Dynamically getting column names via HTTPRequest

Is it possible to get the column names to populate via HTTPRequest?

If so, how? I have had no luck at all.

var fields = new Active.Text.Table;

// returns a nicely formated string with field names ["field1", "field2", etc]
        fields.setURL("http://localhost/dev/includes/get_grid_fields_csv.php?grid_id=" + list);
        
        
        // start asyncronous data retrieval
        fields.request();
    
// ***** here is where it all breaks *******
        var columns = fields.responseText;

        
        // create ActiveWidgets Grid javascript object
        var obj = new Active.Controls.Grid;
    
        // provide column labels
        obj.setColumnProperty("texts", columns);

No one needs to do this?