diff --git a/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.cpp b/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.cpp
index 7161c8049..f33a3bd97 100644
--- a/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "plugin_interface.h"
 
 PluginInterface::PluginInterface() :
-    logstream(nullptr)
+    logstream(nullptr), enabled(true)
 {
 }
 
@@ -10,6 +10,26 @@ void PluginInterface::setLog(GLLogStream* log)
 	this->logstream = log;
 }
 
+bool PluginInterface::isEnabled() const
+{
+	return enabled;
+}
+
+void PluginInterface::enable()
+{
+	enabled = true;
+}
+
+void PluginInterface::disable()
+{
+	enabled = false;
+}
+
+QFileInfo PluginInterface::pluginFileInfo() const
+{
+	return plugFileInfo;
+}
+
 void PluginInterface::log(const char* s)
 {
 	if(logstream != nullptr) {
diff --git a/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.h b/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.h
index 41ec2fb0e..865c3c504 100644
--- a/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.h
+++ b/src/common/plugins/interfaces/plugin_interface.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #define MESHLAB_PLUGIN_INTERFACE_H
 
 #include <QAction>
-
+#include <QFileInfo>
 
 #include "../../GLLogStream.h"
 #include "../../parameters/rich_parameter_list.h"
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@
 class PluginInterface
 {
 public:
+	friend class PluginManager;
+	
 	typedef int FilterIDType;
 
 	/** the type used to identify plugin actions; there is a one-to-one relation between an ID and an Action.
@@ -72,6 +74,12 @@ public:
 
 	/// Standard stuff that usually should not be redefined.
 	void setLog(GLLogStream* log);
+	
+	bool isEnabled() const;
+	void enable();
+	void disable();
+	
+	QFileInfo pluginFileInfo() const;
 
 	// This function must be used to communicate useful information collected in the parsing/saving of the files.
 	// NEVER EVER use a msgbox to say something to the user.
@@ -97,6 +105,8 @@ public:
 
 private:
 	GLLogStream *logstream;
+	bool enabled;
+	QFileInfo plugFileInfo;
 };
 
 /************************
diff --git a/src/common/plugins/plugin_manager.cpp b/src/common/plugins/plugin_manager.cpp
index fb3c996a9..7dc5f1b50 100644
--- a/src/common/plugins/plugin_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/common/plugins/plugin_manager.cpp
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ bool PluginManager::loadPlugin(const QString& fileName)
 	//TODO: check in some way also the meshlab version of the plugin
 	
 	if (ip) { //Classic MeshLab plugin (non Edit...)
+		ip->plugFileInfo = fin;
 		bool loadOk = false;
 		//FilterPlugin
 		FilterPluginInterface *iFilter = qobject_cast<FilterPluginInterface *>(plugin);