Release Notes for JMRI 5.3.4 release

Date: March 10, 2023

From: Bob Jacobsen

Subject: Test Release 5.3.4 of JMRI/DecoderPro is available for download.

Notes:

This is a test release. Please post a note if you encounter any new or old bugs! And please back up your JMRI files before installing this, in case you want to go back to an earlier version.

This is the next in a series of 5.3.* test releases. It requires Java 11 to work. (See our page on downloading Java 11) We expect this series to end in the next JMRI 5.4 production release in June 2023. (See the tentative release schedule)

Some of the changes involved are quite extensive. They may require a certain amount of experience before they are working well. Therefore, this test release should be considered experimental.

JMRI is now only available under the GNU General Public License. For more information, please see our copyright and licensing page.

Update From Older JMRI Versions

If you are currently using a version older than JMRI 5.0, please follow these instructions carefully:

1. Is your current version older than JMRI 4.12? If so, then update to JMRI 4.12 first, and ensure everything works correctly: check start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else. Store your configuration and panel files under a new name and use those from now on. Then continue with step 2.

   If you are currently using JMRI 4.7.3 or earlier on Linux or macOS (Windows doesn't need this), then it's very important that you update to JMRI 4.12 and carrying out the migration process described in the JMRI 4.12 release note before updating to any later release.

2. Is your current version older than JMRI 4.20? Then update to JMRI 4.20 first, and ensure that works correctly (check start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else. Save your preferences again. Store your configuration and panel files under a new name, use those from now on, and go on to step 3.
3. Is your current version older than JMRI 4.24? Then update to JMRI 4.24 first, and ensure that works correctly (check start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else. Save your preferences again. Store your configuration and panel files under a new name and use those from now on.
4. Is your current version older than JMRI 5.0? Then update to JMRI 5.0 first, and ensure that works correctly (check start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else. Save your preferences again. Store your configuration and panel files under a new name and use those from now on.
5. You can then install this release.

Following this multi-step order of updating via stable major releases safeguards you against possible migration issues that can arise from skipping these versions.

New problems with this release

• Programming certain Loconet-attached boards may not work with the DCS100 command station.
• DecoderPro improperly displays function names in the Function Map pane for certain ESU decoders.

If the LocoNet problem affects you, please either wait for JMRI 5.3.6, or pick up a JMRI development build installer from Jenkins. The ESU problem will be fixed in JMRI 5.3.7.

New warnings for this release:

• None yet

Older warnings

See the JMRI 5.2 release note for more warnings predating the 5.3 development series, including pointers to various migration issues. These may be relevant to you if you're updating from an earlier version; we strongly recommend you update to at least JMRI 5.0 before installing this test release. See instructions above.

• Since JMRI 5.3.2 Some images in the resources/icons folder have been renamed. Spaces have been changed to underscore. It's images in the resources/icons/ItalianSignals/ACEI, resources\icons\ItalianSignals\Prototypical, resources/icons/smallschematics/aspects/NW-1981, resources/icons/smallschematics/aspects/NYC-1956, xml/signals/FS-1987, xml/signals/NW-1981, xml/signals/NYC-1956 and resources/icons/SNCF/Small folders that have been renamed. If you are using these images directly, you will need to update the reference.
• Since JMRI 5.1.7 The way defaults for some LocoNet connections are handled has changed. Existing LocoNet connections might give a "The Defaults preferences are invalid" warning when saving preferences. In that case, click "yes" and then go set all the default radio buttons on the "Defaults" pane to the LocoNet connection. (You can also click "no", but you'll get the message next time you store too)
• Since JMRI 4.99.1 This test release, and all subsequent ones, require the use of Java 11 or later. Java 8 is explicitly not supported. There's more information on this migration on the JMRI Tech Road Map and JVM Capabilities pages.
• Since JMRI 5.3.3 The code for Loconet programming operations was significantly changed. If you encounter any (new) troubles programming via Loconet, please get in touch on the JMRIusers list.

Download links:

Changes since Test Release 5.3.3:

The list of included changes is available from our GitHub code repository.

Hardware Support

CBUS

• The CBUS Hub Control can be used to share the CBUS connection locally and onto a LAN.

LocoNet

• Added support for the programming protocol used by Digitrax Series 7 boards (DS74, SE74, etc)

OpenLCB / LCC

• Hub Control - UI Update, line termination characters optional for incoming feeds.
• When downloading firmware to multiple boards, it can be a pain to have to select the file over and over. This was changed to make the selected file (hence directory, etc) persistent from one download frame to the next.
• Show more information in the node selector when doing firmware downloads.
• Updated the default filename when doing backups to contain more identification info.
• The OpenLCB library was updated to the current contents as of PR #214
• There's a new "Event Table" tool that shows all the events on the network and which nodes produce and consume them.
• There's a new "Memory Tool" that lets you get the contents of node memory spaces into a local binary file, and put the contents of a file back into a node memory space.
• Now shows more about JMRI nodes in the Configure Nodes window.
• Updated the openlcb.jar library to version 0.7.32 including multiple GUI, functional and error handling improvements.

New / Updated decoder definitions

Digitrax

• Added SE74 usage information to the Digitrax/LocoNet hardware help page, including specific guidance for configuring JMRI's signaling, and typo fixes.
• Added DecoderPro definitions for the DS74 and SE74 OpSwitches.
• Added a loconet/LnEditEvolutionRoutesAndOpSw.py script that lets you configure the routes in a Digitrax Series 7 board e.g. DS74 and DS74.

DecoderPro

• The decoder index is being written in a more compact form to improve the time spent reading it at startup.
• Two new decoder-index attributes suppressFunctionLabels and suppressRosterMedia can be used to suppress those panes in the DecoderPro GUI.
• Two new import and two new export options have been added to DecoderPro.
  • You can directly export a DecoderPro roster entry to a TCS CS-105 command station roster entry.
  • You can directly import a TCS CS-105 command station roster entry to a DecoderPro roster entry.
  • You can export a roster entry to a CDI backup file for restoring into a train entry in the TCS CS-105 command station.
  • You can import a CDI backup file to a roster entry.
  For more information see the TCS CS-105 page.

LogixNG

• The expression Linux Line Power has been added.

Operations

• Improved passenger car blocking when using kernels, caboose, or car with FRED
• Fix Java exception when using the Set Car window and a final destination.

Panel Editor

• The show hidden items selection was not being stored properly. The fix may cause unexpected changes the first time a PE panel is loaded.

Control Panel Editor

• The show hidden items selection was not being stored properly. The fix may cause unexpected changes the first time a CPE panel is loaded.

Scripting

• Add a PanelControlsContents.py script which lets you set a panel to controlling the layout or not.

Signals

Signal Systems

• Updated AAR-1946 aspect mappings.
• Updated the appearances in the Reading-1954 system.

Timetable

• Add action buttons to duplicate the Timetable data items.
• Add the logic to calculate the train route durations.

Miscellaneous

• Updated the plantuml library to version 1.2023.1. This is used to create program documentation.
• When downloading firmware to multiple boards, it can be a pain to have to select the file over and over. This was changed to make the selected file (hence directory, etc) persistent from one download frame to the next.

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