hey jim,

i think this should do the trick:

CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.usp_dyna_cast(@ReturnValue sql_variant OUTPUT)

  SET NOCOUNT ON

  DECLARE @DisplayValue AS VARCHAR(255), @ItemType AS VARCHAR(255)

  SELECT @DisplayValue = Display_Value, @ItemType = Item_Type FROM MyTable ...

  DECLARE @stmt AS NVARCHAR(750)

  SET @stmt =  N'SELECT @ReturnValue = CAST(' + N'''' + CAST(@DisplayValue AS NVARCHAR(255)) + N'''' + N' AS ' + CAST(@ItemType AS NVARCHAR(255)) + N')'

  EXEC sp_executesql @stmt, N'@ReturnValue sql_variant OUTPUT', @ReturnValue OUTPUT

END

JP