duplicate order

[Arrakis]

I have one layer named circle and one layer named rectangle. I want to duplicate multiple times so I have a whole stack of layers such as rectangle circle rectangle circle etc  but when I duplicate them after effects orders the duplicates rectangle rectangle circle circle.  Is there a way to duplicate how I want so that i dont have to then reorder manually?

[Rick Gerard]

Select the first two layers and press Ctrl/Cmnd + D then Ctrl/Cmnd + ], 

That should rearrange the layers. Now press Ctrl/Cmnd + A, Ctrl/Cmnd+D, and Ctrl/Cmnd + ]. 

If you just hold down the Ctrl/Cnnd key and press A, D, ] 6 times you will have 128 layers. Seven times will give you 256. 

If you are using shapes just two repeaters would give you an array of shapes that fill the screen on a single layer. 

I hope these suggestions help.

[A. Cobb]

Have you tried using copy/paste? It does what you are looking for without any additional steps, just be sure to select the layers in the order you want them to be pasted in.