How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl

apprentice has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by Joost (Canon) on Mar 30, 2005 at 15:50 UTC
You should be able to use `open APP,"\|/some/command";`, IPC::Open3, Expect or Win32::GuiTest (because I think the windows telnet client isn't a command-line program at all). "What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by gellyfish (Monsignor) on Mar 30, 2005 at 15:56 UTC
Nah, the standard windows telnet client is most definitely a console Application. /J\	[reply]
Re^3: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by meetraz (Hermit) on Mar 30, 2005 at 18:09 UTC
console application yes, but command-line? It doesn't work with STDIN/STDOUT so some of the suggestions above will probably not work (piped open, open3). Your best bet is probably Win32::Console, since it allows you access to reading the screen buffer and the keyboard control events.	[reply]
Re: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by FitTrend (Pilgrim) on Mar 30, 2005 at 15:29 UTC
I'm not sure you can accomplish this with Windows Telent. If you do a telnet /? from the command line, you'll notices theirs no way to pass a list of commands like you can with FTP. This will make it difficult to accomplish what you want without using a module. Is there a particular reason why you can't use any telnet modules? /- M a r c -/	[reply]
Re^2: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by apprentice (Scribe) on Mar 30, 2005 at 15:37 UTC
Hi Marc, I don't want to just fire off a command, I need to 'interactively' control the executable that I launch. It is not limited just to telnet, though I thought that would be a good example. As to the why, many of these executables do not have modules and the requirements I have been given are to test the executables under certain conditions, not to write my own perl apps and test them. "Peace, love, and Perl...well, okay, mostly just Perl!" --me Apprentice	[reply]
Re^3: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by FitTrend (Pilgrim) on Mar 30, 2005 at 15:54 UTC
I understand. Since that is the case, here is what I recommend. You can use two additional methods not already talked about above. first one is the system command which will allow you to execute commands to the exe and wait for completion. `system ("$ENV{'WINDIR'}\\system32\\telnet 10.1.1.10"); # OR ANY EXE AN +D PARAMETERS` [download] Otherwise, you can use the backtick to take the output of a command and place it into a variable. $test = `dir c:\\`; print scalar $test; [download] You can dump the output of system into a variable as well. Hope this helps /- M a r c -/	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by thekestrel (Friar) on Mar 30, 2005 at 15:14 UTC
have you tried using using exec? (Worked for me ~ on Cygwin)... Regards Paul	[reply]
Re^2: How can I control interactive cli executables on Windows from Perl by apprentice (Scribe) on Mar 30, 2005 at 15:32 UTC
Hi Paul, It is my understanding that exec replaces your perl app with the executable...no more perl app, no means of 'interactively' controlling the executable, i.e., reading its output and sending it input to make it do things. "Peace, love, and Perl...well, okay, mostly just Perl!" --me Apprentice	[reply]