Return inserted ID from MSSQL insert and TableAdapters

Hi all I have the following code for a paypal ipn handler;

            int raw_ipn_id = -1;

            try
            {
                using (raw_logTableAdapter rawTable = new raw_logTableAdapter())
                {
                    raw_ipn_id = (int)rawTable.InsertRawIPN(strResponse_copy);
                }
            }
            catch(Exception ex)
            {
                Global.log.Error(String.Format("Error:IPNHandler.aspx.cs: Exception generated inserting to raw_log table :{0}:", ex.Message));
            }

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now the InsertRawIPN SQL code in the tableadapter is as follows;

INSERT INTO [raw_log] ([ipn_data_serialized]) VALUES (@ipn_data_serialized);

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I have set the Execute mode to Scalar, however I am getting the following error;

Error:IPNHandler.aspx.cs: Exception generated inserting to raw_log table :Object reference not set to an instance of an object.:

So it appears to not be returning the identity?

1. Do I need to specifiy the return in the SQL code?

2. Also when inserting I would like to insert the current timestamp to another variable, can i do this in the table adapter SQL code? Coul dsomeone provide an example for me please?

Thanks in advance,

Matt.