code: def get_count(self,name):
          
          if name not in self.mlt_counter:
              self.mlt_counter[name] = 1
              c = 0
          else:
              c = self.mlt_counter[name]
              self.mlt_counter[name] += 1
              #print(name,c)
          return c
docs: get the latest counter for a certain parameter type.
  
          Parameters
          ----------
          name : str
              the parameter type
  
          Returns
          -------
          count : int
              the latest count for a parameter type
  
          Note
          ----
          calling this function increments the counter for the passed
          parameter type