Script to open excel files take info and put into new document

Question

Hi All
I am new to applescript, but looking through the forums it seems to be the solution to my problem.
I have large numbers of excel files on a pc server which i want to open, take approx 8 cells of information from each and place into a new excel doc, forming a list. I want this if possible to happen automatically, so if a new excel document is placed into a folder on the server, the relavent information is added to my list.
I have looked at automator but dont think it works with excel yet, and the programming in excel is too much for me.
I posted a query here in my previous job for a script of change all "/" symbols to "-" symbols, which worked very well and i hope someone more gifted can help with my new query.
Hope i have given enough info and that someone can help
thanks

Answer 1

Supplied below is a, quick and dirty (minimal error handling), working self contained (applet) example:
on run {}
display dialog "Drag files onto applet for processing."
end run
on open (dragged_Items)
try
tell application "Microsoft Excel" -- Launch 'Excel' to process '.xls' files
set tList to {} -- Create an empty list.
repeat with i in dragged_Items -- Cycle through each dragged '.xls' file.
open i -- Open each file.
repeat with j from 1 to 8 -- Cycle through the eight column values of a single row.
copy (value of cell j of row 3) to end of tList -- Obtain individul cells' value and place into 'tList'.
end repeat
end repeat
repeat until (documents is {}) -- Routine to close all opened '.xls' windows. Here, 'close windows' does not work.
close windows
end repeat
if (not (document 1 exists)) then make new document -- Create a new document, if needed.
set k to 0 -- Location (position) of a 'tList' item.
repeat with i from 1 to (count dragged_Items) -- Set row value, of where to ener column values.
repeat with j from 1 to 8 -- Set cells' column value.
set k to k + 1 -- Increment 'tList' location.
set (value of cell j of row i) to (item k of tList) -- Enter value into current rows' columns' cell from 'tList'.
end repeat
end repeat
activate -- Bring window to foreground.
end tell
end try
end open
Save the AppleScript code as an applet (application).
Drag the desired files onto the applet for processing.
The above AppleScript code obtains the cell values of columns A through H of row 3 of each '.xls' file.
To automatically process the files of a specific folder - utilize the provided code, with respective modifications, within a
'on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving these_items
end adding folder items to
... AppleScript - 'Folder Action'.