CXLAYISOLayersVersion 1.0.0Tested in AutoCAD

Isolate the layers of the objects you pick

Switches off every layer except those of the objects you select, so you can concentrate on one discipline. CXLAYRES brings everything back.

Download cxlayiso.lsp LISP terms

How to use it

Select objects first, or type CXLAYISO and select them.
All other layers are switched off. The current layer stays on.
Type CXLAYRES when you are done.

Good to know

Only layers that were on are touched, so layers you had switched off before stay off after the restore.

Load it in AutoCAD

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

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 cxlayiso.lsp, or download it.

;;; ============================================================================
;;; CXLAYISO - Isolate the layers of the objects you pick
;;; Version 1.0.0
;;; CADXChange LISP tools - https://cadxchange.net/resources/lisp/cxlayiso
;;; 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
;;; ============================================================================

;; Switch off every layer except KEEP (a list of names) and the current layer.
;; The layers that were on are remembered in *cx-layiso* so that CXLAYRES can switch them on again.
;; Returns how many layers were switched off.
(defun cx:layiso-run (keep / n ed)
  (setq n 0 *cx-layiso* nil)
  (foreach name (cx:layers)
    (setq ed (tblsearch "LAYER" name))
    (if (and (not (member name keep)) (/= (strcase name) (strcase (getvar "CLAYER"))) (> (cdr (assoc 62 ed)) 0))
      (progn
        (setq *cx-layiso* (cons name *cx-layiso*))
        (cx:lay-set name 62 (- (cdr (assoc 62 ed))))
        (setq n (1+ n)))))
  n)

(defun c:CXLAYISO ( / *error* cx:sv ss)
  (setq *error* cx:err)
  (if (setq ss (cx:pick "\nSelect objects on the layers to keep: " nil))
    (progn
      (cx:start '(("CMDECHO" . 0)))
      (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (cx:layiso-run (cx:layers-of (cx:ss->list ss)))) " layer(s) switched off. CXLAYRES brings them back."))
      (cx:end)))
  (princ))


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

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

;; Names of all layers.
(defun cx:layers (/ r out)
  (setq r (tblnext "LAYER" T))
  (while r
    (setq out (cons (cx:dxf 2 r) out) r (tblnext "LAYER")))
  (reverse out))

;; Set the DXF group CODE of layer NAME to VAL; returns T, or nil when there is no such layer.
(defun cx:lay-set (name code val / en ed)
  (if (setq en (tblobjname "LAYER" name))
    (progn
      (setq ed (entget en))
      (entmod (if (assoc code ed)
                (subst (cons code val) (assoc code ed) ed)
                (append ed (list (cons code val)))))
      T)))

;; 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)

;; 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))

;; The distinct layer names used by the entities in NAMES, in order of first use.
(defun cx:layers-of (names / out l)
  (foreach e names
    (setq l (cdr (assoc 8 (entget e))))
    (if (not (member l out)) (setq out (cons l out))))
  (reverse out))

;; 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 "\nCXLAYISO loaded. Type CXLAYISO to start.")
(princ)

Version history

Version 1.0.0 · October 27, 2026

First release.

Need this across many drawings?

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

LayerSync