Index: chapter.xml =================================================================== --- chapter.xml +++ chapter.xml @@ -0,0 +1,377 @@ + + + WINE Management GUIs + + While the base install of WINE comes with a GUI configuration tool + in <application>winecfg</application>, it's main + purpose is just that: strictly configuring an existing WINE + prefix. There are, however, more advanced applications that will + assist in the initial installation of applications as well as + optimizing their WINE environments. The below sections include a + selection of the most popular. + + + winetricks + + <application>winetricks</application> is a + cross-platform, general purpose helper program for WINE. It is + not developed by the WINE project proper, but rather maintained + on + Github + by a group of contributors. It contains some automated + "recipes" for getting common applications to work on + WINE, both by optimizing the settings as well as acquiring some + DLL libraries automatically. + + + Installing winetricks + + To install <application>winetricks</application> + on a &os; using binary packages, use the following + commands (note + <application>winetricks</application> requires + either the i386-wine or i386-wine-devel package, and is + therefore not installed automatically with other + dependencies): + + &prompt.root;pkg install i386-wine + pkg install winetricks + + To compile it from source, issue the following in the + terminal: + + &prompt.root;cd /usr/ports/emulators/i386-wine + make install + cd /usr/ports/emulators/winetricks + make install + + If a manual installation is required, refer to the + Github + account for instructions. + + + +
+ Using winetricks + + Run <application>winetricks</application> with the + following command: + + &prompt;winetricks + + Note you should be in a 32-bit prefix in order to run + <application>winetricks</application>. Launching + <application>winetricks</application> displays a + window with a number of choices, as follows: + + + + + + + + + + Selecting either Install an application, + Install a benchmark, or Install + a game shows a list with supported options, such as + the one below for applications: + + + + + + + + + + Selecting one or more items and clicking + OK will start their installation + process(es). Initially, some messages that appear to be errors + may show up, but they're actually informational alerts as + <application>winetricks</application> configures + the WINE environment to get around known issues for the + application: + + + + + + + + + + + Once these are circumvented, the actual installer for the + application will be run: + + + + + + + + + + Once the installation completes, the new Windows application + should be available from the desktop environment's standard + menu (shown in the screenshot below for the LXQT desktop + environment): + + + + + + + + + + + In order to remove the application, run + <application>winetricks</application> again, and + select Run an uninstaller. + + + + + + + + + + A &os.windows;-style dialog will appear with a list of + installed programs and components. Select the application to + be removed, then click the Modify/Remove + button. + + + + + + + + + + This will run the applications built-in installer, which + should also have the option to uninstall. + + + + + + + + + + + + + Homura + + Homura is an application similar to + <application>winetricks</application>, although it + was inspired by the + Lutris gaming + system for Linux. But while it is focused on games, there are + also non-gaming applications available for install through + Homura. + + + Installing Homura + + To install Homura's binary package, issue the following + command: + + &prompt.root;pkg install homura + + Homura is avaialble in the FreeBSD Ports system. However, + rather than the emulators section of + Ports or binary packages, look for it in the + games section. + + + &prompt.root;cd /usr/ports/games/homura + make install + + + + Using Homura + + Homura's usage is quite similar to that of + <application>winetricks</application>. When using + it for the first time, launch it from the command line (or a + desktop environment runner applet) with: + + &prompt;Homura + + This should result in a friendly welcome message. Click + OK to continue. + + + + + + + + + + The program will also offer to place a link in the application + menu of compatible environments: + + + + + + + + + + Depending on the setup of the &os; machine, Homura may + display a message urging the install of native graphics + drivers. + + + + + + + + + + The application's window should then appear, which amounts to + a "main menu" with all its options. Many of the + items are the same as + <application>winetricks</application>, although + Homura offers some additional, helpful options such as opening + its data folder (Open Homura Folder) or + running a specified program (Run a executable in + prefix). + + + + + + + + + + To select one of Homura's supported applications to install, + select Installation, and click + OK. This will display a list of + applications Homura can install automatically. Select one, and + click OK to start the process. + + + + + + + + + + As a first step Homura will download the selected program. A + notification may appear in supported desktop environments. + + + + + + + + + + The program will also create a new prefix for the application. + A standard WINE dialog with this message will display. + + + + + + + + + + Next, Homura will install any prerequisites for the selected + program. This may involve downloading and extracting a fair + number of files, the details of which will show in dialogs. + + + + + + + + + + Downloaded packages are automatically opened and run as + required. + + + + + + + + + + The installation may end with a simple desktop notification or + message in the terminal, depending on how Homura was launched. + But in either case Homura should return to the main screen. To + confirm the installation was successful, select + Launcher, and click + OK. + + + + + + + + + + This will display a list of installed applications. + + + + + + + + + + To run the new program, select it from the list, and click + OK. To uninstall the application, select + Uninstallation from the main screen, + which will display a similar list. Select the program to be + removed, and click OK. + + + + + + + + + + + + + Running Multiple Management GUIs + + It's worth noting that the above solutions are not mutually + exclusive. It's perfectly acceptable, even advantageous, to have + both installed at the same time, as they support a different set + of programs. + + However, it's wise to ensure that they don't access any of the + same WINE prefixes. Each of these solutions applies workarounds + and makes changes to the registries based on known workarounds + to existing WINE issues in order to make a given application run + smoothly. Allowing both + <application>winetricks</application> and Homura to + access the same prefix could lead to some of these being + overwritten, with the result being some or all applications do + not work as expected. + + +