I often cut-n-paste lists from one WorkSheet to another. Select the
list and make a note of how many cells you're selecting; then go to
the destination Sheet and select the same number of cells and paste
(or it's equivalent Ctrl-V). With the "totals" in Column H, you might
need to use "Paste Special." You'll need to do this if the totals  are
referencing other data in which case the cells actually would contain
formulas like "=SUM(B1:G1)." By using Paste Special you'll have the
option to "Paste Values." ...Of course if this list  is in fact a
total of other values AND you want this list to dynamically add up
these values you'll have to be more careful.

You shouldn't need to match the paste area to the shape of the copy area.
Just select the top left cell of the destination area, and Excel will paste
whatever you Ctrl-C'd.

I think I understand your question, but let me summarize.
1) You have 8 workbooks.
2) Each workbook has one or more sheets.
3) You want to loop through each workbook and extract the info from
column A and H from each sheet  in the workbook and put  the info
into another workbook.

that sound right?

It's VERY do-able.
If that sounds accurate, let me know and I can help you with it.

Question:
Are the 8 'source' workbook (filenames) known, or will they be different any
time you need to grab data from them?

Yes, the filenames are known, all different, but known. Thanks...

That's exactly what I want to do! Thanks!

I'll give you enough to set you on the path.
(you'll learn better this way (grin))
First, there is a "collection" of worksheet names in every excel  file.
once you open a file, you can loop through all of the sheets in the file.
Another thing you should get used to is that the two terms:
ActiveWorkbook and ThisWorkbook do not necessarily mean the same thing.
ThisWorkbook is the name of the workbook that you're writing the code in.
ActiveWorkbook is the name of the workbook that currently has focus.
so.. say you write a macro/function/sub in a "master" or "reporting" workbook.
then ThisWorkbook.name is always equal to the name of the master file.
If, during the execution of the macro, you open another file, then while
that file is "active", then Activeworkbook.name is the name of THAT file.

given that criteria,then this code:
'=========================================
Option Explicit
Global MasterFileName, msg
Global RowLoc
Sub test()
MasterFileName = ThisWorkbook.Name
msg = ""
RowLoc = 1
Get_Data ("C:\temp\TestBook1.xls")
Get_Data ("C:\temp\TestBook2.xls")
MsgBox msg
End Sub
Function Get_Data(FullFileName)
Dim Shtno
Workbooks.Open Filename:=FullFileName
For Shtno = 1 To ActiveWorkbook.Sheets.Count
RowLoc = RowLoc + 1
Workbooks(MasterFileName).Sheets("Sheet1").Cells(RowLoc, 1) =
ActiveWorkbook.Name
Workbooks(MasterFileName).Sheets("Sheet1").Cells(RowLoc, 2) =
ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(Shtno).Name
msg = msg & ActiveWorkbook.Name & "." & Sheets(Shtno).Name & Chr(13)
Next Shtno
ActiveWorkbook.Close savechanges:=vbNo
End Function

'=========================================
will enter the file names and sheet  names in cells on Sheet1 of the "master"
file.
now, it is a question  of copying the data from the cells on the files into the
"master" file...

give it a whirl and see what you come up with.

Let me know if you'd like more help.