Here is a quick tutorial on how to use Decoder Pro WITHOUT a connection to your layout.
1. You need to download the latest version of Java
http://www.java.com/en/
2. After installing java, you will need to download Decoder Pro
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/download/
After downloading, install and you will see 2 icons appear on your desktop.
Decoder Pro is for programming your decoders and Panel Pro is for operating your switches (wont be covered in this Tutorial).
Double click on the Decoder Pro Icon and then a preference dialogue will appear.
If this dialogue doesnt appear, click on EDIT and then PREFERENCES. That will bring you to the connection dialogue.
From the LAYOUT CONNECTION drop box, scroll down to LOCONET SIMULATOR. Click on Save. Decoder Pro will now restart.
When DP has restarted, click on Service Mode Programming (we wont bother with Operation mode as this is the mode you use when you have a connection to your layout).
When you click on Service Mode Programming, you will notice a drop down list of pretty much every decoder ever produced. To select your decoder, click on the MFG, then choose from the daughter lists. In this case, we are looking for a BLI RSD15 decoder. We need to know that the decoder is produced by QSI and that the version number of the decoder is 7.
Before we can see our decoder, we need to select 'COMPREHENSIVE" from the programmer format. This will show us all the decoder options.
Once that is selected, click on "OPEN PROGRAMMER".
You should then see this screen:
Notice the different tabs up top and such. They have grouped the different aspects of the decoder into easy to navigate pages.
Now, the reason for this tutorial. We want to make changes to the decoder and we would like to know which CVs we need to change in order to program our locos through our DCC system.
Your first step is to wipe the slate clean. To do this, click on "WRITE ALL SHEETS".
You will notice that everthing that was yellow is now window's grey.
Now we can make changes and when we do, the box that we have changed will turn Orange. For example, lets set this decoder to have an address of 1365 with no analogue conversion and with normal operating direction. Notice how the boxes all have changed color....this is important.
Note that all the boxes will change color if you fill in a box that effects them. By filling in a 4 digit address, we have changed CVs 17, 18 and 29.
Now that we have color change, we would like to know which CVs we want to adjust to achieve our changes.
On the top tabs, you will see a CV tab. This tab lists all the 'RAW' CVs for this loco. Click on this tab.
The CV page will then show up.
When we scroll down, we can see which CVs we need to change as they are also in Orange.
Thats it! Now, if you want to change any other options in your locomotive, just click on 'WRITE ALL SHEETS' and start over.
Have fun and I hope this helps.
David B