EasyXLS

How to protect cells and sheet elements 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 protects Excel sheet

Execute the following Java code that exports data to Excel, protects Excel sheet and locks cells.

package testexceljava;

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

/* ---------------------------------------------------------------
 | Tutorial 06
 | 
 | This code sample shows how to create an Excel file in Java with
 | multiple sheets. The first sheet is protected and 
 | filled with data. The cells are formatted and locked.
 * ------------------------------------------------------------ */

public class Tutorial06 {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            System.out.println("Tutorial 06");
            System.out.println("----------");

            // Create an instance of the class that creates 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");

            // Protect first sheet
            workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).setSheetProtected(true);

            // 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);
            // Protect cells
            xlsStyleData.setLocked(true);
            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);

            // Create Excel file
            System.out.println("Writing file: C:\\Samples\\Tutorial06 - protect Excel sheet.xlsx");
            workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\\Samples\\Tutorial06 - protect Excel sheet.xlsx");

            // Confirm the creation 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