Using natural language constructs for data visualizations

A computing device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• a display;
• and
• one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
• receiving user input to specify a natural language command directed to a data source;
• in accordance with the user input:
• identifying a semantic model for data fields in the data source;
• parsing the natural language command according to a context-free grammar and the semantic model to form an intermediate expression including:
• (i) a first term, derived from the natural language command, that specifies an aggregation type in a first aggregation;
• (ii) a second term, derived from the natural language command, that specifies a data field, in the semantic model, to be aggregated for the first aggregation;
• and
• (iii) one or more terms, derived from the natural language command, that specify data fields, in the semantic model, to specify grouping for the first aggregation;
• translating the intermediate expression into one or more database queries, including the first aggregation, according to the data source;
• executing the one or more database queries to retrieve one or more data sets from the data source, aggregated according to the first aggregation;
• and
• generating and displaying a data visualization of the retrieved data sets.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving user input to specify a natural language command directed to a data source;
• in accordance with the user input:
• identifying a semantic model for data fields in the data source;
• parsing the natural language command according to a context-free grammar and the semantic model to form an intermediate expression including:
• (i) a first term, derived from the natural language command, that specifies an aggregation type in a first aggregation;
• (ii) a second term, derived from the natural language command, that specifies a data field, in the semantic model, to be aggregated for the first aggregation;
• and
• (iii) one or more terms, derived from the natural language command, that specify data fields, in the semantic model, to specify grouping for the first aggregation;
• translating the intermediate expression into one or more database queries, including the first aggregation, according to the data source;
• executing the one or more database queries to retrieve one or more data sets from the data source, aggregated according to the first aggregation;
• and
• generating and displaying a data visualization of the retrieved data sets.