Date: June 27, 2009
From: Bob Jacobsen
Subject: Test version 2.5.7 of JMRI/DecoderPro is available for download.
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 seventh, and hopefully last, in a new series of test versions. We expect this series to end in a production release in late June 2009. It contains many new features, including:
This test release is quite close to what we expect to be in the next JMRI production release, but you should still backup your JMRI files before installing it.
JMRI is now only available under the GNU General Public License. For more information, please see our copyright and licensing page.
JMRI version 2.5.5 introduced reorganized definitions for SoundTraxx Tsunami Diesel definitions. Several definition files have been removed, and are replaced by one common file. If you haven't modified your Tsunami XML files, you don't have to read the rest of this paragraph. If you have modified or replaced the Tsunami definitions in the program directory in a previous copy of JMRI, you should back up the modified files before installing JMRI 2.5.5. This version removes the old files, so if you have modifications, you'll have to put them back manually afterwards. In general, it's better to put local modifications in the preferences directory, not the program directory, so you won't have to do this in the future.
If you're using a MERG CAN-RS or CAN-USB unit to talk to a MERG CBUS, you should check that your preferences are set properly.
Starting with version 2.5.3, JMRI uses a new version of the Log4J library, and several additional libraries. If you've written your own Java code using JMRI, or have your own startup scripts, you might have to make some changes to adapt to these new libraries. If you don't get messages about missing or deprecated methods, you don't have to worry about this.
The XSLT location was moved back to the web in JMRI 2.5.3.
Starting in JMRI 2.5.2, Logix support has a lot of new capabilities, but panel files that use these capabilities can't be read by previous versions of the program. Please keep backup copies of your panel files in case you want to move back to a previous version.
Starting in JMRI 2.5.2, there have been extensive changes to the way JMRI installs and starts on Windows. If you have custom shortcuts (ones you made), you may have to update them. The JMRI-created ones will be updated automatically. Users of Mac OS X and Linux will not be affected by this change.
The downloads are significantly larger due to more text and images in the help pages, especially the updated manual.
JMRI now requires Java 5 or later. (Java 5 is also called Java 1.5) If you are using an older version of Java, please upgrade your Java installation. To see JMRI's future plans for this and other compatibility issues, please see the JMRI technology roadmap.
Starting in JMRI 2.5.1, the way you drag things in the Layout Editor has changed if you are using a Linux computer.
Please use these links for downloading:
Panel Editor users may now change the default icons to be icons of their own choosing.
Fix to a problem saving custom icons in the Panel Editor that was introduced in 2.5.7.
A problem that prevented editing Signal Head definitions from the Signal Head Table has been fixed.
Added "lights" alias for scripting
Improvements to the Hornby DCC support.