Custom INDEX function that can handle greater than 255 Characters - excel

Question

I am trying to use the Application.Index function with an variant 2D Array which contains some elements having >255 characters of text. This results in Variant/Integer Type Type Mismatch error. I am also unable to use Application.Transpose because of hitting this >255 characters limit.
Has anyone made any Custom INDEX UDFunction that can handle >255 characters of text to overcome this limit?
e.g.
The snippet code looks like this:
........
........
For j = 1 to NoOfSlides
A = (j - 1) * (nRw * 2) + 1
B = IIf(A >= UBound(Arr, 1), UBound(Arr, 1), (A + (nRw * 2)) - 1)
If B > UBound(Arr, 1) Then B = UBound(Arr, 1)
ab_Rng = Evaluate("row(" & A & ":" & B & ")")
TmpArr(j) = Application.Index(Arr, ab_Rng, Array(1, 2)) ' Type Mismatch Error
With oPres
Set oSlide = .slides("Slide0_ABC").Duplicate
oSlide.moveto toPos:=.slides.Count
With oSlide
....
End With
If getDimensions(TmpArr(j))<2 Then
TmpArr(j) = Application.Transpose(TransposeDim(TmpArr(j)) ) ' Error
End If
For y = LBound(TmpArr(j), 1) To UBound(TmpArr(j), 1)
.....
Next y
End With
Next j
........
........
Function getDimensions(var As Variant) As Long
On Error GoTo Err
Dim i As Long
Dim tmp As Long
i = 0
Do While True
i = i + 1
tmp = UBound(var, i)
Loop
Err:
getDimensions = i - 1
On Error GoTo 0
Err.Clear
End Function
Function TransposeDim(v As Variant) As Variant
' Convert 1D Array to 2D Array (1 -Based)
Dim x As Long, y As Long, Xupper As Long, Yupper As Long
Dim tempArray As Variant
on error resume next
Xupper = UBound(v, 2)
if err.number <>0 then
Redim Preserve v(1 to ubound(v), 1 to 1)
Xupper = UBound(v, 2)
endif
on error goto 0
Yupper = UBound(v, 1)
ReDim tempArray(1 To Xupper, 1 To Yupper)
For x = 1 To Xupper
For y = 1 To Yupper
tempArray(x, y) = v(y, x)
Next y
Next x
TransposeDim = tempArray
End Function
Edit:
Here is a Sample.xlsm file and a Sample PPT Template for anyone's perusal.

Answer 1

Dim a(1 To 2, 1 To 2) As String
Dim o As String
a(1, 2) = "testing " & String(255, "x")
o = Application.Index(a, 1, 2)
Debug.Print Len(o)
To support my comment, you are not using index correctly. I think you'll need to use your Array(1, 2)(0) and Array(1, 2)(1)

Answer 2

Interestingly, though strange enough, i found that as the Arr is defined as a Variant and pulls in Range data .e.g.
Arr = Sheet1.Range("A3:B8").Formula ' a Variant/Variant array
INDEX, TRANSPOSE, MATCH etc., will not work and result in Type MisMatch Error on hitting the >255 Characters limit. I think it internally uses an Integer index and therefore maintains a 255 character limit.
However, if i defined the Array Arr as a String:
' Define Arr as a String
ReDim Arr(1 To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 1), 1 To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 2)) As String
For x = LBound(VarRng.Formula, 1) To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 1)
For y = LBound(VarRng.Formula, 2) To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 2)
Arr(x, y) = CStr(VarRng.Formula(x, y))
Next y
Next x
'...then INDEX, TRANSPOSE, MATCH etc., will work properly, even though there are >255 Characters in the Array.
' Define Arr as a String
ReDim Arr(1 To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 1), 1 To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 2)) As String
For x = LBound(VarRng.Formula, 1) To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 1)
For y = LBound(VarRng.Formula, 2) To UBound(VarRng.Formula, 2)
Arr(x, y) = CStr(VarRng.Formula(x, y))
Next y
Next x
`Arr` is now a Variant/String
'....
'....
For j = 1 to NoOfSlides
A = (j - 1) * (nRw * 2) + 1
B = IIf(A >= UBound(Arr, 1), UBound(Arr, 1), (A + (nRw * 2)) - 1)
If B > UBound(Arr, 1) Then B = UBound(Arr, 1)
ab_Rng = Evaluate("row(" & A & ":" & B & ")")
TmpArr(j) = Application.Index(Arr, ab_Rng, Array(1, 2))
'....
Next j
Sample.xlsm and PPT Sample Template.pptx
Hope this helps.