DecoderPro User Guide - Updating Decoder Definitions
Many people have contributed decoder definition files to DecoderPro. Between new releases, new files will be created that you might want to use. New ones can usually be found either on the JMRI web site or in the files area of the jmriusers Yahoo group.To use these xml files you need to download and install them.
The installation process was simplified in JMRI 2.3.6, where
"Import Decoder File" and "Import Decoder URL"
menu items were added to the Debug menu.
The definition is stored in your preferences directory, instead of the JMRI
distribution directory, so that installing a new version of JMRI doesn't
delete it. Note, however, that if a newer version of JMRI comes along with
a copy of this decoder definition installed, the program will give priority to the
specific version that you imported. JMRI thinks you knew what you were doing
when you specifically imported that specific version. If you'd prefer to use
the one in the new JMRI version, just delete yours from your preferences directory
and select "Rebuild Decoder Index" in the debug menu.
(Don't double click or you will open the file rather than saving
it.)
You can either type in a directory name or click the browse
button.
To save a step I suggest that you choose browse and then select
the "program files/JMRI/XML/Decoders" directory.
If you save the file to any other directory, or the desktop you
will
have to copy the file over to the correct directory using the copy
and paste in Windows Explorer. It's easier to just save it in the
correct directory in the first place.
The key to make this work is that the downloaded XML file needs to
be
in the JMRI/XML/decoders directory, otherwise Decoder Pro doesn't
know that it is there, and won't see it when you rebuild the
decoder
index.
JMRI Version 2.3.6 And After
This section describes adding a new decoder definition when you are using JMRI
version 2.3.6 or later.
Loading a definition from the web
If you have a URL for a decoder definition, perhaps copied from
a web page or email, and your computer has an active Internet connection,
you can directly install the definition.
Unless there are errors, the file will be copied onto your local computer
and installed in your JMRI preferences directory.
Loading a definition from a file
If you have local file containing a decoder definition, perhaps downloaded from
a web page or received via email,
you can install that definition in JMRI.
Unless there are errors, the file will be copied into your JMRI preferences
directory and installed.
How This Works
Both of these tools take the decoder definition information
from the source you indicate and copy it to your local JMRI preferences
directory so that it will be available from now on. For this to
work, you can't already have a decoder definition file there by the same name.
If such a file does exist, the program will indicate an error and not
replace the file.
JMRI Version 2.3.5 And Before
This section describes adding a new decoder definition when you are using JMRI
version 2.3.5 or before.
On Windows Systems