activeSheet.setValue(0, 0, 'abc');
activeSheet.setValue(1, 0, 'ac');
activeSheet.setValue(2, 0, 'a*');
 
activeSheet.getCell(0, 1).formula('COUNTIF(A1:A3,"a*")');  //start with a
activeSheet.getCell(1, 1).formula('COUNTIF(A1:A3,"a?")');  //"a" and only one other character
activeSheet.getCell(2, 1).formula('COUNTIF(A1:A3,"a~*")'); // should be "a*"