Function will not return array when range contains only one value - vba

Question

I have a function meant to return an array which is created out of a single-column list of data. I have been using this function's return value essentially as a pseudo-global variable (LINENAMES_ARRAY) which I pass to many functions. Those functions than do checks on it such as If Len(Join(LINENAMES_ARRAY)) = 0 Then or go through items with For Each statements. Here is the code:
Function LINENAMES_ARRAY() As Variant
'returns an array of all items in the main sheet linenames column
LINENAMES_ARRAY = Application.Transpose(MAIN.Range( _
MAIN.Cells(MAIN_HEAD_COUNT + 1, MAIN_LINENAMES_COLUMN), _
MAIN.Cells(LINENAMES_COUNT + 1, MAIN_LINENAMES_COLUMN)))
End Function
I recently stumbled on one of those you-don't-see-it-till-you-see-it problems while using this workbook for a new project, where if the array happens to be only 1 element, everything fails. Apparently in that case, this returns a single value so Join() will fail For Each __ in LINENAMES_ARRAY will too. Why won't it treat this as a 1x1 array rather than a free value? I have started to mitigate the problem by rewriting functions where this is called, to check whether it is an array, then do some other procedure. Things like:
For j = 1 To LINENAMES_COUNT
LINES_BOX.AddItem lineNames(j)
Next j
is changed to:
If Not IsArray(LINENAMES_ARRAY) Then
myListBox.AddItem CStr(LINENAMES_ARRAY)
Else
For j = 1 To LINENAMES_COUNT
LINES_BOX.AddItem LINENAMES_ARRAY(j)
Next j
End If
However this becomes messy and is adding many extra checks to my code that I would prefer to handle in the LINENAMES_ARRAY function. Is there a way to return a 1x1 array? Or any other workaround?

Answer 1

An array can have a single element if you create it as a single element array and populate it in an array manner.
Option Explicit
Dim MAIN_HEAD_COUNT As Long
Dim LINENAMES_COUNT As Long
Dim MAIN_LINENAMES_COLUMN As Long
Dim MAIN As Worksheet
Sub stuff()
Dim arr As Variant
Set MAIN = Worksheets("Sheet1")
MAIN_LINENAMES_COLUMN = 2
MAIN_HEAD_COUNT = 2
LINENAMES_COUNT = 2
arr = LINENAMES_ARRAY()
Debug.Print IsArray(arr)
Debug.Print LBound(arr) & ":" & UBound(arr)
End Sub
Function LINENAMES_ARRAY() As Variant
Dim a As Long, tmp() As Variant
ReDim tmp(0 To LINENAMES_COUNT - MAIN_HEAD_COUNT)
For a = 0 To LINENAMES_COUNT - MAIN_HEAD_COUNT
tmp(a) = MAIN.Range(MAIN.Cells(MAIN_HEAD_COUNT + 1, MAIN_LINENAMES_COLUMN), _
MAIN.Cells(LINENAMES_COUNT + 1, MAIN_LINENAMES_COLUMN)).Cells(a).Value2
Next a
'returns an array of all items in the main sheet linenames column
LINENAMES_ARRAY = tmp
End Function
Results from the VBE's Immediate window:
True
0:0