1. An apparatus configured to retrieve data from an Online Analytical Processing (“OLAP”) data source or MDX servers of other types, wherein said data source has associated meta-data, said apparatus comprising: a computing device; an application programming interface (“API”) configured to operate within said computing device; said API configured to receive a two-dimensional query written in a two-dimensional query language such that said query includes a sequenced list of requested columns wherein said sequenced list includes a mixed order of measure columns and dimensional columns; said computing device configured to convert said two-dimensional query into a multi-dimensional query which is compatible with a multi-dimensional query language such that said measure columns are separated from said dimensional columns; and, said computing device configured to retrieve data responsive to said multi-dimensional query.
1. An apparatus configured to retrieve data from an Online Analytical Processing (“OLAP”) data source or MDX servers of other types, wherein said data source has associated meta-data, said apparatus comprising: a computing device; an application programming interface (“API”) configured to operate within said computing device; said API configured to receive a two-dimensional query written in a two-dimensional query language such that said query includes a sequenced list of requested columns wherein said sequenced list includes a mixed order of measure columns and dimensional columns; said computing device configured to convert said two-dimensional query into a multi-dimensional query which is compatible with a multi-dimensional query language such that said measure columns are separated from said dimensional columns; and, said computing device configured to retrieve data responsive to said multi-dimensional query. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said computing device is configured to perform an operation on said retrieved data; said operation being selected from at least one member of the group consisting of joining, grouping, filtering and/or sorting said data and converting it into a format expected by an input query.