diff --git a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
index 19c8c7373fd..9f15d97d265 100644
--- a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
+++ b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Manifest-Version: 1.0
 Bundle-ManifestVersion: 2
 Bundle-Name: %pluginName
 Bundle-SymbolicName: org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core;singleton:=true
-Bundle-Version: 4.7.100.qualifier
+Bundle-Version: 4.8.0.qualifier
 Bundle-Activator: org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core.activator.CoreBundleActivator
 Bundle-Vendor: %providerName
 Require-Bundle: org.eclipse.core.expressions;bundle-version="3.4.400",
diff --git a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/core/interfaces/constants/ITerminalsConnectorConstants.java b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/core/interfaces/constants/ITerminalsConnectorConstants.java
index ed14256fce1..c94d0262618 100644
--- a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/core/interfaces/constants/ITerminalsConnectorConstants.java
+++ b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/core/interfaces/constants/ITerminalsConnectorConstants.java
@@ -32,10 +32,35 @@ public interface ITerminalsConnectorConstants {
 	/**
 	 * Property: The unique secondary id of the terminals view to open.
 	 * <p>
+	 * Special values:
+	 * <ul>
+	 * <li>
+	 * not present in properties table or {@link #LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID} means open on most recent terminal view
+	 * </li>
+	 * <li>
+	 * {@link #ANY_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID} means open on any terminal view
+	 * </li>
+	 * <li>
+	 * <code>null</code> means open on the first primary terminal (the one with no secondary id)
+	 * </li>
+	 * <ul>
+	 * <p>
 	 * Property Type: {@link String}
 	 */
 	public static final String PROP_SECONDARY_ID = "secondaryId"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 
+	/**
+	 * Special value for {@link #PROP_SECONDARY_ID} to indicate reuse of the most recent terminal view
+	 * @since 4.8
+	 */
+	public static final String LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID = "last"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
+	/**
+	 * Special value for {@link #PROP_SECONDARY_ID} to indicate reuse of any terminal view
+	 * @since 4.8
+	 */
+	public static final String ANY_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID = "*"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
 	/**
 	 * Property: The title of the terminal tab to open.
 	 * <p>
diff --git a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
index 0d4a0192d6b..d5a95f4f69f 100644
--- a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
+++ b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ Require-Bundle: org.eclipse.core.expressions;bundle-version="3.4.400",
  org.eclipse.core.variables;bundle-version="3.2.600",
  org.eclipse.debug.ui;bundle-version="3.8.1";resolution:=optional,
  org.eclipse.egit.ui;bundle-version="2.0.0";resolution:=optional,
- org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core;bundle-version="4.5.0",
- org.eclipse.tm.terminal.control;bundle-version="4.5.0",
+ org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.core;bundle-version="[4.8.0,5.0.0)",
+ org.eclipse.tm.terminal.control;bundle-version="[5.2.0,6.0.0)",
  org.eclipse.ui;bundle-version="3.8.0",
  org.eclipse.ui.ide;bundle-version="3.18.0";resolution:=optional,
  org.eclipse.ui.editors;bundle-version="3.14.0";resolution:=optional,
diff --git a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/manager/ConsoleManager.java b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/manager/ConsoleManager.java
index 072b4673582..428ebf5a5f2 100644
--- a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/manager/ConsoleManager.java
+++ b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/manager/ConsoleManager.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
 
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Assert;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IStatus;
@@ -53,9 +54,6 @@ import org.eclipse.ui.PlatformUI;
  */
 public class ConsoleManager {
 
-	// Constant to indicate any secondary id is acceptable
-	private final static String ANY_SECONDARY_ID = new String("*"); //$NON-NLS-1$
-
 	// Reference to the perspective listener instance
 	private final IPerspectiveListener perspectiveListener;
 
@@ -198,7 +196,9 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 	 * <b>Note:</b> The method must be called within the UI thread.
 	 *
 	 * @param id The terminals console view id or <code>null</code> to show the default terminals console view.
-	 * @param secondaryId The terminals console view secondary id or <code>null</code>.
+	 * @param secondaryId The terminal console secondary id, which may be <code>null</code> which is the secondary id of
+	 *        the first terminal view opened. To specify reuse of most recent terminal view use special value of
+	 *        {@link ITerminalsConnectorConstants#LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID}.
 	 *
 	 * @return The console view instance if available or <code>null</code> otherwise.
 	 */
@@ -225,7 +225,9 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 	 * Search and return a terminal view with a specific secondary id
 	 *
 	 * @param id The terminals console view id. Must not be <code>null</code>.
-	 * @param secondaryId The terminals console view secondary id or <code>null</code>.
+	 * @param secondaryId The terminal console secondary id, which may be <code>null</code> which is the secondary id of
+	 *        the first terminal view opened. To specify reuse of any active terminal view use special value of
+	 *        {@link ITerminalsConnectorConstants#ANY_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID}.
 	 * @param restore <code>True</code> if to try to restore the view, <code>false</code> otherwise.
 	 *
 	 * @return The terminals console view instance or <code>null</code> if not found.
@@ -235,8 +237,8 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 
 		for (IViewReference ref : getActiveWorkbenchPage().getViewReferences()) {
 			if (ref.getId().equals(id)) {
-				if (ANY_SECONDARY_ID.equals(secondaryId) || secondaryId == null && ref.getSecondaryId() == null
-						|| secondaryId != null && secondaryId.equals(ref.getSecondaryId())) {
+				if (ITerminalsConnectorConstants.ANY_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID.equals(secondaryId)
+						|| Objects.equals(secondaryId, ref.getSecondaryId())) {
 					return ref.getView(restore);
 				}
 			}
@@ -248,7 +250,9 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 	 * Search and return the active terminals view.
 	 *
 	 * @param id The terminals console view id. Must not be <code>null</code>.
-	 * @param secondaryId The terminals console view secondary id or <code>null</code>.
+	 * @param secondaryId The terminal console secondary id, which may be <code>null</code> which is the secondary id of
+	 *        the first terminal view opened. To specify reuse of most recent terminal view use special value of
+	 *        {@link ITerminalsConnectorConstants#LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID}.
 	 * @return The terminals console view instance or <code>null</code> if not found.
 	 */
 	private IViewPart getActiveTerminalsView(String id, String secondaryId) {
@@ -257,8 +261,8 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 		IViewPart part = null;
 
 		if (id.equals(lastActiveViewId)) {
-			if (secondaryId == null || ANY_SECONDARY_ID.equals(secondaryId)
-					|| secondaryId.equals(lastActiveSecondaryViewId)) {
+			if (ITerminalsConnectorConstants.LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID.equals(secondaryId)
+					|| Objects.equals(secondaryId, lastActiveSecondaryViewId)) {
 				part = getTerminalsViewWithSecondaryId(lastActiveViewId, lastActiveSecondaryViewId, false);
 			}
 		}
@@ -363,7 +367,8 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 			IViewPart activePart = getActiveTerminalsView(id != null ? id : IUIConstants.ID, secondaryId);
 			if (activePart == null) {
 				// Create a new one
-				IViewPart newPart = showConsoleView(id != null ? id : IUIConstants.ID, getSecondaryId(secondaryId, id));
+				IViewPart newPart = showConsoleView(id != null ? id : IUIConstants.ID,
+						getNextTerminalSecondaryId(IUIConstants.ID));
 				return newPart;
 			}
 
@@ -377,20 +382,6 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 		return null;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Return the secondary id to use.
-	 * @param secondaryId
-	 * @param id
-	 * @return the secondaryId argument is not null, or *, otherwise use the auto generated secondary id.
-	 */
-	private String getSecondaryId(String secondaryId, String id) {
-		if (secondaryId == null || ANY_SECONDARY_ID.equals(secondaryId)) {
-			return getNextTerminalSecondaryId(id != null ? id : IUIConstants.ID);
-		}
-
-		return secondaryId;
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Opens the console with the given title and connector.
 	 * <p>
@@ -402,10 +393,14 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 	 * @param connector The terminal connector. Must not be <code>null</code>.
 	 * @param data The custom terminal data node or <code>null</code>.
 	 * @param flags The flags controlling how the console is opened or <code>null</code> to use defaults.
+	 * @deprecated Use {@link #openConsole(String, String, String, String, ITerminalConnector, Object, Map)}
+	 * and explicitly specify an ID {@link ITerminalsConnectorConstants#LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID}
 	 */
+	@Deprecated
 	public CTabItem openConsole(String id, String title, String encoding, ITerminalConnector connector, Object data,
 			Map<String, Boolean> flags) {
-		return openConsole(id, ANY_SECONDARY_ID, title, encoding, connector, data, flags);
+		return openConsole(id, ITerminalsConnectorConstants.LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID, title, encoding, connector, data,
+				flags);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -414,7 +409,9 @@ public class ConsoleManager {
 	 * <b>Note:</b> The method must be called within the UI thread.
 	 *
 	 * @param id The terminals console view id or <code>null</code> to show the default terminals console view.
-	 * @param secondaryId The terminals console view secondary id or <code>null</code>.
+	 * @param secondaryId The terminal console secondary id, which may be <code>null</code> which is the secondary id of
+	 *        the first terminal view opened. To specify reuse of most recent terminal view use special value of
+	 *        {@link ITerminalsConnectorConstants#LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID}.
 	 * @param title The console title. Must not be <code>null</code>.
 	 * @param encoding The terminal encoding or <code>null</code>.
 	 * @param connector The terminal connector. Must not be <code>null</code>.
diff --git a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/services/TerminalService.java b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/services/TerminalService.java
index a6ee782d4ec..c5b8bf263b5 100644
--- a/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/services/TerminalService.java
+++ b/terminal/plugins/org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view.ui/src/org/eclipse/tm/terminal/view/ui/services/TerminalService.java
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ public class TerminalService implements ITerminalService {
 		// Extract the properties
 		String id = (String) properties.get(ITerminalsConnectorConstants.PROP_ID);
 		String secondaryId = (String) properties.get(ITerminalsConnectorConstants.PROP_SECONDARY_ID);
+		if (!properties.containsKey(ITerminalsConnectorConstants.PROP_SECONDARY_ID)) {
+			secondaryId = ITerminalsConnectorConstants.LAST_ACTIVE_SECONDARY_ID;
+		}
 		String title = (String) properties.get(ITerminalsConnectorConstants.PROP_TITLE);
 		Object data = properties.get(ITerminalsConnectorConstants.PROP_DATA);
 
@@ -292,11 +295,8 @@ public class TerminalService implements ITerminalService {
 				}
 				// Open the new console
 				CTabItem item;
-				if (secondaryId != null)
-					item = ConsoleManager.getInstance().openConsole(id, secondaryId, title, encoding, connector, data,
-							flags);
-				else
-					item = ConsoleManager.getInstance().openConsole(id, title, encoding, connector, data, flags);
+				item = ConsoleManager.getInstance().openConsole(id, secondaryId, title, encoding, connector, data,
+						flags);
 				// Associate the original terminal properties with the tab item.
 				// This makes it easier to persist the connection data within the memento handler
 				if (item != null && !item.isDisposed())