Hi Fred, Here is my attempt to solve your task.
import xlrd def extract(file_name): choice_file = xlrd.open_workbook(file_name) choice_sheet = choice_file.sheet_by_index(0) gene_dict = {} for row_num in range(1,choice_sheet.nrows): row_vals = choice_sheet.row_values(row_num) if int(row_vals[0] * 100) > 20: gene_dict[row_vals[1]] = row_vals[0] * 100 return gene_dict Here are few assumptions I made. 1. The your excel file has just two column with headers. Column 1 is High gain written in YYYY% format and column 2 is the gene. 2. that excel returns YYYY% format as decimals which is float in python; hence my conversion to int. Try this out and let me know how it goes. Watch the indents carefully. I typed from my blackberry. HTH. Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN -----Original Message----- From: Fred G <bayespoker...@gmail.com> Sender: tutor-bounces+delegbede=dudupay....@python.org Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:28:43 To: <tutor@python.org> Subject: [Tutor] quick data structures question _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor