For Java language try using API provided by grimholtz and lamber45 -> sourceforge project jexcelapi
The example will be based on the file which contains no. in col B in rows 1(header)-4
To read xls file first import libraries
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;
import jxl.Cell;
import jxl.Sheet;
import jxl.read.biff.BiffException;
import jxl.Workbook;
Rest of the code will be in main() method
public class ReadXLS {
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, BiffException {
Workbook spreadsheet = Workbook.getWorkbook(new File("example.xls"));
Sheet myspreadsheet = spreadsheet.getSheet(0); //numbers of spreadsheet starts from 0
Cell mycell = myspreadsheet.getCell(1, 0);
String header = mycell.getContents();
System.out.println(header);
for(int i=1; i<4; i++){
mycell = myspreadsheet.getCell(1, i);
System.out.println(mycell.getContents());
}
spreadsheet.close();
}
}