COM Server crashing when returning large arrays

[Alastair Alexander]

Hi ... I'm using pythoncom to create a python COM server application that 
needs to be able to return large arrays to COM client apps. For example, I 
need to be able to return an array to Excel that is 500 by 10, with each 
element of the array holding a 32 byte string.

If I run the code for smaller arrays, say 10 by 10, it works fine. If I 
allow the server to try to return the entire 500 by 10 array, pythonw.exe 
causes a memory access violation and dies and I get an "automation 
exception" error message in the client app.

I assume I'm violating some upper limit for data transfer from pythoncom 
into COM. Anyone know if such limitations exist? Is there a way around them? 
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

Alastair


p.s. 1st message on comp.lang.python, indeed 1st message on any news group