file io - Close Filehandle for Workbook (apache poi)

Question

I constructed a new Workbook using WorkbookFactory.create(new File("path/to/xlsx")). However, when I try to edit the File in Excel after starting the application, I get an error message that the file is in use. Do I have to free the file up, and if so, how? (I could not find anything like Workbook.close() in the api docs) Or do I have to look in other places?

I have no clue where else to look; the application does not cause these issues with csv and for excel files I simply call the converter (xls => csv) which is the only difference.

(I am using POI 3.8)

Answer 1

It seems to work just fine to maintain a handle on the InputStream passed to WorkbookFactory.create(), and to simply close the InputStream when you're done with the Workbook. For example:

    InputStream is = // initialize
    try {
        Workbook wb = WorkbookFactory.create(is);
        // use the workbook
    } finally {
        if (is != null) is.close()
    }