Running a batch file MATLAB - DIANA TNO

Currently, I'm working with a finite element software called DIANA, I've been always capable of running "simple" models with MATLAB executing a batch file. Nevertheless, now I'm starting to use more "complex" models (just more robust, with more elements), but the procedure is exactly the same to the one that I've been using before. The problem is that now I can't run the model from MATLAB, it apparently start to run it, but stops suddenly. I'm using the next commands:

dos('path\filename.bat')

or

system(fullfile(path,'filename.bat' ))

Both lines execute the .bat file. I thought that I had something wrong with the files, so I reviewed them but apparently there's nothing wrong with them. Then I just made double click on the .bat file, and the procedure runs without problems. Then I realized that the problem wasn't the files, it was the execution from MATLAB. Now that you know the context of the problem, can you giving me some advice in order to avoid that MATLAB "kills" the process internally?

I'm changing the current directory with MATLAB in order to execute the batch file in the same folder.

The trace of execution showed in MATLAB:

diana: working directory is *CURRENT DIRECTORY NAME*
diana: input file is *FILENAME*.dat
diana: command file is *FILENAME*.dcf
diana: output file is *FILENAME*.out
diana: filos file is diana.ff
DIANA JOB 8028 finished

The trace execution making directly double click in the batch file is the following:

In the remarked files showed in the previous figure, are contained the output of the model, while executing directly from MATLAB, those don't appear, because MATLAB finish the process before.

Thanks in advance for any answer!

Pd: I'm using a computer with the next characteristics: Windows7, 12 Gb RAM, OS 64bits, Processor Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz.

[per isakson]

Did you verify that the bat-file runs as expected in the Command Prompt?

C:\> path\filename.bat

Which Matlab release? Did you update Matlab or Windows recently?

"it apparently start to run" &nbsp Does DIANA leave any traces?

[Lisandro Jimenez]

Dear isakson, yes, I'm taking care to execute the batch file changing the current directory in MATLAB. I used two ways in a past: the first one was to execute the batch file like this:

dos(strcat(['',path,'/',filename,'.bat']))

But sometimes it didn't work, and I prefer to change the directory, like this:

cd(path)
dos(strcat(['',filename,'.bat']))

And like that the running was successful. I want to share also that if the batch file has a long name (let's say that more than 15 characters) the batch process didn't execute.

I update the post with your suggestions. No, I didn't change the MATLAB version, neither the Windows version.

[per isakson]

I'm lost. Especially, "it apparently start to run it, but stops suddenly" puzzles me. I cannot imagine how Matlab could cause that. How do you know that DIANA really starts and suddenly stops?

I have used System.Diagnostics.Process to handled external programs. It provides better control. See http://blogs.mathworks.com/loren/2010/12/07/using-microsoft-net-to-expand-matlab-capabilities/?s_tid=srchtitle

[per isakson]

Does

[status,cmdout] = system( fullfile(path,'filename.bat' ) );

return anything useful?

(BTW: One shouldn't use path as the name of a variable. It shadows the function, path.)

[Lisandro Jimenez]

Dear Isakson,

I tried what you asked before, using the following command:

[status,cmdout] = system( fullfile(path,'filename.bat' ) );

This is what I obtained:

Now I'm thinking if perhaps it is related with the computer performance, which basic specifications can be found following:

• Operative system Windows 7 Enterprise, 64 bits.
• 16 Gb of memory RAM.
• 4 Processors Intel® Xeon® 3.10 GHz.

As additional information, I may to say that the same routing was performed from Octave, and there was no problem, nevertheless, I would like to find a solution for MATLAB. Thanks in advance for any suggestion.

[per isakson]

"performed from Octave, and there was no problem" &nbsp I find that hard to believe.

nl41.exe &nbsp is part of Diana and mentioned several times in the manual

"related with the computer performance" &nbsp did you watch the Windows Task Manager when running Diana from Matlab?

Answer 1

[Rolando Jose Alvarado Funes]

Does anyone solved this issue? I'm having exactly the same problem....