Release Notes for JMRI 5.13.5 release
Date: October 10, 2025
From: Bob Jacobsen
Subject: Test Release 5.13.5 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 5.13.* 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 December 2025.
(See the tentative release schedule)
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
New warnings for this release:
Older warnings
See the
JMRI 5.12 release note for more warnings predating the 5.13 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:
These files are located in the
JMRI 5.13.5 GitHub release.
The
full list of included changes is available from our
GitHub code repository.
Hardware Support
- Developer: BiDiBReporter now inherits from CollectingReporter like LnReporter does, so getCollection() is available.
TMCC
- Added programming support for the locomotive address and mode
New / Updated decoder definitions
Digitrax
- Updated Series 7 mobile (locomotive) decoder definitions.
- Added Series 8 mobile (locomotive) decoder definitions.
DecoderPro
- DecoderPro now shows a "No Group" choice in the Roster Groups selector.
This contains all those roster entries that have not been
assigned to a specific group. You can delete roster entries
from the roster when displaying the "No Group" by selecting
the roster entry, then ctrl-clicking / right-clicking on it
and selecting "Delete from Roster".
Dispatcher
- Fix Create New Transit caused by bad initialization of stopping distance arrays. Fix crash when transit has no sections.
- Fix TransitAction SetMaxSpeed
- Add RosterGroup selection combo to Activate New Train. Remembers selection across sessions.
Layout Editor
- Normally, Layout Editor turnouts in UNKNOWN state are indicated
by drawing both legs of the turnout, instead of showing just one
as for CLOSED and THROWN. There's a new option 'Show ? When Unknown'
in the turnout's contextual menu that will make the UNKNOWN state
more visible.
OperationsPro
- Added car blocking to CSV Manifest and switch list files.
- Minor improvement to the "Show Schedules by Car Type and Load" tool.
- Improvements to the Cars print and preview, added car's "Last Location", "Last Train", and "Set out" time.
- Fixed a bug regarding the printing of the last line of a Manifest or switch list.
- Improvements to help.
- Improved passenger car blocking when using custom train blocking.
Turnouts, Lights, Sensors and other elements
- Audio Tables, Add Buffer button - Fixed a bug preventing the
Add Buffer window displaying.
Miscellaneous
- Updated the JDOM2 library from 2.0.6 to 2.0.6.1 to
resolve a security issue.