Implement JavaScript property access in SQL queries (opt-in via angularBrackets flag)

src/17alasql.js

@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ alasql.options = {
 	/** Maximum iterations for recursive CTEs to prevent infinite loops */
 	maxCteIterations: 1000,
 
+	/** Enable JavaScript property access via dot notation (e.g., column.length) */
+	angularBrackets: false,
+
 	/** Whether GETDATE() and NOW() return dates as string. If false, then a Date object is returned */
 	dateAsString: true,
 };
@@ -272,9 +275,11 @@ alasql.dexec = function (databaseid, sql, params, cb, scope) {
 	//	if(db.databaseid != databaseid) console.trace('got!');
 	//	console.log(3,db.databaseid,databaseid);
 
-	// Include joinstar option in cache key because it affects how SELECT * compiles
-	// Without this, changing joinstar would use stale cached queries compiled with old option
-	var hh = hash(sql + '|joinstar:' + alasql.options.joinstar);
+	// Include joinstar and angularBrackets options in cache key because they affect how queries compile
+	// Without this, changing these options would use stale cached queries compiled with old options
+	var hh = hash(
+		sql + '|joinstar:' + alasql.options.joinstar + '|angularBrackets:' + alasql.options.angularBrackets
+	);
 
 	// Create hash
 	if (alasql.options.cache) {

src/424select.js

@@ -198,10 +198,29 @@ yy.Select.prototype.compileSelect1 = function (query, params) {
 				var tbid = col.tableid;
 				//				console.log(query.sources);
 				var dbid = col.databaseid || query.sources[0].databaseid || query.database.databaseid;
-				if (!tbid) tbid = query.defcols[col.columnid];
+
+				// Check if tableid is actually a column name (property access pattern like name.length)
+				// This handles cases where the parser sees "columnname.property" and interprets it as "table.column"
+				var isPropertyAccess = false;
+				var actualTableid;
+				if (alasql.options.angularBrackets && tbid) {
+					const tbidValue = query.defcols?.[tbid];
+					if (tbidValue && tbidValue !== '-' && !query.defcols?.['.']?.[tbid]) {
+						// tbid is actually a column name (not a table name), so this is property access
+						isPropertyAccess = true;
+						actualTableid = tbidValue;
+					}
+				}
+
+				if (!tbid) tbid = query.defcols?.[col.columnid];
 				if (!tbid) tbid = query.defaultTableid;
 				if (col.columnid !== '_') {
-					if (false && tbid && !query.defcols['.'][col.tableid] && !query.defcols[col.columnid]) {
+					if (
+						false &&
+						tbid &&
+						!query.defcols?.['.']?.[col.tableid] &&
+						!query.defcols?.[col.columnid]
+					) {
 						ss.push(
 							"'" +
 								escapeq(col.as || col.columnid) +
@@ -260,6 +279,20 @@ yy.Select.prototype.compileSelect1 = function (query, params) {
 									.join(' ?? ');
 
 								ss.push("'" + escapeq(col.as || col.columnid) + "':(" + searchExpr + ')');
+							} else if (isPropertyAccess) {
+								// Property access pattern: columnname.property (e.g., name.length)
+								// Generate code to access the property on the column value
+								ss.push(
+									"'" +
+										escapeq(col.as || col.columnid) +
+										"':((p['" +
+										actualTableid +
+										"']['" +
+										col.tableid +
+										"'] || {})['" +
+										col.columnid +
+										"'])"
+								);
 							} else {
 								ss.push(
 									"'" +

src/50expression.js

@@ -782,6 +782,20 @@
 			}
 
 			if (this.tableid) {
+				// Check if tableid is actually a column name (property access pattern like name.length)
+				// This handles cases where the parser sees "columnname.property" and interprets it as "table.column"
+				if (alasql.options.angularBrackets) {
+					const tableidValue = defcols?.[this.tableid];
+					if (tableidValue && tableidValue !== '-' && !defcols?.['.']?.[this.tableid]) {
+						// tableid is actually a column name (not a table name), so this is property access
+						// Generate code to access the property on the column value
+						const actualTable = tableidValue;
+						if (this.columnid !== '_') {
+							return `((${context}['${actualTable}']['${this.tableid}'] || {})['${this.columnid}'])`;
+						}
+					}
+				}
+				// Otherwise, tableid is a table name (normal table.column access)
 				return this.columnid !== '_'
 					? `${context}['${this.tableid}']['${this.columnid}']`
 					: context === 'g'

test/test341.js

@@ -6,6 +6,15 @@ if (typeof exports === 'object') {
 }
 
 describe('Test 341 Intellectual DOT operator', function () {
+	// Enable JavaScript property access via dot notation for these tests
+	before(function () {
+		alasql.options.angularBrackets = true;
+	});
+
+	after(function () {
+		alasql.options.angularBrackets = false;
+	});
+
 	it('1. CREATE DATABASE', function (done) {
 		alasql('CREATE DATABASE test341;USE test341');
 		done();
@@ -35,18 +44,57 @@ describe('Test 341 Intellectual DOT operator', function () {
 		done();
 	});
 
-	it.skip('4. JavaScript way', function (done) {
+	it('4. JavaScript way', function (done) {
+		// Test SET statement with JavaScript property access
+		// SET returns the number of rows affected (1 for variable assignment)
 		var res = alasql('SET @a = "who".length');
-		assert.deepEqual(res, [6, 6, 7]);
+		assert.deepEqual(res, 1);
+
+		// Verify the variable @a was set to the correct value (length of "who" = 3)
+		assert.deepEqual(alasql.vars.a, 3);
+
+		// Verify we can use the variable in subsequent queries
+		var res2 = alasql('SELECT @a AS result');
+		assert.deepEqual(res2, [{result: 3}]);
 		done();
 	});
 
-	it.skip('5. JavaScript way', function (done) {
+	it('5. JavaScript way', function (done) {
 		var res = alasql('SELECT COLUMN name.length FROM persons');
 		assert.deepEqual(res, [6, 6, 7]);
 		done();
 	});
 
+	it('6. JavaScript way with table.column.length', function (done) {
+		var res = alasql('SELECT COLUMN persons.name.length FROM persons');
+		assert.deepEqual(res, [6, 6, 7]);
+		done();
+	});
+
+	it('7. Edge case: table and column with same name', function (done) {
+		// Create a table named "item" with a column named "item"
+		alasql('CREATE TABLE item (id INT, item STRING)');
+		alasql('INSERT INTO item VALUES (1, "Alpha"), (2, "Beta")');
+
+		// Test 1: table.column access (item.item should get the column value)
+		var res1 = alasql('SELECT item.item FROM item');
+		assert.deepEqual(res1, [{item: 'Alpha'}, {item: 'Beta'}]);
+
+		// Test 2: table.column.property access (item.item.length should get the length)
+		var res2 = alasql('SELECT COLUMN item.item.length FROM item');
+		assert.deepEqual(res2, [5, 4]);
+
+		// Test 3: When only one column exists with unique name, property access works
+		alasql('CREATE TABLE products (title STRING)');
+		alasql('INSERT INTO products VALUES ("Product"), ("Item")');
+		var res3 = alasql('SELECT COLUMN title.length FROM products');
+		assert.deepEqual(res3, [7, 4]);
+
+		alasql('DROP TABLE item');
+		alasql('DROP TABLE products');
+		done();
+	});
+
 	it('5. FOREIGN KEY way', function (done) {
 		var res = alasql('SELECT VALUE $0;  SET $0 = 200; SELECT VALUE $0', [100]);
 		assert.deepEqual(res, [100, 1, 200]);