While Loop Errors with Opperators

Can someone please tell me why I keep getting the error "Undefined operator '<' for input arguments of type 'cell' as well as if it works, it goes on an infinite loop and has to be stopped instead of inputting again?

Boat = menu('Would you like a recommended setup?','Yes','No');
    if Boat == 2
        Setup = msgbox('Okay, have a good day! Remember to visit myfwc.com for license and species regulations and check your local fishing and weather reports!')
        
    elseif Boat == 1
        BoatStyle = menu('Please select the style the most describes your boat:','Center Console','Viking','Flat Bottom','Yacht','Pontoon');
        if BoatStyle == 1
            BoatStyle = inputdlg('Please enter the length of your boat')
            while isempty(BoatStyle) || BoatStyle < 9 || BoatStyle > 61
                msgbox('Error. Please input realistic boat dimentions between 10ft - 60ft.')
                
                 if BoatStyle >= 10 && BoatStyle <= 60
                    msgbox('This is a good size boat.')
                    
                end
            end
        end
    end

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

inputdlg does not return numeric values: it returns a cell array of character vectors. You need to use str2double to get the numeric equivalent.

[Walter Roberson]

            BoatStyle = str2double(inputdlg('Please enter the length of your boat'));
            while isnan(BoatStyle) || BoatStyle < 9 || BoatStyle > 61

[Paul Nadeau]

Thanks, got it to work after some tweeking

Answer 2

[Deepak Gupta]

Hi Paul,

As Walter has mentioned in his answer, inputdig returns data in cells and not numeric values. And therefor cell values can't be directly used with logical operator. You need to convert this cell value to a numerical before applying logical operator.

Apart from that, you are using a while loop to check conditions and if condition true, loop will run. But there is no condition to stop this loop so it will run continuosly. I think in this case, an if loop is sufficient.

        BoatStyle = menu('Please select the style the most describes your boat:','Center Console','Viking','Flat Bottom','Yacht','Pontoon');
        if BoatStyle == 1
            BoatStyle = str2num(cell2mat(inputdlg('Please enter the length of your boat')))
            if isempty(BoatStyle) || BoatStyle < 9 || BoatStyle > 61
                msgbox('Error. Please input realistic boat dimentions between 10ft - 60ft.')
                
                 if BoatStyle >= 10 && BoatStyle <= 60
                    msgbox('This is a good size boat.')
                    
                end
            end
        end

[Paul Nadeau]

It still isn't solving my problem. When it runs two things either happen. 1, it gives me the same error, or 2, it brings up my error message that I put but infinitly keeps looping and I have to Ctr C it to stop.

[Paul Nadeau]

I got it to work after some tweeking, thanks