MATLAB and several command prompt commands

Hello,

I have a device which I want to transfer files from through tftp. To do this I'm opening a command prompt and writing

tftp -i 10.0.0.22 get dmafiles-0

This begins the transfer. In total I need to transfer files 0-7.

I'm trying to make MATLAB run these commands for me without locking itself into busy mode.

I can do this if I create a function file with this command and use batch(function) to run this script:

ch = 0:7;
for i=1:length(ch)
    command = sprintf('tftp -i 192.168.178.100 get dmafiles-%d', ch(i));
    system(command)
end

This will offload the transfer to a different worker and not lock the main MATLAB window. However, this will transfer the files in a serial manner, one after the other. If I open several command prompts, I can transfer several files in parallel.

The issue is that I don't know how to offload each transfer onto a different MATLAB worker, which will then run the transfer of its respective file in a different cmd window.

Should I create 8 functions, each corresponding to its own file, and then batch all of them?

i.e. CH1, CH2, ..., CH8 and then batch(CH1), batch(CH2),..., batch(CH8)

Is there a better way?

In short, the issue is - open several command prompts and run a command in each. Works when done manualy, looking into how to implement in MATLAB.

[Walter Roberson]

Which operating system are you using?

Answer 1

[Jan]

Try this under Windows:

for i = 0:7
    command = sprintf('tftp -i 192.168.178.100 get dmafiles-%d && exit &', i);
    %                                                          ^^^^^^^^^
    system(command)
end

For Linux, use ; instead of &&.

[Egor Losev]

I'm on windows.

This works, but it opens a cmd windows for each transfer process. Is there a way to transfer "silently"?

I have tried with the way I mentioned - doing batch in a for loop on 8 functions, and in each function there is a respective dmafiles-0-8 transfer. While not pretty, it does work in the background.

Your way is much neater, but opens 8 cmd windows.

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

For Windows use System.Diagnostics.Process to create the transfer processes. You can invoke tftp directly without creating a command window, and you have control over the output stream.

[Egor Losev]

Hello,

I'm trying the following:

for i = 0:7
    Process = System.Diagnostics.Process(); 
    command = sprintf('tftp -i 10.0.0.22 get dmafiles-%d', i);
    Process.Start(command);
end

but it doesn't run, gives the following error:

Message: The system cannot find the file specified
Source: System
HelpLink: None