Reading and Manipulating Excel Files in Android Studio

If you need to read and manipulate data stored in an Excel file while developing for Android Studio, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore different methods of reading Excel files in Android Studio, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Method 1: Using Apache POI

Apache POI is a popular Java library used for working with spreadsheets. It can be easily integrated into an Android project using the Gradle file or the build.gradle file. POI provides an API to read, write, and manipulate Excel files in Java, making it an excellent choice for developers who prefer to work in Java.

Advantages:

• Apache POI is well-documented and has a large community of users and contributors.
• It supports all major spreadsheet file formats, including Excel 2003 and later versions.
• It allows for easy integration with other Java libraries and frameworks.

Disadvantages:

• Apache POI is memory-intensive, especially when dealing with large files.
• It requires some programming knowledge to use effectively.

Example:

java

import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.*;

import java.io.*;

public class ExcelReader {
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {

FileInputStream inputStream = new FileInputStream(“sample.xlsx”);

Workbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook(inputStream);

Sheet sheet = workbook.getSheetAt(0);

for (Row row : sheet) {
Cell cell = row.getCell(0);
String value = cell.getStringCellValue();
System.out.println(value);
}
}
}

Method 2: Using ExcelJavaViewer

ExcelJavaViewer is an open-source Java library that provides a simple and easy-to-use interface for reading and manipulating Excel files. It can be easily integrated into an Android project using the Gradle file or the build.gradle file.

Advantages:

• ExcelJavaViewer has a simple API, making it easy to use even for beginners.
• It supports most major spreadsheet file formats, including Excel 2003 and later versions.

Disadvantages:

• ExcelJavaViewer is limited in terms of its capabilities compared to Apache POI.
• It does not support all Java-based libraries and frameworks.

Example:

java

import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.*;

import java.io.*;

public class ExcelReader {
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {

FileInputStream inputStream = new FileInputStream(“sample.xlsx”);

XSSFWorkbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook(inputStream);

Sheet sheet = workbook.getSheetAt(0);

for (Row row : sheet) {
Cell cell = row.getCell(0);
String value = cell.getStringCellValue();
System.out.println(value);
}
}
}

Method 3: Using Google Sheets API

Google Sheets API is a web service provided by Google that allows developers to read, write, and manipulate data stored in Google Sheets. To use the API with Android Studio, you will need to create a new project in the Google Developers Console, enable the Sheets API, and obtain an API key.

Advantages:

• The Google Sheets API allows for seamless integration with other Google services such as Google Drive.
• It provides a secure and scalable solution for working with large amounts of data.

Disadvantages:

• The Google Sheets API requires an internet connection to function properly.
• It has usage limits, which may be exceeded for larger projects or datasets.

Example:

java

import com.google.api.client.http.HttpTransport;

import com.google.api.services.sheets.v4.SheetsScopes;

import com.google.api.services.sheets.model.*;

import java.io.*;

import java.util.

public class ExcelReader {
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
// TODO: Add your code here
}
}