Maven Configuration

Include the necessary repository and dependency in your pom.xml to integrate the library:

<repositories>
    <repository>
        <id>com.e-iceblue</id>
        <name>e-iceblue</name>
        <url>http://repo.e-iceblue.com/nexus/content/groups/public/</url>
    </repository>
</repositories>
<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>e-iceblue</groupId>
        <artifactId>spire.xls.free</artifactId>
        <version>2.2.0</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

Inserting Comments with Rich Text

Create a workbook, access a cell, and attach an annotation with customized font colors for specific character ranges.

import com.spire.xls.*;

public class ExcelAnnotationInserter {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Workbook doc = new Workbook();
        Worksheet firstSheet = doc.getWorksheets().get(0);
        firstSheet.setName("Annotations");

        CellRange headerCell = firstSheet.getCellRange(1, 1);
        headerCell.setValue("Review Status:");

        CellRange targetCell = firstSheet.getCellRange(5, 1);
        targetCell.setValue("Pending");

        targetCell.getComment().setText("Approval needed\nCheck the figures.");
        targetCell.getComment().setVisible(true);
        targetCell.getComment().setHeight(120);

        ExcelFont roseFont = doc.createFont();
        roseFont.setKnownColor(ExcelColors.Rose);
        ExcelFont lavenderFont = doc.createFont();
        lavenderFont.setKnownColor(ExcelColors.Lavender);

        targetCell.getComment().getRichText().setFont(0, 1, roseFont);
        targetCell.getComment().getRichText().setFont(2, 3, lavenderFont);
        targetCell.getComment().getRichText().setFont(4, 5, roseFont);

        doc.saveToFile("AnnotationsOutput.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2013);
    }
}

Retrieving Comment Text

Load an existing spreadsheet to extract and display the textual content of all annotations within a worksheet, or target a specific cell's note.

import com.spire.xls.*;

public class ExcelCommentReader {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Workbook doc = new Workbook();
        doc.loadFromFile("AnnotationsOutput.xlsx");

        Worksheet ws = doc.getWorksheets().get(0);

        for(int idx = 0; idx < ws.getComments().getCount(); idx++) {
            String noteContent = ws.getComments().get(idx).getText();
            System.out.println(noteContent);
        }

        // Fetch annotation from a designated cell
        // String specificNote = ws.getCellRange(5, 1).getComment().getText();
        // System.out.println(specificNote);
    }
}

Erasing Comments

Remove existing annotations either by iterating through the entire collection safely or by pinpointing the exact cell reference.

import com.spire.xls.*;

public class ExcelAnnotationRemover {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Workbook doc = new Workbook();
        doc.loadFromFile("AnnotationsOutput.xlsx");

        Worksheet ws = doc.getWorksheets().get(0);

        // Erase all annotations from the worksheet safely using reverse iteration
        for(int idx = ws.getComments().getCount() - 1; idx >= 0; idx--) {
            ws.getComments().get(idx).remove();
        }

        // Alternatively, remove the annotation tied to a precise cell
        // ws.getCellRange(5, 1).getComment().remove();

        doc.saveToFile("ClearedAnnotations.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2013);
    }
}