Dim ndx As Long

If Len(Key) = 0 Then Err.Raise 1001, , "Invalid key"

If mIgnoreCase Then Key = UCase$(Key)
HCode = HashCode(Key) Mod mHashSize
ndx = hashTbl(HCode)

Do While ndx
If slotTable(ndx).Key = Key Then Exit Do
LastNdx = ndx
ndx = slotTable(ndx).nextItem
Loop

If ndx = 0 And Create Then
ndx = GetFreeSlot()
PrepareSlot ndx, Key, HCode, LastNdx
Else
Create = False
End If
GetSlotIndex = ndx

End Function

Private Function GetFreeSlot() As Long
If FreeNdx = 0 Then ExpandSlotTable mChunkSize
GetFreeSlot = FreeNdx
FreeNdx = slotTable(GetFreeSlot).nextItem
slotTable(GetFreeSlot).nextItem = 0
mCount = mCount + 1
End Function

Private Sub PrepareSlot(ByVal index As Long, ByVal Key As String, ByVal HCode As Long, ByVal LastNdx As Long)
If mIgnoreCase Then Key = UCase$(Key)
slotTable(index).Key = Key

If LastNdx Then

slotTable(LastNdx).nextItem = index
Else
hashTbl(HCode) = index
End If
End Sub