# Open PFC with Windows Command Prompt

**URL:** https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/open-pfc-with-windows-command-prompt/949
**Category:** PFC
**Created:** [March 3, 2023, 9:01am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/open-pfc-with-windows-command-prompt/949 "2023-03-03T09:01:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![nibel22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19adc/32.png) [@nibel22](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/nibel22)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2023, 9:01am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/open-pfc-with-windows-command-prompt/949/1 "2023-03-03T09:01:47Z")

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Hey everyone,

I want to build a model consisting of separate models from the two software programs Abaqus and PFC. Therefore, I want to open the two programs over the windows command prompt. Does anybody have an idea if it’s possible and how to make it work.  
Thanks a lot in advance!

Best  
Nick

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### Author: ![ndahlhaus](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forum.itascainternational.com/ndahlhaus/32/123_2.png) [@ndahlhaus](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/ndahlhaus)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 10:29am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/open-pfc-with-windows-command-prompt/949/2 "2023-03-06T10:29:47Z")

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Hi Nick,

In general, it is possible to open any software via cmd as follows:

`"*PathToExe*"`

e.g.:  
`"C:\Program Files\Itasca\ItascaSoftware900\exe64\pfc3d900_gui.exe" *ENTER*`

Alternatively, change to the corresponding directory (cd) and then run the .exe:

`cd "C:\Program Files\Itasca\ItascaSoftware900\exe64\" *ENTER*`

`"pfc3d900_gui.exe" *ENTER*`

To load a script at the same time, the software must be called first and then the script file:

`"*PathToExe*" "PathToScript"`

e.g.:  
`"C:\Program Files\Itasca\ItascaSoftware900\exe64\pfc3d900_gui.exe" "C:\Users\*username*\Desktop\Skipt.dat" *ENTER*`

If you want to execute the script, it is probably best to use a batch (.bat) or, even better, a power shell (.ps1) file. There you have the possibility to run the software, open the script and automate keystrokes with SendKeys (Ctrl+E executes the script in _PFC3D_).

You can find out how SendKeys works here:

> **[SendKeys Klasse (System.Windows.Forms)](https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/dotnet/api/system.windows.forms.sendkeys?view=windowsdesktop-7.0)**
>
> Stellt Methoden für das Senden von Tastatureingaben an eine Anwendung bereit.

Regards,  
Nils

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### Author: ![nibel22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19adc/32.png) [@nibel22](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/nibel22)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 11:14am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/open-pfc-with-windows-command-prompt/949/3 "2023-03-06T11:14:09Z")

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Hi Nils,

thank you very much for the helpful information! That answers my question at first. I’ll have a deeper look at SendKeys when I’ll further execute my idea.

Best  
Nick