diff --git a/sat/tools/common/files_utils.py b/sat/tools/common/files_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..33abfaf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sat/tools/common/files_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python2
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# SAT: a jabber client
+# Copyright (C) 2009-2018 Jérôme Poisson (goffi@goffi.org)
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""tools to help manipulating files"""
+import os.path
+
+
+def get_unique_name(path):
+    """generate a path with a name not conflicting with existing file
+
+    @param path(unicode): path to the file to create
+    @return (unicode): unique path (can be the same as path if there is not conflict)
+    """
+    ori_path = path
+    idx = 1
+    while os.path.exists(path):
+        path = ori_path + u'_' + unicode(idx)
+        idx += 1
+    return path