1. A method for illustrating data from a data source, the method comprising: retrieving the data from the data source; creating a visual presentation format for the data based on characteristics associated with the data in the data source, where the visual presentation format is hierarchical and where the visual presentation format is different from the format that the data exists in the data source; and illustrating the data in the form of a visual hierarchy in accordance with the visual presentation format, where the data is illustrated in an electronic workspace that, absent an occurrence of an event designated to trigger a connection with the data source, enables a user to edit or supplement the data without affecting the data source.