1. A data processing system comprising: a database: a query interface allowing users to construct query statements including query constructs in a first query language format and a reference to at least one previously defined abstract query containing logical fields corresponding to physical fields of the database; and a query execution component configured to generate a query, executable against the database, based on the previously defined abstract query, as modified by the query constructs in the first query language format; and wherein the query execution component is configured to receive query results corresponding to the executed executable query; wherein the query execution component is configured to generate the executable query by generating a new abstract query based on the previously defined abstract query and the query constructs.