@@ -19,21 +19,26 @@
 (declare (uses process))
 
 (include "common_records.scm")
 
 ;; return list (path fullpath configname)
-(define (find-config configname)
-  (let* ((cwd (string-split (current-directory) "/")))
-    (let loop ((dir cwd))
-      (let* ((path     (conc "/" (string-intersperse dir "/")))
-	     (fullpath (conc path "/" configname)))
-	(if (file-exists? fullpath)
-	    (list path fullpath configname)
-	    (let ((remcwd (take dir (- (length dir) 1))))
-	      (if (null? remcwd)
-		  (list #f #f #f) ;;  #f #f) 
-		  (loop remcwd))))))))
+(define (find-config configname #!key (toppath #f))
+  (if toppath
+      (let ((cfname (conc toppath "/" configname)))
+	(if (file-exists? cfname)
+	    (list toppath cfname configname)
+	    (list #f      #f     #f)))
+      (let* ((cwd (string-split (current-directory) "/")))
+	(let loop ((dir cwd))
+	  (let* ((path     (conc "/" (string-intersperse dir "/")))
+		 (fullpath (conc path "/" configname)))
+	    (if (file-exists? fullpath)
+		(list path fullpath configname)
+		(let ((remcwd (take dir (- (length dir) 1))))
+		  (if (null? remcwd)
+		      (list #f #f #f) ;;  #f #f) 
+		  (loop remcwd)))))))))
 
 (define (config:assoc-safe-add alist key val)
   (let ((newalist (filter (lambda (x)(not (equal? key (car x)))) alist)))
     (append newalist (list (list key val)))))
 
@@ -208,13 +213,13 @@
 						    (loop (configf:read-line inp res) curr-section-name #f #f))))
 	       (else (debug:print 0 "ERROR: problem parsing " path ",\n   \"" inl "\"")
 		     (set! var-flag #f)
 		     (loop (configf:read-line inp res) curr-section-name #f #f))))))))
   
-(define (find-and-read-config fname #!key (environ-patt #f))
+(define (find-and-read-config fname #!key (environ-patt #f)(given-toppath #f))
   (let* ((curr-dir   (current-directory))
-         (configinfo (find-config fname))
+         (configinfo (find-config fname toppath: given-toppath))
 	 (toppath    (car configinfo))
 	 (configfile (cadr configinfo)))
     (if toppath (change-directory toppath)) 
     (let ((configdat  (if configfile (read-config configfile #f #t environ-patt: environ-patt) #f))) ;; (make-hash-table))))
       (if toppath (change-directory curr-dir))