CADXChange

All LISP commands

CXDELTYPEClean-upVersion 1.0.0Tested in AutoCAD

Delete every object of the type you pick

Click one object, for example a hatch or a leader, and delete every object of the same type, in the whole tab or only on that layer.

Download cxdeltype.lspLISP terms

How to use it

  1. Type CXDELTYPE and click an object of the type to delete.
  2. Choose All or ThisLayer.
  3. The report says how many were deleted.

Good to know

  • U undoes it in one step.

Load it in AutoCAD

  1. Save the file anywhere you like.
  2. Type APPLOAD, pick the file and choose Load.
  3. Type the command name: CXDELTYPE.

To have it at every start, add it to the Startup Suite in the same dialog, or load a whole folder at once with the optional loader. About the optional loader

Tested in AutoCAD (full version). Other programs that run AutoLISP may work, but they are not tested.

The code

Plain text, nothing hidden. Copy it into a file named cxdeltype.lsp, or download it.

;;; ============================================================================
;;; CXDELTYPE - Delete every object of the type you pick
;;; Version 1.0.0
;;; CADXChange LISP tools - https://cadxchange.net/resources/lisp/cxdeltype
;;; Tested in: AutoCAD (full version). Other programs that run AutoLISP may work but are not tested.
;;; Copyright (c) CADXChange. Free for personal and commercial use; do not resell or
;;; republish it as a collection. Terms: https://cadxchange.net/legal/lisp-terms
;;; ============================================================================

;; Erase every entity of type TYPE (a DXF name such as "HATCH") in the current space. With LAYER, only those on
;; that layer. Returns how many were erased.
(defun cx:deltype-run (type layer / filter ss n i)
  (setq filter (list (cons 0 type) (cons 410 (getvar "CTAB"))))
  (if layer (setq filter (cons (cons 8 layer) filter)))
  (setq n 0)
  (if (setq ss (ssget "X" filter))
    (progn
      (setq i 0)
      (repeat (sslength ss)
        (if (entdel (ssname ss i)) (setq n (1+ n)))
        (setq i (1+ i)))))
  n)

(defun c:CXDELTYPE ( / *error* cx:sv pick ed scope n)
  (setq *error* cx:err)
  (if (setq pick (car (entsel "\nSelect an object of the type to delete: ")))
    (progn
      (setq ed (entget pick))
      (setq scope (cx:ask-kw (strcat "Delete every " (cdr (assoc 0 ed)) " on") "All ThisLayer" "All"))
      (cx:start '(("CMDECHO" . 0)))
      (setq n (cx:deltype-run (cdr (assoc 0 ed)) (if (= scope "All") nil (cdr (assoc 8 ed)))))
      (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa n) " " (cdr (assoc 0 ed)) " object(s) deleted."))
      (cx:end)))
  (princ))


;;; ---- Shared helpers (used by the command above; identical in every CADXChange tool) ----

;; Close the undo step and put the system variables back.
(defun cx:end ()
  (foreach v cx:sv (setvar (car v) (cdr v)))
  (command "_.UNDO" "_End")
  (setq cx:sv nil)
  (princ))

;; Error handler: restores everything, stays quiet on Esc.
(defun cx:err (msg)
  (if (> (getvar "CMDACTIVE") 0) (command))
  (cx:end)
  (if (and msg (not (wcmatch (strcase msg) "*BREAK*,*CANCEL*,*EXIT*")))
    (princ (strcat "\nError: " msg)))
  (princ))

;; Replace every OLD in STR by NEW (case sensitive).
(defun cx:replace (str old new / n out pos)
  (setq n (strlen old) out "" pos 1)
  (if (= n 0)
    str
    (progn
      (while (<= pos (1+ (- (strlen str) n)))
        (if (= (substr str pos n) old)
          (setq out (strcat out new) pos (+ pos n))
          (setq out (strcat out (substr str pos 1)) pos (1+ pos))))
      (strcat out (substr str pos)))))

;; Ask for one of the keywords in BITS ("Yes No"), default DEF; returns the keyword.
(defun cx:ask-kw (msg bits def / v)
  (initget 0 bits)
  (setq v (getkword (strcat "\n" msg " [" (cx:replace bits " " "/") "] <" def ">: ")))
  (if v v def))

;; Save the system variables in VARS ((name . value) ...), set them, and open one undo step.
;; The caller declares cx:sv as a local so the saved values live exactly as long as the command.
(defun cx:start (vars)
  (setq cx:sv (mapcar (function (lambda (v) (cons (car v) (getvar (car v))))) vars))
  (command "_.UNDO" "_Begin")
  (foreach v vars (setvar (car v) (cdr v)))
  (princ))

(princ "\nCXDELTYPE loaded. Type CXDELTYPE to start.")
(princ)

Version history

Version 1.0.0 · 27 de outubro de 2026

First release.

More commands: Clean-up