Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)

First-time poster. The only similar link I could find to this question wouldn't load from SUN's database (not a good way to start on a database problem!).

I am using JDBC to allow classes to read and write to a database (MS Access, sorry) and cannot read Replication IDs from ResultSet variables. They don't read as strings, which is strange because they do read as Strings when I load them through an ODBC link in Matlab. I've tried reading them as Char streams, Int streams, Blobs, Clobs and just about everything else, and nothing works.

Is there an elegant solution out there, or can I chalk another one up to the beauty that is Microsoft?

Thanks, Mark