diff --git a/src/App/Application.cpp b/src/App/Application.cpp
index 66b02dff3..34d797571 100644
--- a/src/App/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/App/Application.cpp
@@ -1268,10 +1268,12 @@ void Application::processCmdLineFiles(void)
             else {
                 std::vector<std::string> mods = App::GetApplication().getImportModules(Ext.c_str());
                 if (!mods.empty()) {
+                    std::string escapedstr = Base::Tools::escapedUnicodeFromUtf8(File.filePath().c_str());
                     Base::Interpreter().loadModule(mods.front().c_str());
                     Base::Interpreter().runStringArg("import %s",mods.front().c_str());
-                    Base::Interpreter().runStringArg("%s.open(\"%s\")",mods.front().c_str(),File.filePath().c_str());
-                    Base::Console().Log("Command line open: %s.Open(\"%s\")\n",mods.front().c_str(),File.filePath().c_str());
+                    Base::Interpreter().runStringArg("%s.open(u\"%s\")",mods.front().c_str(),
+                            escapedstr.c_str());
+                    Base::Console().Log("Command line open: %s.open(u\"%s\")\n",mods.front().c_str(),escapedstr.c_str());
                 }
                 else {
                     Console().Warning("File format not supported: %s \n", File.filePath().c_str());
diff --git a/src/App/ApplicationPy.cpp b/src/App/ApplicationPy.cpp
index 03972ced6..3b5d1c855 100644
--- a/src/App/ApplicationPy.cpp
+++ b/src/App/ApplicationPy.cpp
@@ -180,12 +180,14 @@ PyObject* Application::sLoadFile(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject *
 
 PyObject* Application::sOpenDocument(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kwd*/)
 {
-    char *pstr;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &pstr))     // convert args: Python->C
-        return NULL;                             // NULL triggers exception
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
     try {
         // return new document
-        return (GetApplication().openDocument(pstr)->getPyObject());
+        return (GetApplication().openDocument(EncodedName.c_str())->getPyObject());
     }
     catch (const Base::Exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_IOError, e.what());
@@ -193,7 +195,7 @@ PyObject* Application::sOpenDocument(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObjec
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e) {
         // might be subclass from zipios
-        PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Invalid project file %s: %s\n", pstr, e.what());
+        PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Invalid project file %s: %s\n", EncodedName.c_str(), e.what());
         return 0L;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Base/Tools.cpp b/src/Base/Tools.cpp
index 4cbab7b9d..509d61750 100644
--- a/src/Base/Tools.cpp
+++ b/src/Base/Tools.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 #endif
 
 # include <QTime>
-
+#include <Python.h>
 #include "Tools.h"
 
 namespace Base {
@@ -141,6 +141,16 @@ std::string Base::Tools::narrow(const std::wstring& str)
         stm << ctfacet.narrow(str[i], 0);
     return stm.str();
 }
+
+std::string Base::Tools::escapedUnicodeFromUtf8(const char *s)
+{
+    PyObject* unicode = PyUnicode_FromString(s);
+    PyObject* escaped = PyUnicode_AsUnicodeEscapeString(unicode);
+    Py_DECREF(unicode);
+    std::string escapedstr = std::string(PyString_AsString(escaped));
+    Py_DECREF(escaped);
+    return escapedstr;
+}
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -191,3 +201,6 @@ std::string StopWatch::toString(int ms) const
         str << msec << "ms";
     return str.str();
 }
+
+
+
diff --git a/src/Base/Tools.h b/src/Base/Tools.h
index 43cbaa4d6..cb2f551c1 100644
--- a/src/Base/Tools.h
+++ b/src/Base/Tools.h
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ struct BaseExport Tools
     static std::string getIdentifier(const std::string&);
     static std::wstring widen(const std::string& str);
     static std::string narrow(const std::wstring& str);
+    static std::string escapedUnicodeFromUtf8(const char *s);
 };
 
 } // namespace Base
diff --git a/src/Gui/Application.cpp b/src/Gui/Application.cpp
index 71b3c2b28..f3e67e3af 100644
--- a/src/Gui/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/Application.cpp
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ void Application::open(const char* FileName, const char* Module)
     wc.setIgnoreEvents(WaitCursor::NoEvents);
     Base::FileInfo File(FileName);
     string te = File.extension();
-
+    string unicodepath = Base::Tools::escapedUnicodeFromUtf8(File.filePath().c_str());
     // if the active document is empty and not modified, close it
     // in case of an automatically created empty document at startup
     App::Document* act = App::GetApplication().getActiveDocument();
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ void Application::open(const char* FileName, const char* Module)
         Command::doCommand(Command::App, "import %s", Module);
         try {
             // load the file with the module
-            Command::doCommand(Command::App, "%s.open(\"%s\")", Module, File.filePath().c_str());
+            Command::doCommand(Command::App, "%s.open(u\"%s\")", Module, unicodepath.c_str());
             // ViewFit
             if (!File.hasExtension("FCStd") && sendHasMsgToActiveView("ViewFit")) {
                 ParameterGrp::handle hGrp = App::GetApplication().GetParameterGroupByPath
@@ -525,6 +525,7 @@ void Application::importFrom(const char* FileName, const char* DocName, const ch
     wc.setIgnoreEvents(WaitCursor::NoEvents);
     Base::FileInfo File(FileName);
     std::string te = File.extension();
+    string unicodepath = Base::Tools::escapedUnicodeFromUtf8(File.filePath().c_str());
 
     if (Module != 0) {
         // issue module loading
@@ -533,14 +534,14 @@ void Application::importFrom(const char* FileName, const char* DocName, const ch
         try {
             // load the file with the module
             if (File.hasExtension("FCStd")) {
-                Command::doCommand(Command::App, "%s.open(\"%s\")"
-                                               , Module, File.filePath().c_str());
+                Command::doCommand(Command::App, "%s.open(u\"%s\")"
+                                               , Module, unicodepath.c_str());
                 if (activeDocument())
                     activeDocument()->setModified(false);
             }
             else {
-                Command::doCommand(Command::App, "%s.insert(\"%s\",\"%s\")"
-                                               , Module, File.filePath().c_str(), DocName);
+                Command::doCommand(Command::App, "%s.insert(u\"%s\",\"%s\")"
+                                               , Module, unicodepath.c_str(), DocName);
                 ParameterGrp::handle hGrp = App::GetApplication().GetParameterGroupByPath
                     ("User parameter:BaseApp/Preferences/View");
                 if (hGrp->GetBool("AutoFitToView", true))
@@ -570,6 +571,7 @@ void Application::exportTo(const char* FileName, const char* DocName, const char
     WaitCursor wc;
     Base::FileInfo File(FileName);
     std::string te = File.extension();
+    string unicodepath = Base::Tools::escapedUnicodeFromUtf8(File.filePath().c_str());
 
     if (Module != 0) {
         try {
@@ -588,7 +590,7 @@ void Application::exportTo(const char* FileName, const char* DocName, const char
             }
 
             str << "import " << Module << std::endl;
-            str << Module << ".export(__objs__,\"" << File.filePath() << "\")" << std::endl;
+            str << Module << ".export(__objs__,u\"" << unicodepath << "\")" << std::endl;
             str << "del __objs__" << std::endl;
 
             std::string code = str.str();
diff --git a/src/Gui/ApplicationPy.cpp b/src/Gui/ApplicationPy.cpp
index 032abfa8d..0d904f23a 100644
--- a/src/Gui/ApplicationPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/ApplicationPy.cpp
@@ -233,11 +233,13 @@ PyObject* Application::sShowObject(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject
 PyObject* Application::sOpen(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kwd*/)
 {
     // only used to open Python files
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string Utf8Name = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
     PY_TRY {
-        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
+        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Utf8Name.c_str());
         QFileInfo fi;
         fi.setFile(fileName);
         QString ext = fi.completeSuffix().toLower();
@@ -291,13 +293,15 @@ PyObject* Application::sOpen(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kw
 
 PyObject* Application::sInsert(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kwd*/)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    const char* DocName=0;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name,&DocName))
+    char* Name;
+    char* DocName=0;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
         return NULL;
+    std::string Utf8Name = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
-        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
+        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Utf8Name.c_str());
         QFileInfo fi;
         fi.setFile(fileName);
         QString ext = fi.completeSuffix().toLower();
@@ -352,9 +356,11 @@ PyObject* Application::sInsert(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*
 PyObject* Application::sExport(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kwd*/)
 {
     PyObject* object;
-    const char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os",&object,&filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oet",&object,"utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string Utf8Name = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         App::Document* doc = 0;
@@ -370,7 +376,7 @@ PyObject* Application::sExport(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*
 
         // get the view that belongs to the found document
         if (doc) {
-            QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(filename);
+            QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Utf8Name.c_str());
             QFileInfo fi;
             fi.setFile(fileName);
             QString ext = fi.completeSuffix().toLower();
@@ -687,9 +693,10 @@ PyObject* Application::sActiveWorkbenchHandler(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *ar
 PyObject* Application::sAddResPath(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kwd*/)
 {
     char* filePath;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filePath))     // convert args: Python->C
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et", "utf-8", &filePath))     // convert args: Python->C
         return NULL;                    // NULL triggers exception
     QString path = QString::fromUtf8(filePath);
+    PyMem_Free(filePath);
     if (QDir::isRelativePath(path)) {
         // Home path ends with '/'
         QString home = QString::fromUtf8(App::GetApplication().GetHomePath());
@@ -705,9 +712,10 @@ PyObject* Application::sAddResPath(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject
 PyObject* Application::sAddLangPath(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kwd*/)
 {
     char* filePath;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filePath))     // convert args: Python->C
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et", "utf-8", &filePath))     // convert args: Python->C
         return NULL;                    // NULL triggers exception
     QString path = QString::fromUtf8(filePath);
+    PyMem_Free(filePath);
     if (QDir::isRelativePath(path)) {
         // Home path ends with '/'
         QString home = QString::fromUtf8(App::GetApplication().GetHomePath());
@@ -722,9 +730,10 @@ PyObject* Application::sAddLangPath(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject
 PyObject* Application::sAddIconPath(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args,PyObject * /*kwd*/)
 {
     char* filePath;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filePath))     // convert args: Python->C 
-        return NULL;                    // NULL triggers exception 
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et", "utf-8", &filePath))     // convert args: Python->C
+        return NULL;                    // NULL triggers exception
     QString path = QString::fromUtf8(filePath);
+    PyMem_Free(filePath);
     if (QDir::isRelativePath(path)) {
         // Home path ends with '/'
         QString home = QString::fromUtf8(App::GetApplication().GetHomePath());
diff --git a/src/Mod/Cam/App/AppCamPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Cam/App/AppCamPy.cpp
index a4c5fad77..1595ff7e4 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Cam/App/AppCamPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Cam/App/AppCamPy.cpp
@@ -108,9 +108,11 @@ using MeshCore::MeshKernel;
 static PyObject *
 open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (! PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY
     {
@@ -125,10 +127,12 @@ open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
+    char* Name;
     const char* DocName;
-    if (! PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ss",&Name,&DocName))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ets","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY
     {
@@ -141,9 +145,11 @@ static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (! PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
     PY_TRY
     {
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/AppDrawingGuiPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/AppDrawingGuiPy.cpp
index 5c83f288d..1445cd0ab 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/AppDrawingGuiPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/AppDrawingGuiPy.cpp
@@ -50,14 +50,16 @@ using namespace DrawingGui;
 static PyObject * 
 open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) 
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
-        return NULL; 
-    
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
+
     PY_TRY {
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
         if (file.hasExtension("svg") || file.hasExtension("svgz")) {
-            QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
+            QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(EncodedName.c_str());
             // Displaying the image in a view
             DrawingView* view = new DrawingView(0, Gui::getMainWindow());
             view->load(fileName);
@@ -80,15 +82,17 @@ open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject *
 importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
+    char* Name;
     const char* dummy;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name,&dummy))
-        return NULL; 
-    
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&dummy))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
+
     PY_TRY {
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
         if (file.hasExtension("svg") || file.hasExtension("svgz")) {
-            QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
+            QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(EncodedName.c_str());
             // Displaying the image in a view
             DrawingView* view = new DrawingView(0, Gui::getMainWindow());
             view->load(fileName);
@@ -110,9 +114,11 @@ static PyObject *
 exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     PyObject* object;
-    const char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os",&object,&filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oet",&object,"utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         Py::Sequence list(object);
@@ -121,11 +127,11 @@ exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             if (PyObject_TypeCheck(item, &(App::DocumentObjectPy::Type))) {
                 App::DocumentObject* obj = static_cast<App::DocumentObjectPy*>(item)->getDocumentObjectPtr();
                 if (obj->getTypeId().isDerivedFrom(Drawing::FeaturePage::getClassTypeId())) {
-                    Base::FileInfo fi_out(filename);
+                    Base::FileInfo fi_out(EncodedName.c_str());
                     Base::ofstream str_out(fi_out, std::ios::out | std::ios::binary);
                     if (!str_out) {
                         std::stringstream str;
-                        str << "Cannot open file '" << filename << "' for writing";
+                        str << "Cannot open file '" << EncodedName << "' for writing";
                         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_IOError, str.str().c_str());
                         return NULL;
                     }
diff --git a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/Command.cpp b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/Command.cpp
index e737504fa..4f317137d 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/Command.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/Command.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ void CmdDrawingOpen::activated(int iMsg)
     {
         // load the file with the module
         Command::doCommand(Command::Gui, "import Drawing, DrawingGui");
-        Command::doCommand(Command::Gui, "DrawingGui.open(\"%s\")", (const char*)filename.toUtf8());
+        Command::doCommand(Command::Gui, "DrawingGui.open(unicode(\"%s\",\"utf-8\"))", (const char*)filename.toUtf8());
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/App/AppFemPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Fem/App/AppFemPy.cpp
index d18a335a1..3b3ae7b58 100755
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/App/AppFemPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/App/AppFemPy.cpp
@@ -74,14 +74,16 @@ using namespace Fem;
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         std::auto_ptr<FemMesh> mesh(new FemMesh);
         try {
-            mesh->read(Name);
+            mesh->read(EncodedName.c_str());
             return new FemMeshPy(mesh.release());
         }
         catch(...) {
@@ -95,14 +97,16 @@ static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
 static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         std::auto_ptr<FemMesh> mesh(new FemMesh);
-        mesh->read(Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        mesh->read(EncodedName.c_str());
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
         // create new document and add Import feature
         App::Document *pcDoc = App::GetApplication().newDocument("Unnamed");
         FemMeshObject *pcFeature = static_cast<FemMeshObject *>
@@ -144,11 +148,12 @@ show(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
 static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    const char* DocName=0;
-
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name,&DocName))
+    char* Name;
+    const char* DocName = 0;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         App::Document *pcDoc = 0;
@@ -162,8 +167,9 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         }
 
         std::auto_ptr<FemMesh> mesh(new FemMesh);
-        mesh->read(Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        mesh->read(EncodedName.c_str());
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
+
         FemMeshObject *pcFeature = static_cast<FemMeshObject *>
             (pcDoc->addObject("Fem::FemMeshObject", file.fileNamePure().c_str()));
         pcFeature->Label.setValue(file.fileNamePure().c_str());
@@ -535,9 +541,11 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     PyObject* object;
-    const char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os",&object,&filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oet",&object,"utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         Py::Sequence list(object);
@@ -547,7 +555,7 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             if (PyObject_TypeCheck(item, &(App::DocumentObjectPy::Type))) {
                 App::DocumentObject* obj = static_cast<App::DocumentObjectPy*>(item)->getDocumentObjectPtr();
                 if (obj->getTypeId().isDerivedFrom(meshId)) {
-                    static_cast<FemMeshObject*>(obj)->FemMesh.getValue().write(filename);
+                    static_cast<FemMeshObject*>(obj)->FemMesh.getValue().write(EncodedName.c_str());
                     break;
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp
index c41577b49..4fbacf26f 100755
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp
@@ -442,12 +442,14 @@ PyObject* FemMeshPy::copy(PyObject *args)
 
 PyObject* FemMeshPy::read(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return 0;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     try {
-        getFemMeshPtr()->read(filename);
+        getFemMeshPtr()->read(EncodedName.c_str());
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError, e.what());
@@ -458,12 +460,14 @@ PyObject* FemMeshPy::read(PyObject *args)
 
 PyObject* FemMeshPy::write(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return 0;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     try {
-        getFemMeshPtr()->write(filename);
+        getFemMeshPtr()->write(EncodedName.c_str());
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError, e.what());
@@ -474,12 +478,14 @@ PyObject* FemMeshPy::write(PyObject *args)
 
 PyObject* FemMeshPy::writeABAQUS(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return 0;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     try {
-        getFemMeshPtr()->writeABAQUS(filename);
+        getFemMeshPtr()->writeABAQUS(EncodedName.c_str());
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError, e.what());
diff --git a/src/Mod/Image/Gui/AppImageGuiPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Image/Gui/AppImageGuiPy.cpp
index bad51ec84..d1ff60403 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Image/Gui/AppImageGuiPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Image/Gui/AppImageGuiPy.cpp
@@ -43,15 +43,17 @@ using namespace ImageGui;
 static PyObject * 
 open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) 
 {
-    const char* Name;
+    char* Name;
     const char* DocName=0;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name,&DocName))
-        return NULL; 
-    
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
+
     PY_TRY {
-        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
+        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(EncodedName.c_str());
         QFileInfo file(fileName);
-            
+
         // Load image from file into a QImage object
         QImage imageq(fileName);
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Image/Gui/Command.cpp b/src/Mod/Image/Gui/Command.cpp
index 398ee3401..d62ed2dfc 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Image/Gui/Command.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Image/Gui/Command.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ void CmdImageOpen::activated(int iMsg)
         try{
             // load the file with the module
             Command::doCommand(Command::Gui, "import Image, ImageGui");
-            Command::doCommand(Command::Gui, "ImageGui.open(\"%s\")", (const char*)s.toUtf8());
+            Command::doCommand(Command::Gui, "ImageGui.open(unicode(\"%s\",\"utf-8\"))", (const char*)s.toUtf8());
         }
         catch (const Base::PyException& e){
             // Usually thrown if the file is invalid somehow
diff --git a/src/Mod/Import/App/AppImportPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Import/App/AppImportPy.cpp
index d19c375cf..aca225538 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Import/App/AppImportPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Import/App/AppImportPy.cpp
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@
 #include <Mod/Part/App/ProgressIndicator.h>
 #include <Mod/Part/App/ImportIges.h>
 #include <Mod/Part/App/ImportStep.h>
-
-
+#include <Mod/Part/App/encodeFilename.h>
 
 /* module functions */
 
@@ -65,12 +64,15 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     char* Name;
     char* DocName=0;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name,&DocName))
-        return 0;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string Utf8Name = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
+    std::string name8bit = Part::encodeFilename(Utf8Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         //Base::Console().Log("Insert in Part with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(Utf8Name.c_str());
 
         App::Document *pcDoc = 0;
         if (DocName) {
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 aReader.SetColorMode(true);
                 aReader.SetNameMode(true);
                 aReader.SetLayerMode(true);
-                if (aReader.ReadFile((Standard_CString)Name) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
+                if (aReader.ReadFile((Standard_CString)(name8bit.c_str())) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
                     PyErr_SetString(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError, "cannot read STEP file");
                     return 0;
                 }
@@ -107,7 +109,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 Base::Console().Error("%s\n", e->GetMessageString());
                 Base::Console().Message("Try to load STEP file without colors...\n");
 
-                Part::ImportStepParts(pcDoc,Name);
+                Part::ImportStepParts(pcDoc,Utf8Name.c_str());
                 pcDoc->recompute();
             }
         }
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 aReader.SetColorMode(true);
                 aReader.SetNameMode(true);
                 aReader.SetLayerMode(true);
-                if (aReader.ReadFile((Standard_CString)Name) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
+                if (aReader.ReadFile((Standard_CString)(name8bit.c_str())) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
                     PyErr_SetString(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError, "cannot read IGES file");
                     return 0;
                 }
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 Base::Console().Error("%s\n", e->GetMessageString());
                 Base::Console().Message("Try to load IGES file without colors...\n");
 
-                Part::ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,Name);
+                Part::ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,Utf8Name.c_str());
                 pcDoc->recompute();
             }
         }
@@ -173,9 +175,12 @@ static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     PyObject* object;
-    const char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os",&object,&filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oet",&object,"utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string Utf8Name = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
+    std::string name8bit = Part::encodeFilename(Utf8Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         Handle(XCAFApp_Application) hApp = XCAFApp_Application::GetApplication();
@@ -216,7 +221,7 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             }
         }
 
-        Base::FileInfo file(filename);
+        Base::FileInfo file(Utf8Name.c_str());
         if (file.hasExtension("stp") || file.hasExtension("step")) {
             //Interface_Static::SetCVal("write.step.schema", "AP214IS");
             STEPCAFControl_Writer writer;
@@ -228,14 +233,14 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 #else
             APIHeaderSection_MakeHeader makeHeader(writer.Writer().Model());
 #endif
-            makeHeader.SetName(new TCollection_HAsciiString((const Standard_CString)filename));
+            makeHeader.SetName(new TCollection_HAsciiString((const Standard_CString)Utf8Name.c_str()));
             makeHeader.SetAuthorValue (1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
             makeHeader.SetOrganizationValue (1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
             makeHeader.SetOriginatingSystem(new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
             makeHeader.SetDescriptionValue(1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD Model"));
-            IFSelect_ReturnStatus ret = writer.Write(filename);
+            IFSelect_ReturnStatus ret = writer.Write(name8bit.c_str());
             if (ret == IFSelect_RetError || ret == IFSelect_RetFail || ret == IFSelect_RetStop) {
-                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", filename);
+                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", Utf8Name.c_str());
                 return 0;
             }
         }
@@ -243,9 +248,9 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             IGESControl_Controller::Init();
             IGESCAFControl_Writer writer;
             writer.Transfer(hDoc);
-            Standard_Boolean ret = writer.Write(filename);
+            Standard_Boolean ret = writer.Write(name8bit.c_str());
             if (!ret) {
-                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", filename);
+                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", Utf8Name.c_str());
                 return 0;
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/Mod/Import/App/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Mod/Import/App/CMakeLists.txt
index 8b6f6e958..df7007a05 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Import/App/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Mod/Import/App/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ include_directories(
     ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR}
     ${PYTHON_INCLUDE_PATH}
     ${XERCESC_INCLUDE_DIR}
+    ${QT_INCLUDE_DIR}
 )
 
 link_directories(${OCC_LIBRARY_DIR})
diff --git a/src/Mod/Import/Gui/AppImportGuiPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Import/Gui/AppImportGuiPy.cpp
index 3d70db638..ee75390d6 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Import/Gui/AppImportGuiPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Import/Gui/AppImportGuiPy.cpp
@@ -78,10 +78,9 @@
 #include <Mod/Part/App/ProgressIndicator.h>
 #include <Mod/Part/App/ImportIges.h>
 #include <Mod/Part/App/ImportStep.h>
+#include <Mod/Part/App/encodeFilename.h>
 #include <Mod/Import/App/ImportOCAF.h>
 
-
-
 class ImportOCAFExt : public Import::ImportOCAF
 {
 public:
@@ -106,12 +105,15 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     char* Name;
     char* DocName=0;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name,&DocName))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
         return 0;
+    std::string Utf8Name = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
+    std::string name8bit = Part::encodeFilename(Utf8Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         //Base::Console().Log("Insert in Part with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(Utf8Name.c_str());
 
         App::Document *pcDoc = 0;
         if (DocName) {
@@ -131,8 +133,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 aReader.SetColorMode(true);
                 aReader.SetNameMode(true);
                 aReader.SetLayerMode(true);
-                QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
-                if (aReader.ReadFile((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit()) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
+                if (aReader.ReadFile((const char*)name8bit.c_str()) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
                     PyErr_SetString(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError, "cannot read STEP file");
                     return 0;
                 }
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 Base::Console().Error("%s\n", e->GetMessageString());
                 Base::Console().Message("Try to load STEP file without colors...\n");
 
-                Part::ImportStepParts(pcDoc,Name);
+                Part::ImportStepParts(pcDoc,Utf8Name.c_str());
                 pcDoc->recompute();
             }
         }
@@ -161,8 +162,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 aReader.SetColorMode(true);
                 aReader.SetNameMode(true);
                 aReader.SetLayerMode(true);
-                QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
-                if (aReader.ReadFile((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit()) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
+                if (aReader.ReadFile((const char*)name8bit.c_str()) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
                     PyErr_SetString(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError, "cannot read IGES file");
                     return 0;
                 }
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
                 Base::Console().Error("%s\n", e->GetMessageString());
                 Base::Console().Message("Try to load IGES file without colors...\n");
 
-                Part::ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,Name);
+                Part::ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,Utf8Name.c_str());
                 pcDoc->recompute();
             }
         }
@@ -210,9 +210,12 @@ static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     PyObject* object;
-    const char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os",&object,&filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oet",&object,"utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string Utf8Name = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
+    std::string name8bit = Part::encodeFilename(Utf8Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         Handle(XCAFApp_Application) hApp = XCAFApp_Application::GetApplication();
@@ -242,7 +245,7 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             }
         }
 
-        Base::FileInfo file(filename);
+        Base::FileInfo file(Utf8Name.c_str());
         if (file.hasExtension("stp") || file.hasExtension("step")) {
             //Interface_Static::SetCVal("write.step.schema", "AP214IS");
             STEPCAFControl_Writer writer;
@@ -254,15 +257,14 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 #else
             APIHeaderSection_MakeHeader makeHeader(writer.Writer().Model());
 #endif
-            makeHeader.SetName(new TCollection_HAsciiString((const Standard_CString)filename));
+            makeHeader.SetName(new TCollection_HAsciiString((const Standard_CString)(Utf8Name.c_str())));
             makeHeader.SetAuthorValue (1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
             makeHeader.SetOrganizationValue (1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
             makeHeader.SetOriginatingSystem(new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
             makeHeader.SetDescriptionValue(1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD Model"));
-            QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(filename);
-            IFSelect_ReturnStatus ret = writer.Write((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit());
+            IFSelect_ReturnStatus ret = writer.Write((const char*)name8bit.c_str());
             if (ret == IFSelect_RetError || ret == IFSelect_RetFail || ret == IFSelect_RetStop) {
-                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", filename);
+                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", Utf8Name.c_str());
                 return 0;
             }
         }
@@ -270,10 +272,9 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             IGESControl_Controller::Init();
             IGESCAFControl_Writer writer;
             writer.Transfer(hDoc);
-            QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(filename);
-            Standard_Boolean ret = writer.Write((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit());
+            Standard_Boolean ret = writer.Write((const char*)name8bit.c_str());
             if (!ret) {
-                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", filename);
+                PyErr_Format(PyExc_IOError, "Cannot open file '%s'", Utf8Name.c_str());
                 return 0;
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/Mod/JtReader/App/AppJtReaderPy.cpp b/src/Mod/JtReader/App/AppJtReaderPy.cpp
index 9011f0168..8182a38cf 100644
--- a/src/Mod/JtReader/App/AppJtReaderPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/JtReader/App/AppJtReaderPy.cpp
@@ -48,17 +48,18 @@ using namespace MeshCore;
 //using namespace JtReader;
 
 /* module functions */
-static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)     
-{                                        
-  const char* Name;
-  if (! PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))			 
-    return NULL;                         
-    
+static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+  char* Name;
+  if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+  std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+  PyMem_Free(Name);
+
   PY_TRY {
-    
     std::auto_ptr<MeshCore::MeshKernel> apcKernel(new MeshCore::MeshKernel());
 
-    readFile(Name,0);
+    readFile(EncodedName.c_str(),0);
 
     vector<MeshGeomFacet> facets;
     facets.resize(iterSize());
@@ -87,17 +88,19 @@ static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 	Py_Return;    
 }
 
-static PyObject *                        
-open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)     
-{                                        
-  const char* Name;
-  if (! PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))			 
-    return NULL;                         
-    
+static PyObject *
+open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
+{
+  char* Name;
+  if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+  std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+  PyMem_Free(Name);
+
   PY_TRY {
 
     //Base::Console().Log("Open in Mesh with %s",Name);
-    Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+    Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
     // extract ending
     if(file.extension() == "")
@@ -111,7 +114,7 @@ open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
           
         std::auto_ptr<MeshCore::MeshKernel> apcKernel(new MeshCore::MeshKernel());
 
-        readFile(Name,0);
+        readFile(EncodedName.c_str(),0);
 
         vector<MeshGeomFacet> facets;
         facets.resize(iterSize());
@@ -151,17 +154,19 @@ open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
 
 /* module functions */
-static PyObject *                        
-insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)     
+static PyObject *
+insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-  const char* Name;
+  char* Name;
   const char* DocName;
-  if (! PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ss",&Name,&DocName))	 		 
-    return NULL;                         
-    
+  if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ets","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
+        return NULL;
+  std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+  PyMem_Free(Name);
+
   PY_TRY {
 
-    Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+    Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
     // extract ending
     if(file.extension() == "")
@@ -178,7 +183,7 @@ insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             Py_Error(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError,szBuf);
         }
 
-        readFile(Name,0);
+        readFile(EncodedName.c_str(),0);
 
         vector<MeshGeomFacet> facets;
 
@@ -212,7 +217,7 @@ insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         }else{
             clearData();
             //Py_Error(Base::BaseExceptionFreeCADError,"No Mesh in file");
-            Base::Console().Warning("No Mesh in file: %s\n",Name);
+            Base::Console().Warning("No Mesh in file: %s\n",EncodedName.c_str());
         }
      }
     else
diff --git a/src/Mod/Mesh/App/AppMeshPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Mesh/App/AppMeshPy.cpp
index e0577de63..0170f751f 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Mesh/App/AppMeshPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Mesh/App/AppMeshPy.cpp
@@ -52,13 +52,15 @@ using namespace MeshCore;
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         std::auto_ptr<MeshObject> mesh(new MeshObject);
-        if (mesh->load(Name)) {
+        if (mesh->load(EncodedName.c_str())) {
             return new MeshPy(mesh.release());
         }
         else {
@@ -72,14 +74,16 @@ static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
 static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         MeshObject mesh;
-        if (mesh.load(Name)) {
-            Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        if (mesh.load(EncodedName.c_str())) {
+            Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
             // create new document and add Import feature
             App::Document *pcDoc = App::GetApplication().newDocument("Unnamed");
             unsigned long segmct = mesh.countSegments();
@@ -108,11 +112,12 @@ static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
 static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    const char* DocName=0;
-
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name,&DocName))
+    char* Name;
+    char* DocName=0;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         App::Document *pcDoc = 0;
@@ -126,8 +131,8 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         }
 
         MeshObject mesh;
-        if (mesh.load(Name)) {
-            Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        if (mesh.load(EncodedName.c_str())) {
+            Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
             unsigned long segmct = mesh.countSegments();
             if (segmct > 1) {
                 for (unsigned long i=0; i<segmct; i++) {
@@ -155,9 +160,11 @@ static PyObject * importer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     PyObject* object;
-    const char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os",&object,&filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oet",&object,"utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     float fTolerance = 0.1f;
     MeshObject global_mesh;
@@ -200,7 +207,7 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         }
 
         // export mesh compound
-        global_mesh.save(filename);
+        global_mesh.save(EncodedName.c_str());
     } PY_CATCH;
 
     Py_Return;
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/AppPartPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Part/App/AppPartPy.cpp
index a8f754060..aa7544869 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/AppPartPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/AppPartPy.cpp
@@ -143,13 +143,15 @@ extern const char* BRepBuilderAPI_FaceErrorText(BRepBuilderAPI_FaceError fe);
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
-        return NULL;                         
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         //Base::Console().Log("Open in Part with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
         // extract ending
         if (file.extension() == "")
@@ -159,7 +161,7 @@ static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             // create new document and add Import feature
             App::Document *pcDoc = App::GetApplication().newDocument("Unnamed");
 #if 1
-            ImportStepParts(pcDoc,Name);
+            ImportStepParts(pcDoc,EncodedName.c_str());
 #else
             Part::ImportStep *pcFeature = (Part::ImportStep *)pcDoc->addObject("Part::ImportStep",file.fileNamePure().c_str());
             pcFeature->FileName.setValue(Name);
@@ -169,14 +171,14 @@ static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 #if 1
         else if (file.hasExtension("igs") || file.hasExtension("iges")) {
             App::Document *pcDoc = App::GetApplication().newDocument("Unnamed");
-            ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,Name);
+            ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,EncodedName.c_str());
             pcDoc->recompute();
         }
 #endif
         else {
             try {
                 TopoShape shape;
-                shape.read(Name);
+                shape.read(EncodedName.c_str());
 
                 // create new document set loaded shape
                 App::Document *pcDoc = App::GetApplication().newDocument(file.fileNamePure().c_str());
@@ -197,14 +199,16 @@ static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
+    char* Name;
     const char* DocName;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ss",&Name,&DocName))
-        return NULL;                         
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ets","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         //Base::Console().Log("Insert in Part with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
         // extract ending
         if (file.extension() == "")
@@ -216,7 +220,7 @@ static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
         if (file.hasExtension("stp") || file.hasExtension("step")) {
 #if 1
-            ImportStepParts(pcDoc,Name);
+            ImportStepParts(pcDoc,EncodedName.c_str());
 #else
             // add Import feature
             Part::ImportStep *pcFeature = (Part::ImportStep *)pcDoc->addObject("Part::ImportStep",file.fileNamePure().c_str());
@@ -226,14 +230,14 @@ static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         }
 #if 1
         else if (file.hasExtension("igs") || file.hasExtension("iges")) {
-            ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,Name);
+            ImportIgesParts(pcDoc,EncodedName.c_str());
             pcDoc->recompute();
         }
 #endif
         else {
             try {
                 TopoShape shape;
-                shape.read(Name);
+                shape.read(EncodedName.c_str());
 
                 Part::Feature *object = static_cast<Part::Feature *>(pcDoc->addObject
                     ("Part::Feature",file.fileNamePure().c_str()));
@@ -253,9 +257,11 @@ static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     PyObject* object;
-    const char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os",&object,&filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oet",&object,"utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     BRep_Builder builder;
     TopoDS_Compound comp;
@@ -280,7 +286,7 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         }
 
         TopoShape shape(comp);
-        shape.write(filename);
+        shape.write(EncodedName.c_str());
 
     } PY_CATCH_OCC;
 
@@ -290,12 +296,14 @@ static PyObject * exporter(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * read(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
-        return NULL;                         
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
     PY_TRY {
         TopoShape* shape = new TopoShape();
-        shape->read(Name);
+        shape->read(EncodedName.c_str());
         return new TopoShapePy(shape); 
     } PY_CATCH_OCC;
 }
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Mod/Part/App/CMakeLists.txt
index a942a8a70..1d1748622 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ SET(Part_SRCS
     modelRefine.cpp
     modelRefine.h
     Tools.h
+    encodeFilename.h
     OCCError.h
     FT2FC.cpp
     FT2FC.h
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/ImportStep.cpp b/src/Mod/Part/App/ImportStep.cpp
index 3c48532fa..69d773a7b 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/ImportStep.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/ImportStep.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@
 #include "ImportStep.h"
 #include "PartFeature.h"
 #include "ProgressIndicator.h"
+#include "encodeFilename.h"
 
 using namespace Part;
 
@@ -95,8 +96,11 @@ int Part::ImportStepParts(App::Document *pcDoc, const char* Name)
         str << "File '" << Name << "' does not exist!";
         throw Base::Exception(str.str().c_str());
     }
+    std::string encodednamestr = encodeFilename(std::string(Name));
+    const char * encodedname = encodednamestr.c_str();
 
-    if (aReader.ReadFile((Standard_CString)Name) != IFSelect_RetDone) {
+    if (aReader.ReadFile((Standard_CString)encodedname) != 
+            IFSelect_RetDone) {
         throw Base::Exception("Cannot open STEP file");
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShape.cpp b/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShape.cpp
index c6135df3e..a7ca52187 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShape.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShape.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@
 #include "ProgressIndicator.h"
 #include "modelRefine.h"
 #include "Tools.h"
+#include "encodeFilename.h"
 
 using namespace Part;
 
@@ -570,8 +571,7 @@ void TopoShape::importIges(const char *FileName)
         IGESControl_Controller::Init();
         Interface_Static::SetIVal("read.surfacecurve.mode",3);
         IGESControl_Reader aReader;
-        QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(FileName);
-        if (aReader.ReadFile((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
+        if (aReader.ReadFile(encodeFilename(FileName).c_str()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
             throw Base::Exception("Error in reading IGES");
 
         Handle_Message_ProgressIndicator pi = new ProgressIndicator(100);
@@ -596,8 +596,7 @@ void TopoShape::importStep(const char *FileName)
 {
     try {
         STEPControl_Reader aReader;
-        QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(FileName);
-        if (aReader.ReadFile((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
+        if (aReader.ReadFile(encodeFilename(FileName).c_str()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
             throw Base::Exception("Error in reading STEP");
 
         Handle_Message_ProgressIndicator pi = new ProgressIndicator(100);
@@ -627,8 +626,7 @@ void TopoShape::importBrep(const char *FileName)
         Handle_Message_ProgressIndicator pi = new ProgressIndicator(100);
         pi->NewScope(100, "Reading BREP file...");
         pi->Show();
-        QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(FileName);
-        BRepTools::Read(aShape,(const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit(),aBuilder,pi);
+        BRepTools::Read(aShape,encodeFilename(FileName).c_str(),aBuilder,pi);
         pi->EndScope();
 #else
         BRepTools::Read(aShape,(const Standard_CString)FileName,aBuilder);
@@ -699,8 +697,7 @@ void TopoShape::exportIges(const char *filename) const
         IGESControl_Writer aWriter;
         aWriter.AddShape(this->_Shape);
         aWriter.ComputeModel();
-        QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(filename);
-        if (aWriter.Write((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
+        if (aWriter.Write(encodeFilename(filename).c_str()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
             throw Base::Exception("Writing of IGES failed");
     }
     catch (Standard_Failure) {
@@ -724,14 +721,13 @@ void TopoShape::exportStep(const char *filename) const
             throw Base::Exception("Error in transferring STEP");
 
         APIHeaderSection_MakeHeader makeHeader(aWriter.Model());
-        makeHeader.SetName(new TCollection_HAsciiString((const Standard_CString)filename));
+        makeHeader.SetName(new TCollection_HAsciiString((const Standard_CString)(encodeFilename(filename).c_str())));
         makeHeader.SetAuthorValue (1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
         makeHeader.SetOrganizationValue (1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
         makeHeader.SetOriginatingSystem(new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD"));
         makeHeader.SetDescriptionValue(1, new TCollection_HAsciiString("FreeCAD Model"));
 
-        QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(filename);
-        if (aWriter.Write((const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
+        if (aWriter.Write(encodeFilename(filename).c_str()) != IFSelect_RetDone)
             throw Base::Exception("Writing of STEP failed");
         pi->EndScope();
     }
@@ -743,8 +739,7 @@ void TopoShape::exportStep(const char *filename) const
 
 void TopoShape::exportBrep(const char *filename) const
 {
-    QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(filename);
-    if (!BRepTools::Write(this->_Shape,(const char*)fn.toLocal8Bit()))
+    if (!BRepTools::Write(this->_Shape,encodeFilename(filename).c_str()))
         throw Base::Exception("Writing of BREP failed");
 }
 
@@ -765,8 +760,7 @@ void TopoShape::exportStl(const char *filename, double deflection) const
         writer.RelativeMode() = false;
         writer.SetDeflection(deflection);
     }
-    QString fn = QString::fromUtf8(filename);
-    writer.Write(this->_Shape,(const Standard_CString)fn.toLocal8Bit());
+    writer.Write(this->_Shape,encodeFilename(filename).c_str());
 }
 
 void TopoShape::exportFaceSet(double dev, double ca, std::ostream& str) const
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShapePyImp.cpp b/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShapePyImp.cpp
index 1fdf6b8a8..e28fa73f2 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShapePyImp.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/TopoShapePyImp.cpp
@@ -260,11 +260,13 @@ PyObject* TopoShapePy::removeShape(PyObject *args)
 
 PyObject*  TopoShapePy::read(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
-    getTopoShapePtr()->read(filename);
+    getTopoShapePtr()->read(EncodedName.c_str());
     Py_Return;
 }
 
@@ -292,13 +294,15 @@ PyObject* TopoShapePy::writeInventor(PyObject * args)
 
 PyObject*  TopoShapePy::exportIges(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     try {
         // write iges file
-        getTopoShapePtr()->exportIges(filename);
+        getTopoShapePtr()->exportIges(EncodedName.c_str());
     }
     catch (const Base::Exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(PartExceptionOCCError,e.what());
@@ -310,13 +314,15 @@ PyObject*  TopoShapePy::exportIges(PyObject *args)
 
 PyObject*  TopoShapePy::exportStep(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     try {
         // write step file
-        getTopoShapePtr()->exportStep(filename);
+        getTopoShapePtr()->exportStep(EncodedName.c_str());
     }
     catch (const Base::Exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(PartExceptionOCCError,e.what());
@@ -328,13 +334,15 @@ PyObject*  TopoShapePy::exportStep(PyObject *args)
 
 PyObject*  TopoShapePy::exportBrep(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &filename))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     try {
         // write brep file
-        getTopoShapePtr()->exportBrep(filename);
+        getTopoShapePtr()->exportBrep(EncodedName.c_str());
     }
     catch (const Base::Exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(PartExceptionOCCError,e.what());
@@ -449,14 +457,16 @@ PyObject*  TopoShapePy::importBrepFromString(PyObject *args)
 
 PyObject*  TopoShapePy::exportStl(PyObject *args)
 {
-    char* filename;
     double deflection = 0;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|d", &filename, &deflection))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|d","utf-8",&Name,&deflection))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     try {
         // write stl file
-        getTopoShapePtr()->exportStl(filename, deflection);
+        getTopoShapePtr()->exportStl(EncodedName.c_str(), deflection);
     }
     catch (const Base::Exception& e) {
         PyErr_SetString(PartExceptionOCCError,e.what());
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/encodeFilename.h b/src/Mod/Part/App/encodeFilename.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fadafa3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/encodeFilename.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+ *   Copyright (c) 2014 Sebastian Hoogen <github[at]sebastianhoogen.de>    *
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This file is part of the FreeCAD CAx development system.              *
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or         *
+ *   modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public           *
+ *   License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either          *
+ *   version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.      *
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This library  is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,      *
+ *   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of        *
+ *   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the         *
+ *   GNU Library General Public License for more details.                  *
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public     *
+ *   License along with this library; see the file COPYING.LIB. If not,    *
+ *   write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place,         *
+ *   Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA                                *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+
+#ifndef PART_ENCODEFILENAME_H
+#define PART_ENCODEFILENAME_H
+
+#if (OCC_VERSION_HEX < 0x060800 && defined(_WIN32))
+#include <QString>
+#endif
+
+namespace Part
+{
+inline std::string encodeFilename(std::string fn)
+{
+#if (OCC_VERSION_HEX < 0x060800 && defined(_WIN32))
+    // Workaround to support latin1 characters in path until OCCT supports
+    // conversion from UTF8 to wchar_t on windows
+    // http://tracker.dev.opencascade.org/view.php?id=22484
+    QByteArray str8bit = QString::fromUtf8(fn.c_str()).toLocal8Bit();
+    return std::string(str8bit.constData());
+#else
+    return fn;
+#endif
+}
+
+} //namespace Part
+
+#endif // PART_ENCODEFILENAME_H
diff --git a/src/Mod/Points/App/AppPointsPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Points/App/AppPointsPy.cpp
index a7895207f..a0f342339 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Points/App/AppPointsPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Points/App/AppPointsPy.cpp
@@ -52,13 +52,15 @@ using namespace Points;
 static PyObject *
 open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
-        Base::Console().Log("Open in Points with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::Console().Log("Open in Points with %s",EncodedName.c_str());
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
         // extract ending
         if (file.extension() == "")
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             App::Document *pcDoc = App::GetApplication().newDocument("Unnamed");
             Points::Feature *pcFeature = (Points::Feature *)pcDoc->addObject("Points::Feature", file.fileNamePure().c_str());
             Points::PointKernel pkTemp;
-            pkTemp.load(Name);
+            pkTemp.load(EncodedName.c_str());
             pcFeature->Points.setValue( pkTemp );
 
         }
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
             // pcl test
             pcl::PointCloud<pcl::PointXYZRGB> cloud_in;
-            pcl::io::loadPLYFile<pcl::PointXYZRGB>(Name,cloud_in); 
+            pcl::io::loadPLYFile<pcl::PointXYZRGB>(EncodedName.c_str(),cloud_in); 
 
             for (pcl::PointCloud<pcl::PointXYZRGB>::const_iterator it = cloud_in.begin();it!=cloud_in.end();++it)
                 pkTemp.push_back(Base::Vector3d(it->x,it->y,it->z));
@@ -100,14 +102,16 @@ open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 static PyObject *
 insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
+    char* Name;
     const char* DocName;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ss",&Name,&DocName))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ets","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
-        Base::Console().Log("Import in Points with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::Console().Log("Import in Points with %s",EncodedName.c_str());
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
         // extract ending
         if (file.extension() == "")
@@ -122,7 +126,7 @@ insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
             Points::Feature *pcFeature = (Points::Feature *)pcDoc->addObject("Points::Feature", file.fileNamePure().c_str());
             Points::PointKernel pkTemp;
-            pkTemp.load(Name);
+            pkTemp.load(EncodedName.c_str());
             pcFeature->Points.setValue( pkTemp );
         }
 #ifdef HAVE_PCL_IO
@@ -137,7 +141,7 @@ insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 
             // pcl test
             pcl::PointCloud<pcl::PointXYZRGB> cloud_in;
-            pcl::io::loadPLYFile<pcl::PointXYZRGB>(Name,cloud_in); 
+            pcl::io::loadPLYFile<pcl::PointXYZRGB>(EncodedName.c_str(),cloud_in); 
 
             for (pcl::PointCloud<pcl::PointXYZRGB>::const_iterator it = cloud_in.begin();it!=cloud_in.end();++it)
                 pkTemp.push_back(Base::Vector3d(it->x,it->y,it->z));
diff --git a/src/Mod/Raytracing/Gui/AppRaytracingGuiPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Raytracing/Gui/AppRaytracingGuiPy.cpp
index 62b8692cb..91bb8b063 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Raytracing/Gui/AppRaytracingGuiPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Raytracing/Gui/AppRaytracingGuiPy.cpp
@@ -53,12 +53,14 @@ static PyObject *
 open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     // only used to open Povray files
-    const char* Name;
+    char* Name;
     const char* DocName;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|s",&Name, &DocName))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et|s","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
         return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
     PY_TRY {
-        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(Name);
+        QString fileName = QString::fromUtf8(EncodedName.c_str());
         QFileInfo fi;
         fi.setFile(fileName);
         QString ext = fi.completeSuffix().toLower();
diff --git a/src/Mod/Sketcher/App/AppSketcherPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Sketcher/App/AppSketcherPy.cpp
index 348eb709c..e97fb7740 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Sketcher/App/AppSketcherPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Sketcher/App/AppSketcherPy.cpp
@@ -50,14 +50,16 @@ using namespace std;
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
-        return NULL;
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
     } PY_CATCH;
         //Base::Console().Log("Open in Part with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
         // extract ending
         if (file.extension() == "")
@@ -80,14 +82,16 @@ static PyObject * open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 /* module functions */
 static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    const char* DocName;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ss",&Name,&DocName))
-        return NULL;
+    char* Name;
+    const char* DocName;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "ets","utf-8",&Name,&DocName))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
 
     PY_TRY {
         //Base::Console().Log("Insert in Part with %s",Name);
-        Base::FileInfo file(Name);
+        Base::FileInfo file(EncodedName.c_str());
 
         // extract ending
         if (file.extension() == "")
@@ -100,7 +104,7 @@ static PyObject * insert(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         if (file.hasExtension("skf")) {
 
             Sketcher::SketchObjectSF *pcFeature = (Sketcher::SketchObjectSF *)pcDoc->addObject("Sketcher::SketchObjectSF",file.fileNamePure().c_str());
-            pcFeature->SketchFlatFile.setValue(Name);
+            pcFeature->SketchFlatFile.setValue(EncodedName.c_str());
 
             pcDoc->recompute();
         }
diff --git a/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/AppSketcherGuiPy.cpp b/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/AppSketcherGuiPy.cpp
index d1694ac26..703b3a2fa 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/AppSketcherGuiPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Sketcher/Gui/AppSketcherGuiPy.cpp
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@
 static PyObject * 
 open(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) 
 {
-    const char* Name;
-    if (! PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s",&Name))
-        return NULL; 
+    char* Name;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "et","utf-8",&Name))
+        return NULL;
+    std::string EncodedName = std::string(Name);
+    PyMem_Free(Name);
     
     PY_TRY {
      } PY_CATCH;