GIMP :: Automatic Names Of Duplicated Layer - Proposed Alternate Algorithm

It's a common practice when building layers to duplicate existing layers as a start. Additionally, it is good practice that layer names be meaningful.

Suppose I start with the following layer: layer 1

If I duplicate that layer, it seems reasonable I'd get: layer 2. Instead I get: layer 1 copy

Then if I duplicate again I get: layer 1 copy#1, even though this is copy #2.

I propose the following: An option be available whereby user is queried for name of any layer which is to be generated. This is easier than having to edit automatically generated layer names.If automatic layer names are to be generated, code first checks if previous layer name ends in a sequence of digits. If yes, then these digits are incremented as an integer until a unique layer name is generatedIf the layer name does not end in a sequence of digits, then "#1" is appended to the layer name, and the "1" incremented until a unique name is generated.

So with this algorithm:layer 1 would become layer 2 for a first copy, then layer 3 for a second copy, etc.background would become background#2 for a first copy, then background#3 for a second copy, etc.

The problem with using "copy" in the layer name is that it is probably only in the substantial minority of cases that the newly generated layer is destined to be a true copy, so the automatically generated layer name is very likely inappropriate. Better is to use a simpler, shorter name which applies in a greater fraction of the applications.