diff --git a/pcbnew/class_board.cpp b/pcbnew/class_board.cpp
index b2d0443e35..5de90041b3 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_board.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/class_board.cpp
@@ -726,7 +726,37 @@ EQUIPOT* BOARD::FindNet( const wxString & aNetname ) const
 }
 
 
+MODULE* BOARD::FindModuleByReference( const wxString& aReference ) const
+{
+    struct FindModule : public INSPECTOR
+    {
+        MODULE*  found;
+        FindModule() : found(0)  {}
 
+        // implement interface INSPECTOR
+        SEARCH_RESULT Inspect( EDA_BaseStruct* item, const void* data )
+        {
+            MODULE*         module = (MODULE*) item;
+            const wxString& ref = *(const wxString*) data;
+
+            if( ref == module->GetReference() )
+            {
+                found = module;
+                return SEARCH_QUIT;
+            }
+            return SEARCH_CONTINUE;
+        }
+    } inspector;
+
+    // search only for MODULES
+    static const KICAD_T scanTypes[] = { TYPEMODULE, EOT };
+
+    // visit this BOARD with the above inspector
+    BOARD* nonconstMe = (BOARD*) this;
+    nonconstMe->Visit( &inspector, &aReference, scanTypes );
+    
+    return inspector.found;
+}
 
 
 /* Two sort functions used in BOARD::ReturnSortedNetnamesList */
diff --git a/pcbnew/class_board.h b/pcbnew/class_board.h
index 054ba0ea78..6bff0a1c2c 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_board.h
+++ b/pcbnew/class_board.h
@@ -203,6 +203,17 @@ public:
      */
     EQUIPOT* FindNet( const wxString & aNetname ) const;
 
+    /**
+     * Function FindModuleByReference
+     * searches for a MODULE within this board with the given
+     * reference designator.  Finds only the first one, if there
+     * is more than one such MODULE.
+     * @param aReference The reference designator of the MODULE to find.
+     * @return MODULE* - If found, the MODULE having the given reference
+     *  designator, else NULL.
+     */
+    MODULE* FindModuleByReference( const wxString& aReference ) const;
+    
     /**
      * Function ReturnSortedNetnamesList
      * searches for a net with the given netcode.
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
index d1f8009023..35a3163dbe 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
@@ -3854,6 +3854,8 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
     SPECCTRA_DB     db;
     bool            failed = false;
 
+    setlocale( LC_NUMERIC, "C" );    // Switch the locale to standard C 
+    
     if( argc == 2 )
     {
         filename = CONV_FROM_UTF8( argv[1] );
@@ -3882,6 +3884,8 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
     // hose the beautified DSN file to stdout.
     db.SetFILE( stdout );    
     pcb->Format( &db, 0 );
+    
+    setlocale( LC_NUMERIC, "" );      // revert to the current  locale
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
index e6658b3ec0..8a0b247f9b 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ void WinEDA_PcbFrame::ExportToSpecctra( wxCommandEvent& event )
     
     db.SetPCB( SPECCTRA_DB::MakePCB() );
 
+    setlocale( LC_NUMERIC, "C" );    // Switch the locale to standard C 
+    
     try 
     {    
         db.FromBOARD( m_Pcb );
@@ -88,6 +90,8 @@ void WinEDA_PcbFrame::ExportToSpecctra( wxCommandEvent& event )
         errorText = ioe.errorText;
     }
 
+    setlocale( LC_NUMERIC, "" );      // revert to the current  locale
+    
     // The two calls below to BOARD::Change_Side_Module(), both set the 
     // modified flag, yet their actions cancel each other out, so it should 
     // be ok to clear the modify flag.
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
index cbcc4203cb..e9579753e8 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ void WinEDA_PcbFrame::ImportSpecctraSession( wxCommandEvent& event )
     
     SPECCTRA_DB     db;
 
+    setlocale( LC_NUMERIC, "C" );    // Switch the locale to standard C 
+    
     try 
     {    
         db.LoadSESSION( fileName );
@@ -82,9 +84,12 @@ void WinEDA_PcbFrame::ImportSpecctraSession( wxCommandEvent& event )
     }
     catch( IOError ioe )
     {
+        setlocale( LC_NUMERIC, "" );    // Switch the locale to standard C 
         DisplayError( this, ioe.errorText );
         return;
     }
+
+    setlocale( LC_NUMERIC, "" );    // Switch the locale to standard C 
     
     m_SelTrackWidthBox_Changed = TRUE;
     m_SelViaSizeBox_Changed    = TRUE;
@@ -100,21 +105,30 @@ void WinEDA_PcbFrame::ImportSpecctraSession( wxCommandEvent& event )
 
 
 namespace DSN {
+    
+
+static wxPoint mapPt( const POINT& aPoint, double aResolution )
+{
+    wxPoint ret;
+
+    // the factor of 10.0 is used to convert mils to deci-mils, the units
+    // used within Kicad.    
+    ret.x = (int)  (10.0 * aPoint.x / aResolution);
+    ret.y = (int) -(10.0 * aPoint.y / aResolution);
+    
+    return ret;
+}
+    
 
 // no UI code in this function, throw exception to report problems to the 
 // UI handler: void WinEDA_PcbFrame::ImportSpecctraSession( wxCommandEvent& event )
 
 void SPECCTRA_DB::FromSESSION( BOARD* aBoard ) throw( IOError )
 {
-    wxASSERT( session );
-
-    // delete all the old tracks and vias
-    aBoard->m_Track->DeleteStructList();
-    aBoard->m_Track = NULL;
-    aBoard->m_NbSegmTrack = 0;
-
-	aBoard->DeleteMARKERs();
+    //wxASSERT( session );
 
+    if( !session )
+        ThrowIOError( _("Session file is missing the \"session\" section") );
     
     if( !session->placement )
         ThrowIOError( _("Session file is missing the \"placement\" section") );
@@ -125,12 +139,61 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::FromSESSION( BOARD* aBoard ) throw( IOError )
     if( !session->route->library )
         ThrowIOError( _("Session file is missing the \"library_out\" section") );
     
-    
-    // Walk the PLACEMENT object's components list.
+    // delete all the old tracks and vias
+    aBoard->m_Track->DeleteStructList();
+    aBoard->m_Track = NULL;
+    aBoard->m_NbSegmTrack = 0;
+
+	aBoard->DeleteMARKERs();
+
+    // Walk the PLACEMENT object's COMPONENTs list, and for each PLACE within
+    // each COMPONENT, reposition and re-orient each component and put on 
+    // correct side of the board.
     COMPONENTS& components = session->placement->components;
-    for( COMPONENTS::iterator i=components.begin();  i!=components.end();  ++i )
+    for( COMPONENTS::iterator comp=components.begin();  comp!=components.end();  ++comp )
     {
-        // reposition and re-orient each component and put on correct side of the board.
+        PLACES& places = comp->places;
+        for( unsigned i=0; i<places.size();  ++i )
+        {
+            PLACE* place = &places[i];  // '&' even though places[] holds a pointer!
+            
+            wxString reference = CONV_FROM_UTF8( place->component_id.c_str() );
+            MODULE* module = aBoard->FindModuleByReference( reference );
+            if( !module )
+            {
+                wxString errorMsg;
+                errorMsg.Printf( 
+                   _("Session file has reference to non-existing component \"%s\""), 
+                   reference.GetData() );
+                ThrowIOError( errorMsg );
+            }
+            
+            if( !place->hasVertex )
+                continue;
+            
+            double resolution = 100; //place->GetResolution();
+            
+            wxPoint newPos = mapPt( place->vertex, resolution );
+            module->SetPosition( newPos );
+            
+            if( place->side == T_front )
+            {
+                // convert from degrees to tenths of degrees used in Kicad.
+                int orientation = (int) (place->rotation * 10.0);
+                module->SetOrientation( orientation ); 
+                
+                if( module->GetLayer() != CMP_N )
+                    aBoard->Change_Side_Module( module, 0 );
+            }
+            else if( place->side == T_back )
+            {
+                int orientation = (int) (-place->rotation * 10.0 - 1800);
+                module->SetOrientation( orientation );
+                
+                if( module->GetLayer() != COPPER_LAYER_N )
+                    aBoard->Change_Side_Module( module, 0 );
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     // Walk the NET_OUTs and create tracks and vias anew.