launch *.exe from lab view & writing in to it.

[Shasi]

Hi

I am using LV 8.2.

I understand that "system executable" can be used for launching application or *.exe files, which is working fine for me.

My problem is writing text in to the launched application or exe file.

I can explain by an example - I have used "system executable" to launch notepad.exe & this works fine. But I couldn't write anything in to the opened note pad file using the "standard input".

The "system executable" runs forever until I close the notepad.

I want to write text on the opened note pad & then close it. This is some thing I don't know how to do it. I don't want to use  "write to file" option in the block diagram, since my intention is not to use notepad - notepad is just an example I am giving here.

I have a *.exe file - after it opens it needs to fed in with a script "abc" & enter. The *.exe file will take the "abc" as input & run the script abc, after executing the script in the *.exe application I want the *.exe to close. The *.exe will look some thing like "cmd.exe".

For this, If I use "system executable", it perfectly opens the *.exe file & continues to run forever, it never takes my "standard input" moreover, it doesn't give anything in standard output or "standard error" it just runs continuously even after the application is opened.

How do I resolve this? Appreciate your help here. If "system executable" is not the right option here, please suggest some alternatives.

Thanks

Shasi

[smercurio_fc · Accepted solution]

This question has come up many times before. Did you try a search?

For example:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Can-LabVIEW-control-another-program-or-emulate-keys-pressed-on/m-p/9...

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Can-send-characters-to-the-standard-input-while-DOS-Command-is/td-p/...

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Controlling-the-STDIN-STDOUT-of-a-legacy-application-in-LabVIEW/m-p/...

[Shasi]

Thanks for the links smercurio_fc.I spend some time on it.

I realized that this link was very useful for the Win utilities - http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/epd/p/id/4935 out of your links. But doesn't resolve my problem. At the bottom of the page, some body has asked about "write to window by name" - that's is the exact problem I am trying to resolve...

In one of the sublinks of your given links, I managed to get a close match of what I want, but it needs a software "G tool box". I tried to go this website for sample downloads - http://webspace.webring.com/people/og/gtoolbox/.

I was trying to download "Mouse & key board events" from it. Looks like the page is broken & I was unable to download it. 

Did any body give try to download it, if you have one can you please share. This might be a close one for me.

The "AUTOIT" software  may help, however, I am still trying to use all lab view features to resolve it if possible.

Please suggest some solutions & alternatives.

Thanks

Shasi

[Shasi]

In one of the above links (given by smercurio_fc) it points to use a software called"AUTOIT". To make the whole programming easier I used "AUTOIT" scripting in between the Labview & the third party application I want ot launch & write into it.

It worked out perfectly for me. I couldn't find a better solution than this.

Thanks very much for the pointers smercurio_fc.

Shasi