How can I return an array of string from a function? - arrays

Question

I'm trying to get three string values from a query, but this call to the function:
argVals = GetArgValsForCompanyName(coName)
...fails to compile with the err msg, "Value of type 'String' cannot be converted to '1-dimensional array of String'."
Nor does this line at the end of that function compile:
Return args
...which fails with, "Value of type '1-dimensional array of String' cannot be converted to 'String'."
I am declaring argVals like so, as an array of string of three vals:
Dim argVals(2) As String
...and the function like so:
Protected Function GetArgValsForCompanyName(coName As String) As String
For more context, here is the pertinent code in its (I think) entirety:
Private Sub Button1_Click( sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim connStr As String = "SERVER=PLATYPUS42;DATABASE=duckbilldata;UID=vonnegut;PWD=ryecatcher"
Dim upd8DML As String = "UPDATE CustomerCategoryLog SET Category = 'Exploding' WHERE Unit = #Unit And MemberNo = #MemberNo AND Custno = #CustNo"
Dim coName As String
Dim argVals(2) As String
Dim _Unit As String
Dim _MemberNo As String
Dim _CustNo As String
Dim curIndexVal As String
For Each cntrl As Control In Me.Controls
If TypeOf cntrl Is CheckBox Then
If DirectCast(cntrl, CheckBox).Checked = True Then
curIndexVal = CStr(DirectCast(cntrl, CheckBox).Tag)
coName = GetLabelTextForID(curIndexVal)
argVals = GetArgValsForCompanyName(coName)
_Unit = argVals(0)
_MemberNo = argVals(1)
_CustNo = argVals(2)
Using conn As New SqlConnection(connStr), _
cmd As New SqlCommand(upd8DML, conn)
cmd.Parameters.Add("#Unit", SqlDbType.VarChar, 50).Value = _Unit
cmd.Parameters.Add("#MemberNo", SqlDbType.VarChar, 50).Value = _MemberNo
cmd.Parameters.Add("#CustNo", SqlDbType.VarChar, 50).Value = _CustNo
conn.Open
cmd.ExecuteScalar()
End Using
End If
End If
Next
End Sub
Protected Function GetArgValsForCompanyName(coName As String) As String
Dim args(2) As String
Dim sqlConnection1 As New SqlConnection("SERVER=PLATYPUS42;DATABASE=duckbilldata;UID=salinger;PWD=dresdenoflions")
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand
Dim reader As SqlDataReader
cmd.CommandText = "select Unit, MemberNo, CustNo from Customers WHERE CompanyName = #CoName"
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text
cmd.Parameters.Add("#CoName", SqlDbType.VarChar, 50).Value = coName
cmd.Connection = sqlConnection1
sqlConnection1.Open()
sqlConnection1.Open()
reader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
If reader.HasRows Then
args(0) = reader.Item(0).ToString()
args(1) = reader.Item(1).ToString()
args(2) = reader.Item(2).ToString()
End If
reader.Close()
sqlConnection1.Close()
Return args
End Function
What am I getting wrong here? How can I pass back an array of string from a function, and then store those vals in three vars (dims)?
NOTE: If I try to declare the function like so:
Protected Function GetArgValsForCompanyName(coName As String) As String(2)
...I get, "Array bounds cannot appear in type specifiers"

Answer 1

Your problem seems to be that you have the function signiture like so
Protected Function GetArgValsForCompanyName(coName As String) As String
When it should be like this
Protected Function GetArgValsForCompanyName(coName As String) As String()
The () at the end of the return type states that it will be a string array, and not just a string.