Can LabView interact with an executable?

[Bonhomme]

Hi there,

Okay, I'm creating this VI in LabVIEW that uses SystemExec.vi to run an external, DOS-based program. However, this external program needs input after output of the first segment of text. The input is found using a small Call Library Function, but is BASED ON what the program outputs during its first segment.

So, if you couldn't tell already, I'm having a problem getting the output of the first segment into LabVIEW so I can work with it. In SystemExec.vi, when I set "Wait Until Completion?" to "false", there is no output from the sub-vi. Thus, I can't work with it.

Basically, during the whole execution, I need to have LabVIEW able to interact with the program. But it looks like the program output
s to ONLY ONE device, either the console or LabVIEW. Any suggestions?

[Ben Schulte]

Hi Bonhomme-

We have to get a little creative here.
Any command line's output may be redirected to a text file with the ">" (e.g. 'ping www.ni.com > benschulte.txt' outputs to benschulte.txt).

1. So you launch your exe with SystemExec
2. Redirect the output to a text file
3. Read the text file in LabVIEW and proceed

Hope this helps.

ben schulte
national instruments