Apache POI

History and roadmap

Office Open XML support

Architecture

• POIFS – This component reads and writes Microsoft's OLE 2 Compound document format. Since all Microsoft Office files are OLE 2 files, this component is the basic building block of all the other POI elements. POIFS can therefore be used to read a wider variety of files, beyond those whose explicit decoders are already written in POI.
• HSSF – reads and writes Microsoft Excel format files. It can read files written by Excel 97 onwards; this file format is known as the BIFF 8 format. As the Excel file format is complex and contains a number of tricky characteristics, some of the more advanced features cannot be read.
• XSSF – reads and writes Office Open XML format files. Similar feature set to HSSF, but for Office Open XML files.
• HPSF – reads "Document Summary" information from Microsoft Office files. This is essentially the information that one can see by using the File|Properties menu item within an Office application.
• HWPF – aims to read and write Microsoft Word 97 format files. This component is in initial stages of development.
• XWPF – similar feature set to HWPF, but for Office Open XML files.
• HSLF – a pure Java implementation for Microsoft PowerPoint files. This provides the ability to read, create and edit presentations
• HDGF – an initial pure Java implementation for Microsoft Visio binary files. It provides an ability to read the low level contents of the files.
• HPBF – a pure Java implementation for Microsoft Publisher files.
• HSMF – a pure Java implementation for Microsoft Outlook MSG files.
• DDF – a package for decoding the Microsoft Office Drawing format.

Version history