Excel File

Excel File connectivity tool provides easy platform-independent access to MS Excel 1997-2007 (.xls) files within AnyLogic models. Using that object you can:

Read Excel files and explore their content
Read individual cell values and formulas of different types
Read Anylogic table function contents
Read AnyLogic 1D and 2D [hyper]arrays
Create new cells
Write to individual cells and change their type
Write AnyLogic datasets to Excel spreadsheets
Save modified spreadsheets

Demonstration model: Reading and Writing Excel Files

To add Excel file access tool

Drag the Excel File element from the Connectivity stencil of the Palette onto the diagram of active object class (or experiment).
On the General page of the Properties view, modify the Name of the element. This name will be used to identify and access this object from code.
Specify Excel file this object will work with. Browse for the file using the Browse button. When finished, the path to the file will be shown in the File field.
Leave the Load on model startup checkbox selected. This will automatically load the workbook from the file on model startup and enable your work with this Excel file.
If you expect to save some data in the specified Excel file, leave the Save on model termination checkbox selected. This will save you from calling the method writeFile() of this access object to commit all your changes into the Excel file - this will be automatically done on model termination.

You work with Excel files using the corresponding API of the ExcelFile object. All the methods are listed below. Please note that nearly all the functions have several different argument sets and notations. Therefore we recommend you to search for the operation you need, then expand the corresponding section and find the method that suits your needs best.

Please note that you should call the method readFile() before trying to perform any operations with the Excel file. The alternative way is to select the Load on startup checkbox in the properties of this object - in this case the workbook will be automatically loaded from the file on model startup.

Reading from Excel file

Reading Excel file - readFile()

void readFile() - Loads the workbook from the file.
Warning! All unsaved data (if any) in the workbook is lost after this method is called.

Getting a type of the specified cell - getCellType()

The method getCellType() returns the cell type (numeric, formula, string...)

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

int getCellType(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

int getCellType(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

int getCellType(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Reading a boolean value from a cell - getCellBooleanValue()

The method getCellBooleanValue() returns the value of the cell as a boolean. For strings, numbers, and errors, throws an exception. For blank cells returns false.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

boolean getCellBooleanValue(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

boolean getCellBooleanValue(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

boolean getCellBooleanValue(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Reading a numeric value from a cell - getCellNumericValue()

The method getCellNumericValue() returns the value of the cell as a number. For strings throws an exception. For blank cells we return a 0.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

double getCellNumericValue(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

double getCellNumericValue(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

double getCellNumericValue(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Reading String value from a cell - getCellStringValue()

The method getCellStringValue() returns the value of the cell as a string - for numeric cells throws an exception. For blank cells returns an empty string. For formula cells that are not string formulas, returns empty string

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

String getCellStringValue(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

String getCellStringValue(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

String getCellStringValue(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Reading Date value from a cell - getCellDateValue()

The method getCellDateValue() returns the value of the cell as a date. For strings throws an exception. For blank cells returns null.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

Date getCellDateValue(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

Date getCellDateValue(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

Date getCellDateValue(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Getting a formula defined for a specified cell - getCellFormula()

The method getCellFormula() returns a formula for the cell, for example, SUM(C4:E4)

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

String getCellFormula(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

String getCellFormula(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

String getCellFormula(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Getting a type of a formula defined for a specified cell - getCellFormulaType()

The method getCellFormulaType() returns the type of the formula cell. Only valid for formula cells.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

int getCellFormulaType(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

int getCellFormulaType(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

int getCellFormulaType(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Reading value of the cell as an error code - getCellErrorValue()

The method getCellErrorValue() returns the value of the cell as an error code. For strings throws an exception. For blank cells returns null.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

byte getCellErrorValue(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex)- the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

byte getCellErrorValue(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex)- the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

byte getCellErrorValue(String cellName)- the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Reading data from Excel file into AnyLogic table function - readTableFunction()

The method readTableFunction() reads the data from Excel file into specified table function.

If there is not enough data in the sheet to fill in the length, then table function gets less points.
Method returns the actual number of table function points read from the sheet.

Arguments:
tableFunction - the table function to fill
length - the number of table function points to read

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

int readTableFunction(TableFunction tableFunction, int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex, int length) - Reads the table function from the sheet with index sheetIndex starting at the row with index rowIndex:
- arguments are read from column at columnIndex
- values are read from column at columnndex + 1

int readTableFunction(TableFunction tableFunction, String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex, int length) - Reads the table function from the sheet with name sheetName starting at the row with index rowIndex:
- arguments are read from column at columnIndex
- values are read from column at columnndex + 1

int readTableFunction(TableFunction tableFunction, String cellName, int length) - Reads the table function from the sheet starting at the row of the given cell:
- arguments are read from column of the given cell
- values are read from column next to the given cell
The cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Reading data from Excel file into AnyLogic hyperarray - readHyperArray()

The method readHyperArray() reads one- or two-dimensional HyperArray data from the sheet starting at the given cell.

Arguments:
array - the HyperArray to write data to, should have 1 or 2 dimensions.
dim1AcrossRows - use true to read the data corresponding to the first dimension, across the sheet rows (e.g. in this mode data for one-dimensional array is loaded from the sheet column)

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

void readHyperArray(HyperArray array, int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex, boolean dim1AcrossRows) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

void readHyperArray(HyperArray array, String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex, boolean dim1AcrossRows) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

void readHyperArray(HyperArray array, String cellName, boolean dim1AcrossRows) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Writing to Excel file

Please note that you should call the method writeFile() to commit your changes into Excel file. The alternative way is to select the Save on dispose checkbox in the properties of this object - in this case the changes will be saved automatically on model termination.

Saving changes into Excel file - writeFile()

void writeFile() - Stores the current workbook to the file. Workbook should be loaded. Unchanged workbooks (workbooks with unsaved data) aren't saved. For saving to another location please call setFileName(String) before this method.

Creating a cell with specified index - createCell()

The method createCell() creates a new cell at the given position.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

void createCell(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

void createCell(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

void createCell(String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Writing a value into a cell - setCellValue()

The method setCellValue() sets a given value for the specified cell. The method can take values of all most used types: boolean, double, String, Date

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

void setCellValue(<type> value, int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

void setCellValue(<type> value, String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

void setCellValue(<type> value, String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Setting a formula for a specified cell - setCellFormula()

The method setCellFormula() sets a formula for the specified cell. The formula is passed using the method's argument formula, e.g. "SUM(C4:E4)". If this argument is null then the current formula is removed.

This method only sets the formula string and does not calculate the formula value. To set the 'precalculated' value use setCellValue(...) method. To evaluate the formula, call evaluateFormuals() method.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed.

void setCellFormula(String formula, int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

void setCellFormula(String formula, String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

void setCellFormula(String formula, String cellName) - the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Writing data from AnyLogic dataset into Excel file - writeDataSet()

The method writeDataSet() writes the given data set to the sheet starting at the given cell. Data is written by rows in 2 columns: for X and Y components.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed:

int writeDataSet(DataSet dataset, int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

int writeDataSet(DataSet dataset, String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex) - the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

int writeDataSet(DataSet dataset, String cellName)- the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Validation and auxiliary operations

Getting a number of sheets in Excel file - getNumberOfSheets()

int getNumberOfSheets() - Returns the number of spreadsheets in the workbook.

Getting a name of the specified sheet - getSheetName()

String getSheetName(int sheetIndex) - Returns the sheet name for the sheet with specified index sheetIndex.

Checking whether the specified cell exists - cellExists()

The method cellExists() returns true if the cell at the given position exists in the workbook.

The method has three notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the cell is addressed:

boolean cellExists(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex, int columnIndex)- the cell is specified using 3 numbers (one-based): sheet index, row index, column index.

boolean cellExists(String sheetName, int rowIndex, int columnIndex)- the cell is specified using a sheet name and 2 (one-based) numbers row index and column index.

boolean cellExists(String cellName)- the cell is specified by name in the following format: <sheetName>!<columnName><rowNumber>, e.g. Sheet1!A3 (The sheet name can be skipped, then the first sheet is assumed)

Getting a number of the first row of the sheet - getFirstRowNum()

The method getFirstRowNum() returns number of the first logical row of the sheet (one-based indexing is used).

The method has two notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the sheet is addressed:

int getFirstRowNum(int sheetIndex) - the sheet is specified by its index.

int getFirstRowNum(String sheetName) - the sheet is specified by its name.

Getting a number of the last row of the sheet - getLastRowNum()

The method getLastRowNum() returns number of the last logical row of the sheet (one-based indexing is used).

The method has two notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the sheet is addressed:

int getLastRowNum(int sheetIndex) - the sheet is specified by its index.

int getLastRowNum(String sheetName) - the sheet is specified by its name.

Getting a number of the first cell in the row - getFirstCellNum()

The method getFirstCellNum() returns the number of the first cell contained in the specified row. In particular, it returns the number of the column (one-based indexing is used) containing the first logical cell in the row, or 0 if the row does not contain any cells.

The method has two notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the sheet is addressed:

int getFirstCellNum(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex) - both the sheet and the row are specified by indexes.

int getFirstCellNum(String sheetName, int rowIndex) - the sheet is specified by its name; the row - by its index.

Getting a number of the last cell in the row - getLastCellNum()

The method getLastCellNum() returns the number of the last cell contained in the specified row. In particular, it returns the number of the column (one-based indexing is used) containing the last logical cell in the row, or 0 if the row does not contain any cells.

The method has two notations with different argument sets. They differ in the way the sheet is addressed:

int getLastCellNum(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex) - both the sheet and the row are specified by indexes.

int getLastCellNum(String sheetName, int rowIndex) - the sheet is specified by its name; the row - by its index.

Evaluating formulas in Excel file - evaluateFormulas()

void evaluateFormulas(int sheetIndex, int rowIndex) - Evaluates formulas and saves the results for all the cells containing formulas in this workbook.

The cells are left as formula cells. Be aware that your cells will hold both the formula, and the result. If you want the cell replaced with the result of the formula, use method org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Cell.evaluateInCell(org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Cell)