Total Area Autocad Lisp ⏰

Save this as TOTALAREA.LSP and load it with APPLOAD:

(defun C:TLA (/ ss total area obj name)
  (setq ss (ssget '((0 . "LWPOLYLINE,CIRCLE,ELLIPSE,HATCH,REGION"))))
  (if (= ss nil)
    (princ "\nNo valid objects selected.")
    (progn
      (setq total 0)
      (repeat (setq i (sslength ss))
        (setq obj (ssname ss (setq i (1- i))))
        (setq area (vlax-curve-getArea obj))
        (setq total (+ total area))
      )
      (princ (strcat "\n--- TOTAL AREA ---"
                     "\nSquare feet: " (rtos total 2 2)
                     "\nSquare meters: " (rtos (* total 0.092903) 2 2)
                     "\nAcres: " (rtos (/ total 43560) 2 3)
                     "\nSquare yards: " (rtos (/ total 9) 2 2)))
    )
  )
  (princ)
)

Note: Assumes your drawing units are in feet. Change the conversion multipliers if you work in meters or millimeters.

This version shows your total in Square Meters and Square Feet simultaneously:

(setq sq_meters total)
(setq sq_feet (* total 10.7639))
(princ (strcat "\n>>> TOTAL: " (rtos sq_meters 2 2) " Sq. M. | " (rtos sq_feet 2 2) " Sq. Ft. <<<"))

Change precision by modifying the prec variable (line ~15):

(setq prec 3) ; 3 decimal places

Uncomment unit conversion lines (~lines 50-55) for specific units.

AutoLISP routines for "Total Area" are custom scripts designed to automate the calculation and summation of areas from multiple objects within AutoCAD. While standard AutoCAD commands like AREA allow for manual summation, LISP routines significantly reduce repetitive manual entry and minimize potential human errors. Core Capabilities of Total Area LISP Routines

Automated Summation: Instantly calculates the cumulative area of a selection set containing varied objects such as closed polylines, circles, ellipses, and splines.

Dynamic Annotation: Many routines, such as those discussed on AutoCAD Forums, can automatically place text labels showing the area of each individual object or the grand total within the drawing.

Unit Conversion: Specialized scripts can measure in one unit (e.g., millimeters) and output results in another (e.g., square meters) without manual formulas.

Auto-Updating Fields: Advanced routines create "Field Expressions" that automatically update the displayed total if the linked geometry is modified and the drawing is regenerated. Popular LISP Routines & Commands ESurvey Lisp Help: Collection of AutoLisp for Entity Area

Mastering Total Area Calculation in AutoCAD: The Power of LISP

If you’ve ever spent an afternoon clicking through dozens of closed polylines, manually adding their areas in a calculator, you know the frustration of AutoCAD’s default AREA command. While functional for a single room or shape, it’s a productivity killer for large-scale projects like site plans, floor area ratios, or material takeoffs.

This is where AutoCAD LISP (List Processing) becomes a game-changer. By using a custom LISP routine, you can calculate the total area of multiple objects instantly, saving hours of tedious work and reducing human error. Why Use a LISP Routine for Total Area? total area autocad lisp

By default, AutoCAD’s MEASUREGEOM or AREA commands require you to select points or objects one by one. A custom LISP routine offers several advantages:

Batch Processing: Select hundreds of polylines, circles, or hatches at once.

Automated Unit Conversion: Automatically convert square inches to square feet or square meters.

On-Screen Annotation: Many scripts will automatically place a text label with the final sum directly into your drawing.

Error Reduction: No more "did I already click that one?" moments. The Code: A Simple "Total Area" LISP Script

You don't need to be a programmer to use LISP. Here is a classic, lightweight code snippet that calculates the sum of all selected closed objects.

(defun c:TOTALAREA (/ ss count total i obj) (setq ss (ssget '((0 . "CIRCLE,HATCH,POLYLINE,LWPOLYLINE")))) (setq total 0.0) (if ss (progn (setq count (sslength ss)) (setq i 0) (while (< i count) (setq obj (vlax-ename->vla-object (ssname ss i))) (setq total (+ total (vla-get-area obj))) (setq i (1+ i)) ) (alert (strcat "Total Area of " (itoa count) " objects is: " (rtos total 2 2))) (princ (strcat "\nTotal Area: " (rtos total 2 2))) ) (princ "\nNo valid objects selected.") ) (princ) ) (vl-load-com) Use code with caution. How to Install and Run the Script Copy the code above into Notepad.

Save the file 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

While the script above is a great starting point, professional-grade LISP routines often include:

Layer Filtering: Only calculate areas for objects on a specific layer (e.g., "G-AREA-BNDY").

Export to Excel: Seamlessly move your data from the CAD environment into a CSV or XLSX file for billing and scheduling.

Dynamic Links (Fields): Create text that updates automatically if you stretch the polyline. Save this as TOTALAREA

Subtracting "Islands": Advanced scripts can detect a "hole" inside a larger polyline and subtract that area automatically. Common Troubleshooting Tips

Open Polylines: LISP routines usually cannot calculate the area of an "open" polyline. Use the PEDIT command to close your boundaries before running the script.

Self-Intersecting Loops: If a polyline crosses over itself like a figure-eight, AutoCAD may return an error or an incorrect value.

Z-Coordinates: Ensure all objects are flattened to a 0 elevation. Objects with varying "Z" values can sometimes cause geometric calculation errors. Conclusion

Using a Total Area AutoCAD LISP is one of the easiest ways to transition from a "CAD Drafter" to a "CAD Power User." It moves the burden of calculation away from your brain and onto the software, where it belongs.

g., converting square millimeters to square meters) or to export the results directly to a text file?

While AutoCAD has built-in ways to add multiple areas using the standard AREA command, using an AutoLISP script is the most efficient way to sum the areas of multiple closed polylines, hatches, or circles instantly. AutoLISP Code for Total Area

You can copy and paste this code into the Visual LISP Editor (type VLISP in AutoCAD) to create your own "Total Area" command:

(defun c:TOTALAREA (/ ss i ent area total) (setq total 0) (princ "\nSelect closed objects (Polylines, Circles, Hatches): ") (if (setq ss (ssget '((0 . "LWPOLYLINE,POLYLINE,CIRCLE,HATCH")))) (progn (repeat (setq i (sslength ss)) (setq ent (ssname ss (setq i (1- i)))) (command "._area" "_O" ent) (setq total (+ total (getvar "AREA"))) ) (princ (strcat "\nTotal Area: " (rtos total 2 2))) ) (princ "\nNo valid objects selected.") ) (princ) ) Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard How to Use the LISP

Load the Script: Save the code above as a .lsp file and drag it into your AutoCAD drawing, or use the APPLOAD command. Run the Command: Type TOTALAREA in the command line.

Select Objects: Select all the polylines or hatches you want to measure.

View Results: The command line will display the combined sum of all selected areas. Alternative Built-in Methods Note: Assumes your drawing units are in feet

If you don't want to use a script, you can use these native tools:

Hatch Method: Select all areas and apply a single hatch; the "Area" property in the Properties Palette (Ctrl+1) will show the cumulative total.

Area Add: Type AREA, then type A (Add), then O (Object). This allows you to click objects one by one to see a running total.

Introduction: The Pain Point of Polyline Area Calculation

For architects, civil engineers, and interior designers, calculating the total area of multiple spaces is a daily, yet tedious, task. AutoCAD’s native AREA command is powerful for single objects, but what happens when you need the combined square footage of 50 apartments on a floor plan, or 200 different lawn sections in a landscape master plan?

Manually adding each area using a calculator is not only slow but also prone to human error. This is where the magic of AutoLISP comes in. A well-written "Total Area Lisp" routine can instantly sum the areas of selected objects (polylines, circles, hatches, or regions) and present the result in your desired unit—square feet, meters, or even acres.

In this article, we will explore what a "Total Area Lisp" is, how to install and use the most popular routine (TOTAREA), how to modify it to display totals in different units, and how to troubleshoot common errors.

AutoLISP is a dialect of the Lisp programming language built specifically for automating tasks in AutoCAD. A Total Area Lisp is a script that automates the summation of area properties.

Instead of:

The Lisp does this in one command: TOTAREA (or similar). You select 50 objects, press Enter, and it instantly tells you: Total Area = 2750.00 Sq. Ft.

If you want control over every detail, writing your own 10-line LISP is straightforward.