EasyXLS

How to format Excel cells in Java

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files in Java. The library works with any Java SE application and 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 Java

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: Create a Java project

If don't have a project already, create a new Java project.

Step 4: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.jar must be added to external libraries into your project for Eclipse or to your application CLASSPATH.

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

Step 5: Run Java code that formats Excel file

Execute the following Java code that formats Excel cells, rows, columns and cell ranges.

package testexceljava;

import java.awt.Color;
import EasyXLS.*;
import EasyXLS.Constants.*;

/* ---------------------------------------------------------------
 | Tutorial 05
 | 
 | This code sample shows how to export data to Excel file in Java
 | and format the cells. The Excel file has multiple worksheets.
 | The first sheet is filled with data and the cells are formatted.
 * ------------------------------------------------------------- */

public class Tutorial05 {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            System.out.println("Tutorial 05");
            System.out.println("----------");

            // Create an instance of the class that exports Excel files, having two sheets 
            ExcelDocument workbook = new ExcelDocument(2);

            // Set the sheet names
            workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).setSheetName("First tab");
            workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1).setSheetName("Second tab");

            // Get the table of data for the first worksheet 
            ExcelTable xlsFirstTable = ((ExcelWorksheet)workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0)).easy_getExcelTable();

            // Create the formatting style for the header
            ExcelStyle xlsStyleHeader = new ExcelStyle("Verdana", 8, true, true, Color.YELLOW);
            xlsStyleHeader.setBackground(Color.BLACK);
            xlsStyleHeader.setBorderColors(Color.GRAY, Color.GRAY, Color.GRAY, Color.GRAY);
            xlsStyleHeader.setBorderStyles(Border.BORDER_MEDIUM, Border.BORDER_MEDIUM, 
                                                 Border.BORDER_MEDIUM, Border.BORDER_MEDIUM);
            xlsStyleHeader.setHorizontalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_CENTER);
            xlsStyleHeader.setVerticalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_BOTTOM);
            xlsStyleHeader.setWrap(true);
            xlsStyleHeader.setDataType(DataType.STRING);

            // Add data in cells for report header
            for (int column=0; column<5; column++)
            {
                xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(0, column).setValue("Column " + (column + 1));
                xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(0, column).setStyle(xlsStyleHeader);
            }
            xlsFirstTable.easy_getRowAt(0).setHeight(30);

            // Add data in cells for report values
            for (int row=0; row<100; row++)
            {
                for (int column=0; column<5; column++)
                {
                    xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(row+1, column).setValue("Data " + (row + 1) + ", " + (column + 1));
                }
            }

            // Create a formatting style for cells
            ExcelStyle xlsStyleData = new ExcelStyle();
            xlsStyleData.setHorizontalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_LEFT);
            xlsStyleData.setForeground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
            xlsStyleData.setWrap(false);
            xlsStyleData.setDataType(DataType.STRING);
            xlsFirstTable.easy_setRangeStyle("A2:E101", xlsStyleData);

            // Set column widths
            xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(0, 70);
            xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(1, 100);
            xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(2, 70);
            xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(3, 100);
            xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(4, 70);

            // Export the Excel file
            System.out.println("Writing file: C:\\Samples\\Tutorial05 - format Excel cells.xlsx");
            workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial05 - format Excel cells.xlsx");

            // Confirm export of Excel file
            if (workbook.easy_getError().equals(""))
                System.out.println("File successfully created.");
            else
                System.out.println("Error encountered: " + workbook.easy_getError());

            // Dispose memory
            workbook.Dispose();
        }
        catch (Exception ex) {
            ex.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

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

File formats:

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