Java: Edit Excel Documents

In today's digital age, Excel documents have become essential tools for businesses, individuals, and organizations to manage data, analyze information, and share reports. However, manually editing Excel documents is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors. Fortunately, with the Spire.XLS library in Java, you can easily automate these tasks, improving efficiency and reducing mistakes.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to use Spire.XLS for Java to edit Excel documents in Java, helping you master this powerful skill.

Read and Write Excel Files in Java
Apply Formatting to Excel Cells in Java
Find and Replace Text in Excel in Java
Add Formulas and Charts to Excel in Java

Install Spire.XLS for Java

First of all, you're required to add the Spire.Xls.jar file as a dependency in your Java program. The JAR file can be downloaded from this link. If you use Maven, you can easily import the JAR file in your application by adding the following code to your project's pom.xml file.

Package Manager

<repositories>
    <repository>
        <id>com.e-iceblue</id>
        <name>e-iceblue</name>
        <url>https://repo.e-iceblue.com/nexus/content/groups/public/</url>
    </repository>
</repositories>
<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>e-iceblue</groupId>
        <artifactId>spire.xls</artifactId>
        <version>15.5.1</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

Read and Write Excel Files in Java

One of the most common tasks when working with Excel files in Java is reading and writing data. Spire.XLS for Java simplifies this process with the CellRange.getValue() and CellRange.setValue() methods, allowing developers to easily retrieve and assign values to individual cells.

To read and write an Excel file using Java, follow these steps:

Create a Workbook object.
Load an Excel file from the specified file path.
Access a specific worksheet using the Workbook.getWorksheets().get() method.
Retrieve a specific cell using the Worksheet.getCellRange() method.
Get the cell value with CellRange.getValue() and update it using CellRange.setValue().
Save the workbook to a new Excel file.

Java

import com.spire.xls.CellRange;
import com.spire.xls.ExcelVersion;
import com.spire.xls.Workbook;
import com.spire.xls.Worksheet;

public class ReadAndWriteExcel {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        // Create a Workbook object
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();

        // Load an Excel file
        workbook.loadFromFile("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\Input.xlsx");

        // Get a specific worksheet
        Worksheet worksheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

        // Get a specific cell
        CellRange cell = worksheet.getCellRange("A1");

        // Read the cell value
        String text = cell.getValue();

        // Determine if the cell value is "Department"
        if (text.equals("Department"))
        {
            // Update the cell value
            cell.setValue ("Dept.");
        }

        // Save the workbook to a different
        workbook.saveToFile("ModifyExcel.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2016);

        // Dispose resources
        workbook.dispose();
    }
}

A worksheet within which a cell value has been modified

Apply Formatting to Excel Cells in Java

Formatting Excel documents is essential for creating professional-looking reports. Spire.XLS for Java provides a range of APIs within the CellRange class to manage font styles, colors, cell backgrounds, and alignments, as well as to adjust row heights and column widths.

To apply styles and formats to Excel cells, follow these steps:

Create a Workbook object.
Load an Excel file from the specified file path.
Access a specific worksheet using the Workbook.getWorksheets().get() method.
Retrieve the allocated range of cells using the Worksheet.getAllocatedRange() method.
Select a specific row using CellRange.getRows()[rowIndex], and customize the cell background color, text color, text alignment, and row height using methods from the CellRange object.
Choose a specific column with CellRange.getColumns()[columnIndex], and set the column width using the setColumnWidth() method from the CellRange object.
Save the workbook to a new Excel file.

Java

import com.spire.xls.*;

import java.awt.*;

public class ApplyFormatting {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        // Create a Workbook object
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();

        // Load an Excel file
        workbook.loadFromFile("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\Input.xlsx");

        // Get a specific worksheet
        Worksheet worksheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

        // Get all located range from the worksheet
        CellRange allocatedRange = worksheet.getAllocatedRange();

        // Iterate through the rows
        for (int rowNum = 0; rowNum < allocatedRange.getRowCount(); rowNum++) {
            if (rowNum == 0) {

                // Apply cell color to the header row
                allocatedRange.getRows()[rowNum].getStyle().setColor(Color.black);

                // Change the font color of the header row
                allocatedRange.getRows()[rowNum].getStyle().getFont().setColor(Color.white);
            }

            // Apply alternate colors to other rows
            else if (rowNum % 2 == 1) {
                allocatedRange.getRows()[rowNum].getStyle().setColor(Color.lightGray);
            } else if (rowNum % 2 == 0) {
                allocatedRange.getRows()[rowNum].getStyle().setColor(Color.white);
            }

            // Align text to center
            allocatedRange.getRows()[rowNum].setHorizontalAlignment(HorizontalAlignType.Center);
            allocatedRange.getRows()[rowNum].setVerticalAlignment(VerticalAlignType.Center);

            // Set the row height
            allocatedRange.getRows()[rowNum].setRowHeight(20);
        }

        // Iterate through the columns
        for (int columnNum = 0; columnNum < allocatedRange.getColumnCount(); columnNum++) {

            // Set the column width
            if (columnNum > 0) {
                allocatedRange.getColumns()[columnNum].setColumnWidth(10);
            }
        }

        // Save the workbook to a different
        workbook.saveToFile("FormatExcel.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2016);

        // Dispose resources
        workbook.dispose();
    }
}

A worksheet with cells formatted with styles

Find and Replace Text in Excel in Java

The find and replace feature streamlines data management and enhances productivity by simplifying updates and corrections. With Spire.XLS for Java, you can quickly locate a cell containing a specific string using the Worksheet.findString() method and replace its value with the CellRange.setValue() method.

To find and replace text in Excel using Java, follow these steps:

Create a Workbook object.
Load an Excel file from the specified file path.
Access a specific worksheet using the Workbook.getWorksheets().get() method.
Locate the cell containing the specified string with Worksheet.findString().
Update the cell's value using the CellRange.setValue() method.
Save the workbook to a different Excel file.

Java

import com.spire.xls.CellRange;
import com.spire.xls.ExcelVersion;
import com.spire.xls.Workbook;
import com.spire.xls.Worksheet;

public class FindAndReplace {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        // Create a Workbook object
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();

        // Load an Excel file
        workbook.loadFromFile("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\Input4.xlsx");

        // Get a specific worksheet
        Worksheet worksheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

        // Define an array of department names for replacement
        String[] departments = new String[] { "Sales", "Marketing", "R&D", "HR", "IT", "Finance", "Support" };

        // Define an array of placeholders that will be replaced in the Excel sheet
        String[] placeholders = new String[] { "#dept_one", "#dept_two", "#dept_three", "#dept_four", "#dept_five", "#dept_six", "#dept_seven" };

        // Iterate through the placeholder strings
        for (int i = 0; i < placeholders.length; i++)
        {
            // Find the cell containing the current placeholder string
            CellRange cell = worksheet.findString(placeholders[i], false, false);

            // Replace the text in the found cell with the corresponding department name
            cell.setValue(departments[i]);
        }

        // Save the workbook to a different
        workbook.saveToFile("ReplaceText.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2016);

        // Dispose resources
        workbook.dispose();
    }
}

A worksheet with the values of the cells replaced by new strings

Add Formulas and Charts to Excel in Java

Besides basic file operations, Spire.XLS for Java offers a range of advanced techniques for working with Excel files. These methods allow you to automate complex tasks, perform calculations, and create dynamic reports.

To add formulas and create a chart in Excel using Java, follow these steps:

Create a Workbook object.
Load an Excel file from the specified file path.
Access a specific worksheet using the Workbook.getWorksheets().get() method.
Select a specific cell with the Worksheet.getRange().get() method.
Insert a formula into the cell using the CellRange.setFormula() method.
Add a column chart to the worksheet with the Worksheet.getCharts().add() method.
Configure the chart's data range, position, title, and other attributes using methods from the Chart object.
Save the workbook to a different Excel file.

Java

import com.spire.xls.*;

public class AddFormulaAndChart {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        // Create a Workbook object
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();

        // Load an Excel file
        workbook.loadFromFile("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\Input.xlsx");

        // Get a specific worksheet
        Worksheet worksheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

        // Get all located range
        CellRange allocatedRange = worksheet.getAllocatedRange();

        // Iterate through the rows
        for (int rowNum = 0; rowNum < allocatedRange.getRowCount(); rowNum++) {
            if (rowNum == 0) {
                // Write text in cell G1
                worksheet.getRange().get(rowNum + 1, 6).setText("Total");

                // Apply style to the cell
                worksheet.getRange().get(rowNum + 1, 6).getStyle().getFont().isBold(true);
                worksheet.getRange().get(rowNum + 1, 6).getStyle().setHorizontalAlignment(HorizontalAlignType.Right);
            } else {
                // Add formulas to the cells from G2 to G8
                worksheet.getRange().get(rowNum + 1, 6).setFormula("=SUM(B" + (rowNum + 1) + ":E" + (rowNum + 1) + ")");
            }

        }

        // Add a clustered column chart
        Chart chart = worksheet.getCharts().add(ExcelChartType.ColumnClustered);

        // Set data range for the chart
        chart.setDataRange(worksheet.getCellRange("A1:E8"));
        chart.setSeriesDataFromRange(false);

        // Set position of the chart
        chart.setLeftColumn(1);
        chart.setTopRow(10);
        chart.setRightColumn(8);
        chart.setBottomRow(23);

        // Set and format chart title
        chart.setChartTitle("Sales by Department per Quarter");
        chart.getChartTitleArea().setSize(13);
        chart.getChartTitleArea().isBold(true);

        // Save the workbook to a different
        workbook.saveToFile("AddFormulaAndChart.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2016);

        // Dispose resources
        workbook.dispose();
    }
}

A worksheet that includes formulas in certain cells and a chart positioned underneath

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