I just recently discovered a handy trick. Normally, when I want to duplicate a file, I select the file and hit the command-d key combo. This will make a duplicate of the file and append the duplicate's name with "copy." So, if I duplicate a file called "test.txt" using this method the duplicate will be named "test copy.txt." And that's fine. But I almost never want to append with "copy." I'd almost always rather have the file appended with a number instead, like "test.txt" and "test 2.txt." Well, it turns out there's actually a way to do this.
Option-dragging the file within the same folder produces a duplicate file with a sequential number appended to the file name. So, select our "test.txt" file and hold option key while dragging the file to the same folder in which the original exists and you will indeed produce a file called "test 2.txt." Furthermore, option-dragging "test.txt" or "test 2.txt" in the same manner will produce "test 3.txt" and so on. The smartness abounds!
This is a much more systemsboy-friendly approach. I only wonder why it's not the default. I mean, it seems to me like this would be the preferred behavior for most people. Who knows, though, maybe it's just me.
In any case, hopefully some TASB readers find this tip as useful as I do.
Here, BTW, are the details of Leopard's file duplication methods.