To get the National Pokedex do you have to have just seen all 150 Pokemon or do you have to have them with pokeball next to their names in the Pokedex symbolizing that you caught them?

You only have to see them. There are some Pokemon you simply can't catch in Pokemon Diamond, and likewise for Pearl. But you can see them when opposing trainers use them against you. Some won't be seen until you're fighting the Elite Four.

Ok. Thanks. But I have one other question. I chose Turtwig at the beginning and because of my rival I have seen Chimchar, Monferno, and Infernape. And because of the assistant I have seen Piplup and Prinplup, but when will I see Empoleon because I have yet to see that Pokemon.

I can't remember when, but you'll see Empoleon... I'll bet it's unavoidable, in fact. Probably from the assistant again, but I can't remember. If you simply keep battling the trainers around you, you'll have seen all 150 Sinnoh region Pokemon by the time you finish the Elite Four.

Ok. another question now. I am stuck in the ****ing gym in Sunnyshore city. (it is the last gym.) And I dont know how to get to the gym leader. You have to press the buttons for the gears and the paths to move but I dont know how to do it.

Well, that one's just going to have to be trial and error I'm afraid. I've already completed it and can't write up a complete walkthrough.

Ok. I got through it. But unfortuenately I did not have the National Pokedex before the tournament so I had to use my Torterra, Luxray, Dialga, and Uxie and I lost in the second round. And a few hours after the tournament I got the national Pokedex so I guess I will be prepared for the next one. Thanks for your help Hawk.

You're welcome. I didn't have the National Pokedex until after beating the Elite Four.

Neither did I. I had to borrow my friend, Mega Josh's, lvl 100 Typhlosion and Rayquaza. And for some reason it let me without the National Pokedex. So luckily I got through the Elite Four in 3 minutes.

PokeMitch
Neither did I. I had to borrow my friend, Mega Josh's, lvl 100 Typhlosion and Rayquaza. And for some reason it let me without the National Pokedex. So luckily I got through the Elite Four in 3 minutes.

Actually, I discovered long ago that you can trade foreign pokemon without the national pokedex. They just appear without a pokedex number. I've been doing it since Colosseum.