MATLAB Function Reference Volume 1: A - E - Bad Request

dos
2dos
Purpose Execute a DOS command and return result
Syntax dos command
status = dos('command')
[status,result] = dos('command')
[status,result] = dos('command','-echo')
Description dos command calls upon the shell to execute the given command for Windows
systems.
2-458
status = dos('command') returns completion status to the status variable.
[status,result] = dos('command') in addition to completion status, returns
the result of the command to the result variable.
[status,result] = dos('command','-echo') forces the output to the
Command Window, even though it is also being assigned into a variable.
Both console (DOS) programs and Windows programs may be executed, but the
syntax causes different results based on the type of programs. Console
programs have stdout and their output is returned to the result variable. They
are always run in an iconified DOS or Command Prompt Window except as
noted below. Console programs never execute in the background. Also,
MATLAB will always wait for the stdout pipe to close before continuing
execution. Windows programs may be executed in the background as they have
no stdout.
The ampersand, &, character has special meaning. For console programs this
causes the console to open. Omitting this character will cause console programs
to run iconically. For Windows programs, appending this character will cause
the application to run in the background. MATLAB will continue processing.
Examples The following example performs a directory listing, returning a zero (success)
in s and the string containing the listing in w.
[s, w] = dos('dir');
To open the DOS 5.0 editor in a DOS window
dos('edit &')