Winefix For Linux

Winefix project offers improved desktop integration for Wine. In short, it allows Wine applications to be run just as easily as those native to Linux, meaning that they can be linked to or run from any directory, whether from a terminal or even a file manager like nautilus. It also handles some of the more awkward Wine extensions like .lnk and .msi, akkowing them to be run with a double click.

It also offers a good number of enhancements and fixes over "vanilla" Wine, especially in regards to Compiz and Beryl. If either of the two are running when a Wine application requiring DirectX or OpenGL is run, you'll be asked if they should be temporarily disabled, and reinstated immediately after the application exits. it also allows for the "Legacy Apps" workaround in Compiz Fusion to be similarly enabled and disabled, as always leaving it on is a disaster - while it can fix the fullscreen modes of Wine apps, it actually breaks those of most native ones. The other enhancements allow the option for each application to have it's own dedicated virtual Windows desktop (basically whether a program should be started "windowed" ), be reniced, ensure that fullscreen applications restore the desktop resolution properly, or, for 64 bit machines, run in 32-bit compatability mode (thanks to mikey for suggesting the last two!)

The script also changes Wine's error reporting behavior. Wine normally reports every error and fixme message that is encountered when an application is running, meaning that running programs via terminal results in a deluge of error messages that can greatly hurt performance, and that running them via script or file manager results in losing the ability to see any error messages at all. This script, by default, only reports critical system and Wine error messages, and only displays them if a Wine program actually crashes, in which case you'll then see a dialog much like this:

If it's the first time a particular application has crashed, you'll also be given the option to view its Winehq.org Application Database page, or if not found, asked if you'd like to create one.

The script also allows for more thorough error reporting by the use of command line options. Adding the flag "-d 1" causes all errors normally reported by Wine to be displayed, and saves application to the "log" folder in your Wine directory. There's also a "-d 2" option that causes ALL errors and system relays to be reported, but it's really only useful for debugging (it's insanely slow).

Using the script is pretty easy - it's used in exactly the same manner as wine itself, ie 'winefix drive_c/Program Files/dwarfort.exe' or 'winefix "C:Program Filesdwarfort.exe"', and accepts all of wine's environment varables. It adds many command line options as well - run "winefix -?" in a terminal for a complete list.

The easiest way to use the script is to install the attached deb - the script will be automatically integrated with Gnome, allowing Wine apps to be run with a double click - something that can't be reliably done with Wine alone (see Bug #1, below). It does the same with Wine files of the .msi, and .lnk extensions, and adds Tango icons to the Wine menu as well:

Don't want a .deb?

If you want the script by itself, grab it from the download page, save it to your home directory, and install winefix with the command:

sudo tar -xvvzf winefix.tar.gz -C /usr/bin/

You'll also need to have zenity installed, and optionally lynx for AppDB integration, so if you don't:

sudo apt-get install zenity lynx

If there are any bugs, problems, or suggested improvements, please let me know.

If you want to run Wine apps in another xserver, you should take a look at my other script.

#1 - Applications breaking when not run from their base directory.

The usual fix is to change to the base directory of an applications before it is run. The script does this automatically, saving you the trouble and allowing the ability to double click Wine executables in a file manager instead of having to run them via terminal or launchscript.

#2 - Wine's finicky handling of links (symlinks) to executables.

If you've ever tried right-clicking on an executable and creating a shortcut to place on your desktop, you know full well this. This script acts as a symlink interpreter of sorts for Wine, allowing symlinks to be used without error.

#3 - Desktop panels overlapping the screen of fullscreen applications when Wine is used with Compiz or Beryl, and other weirdness.

The script allows for another window manager, like Metacity, to be started whenever a Wine application is in use, and automatically starts Compiz or Beryl again after said application exits. As of version 9.9 of this script, you'll be automatically prompted if a program uses either OpenGL or DirectX, and the backup Window Manager is automatically detected.

In the same fashion, the script can also enable and immediately disable the "Legacy Apps" Workaround for Compiz Fusion, as it's known to break the fullscreen modes of regular apps.

#4 - Choppy performance, or stuttering sound. The best workaround for the above is to change the nice value of both the wineserver and program being run to either "19" or "-10", which can get very annoying.

Fortunately, this script can do it for you; just use the "-n" command-line option to specify whatever nice value is desired. For nice values less than 0, though, you'll be prompted for a password, but it's only used for the "renice" command - nothing else in the script is ever run as root.

#5 - Applications changing the desktop resolution - and not changing it back.