EasyXLS

How to add cell validation 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 adds cell validation to Excel sheet

Execute the following ColdFusion code that exports an Excel file with two types of data validation defined: list and whole number.

<!--
====================================================================
Tutorial 13

This tutorial shows how to create an Excel file in ColdFusion having
multiple sheets. The second sheet contains a named area range.
The A1:A10 cell range contains data validators, drop down list
and whole number validation.
====================================================================
-->

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

Tutorial 13<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 second worksheet and populate the worksheet -->
<cfset xlsSecondTab = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1)>
<cfset xlsSecondTable = xlsSecondTab.easy_getExcelTable()>
<cfset xlsSecondTable.easy_getCell("A1").setValue("Range data 1")>
<cfset xlsSecondTable.easy_getCell("A2").setValue("Range data 2")>
<cfset xlsSecondTable.easy_getCell("A3").setValue("Range data 3")>
<cfset xlsSecondTable.easy_getCell("A4").setValue("Range data 4")>

<!-- Create a named area range -->
<cfset xlsSecondTab.easy_addName("Range", "=Second tab!$A$1:$A$4")>

<!-- Add data validation as drop down list type -->
<cfset xlsFirstTab = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0)>
<cfset xlsFirstTab.easy_addDataValidator("A1:A10", DataValidator.VALIDATE_LIST, 
                                                   DataValidator.OPERATOR_EQUAL_TO, "=Range", "")>

<!-- Add data validation as whole number type -->
<cfset xlsFirstTab.easy_addDataValidator("B1:B10", DataValidator.VALIDATE_WHOLE_NUMBER, 
                                                   DataValidator.OPERATOR_BETWEEN, "=4", "=100")>

<!-- Export Excel file -->
Writing file C:\Samples\Tutorial13 - cell validation in Excel.xlsx<br>
<cfset ret = workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\Samples\Tutorial13 - cell validation 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