CADXChange

All LISP commands

CXLAYSELLayersVersion 1.0.0Tested in AutoCAD

Select everything on the layers you pick

Selects every object on the layers of the objects you pick, in the current tab, so you can move, copy or change them together.

Download cxlaysel.lspLISP terms

How to use it

  1. Type CXLAYSEL and select an object on each layer you need.
  2. Every object on those layers is selected.
  3. Continue with any command, such as MOVE or PROPERTIES.

Good to know

  • Searches the current model or layout tab.

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: CXLAYSEL.

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 cxlaysel.lsp, or download it.

;;; ============================================================================
;;; CXLAYSEL - Select everything on the layers you pick
;;; Version 1.0.0
;;; CADXChange LISP tools - https://cadxchange.net/resources/lisp/cxlaysel
;;; 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
;;; ============================================================================

;; Everything in the current space that is on one of the layers in LAYERS, as a selection set (or nil).
(defun cx:laysel-run (layers)
  (if layers
    (ssget "X" (list (cons 8 (cx:join layers ",")) (cons 410 (getvar "CTAB"))))))

(defun c:CXLAYSEL ( / *error* cx:sv ss layers sel)
  (setq *error* cx:err)
  (if (setq ss (cx:pick "\nSelect objects on the layers to select: " nil))
    (progn
      (setq layers (cx:layers-of (cx:ss->list ss))
            sel    (cx:laysel-run layers))
      (if sel
        (progn
          (sssetfirst nil sel)
          (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (sslength sel)) " object(s) selected on " (itoa (length layers)) " layer(s).")))
        (princ "\nNothing found."))))
  (princ))


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

(defun cx:join (lst delim / out)
  (setq out "")
  (foreach s lst
    (setq out (if (= out "") s (strcat out delim s))))
  (if lst out ""))

;; 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)

;; 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 "\nCXLAYSEL loaded. Type CXLAYSEL to start.")
(princ)

Version history

Version 1.0.0 · 27 Ekim 2026

First release.

More commands: Layers