Redirecting console messages to GUI

Hi all,

I am trying to redirect Matlab console output in a separate panel, by using the following file https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/58431-gui-mirrorcmdwindow/content/gui_MirrorCmdWindow.m gui_MirrorCmdWindow

However, I have done minor updatings like passing "mycommand" parameter to execute the exe file and show its console messages in real time, showing "Ok" button, and make the console window size larger.

The code is as follows:

%code

   function [] = gui_MirrorCmdWindow(mycommand)

   h.f = figure('Position',[810 300 500 300],'tag','figuremirror'); 
fig1=gcf; 
fig1.ToolBar = 'none'; 
fig1.MenuBar = 'none'; 
fig1.NumberTitle = 'off';

h.txtOut = uicontrol(h.f,'Style','edit','Max',10000,'Min',0,...
'HorizontalAlignment', 'left','FontName','FixedWidth',...
'Units','Normalized', 'Enable','inactive',...
    'Position',[.05 .2 .9 .75],    'tag','textout');

   h.btnPing = uicontrol(h.f,'Style','Pushbutton', 'String','Ok', 'Units',...
   'Normalized','Position',[.05 .05 .9 .1], 'Callback',@myCloseRequestFcn);

   guidata(h.f,h)
   %// intercept close request function to cleanup before close
   set(gcf,'CloseRequestFcn',@myCloseRequestFcn)
  %%// Get the handle of the Matlab control window
  jDesktop = com.mathworks.mde.desk.MLDesktop.getInstance;
  jCmdWin = jDesktop.getClient('Command Window');
  jTextArea = jCmdWin.getComponent(0).getViewport.getView;
  cwText = char(jTextArea.getText);

%%// Get the handle of the jave edit box panel component
jtxtBox = findjobj(h.txtOut) ;
jTxtPane = jtxtBox.getComponent(0).getComponent(0) ;

%// Save these handles
setappdata( h.f , 'jTextArea', jTextArea ) ;
setappdata( h.f , 'jTxtPane',  jTxtPane ) ;

 tab
    function tab
        getappdata(h.f) ;
        jTextArea = getappdata( h.f , 'jTextArea' ) ;

        startPos = jTextArea.getCaretPosition ;
   set(jTextArea,'CaretUpdateCallback',{@commandWindowMirror,h.f,startPos}) ;
        pause(1);
        system(mycommand);
    end

    function commandWindowMirror(~,~,hf,startPos)
        h = guidata(gcf) ;
        if isstruct(h)
            jTextArea = getappdata( h.f , 'jTextArea' ) ;

            %// retrieve the text since the start position
            txtLength = jTextArea.getCaretPosition-startPos ;

            %// in case a smart bugger pulled a 'clc' between calls
            if txtLength > 0 
                cwText = char(jTextArea.getText(startPos-1,txtLength) ) ;
            end
            %// display it in the gui textbox
            set( h.txtOut, 'String',cwText ) ;

            jtxtBox = findjobj(h.txtOut) ;
            jTxtPane = jtxtBox.getComponent(0).getComponent(0) ;
            jTxtPane.setCaretPosition(jTxtPane.getDocument.getLength);
        end
    end

    function scroll_to_bottom(hf)
        %// place caret at the end of the texbox (=scroll to bottom)
        jTxtPane  = getappdata( hf , 'jTxtPane' ) ;
        jTxtPane.setCaretPosition(jTxtPane.getDocument.getLength)
    end

    function myCloseRequestFcn(hobj,~)
        isBusy = CmdWinTool('isBusy')
        if isBusy==0
            cleanup ;       %// make sure we remove the listener
            H = findall(0,'tag','figuremirror');
            delete(H);
            %   delete(hobj) ;  %// delete the figure
        else
    message = sprintf('System is busy to process the request.\nPlease wait.');

            uiwait(msgbox(message,'Messsage'));

        end
    end

    function cleanup
        jDesktop = com.mathworks.mde.desk.MLDesktop.getInstance;
        jCmdWin = jDesktop.getClient('Command Window');
        jTextArea = jCmdWin.getComponent(0).getViewport.getView;
        set(jTextArea,'CaretUpdateCallback',[]) ;
    end
end

Now, I would like the following:

1. Code should display the executable responses in real time. Currently, it is showing all the responses once "system" command execute the exe file completely.
2. Ok button should only become active once system command executes completely.
3. Close icon on the top left of the console window should not be displayed, close window will only operate using Ok button.
4. Once command executes complete, user is allowed to close the window, and can copy the results, but not allowed to perform edits.

Please guide me how can I do it. I will be thankful to you.

Answer 1

[ES]

1. try disp

2. Set 'enable' property of the button to 'inactive' during creation and set it to 'on' after system command.

3. Not Possible as far as I know.

4. Keep txtOut enable property to inactive. Dont set it enabled.

[Muhammad Hammad]

Thanks for your reply.

Concern 2 is resolved now. However, regarding concern 4, I already set 'txtOut' as inactive, but it doesnot allow me to copy the messages kept in the control box.

Similarly, regarding concern 1, how can I use disp command? As I actually give a path of C++ executable to "system" command. Matlab console display all the messages generated by that executable, but my Console window does not show those messages as real time.

Please let me know about it.

Answer 2

[Jan]

To 3: FEX: WindowAPI can hide the Min/Max/Close button of the figure.

The approach seems to be indirect. The command window is the perfect location for the standard output, but if you want a special behavior, you can write an own output function without complicated tricks.

[Muhammad Hammad]

Thanks Simon for your response,

I am working on Linux platform [ Ubuntu]. Solution works for windows. Is there any solution regarding concern 3 for Linux environment?

Where as, regarding your suggestion for Concern 1, what tricks can I apply to work the command window as real time? As "commandWindowMirror" only calls once "system" commands executes completely.

Please let me know about it.

[Jan]

Which command do you run? Note that the system command redirects the standard output to the command window already. Then redirecting it to a GUI is somewhat indirect.

Perhaps this is more useful: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/13851-popen-read-and-write

[Muhammad Hammad]

Thanks simon, I will look into it.