JMRI: Preferences Window

The preferences window is where you configure the basic operation of your JMRI application. There's a top part that contains the basics, and a separate section for advanced preferences.

This page is under construction. In the meantime, there's some more information on preferences on some tutorial pages.

Basic Preferences

When the window first opens, it displays the basic preferences.

Layout Connection

You can select any of the various JMRI layout connections here. For more information on how to configure this for your particular hardware, see the hardware pages.

GUI Style

These radio boxes allow you to select how the program looks. The available choices depend on what kind of computer you have, and not all of the following may be available:

Metal - the default Java style, usable on all computers
CDE/Motif - A Linux/Unix form that works well with X Windows screen managers. It's also available on (almost) all computer types.
Windows - only available on Microsoft Windows systems, this makes the program look as much as possible like a regular Windows application.
Mac OS X - only available on MacOS, this makes the program look like a Macintosh application

Programmer Defaults

The DecoderPro programmer allows you to select how much or how little to display of the decoder content using configurable "Programmers". You can select one at the same time you select your locomotive decoder, but this provides a convenient place to set a default so you don't have to select it each time you open a decoder.

Perhaps the most important control is at the bottom of this section: The "Save" button!

Be sure to click "Save" when leaving this window. Your changes to the preferences don't take effect until the program is stopped and restarted, so the program will prompt you to do that after saving the preferences.

Advanced Preferences

Advanced Preferences allows you to customize your connection to the layout. You do not need to use them to get your initial connection to the layout up and running, and it is recommended that you leave them alone until the connection to your command station is operational. To set the advanced preferences, check the "Show Advanced Preferences" box.

Auxiliary layout connections

The auxiliary connections allow you to have more than one layout connection active at a time. Most users only need one connection, therefore select an auxiliary connection only if you need more than one connection to the layout. Use the "Layout Connection:" at the top of the Preferences Menu for your primary connection.

Programmer Defaults

This section has a checkbox that lets you decide whether the DecoderPro programmer will display empty panes (tabs). Some people like to see them, even though they're empty, some people would prefer not to see them, so they don't keep trying to look at them. We provide this preference so you can choose.

Locale

Many people have contributed "internationalizations" of JMRI. This converts (much) of the text on the screen to a language other thank English. If you select your country or region and language here, then save and restart the preferences, JMRI will use an internationalization for that country and language if it's available. Items that have not been translated will continue to appear in English, so you won't miss anything. For more information on how to set this up, and particularly how to contribute new and improved translations, please see our internationalization page.

Do actions at startup

This section lets you have the program automatically execute various menu selections at startup. For example, you can have the Turnout Table automatically open, or automatically open a window for programming on the main.

For example, to automatically open the Turnout Table, click the "Add Action" button in this section of the advanced preferences. From the list that's presented, select "Open Turnout Table". Don't forget to save your updated preferences with the button at the bottom of the screen!

Create buttons on the main screen

This allows you to add extra buttons to the main JMRI window that are connected to specific menu choices.

For example, to add a button that will open the Power Control when clicked, click the "Add Action" button in this section of the advanced preferences. From the list that's presented, select "Open Turnout Table". Don't forget to save your updated preferences with the button at the bottom of the screen! From the list that's presented, select "Open Power Control". Don't forget to save your updated preferences with the button at the bottom of the screen! The button will appear when you next start the program.

Load panel files at startup

This section lets you automatically load panel files when the program starts up. The previous sections will have already executed, so any actions they're configured for will have taken place. You can load as many panel files as you'd like; each will be completely loaded before the next is started.

Click "Add File", which will open a file section window in which you can select the desired file. If you later want to stop loading the file at startup, click the "Remove" button next to the filename.

Run scripts at startup

This section lets you automatically run a script file when the program starts up. The previous sections will have already executed, so any actions they're configured for will have taken place and all panel files will have been loaded. You can run as many script files as you'd like; each will be run to the end of the file before the next is started.

Click "Add File", which will open a file section window in which you can select the desired file. If you later want to stop executing a particular script at startup, click the "Remove" button next to the filename.

Set the location of the roster

Normally, the roster is stored in a standard location as part of the preferences directory. This option lets you move that somewhere else.

To configure it, click the "Set..." button and follow the directions.

The "Reset" button restores it to the default location. Note that this just changes where the program looks. If you've stored roster information elsewhere and want it back in the default location, you have to move the files there yourself.

You can also enter a default value for the "Owner" field in DecoderPro roster entries here. This fills in the value for new entries, which can save you a little bit of typing. It has no effect on existing entries, even if changed.