diff --git a/core/sourcemod.cpp b/core/sourcemod.cpp
index 3a30de54..26d9b22c 100644
--- a/core/sourcemod.cpp
+++ b/core/sourcemod.cpp
@@ -443,20 +443,35 @@ size_t SourceModBase::BuildPath(PathType type, char *buffer, size_t maxlength, c
 	vsnprintf(_buffer, PLATFORM_MAX_PATH, format, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
 
+	/* If we get a "file://" notation, strip off the file:// part so we're left 
+	 * with an absolute path.  Note that the absolute path gets returned, so 
+	 * usage with relative paths here is completely invalid.
+	 */
+	if (type != Path_SM_Rel && strncmp(_buffer, "file://", 7) == 0)
+	{
+		return g_LibSys.PathFormat(buffer, maxlength, "%s", &_buffer[7]);
+	}
+
 	const char *base = NULL;
 	if (type == Path_Game)
 	{
 		base = GetGamePath();
-	} else if (type == Path_SM) {
+	}
+	else if (type == Path_SM)
+	{
 		base = GetSourceModPath();
-	} else if (type == Path_SM_Rel) {
+	}
+	else if (type == Path_SM_Rel)
+	{
 		base = m_SMRelDir;
 	}
 
 	if (base)
 	{
 		return g_LibSys.PathFormat(buffer, maxlength, "%s/%s", base, _buffer);
-	} else {
+	}
+	else
+	{
 		return g_LibSys.PathFormat(buffer, maxlength, "%s", _buffer);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/plugins/include/files.inc b/plugins/include/files.inc
index 6dacc5ed..41aa979a 100644
--- a/plugins/include/files.inc
+++ b/plugins/include/files.inc
@@ -35,7 +35,22 @@
 #endif
 #define _files_included
 
-/* @global All paths in SourceMod natives are relative to the mod folder unless otherwise noted. */
+/**
+ * @global All paths in SourceMod natives are relative to the mod folder 
+ * unless otherwise noted.
+ *
+ * Most functions in SourceMod (at least, ones that deal with direct 
+ * file manipulation) will support an alternate path specification.
+ *
+ * If the path starts with the string "file://" and the PathType is 
+ * not relative, then the "file://" portion is stripped off, and the 
+ * rest of the path is used without any modification (except for 
+ * correcting slashes).  This can be used to override the path 
+ * builder to supply alternate absolute paths.  Examples:
+ *
+ * file://C:/Temp/file.txt
+ * file:///tmp/file.txt
+ */
 
 /**
  * File inode types.
@@ -72,7 +87,9 @@ enum PathType
 };
 
 /**
- * Builds a path relative to the SourceMod folder.
+ * Builds a path relative to the SourceMod folder.  This should be used instead of 
+ * directly referencing addons/sourcemod, in case users change the name of their 
+ * folder layout.
  *
  * @param type			Type of path to build as the base.
  * @param buffer		Buffer to store the path.
@@ -85,8 +102,10 @@ native BuildPath(PathType:type, String:buffer[], maxlength, const String:fmt[],
 
 /**
  * Opens a directory/folder for contents enumeration.
+ *
  * @note Directories are closed with CloseHandle().
  * @note Directories Handles can be cloned.
+ * @note OpenDirectory() supports the "file://" notation.
  *
  * @param path			Path to open.
  * @return				A Handle to the directory, INVALID_HANDLE on open error.
@@ -95,6 +114,7 @@ native Handle:OpenDirectory(const String:path[]);
 
 /**
  * Reads the current directory entry as a local filename, then moves to the next file.
+ *
  * @note Contents of buffers are undefined when returning false.
  * @note Both the '.' and '..' automatic directory entries will be retrieved for Windows and Linux.
  * 
@@ -109,8 +129,10 @@ native bool:ReadDirEntry(Handle:dir, String:buffer[], maxlength, &FileType:type=
 
 /**
  * Opens a file.
+ *
  * @note Files are closed with CloseHandle().
  * @note File Handles can be cloned.
+ * @note OpenFile() supports the "file://" notation.
  *
  * @param file			File to open.
  * @param mode			Open mode.
diff --git a/public/ISourceMod.h b/public/ISourceMod.h
index af39d30b..ae5f0851 100644
--- a/public/ISourceMod.h
+++ b/public/ISourceMod.h
@@ -95,6 +95,15 @@ namespace SourceMod
 		/**
 		 * @brief Builds a platform path for a specific target base path.
 		 *
+		 * If the path starts with the string "file://" and the PathType is 
+		 * not relative, then the "file://" portion is stripped off, and the 
+		 * rest of the path is used without any modification (except for 
+		 * correcting slashes).  This can be used to override the path 
+		 * builder to supply alternate absolute paths.  Examples:
+		 *
+		 * file://C:/Temp/file.txt
+		 * file:///tmp/file.txt
+		 *
 		 * @param type		Type of path to use as a base.
 		 * @param buffer	Buffer to write to.
 		 * @param maxlength	Size of buffer.