 | |
| Developer(s) | Apache Software Foundation |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 5.2.5 / November 25, 2023 [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] an open 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] or ColdFusion 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 | Future release |
|---|
Version number | Date of release |
|---|---|
| 5.2.5 | November 25, 2023 |
| 5.2.4 | September 29, 2023 |
| 5.2.3 | September 16, 2022 |
| 5.2.2 | March 19, 2022 |
| 5.2.1 | March 3, 2022 |
| 5.2.0 | January 14, 2022 |
| 5.1.0 | November 1, 2021 |
| 5.0.0 | January 20, 2021 |
| 4.1.2 | February 14, 2020 |
| 4.1.1 | October 20, 2019 |
| 4.1.0 | April 9, 2019 |
| 4.0.0 | September 7, 2018 |
| 3.17 | September 15, 2017 |
| 3.16 | April 19, 2017 |
| 3.15 | September 21, 2016 |
| 3.14 | March 2, 2016 |
| 3.13 | September 29, 2015 |
| 3.12 | May 11, 2015 |
| 3.11 | December 21, 2014 |
| 3.10.1 | August 18, 2014 |
| 3.10 | February 8, 2014 |
| 3.9 | December 3, 2012 |
| 3.8 | March 26, 2012 |
| 3.7 | October 29, 2010 |
| 3.6 | December 14, 2009 |
| 3.5 | September 28, 2009 |
| 3.2 | October 19, 2008 |
| 3.1 | June 29, 2008 |
| 3.0.2 | February 4, 2008 |
| 3.0.1 | July 5, 2007 |
| 3.0 | May 18, 2007 |
| 2.5.1 | February 29, 2004 |
| 2.5 | February 29, 2004 |
| 2.0 | January 26, 2004 |
| 1.5.1 | June 16, 2002 |
| 1.5 | May 6, 2002 |
| 1.2.0 | January 19, 2002 |
| 1.1.0 | January 4, 2002 |
| 1.0.2 | January 11, 2002 |
| 1.0.1 | January 4, 2002 |
| 1.0.0 | December 30, 2001 |
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