diff --git a/dummy/makefile b/dummy/makefile
index d8b9ffcb..8f5a8ebc 100644
--- a/dummy/makefile
+++ b/dummy/makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,34 @@
-# this makefile delegates to a version specific makefile
+# Forwards the execution to a version specific makefile.
+# SICS_VERSION must be defined, else usage is printed
+# M. Zolliker 03.2005
 
-# where root is 
-S_UP=..
+VERS_UNDEFINED=
+VERS_UNDEFINED$(SICS_VERSION)=version_undefined
+
+INCL_MF=makefile_$(SICS_VERSION)
+
+-include $(INCL_MF)
+
+version_undefined:
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "Usage:"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "    make -f makefile_xxx [target]"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo '  where makefile_xxx is one of'
+	@ echo ""
+	@ ls -1 makefile_* | pr -t -o 4
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "Or, more convenient, define the following in the login script"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "    setenv SICS_VERSION version_xxx     (assume we are using tcsh)"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "  where version_xxx is one of"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ ls -1 makefile_* | cut -b 10-99 | pr -t -o 4
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "and then use simply"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "    make [target]"
+	@ echo ""
 
-include ../make_forward
diff --git a/matrix/makefile b/matrix/makefile
index 1d73dcd7..8f5a8ebc 100644
--- a/matrix/makefile
+++ b/matrix/makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,34 @@
-# this makefile delegates to a version specific makefile
+# Forwards the execution to a version specific makefile.
+# SICS_VERSION must be defined, else usage is printed
+# M. Zolliker 03.2005
 
-# where root is (from here)
-S_UP=..
+VERS_UNDEFINED=
+VERS_UNDEFINED$(SICS_VERSION)=version_undefined
+
+INCL_MF=makefile_$(SICS_VERSION)
+
+-include $(INCL_MF)
+
+version_undefined:
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "Usage:"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "    make -f makefile_xxx [target]"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo '  where makefile_xxx is one of'
+	@ echo ""
+	@ ls -1 makefile_* | pr -t -o 4
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "Or, more convenient, define the following in the login script"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "    setenv SICS_VERSION version_xxx     (assume we are using tcsh)"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "  where version_xxx is one of"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ ls -1 makefile_* | cut -b 10-99 | pr -t -o 4
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "and then use simply"
+	@ echo ""
+	@ echo "    make [target]"
+	@ echo ""
 
-include ../make_forward