Insert an input to an exe automatically by Command Window

Good morning,

I have to launch a executable file.

I use:

dos('executable.exe')

After that, the exe reports on the Command Window a string which ask me to type an input.

At the moment I should do it time after time.

I tried:

dos('executable.exe < file.txt')

but it doesn't work.

It could be due to the fact that the input file is indicated after the launch of the exe file and not contextually

[Rik]

This is not really a Matlab-question, but a question about how to run your exe. You need to find out how (and if) your program accepts a file input. You could try without the <.

[Matteo Volpi]

Thank you for your reply.

I cannot moidfy my exe,

I think you are suggesting this approach

dos('executable.exe file.txt')

The problem is not solved. The executable writes a prompt in the Command Window and waits for me to enter the file name from the keyboard.

My question was looking for a Matlab solution where this operation could be automated.

[Rik]

The exe must allow such a thing. Matlab cannot send keystrokes to arbitrary programs.

Answer 1

[Jan]

You could use this to inject keystrokes: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/40001-keyinject

The function must wait until the corresponding strings appear in the command window, which can be caught by: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/32005-cmdwintool

But the code must run, during the external program blocks the execution. I assume a timer callback can solve this. But I'd never try this, because this sounds like a programming technique, which is far too complex to be reliable.