Skip to main content

The JMRI Manual:
Getting Started
Using DecoderPro®
DecoderPro® Programming Modes
The Basic Programmer
The Comprehensive Programmer
DecoderPro® Main Window
Creating a Decoder Definition
Error Messages

DecoderPro® v2.4

Updated 2/15/2009

A Java-based cross-platform application for the programming of Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders for model railroad use.

A printable PDF version of this manual is available for download. Note that this is a 5MB file.

DecoderPro® is one of a set of cross-platform applications for model railroaders. It can run on any computer system that will run Java 1.5.0 or later, whether it is Macintosh, Windows, or Linux based. It does require that Java be installed on the computer. You can get Java as a free (but very large...) download at:

http://java.sun.com/getjava/

If this is your first visit to our manual we suggest that you take the DecoderPro® tour to get an overview of what we’re about to cover.

Note that all screen shots in this manual are from a Windows machine using the "Metal" User Interface option. While your screens will probably differ in some layout details, they will be essentially the same.

Note: This entire manual has been updated to correspond to DecoderPro 2.4, and the HTML verified using HTML4 and Cascading Style Sheets.

Index

Download a .PDF file
of this entire manual.

Getting started

  1. What is DCC?
  2. What DCC systems will DecoderPro® work with?
  3. What hardware do I need?
  4. How do I start the program?
  5. How do I set up my preferences?

Using DecoderPro®

  1. How do I set up to program a decoder?
  2. What are the Programming Modes?

DecoderPro® Programming Modes

  1. Single CV Programmer
  2. Service Mode Programmer
  3. Ops Mode Programming
  4. Multi Decoder Control (Programming)

The Basic Programmer

  1. Entering locomotives in the "Roster"
  2. The basic programmer
  3. Reading the data from the decoder
  4. Entering and editing new data
  5. Writing the new data to the decoder
  6. Saving the new data to a file
  7. What if I need to do more?

The Comprehensive Programmer

  1. Set-up and Roster Panes
  2. Expanded Basic Pane
  3. Motor Control Pane
  4. Speed Control Pane
  5. Speed Table Pane
  6. Function Mapping Pane
  7. Function Labels Pane
  8. Lights Pane
  9. Consisting Pane
  10. Advanced Features Pane
  11. Analog Controls Pane
  12. Sound Pane
  13. Sound Levels Pane
  14. Global CV Pane
  15. Manufacturer-Specific Pane
  16. Printing the Decoder Data

DecoderPro® Main Window

  1. Main Window
  2. Menu Overview
  3. File Menu
  4. Edit Menu
  5. Tools Menu
  6. Roster Menu
  7. Panels Menu
  8. System dependent menu
  9. Debug Menu
  10. Window Menu
  11. Help Menu

Creating a Decoder Definition

  1. Getting Started
  2. Format
  3. Testing
  4. Submitting to JMRI

Error Messages

  1. Decoder Programmer Error Messages

To give feedback on this HTML manual, ask questions about things not covered, or make suggestions for improvements to the manual or the software, join us on the JMRI Users mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jmriusers/

Suggestions for revisions are best submitted to the JMRI E-mail list in plain text format. This will make it easier to copy into the files, and help prevent "Microsoft Bloat" in the HTML.

Thanks for reading, and Let's Run Trains!


Joe Ellis
CEO, Bethlehem-Ares Railroad, a 1:160 Corporation
09/04/2002

Updated to JMRI version 1.3 by Bob Blackwell.

no date

Updated to JMRI version 2.4, new sections added
Dale A. Tripp and Bruce Shanks
2/15/2009