1. A method of producing, in a data visualization system, a real-time data visualization for display, the method comprising: receiving selection of two or more data elements from one or more data sources; generating a data cube, wherein the data cube comprises a set of transforms to be applied to the two or more data elements, the set of transforms including a select transform for each of the two or more data elements, one or more operator transforms, and a result transform, and wherein processing of the data cube is to result in a data cube result having a plurality of measures and one or more hierarchies; receiving a visualization request associated with the data cube, the visualization request including a metric set specifying one or more of the measures and hierarchies of the data cube and visualization parameters; automatically identifying, based on the visualization request, one or more transforms within the data cube to remove from the data cube for the purpose of the visualization request to produce a modified data cube; carrying out the transforms of the modified data cube to produce a modified data cube result; obtaining said one or more of the measures and hierarchies from the modified data cube result based on the visualization request; and displaying said one or more of the measures and hierarchies as a visualization on a display.