Matlab: How to change focus between external and internal windows? - matlab

Question

I'm hoping this is an easy problem, but I haven't figured out the answer yet nor seen a good resource for this. I'm running an experiment in Matlab, and at times we call to an external program. After a certain amount of time, I want the participants to return to Matlab to take a survey, and then resume their task after they are done. The problem is the external code is interactive, so a person could be typing or clicking and not see the survey open up, and after completing the survey I don't know how to automatically return them to their open program (although I know when they are done with their survey and automatically close the browser). My toy code example would be:
system('start \max notepad.exe')
pause(60) %After x seconds a web page opens up in Matlab, how to ensure users see it?
web('cnn.com') %I have code that will close this after they click on a certain link
%After close browser, how to return to notepad where they left off?

Answer 1

Two solutions may help you. Actually, it is a little complicate. Solution 1 use mex method control window of program by c code. Solution 2 is also complicate, just use MATLAB parallel toolbox. Hmm, I suggest your use solution 1.
solution 1:
Create a cpp file, which controls your interactive program(i.e. window explorer here). code is below. copy and save the code as "ctrlWindow.cpp" at your MATLAB current folder.
compile ctrlWindow.cpp by compiler lcc:
mex -setup % choose compiler: type this command at MATLAB command, then choose lcc complier on windows 32 system
mex ctrlWindow.cpp % compile cpp: you would find ctrlWindow.mexw32 at current folder
run the mex file as m-file at MATLAB command:
ctrlWindow('your_program_window_name',command);
i.e. window name of a folder "myfold" is myfold which is display on the top left of window, type command:
ctrlWindow('myfold',6);
this would minimize your folder window. I suggest you minimize your program window firstly, then maximize it, and participants would focus on your program again:
ctrlWindow('myfold',6);%minimize window
ctrlWindow('myfold',3);%maximize window and participants would focus on this window
command is here:
HIDE 0
SHOWNORMAL 1
NORMAL 1
SHOWMINIMIZED 2
SHOWMAXIMIZED 3
MAXIMIZE 3
SHOWNOACTIVATE 4
SHOW 5
MINIMIZE 6
SHOWMINNOACTIVE 7
SHOWNA 8
RESTORE 9
SHOWDEFAULT 10
FORCEMINIMIZE 11
MAX 11
//filename:ctrlWindow.cpp
#include <windows.h>
#include "mex.h"
void mexFunction( int nlhs, mxArray *plhs[],
int nrhs, const mxArray *prhs[] )
{
mxChar* winName; //name of window wanted to be found
HWND hwnd; //handle of window
int command; //command of control window
// check number of input
if(nrhs!=2)
mexErrMsgTxt("input must be 2");
// check class of input
if (mxIsChar(prhs[0]))
winName=mxGetChars(prhs[0]);//get name of window
else
mexErrMsgTxt("input 1 should be char -- name of window");
if (mxIsDouble(prhs[1]))
{
command = (int) mxGetScalar(prhs[1]);//get command
if(command<0 || command >11)//check command
mexErrMsgTxt("No such command!!!");
}
else
mexErrMsgTxt("input 2 should be a double");
// find window
hwnd = FindWindowW(NULL, (LPCWSTR)winName);
if(NULL==hwnd)
{
MessageBoxW(NULL,(LPCWSTR) L"Can't find the window!!!",NULL,MB_OK);
return;
}
ShowWindow(hwnd, command);//control the window
}
Solution 2:
matlabpool open 2
open two matlab background, use first control your first program, use second one control your second program.