CXLAYCOLORLayersVersion 1.0.0Tested in AutoCAD

Change the color of the layers you pick

Sets a new color on the layers of the objects you select. A layer that is switched off stays off.

Download cxlaycolor.lsp LISP terms

How to use it

Type CXLAYCOLOR and select objects.
Enter a color number from 1 to 255, for example 1 for red or 7 for white.
The layers of those objects change color.

Good to know

Objects with their own color override are not affected, only the layers.

Load it in AutoCAD

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

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 cxlaycolor.lsp, or download it.

;;; ============================================================================
;;; CXLAYCOLOR - Change the color of the layers you pick
;;; Version 1.0.0
;;; CADXChange LISP tools - https://cadxchange.net/resources/lisp/cxlaycolor
;;; 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
;;; ============================================================================

;; Give the layers in LAYERS the color number COLOR (1-255), keeping them on or off as they are.
;; Returns how many layers were changed.
(defun cx:laycolor-run (layers color / n ed)
  (setq n 0)
  (foreach name layers
    (if (setq ed (tblsearch "LAYER" name))
      (progn
        (cx:lay-set name 62 (if (< (cdr (assoc 62 ed)) 0) (- color) color))
        (setq n (1+ n)))))
  n)

(defun c:CXLAYCOLOR ( / *error* cx:sv ss color)
  (setq *error* cx:err)
  (if (setq ss (cx:pick "\nSelect objects on the layers to recolor: " nil))
    (progn
      (setq color (cx:ask-int "Color number (1 red, 2 yellow, 3 green, 4 cyan, 5 blue, 6 magenta, 7 white)" 7))
      (if (or (< color 1) (> color 255))
        (princ "\nThe color number must be between 1 and 255.")
        (progn
          (cx:start '(("CMDECHO" . 0)))
          (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (cx:laycolor-run (cx:layers-of (cx:ss->list ss)) color)) " layer(s) recolored."))
          (cx:end)))))
  (princ))


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

;; 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)

;; Ask for an integer with a default; returns the default on Enter.
(defun cx:ask-int (msg def / v)
  (setq v (getint (strcat "\n" msg " <" (itoa 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))

;; 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 "\nCXLAYCOLOR loaded. Type CXLAYCOLOR to start.")
(princ)

Version history

Version 1.0.0 · 27 Ekim 2026

First release.