This user's problem is perfectly ordinary, and that's exactly why it matters. When BronzeSpoon89 asks whether it's possible to pull a single cell, column 3, cell 4, from every file in a folder, they are not asking a niche technical question. They are asking the fundamental question that Power Query was designed to answer: how do I stop manually opening fifty files and copying one value? The answer is yes, and the path forward is simpler than most people expect.
The trap here is thinking that Power Query only works with tidy, rectangular tables. That assumption keeps users stuck in manual workflows. BronzeSpoon89 has already discovered they can pull columns, which means they have the folder connector working. The missing piece is understanding that Power Query treats every file as a structured data source, and within that structure, you can navigate to any cell by its coordinates. The report date in column 3, row 4 is not hidden or special, it is just a reference point. Using the "Add Custom Column" step, you can write `Source{[0]}[Column3]` and then filter to the fourth row, or use `Table.RowCount` and index logic to grab exactly that cell. The result is a clean two-column output: file name and the date, repeated for every row of column 1 in that file. No macros, no VBA, no opening each workbook.
What this reveals is a deeper truth about modern data work: the tools are already capable, but the mental model needs updating. Users who learned spreadsheets on static grids often assume that automation requires programming. Power Query demonstrates that structured data extraction is a declarative act, you describe what you want, not how to get it. For BronzeSpoon89, the practical outcome is a repeatable query that runs in seconds, updates when new files land in the folder, and eliminates a tedious manual check. That is the real value: not just saving time on this one task, but building a process that scales.
The takeaway for every reader is this: if you have ever spent an afternoon copying values from similar files, you already have the problem that Power Query solves. Start with one file, identify the exact cell coordinates, and then generalize to the folder. The solution does not require a data engineering background, just the willingness to treat your spreadsheet as a database rather than a canvas. BronzeSpoon89's struggle is common, but the fix is concrete, repeatable, and within reach.