EasyXLS

How to group rows or columns in ColdFusion

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files in ColdFusion. The library works without MS Excel installed.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for Java

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for Coldfusion

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 3: Add EasyXLS library to CLASSPATH in ColdFusion Administator

EasyXLS.jar must be included to class path for Java runtime environment.

EasyXLS.jar can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Lib" folder.

Add EasyXLS library to CLASSPATH

Another solution is to add EasyXLS.jar to "lib" folder from ColdFusion installation path.

Step 4: Run ColdFusion code that groups data in Excel sheet

Execute the following ColdFusion code that groups data on the first sheet of an Excel file on two outline levels.

<!--
==================================================================================
Tutorial 17

This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file with groups on rows in ColdFusion.
The Excel file has two worksheets. The first one is full with data and contains
the data groups.
==================================================================================
-->

<!-- Constants Classes -->
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.Constants.DataType" name="DataType" action="CREATE">
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.Constants.Styles" name="Styles" action="CREATE">
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.Constants.DataGroup" name="DataGroup" action="CREATE">

Tutorial 17<br>
----------<br>

<!-- Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files -->
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.ExcelDocument" name="workbook" action="CREATE">

<!-- Create two worksheets -->
<cfset ret = workbook.easy_addWorksheet("First tab")>
<cfset ret = workbook.easy_addWorksheet("Second tab")>

<!-- Get the table of data for the first worksheet -->
<cfset xlsFirstTable = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).easy_getExcelTable()>

<!-- Add data in cells for report header -->
<cfloop from="0" to="4" index="column">
    <cfset xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(0, evaluate(column)).setValue("Column " & evaluate(column + 1))>
    <cfset xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(0, evaluate(column)).setDataType(DataType.STRING)>
</cfloop>
<cfset ret = xlsFirstTable.easy_getRowAt(0).setHeight(30)>

<!-- Add data in cells for report values -->
<cfloop from="0" to="24" index="row">
    <cfloop from="0" to="4" index="column">
        <cfset xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(evaluate(row + 1), evaluate(column)).setValue(
                                          "Data " & evaluate(row + 1) & ", " & evaluate(column + 1))>
        <cfset xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(evaluate(row + 1), evaluate(column)).setDataType(DataType.STRING)>
    </cfloop>
</cfloop>

<!-- Set column widths -->
<cfset xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(0, 70)>
<cfset xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(1, 100)>
<cfset xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(2, 70)>
<cfset xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(3, 100)>
<cfset xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(4, 70)>

<!-- Group rows and format A1:E26 cell range -->
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.ExcelDataGroup" name="xlsFirstDataGroup" action="CREATE">
<cfset xlsFirstDataGroup.setRange("A1:E26")>
<cfset xlsFirstDataGroup.setGroupType(DataGroup.GROUP_BY_ROWS)>
<cfset xlsFirstDataGroup.setCollapsed(false)>

<!-- Create an instance of the class used to format the first group -->
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.ExcelAutoFormat" name="xlsAutoFormat" action="CREATE">
<cfset xlsAutoFormat.InitAs(Styles.AUTOFORMAT_EASYXLS1)>
<cfset xlsFirstDataGroup.setAutoFormat(xlsAutoFormat)>
<cfset workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).easy_addDataGroup(xlsFirstDataGroup)>

<!-- Group rows and format A2:E10 cell range, outline level two, inside previous group -->
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.ExcelDataGroup" name="xlsSecondDataGroup" action="CREATE"> 
<cfset xlsSecondDataGroup.setRange("A1:E26")>
<cfset xlsSecondDataGroup.setGroupType(DataGroup.GROUP_BY_ROWS)>
<cfset xlsSecondDataGroup.setCollapsed(false)>

<!-- Create an instance of the class used to format the second group -->
<cfobject type="java" class="EasyXLS.ExcelAutoFormat" name="xlsAutoFormat2" action="CREATE">
<cfset xlsAutoFormat2.InitAs(Styles.AUTOFORMAT_EASYXLS2)>
<cfset xlsSecondDataGroup.setAutoFormat(xlsAutoFormat2)>
<cfset workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).easy_addDataGroup(xlsSecondDataGroup)>

<!-- Export Excel file -->
Writing file C:\Samples\Tutorial17 - group data in Excel.xlsx<br>
<cfset ret = workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\Samples\Tutorial17 - group data in Excel.xlsx")>

<!-- Confirm export of Excel file -->
<cfset sError = workbook.easy_getError()>
<cfif (sError is "")>
    <cfoutput>
        File successfully created.
    </cfoutput>
<cfelse>
    <cfoutput>
        Error encountered: #sError#
    </cfoutput>
</cfif>

<!-- Dispose memory -->
<cfset workbook.Dispose()>

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

Java
Excel Library for ColdFusion
full Java version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for ColdFusion
Java version to create and export Excel files
Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for ColdFusion

File formats:

MS Excel 97 - 2003
MS Excel 2007 - 2019
MS Excel 2021
Office 365
XLSXXLSMXLSBXLS
XMLHTMLCSVTXT