def isvector_or_scalar(a):
    """
    one-dimensional arrays having shape [N],
    row and column matrices having shape [1 N] and
    [N 1] correspondingly, and their generalizations
    having shape [1 1 ... N ... 1 1 1].
    Scalars have shape [1 1 ... 1].
    Empty arrays dont count
    """
    try:
        return a.size and a.ndim-a.shape.count(1) <= 1
    except:
        return False
one-dimensional arrays having shape [N],
    row and column matrices having shape [1 N] and
    [N 1] correspondingly, and their generalizations
    having shape [1 1 ... N ... 1 1 1].
    Scalars have shape [1 1 ... 1].
    Empty arrays dont count