CXTXTCUTTextVersion 1.0.0Tested in AutoCAD
Cut characters off the ends of texts
Removes the first or last few characters of every selected text, or everything before or after a marker you name.
How to use it
- Type CXTXTCUT and select the texts.
- Choose First, Last, Before or After.
- For First and Last give the number of characters. For Before and After give the marker text.
Good to know
- Multiline text that carries its own formatting is skipped and counted in the report, so nothing is damaged.
Load it in AutoCAD
- Save the file anywhere you like.
- Type APPLOAD, pick the file and choose Load.
- Type the command name: CXTXTCUT.
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 cxtxtcut.lsp, or download it.
;;; ============================================================================
;;; CXTXTCUT - Cut characters off texts
;;; Version 1.0.0
;;; CADXChange LISP tools - https://cadxchange.net/resources/lisp/cxtxtcut
;;; 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
;;; ============================================================================
;; Cut characters off the text of the objects in NAMES.
;; MODE "First" ARG = number of characters to remove at the start
;; MODE "Last" ARG = number of characters to remove at the end
;; MODE "Before" ARG = a string: remove everything up to and including its first occurrence
;; MODE "After" ARG = a string: remove it and everything after its first occurrence
;; MTEXT with its own formatting is left alone. Returns (changed . skipped).
(defun cx:txtcut-run (names mode arg / changed skipped s new p)
(setq changed 0 skipped 0)
(foreach e names
(setq s (cx:text-get e) new s)
(if (and (= (cx:dxf 0 (entget e)) "MTEXT") (cx:text-formatted s))
(setq skipped (1+ skipped))
(progn
(cond
((= mode "First") (setq new (substr s (1+ arg))))
((= mode "Last") (setq new (substr s 1 (max 0 (- (strlen s) arg)))))
((= mode "Before") (if (setq p (cx:find s arg 1)) (setq new (substr s (+ p (strlen arg))))))
((= mode "After") (if (setq p (cx:find s arg 1)) (setq new (substr s 1 (1- p))))))
(if (/= new s)
(progn (cx:text-set e new) (setq changed (1+ changed)))))))
(cons changed skipped))
(defun c:CXTXTCUT ( / *error* cx:sv ss mode arg r)
(setq *error* cx:err)
(if (setq ss (cx:pick "\nSelect texts: " '((0 . "TEXT,MTEXT"))))
(progn
(setq mode (cx:ask-kw "Remove" "First Last Before After" "First"))
(if (member mode '("First" "Last"))
(setq arg (cx:ask-int "How many characters" 1))
(setq arg (cx:ask-str (if (= mode "Before") "Remove everything up to and including" "Remove this text and everything after it") "-")))
(if (and arg (/= arg ""))
(progn
(cx:start '(("CMDECHO" . 0)))
(setq r (cx:txtcut-run (cx:ss->list ss) mode arg))
(princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (car r)) " text(s) changed"
(if (> (cdr r) 0) (strcat ", " (itoa (cdr r)) " formatted MTEXT skipped") "") "."))
(cx:end)))))
(princ))
;;; ---- Shared helpers (used by the command above; identical in every CADXChange tool) ----
(defun cx:dxf (code ed)
(cdr (assoc code ed)))
;; 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)))
;; Split a TEXT (MT = nil) or MTEXT (MT = T) string into ((T . "plain") (C . "format code") ...).
;; Codes are %%c-style symbols, and in MTEXT also \P, \f...; \H...; \S...; {, } and the like.
(defun cx:fmt-tokens (str mt / out plain i n c d j k)
(setq out nil plain "" i 1 n (strlen str))
(while (<= i n)
(setq c (substr str i 1) k 0)
(cond
((and (= c "%") (= (substr str (1+ i) 1) "%") (< (1+ i) n))
(setq k (if (wcmatch (substr str (+ i 2) 1) "#") 5 3)))
((and mt (= c "\\"))
(setq d (substr str (1+ i) 1))
(cond
((= d "") (setq k 1))
((member d '("P" "X" "x" "L" "l" "O" "o" "K" "k" "~" "\\" "{" "}")) (setq k 2))
((member d '("U" "u")) (setq k 7))
(T
(setq j i)
(while (and (<= j n) (/= (substr str j 1) ";")) (setq j (1+ j)))
(setq k (if (<= j n) (1+ (- j i)) 2)))))
((and mt (or (= c "{") (= c "}"))) (setq k 1)))
(if (> k 0)
(progn
(if (/= plain "") (setq out (cons (cons 'T plain) out) plain ""))
(setq out (cons (cons 'C (substr str i k)) out) i (+ i k)))
(setq plain (strcat plain c) i (1+ i))))
(if (/= plain "") (setq out (cons (cons 'T plain) out)))
(reverse out))
;; True when an MTEXT string holds format codes other than line breaks.
(defun cx:text-formatted (str / r)
(foreach tk (cx:fmt-tokens str T)
(if (and (= (car tk) 'C) (not (member (cdr tk) '("\\P" "\\p")))) (setq r T)))
r)
;; 1-based position of SUB in STR at or after START, or nil.
(defun cx:find (str sub start / n i r)
(setq n (strlen sub) i start r nil)
(if (> n 0)
(while (and (not r) (<= i (1+ (- (strlen str) n))))
(if (= (substr str i n) sub) (setq r i))
(setq i (1+ i))))
r)
;; 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)
;; 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)
;; 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))
;; 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))
;; 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 "\nCXTXTCUT loaded. Type CXTXTCUT to start.")
(princ)
Version history
Version 1.0.0 · 27 Ekim 2026
First release.
Need this across many drawings?
TextSync does this kind of job on a whole folder of drawings in one run.
TextSyncMore commands: Text
CXNUMNumber texts in sequenceCXTXTADDAdd a prefix or suffix to many textsCXTXTCASEChange the case of many textsCXTXTREPLFind and replace in many texts at onceCXTXTCLEANClean up spaces and formatting in textsCXT2MMerge single-line texts into one multiline textCXM2TBreak multiline text into single linesCXTXTALIGNLine texts up with a reference textCXTXTSTYLEChange text style and height for many textsCXTXTCOUNTCount identical textsCXTXTSUMAdd up the numbers in texts