Release Notes for JMRI 4.23.3 release

Date: April 2, 2021

From: Bob Jacobsen

Subject: Test Release 4.23.3 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 test releases. We expect this series to end in the next JMRI production release in Summer 2021. (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 4.20, 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 relese.

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 Store your configuration and panel files under a new name and use those from now on.
3. 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

New warnings for this release:

• Raspberry Pi GPIO pin numbering has changed. The Pi4J library has been updated from version 1.2 to 2.8.0. Pi4J 2.x uses BCM (Broadcom) GPIO numbers instead of the WiringPi numbers used by Pi4J 1.x. Any panel files or scripts that define Raspberry Pi sensors or turnouts must have their GPIO address numbers updated to the equivalent BCM pin numbers before they will work correctly with this release.
• Raspberry Pi: the libgpiod2 library is required for GpioD GPIO support. This release adds support for the Pi4J GpioD plugin, which uses the modern Linux GPIO character-device interface preferred on kernel 5.10 and later. To enable it, install the native library before starting JMRI: sudo apt install libgpiod2 (Raspberry Pi OS / Raspbian) or the equivalent for your distribution. If libgpiod2 is absent, Pi4J will fall back to the LinuxFS provider for digital I/O; all sensors and turnouts will still function.

Older warnings

See the JMRI 4.20 release note for more warnings predating the 4.21 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 JMRI 4.20 installing this test release.

• Since JMRI 4.21.1 The jmri.jmrix.SystemConnectionMemo class has become a jmri.SystemConnectionMemo interface and a jmri.jmrix.DefaultSystemConnectionMemo class. This may require changes to scripts. If you have a script that references jmri.jmrix.SystemConnectionMemo, please change it to either jmri.SystemConnectionMemo or jmri.jmrix.DefaultSystemConnectionMemo (it's easier to have you just try the two than to explain which one will work in which case)
• Since JMRI 4.21.1 The way preferences are loaded at startup has been slightly modified. There is no impact to JMRI applications, but Non-JMRI applications that are not derived from apps.Apps or apps.AppsBase but are using jmri.implementation.JmriConfigurationManager to load preferences will no longer see preferences if an error occurs. To restore the old behavior, use apps.AppsConfigurationManager instead.
• Since JMRI 4.11.4 There are issues with the Pi-SPROG One command station operation. A number of workarounds should be applied:
  • Do not turn on the track power until the power supply to the Pi-SPROG ONE is turned on
  • Do not enable extra debugging through default.lcf, nor open the system console window
  • Do not open the SPROG console window
  • Disable power conversion (CV 29) in all locos
  • If connecting via VNC (or similar), setup the screen layout before turning on the track power
  Pi-SPROG One with version 2.4 or earlier firmware will cause a timeout after a track short circuit. A dialog box will open to inform the user of this. The track power will be turned off and must be turned on again using the power control.

Download links:

Changes since Test Release 4.23.2:

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

Hardware Support

CBUS

• Fixed Internal Sensor Manager set as default, not CBUS Sensor Manager, affecting 4.19.6 onwards.
• Simulated Connections - Output Interval option added to Additional Connection Settings.

DCC++ and DCC-EX

• Improved CV read speeds by included startVal

OpenLCB / LCC

• Simulated Connections - Output Interval option added to Additional Connection Settings.
• Configuration editor functional and visual updates:
  • If a configuration window is closed with unsaved changes, a warning dialog will appear.
  • Updated fonts and geometric arrangement to make the dialog easier to oversee.
  • The dialog will open with all segments closed to reduce clutter and ease navigation.
  • Fixed bug in resizing the window.
  • Accessibility updates: the segment headers are now part of tab order and can collapse/expand on enter or space key.
• JMRI will now respond to the Global Identify Events message as the standard requires.

SPROG

• Increased maximum command station slots to 64 and added advanced connection preference to select.
• Added support for current CV value hint when reading (requires a future SPROG 4.5 firmware release).

New / Updated decoder definitions

• All decoder.xsd XML validation schema from now on require an "item" attribute on each variable element. It is needed to apply qualifier selections to translated definitions.
  All current decoder definitions in JMRI were updated where necessary (see below for specific ESU, LDH and Zimo series).

Doehler & Haas

• New - for all new D&H definitions: decoder model (product ID) is now detected automatically thanks to the introduction of CV 261 in updated firmware.
• DH05C (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• DH10C (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• DH12A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• DH16A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• DH18A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• DH21A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• DH22A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• PD05A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• PD12A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• FH05B (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• FH18A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• FH22A (fw 3.12.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• SH05A (fw 1.14.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)
• SH10A (fw 1.14.050 - including update path from older fw versions definitions)

ESU

• Missing "item" attributes were added to the v4fnOutCv and v5fnOutCv includes.

LDH

• Missing "item" attributes were added to the v4fnOutCv and v5fnOutCv includes.
  Common CVs were moved to cv33-39mapping.xml and cv67-94speed.xml respectively.

ZIMO

• MX605 (Kato type plug N sound decoder for ICE 4)
• Missing "item" attributes were added to the CVSwissMapping_v36.xml include and the Decoder Version was copied into CV1-CV99.xml in order to allow customization for Swiss Mapping.

PanelPro

• The main PanelPro menu has changed.
  • The Load, Store, and History menu items have moved from the Panels menu to the File menu.
  • The script related menu items have been moved to a new Scripting menu.
  • A Delete Panel menu item has been added to the Panels menu.
  • A dialog will be displayed if a second load is invoked. The message can be suppressed using the checkbox.
  • When a file is loaded, the file name will be display in the JMRI System Console (Help ⇒ System Console).
  • When the Close button on a panel window is clicked, a dialog will be displayed to indicate that the panel has been hidden. The message includes instructions on making the panel visible and how to delete the panel. The message can be suppressed using the checkbox.
  • When a panel is added, deleted or renamed, a pending update flag is set. If PanelPro is stopped before doing the Store process, a dialog will be displayed. Select Yes to store the changes before the shutdown proceeds.

Dispatcher

• Use full length of section when stopping by speed profile.

Layout Editor

• Fix Options ⇒ Track Options ⇒ Hide Track Construction Lines.

NX - Entry/Exit Tool

Preferences

• Throttles : Keyboard shortcuts can be customized in JMRI throttle preferences screen (second pane, warning, no consistency check is made)

Roster

• Media/Function tab : Added an entry in function buttons icons contextual menu that will open a system file manager located into the JMRI functions icons library (allows easy drag'n drop)
• Media/Function tab : If an existing icon or image file (same name, same size) is aded an icon, it will no longer be duplicated, existing instance will be used

Scripting

• Added script "SensorFromBxpa1AutoRev.py". This script monitors LocoNet for messages pertaining to BXPA1 autoreverse events and updates a JMRI sensor to reflect the state. When monitoring a specific BXPA1 (by BoardID), one JMRI sensor is used. When monitoring all BXPA1 devices, a separate JMRI sensor is defined for each reporting BXPA1 device. Further details on script configuration and some known limitations may be found in the comments included within the script's code.

Signals

Simple Signal Logic

• The SSL tool has been updated to include the ability to delete a SSL defintion.

Throttle

• Function Panel now displays all functions buttons at once, with a scrollbar if required
• There are as many function buttons as defined by the used throttle
• Added an entry in function buttons icons contextual menu that will open a system file manager located into the JMRI functions icons library (allows easy drag'n drop
• If an existing icon file (same name, same size) is aded an icon, it will no longer be duplicated, existing instance will be used
• Keyboard shortcuts now available on whole throttle window
• Keyboard shortcuts can be customized in JMRI throttle preferences screen (second pane, warning, no consistency check is made)
• Mousewheel speed control now available on whole throttle window
• One mousewheel scroll unit will increment or decrement throttle speed by one speed setting increment (depends on the throttle speed step setting)
• Use Ctrl key to apply a multiply factor on speed increment/decrement (customizable in JMRI throttle preferences screen)
• Function and Control panels property panes reworked
• Function button with images can be resized in button property panel
• Function button customizations correctly serialized
• Ticks on graphical speed slider
• Pressing Enter in AddressPanel when entering an address will actually request it
• Jythons scripts with direct access to the JMRI UI are now deprecated (AAR105.py, RailDriver.py, USBThrottle.py, xboxThrottle.py). Use USBThrottleAsJynstrument.py script instead, or direct Jynstrument in jython/Jynstruments/ThrottleWindowToolBar/USBThrottle.jyn , specific drivers are proposed for AAR105 and Raildriver, they may have to be adjusted.

Virtual Sound Decoder

• Reduced audio buffer consumption for Diesel sounds.
• Minimum time for a sub-buffer increased from 100 to 150 milliseconds.
• Fixed bug with last accel-limit values less than 100 in config.xml.

Miscellaneous

• Sound files that are larger than 100,000 bytes and therefore are streamed can now be looped.

Hardware Support

Acela CTI

Anyma DMX512

Bachrus Speedo

BiDiB

CBUS

C/MRI

DCC++ and DCC-EX

DCC4pc

Direct

ESU

Hornby

Internal

IPOCSMR

JMRI Simple Server/JMRI Client

KPF-Zeller

Lenz XPressNet

LocoNet

Maple

Marklin CS2

MERG

MQTT

MRC

NCE

Oak Tree

OpenLCB / LCC

• (Internal) The load and store process for the Event Table now permits multiple "names" elements. This makes it easier to merge Event Table information from several profiles.

Powerline

Raspberry Pi

• The Pi4J library used for Raspberry Pi GPIO support has been updated from version 1.2 to version 2.8.0 (the current 2.x release). Pi4J 2.x uses a new API and a plugin-based architecture replacing the older GpioFactory / GpioController model.
• Pin numbering has changed. Pi4J 1.x addressed GPIO pins using WiringPi numbers. Pi4J 2.x uses BCM (Broadcom) numbers directly. Existing panel files and scripts that reference Raspberry Pi sensors or turnouts will need their GPIO address numbers updated to use the corresponding BCM pin numbers. For example, WiringPi GPIO 0 (BCM 17) becomes address 17 in the new numbering scheme.
• Support has been added for the Pi4J GpioD plugin (pi4j-plugin-gpiod), which uses the modern Linux GPIO character-device interface (/dev/gpiochip*) introduced in kernel 5.10. This is the preferred GPIO interface on Raspberry Pi OS with kernel 5.10 or later (including the 6.x kernels shipped with current Raspberry Pi OS releases). It requires the libgpiod2 package: sudo apt install libgpiod2 The plugin is discovered and activated automatically alongside the existing LinuxFS and PiGpio plugins via Java ServiceLoader; no configuration change is required.
• Hardware GPIO plugins (pi4j-plugin-raspberrypi, pi4j-plugin-linuxfs, pi4j-plugin-gpiod) are now loaded at runtime via Java ServiceLoader on Raspberry Pi hardware and are no longer bundled as compile-time dependencies.

RFID

Roco z21/Z21

Secsi

Fixed spurious command station slot thread timeouts that could shut down track power when the GUI was busy. Reply notifications from the traffic controller to the command station are now delivered synchronously instead of being queued on the Swing EDT, so the slot thread is woken immediately when the hardware replies.

Added a consecutive-timeout retry counter to the command station slot thread. A single missed reply now triggers a retry with an idle packet instead of immediately removing track power. Track power is only removed after three consecutive timeouts.

SRCP

TAMS

TMCC

Uhlenbrock Intellibox

Zimo

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)

Piko decoders

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

• Save dispatcher usestrict option correctly.
• Continue tracking blocks thru stopping at end.

Dispatcher System

Internationalization

Layout Editor

• Added a new "Make Layout Editor XML output more reproducible" option to the Load and Store preference pane. The default is off. When on, this option will result in positions of Layout Editor objects being stored in a form that's more reproducible. This will result in fewer spurious changes if you're e.g. storing panel files in a tracking system like Git.
• Fixed a problem when storing and loading the new Output Indicator icons
• When changing icon images for turnouts, sensors and signal heads, the resource files are now listed in alpha order by name.
• The LayoutTurnout and LayoutTraverser require manual changes when the Use Dispatcher with Signal Masts feature is enabled. To prevent JMRI errors and Java exceptions, these changes have to be removed before deletion or some modifications. When needed, a dialog is displayed with a list of the items to be removed.

NX - Entry/Exit Tool

LccPro

• Improved performance of Active display in lower right on high-bandwidth links.

Logix

LogixNG

• Fix the Dispatcher Expression. Active train status changes were being missed.

Meters and MeterFrames

OperationsPro

• Fixed a bug where the RWL or RWE ship address wasn't used when spotted at a spur with a schedule that didn't have a ship address.
• Added the "Random" column to the tool "Show Schedules by Car Type and Load".
• Fixed a bug with the "Edit Car Loads" from the "Show Schedules by Car Type and Load" tools menu.
• Added 2.25" by 11" paper size.
• Made some improvements with line wrapping when printing Manifests and switch lists.

Panel Editor

Permissions

Preferences

Resources

Roster

Routes

Scripting

• There's a new "WiThrottleMonitorTableSpeedRed.py" script that opens a window displaying connected WiThrottle devices and locomotives (address, speed)

Signals

Signal Systems

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

• Added new button icons at resources/icons/buttons.

---