diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 25f64810..7e9025c1 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-8.3.288
+8.3.289
diff --git a/commands/CmdCD.c b/commands/CmdCD.c
index f873e43b..85ce06fe 100644
--- a/commands/CmdCD.c
+++ b/commands/CmdCD.c
@@ -2238,11 +2238,13 @@ CmdContact(w, cmd)
     MagWindow *w;
     TxCommand *cmd;
 {
-    TileType type, rtype;
+    TileType type, rtype, ctype;
     TileTypeBitMask *rmask, smask;
     CCStruct ccs;
     Rect area;
+    LinkedRect *lr = NULL;
     int cmdContactFunc();	/* Forward declaration */
+    int cmdContactEraseFunc();	/* Forward declaration */
 
     windCheckOnlyWindow(&w, DBWclientID);
     if ((w == (MagWindow *) NULL) || (w->w_client != DBWclientID))
@@ -2251,13 +2253,78 @@ CmdContact(w, cmd)
 	return;
     }
 
-    if (cmd->tx_argc != 2)
+    if ((cmd->tx_argc != 2) && (cmd->tx_argc != 3))
     {
 	TxError("Usage: %s <contact_type>\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
 	return;
     }
     if (!ToolGetEditBox(&area)) return;
 
+    if (EditCellUse == NULL)
+    {
+	TxError("The cell in the window is not editable.\n");
+	return;
+    }
+
+    if (cmd->tx_argc == 3)
+    {
+	if (!strcmp(cmd->tx_argv[1], "erase"))
+	{
+	    /* Erase a contact from the area of the box.  This acts	*/
+	    /* differently from the "erase" command.  "erase" will 	*/
+	    /* remove the contact and leave nothing behind.  "contact	*/
+	    /* erase" will remove the contact and leave the residues	*/
+	    /* behind.	The main difference is that this action cannot	*/
+	    /* be done on a whole area;  the individual contacts need	*/
+	    /* to be enumerated and the erase/paint done on each one.	*/
+
+	    type = DBTechNoisyNameType(cmd->tx_argv[2]);
+
+	    if (!DBIsContact(type))
+	    {
+	    	TxError("Error:  tile type \"%s\" is not a contact.\n",
+			cmd->tx_argv[2]);
+	    	return;
+	    }
+	    TTMaskSetOnlyType(&smask, type);
+
+	    /* Add all stacked contact types containing "type" */
+	    for (ctype = DBNumUserLayers; ctype < DBNumTypes; ctype++)
+	    {
+		rmask = DBResidueMask(ctype);
+		if (TTMaskHasType(rmask, ctype))
+		    TTMaskSetMask(&smask, rmask);
+	    }
+
+	    /* Enumerate all tiles inside the box area containing contact "type" */
+	    DBSrPaintArea((Tile *) NULL, EditCellUse->cu_def->cd_planes[DBPlane(type)],
+			&area, &smask, cmdContactEraseFunc, (ClientData)&lr);
+
+	    rmask = DBResidueMask(type);
+
+	    while (lr != NULL)
+	    {
+    		GeoClip(&lr->r_r, &area);
+
+		/* Erase contact type "type" and repaint with the residues */
+		DBErase(EditCellUse->cu_def, &lr->r_r, type);
+		for (rtype = 0; rtype < DBNumUserLayers; rtype++)
+	    	    if (TTMaskHasType(rmask, rtype))
+			DBPaint(EditCellUse->cu_def, &lr->r_r, rtype);
+
+		freeMagic(lr);
+		lr = lr->r_next;
+	    }
+
+	    /* Refresh the layout drawing */
+	    DBWAreaChanged(EditCellUse->cu_def, &area, DBW_ALLWINDOWS, &smask);
+	    DRCCheckThis (EditCellUse->cu_def, TT_CHECKPAINT, &area);
+	}
+	else
+	    TxError("Usage: %s erase <contact_type>\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
+	return;
+    }
+    
     type = DBTechNoisyNameType(cmd->tx_argv[1]);
     if (type >= 0)
     {
@@ -2345,6 +2412,27 @@ cmdContactFunc2(tile, ccs)
     return 0;
 }
 
+/* For each contact tile found, attach the area to a LinkedRect structure
+ */
+
+int
+cmdContactEraseFunc(tile, lr)
+    Tile *tile;
+    LinkedRect **lr;
+{
+    LinkedRect *newlr;
+    Rect area;
+
+    newlr = (LinkedRect *)mallocMagic(sizeof(LinkedRect));
+
+    newlr->r_type = TiGetType(tile);
+    TiToRect(tile, &newlr->r_r);
+    newlr->r_next = *lr;
+    *lr = newlr;
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  *
diff --git a/doc/html/contact.html b/doc/html/contact.html
index 96e47faa..7d3ca7f9 100644
--- a/doc/html/contact.html
+++ b/doc/html/contact.html
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Paint a contact at the intersection of two layers.
 
 <H3>Usage:</H3>
    <BLOCKQUOTE>
-      <B>contact</B> <I>type</I><BR><BR>
+      <B>contact</B> [<B>erase</B>] <I>type</I><BR><BR>
    </BLOCKQUOTE>
 
 <H3>Summary:</H3>
@@ -33,20 +33,24 @@ Paint a contact at the intersection of two layers.
       The <B>contact</B> command computes the intersection area (inside the
       cursor box) of the two (or more) residue types that make up the contact
       type <I>type</I>, and paints the contact type <I>type</I> on top of the
-      area of intersection.
+      area of intersection. <P>
+
+      Option <B>contact erase</B> erases contacts from the area of the cursor
+      box without affecting the metal layers (or stacked contacts) surrounding
+      the contact being erased.  (Note that the <B>erase</B> command will
+      remove both the contact type and the surrounding metal layers.)
+     
    </BLOCKQUOTE>
 
 <H3>Implementation Notes:</H3>
    <BLOCKQUOTE>
       <B>contact</B> is implemented as a built-in layout command in <B>magic</B>.
-      As of magic version 7.3.115 this command does not correctly translate the
-      cursor box for edit cells and may paint outside of the cursor box, with
-      random results.
    </BLOCKQUOTE>
 
 <H3>See Also:</H3>
    <BLOCKQUOTE>
       <A HREF=paint.html><B>paint</B></A> <BR>
+      <A HREF=erase.html><B>erase</B></A> <BR>
    </BLOCKQUOTE>
 
 <P><IMG SRC=graphics/line1.gif><P>
diff --git a/doc/html/erase.html b/doc/html/erase.html
index df0af7f6..32a9c2a2 100644
--- a/doc/html/erase.html
+++ b/doc/html/erase.html
@@ -60,7 +60,12 @@ Erase paint from the layout inside the bounds of the cursor box.
 
       The option "<B>erase cursor</B>" picks the layers at the position
       of the (X11) cursor and erases these from the area of the cursor
-      box.
+      box. <P>
+
+      Note that when applied to contact types, "<B>erase</B>" will erase
+      the entire contact, including the top and bottom metal types
+      comprising the contact.  To remove the contact cuts without affecting
+      the surrounding material, use the "<B>contact erase</B>" command. <P>
    </BLOCKQUOTE>
 
 <H3>Implementation Notes:</H3>
@@ -71,6 +76,7 @@ Erase paint from the layout inside the bounds of the cursor box.
 <H3>See Also:</H3>
    <BLOCKQUOTE>
       <A HREF=paint.html><B>paint</B></A> <BR>
+      <A HREF=contact.html><B>contact</B></A> <BR>
    </BLOCKQUOTE>
 
 <P><IMG SRC=graphics/line1.gif><P>