1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a computer having one or more processors and memory storing programs executed by the one or more processors: receiving a visual specification for use in conjunction with a multi-dimensional database; determining one or more queries from the visual specification, wherein at least one of the one or more queries relates to a level of a hierarchical dimension of the database; constructing one or more visual tables from the visual specification; retrieving a plurality of tuples from the database, wherein each tuple satisfies at least one of the one or more queries; and for a retrieved tuple, generating a respective visual mark within a respective one of the one or more visual tables.