Can this be done in py?

[Robert Singer]

Now, don't get me wrong if this is a trivial question, or even an
apsurd one. I'm new to python, so my mileage may vary.

I have several exe files, console applications that pretty much run on
the principle:
<starting> first.exe
Enter file name: start.dat
<outputs filename.dat> <end of first.exe>

<starting> second.exe
Enter file name: filename.dat
<output result.dat> <end of second.exe>

... you get the point.

These are old exe programs, not mine (I can't recompile them or modify
them in any way), but which work fine and I still regularly use them.
However, I would like to automate this process (since they are not
just two, and since this process of entering always the same data is
tiresome.

Is there a way this could be done with a python script ?
A script which starts the .exe file, enters some predefined data,
waits for an exe to finish, then again, starts the second .exe file,
... ?

I would appreaciate any input you can give on this problem.

--
Bob