This is where AutoLISP (List Processing) becomes an indispensable tool. It allows you to create custom commands that automate complex tasks, turning a multi-click process into a single, powerful action.
(princ "\nSelect objects to calculate total area...") (setq ss (ssget '((-4 . "<OR") (0 . "CIRCLE") (0 . "ELLIPSE") (0 . "HATCH") (0 . "LWPOLYLINE") (0 . "POLYLINE") (0 . "REGION") (0 . "SPLINE") (0 . "ARC") ; Arc (converted to region) (0 . "LINE") ; Line (converted to region) (0 . "LWPOLYLINE") (-4 . "OR>"))))
By default, loaded LISPs only stay active for the current drawing session. To make the tool permanent, open the APPLOAD dialog box, look for the Startup Suite (briefcase icon), click Contents , and add your script file there.
| Error Message | Likely Cause | Solution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | ; error: bad argument type | You selected a non-curve entity (line, arc, text, block). | Modify your ssget filter to exclude those. | | ; error: no function definition: VLAX-CURVE-GETAREA | Visual LISP extensions not loaded. | Add (vl-load-com) at the top of your LISP file. | | Total = 0.00 | Polylines are not closed or are self-intersecting. | Use PEDIT → Close . For complex intersections, use REGION first. | | Area is huge (e.g., 1e9) | Drawing units are millimeters, but you expected meters. | Divide total by 1,000,000 in your LISP. |
: Type the specific shortcut (like A2F or ATM ) defined in the code. total area autocad lisp
The LISP file will have a specific command name (e.g., TOTALAREA , A2F , or ATA ). Type this command into the command line and press Enter.
Let's break down the code:
In any professional CAD environment—architecture, civil engineering, interior design, or quantity surveying—calculating the sum of areas is a constant necessity. Whether you need the total floor area of a building, the aggregate size of material layers in a cross-section, or the combined area of planting beds in a landscape plan, you need a reliable and fast method.
Name the file TotalArea.lsp . Ensure the file extension is .lsp and not .lsp.txt . Step 2: Load into AutoCAD Open your drawing in AutoCAD. Type in the command line and press Enter . Browse to the location where you saved TotalArea.lsp . Click the file, then click Load . This is where AutoLISP (List Processing) becomes an
Create text that updates automatically if you stretch the polyline.
Calculating the total area of multiple objects in AutoCAD is a common pain point that AutoLISP routines solve instantly. Instead of manually adding individual areas, a LISP routine can select multiple closed polylines, hatches, or circles and output the combined total. 🚀 Top AutoLISP Commands for Area
Calculating the in AutoCAD is a fundamental task for architects and engineers, but using the native AREA command can be incredibly tedious when dealing with dozens or hundreds of objects. Automating this process with an AutoCAD LISP routine (AutoLISP) is the most efficient way to get instant, accurate results for multiple closed shapes at once. Why Use a LISP for Total Area?
In the AutoCAD command line, type and press Enter . "<OR") (0
If you are just starting with LISP, begin by searching for AreaM.lsp on CAD forums like CADTutor or the Autodesk Forums .
as TotalArea.lsp . Ensure the extension is .lsp and not .txt . In AutoCAD, type APPLOAD and press Enter. Locate your TotalArea.lsp file, click Load , and then Close. Type TOTALAREA in the command line to run it. Key Features to Look For in Advanced Area LISPs
It selects multiple closed objects (polylines, circles, rectangles, regions), reads their individual area properties, adds them together, and displays the sum.
To calculate the total area of multiple objects in AutoCAD using Lisp (AutoLISP), you can use a simple script that sums up the areas of the selected objects. This script will work with entities like polygons, polylines (2D), circles, and arcs, provided they are closed and have an area.