Reading Excel data using Java Jakarata POI HSSF
 

Hello,
as part of my work I was required to write Java application that reads data
from excel file - which I did - using Java Jakarata POI HSSF, and it works
just fine with the excel test files I created for it.

now I started to receive excel files from an outside mechanism - which is a
black box for me - the excel files I'm getting from it are weird: my
application connects to the file, but only manages to read empty values from
it "" (the files I'm getting is the exact same format and template as the one
I created to test my application).

I've found that If I simply save the files through the Excel application
(just click on the 'save' icon) - the file is somehow changes (it's size
increased about 20%) - and now my application can read from it.
I receive and save the file on the same format: "Microsoft Office Excel
Workbook" (2003). you can view the problematic file he
www.geocities.com/kuznitsshemer/report.xls

my questions are as followed:
1) why is this happening? is this a file format issue?
2) is there an easy fix for this problem ?
2) if not, how can I automatically reproduce the 're-save' solution? (by
java code, or maybe using outlook VBA or even a batch file ?)

thanks.