my $outputFile1 = "${a1}_${a2}_1.out";
my $outputFile2 = "${a1}_${a2}_2.out";
my $outputFile3 = "${a1}_${a2}_3.out";

#first attempt
system("$PGMEXEC1", "-arg1=$arg1", "-arg2=$arg2",  ">${workingDir}${ps}$outputFile1");

#second attempt
my $output2 = system("$PGMEXEC1", "-arg1=$arg1", "-arg2=$arg2" );

#third attempt
my $output3 = `$PGMEXEC1 -arg1=$arg1 -arg2=$arg2`;

open my $fh2, "> $outputFile2";
print $fh2 $output2;
close $fh2;

open my $fh3, "> $outputFile3";;
print $fh3 $output3;
close $fh3;