---
name: "widl-development"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "wine32-development-tools"
version: "4.2-4+b1"
release: "Debian 10 (Buster)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/widl-development"
---

# widl-development(1)

Wine Interface Definition Language (IDL) compiler

## NAME

widl - Wine Interface Definition Language (IDL) compiler

## SYNOPSIS

**widl** \[*options*\] *IDL\_file*\
 **widl** \[*options*\] **--dlldata-only** *name1* \[*name2*...\]

## DESCRIPTION

When no options are used the program will generate a header file, and possibly client and server stubs, proxy and dlldata files, a typelib, and a UUID file, depending on the contents of the IDL file.  If any of the options **-c**, **-h**, **-p**, **-s**, **-t**, **-u** or **--local-stubs** is given, **widl** will only generate the requested files, and no others.  When run with **--dlldata-only**, widl will only generate a dlldata file, and it will contain a list of the names passed as arguments.  Usually the way this file is updated is that each time **widl** is run, it reads any existing dlldata file, and if necessary regenerates it with the same list of names, but with the present proxy file included.

When run without any arguments, **widl** will print a help message.

## OPTIONS

**General options:**

- **-V**

  Print version number and exit.

- **-o, --output=***name*

  Set the name of the output file. When generating multiple output files, this sets only the base name of the file; the respective output files are then named *name*.h, *name*\_p.c, etc.  If a full file name with extension is specified, only that file is generated.

- **-b, --target=***cpu-manufacturer*\[*-kernel*\]*-os*

  Set the target architecture when cross-compiling. The target specification is in the standard autoconf format as returned by **config.sub**.

- **-m32, -m64, --win32, --win64**

  Force the target architecture to 32-bit or 64-bit.

**Header options:**

- **-h**

  Generate header files. The default output filename is *infile***.h**.

- **--oldnames**

  Use old naming conventions.

**Type library options:**

- **-t**

  Generate a type library. The default output filename is *infile***.tlb**.  If the output file name ends in **.res**, a binary resource file containing the type library is generated instead.

**UUID file options:**

- **-u**

  Generate a UUID file. The default output filename is *infile***\_i.c**.

**Proxy/stub generation options:**

- **-c**

  Generate a client stub file. The default output filename is *infile***\_c.c**.

- **-Os**

  Generate inline stubs.

- **-Oi**

  Generate old-style interpreted stubs.

- **-Oif, -Oic, -Oicf**

  Generate new-style fully interpreted stubs.

- **-p**

  Generate a proxy. The default output filename is *infile***\_p.c**.

- **--prefix-all=***prefix*

  Prefix to put on the name of both client and server stubs.

- **--prefix-client=***prefix*

  Prefix to put on the name of client stubs.

- **--prefix-server=***prefix*

  Prefix to put on the name of server stubs.

- **-s**

  Generate a server stub file. The default output filename is *infile***\_s.c**.

- **--winrt**

  Enable Windows Runtime mode.

- **--ns\_prefix**

  Prefix namespaces with ABI namespace.

**Registration script options:**

- **-r**

  Generate a registration script. The default output filename is *infile***\_r.rgs**. If the output file name ends in **.res**, a binary resource file containing the script is generated instead.

**Dlldata file options:**

- **--dlldata-only** *name1* \[*name2*...\]

  Regenerate the dlldata file from scratch using the specified proxy names. The default output filename is **dlldata.c**.

**Preprocessor options:**

- **-I** *path*

  Add a header search directory to path. Multiple search directories are allowed.

- **-D** *id*\[**=***val*\]

  Define preprocessor macro *id* with value *val*.

- **-E**

  Preprocess only.

- **-N**

  Do not preprocess input.

**Debug options:**

- **-W**

  Enable pedantic warnings.

- **-d** *n*

  Set debug level to the non negative integer *n*.  If prefixed with **0x**, it will be interpreted as an hexadecimal number.  For the meaning of values, see the **DEBUG** section.

**Miscellaneous options:**

- **-app\_config**

  Ignored, present for midl compatibility.

- **--acf=***file*

  Use specified application configuration file.

- **--local-stubs=***file*

  Generate empty stubs for call\_as/local methods in an object interface and write them to *file*.

## DEBUG

Debug level *n* is a bitmask with the following meaning:\
     \* 0x01 Tell which resource is parsed (verbose mode)\
     \* 0x02 Dump internal structures\
     \* 0x04 Create a parser trace (yydebug=1)\
     \* 0x08 Preprocessor messages\
     \* 0x10 Preprocessor lex messages\
     \* 0x20 Preprocessor yacc trace

## BUGS

Bugs can be reported on the **Wine bug tracker** ⟨https://bugs.winehq.org⟩.

## AUTHORS

**widl** was originally written by Ove Kåven.  It has been improved by Rob Shearman, Dan Hipschman, and others.  For a complete list, see the git commit logs. This man page was originally written by Hannu Valtonen and then updated by Dan Hipschman.

## AVAILABILITY

**widl** is part of the Wine distribution, which is available through WineHQ, the **Wine development headquarters** ⟨https://www.winehq.org/⟩.

## SEE ALSO

**Wine documentation and support** ⟨https://www.winehq.org/help⟩.