COleVariant var = m_pRSTFormList->GetFieldValue("FormName");
if(var.vt == VT_BSTR)
strRet = var.pbVal;

However the compiler gives the following error -

error C2664: 'PtrToStringChars' : cannot convert parameter 1 from 'BYTE *' to 'const System::String __gc *'
Conversion from 'void*' to pointer to non-'void' requires an explicit cast
BrowserDatabase.cpp(223) : see reference to function template instantiation 'ATL::CStringT<BaseType,StringTraits>::CStringT<BY TE>(SystemString *)' being compiled
with
[
BaseType=char,
StringTraits=StrTraitMFC_DLL<char>,
SystemString=BYTE
]


I got to know that CString has a constructor that takes System::String * parameter. However in this case I have a Byte *. Any form of casting like
strRet = (Cstring) var.pbVal;
strRet = (System::String *) var.pbVal or even a static_cast does not seem to work.

Your help would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Niranjan.