"error: cannot find symbol" using Apache POI

Question

This is my code:

import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.util.*;

import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFCell;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFRow;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFSheet;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFWorkbook;


public class Reader {

    public static void read_excel() {

        File excel =  new File ("C:\\Users\\Username\\Desktop\\java-Tools\\data.xlsx");
        FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(excel);
        XSSFWorkbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook(fis);
}

This results in the following error message:

error: cannot find symbol 
File excel =  new File ("C:\\Users\\Username\\Desktop\\java-Tools\\data.xlsx");
symbol: class File
location: class reader

I have set the CLASSPATH for the jar files of the Apache POI library. Here is the content of the CLASSPATH varibale:

.;C:\Users\Username\Desktop\Code\Classes;C:\poi-3.12\poi-3.12-20150511.jar;C:\poi-3.12\poi-ooxml-3.12-20150511.jar;C:\poi-3.12\poi-ooxml-schemas-3.12-20150511.jar;C:\poi-3.12\ooxml-lib\xmlbeans-2.6.0.jar;C:\poi-3.12\lib\commons-codec-1.9.jar;C:\poi-3.12\lib\commons-logging-1.1.3.jar;C:\poi-3.12\lib\junit-4.12.jar; C:\poi-3.12\lib\log4j-1.2.17.jar;C:\poi-3.12\poi-examples-3.12-20150511.jar;C:\poi-3.12\poi-excelant-3.12-20150511.jar;C:\poi-3.12\poi-scratchpad-3.12-20150511.jar

I don't understand why the programme does not compile !

Please read this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/25706216/what-does-a-cannot-find-symbol-compilation-error-mean. It explains the various reasons you can get a "Cannot find symbol" compilation error ... and why your program doesn't compile. — Stephen C, Sep 08 '15 at 11:58

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:30

1

Add import statement for File

import java.io.File;

answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:30

Rahul Yadav

1,503
8
11

Thank you very much fpr your quick answer. I did as you told me and compiled the file again ... now I get the following error message: "error: unreported exception FileNotFoundException; must be caught or declared to be thrown FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(excel); error: unreported exception IOException; must be caught or declared to be thrown XSSFWorkbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook(fis); 2 errors" – steady_progress Sep 08 '15 at 11:35
1

Add try catchBlock and handle FileNotFoundException or add throws declaration to you method signature. I would suggest you to use some IDEs in case you're not using any. – Rahul Yadav Sep 08 '15 at 11:36
but why is the file not found ? ... the path to the file is correect. – steady_progress Sep 08 '15 at 11:40
You are still not getting any exception, its a compile time exception wherein you will need to handle any checked exception using try catch or throws keyword. For further info please read java api docs. – Rahul Yadav Sep 08 '15 at 11:44
2

Compile time ERROR ... not exception. (Please lets not confuse the beginner even further by using incorrect terminology.) – Stephen C Sep 08 '15 at 12:25

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:52

1

try with the following code

import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.util.*;
import java.io.File;

import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFCell;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFRow;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFSheet;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFWorkbook;
public class Reader {

    public static void read_excel() throws FileNotFoundException {

        File excel =  new File ("C:\\Users\\Username\\Desktop\\java-Tools\\data.xlsx");
        FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(excel);
        XSSFWorkbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook(fis);
}

answered Sep 08 '15 at 11:52

SpringLearner

13,738
20
78
116

Thank you for your answer ... with your code I get the following error message: "error: cannot find symbol public static void read_excel() throws FileNotFoundException { symbol: class FileNotFoundException location: class Reader 1 error" – steady_progress Sep 08 '15 at 12:11
@steady_progress did you copy exactly all my code if yes then you need to add } – SpringLearner Sep 08 '15 at 12:32
The [Apache POI docs are pretty clear](http://poi.apache.org/spreadsheet/quick-guide.html#FileInputStream) on not using an `InputStream` if you have a `File`! – Gagravarr Sep 08 '15 at 13:24

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 08 '15 at 12:33

Ok, this code here finally did not produce an error message:

import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.File;
import java.util.*;

import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFCell;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFRow;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFSheet;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFWorkbook;





public class Reader {

    public static void read_excel()  throws FileNotFoundException, IOException {

        File excel =  new File ("C:\\Users\\Username\\Desktop\\java-Tools\\data.xlsx");
        FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(excel);
        XSSFWorkbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook(fis);
}

If you have a `File`, use that, don't go via an `InputStream`! [The Apache POI docs explain why](http://poi.apache.org/spreadsheet/quick-guide.html#FileInputStream)! — Gagravarr, Sep 08 '15 at 13:24

"error: cannot find symbol" using Apache POI

3 Answers3

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