Busy Developers' Guide to HSSF Features

Busy Developers' Guide to Features

Want to use HSSF read and write spreadsheets in a hurry? This guide is for you. If you're after more in-depth coverage of the HSSF user-API please consult the HOWTO guide as it contains actual descriptions of how to use this stuff.

Index of Features

Features

New Workbook

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

New Sheet

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet1 = wb.createSheet("new sheet");
    HSSFSheet sheet2 = wb.createSheet("second sheet");
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Creating Cells

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");

    // Create a row and put some cells in it. Rows are 0 based.
    HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short)0);
    // Create a cell and put a value in it.
    HSSFCell cell = row.createCell((short)0);
    cell.setCellValue(1);

    // Or do it on one line.
    row.createCell((short)1).setCellValue(1.2);
    row.createCell((short)2).setCellValue("This is a string");
    row.createCell((short)3).setCellValue(true);

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Creating Date Cells

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");

    // Create a row and put some cells in it. Rows are 0 based.
    HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short)0);

    // Create a cell and put a date value in it.  The first cell is not styled
    // as a date.
    HSSFCell cell = row.createCell((short)0);
    cell.setCellValue(new Date());

    // we style the second cell as a date (and time).  It is important to
    // create a new cell style from the workbook otherwise you can end up
    // modifying the built in style and effecting not only this cell but other cells.
    HSSFCellStyle cellStyle = wb.createCellStyle();
    cellStyle.setDataFormat(HSSFDataFormat.getFormat("m/d/yy h:mm"));
    cell = row.createCell((short)1);
    cell.setCellValue(new Date());
    cell.setCellStyle(cellStyle);

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Working with different types of cells

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");
    HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short)2);
    row.createCell((short) 0).setCellValue(1.1);
    row.createCell((short) 1).setCellValue(new Date());
    row.createCell((short) 2).setCellValue("a string");
    row.createCell((short) 3).setCellValue(true);
    row.createCell((short) 4).setCellType(HSSFCell.CELL_TYPE_ERROR);

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Demonstrates various alignment options

    public static void main(String[] args)
            throws IOException
    {
        HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
        HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");
        HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short) 2);
        createCell(wb, row, (short) 0, HSSFCellStyle.ALIGN_CENTER);
        createCell(wb, row, (short) 1, HSSFCellStyle.ALIGN_CENTER_SELECTION);
        createCell(wb, row, (short) 2, HSSFCellStyle.ALIGN_FILL);
        createCell(wb, row, (short) 3, HSSFCellStyle.ALIGN_GENERAL);
        createCell(wb, row, (short) 4, HSSFCellStyle.ALIGN_JUSTIFY);
        createCell(wb, row, (short) 5, HSSFCellStyle.ALIGN_LEFT);
        createCell(wb, row, (short) 6, HSSFCellStyle.ALIGN_RIGHT);

        // Write the output to a file
        FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
        wb.write(fileOut);
        fileOut.close();

    }

    /**
     * Creates a cell and aligns it a certain way.
     *
     * @param wb        the workbook
     * @param row       the row to create the cell in
     * @param column    the column number to create the cell in
     * @param align     the alignment for the cell.
     */
    private static void createCell(HSSFWorkbook wb, HSSFRow row, short column, short align)
    {
        HSSFCell cell = row.createCell(column);
        cell.setCellValue("Align It");
        HSSFCellStyle cellStyle = wb.createCellStyle();
        cellStyle.setAlignment(align);
        cell.setCellStyle(cellStyle);
    }
                    

Working with borders

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");

    // Create a row and put some cells in it. Rows are 0 based.
    HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short) 1);

    // Create a cell and put a value in it.
    HSSFCell cell = row.createCell((short) 1);
    cell.setCellValue(4);

    // Style the cell with borders all around.
    HSSFCellStyle style = wb.createCellStyle();
    style.setBorderBottom(HSSFCellStyle.BORDER_THIN);
    style.setBottomBorderColor(HSSFCellStyle.BLACK);
    style.setBorderLeft(HSSFCellStyle.BORDER_THIN);
    style.setLeftBorderColor(HSSFCellStyle.GREEN);
    style.setBorderRight(HSSFCellStyle.BORDER_THIN);
    style.setRightBorderColor(HSSFCellStyle.BLUE);
    style.setBorderTop(HSSFCellStyle.BORDER_MEDIUM_DASHED);
    style.setTopBorderColor(HSSFCellStyle.AUTOMATIC);
    cell.setCellStyle(style);

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Fills and colors

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");

    // Create a row and put some cells in it. Rows are 0 based.
    HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short) 1);

    // Aqua background
    HSSFCellStyle style = wb.createCellStyle();
    style.setFillBackgroundColor(HSSFCellStyle.AQUA);
    style.setFillPattern(HSSFCellStyle.BIG_SPOTS);
    HSSFCell cell = row.createCell((short) 1);
    cell.setCellValue("X");
    cell.setCellStyle(style);

    // Orange "foreground", foreground being the fill foreground not the font color.
    style = wb.createCellStyle();
    style.setFillForegroundColor(HSSFCellStyle.ORANGE);
    style.setFillPattern(HSSFCellStyle.SOLID_FOREGROUND);
    cell = row.createCell((short) 2);
    cell.setCellValue("X");
    cell.setCellStyle(style);

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Merging cells

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");

    HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short) 1);
    HSSFCell cell = row.createCell((short) 1);
    cell.setCellValue("This is a test of merging");

    sheet.addMergedRegion(new Region(1,(short)1,1,(short)2));

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Working with fonts

    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook();
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet("new sheet");

    // Create a row and put some cells in it. Rows are 0 based.
    HSSFRow row = sheet.createRow((short) 1);

    // Create a new font and alter it.
    HSSFFont font = wb.createFont();
    font.setFontHeightInPoints((short)24);
    font.setFontName("Courier New");
    font.setItalic(true);
    font.setStrikeout(true);

    // Fonts are set into a style so create a new one to use.
    HSSFCellStyle style = wb.createCellStyle();
    style.setFont(font);

    // Create a cell and put a value in it.
    HSSFCell cell = row.createCell((short) 1);
    cell.setCellValue("This is a test of fonts");
    cell.setCellStyle(style);

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    

Reading and Rewriting Workbooks

    POIFSFileSystem fs      =
            new POIFSFileSystem(new FileInputStream("workbook.xls"));
    HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook(fs);
    HSSFSheet sheet = wb.getSheetAt(0);
    HSSFRow row = sheet.getRow(2);
    HSSFCell cell = row.getCell((short)3);
    if (cell == null)
        cell = row.createCell((short)3);
    cell.setCellType(HSSFCell.CELL_TYPE_STRING);
    cell.setCellValue("a test");

    // Write the output to a file
    FileOutputStream fileOut = new FileOutputStream("workbook.xls");
    wb.write(fileOut);
    fileOut.close();
                    
by Glen Stampoultzis
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