diff --git a/applications/test/foamVersion/foamVersionString.C b/applications/test/foamVersion/foamVersionString.C
index 05b3db51b5..be63290a30 100644
--- a/applications/test/foamVersion/foamVersionString.C
+++ b/applications/test/foamVersion/foamVersionString.C
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Application
     foamVersionString.C
 
 Description
-    Print the FOAMversion string.
+    Print the OpenFOAM version strings.
     Simultaneously the smallest possible program to use a minimal bit of
     the OpenFOAM library
 
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ Description
 
 int main()
 {
-    std::cerr<< "FOAMversion " << Foam::FOAMversion << "\n";
+    std::cerr
+        << "build   " << Foam::FOAMbuild << "\n"
+        << "version " << Foam::FOAMversion << "\n";
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Allwmake b/src/Allwmake
index e0324141cd..39ce3f16f1 100755
--- a/src/Allwmake
+++ b/src/Allwmake
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 cd ${0%/*} || exit 1    # run from this directory
 set -x
 
-# update Foam::FOAMversion string if required
+# update OpenFOAM version strings if required
 wmakePrintBuild -check || /bin/rm -f OpenFOAM/Make/$WM_OPTIONS/global.? 2>/dev/null
 
 wmakeLnInclude -f OpenFOAM
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectI.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectI.H
index 2407507c86..8e8a05f04b 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectI.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectI.H
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ inline void Foam::IOobject::writeBanner(Stream& os, bool noHint)
     {
         memset(spaces, ' ', 40);
 
-        size_t len = strlen(Foam::FOAMversion);
+        size_t len = strlen(Foam::FOAMbuild);
         if (len < 38)
         {
             spaces[38 - len] = '\0';
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ inline void Foam::IOobject::writeBanner(Stream& os, bool noHint)
     os  <<
         "| =========                 |                                                 |\n"
         "| \\\\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox           |\n"
-        "|  \\\\    /   O peration     | Version:  " << FOAMversion << spaces << "|\n"
+        "|  \\\\    /   O peration     | Version:  " << FOAMbuild << spaces << "|\n"
         "|   \\\\  /    A nd           | Web:      www.OpenFOAM.org                      |\n"
         "|    \\\\/     M anipulation  |                                                 |\n"
         "\\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/\n";
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/foamVersion.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/foamVersion.H
index fbebf86bc4..f6f8a7c6de 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/foamVersion.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/foamVersion.H
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ Global
 Description
     OpenFOAM version number static string.
 
+Global
+    Foam::FOAMbuild
+
+Description
+    OpenFOAM version number static string with build information
+
 SourceFiles
     global.Cver
 
@@ -48,6 +54,7 @@ SourceFiles
 namespace Foam
 {
     extern const char* const FOAMversion;
+    extern const char* const FOAMbuild;
 }
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver b/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver
index 8bcd7e7728..677c30ecc7 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver
@@ -28,14 +28,15 @@ Description
     avoid the use of unconstructed data in the global namespace.
 
     This file has the extension .Cver to trigger a Makefile rule that converts
-    WM_PROJECT_VERSION into the appropriate version string.
+    'VERSION\_STRING' and 'BUILD\_STRING' into the appropriate strings.
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 #include "foamVersion.H"
 
-const char* const Foam::FOAMversion = "WM_PROJECT_VERSION";
+const char* const Foam::FOAMversion = "VERSION_STRING";
+const char* const Foam::FOAMbuild = "BUILD_STRING";
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // Static initializers for string::null, word::null and fileName::null
diff --git a/wmake/rules/General/version b/wmake/rules/General/version
index 64f272ed08..11f83c7b74 100644
--- a/wmake/rules/General/version
+++ b/wmake/rules/General/version
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 .SUFFIXES: .Cver
 
 #
-# update version string in C++ file and in $WM_PROJECT_DIR/.build file
+# update version strings in C++ file and in $WM_PROJECT_DIR/.build file
 #
 Cvertoo = \
-    sed 's/WM_PROJECT_VERSION/$(shell wmakePrintBuild -update)/' $$SOURCE > $*.C; \
+    sed -e 's/VERSION_STRING/$(shell wmakePrintBuild -major)/' \
+        -e 's/BUILD_STRING/$(shell wmakePrintBuild -update)/' \
+        $$SOURCE > $*.C; \
     $(CC) $(c++FLAGS) -c $*.C -o $@
 
 .Cver.dep:
diff --git a/wmake/wmakePrintBuild b/wmake/wmakePrintBuild
index 13009261da..d82c9ef92d 100755
--- a/wmake/wmakePrintBuild
+++ b/wmake/wmakePrintBuild
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ usage: $Script [OPTION]
 options:
   -check          check the git head commit vs. \$WM_PROJECT_DIR/.build
                   (exit code 0 for no changes)
-  -update         update the \$WM_PROJECT_DIR/.build from the git information
+  -major          report \$WM_PROJECT_VERSION only and exit
+  -update         update \$WM_PROJECT_DIR/.build from the git information
   -version VER    specify an alternative version
 
 Print the version used when building the project, in this order of precedence:
@@ -65,6 +66,10 @@ do
         checkOnly=true
         shift
         ;;
+    -major)
+        echo ${WM_PROJECT_VERSION:-unknown}
+        exit 0
+        ;;
     -u | -update)
         update=true
         shift