Can you run third party applications multiple times with MATLAB for analysis?

Hi everyone,

I would like to know whether I can open a third party application using MATLAB and write a code so that the third party application opens a xlsx file, adds a value to a row using its algorithm and then save it in a folder. What I want to do is that the code in MATLAB runs this operation 100 times. Is this possible?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Sometimes it is possible. It depends on the application, on whether it accepts command line arguments; and if you are using MS Windows, on whether it has an ActiveX control for it.

Similar things have been implemented for some applications, but the details vary a fair bit with the application.

[Wolfgang McCormack]

@Walter Roberson I want to run Elements which is a free weather file tool. What do you think about it?

https://bigladdersoftware.com/projects/elements/

[Walter Roberson]

Unfortunately that particular program does not offer any command line support or any ActiveX support.

As source code for it is provided, in theory it would be possible to write a command line tool for it... but it would probably not be trivial.

With the code in its present form, the only way to control it from MATLAB appears to be by using the Java Robot class, which would have to know exactly where everything is positioned in order to click blindly where you would click if you were running the program yourself.

[Wolfgang McCormack]

@Walter Roberson oh that's would be awesome how do i get that going?

[Walter Roberson]

https://undocumentedmatlab.com/articles/gui-automation-robot

[Walter Roberson]

I just sent a note to the company asking about external control; I do not know how long until they reply.

[Wolfgang McCormack]

@Walter Roberson I do really appreciate it, Walter! Thank you!

[Walter Roberson]

The company confirmed to me that there currently no external control available.

[Wolfgang McCormack]

@Walter Roberson thank you so much!