How to read excel using jexcel ?

Question

i am trying to read an Excel file using Java code however i am getting following error :

jxl.read.biff.BiffException: Unable to recognize OLE stream

when i searched on net i found jExcel supports only upto excel 2003, and this error comes when excel is made in 2007 bt i have saved my excel in 97-2003 format only and i am still getting this problem

Answer 1

I've no experience of JExcel but I beleive you are correct in thinking that the problem is one of file formats. I suggest you try the Apache POI project. I use it extensively to read and write Excel spreadsheets. It will read any spreadsheet created from Excel 5.0 onwards IIRC and supports both .xsl and .xslx file types.

Answer 2

I am using JExcel since long time but never got this kind of problem. I think your file is not in XLS format. You try to create a new Excel file and try to read it.

Answer 3

JExcel API does not support excel 2007,you can use Apache POI HSSF/XSSF

here is sample code for Reading and Rewriting Workbooks from the site

InputStream inp = new FileInputStream("workbook.xls");
//InputStream inp = new FileInputStream("workbook.xlsx");

Workbook wb = WorkbookFactory.create(inp);
Sheet sheet = wb.getSheetAt(0);
Row row = sheet.getRow(2);
Cell cell = row.getCell(3);
if (cell == null)
    cell = row.createCell(3);
cell.setCellType(Cell.CELL_TYPE_STRING);
cell.setCellValue("a test");

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