PKVault - Centralized pkm storage management & Pokedex app

[ScarletIsRotting]

Hii I just wanted to ask if you plan to update the app with new Pkhex versions as games release?

[chnapy]

Yes, I try to follow each PKHeX version (currently in 25.09.25).
Last PKHeX version (25.10.25) is quite specific since it includes Z-A partial support. I skip this version since its support seems to come with multiple issues which may affect app stability.
Next version (25.11.25) will probably include several fixes, so I prefer wait this one.

@Vladcik reports can be done here or on github, it doesn't matter to me.

[l3rittany]

I'm curious how you're doing this? I just started playing with PKHeX three or four days ago but I'm also a mom so I haven't had time to dissect lol. 

Are you just converting files to their destined pk versions and storing it in the backend? 

 

Either way, this is a really neat tool!!! Awesome!!  

[chnapy]

@l3rittany Most app logic is around the use of PKHeX.Core which is usable as a C# package. This required a lot of time digging in PKHeX code understanding how the tool works since there is no documentation at all. So most PKVault logic is just using PKHeX actions on saves.

When you're transfering pkm from save to PKVault storage, pk file is generated (in storage/ dir) and its metadata is stored in json files (in db/ dir).
Create pkm version, for instance generation 3 from generation 7, makes a stored copy of source pkm file and try to convert it to given generation using PKHeX tool & more specific actions.

Beyond that, I'm using Pokeapi for embedded data (for what is not given by PKHeX) & sprites.

[l3rittany]

Absolutely amazing work @chnapy! And perhaps a good idea to put the bug in other's ear that there isn't any documentation. Seeing this site is loaded with devs, maybe one day someone will be kind enough to put together a wiki! Also, complements on the front end too. Very well designed all around. 

My little girl is actually getting into Pokemon games; we got her a DSi off of marketplace recently, so looking forward to make use of this tool as she plays through.  
 

Edited November 3 by l3rittany

[GoatLord]

Hi! First of all, I just want to say, incredible work, I've been dreaming of a tool like this for years! I wasn't sure how to get in contact with you, but I just wanted to ask, you mention the app supporting a webapp? That's not really something I need personally, but I noticed the exe creates a "webview" folder with lots of contents inside it, despite me not installing any web app? Maybe this is a dumb question, but what is this folder for? If I haven't installed any web app, why is there need for a web related folder? Or does the regular windows desktop app connect to the web too for some reason?

[GoatLord]

Also, I'm kind of a beginner when it comes to this stuff and I'm finding the installation a bit confusing honestly. Just installing the exe file seems to work, but looking at the github I feel like I am doing something wrong, and moving some mons between games causes errors claiming it's missing needed files. Do you think you could give me a sort of step by step guide? I'm only looking to run this locally and have no need for a web app, so if I just want the windows desktop client, how would I set that up properly, in a step 1. step 2. fashion, and so on?

[chnapy]

This app is working 100% offline, there is no use of any external web app.
Mentions of web app in file description is because technically this app was made as a web app with a frontend and backend. Desktop app is using the backend, and Microsoft WebView2 to render the frontend. This is why you have this WebView folder created.

The file PKVault.exe is usable as-is, there is no other dependencies, except NET9 (same for PKHeX) and Microsoft WebView2 (which is already present in all common Windows OS).

If you have specific issues please share screenshots, or copy/paste errors.

[GoatLord]

Thank you for explaining that! The issue I had earlier was when I was attempting to move a mon from 1 game to the other, I got an error saying it was missing some pokeapi folder, which I did not have. Looking at the github page, I found mention of pokeapi, and downloaded the repository, and after adding it to the place where PKVault where expecting it, the move was successful. However, I did not find any clear mention of any dependencies, such as pokeapi, in the github page. So this has now lead me to wonder, have I installed this wrong? Or am I supposed to install any number of dependencies or do any other steps than just run the exe file? Because for clarity, all I had done previously was run the exe file and configure my save locations, that's it. If there is anything else I need to do for PKVault to run properly as intended, please do let me know.

[chnapy]

@GoatLord you don't have to download anything except the app itself.
Can you please provide a screenshot of the app with the error visible.
Also please provide save files of related games.
And finally please precise the version of the app including build ID, you can find it in Settings page (top-right).

[GoatLord]

Well I would have gladely provided a screenshot already, but as I said, I already fixed that issue by installing the pokeapi repository linked on your github. But I believe it said something about being unable to find a move that mon had and then referenced a file path to a pokeapi folder where it was expecting to find that file, but I didn't have that folder. What's weird is that the location where it expected to find the pokeapi folder was not even within my PKVault folder, it was in the folder above it. Is PKVault supposed to require Pokeapi in order to function? Or again, are you just supposed to run the exe and then it should work without any extra installations? 

I believe I am using the latest version of the app, version 1.1.2, and the build ID is 01a8c5f7-cf5f-4f8d-8a2d-044ba889fbbf

Side question, what's your plans for this software moving forward? I think it's a brilliant software, and something this community has needed for years, so it would be cool to see it maintained long term.

[chnapy]

I made a small update (v1.1.3) for a specific important bug causing app crash on first launch (+ some minor bug fixes).

@GoatLord I don't have long-term plan for now, this app is still very young & in construction. PKVault is open-sourced so in future I guess anyone could participate to its development, but I think it's too soon for that.

[GoatLord]

I tried to recreate the error by deleting the pokeapi folder that it had previous told me it needed. I figured that since adding the pokeapi folder fixed the issue, deleting it would make the issue reappear and then I could screenshot the error. However after removing the folder and repeating what I had done previously, the issue did not occure... So I guess if the error, or any other error, comes up in the future, I'll send them your way then. But for now, everything does appear to work as intended as far as I can tell? Very weird that it'd request that I install pokeapi though since you say PKVault does not depend on it. Is it possible you use some kind of library that may pull from pokeapi without you knowing it? Causing it to depend on it?

 

Just curious, just so that I understand everything correctly, when a mon has a "!" on them, it says its "invalid", what does this mean exactly? Does this mean this mon is any risk for concern, like game save corruption, or similar game breaking concerns? Or does it simply mean the mon is not considered "legal" and would cause issues if transferred to any of the mainline games that are live, or something like Pokemon home?

Also, you say that PKVault is compatible with all generations, does this include the recent Pokemon Z-A?

 

Oh and assuming the "!" only means the mon is not "legal" but remain fine offline, an option to toggle the visibility of that marker would be cool. For those that have no intent to transfer to live games and only play offline, because at that point the "legality" or "validity" of that mon really don't matter.

[ScarletIsRotting]

Hii again, in the download page on the screenshots, the pokedex shows shiny sprites for the ones you have unlocked. How do I get the shiny sprites to show up whenever I pull my pokedex up? Thank youuuu!

[GoatLord]

Here's another suggestion, I hope you don't mind my suggestions and questions so far @chnapy... I'm pretty sure being able to reorder boxes in the storage list has already been suggested, and that would be great! However, would it be possible to change the size of each box too? This might just be a game limitation, what do I know, but it would be great to be able to set them to any size that you want. So that you can have all your mons from 1 game in 1 box, or say, all shinies in one box, or all legendaries in one box, and so on. Right now I believe each box can hold 30 mons, but it would be cool if you could set that to any size, configurable per box. Or maybe have a few size options, like 30, 60, 120, and maybe even 240?

[chnapy]

Hi, thanks for all your feedbacks, I don't always reply but I take all your suggestions into account.

[EmeSet]

Hello, thank you for the tool first of all

Sorry for not having a screenshot but I can arrange that later on

My issue is when I try to move pokemons from any save (tried gen 1 and 2 .sav format from a .srm file from retroatch, from my R36) while dragging into the storage box I get a “pkmn *** cannot be moved”

Even between saves I get this message, I can only move between boxes in the save save

Thank you for any help that you can give me

[chnapy]

@EmeSet thanks for your report, I just made an hotfix release (1.1.4), this issue is not present anymore.

Next update (1.2) is dedicated to Legend Z-A support and is estimated for the end of the month.

Edited November 20 by chnapy

[Vladcik]

Heyah !

Random little question (maybe i've missed it so i'd rather asking) : Is there any way to add pokemon that are already files to PKVault ? Either by using PKVault or dealing with folder's structure

Thanks !

Edit : Just got a suggestion : I feel like it could be cool to have more parameters in the generation file. For example being able to see which gen this pokemon is, to be able to lock some boxes to specific gens or a setting to limit the transfers

Edit 2 : Another suggestion : Could it be possible to move Shadow Pokemon ? I'm really more in need to store them to be able to create a linked copy to play the run without losing their original state 

Edit 3 : Yes i'm on a roll. Could it be possible to create mutliple linked Pokémon than one ? For example I've a Pikachu in my storage, I could create like 5 of them for 5 different games and being able to track them all ? 

Edit too much I know : Could Retroarch saves files be supported ? In fact they are just regular saves but named differently. So it's just an extension naming. Would be cool I don't think pkhex supports it (just renaming every time, not the funniest)

Edited November 27 by Vladcik

[anticristian5]

You've done a great job, the app gets better with every update! I had the chance to input my Pokémon collection into PKVault and I found some small bugs in the sprite visualization, and I have a few suggestions (mostly quality of life) for future releases.

 [BUG]

• Alcremie's forms are not all displayed correctly, regarding the sweets.

• Not Purified Shadow Pokémon from Colosseum (from XD too) can't be moved into the storage section. Totem Pokémon illegal forms too. It would be great to be able to have those forms, even if not legitimate, in the vault.

• Noble Pokémon forms from LPA are not displayed, even though they appear in PKHeX.

• Shadow Lugia from XD is displayed with the regular Lugia sprite, even though the correct sprite is displayed in PKHeX

[FEATURES]

• The ability to edit and move Boxes at will. This would be the most convenient update of all.

• Implement an empty slot that shifts all other Pokémon down by one slot, so it doesn't have to be done manually.

• The ability to have more than one save file for the same game.

• Show a logo if the Pokémon has a Gigantamax form.

• Show a logo if the Pokémon is Alpha.

[chnapy]

@anticristian5 thanks for the report. Issues about Alcremie & shadow Lugia will be fixed in next update, release in few days.
I haven't be able to reproduce bugs about totem & noble pokemons, they are rendering well on my side. If it's in Pokedex ensure you've clicked "show forms" buttons. Consider sharing your saves otherwise.
Thanks for your feature suggestions, most of them are planned. Note that about "ability to have more than one save file for the same game", it's already allowed, you just cannot use duplicated saves with same ID (aka. copy/pasted file).

@Vladcik add pk files directly is planned. It's possible to create multiple pkm versions, one for each generation. But you cannot use multiple of them in saves at once because it would be way too complex to synchronize them.

 

You cannot move shadow pokemon from save to pkvault storage because shadow state cannot be stored in .pk files. So you have to purify the pkm before (from game or using PKHeX).

[Vladcik]

Hey !

Thanks for your answer but I've to admit these would be major points for me.

For the first one, I'd like to be able to make duplicate for the Shiny Living Dex in different games without creating a cloning mess. Could it be possible to just link them one by game id and keep track of that ?

For Shadow, a way that we create a "Shadow storage" where you can ONLY store Shadow Pokemon and they are set as such.

Thanks !

[anticristian5]

@chnapy I encountered a pretty annoying bug, considering it no longer allows me to open PKVault correctly. I was in the process of putting my complete living dex, both regular and shiny, into storage. I had created over 100 boxes. While organizing the last few boxes, I saw an error message (whose text I couldn't save) that said something like "too many slots" or something similar. I closed and reopened PKVault, and since then it no longer starts up, remaining stuck on the initial Pokeball screen. Is there a way to fix this? I really don't want to start over with work that took me so many hours. f necessary, Here my entire PKVault folder in order to resolve the issue

01 - PKVault.7z

Edited November 28 by anticristian5

[chnapy]

Hi, I just released PKVault 1.2.0 including Pokemon Legends Z-A support.

Note: this support is based on PKHeX 25.11.30, so any issue present in this PKHeX version will be present in PKVault until any update.

You can also find minor features, and multiple bug fixes (reported here or on github):

• Features
  • Log files are now generated in logs/ folder. Consider sharing them with every bug report !
  • Allow saves paths from other drives ("E:/toto") and network ("\\192.168.1.12/toto")
  • Add alpha icon
• Bug fixes
  • Fix Alcremie forms display
  • Fix Finizen specific evolve condition
  • Fix crash on some GB saves because of specific legality issues
  • Fix crash with lot of save files
  • Use specific Lugia shadow sprite from Pokemon XD
  • Update pkm ID generation to limit ID collisions

Please report any bug or issues, with generated log files.

Next feature update is still expected to be dedicated on box management.