Excel data reading (Apache POI) in Selenium Java - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Apache POI code snippet reading Excel?

Given the following Java code snippet using Apache POI to read an Excel file, what will be printed to the console?

Selenium Java

FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("data.xlsx");
Workbook workbook = WorkbookFactory.create(fis);
Sheet sheet = workbook.getSheetAt(0);
Row row = sheet.getRow(1);
Cell cell = row.getCell(2);
System.out.println(cell.getStringCellValue());
workbook.close();
fis.close();

A NullPointerException at getCell

B FileNotFoundException

C NumberFormatException

D "TestValue"

💡 Hint

Check the cell type and the row/column indices carefully.

The code reads the first sheet, second row (index 1), third cell (index 2) and prints its string value. Assuming the Excel file has "TestValue" in that cell, it prints it. No exceptions occur if the file exists and cell is string type.

❓ assertion

intermediate

Which assertion correctly verifies the Excel cell value?

You read a cell value from Excel using Apache POI and want to assert it equals "Pass" in a Selenium Java test. Which assertion is correct?

Selenium Java

String actualValue = sheet.getRow(0).getCell(1).getStringCellValue();

A assertTrue(actualValue == "Pass");

B assertEquals("Pass", actualValue);

C assertFalse(actualValue.equals("Pass"));

D assertNull(actualValue);

💡 Hint

Use the correct assertion method for string equality in Java.

assertEquals compares string contents correctly. Using == compares references and may fail. assertFalse and assertNull are incorrect here.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Apache POI code throw NullPointerException?

This code throws NullPointerException at runtime. What is the most likely cause?

Selenium Java

Workbook wb = WorkbookFactory.create(new FileInputStream("test.xlsx"));
Sheet sh = wb.getSheetAt(0);
Row r = sh.getRow(5);
Cell c = r.getCell(3);
String val = c.getStringCellValue();
System.out.println(val);

A Row 5 does not exist in the sheet, so getRow(5) returns null.

B Cell 3 is numeric, so getStringCellValue() throws NullPointerException.

C WorkbookFactory.create throws NullPointerException if file missing.

D FileInputStream is not closed causing NullPointerException.

💡 Hint

Check which object is null before calling methods on it.

If the row does not exist, getRow returns null. Calling getCell on null causes NullPointerException. Numeric cells cause different exceptions, not NPE.

❓ locator

advanced

Which locator is best to find the Excel file for reading in Selenium Java?

You want to load an Excel file named "data.xlsx" located in the "resources" folder inside your project root. Which code correctly locates the file for Apache POI reading?

A FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(System.getProperty("user.dir") + "/resources/data.xlsx");

B FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("resources/data.xlsx");

C FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("src/resources/data.xlsx");

D FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream("/resources/data.xlsx");

💡 Hint

Use absolute path based on project root for reliable file access.

Option A uses user.dir system property to get project root and appends relative path, ensuring correct file location regardless of working directory. Others may fail if relative path is incorrect.

❓ framework

expert

How to integrate Apache POI Excel reading in a Selenium TestNG framework for data-driven tests?

Which approach correctly integrates Apache POI to provide test data to a TestNG Selenium test method?

A Hardcode Excel data inside @Test method and ignore Apache POI.

B Read Excel inside @Test method and use static variables to share data across tests.

C Use @DataProvider method that reads Excel with Apache POI and returns Object[][] for test method parameters.

D Use Selenium WebDriver to open Excel file and read cells via UI automation.

💡 Hint

TestNG supports data-driven tests via @DataProvider.

Using @DataProvider to read Excel data with Apache POI and supply it to test methods is the standard and clean approach. Reading inside @Test or hardcoding data is not scalable. Selenium cannot read Excel UI.