Release Notes for JMRI 5.7.8 release

Date: June 9, 2024

From: Bob Jacobsen

Subject: Test Release 5.7.8 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 5.7.* 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 5.8 production release in June 2024. (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:

• None Yet

Older warnings

See the JMRI 5.6 release note for more warnings predating the 5.7 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 4.7.7 If you are using a RR-CirKits LocoNet to LCC gateway with this release, please upgrade its firmware to version B8g or later. B8f or earlier will have trouble updating the gateway's configuration.
• 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 5.5.3 Scripts that output Logging statements with log4jv1.x ( org.apache.log4j ) imports will stop working from JMRI 5.5.4 and should be updated to use SLF4J logging.
  See here for some examples on how to do this.
• Since JMRI 5.5.4 Custom default.lcf Logging Control Files will cease to take effect from JMRI 5.5.4
  To create a custom default_lcf.xml in the new Logging Configuration format, see JMRI Debugging and Logging
• Since JMRI 5.5.5 XML files with table contents and panels have been changed in JMRI 5.5.5. It's therefore not possible to load an xml file with tables and panels that has been created with JMRI 5.5.5 or later with a JMRI version pre 5.5.5.
• Since JMRI 5.5.5 MQTT Connection - Throttle loco address and function placeholders in MQTT topics have changed from $address and $function to {0} and {1} for consistency with other objects.
• Since JMRI 5.7.1 Several systems have had extensive updates to their serial support. If you have trouble connecting to your layout hardware after installing this version, please contact us on the JMRIusers list for assistance.

Download links:

These files are located in the JMRI 5.7.8 GitHub release.

Changes since Test Release 5.7.7:

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

Hardware Support

DCC++ and DCC-EX

• Can use DCCppOverTCPServer to connect DCC-EX native protocol thru JMRI

New / Updated decoder definitions

• Added a new "No Decoder" listing in the New Loco selection to allow people to track DC locomotives in the roster.

SoundTraxx

• Improved the HO 2 Truck Climax (2climax) definition.

TCS

• Better handling of an occasional spurious error that can happen when accessing TCS indexed CVs.

DecoderPro

• Better handling of selected items when roster list is updated
• Enable/Disable bottom controls depending on selected item

Dispatcher

• Allow User to enter a train name of their choosing.
• Add Transit Action to attempt to allocate beyond next safe section.

Layout Editor

• Add the hidden attribute to the Layout Editor Shape item. The center popup menu has an option to hide the shape when not editing. The setHidden(boolean) public method can be used by scripts and LogixNG.
• The Disable value edit popup when not editing menu item has been added to the context menus for blocks, memories and global variables. When the panel is not in edit mode and the option is enabled, the pop-up to the edit the value will not occur.

LogixNG

• In panel file print routine (XSLT), separate out "inline" LogixNGs from table-based.
• Add an Examples section to the LogixNG Reference.
• Add the Set a yard ladder example to the Examples section.
• The action Program On Main is improved. It's now possible to select long or short address. It's also possible to select not to wait until programming is completed.
• For most actions and expressions, when selecting indirect addressing of an enum, the button Show valid names are added. Pressing this button opens a dialog that shows a list of valid values and their descriptions.
• The action Execute action has been added. It executes another action somewhere else in the ConditionalNG tree. This can be useful if you need to execute a part of the ConditionalNG at several different places, for example if you have several Listen On Beans - Local variable in the same ConditionalNG.
  Note that the action you want to execute must have a user name. Otherwise the action can't be selected.
• The LogixNG tools menu now has the option to browse All LogixNGs. Open Tools ⇒ LogixNG ⇒ Browse All LogixNGs. It lists all the LogixNGs, Modules, Tables and Global variables.
• The option Print disabled has been added to the LogixNG Browse window. It adds "Disabled" to the LogixNGs, ConditionalNGs, actions and expressions which are disabled.

Operations

• Simplified the creation and update of switch lists when using MR SLAM
• Improvements to destination checking button for C/I tracks
• Added warning messages if operation files have been corrupted
• Files are now saved to the millisecond, fixes fast Automation actions and loops
• Improvements to export Trains
• Significant improvements to Car importing
• Conductor improvements when sorting by track name
• Web Manifest and Conductor improvements, Manifest now supports utility cars. Comment colors now supported
• Switch lists can now display train's departure time

Panel Editor

• The Disable value edit popup when not editing menu item has been added to the context menus for blocks, memories and global variables. When the panel is not in edit mode and the option is enabled, the pop-up to the edit the value will not occur. The option does not apply to input and spinner icons.

Control Panel Editor

• The Disable value edit popup when not editing menu item has been added to the context menus for memories and global variables. When the panel is not in edit mode and the option is enabled, the pop-up to the edit the value will not occur. The option does not apply to input, spinner and combo icons.

Throttle

• A visible property was added to function buttons defined in the label&media panels of decoderpro, this property is used by the throttle UI.
• A throttle preference was added to show/hide the speed step selector on the control panel of any new UI throttles.
• When a throttle UI layout is saved using the File->Save current throttle menu entry, if it is linked to a roster entry, the user will be proposed to also export function buttons customizations to the roster entry.
• Fix issue with throttle window title not resetting when a throttle is released
• Fix issue with selection foreground color in throttles list window

Web Access

• new web ui for working with cars
• web panels: add handling for text memory inputs, use content size instead of window size

Where Used

• Add checks for turnouts in signal heads and signal masts. Also, check for signal heads in signal head based signal masts.

Web Server

• Fixed a problem with clicks ending up in the wrong place on a Table, e.g. Turnout Table, etc, when using the frame server.

Miscellaneous

• Improvements to File Selection Dialog boxes when displayed with "Always On Top" window frames present.

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