diff --git a/pivot-table.el b/pivot-table.el
index af66e58..d10d5bb 100644
--- a/pivot-table.el
+++ b/pivot-table.el
@@ -40,6 +40,18 @@ TODO: more documentation"
     (dolist (record src-body)
       (pt--process-record record source-cols buckets))))
 
+(defun pt-get-columns (source)
+  "Extract the column names from a table"
+  (let (result)
+    (dolist (row source)
+      (unless (and (listp row) (eq "!" (car row)))
+        (let ((n 2))
+          (dolist (cell (cdr row))
+            (unless (eq cell "")
+              (setq result (((format "%s" cell) . n) . result)))
+            (setq n (1+ n))))))
+    result))
+
 ;; Local Variables:
 ;; read-symbol-shorthands: (("pt-" . "pivot-table-"))
 ;; End: