How to initiate a linux (shell) command from matlab but not wait for the output?

I know I can use the function unix (or system), but it has to wait the script to return. The script actually will run for a long time. I prefer matlab function to return immediately after calling the shell script. Is it possible?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Answer 1

[Ken Atwell]

If you end the command line with an ampersand, system should return immediately

 system('some-long-running-command &');

Of course, you won't be able to capture the output of the command.

[covariant_cat]

Thanks a lot! It works!!

[esmail]

Hi. My problem is that I'm running multiple files with & in the background and am using system('wait') for all of them to complete. However, system('wait') is not working. I'd appreciate your response.