Now reading
The app's main page: the VN that's open, where you are in it, and what Discord shows.
What's on the page
- Cover and name of the VN, with its engine and .exe underneath (e.g.
KiriKiri · SenrenBanka.exe). - Where you are (blue pill), like Yoshino Route. It comes from the game's window title; see Chapters & routes. If the title doesn't say, a + Route / chapter button lets you type it yourself.
- Time read for this VN, all sessions added up.
- Change VN / cover… opens Cover & privacy for this game: pick another VNDB entry or another picture, and set what Discord shows.
- VNDB page opens the VN on vndb.org.
- Library page opens this VN's page in the Library.
- Discord preview: exactly what your friends see right now. When nothing is shared, it says why (paused, idle, or the game's privacy is set to Off).
Wrong VN or cover?
The VN is guessed from the window title and the .exe name. Some games share a launcher or a series name, so the first match on VNDB isn't always the one you're reading. The ? button on the card explains it, and Pick the right VN… takes you to the fix: search VNDB and click Use on the right entry. The name, cover and VNDB link all switch to it, and the choice is remembered for this game. See Covers.
Detection: Auto or Manual
At the bottom of the page, the Detection bar has two modes. When a VN is found, the bar also shows the program it detected (SenrenBanka.exe above).
Auto (default)
The app looks at the open windows and recognizes visual novel engines by their program, their window and the files next to them. These engines are recognized:
- Ren'Py
- KiriKiri / KiriKiri Z
- SiglusEngine
- RealLive
- TyranoScript
- Artemis
- YU-RIS
- NScripter / ONScripter
- Unity
- Buriko General Interpreter (BGI / Ethornell)
- AdvHD
- CatSystem2
- KaGuYa
- Majiro
- Musica
- Propeller
- ShSystem
- AI6WIN
- Qlie
- Softpal
- SystemNNN
- TmrHiroAdvSystem
Browsers, Discord, Steam, OBS, code editors and other everyday programs are always ignored. VNs installed through Steam get their proper Steam name, which also gives better cover matches (Use Steam library names in Settings).
Wrong program? Not a VN
If the app picked something that isn't a visual novel, click Not a VN next to the detected program. It's never detected again, and its entry is hidden from the Library. To undo it, remove it from Settings → Never detect.
Manual
If your VN uses an engine that isn't recognized, switch to Manual and choose the game in Pick the game window…. Opened the game after? Click Refresh to update the list. The app remembers your choice: the next time that program runs, it's detected right away.
Switch back to Auto once you're done if you read several VNs, so the others are found by themselves.
Pause
The Pause button (bottom-left) stops sharing your status, and counting time read, until you click it again. The Discord preview says Paused: nothing is shared. The same switch is in the tray menu (Pause / resume presence).
Idle in the background
If you leave the game open while doing something else, you probably don't want Discord to say you're reading, nor the time read to keep going up. Turn on Go idle when the VN isn't the active window in Settings → General → Presence.
When the game has been in the background for Seconds in the background before going idle (60 by default), your Discord status clears and the timers stop. The preview says Idle: nothing is shared until the VN is back in front. Click back into the game and everything resumes.