Simulate command window keystrokes from script/m-file

I have an application, that runs through the system's cmd prompt. It takes an input file, along with a series of predictable/fixed keystrokes to process the input, and generate the output. All 'quotes' are supposed to be keystrokes. Manually, this is how it goes:

>open cmd prompt in current folder

>'app input.in'

>'set gust'

>'set oper'

>'x'

>'r'

i now wait 5-10 minutes for the program to finish

>'write output.out'

I'd like to implement the entire process, including typing the fixed keystrokes in matlab, but all answers so far point to using external tools like autohotkey.... I tried using the dos command as follows...

dos(['app input.in']) dos(['set gust']) dos(['set oper']) dos(['x']) dos(['r']) pause(600) dos(['write output.out'])

but that doesn't work, as the program pauses after the first command , and I have no way to enter the keystrokes from my .m file into the command window, without manually typing them in.

Answer 1

[Jeff Miller]

If the app will read from redirected input, you might be able to use something like this:

'app input.in < keys.txt'

keys.txt is a plain text file with the input you would type, e.g.:

set gust
set oper
x
r
write output.out

[Ali]

Unfortunately, that will not work, as the application doesn't function that way. It's just a FEM software that accepts keystrokes as the only method of user interface.