diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 221ea33..8dd514f 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -347,6 +347,7 @@ bin_PROGRAMS += sgpemv2
 sgpemv2_CPPFLAGS = \
 		-I@top_srcdir@ \
 		-I@top_srcdir@/src/backend \
+		-DEXAMPLESDIR="\"$(examplesdir)\"" \
 		-DLOCALEDIR="\"$(localedir)\"" \
 		-DSHAREDIR="\"$(sharedir)\"" \
 		-DUIDIR="\"$(uidir)\"" \
diff --git a/src/gui_builder.cc b/src/gui_builder.cc
index 122112c..320b363 100644
--- a/src/gui_builder.cc
+++ b/src/gui_builder.cc
@@ -150,9 +150,25 @@ GuiBuilder::on_file_new_activate()
 }
 
 
-
 void
 GuiBuilder::on_file_open_activate()
+{
+  if (!_filename.empty()) // Please test the following line extensively:
+    open_file (Glib::path_get_dirname(_filename));
+  else
+    open_file (); 
+}
+
+
+void
+GuiBuilder::on_file_open_example_activate()
+{
+  open_file (EXAMPLESDIR);
+}
+
+
+void
+GuiBuilder::open_file(const std::string& basedir)
 {
   ask_save();
 
@@ -172,9 +188,8 @@ GuiBuilder::on_file_open_activate()
     // open file dialog...
     Gtk::FileChooserDialog dialog(_("Please choose a file"), Gtk::FILE_CHOOSER_ACTION_OPEN);
     dialog.set_transient_for(get_initial_window());
-    if(!_filename.empty()) // Please test the following line extensively:
-      dialog.set_current_folder(Glib::path_get_dirname(_filename));
-
+    dialog.set_current_folder (basedir);
+    
     //Add response buttons the the dialog:
     dialog.add_button(Gtk::Stock::CANCEL, Gtk::RESPONSE_CANCEL);
     dialog.add_button(Gtk::Stock::OPEN, Gtk::RESPONSE_OK);
@@ -227,7 +242,8 @@ GuiBuilder::on_file_open_activate()
     _refXml->get_widget("MainStatusBar", sbar);
     sbar->push(msg);
   }
-}
+}  
+
 
 void
 GuiBuilder::on_file_save_activate()
@@ -604,6 +620,10 @@ GuiBuilder::GuiBuilder(const std::string& uifile)
   RefPtr<Action>::cast_dynamic (_refXml->get_object("Action.File.Open"))
         ->signal_activate().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &GuiBuilder::on_file_open_activate));
 
+  // file open dialog for examples
+  RefPtr<Action>::cast_dynamic (_refXml->get_object("Action.File.OpenExample"))
+        ->signal_activate().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &GuiBuilder::on_file_open_example_activate));
+
   // file save dialog
   RefPtr<Action>::cast_dynamic (_refXml->get_object("Action.File.Save"))
         ->signal_activate().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &GuiBuilder::on_file_save_activate));
@@ -734,12 +754,3 @@ GuiBuilder::get_initial_window() const
   return *main_window;
 }
 
-
-void
-GuiBuilder::open_file(const std::string& filename)
-{
-  // FIXME: to be written.
-  // Debug line (erase me when done):
-  std::cout << _("Filename to open: ") << filename << std::endl;
-}
-
diff --git a/src/gui_builder.hh b/src/gui_builder.hh
index e7337fd..177fefb 100644
--- a/src/gui_builder.hh
+++ b/src/gui_builder.hh
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ namespace sgpem
     
     void on_file_new_activate();
     void on_file_open_activate();
+    void on_file_open_example_activate();
     void on_file_save_activate();
     void on_file_saveas_activate();
     
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ namespace sgpem
     void on_selected_resource_policy(ResourcePolicy* pol);
     void on_toggle_simulation_mode();
 
-    void open_file(const std::string& filename);
+    void open_file(const std::string& basedir = "");
 
     void populate_with_cpu_policies(Gtk::Menu& menu);
     void populate_with_resource_policies(Gtk::Menu& menu);
diff --git a/ui/main-window.ui b/ui/main-window.ui
index 0481fb0..5b03a81 100644
--- a/ui/main-window.ui
+++ b/ui/main-window.ui
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@
             <property name="name">Action.File.Open</property>
           </object>
         </child>
+        <child>
+          <object class="GtkAction" id="Action.File.OpenExample">
+            <property name="name">Action.File.OpenExample</property>
+            <property name="label">Open E_xample</property>
+          </object>
+        </child>
         <child>
           <object class="GtkAction" id="Action.File.Save">
             <property name="stock_id">gtk-save</property>
@@ -142,6 +148,7 @@
         <menu action="Action.File">
           <menuitem action="Action.File.New"/>
           <menuitem action="Action.File.Open"/>
+          <menuitem action="Action.File.OpenExample" />
           <menuitem action="Action.File.Save"/>
           <menuitem action="Action.File.SaveAs"/>
           <separator/>