Extracting data in spreadsheet columns in Apache POI API

Question

Just want to make sure one thing.

Does the Apache POI API have any built-in collection/object, like row and cell, for a column in a spreadsheet?

Or do I have to build one myself and add all the cells in the column there to do the sorting etc? Is there any other better way to do it?

Maybe you should check the Apache POI: http://poi.apache.org/apidocs/index.html. There is a Column class:org.apache.poi.ss.formula.functions.Column and a ColumnHelper class. — eboix, Dec 21 '11 at 19:23

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 22 '11 at 07:19

The excel format is row based not column based - the file is written with each cell in a row in order, followed by a few bits of row info, then the cells of the next row in order etc.

So, if you want to do something on a column basis, you'll need to collect the cells up yourself. It'd likely be something like:

int columnWanted = 3;
List<Cell> cells = new ArrayList<Cell>();

for (Row row : sheet) {
   Cell c = row.getCell(columnWanted);
   if (c == null || c.getCellType == Cell.CELL_TYPE_BLANK) {
      // Nothing in the cell in this row, skip it
   } else {
      cells.add(c);
   }
}

// Now use the cells array

Extracting data in spreadsheet columns in Apache POI API

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