///C# Code

OdbcConnection con = new OdbcConnection(connection string);
con.Open();
OdbcCommand cmd = new OdbcCommand("select nsilunique_id from
nstbale",con);
OdbcDataReader dr = cmd.ExecuteReader();
this.dgOrders.DataSource = dr;
this.dgOrders.DataBind();

When I bind that data to a column it displays:

System.Byte[] instead of the value in the coulmn which looks like
'200511120000002020000'

I tried casting it to a varchar in the SQL call, and storing it as a
string in the C# and either way it doesn't display in value.

I want it to return the '200511120000002020000' as somekind of string
so i can break it apart and create a date out of the first 8 digits of
it.

Any suggestions? I scoured the internet and couldn't find a solution.