static uint GetItemID(object variant)
{
if (variant == null) return NullItem;
if (variant is int) return (uint)(int)variant;
if (variant is uint) return (uint)variant;
if (variant is short) return (uint)(short)variant;
if (variant is ushort) return (ushort)variant;
if (variant is long) return (uint)(long)variant;
return NullItem;
}