Perl program control

MWFlint · 12-03-2004, 03:38 PM

I'm wondering if there is a way to have perl step through menu options after running a program.

Here is my program so far.
____________________________________________

#!/usr/bin/perl

@endpipe = ("run program", 16, 2, 1, "y", "q", "y", '/r');
foreach $endpipe (@endpipe) {
system "$endpipe &";
}

_____________________________________________

The run program part starts the app fine. But the next menu option (16) doesn't get selected.
This is running inside a k shell on AIX if that makes any difference. Any ideas on how to get this to work? Sorry if this is an easy question, I'm still new to perl.

Thanks,

Mike

sigsegv · 12-03-2004, 03:54 PM

perldoc -tf open specifically, the part about opening pipes to other programs.

If you need to write *and* read to a process, see man perlipc

MWFlint · 12-04-2004, 04:35 PM

I looked through the docs, and I'm still not finding it. I tried to open the program as a process with a leading pipe and then printing to the process, but all subsequent writes have the initial command sent. open (UPIPE, "|run unix") does open the program though. Here is where I left off.

_______________________________

#!/usr/bin/perl

@endpipe = ("run unix", 16, 2, 1, "y", "q", "y", '/r');

foreach $endpipe (@endpipe) {
open (UPIPE, "|$endpipe") || die "cant open program: $!";
close UPIPE;
}

_______________________________

I've tried numerous different combinations. Any idea's on what I need to try? I figured opening a program and selecting a few menu options (mimicking keystrokes) would be fairly easy. Man, was I wrong.

sigsegv · 12-05-2004, 03:16 PM

Code:

#!/usr/local/bin/perl -w

# Set the program to run
$progName = "run unix";

# Set the things to pipe to the program
@args = ("16", "2", "1", "y", "q", "y", "\r");

# If the program expects "enter" after the commands, you'll need this instead.
# @args = ("16\n", "2\n", "1\n", "y\n", "q\n", "y\n", "\r");

# Open a file handle to the program
open(UPIPE, "|$progName") or die("Can't open $progName: $!");

# Select UPIPE as the handle we want to print to
select(UPIPE);

# Pass in the arguments
foreach (@args) {
        # Since we have UPIPE as the default output hande, and print
        # operates on $_ in the absence of parameters, just print();
        print;
}

close(UPIPE);

Try that. If it's not self explanatory, just ask.

MWFlint · 12-08-2004, 12:59 PM

I'll try that. I appreciate you taking the time to help and I'll let you know how it works out.

Thanks.