CXTXTADDTextVersion 1.0.0Tested in AutoCAD

Add a prefix or suffix to many texts

Puts the same text in front of or after every selected text, for example DN on every pipe size or mm on every dimension note.

Download cxtxtadd.lsp LISP terms

How to use it

Type CXTXTADD and select the texts.
Enter the text to add in front, or - for none.
Enter the text to add at the end, or - for none.

Good to know

Formatting codes in multiline text are left untouched.

Load it in AutoCAD

Save the file anywhere you like.
Type APPLOAD, pick the file and choose Load.
Type the command name: CXTXTADD.

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 cxtxtadd.lsp, or download it.

;;; ============================================================================
;;; CXTXTADD - Add a prefix or suffix to texts
;;; Version 1.0.0
;;; CADXChange LISP tools - https://cadxchange.net/resources/lisp/cxtxtadd
;;; 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
;;; ============================================================================

;; Add PREFIX in front of and SUFFIX after the text of every object in NAMES. Returns how many were changed.
(defun cx:txtadd-run (names prefix suffix / n)
  (setq n 0)
  (foreach e names
    (cx:text-set e (strcat prefix (cx:text-get e) suffix))
    (setq n (1+ n)))
  n)

(defun c:CXTXTADD ( / *error* cx:sv ss prefix suffix)
  (setq *error* cx:err)
  (if (setq ss (cx:pick "\nSelect texts: " '((0 . "TEXT,MTEXT"))))
    (progn
      (setq prefix (cx:ask-str "Text to add in front (- for none)" "")
            suffix (cx:ask-str "Text to add at the end (- for none)" ""))
      (cx:start '(("CMDECHO" . 0)))
      (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (cx:txtadd-run (cx:ss->list ss) prefix suffix)) " text(s) changed."))
      (cx:end)))
  (princ))


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

(defun cx:dxf (code ed)
  (cdr (assoc code ed)))

;; Replace the text of a TEXT, ATTRIB, ATTDEF or MTEXT.
(defun cx:text-set (ename str / ed out)
  (setq ed (entget ename))
  (if (= (cx:dxf 0 ed) "MTEXT")
    (progn
      ;; MTEXT stores text in 250-character pieces: 3 groups for the first pieces, 1 for the last
      (foreach p ed (if (not (member (car p) '(1 3))) (setq out (cons p out))))
      (setq out (reverse out))
      (while (> (strlen str) 250)
        (setq out (append out (list (cons 3 (substr str 1 250)))) str (substr str 251)))
      (setq ed (append out (list (cons 1 str)))))
    (setq ed (subst (cons 1 str) (assoc 1 ed) ed)))
  (entmod ed)
  (entupd ename)
  T)

;; The text of a TEXT, ATTRIB, ATTDEF or MTEXT (MTEXT keeps its codes).
(defun cx:text-get (ename / ed s)
  (setq ed (entget ename))
  (if (= (cx:dxf 0 ed) "MTEXT")
    (progn
      (setq s "")
      (foreach p ed (if (= (car p) 3) (setq s (strcat s (cdr p)))))
      (strcat s (cx:dxf 1 ed)))
    (cx:dxf 1 ed)))

;; 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))

;; Use the objects already selected, or ask the user to select; FILTER is an ssget filter list or nil.
(defun cx:pick (msg filter / ss)
  (setq ss (if filter (ssget "_I" filter) (ssget "_I")))
  (if (null ss)
    (progn
      (princ msg)
      (setq ss (if filter (ssget filter) (ssget)))))
  ss)

;; Ask for a string (spaces allowed) with a default; "-" means an empty string.
(defun cx:ask-str (msg def / v)
  (setq v (getstring T (strcat "\n" msg " <" def ">: ")))
  (cond ((= v "") def) ((= v "-") "") (T v)))

;; 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))

;; Selection set to a list of entity names.
(defun cx:ss->list (ss / i out)
  (setq i 0)
  (if ss
    (repeat (sslength ss)
      (setq out (cons (ssname ss i) out)
            i   (1+ i))))
  (reverse out))

(princ "\nCXTXTADD loaded. Type CXTXTADD to start.")
(princ)

Version history

Version 1.0.0 · 27 de outubro de 2026

First release.

Need this across many drawings?

TextSync does this kind of job on a whole folder of drawings in one run.

TextSync