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General Tools

JMRI provides powerful tools for working with your layout.

• Sensors
• Turnouts
• Throttles
• Consisting
• Signals
• Lights
• Routes
• Logix
• Fast Clocks
• Speedometer
• Scripting

LocoNet Tools

A set of Digitrax LocoNet specific tools

• LocoNet monitor
• Slot monitor
• Packet source
• PM4 programmer
• BDL16 programmer
• LocoIO programmer

Layout Automation

JMRI can be used to automate parts of your layout, from simply controlling a crossing gate to running trains in the background.

• Signaling
• Routes
• Fast Clocks
• Scripting

JMRI: Signal Head Documentation

Signals (or more formally Signal Heads) are how JMRI represents and controls signal heads on a layout. They are a specific kind of output device that can be set to various colors: Red, Yellow, Green, Flashing Yellow, etc.

Much more information about JMRI signaling is available from the JMRI signaling help page.

The Signal Table

All the signals that JMRI knows about can be referenced using the "Signal Table" tool in the Tools menu of JMRI programs.

For more information on configuring and operating signals with the Signal Table, please see the signal table help page.

Creating a Signal

To define a new signal, click on the Add New Signal button in the Signal Table. It will prompt you for the signal type (controlled by turnout outputs; SE8c; etc), and whatever setup information is needed for your choice. There's more information on the help page on adding signals.

Editing an Existing Signal

Once a signal has been defined, you currently can't change it's type directly from the program. This is a requested capability, and someday somebody will probably write it. In the meantime, you can just ignore signals that you've defined and don't want to use; they don't hurt anything. Or you can edit your saved configuration files to remove the entire line containing the signal definition; look for the name of the signal to locate the right line. Note that you need to remove the entire line, and not leave any part of it, especially the opening and closing brackets. Save a copy of the file as a backup first!

Controlling a Signal

Signals can be controlled various ways by JMRI, including

• Simple Signal Logic, for basic ABS signaling of the North American type
• Logix, a graphical way of controlling signals with simple logic
• JMRI scripts, using a full programming language to do whatever you'd like

Saving and Reloading Configuration

The signal information is saved with the configuration in an XML file, along with control panel setup and similar stuff. For more information on creating and displaying panels, including how to show signals on your panels, please see the Panels pages.

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