solved this is the code used in codeblocks and compiled under windows xp: #include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> int main() { printf("probando ejecutable"); printf("llamando a ABIWORD desde wine ..."); system("/bin/sh -c /usr/bin/abiword"); return 0; } I compiled the program as program.exe under linux i call that program like: wine program.exe works perfectly this code should open ABIWORD