How to open External Program by MATLAB?

I want to open an external program named Maxsurf Modeler using MATLAB.

Initilially, I was using system command to open the software as follows-

system('"C:\Program Files\Bentley\Offshore\MAXSURF CONNECT Edition V23\MaxsurfModeler64.exe"')

But the problem of this method is, the code executation does not proceed further unless the program is closed.

How can I open this software and continue the execution of susequent codes?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

system('"C:\Program Files\Bentley\Offshore\MAXSURF CONNECT Edition V23\MaxsurfModeler64.exe" &');

That is, if you put an & at the end of your command, the MATLAB itself will detect that and cause the program to be run in the background.

I emphasized that it is MATLAB itself doing that because system() specifically documents that it will happen. The alternative would potentially be that MATLAB might have relied upon the system command shell's background-job facilities.

As you appear to be using MS Windows, an alternative approach would be to use System.Diagonstics.Process which is a .NET facility. See https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/583955-get-the-status-using-system-command-when-program-has-been-closed#answer_485480

[Rounak Saha Niloy]

Dear Roberson,

Thanks. It solved my issue.

Let's say, I want to close the program after the execution off some lines of codes. How do I close the Maxsurf Software now?

[Walter Roberson]

If you use the & at the end of the system() command, then to close Maxsurf you will need to system() a taskkill command.

If you use something like

Exe_Process = System.Diagnostics.Process;
Exe_Process.StartInfo.Arguments = '-example arguments';
Exe_Process.StartInfo.FileName = 'C:\program.exe' % full file path
Exe_Process.Start();

then you could use

Exe_Process.Close();

I am not sure if you need to also

Exe_Process.Dispose();

afterwards.

[Rounak Saha Niloy]

Can you help me on using taskkill? I am unable to close the software using taskkill.