A data analysis and display system and method for performing a plurality of operations on data arranged in data tables. One or more of the following data operations are provided: combining separate data together, for example by joining and appending; normalizing and summarizing; copying; calculating and presenting new information from existing data; making corrections in a persistent manner, and analyzing the data, to allow users to work with their data at a high level using a core set of functions that facilitate performance of these operations in a generally simple, intuitive manner.