Multi time inputs from a single edittext

The thing is that I want to enter some value in an edittext. When I entered the value, edittext should be cleared itself automaticalyy and it should prepare for another input automatically.

nod = 'How many nodes?'
set(handles.text1,'string',nod)

num_nod = get(handles.edit1,'string')
num_nod = str2num(num_nod);

Up till that everything is well and good. But now to clear the edit text, I used:

set(handles.edit1,'String','');

It clears the edittext. But the problem starts now. Now I want to get another value through edittext. That's why I use:

var = get(handles.edit1,'string')

Before I entered any value, an empty string stored in var displayed as:

var =
    '' 
I want to resolve this problem.
Please help me how can I do it?