How to change item label when autoLinks=true is set in OpenHAB 2 config file?

Setup, Configuration and Use Items & Sitemaps
1

If I set autoLinks=true in config file, all item/links are automatically created by ESH. But it uses channel label as item label. Is it possible to control this item label when items are created and persist new label
so that on restart it uses this label? May be it should use thing label as default label. This will help Alexa/Homekit to have unique and meaning full label for items.

regards,

Satish

2

Please let me know if the way I am using is not recommended. I will then try to switch to textual .item files. As I have lots things, I will have to write a script to create .items file.