8. A system for analyzing data, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a set of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to: display a layout having a plurality of cells on a display device using a graphical user interface configured to enable users to manipulate arrangement of the plurality of cells within the graphical user interface, the layout specifying relationships between each cell in the plurality of cells and data in a database; receive input indicative of a selection made by a user on the displayed layout via the graphical user interface of a set of measured items in cells associated with the layout; receive input indicative of a selection made by a user on the displayed layout via the graphical user interface of a placement item in a cell associated with the layout; determine a partitioning associated with an analytic database function of the set of measured items selected by the user on the layout based on the placement item selected by the user on the layout; format the analytic database function associated with a cell in the plurality of cells of the layout based on the determined partitioning of the set of measured items, the analytic database function formatted by the processor to include the determined partitioning of the one or more measured items, one or more functions to be performed on the one or more measured items, and location of the cell within the layout to contain a resulting item for the one or more functions; modify the display of the layout on the display device using the graphical user interface with the resulting item; defining at least one partitioning of the one or more measured items relative to the placement item; a rule that enables the computer system to select the at least one partitioning for use when formatting the analytic database function; a set of aggregation levels for the analytic database function; and receiving a third user input at the computer system, the third user input indicative of a selection made by the user on the layout displayed on the display device of one of the set of aggregation levels.
8. A system for analyzing data, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a set of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to: display a layout having a plurality of cells on a display device using a graphical user interface configured to enable users to manipulate arrangement of the plurality of cells within the graphical user interface, the layout specifying relationships between each cell in the plurality of cells and data in a database; receive input indicative of a selection made by a user on the displayed layout via the graphical user interface of a set of measured items in cells associated with the layout; receive input indicative of a selection made by a user on the displayed layout via the graphical user interface of a placement item in a cell associated with the layout; determine a partitioning associated with an analytic database function of the set of measured items selected by the user on the layout based on the placement item selected by the user on the layout; format the analytic database function associated with a cell in the plurality of cells of the layout based on the determined partitioning of the set of measured items, the analytic database function formatted by the processor to include the determined partitioning of the one or more measured items, one or more functions to be performed on the one or more measured items, and location of the cell within the layout to contain a resulting item for the one or more functions; modify the display of the layout on the display device using the graphical user interface with the resulting item; defining at least one partitioning of the one or more measured items relative to the placement item; a rule that enables the computer system to select the at least one partitioning for use when formatting the analytic database function; a set of aggregation levels for the analytic database function; and receiving a third user input at the computer system, the third user input indicative of a selection made by the user on the layout displayed on the display device of one of the set of aggregation levels. 11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the analytic database function includes a database query.