Serge NOEL
324 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
324 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
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<title>JMRI: Frequently Asked Questions (General)</title>
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<h1>JMRI: Frequently Asked Questions (General)</h1>
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<p>Making it easy for all model railroaders to get started with JMRI is important. Below are
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some common questions and answers frequently asked in user forums, of experienced users, and
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of developers. As your experience with JMRI grows, you will have your own questions. The best
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place to get help is by asking for it in the JMRI User Forum. Below are links to other topics
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that will also further your understanding:</p>
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<div class="row">
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<div class="column">
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<p>Introductions and Getting Started Guides:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<a href="apps/PanelPro/GettingStarted.shtml">Getting Started With PanelPro</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="apps/DecoderPro/Tour.shtml">DecoderPro Quick Tour</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="apps/LoadStoreWork.shtml">Loading and Storing Your Work</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="tools/signaling/SignalingSetup.shtml">Signaling Quick Start</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="tools/consisttool/ConsistTool.shtml">Consist Basics</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="hardware/rfid/GettingStartedWithRFID.shtml">Getting Started with RFID</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="tools/scripting/HowTo.shtml">Scripting "How To"</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="../package/jmri/jmrit/logix/Warrant.shtml">Getting Started with Warrants</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href=
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"../package/jmri/jmrit/operations/Operations.shtml#QuickStartHelp">OperationsPro
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Quick Start</a>
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</li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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<div class="column">
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<p>Additional FAQs on specific topics:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<a href="apps/PanelPro/FAQ.shtml">PanelPro FAQ</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="apps/DecoderPro/FAQ.shtml">DecoderPro FAQ</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="setup/FAQ.shtml">JMRI Setup FAQ (TBD)</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="../../../install/FAQLinux.shtml">Linux FAQ</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="doc/Technical/GitFAQ.shtml">Git (Development Tool) FAQ</a>
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</li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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</div>
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<div id="para">
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<dl class="faq">
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<dt class="on" id="canuse">Can I use JMRI to...</dt>
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<dd>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<strong>operate my DCC trains?</strong><br>
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Yes. JMRI provides the functions of a <a href=
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"tools/throttle/ThrottleMain.shtml">throttle (or many throttles)</a> to your DCC
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command station.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>program the decoders in my locomotives?</strong><br>
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Yes. JMRI <a href="apps/DecoderPro/index.shtml">DecoderPro</a> greatly simplifies
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programming decoders through your DCC command station.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>control accessories on my layout?</strong><br>
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Yes, <a href="hardware/index.shtml">of all kinds</a> including turnouts, lights,
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signals, room lighting, automations - anything that can be electrically connected
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to your computer, DCC or other object control system which uses any <a href=
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"hardware/index.shtml#networks">network or protocol</a> that JMRI supports.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>receive and process feedback from my layout?</strong><br>
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Yes. Any type of <a href="tools/Sensors.shtml">sensor</a> can be used to provide
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feedback from different aspects of your layout.
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</li>
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<li><strong>operate my DC trains?</strong><br>
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Only to the extent that they can be controlled by whatever DCC system you are
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using.</li>
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<li>
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<strong>control signals on my layout?</strong><br>
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Yes, according to many different <a href=
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"tools/signaling/index.shtml">signaling</a> protocols.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>automate train operation?</strong><br>
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Yes, in <a href="tools/automation/index.shtml">many different ways.</a>
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</li>
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<li><strong>do more than one of these things at the same time?</strong><br>
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YES! You can use JMRI for as little or as much as you want. Start small with one
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function. Keep adding more as you learn and your layout grows.</li>
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</ul>
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</dd>
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<dt id="wherestart">JMRI has so many features, where do I start?</dt>
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<dd>
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Many people start by connecting their DCC system controller and registering their
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locomotives using <a href="apps/DecoderPro/index.shtml">DecoderPro</a> . You can then
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start running trains using a throttle in JMRI, a <a href=
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"../package/jmri/jmrit/withrottle/UserInterface.shtml">wireless throttle, or your
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smartphone / tablet.</a> Alternatively, you can dig right in entering layout
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information on a Layout Editor Panel in PanelPro (<a href=
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"apps/PanelPro/GettingStarted.shtml">tutorial</a>). Before moving on to <a href=
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"apps/DispatcherPro/index.shtml">DispatcherPro</a> and <a href=
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"apps/OperationsPro/index.shtml">OperationsPro</a>, make sure you have a working Panel.
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More advanced operations using these modules requires a more complex setup before they
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will work properly. The KEY... Don't do too much at once. Get the more basic aspects of
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JMRI working before you take the next step.
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</dd>
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<dt id="wherelearn">Where can I learn about using JMRI?</dt>
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<dd>
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The internet - There are many presentations and videos available to help in learning
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different aspects of JMRI. The JMRI.org website has getting started guides (<a href=
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"apps/PanelPro/GettingStarted.shtml">PanelPro</a>, <a href=
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"apps/DecoderPro/Tour.shtml">DecoderPro</a>). Reading questions and responses asked by
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others on the user forum. Asking your own questions on the forum.
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</dd>
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<dt id="apps">What is the difference between using PanelPro, DecoderPro, and the other
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JMRI modules?</dt>
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<dd>
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The JMRI application is a series of functions and user interfaces operating on a common
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linked set of data. While <a href="apps/DecoderPro/index.shtml">DecoderPro</a> ,
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<a href="apps/PanelPro/index.shtml">PanelPro</a> , <a href=
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"apps/DispatcherPro/index.shtml">DispatcherPro,</a> <a href=
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"../package/jmri/jmrit/operations/Operations.shtml">OperationsPro,</a> <a href=
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"apps/SoundPro/SoundPro.shtml">and SoundPro</a> serve different purposes, all use the
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same set of data. For example, when opening PanelPro, you get a main window with
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pulldowns that include all the functions of DecoderPro. If you start by opening
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DecoderPro, you get a roster window with pulldowns that include all the functions of
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PanelPro.
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</dd>
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<dt id="programming">How much computer programming knowledge do I need to use JMRI?</dt>
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<dd>
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None - to use most of the functions of JMRI. Advanced JMRI capabilities use
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programming-like logic (such as the <a href="tools/Logix.shtml">Logix</a> tool), but
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basic capabilities necessary to run your railroad are always available with a simpler
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interface (such as the <a href="tools/Routes.shtml">Routes</a> and <a href=
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"tools/LRoutes.shtml">LRoutes</a> tools). Those with computer programming knowledge can
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write <a href="tools/scripting/index.shtml">"scripts"</a> and even develop complete
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applications that use the underlying JMRI functions (for example, <a href=
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"http://cats4ctc.wikidot.com/">CATS</a> and <a href="apps/index.shtml#addapp">many
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others</a>).
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</dd>
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<dt id="commandsta">Is JMRI a DCC command station?</dt>
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<dd>No. JMRI is software that greatly enhances your ability to control your trains
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through your DCC command station.</dd>
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<dt id="connections">Can I have more than one "connection" to JMRI?</dt>
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<dd>
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Yes. You can have multiple connections to multiple DCC controllers, to networks of
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accessory controllers, etc. See <a href=
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"../package/apps/TabbedPreferences.shtml#Connection">here</a> for information on how to
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set up multiple connections. For a complete list of all hardware supported, see
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<a href="hardware/index.shtml">here</a>.
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</dd>
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<dt id="problem">What if I have a problem using JMRI?</dt>
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<dd>
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There many people who are available via the user group (<a href=
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"https://groups.io/g/jmriusers">JMRI Users at groups.io</a>) to assist you. Just ask a
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question! There are also dozens of blogs and videos on the internet posted by people,
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just like you, who want to help. <strong>The important thing is... don't give
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up!</strong> We all want you to succeed in using JMRI, making your model railroad as
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good as it can be.
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</dd>
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<dt id="errormsg">What does it mean to get Error 301, Error 306 or any other errors?</dt>
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<dd>
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JMRI will display various errors when it finds something wrong in attempting to
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communicate with your DCC command station. This <a href="apps/Errors.shtml">list of all
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error messages</a> also provides some suggestions about how to clear them.
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</dd>
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<dt id="bug">What if my "problem" turns out to be a bug in JMRI?</dt>
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<dd>
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JMRI is open source and maintained by JMRI community volunteers. They are proud of
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their work and want it to be "bug free". As JMRI continously develops, there will be
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bugs. If you find one, please report it on JMRI Users forum or directly to <a href=
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"https://github.com/JMRI/JMRI/issues">the JMRI issues lists on Github.</a> The many
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developers will review them and work to resolve the issue. What this means is that you
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can't get a schedule of what bugs will be fixed when, but you can count on the
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community to address bugs that are stopping you from enjoying JMRI as quickly as they
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can. In some cases, that might even be a day or less; in others, unfortunately, it
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could be months. Remember that all who work on JMRI are volunteering their time. All
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are dedicated to doing the best they can to make JMRI as great as it can be.
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</dd>
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<dt id="MORE">MORE</dt>
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<dd>
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MORE
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</dd>
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-->
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<dt id="develops">Who develops and maintains JMRI?</dt>
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<dd>
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We do! JMRI is open source and community maintained. There are over 300 model
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railroaders who have already made contributions to the effort since 2005 (see their
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names on the <a href="../Acknowledgements.shtml">Acknowledgements</a> page). Anyone
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with knowledge of Java (to maintain the programs), HTML (to maintain help
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documentation), or XML (to maintain decoder definitions) can join in. Become one of the
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almost 10,000 registered JMRI Users on the groups.io forum, asking your questions and
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answering the questions of others.
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</dd>
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<dt id="wanttohelp">I don't have the skills to help maintain JMRI but I still want to
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help. What can I do to help?</dt>
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<dd>
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First and foremost, you can use JMRI. When you find an issue, or have a good idea,
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contribute to the <a href="https://groups.io/g/jmriusers">JMRI Users forum on
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groups.io</a>. You can also <a href="../../../donations.shtml">contribute money</a> -
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JMRI.org has a small financial need to maintain the website and source libraries so
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contributions are always welcome.
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</dd>
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</dl>
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</div>
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