Which API is Better for Reading Excel Sheets in Java: JXL or Apache POI?

Which API is simpler to read, write, and edit Excel sheets in Java? Do JXL and Apache POI support CSV file extensions?

N/A

When working with Excel files in Java, two popular libraries come to the forefront: JXL (Java Excel API) and Apache POI. This guide will help you understand the differences between the two APIs, their capabilities regarding CSV support, and how to resolve common issues when using them.

import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.*;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFWorkbook;

public class ExcelReader {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try (Workbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook("path/to/file.xlsx")) {
            Sheet sheet = workbook.getSheetAt(0);
            for (Row row : sheet) {
                for (Cell cell : row) {
                    System.out.print(cell.toString() + " ");
                }
                System.out.println();
            }
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Causes

• JXL is primarily designed for .xls files (Excel 97-2003) and does not support .xlsx format (Excel 2007 and later).
• On the other hand, Apache POI supports both .xls and .xlsx file types, providing more flexibility for modern Excel files.
• JXL does not support CSV files, while Apache POI can handle CSV files with some additional processing.

Solutions

• For better compatibility with both .xls and .xlsx files, choose Apache POI.
• To read or write CSV files using Apache POI, consider using OpenCSV or similar libraries for easier handling of CSV formats.

Mistake: Using JXL to open .xlsx files, which leads to 'BiffException'.

Solution: Use Apache POI instead as it supports both .xls and .xlsx file formats.

Mistake: Not handling exceptions properly which may cause runtime errors.

Solution: Always implement try-catch blocks around your file reading/writing logic to gracefully handle exceptions.