New Tool: PKMDS Box MK II (beta)

[codemonkey85]

Hello again!

Work has begun on a new take on the old PKMDS Box Organizer program. Now running off my new code library for handling Pokémon DS save file data, I present to you PKMDS Box MK II (now in beta)! It solves a lot of problems I had with the first box organizer as far as actually re-organizing Pokémon is concerned.

SCREENSHOT:

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/codemonkey85/PKMDS_Box_MK_II_New_Screen.png

FEATURES:


Sort your Pokémon stored in the PC storage system via full visual interface, implementing drag and drop functionality!
Double-click on a Pokémon to see detailed information!
For the first time in Pokémon hacking history, drag and drop Pokémon from your PC storage system directly onto Windows Explorer as a PKM file! Drag and drop a PKM file directly into your PC! You can even drag and drop between two instances of the application to transfer Pokémon directly from one save to the other!
Now supports Platinum! Thanks to SCV and Jiggy-Ninja for the inspiration on how to auto-detect which save type is being loaded!


Please bear in mind that this is a beta; more and more features will be added as time goes on.

Anyway, check it out!

EDIT: Big news (at least for me): Pokémon Platinum save files are now supported! Now you can open up two instances of the program and transfer Pokémon between a Diamond / Pearl save file and a Platinum save file! Nice.

[xeomyr]

it's really nice ...
thanks so much ...

pokesav lacks of this sprite thing .. so this one's hell much better than pokesav XD

[Poryhack]

Very nice. My only complaint is the somewhat-slow load times.

[codemonkey85]

Yes, some tweaking and optimizing is definitely needed. Maybe multithreading if I feel like a major headache.

Although to be honest, I've also considered just laying out each of the 18 boxes in one screen, since there's some room left to compact them a bit more.

[Guested]

You original program REALLY helped me out with managing the pkm files I was putting together for my Distant Land project. The list feature was great for checking everything out for any errors.

This new interface looks awesome and I'm really looking forward to seeing the progress of this new beta.

Good luck!

[codemonkey85]

You original program REALLY helped me out with managing the pkm files I was putting together for my Distant Land project.

Wow, really? I had no idea someone actually found that feature useful. It was too slow in my opinion; a problem I am attempting to rectify with my new core library. Anyway, thanks!

New version is up: I fixed a couple errors and added some graphical enhancements. I also tried to take care of the lag, but unfortunately it is probably going to persist in some form or another until I find a better way to draw everything.

Also, every box on one screen turned out to be a bad idea. So now I have a new plan for transferring Pokémon from one box to another. Stay tuned....

[Guested]

Wow, really? I had no idea someone actually found that feature useful. It was too slow in my opinion; a problem I am attempting to rectify with my new core library. Anyway, thanks!


It did take a little bit of time to load up the view, but not too long. Then once it was loaded up the first time it was just fine. I was able to scan through my whole collection and make sure nothing was missing from movesets, make sure all Pokemon were at the correct level with no EVs, and things like ribbons, etc etc etc etc.

I still use it, by the way, just for looking at my regular collection.

Now if you could load up a DIRECTORY of pkm files into a list view, that would be sextastic.

[Illithian]

Now if you could load up a DIRECTORY of pkm files into a list view, that would be sextastic.

I entirely agree. Loading up a file folder from your PC with all the pokemon files would be quite "sextastic."

Does this thing have editing capabilities yet? :)

[codemonkey85]

Does this thing have editing capabilities yet? :)

So far all it does is move the Pokémon and change the open box. Those changes are written to the save file.

Editing is on my to-do list (even though I wasn't originally going to do it), since it needs to be a part of my library anyway... but right now I'm working on importing and exporting of PKM files first. I have been working out a way to do it that I think everyone will like.

[evandixon]

Now if you could load up a DIRECTORY of pkm files into a list view, that would be sextastic.
While you're at it, may be just for the fun of it, EXTRAXT all the pokemon in the game into a directory structure that can also be imported.

[codemonkey85]

EDIT: Fixed up a few glitches in the program.

Exciting news guys!

Download the latest version of the PKMDS Box tool, and experience a breakthrough in PKM file handling: the ability to drag and drop a Pokémon directly from your PC storage system onto the desktop (or wherever) and create a PKM file of it on the spot! Drag and drop a PKM file into your game to import it!

For right now the Pokémon and the PKM files are removed from their respective sources during the operation, but later I'll make that a configurable option (I can't make it too easy for you all!).

Also, just FYI... you can run two instances of my program and drag and drop Pokémon between them! However, doing so will erase the Pokémon in the target spot of the receiving save file, since I haven't figured out a way yet for the two instances to speak to each other for real. So make sure to drop your Pokémon into an empty spot in the other form.

[Kaarosu]

Loving the new changes monkey! keep up the great work.

[ZMaster]

Delicious! Too bad no Platinum support yet.

[FLOOTENKERP]

This is very useful for organizing my events before putting them in.

[Narwhal]

Cool! What is the "Transit" slot? PM me. Or you could post here, I don't mind.

[Jiggy-Ninja]

Cool! What is the "Transit" slot? PM me. Or you could post here, I don't mind.
It's to transfer Pokemon between boxes, sort of like the "hand" in the games.

[codemonkey85]

It's to transfer Pokemon between boxes, sort of like the "hand" in the games.

That.

I am hoping for a more elegant solution, but that will do in the meantime. Or you could just drop a bunch of PKM files, then change the box, and move them in from there.

[bear831]

Amazing I just started to use it and it is so much better than pokesav for loading in pokemon. Thanks and please keep updating the program.

[Reygok]

Hey codemonkey85, first of all, Thanks for your programm^^ I needed this very much, because I transferred ALL my Pokémon from Diamond to Paltinum, because I did not want to catch them all a second time. But then I realized, that my Pokédex was empty XD
So, thanky for your Programm, but I ask you to add something, I think it should be possible...
Like you read before, I have to mark every single pokémon Ive caught with your programm, these are over 200. So it would be nice if i could simply klick ''seen'' and ''caught'', then the down arrow on the keyboard, the seen, caught... and so on. But the problem is, that after seen and caught comes the alphabetical list, Id prefer the Numerical one. not only because I think the alphabetical is not very useful, but some people perhaps nee dit. So, please, could you simply arrange this?

Thanky in advance, Reygok

[codemonkey85]

Thanks for the feedback!

To make a long story short, I am planning for the program to automatically register Pokémon in the Pokédex when they are loaded. This includes updating the seen, caught, genders and formes registered in the Pokédex.

Loaded Pokémon will probably be added to the Pokétch Pokémon History app as well.

[Reygok]

Okay, but is my thing very complicated? I dont want to wait^^ But If you prefer yours, i'll understand it, so Ill wait a fer weeks, or months, I dont know how fast you are in programming^^

[codemonkey85]

Well, directly editing the Pokédex is probably less complicated than what I am planning to do with this program. But what I do with this program will be kept as much as possible within the game's rules and standards.

If you want direct editing, you will have to wait for a bit longer. When I complete my code library, not only will it be easy for anyone to develop a Pokédex editor, I may do one myself as an example program. (Of course, PPSE is already doing that, so you could always check that program out instead.)

[Reygok]

Oh damn! I am very sorry, but I thought this was PPSE! I posted in the wrong tread XD
Didn't you realize I talked of PPSE^^ Whatever, now i'm going to post there...

Oh, wait, there is actully a problem with your Programm, at least on my PC^^ It simply doesn't work. I load my save from platinum, but there are only a few bad eggs, nothing of my 200 Pokémon^^

[xeomyr]

maybe because of your savefile type ..
it should be RAW type with 512kb size :)

use this webpage to convert your savefile
http://www.shunyweb.info/

[codemonkey85]

No, the program isn't working for you because there is no Platinum support yet. ;p I haven't mapped out all of the offsets yet, and every time I go to do it, something stops me from getting any work done.

That's my excuse and I'm stickin' with it.

I promise I will get this done someday. Hopefully I can set aside a weekend and just go through the whole thing.

[TheHalfBloodPrince]

No, the program isn't working for you because there is no Platinum support yet. ;p I haven't mapped out all of the offsets yet, and every time I go to do it, something stops me from getting any work done.

That's my excuse and I'm stickin' with it.

I promise I will get this done someday. Hopefully I can set aside a weekend and just go through the whole thing.
About how much longer until that day comes?
I think the program it great, I just am not using it until I can use Platinum and everything registers in the Pokédex and such. But keep up the great work!

[Godzilla231]

I love it already and the final hasn't even came out yet. :) This will be helpful for me to swap different pokemons from other saves and to orgainze them. I just have one thing though, whenever I put in a PKM file, the file goes away from my PC to my Save, is it suppose to do that? If it does, then is there a way to keep the PKM file on your PC and move it to your save both?

[codemonkey85]

It currently deletes the PKM file for a couple of reasons, one of which being that the files are also being generated in the PC's Temp location, and I want them to be removed from there ASAP so as to not bog the computer's storage down. Down the road I will work on an alternative solution, but for now that seems the best way to go.

Of course, you could always make a copy of the file before you load it.


About how much longer until that day comes?

To be honest, it has been kind of hard to find the kind of time I recently had for this project. Money problems and all that. But if I can just find myself about six hours of pure straight quiet, I should be able to restructure the data I have for DP into a Pt save structure, and then it's just a question of re-coding part of the library to accommodate the two separate structures.

i.e. I'm hoping for Independence Day weekend to be my golden Platinum hour. But no promises.

[codemonkey85]

Big news (at least for me): Pokémon Platinum save files are now supported! Now you can open up two instances of the program and transfer Pokémon between a Diamond / Pearl save file and a Platinum save file! Nice.

Check out the first post for the download!

Special thanks go to SCV and Jiggy-Ninja for helping me figure out how to auto-detect which save type is being loaded.

[Reygok]

Oh my god, this is great! If i only had this 2 weeks ago^^ I already transferred all my pokémon from diamnod to platinum with pokésav, that was har work. Like this it would have been much easier! Thank you anyway.

[evandixon]

Oh my god, this is great! If i only had this 2 weeks ago^^ I already transferred all my pokémon from diamnod to platinum with pokésav, that was har work. Like this it would have been much easier! Thank you anyway.
Does this even transfer pokemon to and from different save files?

[Reygok]

Yes! It was said in the update post, you open the prog twice, then simply drag and drop between the saves. Its amazing XD

[TheHalfBloodPrince]

Big news (at least for me): Pokémon Platinum save files are now supported! Now you can open up two instances of the program and transfer Pokémon between a Diamond / Pearl save file and a Platinum save file! Nice.

Check out the first post for the download!

Special thanks go to SCV and Jiggy-Ninja for helping me figure out how to auto-detect which save type is being loaded.
:)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ryuragnas]

Any chance of this being ported to Linux, if it hasn't already? Because I'm trying to open this in Wine, and its not opening. This would be good if it was written in Qt C++. Cross-compatibility and all that. What language are you writing it in, by the by?

[TheHalfBloodPrince]

You should have this added to PPSE to make life easier. But again thank you SO much!

[codemonkey85]

Any chance of this being ported to Linux, if it hasn't already?

Not anytime soon, as I only really know VB.Net at the moment. I am taking courses in programming and hope to be a professional software developer one day, but in the meantime, my advice is to just stick to PPSE.


You should have this added to PPSE to make life easier. But again thank you SO much!

I am not coding PPSE. But rest assured, Jiggy-Ninja has announced his intentions to shamelessly steal my programs' features.

[TheHalfBloodPrince]

[QUOTE=ryuragnas;37226]Any chance of this being ported to Linux, if it hasn't already?

Not anytime soon, as I only really know VB.Net at the moment. I am taking courses in programming and hope to be a professional software developer one day, but in the meantime, my advice is to just stick to PPSE.



I am not coding PPSE. But rest assured, Jiggy-Ninja has announced his intentions to shamelessly steal my programs' features.
Well that is good for the Pokémon community.

Oh, and also, could you please add a delete feature? Like right clicking on a Pokémon, then a message saying "Would you like to delete this Pokémon?". Oh, and does it automatically add the Pokémon to your Pokédex yet?

[codemonkey85]

Yes, removing Pokémon is a feature I will add. No, the program does not edit the Pokédex yet.

The next feature I am working on is Pokémon editing, but registering Pokémon in the Pokédex is likely the next priority.

[TheHalfBloodPrince]

Yes, removing Pokémon is a feature I will add. No, the program does not edit the Pokédex yet.

The next feature I am working on is Pokémon editing, but registering Pokémon in the Pokédex is likely the next priority.
Ohhh good! You are amazing!

[Jiggy-Ninja]

You should have this added to PPSE to make life easier. But again thank you SO much!
Unfortunately, VB (which is what this program is made with) and Qt C++ (Which is what PPSE is made with) are not directly compatible.

However, SCV and I shall try to the best of our ability to replicate this program's method of organization, for it is far too awesome to not steal.

[TheHalfBloodPrince]

Unfortunately, VB (which is what this program is made with) and Qt C++ (Which is what PPSE is made with) are not directly compatible.

However, SCV and I shall try to the best of our ability to replicate this program's method of organization, for it is far too awesome to not steal.
Ah, well best of luck. The only programming I can do is a little bit of Java, and that can be tricky at times for a novice, so I salute you guys for doing all this. I would not know where to being to learn VB or Qt C++.

[Sabresite]

Good job on the new interface! I am very happy to see that you figured it out.

[codemonkey85]

Thanks! Inheriting from PicutreBox seemed the way to go, but the next challenge will be multiselecting Pokémon.

Incidentally, did you get my PM?

[evandixon]

Thanks! Inheriting from PicutreBox seemed the way to go, but the next challenge will be multiselecting Pokémon.

Incidentally, did you get my PM?
For the graphics, you could replicate the yellow dot displayed when transferring from the GBA.

[codemonkey85]

Um, which yellow dot would that be? And what would I need it for?

[Jiggy-Ninja]

Um, which yellow dot would that be? And what would I need it for?
I believe he's talking about the dots that mark the Pokemon you are selecting to transfer to Pal Park.

[codemonkey85]

Ah, well, I'm not too concerned with that particular graphic. If I ever do code a "virtual Pal Park" (unlikely since I have practically no info about the GBA saves), I will probably just use a border or backcolor to highlight the selected Pokémon.

[Sabresite]

Thank god I do have all of the info, including offsets for each language in memory, save file, and the pokemon formats themselves. :)

[codemonkey85]

I assume that info also includes how to tell which save file blocks are more current? And perhaps how to generate the checksum for said blocks? Feel free to donate what you have so I can write up a virtual Pal Park program!

Geez, am I going to end up adding GBA support to my library too...?

[evandixon]

Geez, am I going to end up adding GBA support to my library too...?
If it's legal enough, it could really help DSi users.

[djm]

codemonkey85: this program is AWESOME :eek:

Congrats for the good work and please keep up!

[kingstone]

how do i use it?

[evandixon]

Tell me you didn't just ask that...
[edit]:
*face-palm*

[COBHC]

its so cool thanks

[codemonkey85]

how do i use it?

Well, load your save file first.

All you can really do with it right now is move your Pokémon around. To do that... simply drag and drop them wherever you like.

Do you have a more specific question?

[Tbird]

Brilliant tool thanks alot :D

Literally just shaved hours off of what I was doing and gave me more playing time :D

[kingstone]

Well, load your save file first.

All you can really do with it right now is move your Pokémon around. To do that... simply drag and drop them wherever you like.

Do you have a more specific question?

it doesn`t want to load the sav

[codemonkey85]

Again, specifics are useful. :D

What do you mean "it doesn't want to load"? Do you get an error message? If so, what does the message say? What size is your save file?

[kingstone]

nevermind got it to work...

its great

[Glass Minja]

I can't get it to work. I have Vista and I have tried it in compatibility mode. I have redownloaded it 2 times but still doesn't work. I use a sav file off of my flashcard which I just copy and pasted. I tried two Platinum sav files. Both were 512 kb.

It works until I play the game. when I insert pokemon that I have downloaded off of this website into the party they disappear. I tried putting them into the Pc but when I try moving them or withdrawing them into my party, they disappear.

[codemonkey85]

I'm not quite sure I understand your problem. So you download PKM files to your PC, you put them into your save file with my program, and the PKMs do not appear in your game?

[evandixon]

I can't get it to work. I have Vista and I have tried it in compatibility mode. I have redownloaded it 2 times but still doesn't work. I use a sav file off of my flashcard which I just copy and pasted. I tried two Platinum sav files. Both were 512 kb.

It works until I play the game. when I insert pokemon that I have downloaded off of this website into the party they disappear. I tried putting them into the Pc but when I try moving them or withdrawing them into my party, they disappear.
Does it work when you load the save file again? if so, post it here.

[Glass Minja]

I can load the save file into the program. I download pokemon into a pkm file on the main site. I just dragged and dropped like you said you can and it worked, like I can see that the pokemon were in the PC box or my party. Then I save it and upload my file back to my flash card(Acekard 2).

It works and the pokemon appear in the PC but when I try to withdraw it or move it into my party they disappear and the sprite stays on the screen in the middle but towards the upper left. But when I put the pokemon in my party they just disappear when I load up my save file. I have tried this multiple times again but still get the same result.

[evandixon]

I can load the save file into the program. I download pokemon into a pkm file on the main site. I just dragged and dropped like you said you can and it worked, like I can see that the pokemon were in the PC box or my party. Then I save it and upload my file back to my flash card(Acekard 2).

It works and the pokemon appear in the PC but when I try to withdraw it or move it into my party they disappear and the sprite stays on the screen in the middle but towards the upper left. But when I put the pokemon in my party they just disappear when I load up my save file. I have tried this multiple times again but still get the same result.
Post the save file, or post the Pokemon you are trying to add. It sounds like a probelm with the Pokemon.

[Glass Minja]

Where can I upload the save file. Also I tried putting a squirtle and a skorupi. I tried both together and separately.

[Champloo]

Wow...this application is really useful

Just wanted to give my input :)

[evandixon]

Where can I upload the save file. Also I tried putting a squirtle and a skorupi. I tried both together and separately.
Click on "Go Advanced" when you reply, and look under "Additional Options" under the Submit buttons.

[Glass Minja]

Thanks, didn't know that. Save file is attached.

Side question: Does anyone get signed out after about 30 minutes on this forum?

[jmln1]

Isnt the size of the Platinum saves 1 MB? Maybe im wrong, but a corrupt save can be the cause of the problem...

[evandixon]

I only see one Pokemon in it, a (should be, at least) legit Chimchar.

---------- Post added at 02:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:40 PM ----------


Isnt the size of the Platinum saves 1 MB? Maybe im wrong, but a corrupt save can be the cause of the problem...
No, it's 512KB.

[Glass Minja]

I tried to put other pokemon in but they keep getting deleted...
Want me to put a new one with pokemon in it?

[evandixon]

I tried to put other pokemon in but they keep getting deleted...
Want me to put a new one with pokemon in it?
Just post the PKM files.

[Glass Minja]

Here.

[evandixon]

THere is always trouble directly transfering Diamond/Pearl Pokemon to Platinum and back. The first two are Diamond/Pearl Pokemon.

[Glass Minja]

So I can't fix the problem somehow? Because I didn't get the pokemon from my DP. I just downloaded it from http://projectpokemon.org/games/pkm.php .
Also is the Dratini Platinum, because I was trying again and again and I got Dratini to work. The thing is I put Dratini in Box 2 instead of Box 1 or Party. The others don't work though...

[Jiggy-Ninja]

THere is always trouble directly transfering Diamond/Pearl Pokemon to Platinum and back. The first two are Diamond/Pearl Pokemon.
There shouldn't be, it's the exact same structure in both games.

[evandixon]

There shouldn't be, it's the exact same structure in both games.
I always have a little trouble with it. Some of the values are different, such as location, and when I tried to do that on PPSE, it didn't work quite right.

[codemonkey85]

All my program does is break the PKM down into individual bytes and copy those bytes to the appropriate place in the save file... I assume in virtually the same manner as the games do. I don't see why it would matter where the PKMs came from.

I will try and experiment with this save file and see what happens.

[Browner87]

Hey codemonkey85, could I make a suggestion? I saw at the beginning that you were looking for an easy way to transfer between boxes, and the first thing that jumped out at me was the big space at the bottom right. Would it be possible to put a 'thumbnail' of every box down there and any box when hovered over would automatically switch into being the big centered one?

Animation for it would be cool, but even without it would be a simple way to go between boxes since you could click-drop a pokemon in the big box, hover over a mini box for, say 800ms (maybe longer) and *pop* it's the big one. Then, just drop your pokemon that's still being dragged into a slot :)

Sound feasible? I'd try myself, but so far I haven't found a copy of your source code for the app. I'd love to see your source just to mosey through it. Would you be willing to share via PM?

[codemonkey85]

I would share the source now, but unfortunately I recently mucked it up during a library update. :( I will have to fix it up before I can give you something that makes sense.

It's actually fairly simple logic though. Each "slot" on the main screen is actually a subclassed PictureBox control that has a _Pokemon property, which holds a Pokemon class object. Every time a drag and drop is performed, the Pokemon objects in both the sender and receiver are swapped; if one is empty, you are basically swapping PKM data for a null Pokemon object.

EDIT:

By the way, sounds like a decent suggestion. The only thing is that my program is a bit slower than optimal... this might be better implemented in PPSE for now. Mind if I pass it along to Jiggy?

[Browner87]

Unfortunately, I'm a great programmer in VB6, and somewhat in C/C++ but I've never used .NET before. One of my greatest strengths is picking stuff up quickly, but it's hard to just pick it up when I have a blank sheet to start from. I figured if I could look through some working code I could pick it up easily enough and hopefully help with improving it too.

And sure, feel free to pass my idea along. I was thinking something along the lines of (assuming there are 25 boxes - I forget and I'm at work so I can't check) a 5x5 grid of a darker color, and one of the squares in the grid (the one that's in full size on the screen) would be a lighter color and as you hover over a box for an amount if time, it becomes the selected one.

I'd give it a try at programming it, but like I said, I kind of need a starting point right now since I'm brand new to .NET.

[codemonkey85]

There are 18 boxes in the DS games, FYI. And I personally feel as though the "color grid" view of the boxes (from when you change your current box in the PC in-game) would work best for the thumbnail view.

Definitely worth looking into.