Index: trunk/src/obj_subc.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/obj_subc.c	(revision 17001)
+++ trunk/src/obj_subc.c	(revision 17002)
@@ -1732,3 +1732,19 @@
 	pcb_subc_bbox(sc);
 }
 
+
+const char *pcb_subc_name(pcb_subc_t *subc, const char *local_name)
+{
+	const char *val;
+
+	if (local_name != NULL) {
+		val = pcb_attribute_get(&subc->Attributes, local_name);
+		if (val != NULL)
+			return val;
+	}
+	val = pcb_attribute_get(&subc->Attributes, "footprint");
+	if (val != NULL)
+		return val;
+	val = pcb_attribute_get(&subc->Attributes, "name");
+	return val;
+}
Index: trunk/src/obj_subc.h
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/obj_subc.h	(revision 17001)
+++ trunk/src/obj_subc.h	(revision 17002)
@@ -125,6 +125,12 @@
 /* Returns whether there's no object in the subc */
 pcb_bool pcb_subc_is_empty(pcb_subc_t *subc);
 
+/* Return the footprint name; if local_name is not NULL, that attribute
+   is queried first; if that doesn't exist, "footprint" and then "name"
+   is returned (or NULL if nothing is found) */
+const char *pcb_subc_name(pcb_subc_t *subc, const char *local_name);
+
+
 /* Update the subcircuit (e.g. bbox) after a part of the subcircuit has changed */
 void pcb_subc_part_changed_(pcb_any_obj_t *obj);
 #define pcb_subc_part_changed(obj) pcb_subc_part_changed_((pcb_any_obj_t *)obj)