Release Notes for JMRI 5.9.5 release
Date: October 11, 2024
From: Bob Jacobsen
Subject: Test Release 5.9.5 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 5.9.* 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 2024.
(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.
We would appreciate your feedback on it.
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 5.8 release note for more warnings predating the 5.9 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Download links:
These files are located in the
JMRI 5.7.7 GitHub release.
The
full list of included changes is available from our
GitHub code repository.
Hardware Support
- Fix a problem when CDI contains "immediate" slider hints
- Slider hints now control tick spacing, instead of number of ticks.
New / Updated decoder definitions
Digitrax
- Added 12 new DN147 and DN167 definitions
Tam Valley Depot
- Updated the QuadLN_S decoder definition to support new features in version 3.4 firmware.
Dispatcher
- Do not release any allocated section from a train if the position of the train is not known.
Layout Editor
- Improved zoom menu selection matching.
LogixNG
- A bug is fixed in the Timer action. The
bug caused the timer to not start
automatically when the tables and panel file is loaded,
despite the Start timer immediately on load
setting was selected for the timer.
- A bug is fixed that caused problem with storing a table
and panel file if the LogixNG preference
Install debugger is unselected.
- The action Throttle now has the option
Stop loco then switching loco. If it's
selected, the loco is stopped before switching to another
loco.
OperationsPro
- Changed "Wait" to travel time in the route edit window.
- New feature, you can now add or remove locomotives in a train's route.
- HPT (Horse Power per Ton) in the Setting window can now accept decimal numbers.
Permissions
- The permission system has been improved. Users and
roles remains but the permissions has changed. As a
result, you might need to set the permissions for each
role again.
- If you change permissions, you need to restart JMRI for
the changes to take effect.
- A new permission Panel permission is
added. If the user doesn't have at least View
permission, the panel will be empty with the text
Permission denied.
- The JMRI web server now has support for permissions. The
user can login and logout using the web server. Note
that the web server has the guest user remote guest
instead of the usual guest user. The
remote guest user has by defaul the Remote guest
role. This allows you to have different permissions for
web access than local access for users that have not
logged in.
Roster
- On roster media pane (as well as functions panel),
images can be opened by double clicking on the panel or via the contextual menu.
Direct images drag'n drop from any aplication is also supported,
a png file will be created from the drag'n drop content.
Z21 Server
- Fix an error that causes occasional crashes.
Miscellaneous
- Some cleanup has been done to JMRI. It shouldn't affect
the users, but if it does, please report it on the
JMRI Users Groups.io
Group. If there is any problem, it could case JMRI to
not quit properly, not restart properly or leave Java
running when JMRI has quit.
- It's now possible for a class in JMRI to replace the
serial port on the fly, without the rest of JMRI noticing
it. It's useful for example for a firmware uploader that
needs exclusive access to the serial port. For an
example, see jmri.jmrix.loconet.demoport.DemoSerialPortAction.