Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Bad idea: Flatpak will create the desktop entries with icons.
And Flatpak run itself the applications in an isolated environment. User
should not run outside of flatpak the JMRI applications installed by
Flatpak. It must be started from the desktop entries. Or, if the user
really really want, with the command line "flatpak run --command".
"Dave Sand" <ds@...> writes:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Dave,
Once you find the JMRI install location, you can run "./CreateJmriApps.sh -d" to create the desktop icons and start menu entries.
Dave Sand
----- Original message -----
From: "Sandpiper via groups.io" <sandpiper270.dm@...>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [jmriusers] Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Date: Saturday, April 05, 2025 10:26 PM
I just tried the flatpak. I am using Linux Mint Cinammon 21.3. The URL did not start any flatpak installer, it just downloaded the file.
After downloading the flatpak to my download folder, I tried to right click it to install it. There was no program associated with it to install it,
even though I have flatpaks installed on my system. I asked chatGPT how to install it, and got some directions on how to open a terminal
window, navigate to where the download file was, and then install it. After some fussing, I was able to do that. I didn't get any indication that it
worked, but doing 'flatpak list', I was able to see it was installed.
There was nothing in the Start menu that would let me run it. I didn't know where it would be on my system, since I am not used to manually
dealing with flatpaks. Using 'which JMRI', or any other name I could think of, did not show anything like that installed. ChatGPT told me that if
I ran 'flatpak run org.jmri.JMRI' in a terminal window, then it would run. When I did that, DecoderPro opened up. I never use DecoderPro,
always use PanelPro. I didn't see any way to make it open to that.
I finally found where on my system it was installed. It was in my home directory at ~
/.local/share/flatpak/app/org.jmri.JMRI/current/active/files/share/JMRI. By navigating there with the Nemo file manager, I found PanelPro and
DecoderPro, and could start them.
That is my experience, it was a bit painful. Much easier to just install the java that you want, and also JMRI. Assuming the flatpak can be made
to 'just work' for the install, I would think for the new user, it will fail to connect to an external DCC system, such as the NCE PowerCab I have
here at the laptop, because JMRI isn't a member of the dialout group.
Dave Morgan
|
Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Hello. Flatpak packager here.
# Installation and usage of JMRI Flatpak on Linux Mint Cinammon 21.3
So, I have tested on a fresh installation of Linux Mint Cinammon 21.3
and I can confirm that the system do not know what to do with the
Flatpak bundle file.
Which is strange, because the application manager of Mint Cinammon 21.3
can install Flatpak package from Flathub. So, I guess the installation
on this version of Mint would not require the terminal when JMRI would
be on Flathub.
But after installing the Flatpak bundle of JMRI, I can now start the
different JMRI applications from the start menu of Mint. I just searched
"JMRI" and I can see the applications and launch them.
So, on Linux Mint Cinammon 21.3:
* The installation is a bit rough, due to Linux Mint, I will open a bug
report about it
* It would be "1 click button" to install when JMRI would be on Flathub
* After installation, you can launch the applications from the Start
menu
* I could successfully uninstall JMRI from the application manager of
Mint.
# Installation and usage of JMRI Flatpak on Linux Mint Cinammon 22.1
I also tested with the latest version I can found of Linux Mint
Cinammon: 22.1
This version of Mint still did not recognize the .flatpak file. I still
could install other Flatpak application with the application manager.
Installation of JMRI on Mint would not need the terminal when JMRI
would be published on Flathub.
After installation of JMRI, I could also launch the JMRI applications
from the Start menu.
But I couldn't uninstall JMRI from the application manager: It didn't
found JMRI. Another bug report to open to Mint.
# Launching the JMRI applications
Flatpak is not only a archive containing the applications: It run the
applications in an isolated environment.
You are not supposed to go on the installation directory and run the
applications from there.
You must start the applications from the Start menu.
And if you really really want to use the command line:
/usr/bin/flatpak run --command=/app/share/JMRI/PanelPro org.jmri.JMRI
To run the PanelPro. Or replace the "PanelPro" with the application you
want.
"Sandpiper via groups.io" <sandpiper270.dm@...> writes:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I just tried the flatpak. I am using Linux Mint Cinammon 21.3. The URL did not start any flatpak installer, it just downloaded the file.
After downloading the flatpak to my download folder, I tried to right click it to install it. There was no program associated with it to install it,
even though I have flatpaks installed on my system. I asked chatGPT how to install it, and got some directions on how to open a terminal
window, navigate to where the download file was, and then install it. After some fussing, I was able to do that. I didn't get any indication that it
worked, but doing 'flatpak list', I was able to see it was installed.
There was nothing in the Start menu that would let me run it. I didn't know where it would be on my system, since I am not used to manually
dealing with flatpaks. Using 'which JMRI', or any other name I could think of, did not show anything like that installed. ChatGPT told me that if
I ran 'flatpak run org.jmri.JMRI' in a terminal window, then it would run. When I did that, DecoderPro opened up. I never use DecoderPro,
always use PanelPro. I didn't see any way to make it open to that.
I finally found where on my system it was installed. It was in my home directory at ~
/.local/share/flatpak/app/org.jmri.JMRI/current/active/files/share/JMRI. By navigating there with the Nemo file manager, I found PanelPro and
DecoderPro, and could start them.
That is my experience, it was a bit painful. Much easier to just install the java that you want, and also JMRI. Assuming the flatpak can be made
to 'just work' for the install, I would think for the new user, it will fail to connect to an external DCC system, such as the NCE PowerCab I have
here at the laptop, because JMRI isn't a member of the dialout group.
Dave Morgan
|
Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Hello. Flatpak packager here.
What problem did you encounter??
The Flatpak version install a .desktop file for each JMRI application.
Then, these applications appear in your desktop menu. From which you can
launch them. It is not needed to run the scripts from the command line.
Or maybe I?did not understand what problem(s) do you encounter with the
Flatpak version.
"Jim Albanowski via groups.io" <jimalbanowski@...> writes:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Linux Crew:
Playing further with my flatpak install...
One hoped for feature with a Linux release is a seamless update of a system.
The flatpak install uses the same files structure for data but I have
a problem finding the "programs" the scripts...? No big problem there
were launcher icons installed in "other" in the start pane but I
wanted to update desktop icons that are easily built in Mint Cinnamon.
The help show files gives me an /app/share/JMRI but that's not obvious
where that actually is... there is no app directory in Home or the
higher File System...
So for me... interesting... but I would ask the developers to get the
install to 100% of the standard we have or not worry about the flatpak
version...
I have several Linux/Mint/JMRI installs that I've gifted/built on
recycled PC's that the easier an update the better... We are generally
talking "noob" class computer users let alone Linux users.
Jim Albanowski
|
Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Hello. Flatpak packager here.
The actual installation method with Java require to run command lines
and could still have problems. In the past, I?got multiple time JMRI
telling me that it didn't found the X server or things like that. It's
not a trivial thing to do. Or at least, not for every one.
By packaging JMRI with Flatpak and distribute a copy in Flathub, on any
Linux distribution with Flatpak managed properly, a user could install
it by simply clicking the [Install] button.
For the different architecture support, it will come later.
Best regards.
"Robert Heller via groups.io" <heller@...> writes:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
This seems like a "solution looking for a problem", at least for *Linux*.
Since JMRI is in JAVA and requires nothing outside of JAVA's JRE and
installing a suitable JRE under Linux is "trivial" (compared to MS-Windows or
MacOS), I am not sure how truely useful or needful this is.
I can see a flatpak (or similar) for MS-Windows or MacOS, since it appears
that those two O/S's have the greatest problems with installing JMRI, mostly
caused by confusion about installing the proper version of a JRE.
*I* would find a Linux "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI to be far more hassle to
deal with than the current Linux distribution methodolgy of JMRI. Actually, I
expect that the current Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI won't work
on my machine(s) anyway -- I expect it is a x86_64 Flatpak and all of my
machines use ARM processors. And this brings up a *new* issue that will
complicate things: there would need to be *four* Linux flatpaks: ix86, x86_64,
armv7l, and aarch64.
My only thought about "improvements" in the Linux distribution of JMRI would
be the creation of .deb and .rpm distrubutions of JMRI. I realize that JMRI
will never be in any Linux distro repo and I understand why that is, but a
self-made .deb and .rpm with a proper openjdk-XX-jre depenency could be
helpful. *I* could probably help with creating the necessary control files to
help with this, if anyone is interested.
At Fri, 4 Apr 2025 08:19:38 -0400 "Bob Jacobsen via groups.io" <rgj1927@...> wrote:
|
Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Thank you Dave Sand.???
?
In looking back at my reply above, I see that I have a mistake.? It isn't JMRI that needs to be a member of the dial-out group, it is the user.? So if that user were just upgrading using a flatpak, then they would already have been a member of that group, and it would work.
?
Dave Morgan
|
Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Hello. Flatpak packager here.
Thank you for your testing.
From what I understand, the Flatpak would just be an option. That you
could download from the JMRI website or, later, from Flathub. That mean
directly from any Linux Application Manager, if it use Flathub as a
repository.
For now, the Flatpak package is only for x86_64 because of the java
runtime who is for this architecture. I plan to make other versions for
different architecture later. Or a multi architecture version if it's
possible.
"splasher" <steve@...> writes:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
As long as it is an additional option for Linux users. I run RPi and it is super easy right now to rename the existing JMRI folder and extract the
replacement. Yes, I do have to handle Java separately, but then how often is the Java requirements changed. I would hate to see the existing
process changed and/or complicated by something called Flatpak.
|
Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Dave,
Once you find the JMRI install location, you can run "./CreateJmriApps.sh -d" to create the desktop icons and start menu entries.
Dave Sand
----- Original message -----
Subject: Re: [jmriusers] Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
Date: Saturday, April 05, 2025 10:26 PM
I just tried the flatpak.? I am using Linux Mint Cinammon 21.3.? The URL did not start any flatpak installer, it just downloaded the file.?
?
After downloading the flatpak to my download folder, I tried to right click it to install it.? There was no program associated with it to install it, even though I have flatpaks installed on my system.?? I asked chatGPT how to install it, and got some directions on how to open a terminal window, navigate to where the download file was, and then install it.? After some fussing, I was able to do that.? I didn't get any indication that it worked, but doing 'flatpak list', I was able to see it was installed.
?
There was nothing in the Start menu that would let me run it.? I didn't know where it would be on my system, since I am not used to manually dealing with flatpaks.? Using 'which JMRI', or any other name I could think of, did not show anything like that installed.?? ChatGPT told me that if I ran 'flatpak run org.jmri.JMRI' in a terminal window, then it would run.? When I did that, DecoderPro opened up.?? I never use DecoderPro, always use PanelPro.? I didn't see any way to make it open to that.
?
I finally found where on my system it was installed.?? It was in my home directory at ~/.local/share/flatpak/app/org.jmri.JMRI/current/active/files/share/JMRI.? By navigating there with the Nemo file manager, I found PanelPro and DecoderPro, and could start them.
?
That is my experience, it was a bit painful.? Much easier to just install the java that you want, and also JMRI.?? Assuming the flatpak can be made to 'just work' for the install, I would think for the new user, it will fail to connect to an external DCC system, such as the NCE PowerCab I have here at the laptop, because JMRI isn't a member of the dialout group.
?
Dave Morgan
|
Re: Experimental "Flatpak" distribution of JMRI
I just tried the flatpak.? I am using Linux Mint Cinammon 21.3.? The URL did not start any flatpak installer, it just downloaded the file.?
?
After downloading the flatpak to my download folder, I tried to right click it to install it.? There was no program associated with it to install it, even though I have flatpaks installed on my system.?? I asked chatGPT how to install it, and got some directions on how to open a terminal window, navigate to where the download file was, and then install it.? After some fussing, I was able to do that.? I didn't get any indication that it worked, but doing 'flatpak list', I was able to see it was installed.
?
There was nothing in the Start menu that would let me run it.? I didn't know where it would be on my system, since I am not used to manually dealing with flatpaks.? Using 'which JMRI', or any other name I could think of, did not show anything like that installed.?? ChatGPT told me that if I ran 'flatpak run org.jmri.JMRI' in a terminal window, then it would run.? When I did that, DecoderPro opened up.?? I never use DecoderPro, always use PanelPro.? I didn't see any way to make it open to that.
?
I finally found where on my system it was installed.?? It was in my home directory at ~/.local/share/flatpak/app/org.jmri.JMRI/current/active/files/share/JMRI.? By navigating there with the Nemo file manager, I found PanelPro and DecoderPro, and could start them.
?
That is my experience, it was a bit painful.? Much easier to just install the java that you want, and also JMRI.?? Assuming the flatpak can be made to 'just work' for the install, I would think for the new user, it will fail to connect to an external DCC system, such as the NCE PowerCab I have here at the laptop, because JMRI isn't a member of the dialout group.
?
Dave Morgan
|
Re: Reorienting a turnout without completely deleting it.
#layouteditor
Dave and Ken,
?
Thank you so much, splitting the tracks worked for my needs.
--
|
Re: Reorienting a turnout without completely deleting it.
#layouteditor
My trick for switching around a turnout is: - For each track coming to it, split the track segment.
- Delete the near part of each track segment, the turnout can now be moved, replaced or whatever.
- Place it correctly and reconnect the track segments.
? The advantage is that any of the block details are held by the track segment (other half) that didn’t get deleted when removing the turnout. ? -Ken Cameron, Member JMRI Dev Team
? ?
|
Re: PanelPro New Feature - Panel Swipe Navigation on Tablet
Vinny,
?
I am also using Fully Kiosk and using multiple tablets on my layout.?
How are you currently navigating from one layout to another? Do you have a sensor button that loads another webpage?
?
I would also be interested in seeing more about your layout if you have a webpage or YT channel.?
--
|
Chris,
If highlight does not work, then none of the track has that block or a track segment is too short to be seen or it is hidden.
Based on your original post, the block/layout block pair is not used.
Here is what the Where Used would show if there is a panel reference.
Block: iBDA3 (IB60)
Listener count: 35
Layout Block references
iOD8A (ILB13) Neighbor
iBDA3 (ILB18)
iOD12P (ILB20) Neighbor
Signal mast SML references
SM-CS8PW -> SM-CS11AW
SM-CS14PE -> SM-CS8AE
SM-CS15ME -> SM-CS8AE
SM-CS7AW -> SM-CS11AW
SM-CS15YE -> SM-CS8AE
Panel references
SW - Display Panel :: TrackSegment :: x=630, y=450
SW - Display Panel :: TrackSegment :: x=885, y=450
Dave Sand
----- Original message -----
Subject: Re: [jmriusers] Finding a block
Date: Saturday, April 05, 2025 5:20 PM
On 05/04/2025 22:09, Dave Sand wrote:
> LE Toolbar.
Very helpful thank you. What if it does not highlight any block though??
I checked with other blocks and it highlights them,
--chris
Attachments:
* OpenPGP_signature.asc
|
All,
?
CVs 2, 6, and 5 are 1, 50, and 140.
?
Econamis have an engine interlock, bit 4 of CV 114, but I've never used that setting or set that bit.
?
Regards
|
On 05/04/2025 22:09, Dave Sand wrote: LE Toolbar. Very helpful thank you. What if it does not highlight any block though? I checked with other blocks and it highlights them, --chris
|
On 4/5/2025 6:05 PM, Stephen Marler via groups.io wrote: I found all of my text label shown as on letter and dots or all dots. See /g/jmriusers/message/240878 .
|
I found all of my text label shown as on letter and dots or all dots.
Is there a way to fix this?
File uploaded.
Stephen Marler
|
Re: Reorienting a turnout without completely deleting it.
#layouteditor
Heath,
You flipped the A and B ends of the straight track.
A should be attached to track segment T13 and B to T4.
To fix this, use these steps.
- Split T4 and T13.
- Remove the new track segments attached to A and B.
- Drag an end point and reverse the straight track.
- Add new track segments.
- Assign the correct blocks to the new track segments.
- Merge the track segments.
You will need to use the Block table Paths -> Delete Paths to delete the existing paths. ?After a store/stop/start/load, the paths will be rebuilt.
Dave Sand
----- Original message -----
From: "Heath @ Human[c]ity Junction" < heath@...> Subject: Re: [jmriusers] Reorienting a turnout without completely deleting it. #layouteditor
Date: Saturday, April 05, 2025 3:45 PM
David,
?
it is the physical representation that is wrong.?
Green is correct.?
but when showing diverging the break in track should be on the left instead of the right of the circle.?
thanks
--
|
Chris,
Try using the Highlight block option in the LE Toolbar.
Dave Sand
----- Original message -----
Subject: [jmriusers] Finding a block
Date: Saturday, April 05, 2025 3:54 PM
I renamed a block via a layout panel and all that happened is it created?
a new block with the old name, which I can't now find.
Using PanelPro->Tools->Where Used to search for the block it says this:
??? Block: UBU5 (IB:AUTO:0023)
??????? Listener count: 3
??? Layout Block references
??????? UBU5 (ILB19)
The block is called UBU5 so that bit I understand but how can I find the?
layout block reference?
Thanks
Chris
Attachments:
* OpenPGP_signature.asc
|
I renamed a block via a layout panel and all that happened is it created a new block with the old name, which I can't now find.
Using PanelPro->Tools->Where Used to search for the block it says this:
??? Block: UBU5 (IB:AUTO:0023)
??????? Listener count: 3
??? Layout Block references
??????? UBU5 (ILB19)
The block is called UBU5 so that bit I understand but how can I find the layout block reference?
Thanks
Chris
|
Re: Reorienting a turnout without completely deleting it.
#layouteditor
David,
?
it is the physical representation that is wrong.?
Green is correct.?
but when showing diverging the break in track should be on the left instead of the right of the circle.?
thanks
--
|
Sandpiper
Heath @ Human[c]ity Junction
Ken Cameron