title: java.lang.NullPointerException: at utilities2.ExcelUtility.findCells(ExcelUtility.java:70)
body: <p>I am trying to run my test cases from command Line using maven command. 
  Below is the error message I am getting. I was able to run the test case when I right click on my XML file and run it with TestNG suites without a problem.<br>
  The problem I have is that I can't execute the test cases that are inside my pom.xml. This problem only occurs whenever I am using excel for data-driven.I am suspecting my poi might not be compatible with the maven version or the chrome gecko might not be compatible with the maven version. I am just guessing and that is why I need your help. </p>
  
  <pre><code>C:\
  
  Blockquote
  
  mvn test -PClientAlert
  [INFO] Scanning for projects...
  [INFO]
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] Building cehproject 0.0.1-SNAPSHOT
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO]
  [INFO] --- maven-resources-plugin:2.6:resources (default-resources) @ cehproject
   ---
  [INFO] Using 'UTF-8' encoding to copy filtered resources.
  [INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory C:\Users\akinrins\workspace\cehprojec
  t\src\main\resources
  [INFO]
  [INFO] --- maven-compiler-plugin:3.1:compile (default-compile) @ cehproject ---
  [INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
  [INFO]
  [INFO] --- maven-resources-plugin:2.6:testResources (default-testResources) @ ce
  hproject ---
  [INFO] Using 'UTF-8' encoding to copy filtered resources.
  [INFO] skip non existing resourceDirectory C:\Users\akinrins\workspace\cehprojec
  t\src\test\resources
  [INFO]
  [INFO] --- maven-compiler-plugin:3.1:testCompile (default-testCompile) @ cehproj
  ect ---
  [INFO] Nothing to compile - all classes are up to date
  [INFO]
  [INFO] --- maven-surefire-plugin:2.18.1:test (default-test) @ cehproject ---
  [INFO] Surefire report directory: C:\Users\akinrins\workspace\cehproject\target\
  surefire-reports
  
  -------------------------------------------------------
   T E S T S
  -------------------------------------------------------
  Running TestSuite
  Starting ChromeDriver 2.30.477700 (0057494ad8732195794a7b32078424f92a5fce41) on
  port 8611
  Only local connections are allowed.
  Jan 16, 2018 2:37:04 PM org.openqa.selenium.remote.ProtocolHandshake createSessi
  on
  INFO: Attempting bi-dialect session, assuming Postel's Law holds true on the rem
  ote end
  log4j:WARN No appenders could be found for logger (org.apache.http.client.protoc
  ol.RequestAddCookies).
  log4j:WARN Please initialize the log4j system properly.
  log4j:WARN See http://logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/faq.html#noconfig for more in
  fo.
  Jan 16, 2018 2:37:06 PM org.openqa.selenium.remote.ProtocolHandshake createSessi
  on
  INFO: Detected dialect: OSS
  java.lang.NullPointerException
          at utilities2.ExcelUtility.findCells(ExcelUtility.java:70)
          at utilities2.ExcelUtility.getTestData(ExcelUtility.java:40)
          at AlertTesting.ClientAlertTest.dataProvider(ClientAlertTest.java:68)
          at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
          at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.
  java:62)
          at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAcces
  sorImpl.java:43)
          at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:498)
          at org.testng.internal.MethodInvocationHelper.invokeMethod(MethodInvocat
  ionHelper.java:108)
          at org.testng.internal.MethodInvocationHelper.invokeMethod(MethodInvocat
  ionHelper.java:55)
          at org.testng.internal.MethodInvocationHelper.invokeMethodNoCheckedExcep
  tion(MethodInvocationHelper.java:45)
          at org.testng.internal.MethodInvocationHelper.invokeDataProvider(MethodI
  nvocationHelper.java:115)
          at org.testng.internal.Parameters.handleParameters(Parameters.java:509)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.handleParameters(Invoker.java:1308)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.createParameters(Invoker.java:1036)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.invokeTestMethods(Invoker.java:1126)
          at org.testng.internal.TestMethodWorker.invokeTestMethods(TestMethodWork
  er.java:126)
          at org.testng.internal.TestMethodWorker.run(TestMethodWorker.java:109)
          at org.testng.TestRunner.privateRun(TestRunner.java:744)
          at org.testng.TestRunner.run(TestRunner.java:602)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.runTest(SuiteRunner.java:380)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.runSequentially(SuiteRunner.java:375)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.privateRun(SuiteRunner.java:340)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.run(SuiteRunner.java:289)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunnerWorker.runSuite(SuiteRunnerWorker.java:52)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunnerWorker.run(SuiteRunnerWorker.java:86)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuitesSequentially(TestNG.java:1301)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuitesLocally(TestNG.java:1226)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuites(TestNG.java:1144)
          at org.testng.TestNG.run(TestNG.java:1115)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGExecutor.run(TestNGExecutor.ja
  va:295)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGXmlTestSuite.execute(TestNGXml
  TestSuite.java:84)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGProvider.invoke(TestNGProvider
  .java:90)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.invokeProviderInSameCla
  ssLoader(ForkedBooter.java:203)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.runSuitesInProcess(Fork
  edBooter.java:155)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.main(ForkedBooter.java:
  103)
  [Utils] [ERROR] [Error] org.testng.TestNGException:
  Data Provider public java.lang.Object[][] AlertTesting.ClientAlertTest.dataProvi
  der() must return either Object[][] or Iterator&amp;lt;Object&amp;gt;[], not class [[Lja
  va.lang.Object;
          at org.testng.internal.MethodInvocationHelper.invokeDataProvider(MethodI
  nvocationHelper.java:137)
          at org.testng.internal.Parameters.handleParameters(Parameters.java:509)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.handleParameters(Invoker.java:1308)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.createParameters(Invoker.java:1036)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.invokeTestMethods(Invoker.java:1126)
          at org.testng.internal.TestMethodWorker.invokeTestMethods(TestMethodWork
  er.java:126)
          at org.testng.internal.TestMethodWorker.run(TestMethodWorker.java:109)
          at org.testng.TestRunner.privateRun(TestRunner.java:744)
          at org.testng.TestRunner.run(TestRunner.java:602)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.runTest(SuiteRunner.java:380)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.runSequentially(SuiteRunner.java:375)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.privateRun(SuiteRunner.java:340)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.run(SuiteRunner.java:289)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunnerWorker.runSuite(SuiteRunnerWorker.java:52)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunnerWorker.run(SuiteRunnerWorker.java:86)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuitesSequentially(TestNG.java:1301)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuitesLocally(TestNG.java:1226)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuites(TestNG.java:1144)
          at org.testng.TestNG.run(TestNG.java:1115)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGExecutor.run(TestNGExecutor.ja
  va:295)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGXmlTestSuite.execute(TestNGXml
  TestSuite.java:84)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGProvider.invoke(TestNGProvider
  .java:90)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.invokeProviderInSameCla
  ssLoader(ForkedBooter.java:203)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.runSuitesInProcess(Fork
  edBooter.java:155)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.main(ForkedBooter.java:
  103)
  
  Tests run: 6, Failures: 2, Errors: 0, Skipped: 4, Time elapsed: 9.846 sec &lt;&lt;&lt; FA
  ILURE! - in TestSuite
  ClientAlertOne(AlertTesting.ClientAlertTest)  Time elapsed: 9.712 sec  &lt;&lt;&lt; FAILU
  RE!
  java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: org.apache.poi.util.POILogger.log(ILjava/lang/Objec
  t;)V
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackageRelationshipCollection.parseRelat
  ionshipsPart(PackageRelationshipCollection.java:304)
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackageRelationshipCollection.&lt;init&gt;(Pac
  kageRelationshipCollection.java:156)
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackageRelationshipCollection.&lt;init&gt;(Pac
  kageRelationshipCollection.java:124)
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackagePart.loadRelationships(PackagePar
  t.java:559)
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackagePart.&lt;init&gt;(PackagePart.java:112)
  
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackagePart.&lt;init&gt;(PackagePart.java:83)
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.PackagePart.&lt;init&gt;(PackagePart.java:128)
  
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.ZipPackagePart.&lt;init&gt;(ZipPackagePart.jav
  a:78)
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.ZipPackage.getPartsImpl(ZipPackage.java:
  218)
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.OPCPackage.getParts(OPCPackage.java:662)
  
          at org.apache.poi.openxml4j.opc.OPCPackage.open(OPCPackage.java:269)
          at org.apache.poi.util.PackageHelper.open(PackageHelper.java:39)
          at org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFWorkbook.&lt;init&gt;(XSSFWorkbook.java:2
  04)
          at utilities2.ExcelUtility.setExcelFile(ExcelUtility.java:27)
          at AlertTesting.ClientAlertTest.ClientAlertOne(ClientAlertTest.java:63)
  
  TC_ClientAlertTest(AlertTesting.ClientAlertTest)  Time elapsed: 9.743 sec  &lt;&lt;&lt; F
  AILURE!
  org.testng.TestNGException:
  Data Provider public java.lang.Object[][] AlertTesting.ClientAlertTest.dataProvi
  der() must return either Object[][] or Iterator&lt;Object&gt;[], not class [[Ljava.lan
  g.Object;
          at org.testng.internal.MethodInvocationHelper.invokeDataProvider(MethodI
  nvocationHelper.java:137)
          at org.testng.internal.Parameters.handleParameters(Parameters.java:509)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.handleParameters(Invoker.java:1308)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.createParameters(Invoker.java:1036)
          at org.testng.internal.Invoker.invokeTestMethods(Invoker.java:1126)
          at org.testng.internal.TestMethodWorker.invokeTestMethods(TestMethodWork
  er.java:126)
          at org.testng.internal.TestMethodWorker.run(TestMethodWorker.java:109)
          at org.testng.TestRunner.privateRun(TestRunner.java:744)
          at org.testng.TestRunner.run(TestRunner.java:602)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.runTest(SuiteRunner.java:380)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.runSequentially(SuiteRunner.java:375)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.privateRun(SuiteRunner.java:340)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunner.run(SuiteRunner.java:289)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunnerWorker.runSuite(SuiteRunnerWorker.java:52)
          at org.testng.SuiteRunnerWorker.run(SuiteRunnerWorker.java:86)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuitesSequentially(TestNG.java:1301)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuitesLocally(TestNG.java:1226)
          at org.testng.TestNG.runSuites(TestNG.java:1144)
          at org.testng.TestNG.run(TestNG.java:1115)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGExecutor.run(TestNGExecutor.ja
  va:295)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGXmlTestSuite.execute(TestNGXml
  TestSuite.java:84)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.testng.TestNGProvider.invoke(TestNGProvider
  .java:90)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.invokeProviderInSameCla
  ssLoader(ForkedBooter.java:203)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.runSuitesInProcess(Fork
  edBooter.java:155)
          at org.apache.maven.surefire.booter.ForkedBooter.main(ForkedBooter.java:
  103)
  
  
  Results :
  
  Failed tests:
    ClientAlertTest.ClientAlertOne:63 » NoSuchMethod org.apache.poi.util.POILogger
  ...
    ClientAlertTest.TC_ClientAlertTest » TestNG
  Data Provider public java.lang.Ob...
  
  Tests run: 6, Failures: 2, Errors: 0, Skipped: 4
  
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] BUILD FAILURE
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [INFO] Total time: 13.268 s
  [INFO] Finished at: 2018-01-16T14:37:13-05:00
  [INFO] Final Memory: 13M/309M
  [INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  [ERROR] Failed to execute goal org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-surefire-plugin:2.
  18.1:test (default-test) on project cehproject: There are test failures.
  [ERROR]
  [ERROR] Please refer to C:\Users\akinrins\workspace\cehproject\target\surefire-r
  eports for the individual test results.
  [ERROR] -&gt; [Help 1]
  [ERROR]
  [ERROR] To see the full stack trace of the errors, re-run Maven with the -e swit
  ch.
  [ERROR] Re-run Maven using the -X switch to enable full debug logging.
  `enter code here`ERROR]
  [ERROR] For more information about the errors and possible solutions, please rea
  d the following articles:
  [ERROR] [Help 1] http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/MAVEN/MojoFailureExc
  eption
  </code></pre>