diff --git a/pokerth.pro b/pokerth.pro
index 1a9c7726..9125a1a2 100755
--- a/pokerth.pro
+++ b/pokerth.pro
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ DEPENDPATH += . \
               src/gui/qt/createnetworkgamedialog \
               src/gui/qt/joinnetworkgamedialog \
               src/gui/qt/log \
+	      src/gui/qt/qthelper \
               src/gui/qt/newlocalgamedialog \
               src/gui/qt/settingsdialog \
               src/gui/qt/startnetworkgamedialog \
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ INCLUDEPATH += . \
                src/core/tinyxml \
                src/gui/qt \
                src/gui/qt/log \
+	       src/gui/qt/qthelper \
                src/gui/qt/connecttoserverdialog \
                src/core \
 	       src/gui/qt/mainwindow \
@@ -99,7 +101,8 @@ HEADERS += src/game.h \
            src/gui/qt/newlocalgamedialog/newgamedialogimpl.h \
            src/gui/qt/settingsdialog/settingsdialogimpl.h \
            src/gui/qt/startnetworkgamedialog/startnetworkgamedialogimpl.h \
-           src/gui/qt/waitforservertostartgamedialog/waitforservertostartgamedialogimpl.h
+           src/gui/qt/waitforservertostartgamedialog/waitforservertostartgamedialogimpl.h \
+           src/gui/qt/qthelper/qthelper.h
 FORMS += src/gui/qt/mainwindow.ui \
 	 src/gui/qt/aboutpokerth.ui \
          src/gui/qt/connecttoserverdialog.ui \
@@ -170,27 +173,28 @@ SOURCES += src/game.cpp \
            src/gui/qt/newlocalgamedialog/newgamedialogimpl.cpp \
            src/gui/qt/settingsdialog/settingsdialogimpl.cpp \
            src/gui/qt/startnetworkgamedialog/startnetworkgamedialogimpl.cpp \
-           src/gui/qt/waitforservertostartgamedialog/waitforservertostartgamedialogimpl.cpp 
+           src/gui/qt/waitforservertostartgamedialog/waitforservertostartgamedialogimpl.cpp  \
+           src/gui/qt/qthelper/qthelper.cpp
 RESOURCES += src/gui/qt/resources.qrc
 
 TEMPLATE = vcapp
 TEMPLATE = app
-win32 {
-	DEPENDPATH += src/net/win32/ src/core/win32
-	SOURCES += src/core/win32/rand.cpp \ 
+win32{
+    DEPENDPATH += src/net/win32/ src/core/win32
+    SOURCES += src/core/win32/rand.cpp \
 		src/net/win32/socket_helper.cpp \
 		src/net/win32/socket_startup.cpp 
-	INCLUDEPATH += ../boost/
-	LIBPATH += ../boost/stage/lib
-	LIBS += gdi32.lib comdlg32.lib oleaut32.lib imm32.lib winmm.lib winspool.lib ole32.lib uuid.lib user32.lib msimg32.lib shell32.lib kernel32.lib ws2_32.lib advapi32.lib
-	RC_FILE = pokerth.rc
+    INCLUDEPATH += ../boost/
+    LIBPATH += ../boost/stage/lib
+    LIBS += gdi32.lib comdlg32.lib oleaut32.lib imm32.lib winmm.lib winspool.lib ole32.lib uuid.lib user32.lib msimg32.lib shell32.lib kernel32.lib ws2_32.lib advapi32.lib
+    RC_FILE = pokerth.rc
 }
-!win32 {
-	DEPENDPATH += src/net/linux/ src/core/linux
-	SOURCES += src/core/linux/rand.cpp \
+!win32{
+    DEPENDPATH += src/net/linux/ src/core/linux
+    SOURCES += src/core/linux/rand.cpp \
 		src/net/linux/socket_helper.cpp \
            	src/net/linux/socket_startup.cpp 
-	LIBS += -lboost_thread -lcrypto
+    LIBS += -lboost_thread -lcrypto
 }
 
 CONFIG += qt release
diff --git a/src/gui/guiinterface.h b/src/gui/guiinterface.h
index 7d698b70..6d6e1f07 100644
--- a/src/gui/guiinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/guiinterface.h
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ public:
 	virtual void logPlayerActionMsg(std::string playName, int action, int setValue) =0;
 	virtual void logNewGameHandMsg(int gameID, int HandID) =0;
 
+	//qthelper.cpp
+	virtual	std::string stringToUtf8(const std::string &) =0;
+
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp
index 889362a1..4952c796 100644
--- a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@ void GuiWrapper::meInAction() const { myW->meInAction(); }
 void GuiWrapper::logPlayerActionMsg(string playerName, int action, int setValue) { myLog->logPlayerActionMsg(playerName, action, setValue); }
 void GuiWrapper::logNewGameHandMsg(int gameID, int handID) { myLog->logNewGameHandMsg(gameID, handID); }
 
+std::string GuiWrapper::stringToUtf8(const std::string &myString) { myQtHelper->stringToUtf8(myString); }
+
+
 void GuiWrapper::SignalNetClientConnect(int actionID) { myW->SignalNetClientConnect(actionID); }
 void GuiWrapper::SignalNetClientGameInfo(int actionID) { myW->SignalNetClientGameInfo(actionID); }
 void GuiWrapper::SignalNetClientError(int errorID, int osErrorID) { myW->SignalNetClientError(errorID, osErrorID); }
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h
index 483f6d70..e7bfbdc9 100644
--- a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h
+++ b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "mainwindowimpl.h"
 #include "connecttoserverdialogimpl.h"
+#include "qthelper.h"
 #include "configfile.h"
 
 #include <string>
@@ -90,6 +91,8 @@ public:
 	void logPlayerActionMsg(std::string playerName, int action, int setValue) ;
 	void logNewGameHandMsg(int gameID, int handID) ;
 
+	std::string stringToUtf8(const std::string &);
+
 	void SignalNetClientConnect(int actionID);
 	void SignalNetClientGameInfo(int actionID);
 	void SignalNetClientError(int errorID, int osErrorID);
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@ private:
 	Log *myLog;
 	mainWindowImpl *myW;
 	ConfigFile *myConfig;
+	QtHelper *myQtHelper;
 
 };