Running .vbs file from MATLAB

I have a .vbs file on my computer that accesses a database and creates a text file of the info in the database. How do i have MATLAB tell this file to run? I tried the open command and all it did was open the script in a MATLAB editor.

Also, I have attempted accessing the database with the Database Toolbox but that has given me issues. I am attempting running the .vbs file as a work around for the time being.

-Jason

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

Possibly:

system(sprintf('cscript.exe "%s"', 'c:\full\path\to\your\script');

Considering that vbs scripts tend to just contain calls to activex (COM) objects which matlab can also do, you may as well rewrite the script in matlab. It's more maintainable in the long run.

[Jason Allnutt]

Thank you so much. Unfortuantely, the script performs a call to a SQL Database and pulls in all the data of that database. I am having trouble running the database toolbox (i.e. sometimes it fails, other times it doesn't pull in all the data, sometimes it works fine).

Thank you for your answer though.

-Jason

[Guillaume]

Your script is using some activex object (possibly ADODB) to query to the database, you can make the exact same calls directly from matlab, without the database toolbox, just using the same activex object. For example, if your script includes:

Set Connection = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
Connection.Open "DSN=x;UID=u;PWD=p;Database=db"
Set Recordset = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordet")
Recordset.Open query,Connection

That would translate in matlab as:

Connection = actxserver('ADODB.Connection');
Connection.Open('DSN=x;UID=u;PWD=p;Database=db');
Recordset = actxserver('ADODB.Recordset');
Recordset.Open(query, Connection);

This just involves base matlab. To be honest, I've never felt the need for the database toolbox to communicate with databases.

[Jason Allnutt]

Wow, i'm obviously very new to this. And did not know I could do this. Thank you very much for your response. I will have to attempt this.

-Jason

[Jason Allnutt]

Hey Guillaume,

I could use some help using the activex controls to connect to my SQL sever. When i run the second command I get "Error using COM.ADODB_Connection/Open".

I'm 99% sure i have the correct DSN, UID, PWD and Database name. But I have limited knowledge of activex controls, so possibly you could point me in the direction to figure get some more knowledge on this. Anything would be most appreciated.

-Jason

[Jason Allnutt]

I figured it out. I needed to set the provider and rename a couple of the fields.

However, I am having trouble finding the equivalent to the "fetch" command in the DB toolbox. I have my Recordset.Open exectuing. But now, to save the data i'm capturing to a variable, I'm unsure.

-Jason