Re: Run sequential processes (Matlab, SAS, etc.) from Perl

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Re^2: Run sequential processes (Matlab, SAS, etc.) from Perl by rizzy (Sexton) on Nov 27, 2010 at 16:57 UTC
Okay, I tried this at the command line, but it immediately started processing BOTH before the first had finished: matlab mycode.m log.txt \| perl myperlscript.pl the matlab code spits out a csv file that is needed in the perl script. The matlab code is run in the background. Maybe that's affecting this. By the way, I also tried using semicolons as suggested, but the result was the same. I need to wait until the first process has completed before starting the second.	[reply]
Re^3: Run sequential processes (Matlab, SAS, etc.) from Perl by Marshall (Canon) on Nov 28, 2010 at 23:53 UTC
The pipe idea (prog1 \| prog2 \| prog3) works best when these prog's are designed to read STDIN and output to STDOUT (not directly to files). I don't think that is what you want. If I understand correctly, when you type in the command "matlab...", that program starts a process in the background and returns immediately to the command line while this background process is still running. If you type in a command that uses the output file that matlab creates, it doesn't work because matlab is still working on that output file. So, make a simple script file with the commands as described by others. Right after the matlab command, put in the "fg" command. That moves the most recently started background process into the foreground. Now the next command won't get executed until this now foreground process finishes. An alternative is to use the "wait" command. wait command. Just put "wait" after the matlab command. See the example in the link.	[reply]
Re^4: Run sequential processes (Matlab, SAS, etc.) from Perl by rizzy (Sexton) on Nov 30, 2010 at 21:09 UTC
You are correct on both counts. The matlab (or sas) process runs in the background and I am immediately given access to the command line.. I think fg and/or wait will do what I want. I'll give it a try. Thanks!	[reply]