Release Notes for JMRI 5.11.7 release

Date: MM DDD, 2025

From: release pumpkin

Subject: Test Release 5.11.7 of JMRI/DecoderPro is available for download.

This is a draft release note only; the download links do not yet work

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 5.11.* test releases. It requires at least Java 11 to work. We recommend that you use Java 17. (See our page on downloading Java) We expect this series to end in the next JMRI production release in June 2025. (See the tentative release schedule)

We are getting close to the next production release, so we would particularly appreciate your testing of this release to make sure it works for you. That way, if you find new problems, we can try to fix them before the production release.

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

• None yet

New warnings for this release:

Older warnings

See the JMRI 5.10 release note for more warnings predating the 5.11 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 4.99.1 This test release, and all subsequent ones, require the use of Java 11 or later. We recommend that you use Java 17. Java 8 is explicitly not supported. There's more information on this migration on the JMRI Tech Road Map and JVM Capabilities pages.
• If you're using a Firefox web browser and opening JMRI help files locally (not over the web), a Firefox bug can sometimes cause it to enter a loop. There's a workaround in this JMRIusers post.
• Since JMRI 5.11.3 There's been a change to how OpenLCB turnouts are addressed when using the MTT addressing short cut. Turnouts 253,254,255, 510, 511, 512, 765, 766 and 767 will be addressed differently. If you're using any of these via e.g. MTT253, you will need to change the address. If you've been having trouble getting those addresses to work, this change should fix that.
• Since JMRI 5.11.5 OperationsPro program file locations were changed in JMRI 5.11.5. Start up actions involving operations windows from previous releases no longer work. You'll need to remove them and add them back if needed.

Download links:

During development leading to the actual release, you can find test download files on the continuous integration build page. These are development files, and might not be working at any particular time.

Changes since Test Release 5.11.6:

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

Hardware Support

Acela CTI

Anyma DMX512

Bachrus Speedo

BiDiB

CBUS

C/MRI

DCC++ and DCC-EX

• Create and update Meters for newer Current messages , , etc.

DCC4pc

Direct

ESU

Hornby

Internal

IPOCSMR

JMRI Simple Server/JMRI Client

KPF-Zeller

Lenz XPressNet

LocoNet

• The FollowSE*c.py script was broken at some unknown point in the past. The script is updated in this release to fix that.

Maple

Marklin CS2

MERG

MQTT

MRC

NCE

Oak Tree

OpenLCB / LCC

Powerline

RFID

Roco z21/Z21

Secsi

SPROG

SRCP

TAMS

TMCC

Uhlenbrock Intellibox

Zimo MXULF

ZTC

New / Updated decoder definitions

AE Model

Arnold

Bachmann

BLI

BNM Hobbies

CT Elektronik

DCC Concepts

Digikeijs (Digirails)

Digitrax

Doehler & Haas

ESU

Hattoms

Hornby

Kuehn

LaisDCC

LDH

Lenz

MD Electronics

MGP

Mistral Train Models

MTH

MRC

NCE

Norsk Modelljernbane (NJM)

Public Domain and DIY decoders

QSI

Rampino Elektronic

Rautenhaus

RR-CirKits

SoundTraxx

Tam Valley Depot

TAMS

TCS

Team Digital

Technologistic (train-O-matic)

Trix Modelleisenbahn

Uhlenbrock

Umelec

Viessmann

Wangrow

ZIMO

Miscellaneous

Control Panel Editor

Circuit Builder

Palette

CTC Tool

DecoderPro

Dispatcher

Dispatcher System

Internationalization

Layout Editor

NX - Entry/Exit Tool

LccPro

Logix

LogixNG

• The LogixNG action Send MERG CBUS event has been added. It's available in the category Merg Cbus if there is a Merg Cbus connection.
• The semicolon has been added as field delimiter for CSV files used to create LogixNG Tables.
• Where Used support has been added to the Formula actions and expressions. This is a text based search using the item's system and user names. False positive matches are possible.

Meters and MeterFrames

OperationsPro

• The train icon now shows the number of local moves in the train's route.
• New feature, a turn can now drop and pull the same car on a turn.
• Added local moves enabled to route export and printing.

Panel Editor

Permissions

Preferences

Resources

Roster

Routes

Scripting

• The script InitUnknownTurnoutsSensorsExceptInternal.py has been added.
  InitUnknownTurnoutsSensorsExceptInternal.py sets "Unknown" hardware states to default values for sensors (Inactive) and turnouts (Closed). This prevents overriding known states.
  The existing script InitAllTurnoutsSensors.py would override sensor Active and turnout Thrown states.
• Upgrade YetAnotherAutoTrain.py (YAAT) to version 3.3. There are two new statements.
  • Wait for memory <memory name> value to change
  • If value for memory <memory name> is <eq | ne | lt | gt | le | ge> <value>

Signals

Signal Systems

• The aspect mapping in the Italian FS-1987 signal system has been updated.

Signal Heads

Signal Masts

Signal Groups

Cab Signals

Simple Signal Logic

USS CTC Logic

Switchboard Editor

Throttle

Timetable

Tracker

Turnouts, Lights, Sensors and other elements

Warrants

Web Access

Web Server

Where Used

WiThrottle Server

Virtual Sound Decoder

Z21 Server

Miscellaneous

• The PlantUML library we use for various documentation images has been updated to the current 1.2025.2 version.
• Fixed a bug where Dark Mode would fail due to a missing library.

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