Workbook workbook = new Workbook(dataDir + "Book1.xlsx"); Cells cells = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0).getCells(); Cell cell = cells.get("B2"); //Tracing precedents of the cell A12. //The return array contains ranges and cells. ReferredAreaCollection ret = cell.getPrecedents(); //Printing all the precedent cells' name. if(ret != null) { for(int m = 0 ; m < ret.getCount(); m++) { ReferredArea area = ret.get(m); StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder(); if (area.isExternalLink()) { stringBuilder.append("["); stringBuilder.append(area.getExternalFileName()); stringBuilder.append("]"); } stringBuilder.append(area.getSheetName()); stringBuilder.append("!"); stringBuilder.append(CellsHelper.cellIndexToName(area.getStartRow(), area.getStartColumn())); if (area.isArea()) { stringBuilder.append(":"); stringBuilder.append(CellsHelper.cellIndexToName(area.getEndRow(), area.getEndColumn())); } System.out.println("Tracing Precedents: " + stringBuilder.toString()); } }