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Developer(s) | Apache Software Foundation |
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Stable release | 5.2.5 / November 25, 2023; 7 months ago (2023-11-25)[1] |
Repository | POI Repository |
Written in | Java |
Operating system | Cross-platform |
Type | API to access Microsoft Office formats |
License | Apache License 2.0 |
Website | poi |
Apache POI, a project run by the Apache Software Foundation, and previously a sub-project of the Jakarta Project, provides pure Java libraries for reading and writing files in Microsoft Office formats, such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
The name was originally an acronym for "Poor Obfuscation Implementation",[2] referring humorously to the fact that the file formats seemed to be deliberately obfuscated, but poorly, since they were successfully reverse-engineered. This explanation – and those of the similar names for the various sub-projects – were removed from the official web pages in order to better market the tools to businesses who would not consider such humor appropriate. The original authors (Andrew C. Oliver and Marc Johnson) also noted the existence of the Hawaiian poi dish, made of mashed taro root, which had similarly derogatory connotations.[3]
POI supports the ISO/IEC 29500:2008 Office Open XML file formats since version 3.5. A significant contribution for OOXML support came from Sourcesense,[4]anopen source company which was commissioned by Microsoft to develop this contribution.[5] This link spurred controversy, some POI contributors questioning POI OOXML patent protection regarding Microsoft's Open Specification Promise patent license.[6]
The Apache POI project contains the following subcomponents (meaning of acronyms is taken from old documentation):
The HSSF component is the most advanced feature of the library.[11] Other components (HPSF, HWPF, and HSLF) are usable, but less full-featured.[12][13]
The POI library is also provided as a Ruby[14]orColdFusion extension.
There are modules for Big Data platforms (e.g. Apache Hive/Apache Flink/Apache Spark), which provide certain functionality of Apache POI, such as the processing of Excel files.[15][16]
Legend: | Old version, not maintained | Older version, still maintained | Current stable version | Latest preview version | Future release |
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Version number |
Date of release |
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Current stable version: 5.2.5 | November 25, 2023 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.2.4 | September 29, 2023 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.2.3 | September 16, 2022 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.2.2 | March 19, 2022 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.2.1 | March 3, 2022 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.2.0 | January 14, 2022 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.1.0 | November 1, 2021 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 5.0.0 | January 20, 2021 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 4.1.2 | February 14, 2020 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 4.1.1 | October 20, 2019 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 4.1.0 | April 9, 2019 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 4.0.0 | September 7, 2018 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.17 | September 15, 2017 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.16 | April 19, 2017 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.15 | September 21, 2016 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.14 | March 2, 2016 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.13 | September 29, 2015 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.12 | May 11, 2015 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.11 | December 21, 2014 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.10.1 | August 18, 2014 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.10 | February 8, 2014 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.9 | December 3, 2012 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.8 | March 26, 2012 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.7 | October 29, 2010 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.6 | December 14, 2009 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.5 | September 28, 2009 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.2 | October 19, 2008 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.1 | June 29, 2008 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.0.2 | February 4, 2008 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.0.1 | July 5, 2007 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 3.0 | May 18, 2007 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 2.5.1 | February 29, 2004 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 2.5 | February 29, 2004 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 2.0 | January 26, 2004 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.1 | June 16, 2002 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5 | May 6, 2002 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.0 | January 19, 2002 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.0 | January 4, 2002 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.2 | January 11, 2002 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.1 | January 4, 2002 |
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.0 | December 30, 2001 |