using labview to control other programs

[Mk.2020]

Hello, 

I have been searching through the discussion boards and have seen similar questions to mine but from over a decade ago so I am wondering if things have changed since then. Basically, I want to know if there is a way system exec can send commands to a program that is already open. 

I am working with a program that analyses diffraction patterns and I want LabVIEW to tell that program to take the image and then analyze it. 

If system exec cant do this is there another way I can achieve this?

Thank you!

[GerdW]

Hi MK,

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@Mk.2020 wrote:

Basically, I want to know if there is a way system exec can send commands to a program that is already open. 

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Basically: no.

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@Mk.2020 wrote:

If system exec cant do this is there another way I can achieve this?

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Read the manual for that other program: Does it support any API to remotely call actions in this program?

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@Mk.2020 wrote:

have seen similar questions to mine but from over a decade ago so I am wondering if things have changed since then.

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In the last decade software security concerns became more strict. Modern OS (like Windows10) applies far more/better security restrictions. It might get harder to automate some other software by simulation user actions programmatically…

[paul_cardinale]

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@Mk.2020 wrote:

Hello, 

I have been searching through the discussion boards and have seen similar questions to mine but from over a decade ago so I am wondering if things have changed since then. Basically, I want to know if there is a way system exec can send commands to a program that is already open. 

I am working with a program that analyses diffraction patterns and I want LabVIEW to tell that program to take the image and then analyze it. 

If system exec cant do this is there another way I can achieve this?

Thank you!

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You're looking for interprocess communication.  In order to achieve that, the OS must have an engine for it, and the processes must support it.  There was a really nice system devised for that long ago, called Rexx.  Although it is available on a wide variety of platforms (came built in with OS/2 and I think the Amiga OS), it won't do you any good to install it unless the application you want to control was built with a Rexx interface.  Of course on a Mac there is AppleScript.