Release Notes for JMRI 5.3.3 release
Date: February 10, 2023
From: Bob Jacobsen
Subject: Test Release 5.3.3 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:
- 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
- Programming certain Loconet-attached boards may not work
with the DCS100 command station.
If that affects you, please either wait for
JMRI 5.3.6,
or
pick up a
JMRI development build installer
from
Jenkins.
New warnings for this release:
-
The code for Loconet programming operations was significantly changed in this release.
If you encounter any (new) troubles programming via Loconet, please get in touch on the
JMRIusers list.
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.
Download links:
The
list of included changes is available from our
GitHub code repository.
Hardware Support
LocoNet
- Changed handling of LACK messages during programming to
avoid a recently-uncovered conflict with attached DT602D
throttles.
- Added a new jython/loconet directory to contain new LocoNet-specific scripts.
-
- Added a jython/loconet/LoconetOpsModeSim.py that works with LocoNet simulator
to simulate ops-mode writes and reads.
- Updated library to pick up fix to line-ends in hub.
Powerline
- Ken Cameron added DMX support
New / Updated decoder definitions
TCS
- Fixed problems in the sound CV definitions for
Bachmann FT, Bachmann GP35, Bachmann RS3 and
WOW Diesel V5-121 decoders.
DecoderPro
- Improve how filename extensions are handled when exporting the complete roster.
- Updated list of NMRA-registered manufacturer IDs
- Improved how split enum-style variables are handled.
Dispatcher
- Fix allocating over occupied blocks in IntermediateSections
LogixNG
- Pressing the F8 key when the spash screen is visible disables all the LogixNGs.
- Pressing the F9 key when the spash screen is visible prevents LogixNG being activated.
- A bug that prevented the Shut down task action to work correctly has been fixed.
Operations
- Fixed a problem when a location has multiple spurs and the spur's schedule forwards the car to another spur
at the same location with a schedule. The car's load can incorrectly change to the default "E" or "L" load.
Scripting
- Cliff Anderson contributed a new TurnoutsMasterSlave.py script.
- Fixed the SetAllTurnoutsClosed.py and SetUnknownTurnoutsClosed.py scripts so they would properly
delay on polled systems such as C/MRI
- Added a new SetAllTurnoutsThrown.py script and tests
- Added a new Shutdown.py script to shut down JMRI.
- Added a new Restart.py script to restart JMRI.
- Added a new jython/loconet directory to contain new LocoNet-specific scripts.
-
- Added a jython/loconet/LoconetOpsModeSim.py that works with LocoNet simulator
to simulate ops-mode writes and reads.
Signals
Signal Systems
- Pino Di Biasi updated the Italian signal system
- Robert Raggi provided the new Reading 1954 signal system.
WiThrottle Server
- Added an option to request steal from client when an address is already in use
Miscellaneous
- Added page breaks when printing panel XML files via browser (using XSLT)
- Improve how fractional clock rates are displayed on the analog clock.
- The shutdown process is now run in a separate thread and not on the GUI/Layout thread.