diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 82c01b5..868c807 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ depend:
 install: $(INSTALL_TARGET)
 
 install-netgen:
-	@echo --- installing executable to $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}
-	@echo --- installing run-time files to $(DESTDIR)${LIBDIR}
+	@echo --- installing executable to $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}
+	@echo --- installing run-time files to $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_LIBDIR}
 	@${MAKE} install-real >> install.log
 
 install-real: install-dirs
@@ -60,15 +60,15 @@ install-real: install-dirs
 		(cd $$dir && ${MAKE} install); done
 
 install-tcl-dirs:
-	${NETGENDIR}/scripts/mkdirs $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR} \
-		$(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR} $(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}
+	${NETGENDIR}/scripts/mkdirs $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR} \
+		$(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}
 
 install-dirs:
-	${NETGENDIR}/scripts/mkdirs $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}
+	${NETGENDIR}/scripts/mkdirs $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}
 
 install-tcl: install-dirs
-	@echo --- installing executable to $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}
-	@echo --- installing run-time files to $(DESTDIR)${LIBDIR}
+	@echo --- installing executable to $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}
+	@echo --- installing run-time files to $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_LIBDIR}
 	@${MAKE} install-tcl-real 2>&1 >> install.log
 
 install-tcl-real: install-tcl-dirs
diff --git a/doc/Makefile b/doc/Makefile
index bef3c29..ce02bda 100644
--- a/doc/Makefile
+++ b/doc/Makefile
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ NETGENDIR = ..
 
 include ${NETGENDIR}/defs.mak
 
-MANDIRS = $(DESTDIR)${MANDIR} $(DESTDIR)${MANDIR}/man1
-DOCDIRS = $(DESTDIR)${DOCDIR}
+MANDIRS = $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_MANDIR} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_MANDIR}/man1
+DOCDIRS = $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_DOCDIR}
 
 MANFILES = 
-DOCFILES = $(DESTDIR)${DOCDIR}/netgen.doc
+DOCFILES = $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_DOCDIR}/netgen.doc
 
 install-tcl: ${DOCDIRS} ${DOCFILES}
 
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ make-doc-dirs:
 	${SCRIPTS}/mkdirs ${DOCDIRS}
 
 # This file does not actually exist. . .
-$(DESTDIR)${MANDIR}/man1/netgen.1: netgen.1 ${MANDIRS}
-	${CP} netgen.1 $(DESTDIR)${MANDIR}/man1/netgen.1
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_MANDIR}/man1/netgen.1: netgen.1 ${MANDIRS}
+	${CP} netgen.1 $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_MANDIR}/man1/netgen.1
 
-$(DESTDIR)${DOCDIR}/netgen.doc: netgen.doc ${DOCDIRS}
-	${CP} netgen.doc $(DESTDIR)${DOCDIR}/netgen.doc
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_DOCDIR}/netgen.doc: netgen.doc ${DOCDIRS}
+	${CP} netgen.doc $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_DOCDIR}/netgen.doc
diff --git a/lib/Makefile b/lib/Makefile
index b3cbf70..ce15afd 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile
+++ b/lib/Makefile
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@ include ${NETGENDIR}/defs.mak
 
 LIB_FILES = ntk2adl.sh spice spice.bot spice.top
 
-LIB_INST_FILES= $(LIB_FILES:%=$(DESTDIR)${LIBDIR}/netgen/%)
-BIN_INST_FILES= $(BIN_FILES:%=$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/%)
+LIB_INST_FILES= $(LIB_FILES:%=$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen/%)
+BIN_INST_FILES= $(BIN_FILES:%=$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/%)
 
 install-tcl: ${LIB_INST_FILES}
 
 install: ${LIB_INST_FILES}
 
-$(DESTDIR)${LIBDIR}/netgen/%: %
-	../scripts/mkdirs $(DESTDIR)${LIBDIR}/netgen
-	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${LIBDIR}/netgen/$*
-	${CP} $* $(DESTDIR)${LIBDIR}/netgen/$*
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen/%: %
+	../scripts/mkdirs $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen
+	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen/$*
+	${CP} $* $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen/$*
diff --git a/netgen/Makefile b/netgen/Makefile
index 52beff7..269dadb 100644
--- a/netgen/Makefile
+++ b/netgen/Makefile
@@ -25,23 +25,23 @@ tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}: ${EXTRA_LIBS}
 		${LD_RUN_PATH} ${EXTRA_LIBS} ${LD_EXTRA_LIBS} \
 		-lc ${LIBS} ${LIB_SPECS} ${LDFLAGS}
 
-$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netgen:
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netgen:
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} netgen $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/ntk2adl:
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/ntk2adl:
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} ntk2adl $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/ntk2xnf:
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/ntk2xnf:
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} ntk2xnf $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netcomp:
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netcomp:
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} netcomp $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/inetcomp:
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/inetcomp:
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} inetcomp $@
 
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ ntk2xnf: ntk2xnf.c
 	${CC} ${CFLAGS} ${CPPFLAGS} ${DFLAGS} ntk2xnf.c -o $@ ${EXTRA_LIBS} \
 		${LIBS} ${LDFLAGS}
 
-install: $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netgen $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netcomp \
-		$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/inetcomp $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/ntk2adl \
-		$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/ntk2xnf
+install: $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netgen $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netcomp \
+		$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/inetcomp $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/ntk2adl \
+		$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/ntk2xnf
 
-install-tcl: $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR} $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
+install-tcl: $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
 
-$(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}: tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
-	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
-	${CP} tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT} $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}: tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
+	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
+	${CP} tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/tclnetgen${SHDLIB_EXT}
 
 include ${NETGENDIR}/rules.mak
diff --git a/python/Makefile b/python/Makefile
index 9aca2f6..2cf2bc5 100644
--- a/python/Makefile
+++ b/python/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ SRCS =
 SCRIPTS = consoletext.py helpwindow.py lvs_manager.py treeviewsplit.py
 SCRIPTS += tksimpledialog.py tooltip.py lvs_help.txt
 
-SCRIPTINSTALL = $(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}
+SCRIPTINSTALL = $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}
 
 include ${NETGENDIR}/defs.mak
 
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ main: lvs_manager.py
 
 tcl-main: lvs_manager.py
 
-$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/consoletext.py:
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/consoletext.py:
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} consoletext.py $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/helpwindow.py:
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/helpwindow.py:
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} helpwindow.py $@
 
@@ -24,31 +24,31 @@ lvs_manager.py: lvs_manager.py.in
 	sed -e '/SUBST_SCRIPT_DIR/s#SUBST_SCRIPT_DIR#$(SCRIPTINSTALL)#' \
 		lvs_manager.py.in > lvs_manager.py
 
-$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/lvs_manager.py: lvs_manager.py
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/lvs_manager.py: lvs_manager.py
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} lvs_manager.py $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/treeviewsplit.py: treeviewsplit.py
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/treeviewsplit.py: treeviewsplit.py
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} treeviewsplit.py $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/tksimpledialog.py: tksimpledialog.py
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/tksimpledialog.py: tksimpledialog.py
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} tksimpledialog.py $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/tooltip.py: tooltip.py
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/tooltip.py: tooltip.py
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} tooltip.py $@
 
-$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/lvs_help.txt: lvs_help.txt
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/lvs_help.txt: lvs_help.txt
 	${RM} $@
 	${CP} lvs_help.txt $@
 
 install: install-tcl
 
-install-tcl: $(DESTDIR)${PYDIR} $(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/consoletext.py \
-	$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/helpwindow.py $(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/lvs_manager.py \
-	$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/treeviewsplit.py $(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/tksimpledialog.py \
-	$(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/tooltip.py $(DESTDIR)${PYDIR}/lvs_help.txt
+install-tcl: $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/consoletext.py \
+	$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/helpwindow.py $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/lvs_manager.py \
+	$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/treeviewsplit.py $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/tksimpledialog.py \
+	$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/tooltip.py $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_PYDIR}/lvs_help.txt
 
 include ${NETGENDIR}/rules.mak
diff --git a/scripts/configure b/scripts/configure
index 001921b..996acb4 100755
--- a/scripts/configure
+++ b/scripts/configure
@@ -633,6 +633,7 @@ gr_srcs
 gr_libs
 gr_dflags
 gr_cflags
+dist_prefix
 cadinstall
 programs
 unused
@@ -734,6 +735,7 @@ ac_subst_files=''
 ac_user_opts='
 enable_option_checking
 with_gnu_ld
+with_distdir
 with_interpreter
 with_tcl
 with_tk
@@ -1372,6 +1374,7 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-PACKAGE[=ARG]    use PACKAGE [ARG=yes]
   --without-PACKAGE       do not use PACKAGE (same as --with-PACKAGE=no)
   --with-gnu-ld           assume the C compiler uses GNU ld [default=no]
+  --with-distdir=DIR       install into location DIR for distribution
   --with-interpreter=arg	enable interpreter
   --with-tcl=DIR          Find tclConfig.sh in DIR
   --with-tk=DIR           Find tkConfig.sh in DIR
@@ -4798,6 +4801,24 @@ usingTcl=1
 usingX11=
 
 
+# For distributed installs, where the run-time files are installed in a
+# place that is a temporary staging area, like DESTDIR, but unlike DESTDIR,
+# the prefix is replaced by the destination directory, rather than appended
+# to it.
+dist_prefix="\${exec_prefix}"
+
+# Check whether --with-distdir was given.
+if test "${with_distdir+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_distdir;
+  if test "$withval" = "no" -o "$withval" = "NO" ; then
+     dist_prefix="\${exec_prefix}"
+  else
+     dist_prefix=$arg
+  fi
+
+fi
+
+
 
 # Check whether --with-interpreter was given.
 if test "${with_interpreter+set}" = set; then :
@@ -6587,6 +6608,7 @@ fi
 
 
 
+
 
 
 ac_config_files="$ac_config_files defs.mak"
diff --git a/scripts/configure.in b/scripts/configure.in
index 601a6df..dac42f5 100644
--- a/scripts/configure.in
+++ b/scripts/configure.in
@@ -249,6 +249,20 @@ usingX11=
 
 dnl Compile-time options below. . .
 
+# For distributed installs, where the run-time files are installed in a
+# place that is a temporary staging area, like DESTDIR, but unlike DESTDIR,
+# the prefix is replaced by the destination directory, rather than appended
+# to it.
+dist_prefix="\${exec_prefix}"
+AC_ARG_WITH(distdir,
+[  --with-distdir=DIR       install into location DIR for distribution], [
+  if test "$withval" = "no" -o "$withval" = "NO" ; then
+     dist_prefix="\${exec_prefix}"
+  else
+     dist_prefix=$arg
+  fi
+], )
+
 AC_ARG_WITH(interpreter,
 [  --with-interpreter=[arg]	enable interpreter], [
   if test "$withval" = "no" -o "$withval" = "NO"; then
@@ -1272,6 +1286,7 @@ AC_SUBST(modules)
 AC_SUBST(unused)
 AC_SUBST(programs)
 AC_SUBST(cadinstall)
+AC_SUBST(dist_prefix)
 
 AC_SUBST(gr_cflags)
 AC_SUBST(gr_dflags)
diff --git a/scripts/defs.mak.in b/scripts/defs.mak.in
index 1c2e9ae..39f93a1 100644
--- a/scripts/defs.mak.in
+++ b/scripts/defs.mak.in
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ DOCDIR                 = ${libdir}/netgen/doc
 TCLDIR                 = ${libdir}/netgen/tcl
 PYDIR		       = ${libdir}/netgen/python
 
+INSTALL_BINDIR                 = @dist_prefix@/bin
+INSTALL_MANDIR                 = @dist_prefix@/share/man
+INSTALL_LIBDIR                 = @dist_prefix@/lib
+INSTALL_DOCDIR                 = ${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen/doc
+INSTALL_TCLDIR                 = ${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen/tcl
+INSTALL_PYDIR		       = ${INSTALL_LIBDIR}/netgen/python
+
 MAIN_EXTRA_LIBS        = @extra_libs@
 LD_EXTRA_LIBS          = @ld_extra_libs@
 LD_SHARED              = @ld_extra_objs@
diff --git a/tcltk/Makefile b/tcltk/Makefile
index 861e185..56beeed 100644
--- a/tcltk/Makefile
+++ b/tcltk/Makefile
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@ CLEANS += netgen.sh netgen.tcl netgenexec${EXEEXT}
 CFLAGS += -I${NETGENDIR}/base
 
 TCL_FILES = \
-	$(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/tkcon.tcl \
-	$(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/console.tcl \
-	$(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/netgen.tcl
+	$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/tkcon.tcl \
+	$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/console.tcl \
+	$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/netgen.tcl
 
 tcl-main: netgenexec${EXEEXT} netgen.tcl netgen.sh
 
-install-tcl: netgenexec${EXEEXT} $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netgen.sh ${TCL_FILES}
-	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/netgenexec${EXEEXT}
-	${CP} netgenexec${EXEEXT} $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/netgenexec${EXEEXT}
+install-tcl: netgenexec${EXEEXT} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netgen.sh ${TCL_FILES}
+	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/netgenexec${EXEEXT}
+	${CP} netgenexec${EXEEXT} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/netgenexec${EXEEXT}
 
 netgenexec${EXEEXT}: netgenexec.c
 	${CC} ${CFLAGS} ${CPPFLAGS} ${DFLAGS_NOSTUB} netgenexec.c \
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ netgen.sh: netgen.sh.in
 	    -e 's%WISH_EXE%${WISH_EXE}%g' \
 	    netgen.sh.in > netgen.sh
 
-$(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/%: %
-	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/$*
-	${CP} $* $(DESTDIR)${TCLDIR}/$*
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/%: %
+	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/$*
+	${CP} $* $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_TCLDIR}/$*
 
-$(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netgen.sh: netgen.sh
-	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netgen.sh $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netgen
-	${CP} netgen.sh $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}/netgen
-	(cd $(DESTDIR)${BINDIR}; chmod 0755 netgen)
+$(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netgen.sh: netgen.sh
+	${RM} $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netgen.sh $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netgen
+	${CP} netgen.sh $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}/netgen
+	(cd $(DESTDIR)${INSTALL_BINDIR}; chmod 0755 netgen)
 
 include ${NETGENDIR}/rules.mak