routine is a legendary "quality of life" script for AutoCAD users, designed to solve a specific, frustrating limitation: the inability of standard AutoCAD to quickly calculate the combined length of multiple selected objects like lines and polylines. Overview: What is TLEN.lsp?
Historically, if you wanted the total length of twenty separate lines in AutoCAD, you had to add them up manually or use cumbersome data extraction tables.
(often found as "TotalLength" or "tlen.lsp") automates this by allowing you to select a group of objects and immediately see their sum total in a message box or command line. Performance and Use Cases
This script is a staple for professionals in fields where linear measurements are critical: Civil Engineering: Measuring total lengths of fences, curbs, or pipes. Electrical Design: Summing up total cable or conduit runs. Quantity Surveying: Quickly estimating material needs from 2D drawings. Autodesk App Store autocad tlenlsp download free
The routine is typically incredibly lightweight, often under 14kB, meaning it has zero impact on AutoCAD's overall performance. Installation & Deployment Getting the script running is straightforward: You can find free versions on repositories like GitHub (paucoma) or community forums like command in AutoCAD, navigate to the file, and select "Load". Most versions use the command to trigger the calculation. Compatibility & Versions TotalLength | AutoCAD - Autodesk App Store
(Total Length) is a popular, free AutoLISP script used in AutoCAD to calculate the combined length of multiple selected objects, such as lines, polylines, arcs, and circles
. Standard AutoCAD properties typically do not display a cumulative length for multiple items at once, making this script a common utility for designers in fields like irrigation or pipeline design Core Functionality : Once the script is loaded, you typically type in the command line to activate it routine is a legendary "quality of life" script
: You can select objects individually or via window selection. The script then iterates through each item and sums their lengths
: The total length is usually displayed in an alert box or directly on the command line, often respecting the drawing's current units and precision settings Free Download Sources
is a community-created script rather than an official Autodesk tool, it is available for free from various developer and user-forum repositories: Solved: New tlen.lsp for polylines - Autodesk Community Command: AREA → Add → Object Pros: Totally
Once loaded, TlenLSP usually runs by typing a specific shortcut key in the command line. Common shortcuts often include TL or specific letters for functions. You can view the code inside the .lsp file (by opening it with Notepad) to see what command aliases are defined. Look for lines starting with (defun c:...)—the word following c: is the command you type to run the function.
AREA Command + Add ModeAREA → Add → ObjectYes. Despite AutoCAD adding the "QuickCalc" palette and "TotalLength" as a subscription add-on, the simple, free LISP routine remains superior for three reasons:
.LSP in Notepad and see every line of code. No bloatware.