diff --git a/layerindex/detail.html b/layerindex/detail.html
index 268335f..b779e94 100644
--- a/layerindex/detail.html
+++ b/layerindex/detail.html
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
                     <p>
                         {% if layeritem.usage_url %}
                             <span class="label label-info">
-                                <a href="{{ layeritem.usage_url }}">Setup information</a>
+                                <a href="{{ layerbranch.get_usage_url }}">Setup information</a>
                             </span>
                         {% endif %}
                         {% if layeritem.mailing_list_url %}
diff --git a/layerindex/forms.py b/layerindex/forms.py
index 5932647..4eb9434 100644
--- a/layerindex/forms.py
+++ b/layerindex/forms.py
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ class EditLayerForm(forms.ModelForm):
             val(url)
         return url
 
+    def clean_usage_url(self):
+        usage = self.cleaned_data['usage_url'].strip()
+        if usage.startswith('http'):
+            val = URLValidator(verify_exists=False)
+            val(usage)
+        return usage
+
 
 class EditNoteForm(forms.ModelForm):
     class Meta:
diff --git a/layerindex/models.py b/layerindex/models.py
index a32a0b0..aaa79bc 100644
--- a/layerindex/models.py
+++ b/layerindex/models.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class LayerItem(models.Model):
     vcs_web_url = models.URLField('Repository web interface URL', blank=True, help_text='URL of the web interface for browsing the repository, if any')
     vcs_web_tree_base_url = models.CharField('Repository web interface tree base URL', max_length=200, blank=True, help_text='Base URL for the web interface for browsing directories within the repository, if any')
     vcs_web_file_base_url = models.CharField('Repository web interface file base URL', max_length=200, blank=True, help_text='Base URL for the web interface for viewing files (blobs) within the repository, if any')
-    usage_url = models.URLField('Usage web page URL', blank=True, help_text='URL of a web page with more information about the layer and how to use it, if any')
+    usage_url = models.CharField('Usage web page URL', max_length=200, blank=True, help_text='URL of a web page with more information about the layer and how to use it, if any (or path to file within repository)')
     mailing_list_url = models.URLField('Mailing list URL', blank=True, help_text='URL of the info page for a mailing list for discussing the layer, if any')
 
     class Meta:
@@ -132,6 +132,13 @@ class LayerBranch(models.Model):
     def test_file_url(self):
         return self.file_url('conf/layer.conf')
 
+    def get_usage_url(self):
+        usage_url = self.layer.usage_url
+        if usage_url.startswith('http'):
+            return usage_url
+        else:
+            return self.file_url(usage_url)
+
     def __unicode__(self):
         return "%s: %s" % (self.layer.name, self.branch.name)