Google sheets query by column name

query_by_column_name.gs

/**
 * Enhances Google Sheets' native "query" method.  Allows you to specify column-names instead of using the column letters in the SQL statement (no spaces allowed in identifiers)
 * 
 * Sample : =query(data!A1:I,SQL("data!A1:I1","SELECT Owner-Name,Owner-Email,Type,Account-Name",false),true)
 *  
 * Params : useColNums (boolean) : false/default = generate "SELECT A, B, C" syntax 
 *                                 true = generate "SELECT Col1, Col2, Col3" syntax
 * reference: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/docs/vTgy3hgj4M4
 * by: Matthew Quinlan
 */
function SQL(rangeName, queryString, useColNums){
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  var range = ss.getRange(rangeName);
  var row = range.getValues()[0];
  
  for (var i=0; i<row.length; i++) {
    if (row[i].length < 1) continue;
    var re = new RegExp("\\b"+row[i]+"\\b","gm");
    if (useColNums) {
      var columnName="Col"+Math.floor(i+1);
      queryString = queryString.replace(re,columnName);
    }
    else {
      var columnLetter=range.getCell(1,i+1).getA1Notation().split(/[0-9]/)[0];
      queryString = queryString.replace(re,columnLetter);
    }
  }
  //Logger.log(queryString);
  return queryString;
}