Index: import_sch.c
===================================================================
--- import_sch.c	(revision 36727)
+++ import_sch.c	(revision 36728)
@@ -33,11 +33,13 @@
 #include <librnd/core/hid_dad.h>
 #include <librnd/core/conf_hid.h>
 #include <librnd/core/compat_fs.h>
+#include <librnd/core/compat_lrealpath.h>
 #include "globalconst.h"
 
 #include "board.h"
 #include "undo.h"
 #include "plug_import.h"
+#include "conf_core.h"
 #include "import_sch_conf.h"
 
 #define MAX_ARGS 16
Index: import_sch_conf.h
===================================================================
--- import_sch_conf.h	(revision 36727)
+++ import_sch_conf.h	(revision 36728)
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 			RND_CFT_STRING import_fmt;          /* name of the input format */
 			RND_CFT_LIST args;                  /* import_fmt arguments, typically file names */
 			RND_CFT_BOOLEAN verbose;            /* verbose logging of the import code */
+			RND_CFT_BOOLEAN design_relative;    /* generate design-relative paths using $(rc.path.design) when GUI-selecting input file names */
 
 			/* obsolete: temporary compatibility with import_sch for the transition period */
 			RND_CFT_STRING gnetlist_program;       /* DEPRECATED: gnetlist program name */
Index: import_sch_dlg.c
===================================================================
--- import_sch_dlg.c	(revision 36727)
+++ import_sch_dlg.c	(revision 36728)
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  *                            COPYRIGHT
  *
  *  pcb-rnd, interactive printed circuit board design
- *  Copyright (C) 2020 Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas
+ *  Copyright (C) 2020,2022 Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas
  *
  *  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
  *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -190,6 +190,55 @@
 	}
 }
 
+/* Convert path to be relative to the current rc.path.design; free's path,
+   returns a newly allocated path instead */
+static char *path_to_design_relative(char *path)
+{
+	gds_t tmp = {0};
+	char *s, *d, *sch = rnd_lrealpath(path), *des = rnd_lrealpath(conf_core.rc.path.design);
+
+	if ((*sch != '/') || (*des != '/')) {
+		rnd_message(RND_MSG_ERROR, "path_to_design_relative: failed to resolve to absolue\n");
+		free(sch);
+		free(des);
+		return path;
+	}
+
+	s = sch;
+	d = des;
+
+/* sch: /a/b/ c/d/1/2/foo.rs
+   des: /a/b/ R/8                 */
+
+	/* ignore common prefix */
+	for(; *s == *d; s++,d++) ;
+
+	/* ... only up to the last / of it */
+	for(; *s != '/'; s--,d--) ;
+
+	gds_append_str(&tmp, "$(rc.path.design)/");
+
+	/* add all the ..'s: anything left on the design path */
+	for(; *d != '\0'; d++)
+		if (*d == '/')
+			gds_append_str(&tmp, "../");
+
+	/* avoid //, tmp ends with / for sure */
+	if (*s == '/')
+		s++;
+
+	/* we are at the common ancestor path, append remaining sch */
+	gds_append_str(&tmp, s);
+
+	rnd_trace("design relative:\n sch '%s'\n des '%s'\n RES '%s'\n", path, conf_core.rc.path.design, tmp.array);
+
+	free(sch);
+	free(des);
+	free(path);
+
+	return tmp.array; /* owner: caller */
+}
+
 static void isch_browse_cb(void *hid_ctx, void *caller_data, rnd_hid_attribute_t *attr)
 {
 	int n, idx = -1, wid = attr - isch_ctx.dlg;
@@ -212,6 +261,9 @@
 	if (name == NULL)
 		return;
 
+	if (conf_import_sch.plugins.import_sch.design_relative)
+		name = path_to_design_relative(name);
+
 	isch_conf_lock++;
 	rnd_conf_set(RND_CFR_DESIGN, "plugins/import_sch/args", idx, name, RND_POL_OVERWRITE);
 	isch_pcb2dlg();