What is best Excel strategy to enter/analyze/display complex data?

Hi, thanks for any ideas and support! :-)

I recently began a personal research project that addresses a lot of data (~150+ columns by ~50,000+ rows). The data is all identically time-sorted by day for several centuries (= the same long X time axis). The 150+ Y axes data sets have been quantified for purposes of this project.

The goal is to identify any statistically-valid, time-based repetitive patterns (cycles) underlying the data, and then predict their potential re-occurance in the future.

I need your ideas for a wise initial approach to my:

- data entry.....most of my available data is "raw" so I must process it--via multi-step Excel formuli--into a usable final form

- data analysis....currently I only have educated guesses as to which data combinations and time points may be significant. I need an efficient way to analyze the data in various sets.

- data display ....since people are the best tool for pattern recognition, I need a clear way to multi-configure and display the data sets. My initial idea is to chart the data, using time as the X axis, and many (150?) different data sets on the Y axes.


A survey for previous forum posts like mine shows that pivot tables, summary tables, and maybe multi-sheet and multi-series charts were previously recommended by pro members Teylyn, Andy Pope, MarvinP and others.

The value, if any, of these and other Excel tools is still an exciting mystery to me, an Excel novice.

Only a tiny sample is available, since I have entered just a fraction of the data so far.

Thanks for any help!