java code to do task on other application

I need a java program to do a set of tasks between applications. For example in excel i have a list of record IDs, i need to open those records in another application (3rd party application, which i don't know the API). And I need to retrieve record title, time etc... I need to save those data into excel. I heard about Robot class in java. But the problem is if i open a record i may take 10 seconds or 2 minutes. So the java program should wait until it opens the record. Also I don't know how to make the 3rd party application as active window.

Please help in this...

Thanks in advance Ravi

Controlling other executables is easier in the OS's native scripting language - AppleScript on OS X or Windows PowerShell on Windows. You can invoke scripts written in those languages from Java code via Runtime.exec or the ProcessBuilder class.

Hi Ulf Dittmer

It seems I need to install Powershell in my system. Unfortunately i don't have privileges to install this. I am able to build a Java programm and run it.
Is there any way in Java?

Thanks in advance
Ravi