diff --git a/src/_premake_init.lua b/src/_premake_init.lua
index 793b2db1..d8e5e6cf 100644
--- a/src/_premake_init.lua
+++ b/src/_premake_init.lua
@@ -136,6 +136,19 @@
 		tokens = true,
 	}
 
+	api.register {
+		name = "customRule",
+		scope = "config",
+		kind = "string",
+	}
+
+	api.register {
+		name = "customRules",
+		scope = "project",
+		kind = "list:file",
+		tokens = true,
+	}
+
 	api.register {
 		name = "debugargs",
 		scope = "config",
diff --git a/src/actions/vstudio/vs2010_vcxproj.lua b/src/actions/vstudio/vs2010_vcxproj.lua
index e3933bb2..b96df9b6 100644
--- a/src/actions/vstudio/vs2010_vcxproj.lua
+++ b/src/actions/vstudio/vs2010_vcxproj.lua
@@ -482,6 +482,43 @@
 		m.simplefilesgroup(prj, "None")
 		m.simplefilesgroup(prj, "ResourceCompile")
 		m.customBuildFilesGroup(prj)
+		m.customRuleFileGroups(prj)
+	end
+
+
+	function m.customRuleFileGroups(prj)
+		local group = m.getfilegroup(prj, "CustomRule")
+		local vars = p.api.getCustomVars()
+
+		for rule, files in pairs(group) do
+			if #files > 0 then
+				_p(1,'<ItemGroup>')
+				for i, file in ipairs(files) do
+
+					local contents = p.capture(function ()
+						for i, var in ipairs(vars) do
+							for cfg in project.eachconfig(prj) do
+								local condition = m.condition(cfg)
+								local fcfg = fileconfig.getconfig(file, cfg)
+								if fcfg and fcfg[var] then
+									local key = var:sub(9)
+									_x(3,'<%s %s>%s</%s>', key, m.condition(fcfg.config), fcfg[var], key)
+								end
+							end
+						end
+					end)
+
+					if #contents > 0 then
+						_p(2,'<%s Include=\"%s\">', rule, path.translate(file.relpath))
+						_p('%s', contents)
+						_p(2,'</%s>', rule)
+					else
+						_p(2,'<%s Include=\"%s\" />', rule, path.translate(file.relpath))
+					end
+				end
+				_p(1,'</ItemGroup>')
+			end
+		end
 	end
 
 
@@ -594,58 +631,117 @@
 
 
 	function m.getfilegroup(prj, group)
-		-- check for a cached copy before creating
-		local groups = prj.vc2010_file_groups
-		if not groups then
-			groups = {
-				ClCompile = {},
-				ClInclude = {},
-				None = {},
-				ResourceCompile = {},
-				CustomBuild = {},
-			}
-			prj.vc2010_file_groups = groups
+		-- Have I already created the groups?
+		local groups = prj._vc2010_file_groups
+		if groups then
+			return groups[group]
+		end
 
-			local tr = project.getsourcetree(prj)
-			tree.traverse(tr, {
-				onleaf = function(node)
-					-- if any configuration of this file uses a custom build rule,
-					-- then they all must be marked as custom build
-					local hasbuildrule = false
-					for cfg in project.eachconfig(prj) do
-						local filecfg = fileconfig.getconfig(node, cfg)
-						if fileconfig.hasCustomBuildRule(filecfg) then
-							hasbuildrule = true
-							break
-						end
-					end
+		groups = {
+			ClCompile = {},
+			ClInclude = {},
+			None = {},
+			ResourceCompile = {},
+			CustomBuild = {},
+			CustomRule = {},
+		}
 
-					if hasbuildrule then
-						table.insert(groups.CustomBuild, node)
-					elseif path.iscppfile(node.name) then
-						table.insert(groups.ClCompile, node)
-					elseif path.iscppheader(node.name) then
-						table.insert(groups.ClInclude, node)
-					elseif path.isresourcefile(node.name) then
-						table.insert(groups.ResourceCompile, node)
-					else
-						table.insert(groups.None, node)
+		local tr = project.getsourcetree(prj)
+		tree.traverse(tr, {
+			onleaf = function(node)
+				-- if any configuration of this file uses a custom build rule,
+				-- then they all must be marked as custom build
+				local customBuild, customRule
+
+				for cfg in project.eachconfig(prj) do
+					local fcfg = fileconfig.getconfig(node, cfg)
+					if fileconfig.hasCustomBuildRule(fcfg) then
+						customBuild = true
+						break
+					elseif fcfg and fcfg.customRule then
+						customRule = fcfg.customRule
+						break
 					end
 				end
-			})
 
-			-- sort by relative to path; otherwise VS will reorder the files
-			for group, files in pairs(groups) do
-				table.sort(files, function (a, b)
-					return a.relpath < b.relpath
-				end)
+				if customBuild then
+					table.insert(groups.CustomBuild, node)
+				elseif customRule then
+					groups.CustomRule[customRule] = groups.CustomRule[customRule] or {}
+					table.insert(groups.CustomRule[customRule], node)
+				elseif path.iscppfile(node.name) then
+					table.insert(groups.ClCompile, node)
+				elseif path.iscppheader(node.name) then
+					table.insert(groups.ClInclude, node)
+				elseif path.isresourcefile(node.name) then
+					table.insert(groups.ResourceCompile, node)
+				else
+					table.insert(groups.None, node)
+				end
+			end
+		})
+
+		-- sort by relative to path; otherwise VS will reorder the files
+		for group, files in pairs(groups) do
+			table.sort(files, function (a, b)
+				return a.relpath < b.relpath
+			end)
+		end
+
+		prj._vc2010_file_groups = groups
+		return groups[group]
+	end
+
+
+	function m.categorize(prj, file)
+		-- If any configuration for this file uses a custom build step or a
+		-- custom, externally defined rule, that's the category to use
+		for cfg in project.eachconfig(prj) do
+			local fcfg = fileconfig.getconfig(file, cfg)
+			if fileconfig.hasCustomBuildRule(fcfg) then
+				return "CustomBuild"
+			elseif fcfg and fcfg.customRule then
+				return fcfg.customRule
 			end
 		end
 
-		return groups[group]
+		-- Otherwise use the file extension to deduce a category
+		if path.iscppfile(node.name) then
+			return "ClCompile"
+		elseif path.iscppheader(node.name) then
+			return "ClInclude"
+		elseif path.isresourcefile(node.name) then
+			return "ResourceCompile"
+		else
+			return "None"
+		end
 	end
 
 
+	function m.categorizeSources(prj)
+		local groups = {}
+
+		local tr = project.getsourcetree(prj)
+		tree.traverse(tr, {
+			onleaf = function(node)
+				local cat = m.categorize(prj, node)
+				groups[cat] = groups[cat] or {}
+				table.insert(groups[cat], node)
+			end
+		})
+
+		-- sort by relative to path; otherwise VS will reorder the files
+		for group, files in pairs(groups) do
+			table.sort(files, function (a, b)
+				return a.relpath < b.relpath
+			end)
+		end
+
+		return groups
+	end
+
+
+
 --
 -- Generate the list of project dependencies.
 --
@@ -966,9 +1062,14 @@
 
 
 	function m.importExtensionSettings(prj)
-		_p(1,'<Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />')
-		_p(1,'<ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">')
-		_p(1,'</ImportGroup>')
+		p.w('<Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />')
+		p.push('<ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">')
+		table.foreachi(prj.customRules, function(value)
+			value = path.translate(project.getrelative(prj, value))
+			value = path.appendExtension(value, ".props")
+			p.x('<Import Project="%s" />', value)
+		end)
+		p.pop('</ImportGroup>')
 	end
 
 
diff --git a/src/base/api.lua b/src/base/api.lua
index f7ecc7ec..20689f03 100755
--- a/src/base/api.lua
+++ b/src/base/api.lua
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@
 				return api.remove(field, value)
 			end
 		end
+
+		return field
 	end
 
 
@@ -925,3 +927,46 @@
 	function newoption(opt)
 		premake.option.add(opt)
 	end
+
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+--
+-- The custom*() functions act as wrappers that define new ad-hoc fields
+-- on the fly, to support arbitrary custom rule variables. These should be
+-- considered experimental and temporary for now as a more complete rule-
+-- generating solution will certainly be needed, but I will do my best to
+-- deprecate them cleanly when that time comes.
+--
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	function customVar(value)
+		if type(value) ~= "table" or #value ~= 2 then
+			error { msg="invalid value for customVar()" }
+		end
+
+		local name = value[1]
+		local value = value[2]
+
+		local fieldName = "_custom_" .. name
+		local field = premake.field.get(fieldName)
+		if not field then
+			field = api.register {
+				name = fieldName,
+				scope = "config",
+				kind = "string"
+			}
+		end
+
+		_G[fieldName](value)
+	end
+
+
+	function api.getCustomVars()
+		local vars = {}
+		for f in premake.field.each() do
+			if f.name:startswith("_custom_") then
+				table.insert(vars, f.name)
+			end
+		end
+		return vars
+	end
diff --git a/src/base/field.lua b/src/base/field.lua
index 19b35b13..961d28d2 100644
--- a/src/base/field.lua
+++ b/src/base/field.lua
@@ -102,6 +102,20 @@
 
 
 
+---
+-- Returns an iterator for the list of register fields.
+---
+
+	function field.each()
+		local index
+		return function ()
+			index = next(field._list, index)
+			return field._list[index]
+		end
+	end
+
+
+
 ---
 -- Register a new kind of data for field storage.
 --
diff --git a/src/base/path.lua b/src/base/path.lua
index 66b8cc32..3200fbcc 100644
--- a/src/base/path.lua
+++ b/src/base/path.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 --
 -- path.lua
 -- Path manipulation functions.
--- Copyright (c) 2002-2013 Jason Perkins and the Premake project
+-- Copyright (c) 2002-2014 Jason Perkins and the Premake project
 --
 
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 -- isn't already present, and adjusts quotes as necessary.
 --
 
-	function path.appendextension(p, ext)
+	function path.appendExtension(p, ext)
 		-- if the extension is nil or empty, do nothing
 		if not ext or ext == "" then
 			return p
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
 		return p
 	end
 
+	path.appendextension = path.appendExtension
+
+
 
 --
 -- Retrieve the filename portion of a path, without any extension.
diff --git a/tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_files.lua b/tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_files.lua
index 20ba076d..b1599786 100755
--- a/tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_files.lua
+++ b/tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_files.lua
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@
 		]]
 	end
 
+
+--
+-- Check handling of files with custom build rules.
+--
+
 	function suite.customBuild_onBuildRule()
 		files { "hello.cg" }
 		filter "files:**.cg"
@@ -88,7 +93,6 @@
 		]]
 	end
 
-
 	function suite.customBuild_onBuildRuleWithMessage()
 		files { "hello.cg" }
 		filter "files:**.cg"
@@ -490,3 +494,56 @@
 	</ItemGroup>
 		]]
 	end
+
+
+--
+-- Check handling of files using custom rule definitions.
+--
+
+	function suite.correctlyCategorized_onCustomRule()
+		files { "hello.dae" }
+		filter "files:**.dae"
+			customRule "Animation"
+		prepare()
+			test.capture [[
+	<ItemGroup>
+		<Animation Include="hello.dae" />
+	</ItemGroup>
+		]]
+	end
+
+
+	function suite.customRule_onLiteralVars()
+		files { "hello.dae" }
+		filter "files:**.dae"
+			customRule "Animation"
+			customVar { "GenerateDebugInfo", "True" }
+		prepare()
+		test.capture [[
+	<ItemGroup>
+		<Animation Include="hello.dae">
+			<GenerateDebugInfo Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'">True</GenerateDebugInfo>
+			<GenerateDebugInfo Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">True</GenerateDebugInfo>
+		</Animation>
+	</ItemGroup>
+		]]
+	end
+
+
+	function suite.customRule_onPerConfigLiteralVars()
+		files { "hello.dae" }
+		filter { "files:**.dae" }
+			customRule "Animation"
+		filter { "files:**.dae", "configurations:Debug" }
+			customVar { "GenerateDebugInfo", "True" }
+		prepare()
+		test.capture [[
+	<ItemGroup>
+		<Animation Include="hello.dae">
+			<GenerateDebugInfo Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'">True</GenerateDebugInfo>
+		</Animation>
+	</ItemGroup>
+		]]
+	end
+
+
diff --git a/tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_import_extensions.lua b/tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_import_extensions.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5f8bdf46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_import_extensions.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+--
+-- tests/actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_import_extensions.lua
+-- Check the import extension settings block of a VS 2010 project.
+-- Copyright (c) 2014 Jason Perkins and the Premake project
+--
+
+	local suite = test.declare("vs2010_import_extensions")
+	local vc2010 = premake.vstudio.vc2010
+	local project = premake.project
+
+
+--
+-- Setup
+--
+
+	local sln
+
+	function suite.setup()
+		sln = test.createsolution()
+	end
+
+	local function prepare()
+		local prj = test.getproject(sln)
+		vc2010.importExtensionSettings(prj)
+	end
+
+
+--
+-- Writes an empty element when no custom rules are specified.
+--
+
+	function suite.structureIsCorrect_onDefaultValues()
+		prepare()
+		test.capture [[
+<Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+<ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+</ImportGroup>
+		]]
+	end
+
+
+
+--
+-- Writes entries for each project scoped custom rules path.
+--
+
+	function suite.addsImport_onEachRulesFile()
+		customRules "MyRules"
+		customRules "MyOtherRules"
+		prepare()
+		test.capture [[
+<Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+<ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+	<Import Project="MyRules.props" />
+	<Import Project="MyOtherRules.props" />
+</ImportGroup>
+		]]
+	end
+
+
+--
+-- Rule files use a project relative path.
+--
+
+	function suite.usesProjectRelativePaths()
+		customRules "path/to/MyRules"
+		location "build"
+		prepare()
+		test.capture [[
+<Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
+<ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
+	<Import Project="..\path\to\MyRules.props" />
+</ImportGroup>
+		]]
+	end
diff --git a/tests/premake5.lua b/tests/premake5.lua
index ad44964b..a496e1eb 100644
--- a/tests/premake5.lua
+++ b/tests/premake5.lua
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@
 	end
 
 
+	test.getproject = function(sln, i)
+		local sln = premake.oven.bakeSolution(sln)
+		return premake.solution.getproject(sln, i or 1)
+	end
+
+
 	test.getconfig = function(prj, buildcfg, platform)
 		local sln = premake.oven.bakeSolution(prj.solution)
 		prj = premake.solution.getproject(sln, prj.name)
@@ -167,6 +173,7 @@
 	dofile("actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_files.lua")
 	dofile("actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_filter_ids.lua")
 	dofile("actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_filters.lua")
+	dofile("actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_import_extensions.lua")
 	dofile("actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_item_def_group.lua")
 	dofile("actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_link.lua")
 	dofile("actions/vstudio/vc2010/test_manifest.lua")