it returns control to the user, and waits until the user does something, whether that be hitting 1 and then enter or something of the like.

That suggests that the program is not accepting input via STDIN but rather via some form of direct access to the keyboard buffer, in which case, pretty much all of the mechanisms whereby you might try to control it from Perl will fail.

What OS are you doing this on?

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

The start of some sanity?

In reply to Re^3: automatically giving user input to a command line by BrowserUk
in thread automatically giving user input to a command line by tfredett

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