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[Q] Extracting and Amending apps .png file - Need some help please

Hi All -
Firstly.. Please don't burn me for being thick!..
I've been trying to see how much I can get out of my phone since I got it, without having to root and mess about "under the hood" of the apps I've installed..
But now I'm getting curious and for my first attempt at this I will remain "unrooted"..
I've got ADW and I want to amend some of the .png files - so I tried extracing the app from the phone, openned the APK using winzip and amended some of the .png files.. I've uninstalled ADW from the phone and then tried to reinstall the updated version which I've put back onto my SD card - but it says "Cannot install ADW on this phone".....
I've had a search around XDA but can't find anything that helps..
If there is already a thread that talks me through this please point me in the right direction, otherwise if someone could explain to me if I'm missing a step I'd appreciate it!..
Cheers!
Alan.
EDIT - Ok - It's solved... I downloaded the SignApk app off t'internet signed the new APK that I'd created and then sent it back to my phone - which worked.. finally solved.
Thanks for all who helped me..
Solution is - YOU HAVE TO SIGN the Apk if it's NOT a system APK..

if i read correct you have extracted the apk ? If yes it won't install unless you sign it. All you have to know about signing is here .
Or you can just open the archive with 7zip or whatever you want and drag the files there and it will work just fine.(Haven't checked though but it was pointed out here ) .

Hi - Thanks for this...
By Extracted... What I did was I used astro to back it up to the SD card then bluetoothed it to my laptop - opened the APK using Winzip and edited some of the png's within the archive.. then I saved it, bluetoothed it back to my SD card and tried to reinstall it from there..
that's I got the message "can't install ADW on this phone" message...
?? Perhaps I need to extract it differently? or would I need to re-sign it first?
Thanks again.

Use 7zip instead and right click the apk and hit open archive instead of extract. Then drop the files u edited into the correct folder. It should install...
Hope it helps.

currently stuck with this aswell, ive just opened the archive and stuck in the edited images. cannot intall on this phone error afterwards
my post on it the now http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=779702&page=3

yours worked lol need to read into signapk a bit more i think lol only few imaged need sorted, the google search widget seems to be a bit crazy
very old version aswell cant get my backed up settings etc doesnt have many options at all will use the 1.1.3 i had earlier when i get home

Check out the hacks and mods thread. It covers how to do this.
Btw I'm not flaming (in any sense of the term. )

Drag n drop works for system apps but for apps like the ones in market ul need to remove meta inf folder, sign the apk file n all should be well. although I think because the certificates have been changed you won't be able to update it via market. I've done quite a bit of editing..
Sent from my rooted 026 X10i using swype via Xda

Mobzter said:
Drag n drop works for system apps but for apps like the ones in market ul need to remove meta inf folder, sign the apk file n all should be well. although I think because the certificates have been changed you won't be able to update it via market. I've done quite a bit of editing..
Sent from my rooted 026 X10i using swype via Xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Mobzter - you can ignore my question in the other thread now!!!.. you've answered it here!
Cheers.

Mobzter said:
Drag n drop works for system apps but for apps like the ones in market ul need to remove meta inf folder, sign the apk file n all should be well. although I think because the certificates have been changed you won't be able to update it via market. I've done quite a bit of editing..
Sent from my rooted 026 X10i using swype via Xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My mistake sorry. :-(

I'll forgive you graviel!! just don't do it again!! ;-)

Lol I was jus saying.. hell im not even saying that im right but from personal experience aswel as what I've read over time thats my conclusion! wish I learnt this **** before I got a job lol
Sent from my rooted 026 X10i using swype via Xda

Readers Hub 12/06/10

i know theres other threads out there with readers hub
but none thats fully functional
this was ripped out of the jm6 fw that was just released last week
i pulled it off my own tab
just install all apks and all should work
you might have to put them in your system app folders then restart
see post 2 for zinio apk
Please let me know your results

heres zinio apk

Awesome. Thanks alot. I have a north american tab so these apps were not included. I hav ed actually found aldiko and nook to be great reader apps, especially since you can import epub files. I tried to replace my gallery app with another that was supposed to display as higher resolution images, which it does but also force closes often. Any chance you can upload the stock gallery 3d apk?

VZW Tab
I tried to install the ReadersHub.apk, no dice :-(

put in in your system apps folder and reboot

I installed this and can get zinio working to where the magazine subscriptions are present, but there are no pictures. I installed it about two weeks ago. Do you know how old this Apk is? I'd love to get it to work.

maxtcee said:
put in in your system apps folder and reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm EXTREMELY new at this apparently, when you say system apps folder, which one is that? I tried to put it into the Root folder but I cannot get it to work.

sstevens805 said:
I installed this and can get zinio working to where the magazine subscriptions are present, but there are no pictures. I installed it about two weeks ago. Do you know how old this Apk is? I'd love to get it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This zinio version is 1.0.1101

sstevens805 said:
I'm EXTREMELY new at this apparently, when you say system apps folder, which one is that? I tried to put it into the Root folder but I cannot get it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think you want to use root explorer or adb to put apk in /system/apps/ folder.

Zinio still doesn't show the page pictures unless you pinch to zoom for any magazines after August 2010. Does anyone know why this is or if there is a fix in the works? Cannot get any info from zinio directly.
Sent from my SGH-T849 using XDA App

+1 Got the following error when installing Reader's Hub, "Application not installed." Any suggestions?

rmorrisonva said:
I tried to install the ReadersHub.apk, no dice :-(
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sstevens805 said:
I'm EXTREMELY new at this apparently, when you say system apps folder, which one is that? I tried to put it into the Root folder but I cannot get it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
brattygirl72 said:
+1 Got the following error when installing Reader's Hub, "Application not installed." Any suggestions?
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Click to collapse
ok you need to be rooted and have busy box install to be able to write to system
once you have above done open up estrongs/or root explorer find the app your trying to install copy it and paste it into system / apps folder then reboot

I still can't get the Reader's Hub file to install or show up in the apps list after rebooting. I've spent hours trying to get this work and no dice.

Wonder if the problems with Zinio can be remedied by changing our screen density settings? Just a thought, may be way off here.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

maxtcee said:
ok you need to be rooted and have busy box install to be able to write to system
once you have above done open up estrongs/or root explorer find the app your trying to install copy it and paste it into system / apps folder then reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Copied with Root explorer and rebooted. Still doesn't show up as installed. Is there supposed be a .odex file to go with it?

specmac said:
Copied with Root explorer and rebooted. Still doesn't show up as installed. Is there supposed be a .odex file to go with it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope just the apk
go into system/app folder and make sure it pasted
if not try it again and make sure your in write mode

maxtcee said:
Nope just the apk
go into system/app folder and make sure it pasted
if not try it again and make sure your in write mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have same problem it says activety not found
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

Tried it, now I have no ReadersHub
Anyone save the old apk?
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

Don't know why this is right off jm6

Max, if you have Titanium backup, can you take a backup of Readerhub and post the backup file?
Sent from Samsung Galaxy Tab

[Q] Unable to install soft keyboard

I have the TnT and Android keyboard.
Tried to install a couple. They show up in the Settings. Tapping the checkbox gave the Attention warning. Clicking on OK. But the checkbox remains unchecked.
In one of the case, when I click on "Enable", it says
"Sorry your device can't perform this action. Please send report to developer".
Am I missing something?

Lots of threads out there on this. Fix involves copying the apk from the data/apps folder to the system/apps folder I believe.
Sent from my Droid using XDA Premium App

Would you mind telling me which keywords to search?
Thanks

I posted a how to video on my blog for this issue. http://www.androidappgeek.com/2011/04/gtablet-tutorial-enabling-third-party.html

Checked my device. The apk's are already in /system/app, not /data/app. I did not move things around.
What else is missing?
Thanks!

The keyboard I installed is Multiling Gingerbread Keyboard. I saw the file in /system/app.
Now I've uninstalled it but could not find a link to download the apk file. So I installed it again.
This time, the same problem. However, I can't find the Multiling file in either /data/app or /system/app.
Where is the file now?
Thanks!

Hmmm...I'm not sure how it would already have been in system/app. I found it it in the market like normal and moved from data/app to the system like i showed in the video. Worked perfectly on my end. Do you not have access to the market?
Sent from my GTablet-TnT-Lite using Tapatalk

Yes I do. Most apps from Market installs and runs just fine.

[Q] replacing the H+ icon

Ive been messing around in the framework for a little while now, replacing icons and such. I have managed to replace all my notification icons with custom ones that i am making, but i cant seem to find the H+ icon. all the other ones are in drawable-hdpi(3g h ect)
can someone please shed some light on this

gjc5500 said:
Ive been messing around in the framework for a little while now, replacing icons and such. I have managed to replace all my notification icons with custom ones that i am making, but i cant seem to find the H+ icon. all the other ones are in drawable-hdpi(3g h ect)
can someone please shed some light on this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are in the rosie. Apk
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

Were in Rosie.API are they? I found some + icons but not the h+ ones

I believe they are actually in framework-res.apk.

Gene Poole said:
I believe they are actually in framework-res.apk.
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Click to collapse
Negative they are definetly in the Rosie.apk unless they changed the location in sense 3.0. It should be in the same folder as it would be in framwork-res.apk.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

SystemUI.apk (system/app). I change mine all the time.
*Drawable-HDPI, btw

Simba501 said:
SystemUI.apk (system/app). I change mine all the time.
*Drawable-HDPI, btw
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Click to collapse
thats on a non inspire based rom correct?

Every time i edit an icon in frameworkres.apk i get a bootloop. What am i doin wrong?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

gho5t82 said:
Every time i edit an icon in frameworkres.apk i get a bootloop. What am i doin wrong?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
Are you unpakcing the apk, if not when you are putting new things in do you have it set to store?

mudknot2005 said:
thats on a non inspire based rom correct?
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Click to collapse
Any ROM that has a SystemUI.apk.
In any instance where there isn't one, those icons are in the framework-res.apk.

Im not unpacking it. What do u mean by having it set to store?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

gho5t82 said:
Every time i edit an icon in frameworkres.apk i get a bootloop. What am i doin wrong?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
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Hard to tell. What are you using to change the icons?

Simba501 said:
Hard to tell. What are you using to change the icons?
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Click to collapse
I was trying to drag some icons from coredroid to virtuous unity's framework and systemui.apk's, using 7zip.

gho5t82 said:
I was trying to drag some icons from coredroid to virtuous unity's framework and systemui.apk's, using 7zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need to be on a laptop/pc to do this method. Before you get started, make sure you have a backup of the apk you're modding (placed on the sd card somewhere). Also wouldn't hurt to make a nandroid. In the event where you need to revert the old apk back, skip to the steps regarding moving the apk to the original folder.
Download APK manager, open it, place the desired system apk into the "place here for modding", run the script, and select the "don't clear out current projects" option.
Near the top you'll see "extract apk". Select this option, wait for it finish, and navigate to the original apk manager folder. Here you'll see a new folder, "out". This is where the apk you extracted is. Navigate to res > drawable-hdpi and replace the desired icons. Make sure the new icons are named to exactly what you're replacing (you should get a "do you want to overwrite" dialog). They should also be sized to what the original file is (or close to it). Once you're done, back out back to the apk manager folder. Run the script again, select optimize images, wait for it to finish, then run zip apk, then 1 (for system app). Your new apk will be in the "place here for modding" folder under the name of "repackaged-unsigned" apk. You'll need to put this on your sd card, move it to "system" first (this will allow you to change permissions), rename it to the original system apk that you're replacing. Change the permissions to rw-r-r (accessible in root explorer by long pressing the file and selecting permissions - first two boxes on the first line and only the first box on the next two lines). From here, move it into the folder where it's replacing the original apk, you should get a "do you want to overwrite", select yes. Scroll down to verify the apk has the correct permissions and that the last modified date is showing as recently. If you don't get an "overwrite" prompt, you need to move it back and correctly name it until you do get the prompt. Lastly, reboot. In some situations (e.g., modifying the Mms apk or other system applications), it would help if you cleared cache and dalvik cache (boot will take a long time). You should see your changes. Seems like a lot but it's very simple. Good luck.
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.

Simba501 said:
Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Seems as though the apk may be losing its system signature (when you edit it like that). You'll need to be on a laptop/pc to do this. Before you get started, make sure you have a backup of the apk you're modding (placed on the sd card somewhere). Also wouldn't hurt to make a nandroid. In the event where you need to revert the old apk back, skip to the steps regarding moving the apk to the original folder.
Download APK manager, open it, place the desired system apk into the "place here for modding", run the script, and select the "don't clear out current projects" option.
Near the top you'll see "extract apk". Select this option, wait for it finish, and navigate to the original apk manager folder. Here you'll see a new folder, "out". This is where the apk you extracted is. Navigate to res > drawable-hdpi and replace the desired icons. Make sure the new icons are named to exactly what you're replacing (you should get a "do you want to overwrite" dialog). They should also be sized to what the original file is (or close to it). Once you're done, back out back to the apk manager folder. Run the script again, select optimize images, wait for it to finish, then run zip apk, then 1 (for system app). Your new apk will be in the "place here for modding" folder under the name of "repackaged-unsigned" apk. You'll need to put this on your sd card, move it to "system" first (this will allow you to change permissions), rename it to the original system apk that you're replacing. Change the permissions to rw-r-r (accessible in root explorer by long pressing the file and selecting permissions - first two boxes on the first line and only the first box on the next two lines). From here, move it into the folder where it's replacing the original apk, you should get a "do you want to overwrite", select yes. Scroll down to verify the apk has the correct permissions and that the last modified date is showing as recently. If you don't get an "overwrite" prompt, you need to move it back and correctly name it until you do get the prompt. Lastly, reboot. It would help if you cleared cache and dalvik cache (boot will take a long time). You should see your changes. Seems like a lot but it's very simple. Good luck.
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
Click to expand...
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Thank you very much for the detailed instructions, i will try this asap!

gho5t82 said:
Thank you very much for the detailed instructions, i will try this asap!
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Good luck! Report back!
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.

Simba501 said:
Good luck! Report back!
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
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Click to collapse
I keep getting adb not found messages when i run the script. I have adb installed through sdk.

So I checked system/app and there is not a systemui.apk. I haven't been able to find that apk anywhere.

gho5t82 said:
I keep getting adb not found messages when i run the script. I have adb installed through sdk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Manually check via a root explorer on your phone. If you have one, entering it in adb is probably case sensitive. You'd have to enter it exactly as it appears. What ROM are you using?
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.

gjc5500 said:
So I checked system/app and there is not a systemui.apk. I haven't been able to find that apk anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ROM are you using?
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.

[Q] Mod'ing System APKs

Hoping someone can give me a hand here... I feel like I am missing something obvious.
I wanted to learn how to make changes to system APKs, more educational than anything else... figured I'd do something simple like edit mms_config.xml for a slightly larger width/height in Mms.apk
I downloaded APK Manager and followed the steps (I thought). I decomplied the APK, made the adjustment, and recompiled the APK... choosing 'y' when it asked if it was a system file. The new APK was created (called unsignedMms.apk, which I figured was correct since it said never to sign system apps).
I renamed the file to Mms.apk and used root explorer to copy it over to /system/app. However, upon reboot the app doesn't install, as if the file is not there (but it is there and has the proper permissions).
Anyway... feel like I am missing something obvious, but I'd appreciate some enlightenment.
Thanks in advance.

Well, the info seemed confusing so I tried signing it anyway... and then after pushing the signed APK and rebooting the app was installed. I thought finally it was fixed.... but no, lol.
The app FC'd instantly upon opening, even if data was wiped and permissions fixed. I restored the original so I'm fine... but I wish I knew what I was being stupid about, lol.

Never re sign a system app, don't push it either. Flash it in cwm, and if it boots and force closes run adb logcat to see what your exact error is.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

dreamsforgotten said:
Never re sign a system app, don't push it either. Flash it in cwm, and if it boots and force closes run adb logcat to see what your exact error is.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Hrm... no dice. I took the unsigned APK I created and flashed it instead of pushing it and it acts as if it's not installed (the apk is in the right place with the right name and permissions).
I must be missing some fundamental step in the creation process.
Edit: This is the APK if that is useful in identifying my ignorance, lol.