This is a very basic guide to beginning themeing. It is not meant to be all-inclusive, just some simple steps that can be taken to make your own custom theme fairly easily. This guide should allow anyone to be able to grab images they like from any ROM and incorporate them into their own.
I SUGGEST YOU ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF ANY FILE BEFORE YOU THEME IT AND NANDROID FIRST BEFORE FLASHING
Here is a basic overview of changing images in an apk:
1. Get your base file to theme – framework-res.apk, com.htc.resources.apk, phone.apk ect.
2. “Open” apk archive with 7-zip (don’t unzip!) and drag and drop the new images into the appropriate folder.
3. Flash new file.
Now some details:
1. The first step is to obtain the file you are going to theme. The file you are themeing ( i.e. going to flash to your phone) must come from the ROM you are currently running. Always use files from your current ROM as a base, however the images you want to change can come from other ROMs, or you can edit existing ones or make your own from scratch. You can obtain your theme base through an ADB pull of the files from your phone, or simply downloading the ROM zip file and extracting the files you need.
2. Now that you have the file to theme, don’t touch it! OK, more specifically, you won’t unzip or do anything to this file except “open” it with 7-zip (unless this is a market app, but more on that later). You are going to drag and drop the new icons into this file by “opening” it and navigating to the appropriate folder. The images you want to change are stored in the apk under /res/drawable-hdpi. Once you have your new icons from other sources, open your base file and navigate to this folder and drop them in.
3. Now you can flash this new file. I have provided empty zip files that you can place your themed files into and flash in recovery. Place your framework-res.apk and/or com.htc.resources.apk into the /system/framework folder located in the zip file provided. Now highlight the META-INF and system folders and zip them up. You can now place this file on the root of your SD card and flash. System apps can be placed under /system/app in the zip file.
Some more info on common themeable files:
Framework-res.apk – this is the meat and potatoes of a theme. On an AOSP ROM it will contain almost everything you want to theme aside from individual apps themselves. Sense ROMs have another file com.htc.resources.apk, as well as framework-res.apk. Both of these files are located in a ROM under /system/framework.
System apps: These apps come packaged in a ROM under /system/apps. They can be themed in the same manner as a framework apk. Some of these apps include Gmail, browser, camera, ect. Place them in your flashable zip under the folder /system/app.
Market apps: These apps are downloaded from the market and are can be pulled from your phone from /data/app. These files require a bit more to theme. They don’t share the same signature as the system apps and you must resign them using a program such as apkmanger. Place them in your flashable zip under /data/app.
If there are any errors, or if anyone has suggestions please let me know. I may have over looked some details, ect.
Thanks to everyone on XDA who has shared their knowledge and made this a great community!
Thanks that will be helpful
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
so using this guide we can pull parts and what not from other elements of themes we like and create our own framework to push back? Also, based on what you have, shouldn't it be easy to put this up on bid for hire (?) website to create a program to automate that?
xlGmanlx said:
so using this guide we can pull parts and what not from other elements of themes we like and create our own framework to push back? Also, based on what you have, shouldn't it be easy to put this up on bid for hire (?) website to create a program to automate that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the idea of this guide was to help people pick and choose icons they like in other ROMs and add it to their own. I'm not sure what bid for hire is?
its a website where you can load your requirements and folks can bid to do your work
linky
nukedukem said:
Yes the idea of this guide was to help people pick and choose icons they like in other ROMs and add it to their own. I'm not sure what bid for hire is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xlGmanlx said:
its a website where you can load your requirements and folks can bid to do your work
linky
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Didn't know anything like this existed.
Sent from my EVO (CM6.1) using XDA App
Thank you, thank you!!!! I've been looking for something like this for a while.
evolishesh said:
Thank you, thank you!!!! I've been looking for something like this for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No prob. Let me know if it works for you.
I couldn't get the auto signing to work, but the manual way of doing it worked.
Hmm, I got a boot loop on first try and doing this. Does that mean something went wrong with the signing, or that what I created for the theme was wrong? I used the empty .zip folder and re-zipped it, so I don't think that is the issue.
JasonK75 said:
Hmm, I got a boot loop on first try and doing this. Does that mean something went wrong with the signing, or that what I created for the theme was wrong? I used the empty .zip folder and re-zipped it, so I don't think that is the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The signing should be ok. If you are using Amon_ra recovery it wont let you flash an unsigned zip I believe. Are you on sense or AOSP? Are you editing images or just copying from other ROMs?
What you might want to do is just create a simple test file. Change just one image and then flash that. That should let you know that your process is correct.
I using Amon Ra and using AOSP. I was moving some items out of a sense ROM so I guess that is where I might have went wrong. I think I'll take your advice and move just a single image and see how that works for me. Thanks!
I tried again this time I ended up stuck at the EVO white screen. I'm guessing it doesn't like the sense part I'm trying to throw in there. I'll have to try again with a AOSP theme instead.
Sent from my EVO (CM6.1.1) using XDA App
A couple things to look out for when swapping sense/CM icons - some file names are slightly different between sense and AOSP. Rename any sense icons to their AOSP counterparts and vice versa. Also, double check the image size of the icon is the same in both, i.e. 70x70 pixels, ect. and make sure you are not adding images that don't exist normally in the framework. For example there wont be any 4G icons in CM framework.
Also, make sure you aren't unzipping the new framework-res.apk you want to theme and flash, or trying to resign it. Only sign the flashable zip, not the individual files inside. The only thing you want to do with the framework-res.apk you will package and flash is open (not unzip) with 7-zip and navigate to the res/drawable-hdpi folder so you can drag and drop the new icons into it, overwriting the old.
I hope that helps!
How important is it to re-sign? I have modified the Framework and Resources apks with 7zip by switching images out. I have also modified the Rosie.apk. I put everything back where it was supposed to go, backed out of 7-zip and flashed. I have never had an issue with it, nor have I re-signed it. Just wondering.
spence341 said:
How important is it to re-sign? I have modified the Framework and Resources apks with 7zip by switching images out. I have also modified the Rosie.apk. I put everything back where it was supposed to go, backed out of 7-zip and flashed. I have never had an issue with it, nor have I re-signed it. Just wondering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK if you are on clockwork recovery, I don't think it checks for signatures. I think Amon_ra requires a signed file to flash. I think it's just added protection against flashing any old junk. If you can flash in amon_ra without a signature and you don't have problems then I wouldn't worry about it. It's the signature of the framework-res.apk ( or com.htc.resources.apk) that's important. That's why you don't unzip it.
I think that
1.7.0.2 = yes
1.8 = no
nukedukem said:
AFAIK if you are on clockwork recovery, I don't think it checks for signatures. I think Amon_ra requires a signed file to flash. I think it's just added protection against flashing any old junk. If you can flash in amon_ra without a signature and you don't have problems then I wouldn't worry about it. It's the signature of the framework-res.apk ( or com.htc.resources.apk) that's important. That's why you don't unzip it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nukedukem said:
A couple things to look out for when swapping sense/CM icons - some file names are slightly different between sense and AOSP. Rename any sense icons to their AOSP counterparts and vice versa. Also, double check the image size of the icon is the same in both, i.e. 70x70 pixels, ect. and make sure you are not adding images that don't exist normally in the framework. For example there wont be any 4G icons in CM framework.
Also, make sure you aren't unzipping the new framework-res.apk you want to theme and flash, or trying to resign it. Only sign the flashable zip, not the individual files inside. The only thing you want to do with the framework-res.apk you will package and flash is open (not unzip) with 7-zip and navigate to the res/drawable-hdpi folder so you can drag and drop the new icons into it, overwriting the old.
I hope that helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, any advice does help.
I did make sure the the icons I was swapping out were named the same thing in the CM ROM, but I didn't check the size of it at all.
I didn't unzip the famework-res.apk but instead just went into it with 7-Zip and dragged the icons into that. Then I backed out of 7-Zip so that it would save and close everything properly - know that does work because that is how I add the Fold transistions to the ROM - and then I put the famework-res.apk into the folder and zip it up per your instructions above. Then I manually sign it (still haven't been able to get the auto-signing to work) and then flash.
I'll have to try again moving a CM theme to the CM framework-res.apk and see if it is working. What I was attempting to do was take, from the Batman Theme for sense, the drop down notification shade with the Bat Icon and put it into the CM ROM. I don't know if you have time to try it yourself to see if it works, or if you get the same issues that I had.
Either way, thanks for the help! I know I'll get this theming down at some point!
nukedukem said:
No prob. Let me know if it works for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey buddy.
I’m stuck. I had to download and install Eclipse with the sdk plus java. I don’t know where to go from there. Every time I open the rom that I want to theme and get the framework.apk and edit the PNG’s , how do I go about saving them? Do I just used the same name as the old ones or I have to save them with a new name.
Or pm Me.
xlGmanlx said:
I think that
1.7.0.2 = yes
1.8 = no
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the new amon_ra doesn't require a signed file to flash? I'll make a note off that. Thanks.
JasonK75 said:
Thanks, any advice does help.
I did make sure the the icons I was swapping out were named the same thing in the CM ROM, but I didn't check the size of it at all.
I didn't unzip the famework-res.apk but instead just went into it with 7-Zip and dragged the icons into that. Then I backed out of 7-Zip so that it would save and close everything properly - know that does work because that is how I add the Fold transistions to the ROM - and then I put the famework-res.apk into the folder and zip it up per your instructions above. Then I manually sign it (still haven't been able to get the auto-signing to work) and then flash.
I'll have to try again moving a CM theme to the CM framework-res.apk and see if it is working. What I was attempting to do was take, from the Batman Theme for sense, the drop down notification shade with the Bat Icon and put it into the CM ROM. I don't know if you have time to try it yourself to see if it works, or if you get the same issues that I had.
Either way, thanks for the help! I know I'll get this theming down at some point!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK I'll try and do what you are trying to do and see if it works...
evolishesh said:
Hey buddy.
I’m stuck. I had to download and install Eclipse with the sdk plus java. I don’t know where to go from there. Every time I open the rom that I want to theme and get the framework.apk and edit the PNG’s , how do I go about saving them? Do I just used the same name as the old ones or I have to save them with a new name.
Or pm Me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So now you have an unzipped framewor-res.apk with a bunch of images. This framework should be the one that you want to take icons from. If not, start over with the ROM you want to copy images from. You will want to copy the images you want to put into another ROM so that you can dump them into the new framework-res.apk. After you figure out what icons you want to bring to your new framework, get a clean version of framework/com.htc from the ROM you are actually running - i.e. if you are running myn ROM on your phone, download the myn ROM and pull out the framework-res.apk or com.resources.apk that you are going to theme.
Now with this fresh clean framework you will "open" it with 7-zip to navigate to the /res/drawable-hdpi folder so you can now drag and drop the images you want to copy over into it. Then the close the 7zip window and your framework-res.apk is all set to flash. You don't need to rename if the file names are the same, you can just drag and drop and the files will be overwritten in the new framework.
Related
Sorry about the first post. I was wondering where the png files are located in the rom so I can start theming
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
If this has been addressed sorry. I searched but didn't find it. If it's been addressed please point me in the right direction. Thanks
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
abadasstanker69 said:
If this has been addressed sorry. I searched but didn't find it. If it's been addressed please point me in the right direction. Thanks
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ull find all the PNG in the individual apps in the system/app, system/framework, and data/app.
Papa Smurf151 said:
Ull find all the PNG in the individual apps in the system/app, system/framework, and data/app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bro! All I see is apk files though. Where are the images?? Also, is there anything specific I have to do in order to export/import the files in Photoshop? I read something somewhere about a .9 PNG or something like that....what does this mean? BTW great work on your theme! It looks awesome! I love it!
Ok I'm a douche bad. lol I renamed the apk to .zip and extracted with winrar. Now I'm in to where I want to be! I'm looking for the little android guy when you make a phone call but, I can't seem to find him in the HTCdialer.apk. Am I looking in the wrong place? Thanks again for the help!
They are in the apk's.
http://developer.android.com/index.html
Good luck.
Ok found the little droid man! This is gonna be awesome!! Any more useful places I should mess around in? This is gonna be FUN!!!!!!!
Ok so I have edited some files and rezipped them. Now do I flash the updated files through recovery or do I have to rename it to .apk and stick it in the rom and re-flash?
abadasstanker69 said:
Ok so I have edited some files and rezipped them. Now do I flash the updated files through recovery or do I have to rename it to .apk and stick it in the rom and re-flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be wrong but I have done the same thing, all I did when I was finished was push them via adb to their respective places and then reboot and it worked fine for me. Nandroid before you push so if it boot loops you can recover. Then the easiest thing at that point would be to save your work in the ROM you modded, push to sd root, wipe and flash it. I am creating a themed version of Darchoid 2.7 but taking my sweet time as I dont have a lot of it to begin with.
For my HTC Keyboard modifications, I just dropped my new images into the APK that was open in 7zip and pushed it to the /system/app/ dir and launched the keyboard, and BAM, my new keyboard.
abadasstanker69 said:
Ok so I have edited some files and rezipped them. Now do I flash the updated files through recovery or do I have to rename it to .apk and stick it in the rom and re-flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to sign it too. If you want to flash it. If you wanna just push it through adb then then put your edited .apk in AndroidSDK\tools and push it.
Go to command prompt:
Code:
cd C:\android-sdk-windows\tools
adb remount
adb push xxxxx.apk /system/app/
exit
C:\android-sdk-windows\tools is assuming thats where your sdk\tools folder is
xxxxx.apk is the name of the .apk
/system/app/ is assuming that's where you got the .apk from
Thanks for all the help guys. I appreciate it but, I was attempting to make an update.zip so people could then flash them once I complete them. I like to make things idiot proof
So I did some looking and found an autosigner. Problem is, now it wants boot scripts? WTF? I know I could push them through adb and simply tell others to do the same. I was just wondering if there was an easy way of doing this? I'm currently using avabox. Thanks again guys!!
abadasstanker69 said:
Thanks for all the help guys. I appreciate it but, I was attempting to make an update.zip so people could then flash them once I complete them. I like to make things idiot proof
So I did some looking and found an autosigner. Problem is, now it wants boot scripts? WTF? I know I could push them through adb and simply tell others to do the same. I was just wondering if there was an easy way of doing this? I'm currently using avabox. Thanks again guys!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just use a mod or update.zip any will do and add ur files and delete the originals in the zip. Keep the meta file and such. Then u can autosign with avabox. It gets tricky with scripts when making a rom. The update.zip script is very basic
Check This Out
You can just take one from a working zip if you want
Otherwise you will be making a file (i use notepad++) called "update-script" *notice-there is no file extension like .txt or anything*
In general they ususally just have:
Code:
show_progress 0.1 0
copy_dir PACKAGE:system SYSTEM:
show_progress 0.1 10
(but may be different depending on where you want the zip's contents to be put in)
Which will be placed into a folder directory META-INF/com/google/android/update-script
You can also add things such as:
Code:
delete SYSTEM:app/contacts.apk
*or whatever you want deleted*
After you make the update-script, just sign it and flash
See my attachment for a template
[/QUOTE]You can also add things such as:
Code:
delete SYSTEM:app/contacts.apk
*or whatever you want deleted*
After you make the update-script, just sign it and flash
See my attachment for a template[/QUOTE]
What would be the purpose in doing that? Would it actually delete people's contacts if they flashed my theme? That's kinda cool but, I'm not trying to be a **** like that! lol
Also, are you guys referring to an update.zip that's all ready out as in a theme file? Or as in a rom? I understand I can use the work that's all ready there and I actually tried that. I zipped the file back up.Then signed with avabox. Renamed it to .apk. Stuck it back in the rom. Attempted to flash and got the boot script error
abadasstanker69 said:
What would be the purpose in doing that? Would it actually delete people's contacts if they flashed my theme? That's kinda cool but, I'm not trying to be a **** like that! lol
Also, are you guys referring to an update.zip that's all ready out as in a theme file? Or as in a rom? I understand I can use the work that's all ready there and I actually tried that. I zipped the file back up.Then signed with avabox. Renamed it to .apk. Stuck it back in the rom. Attempted to flash and got the boot script error
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha i just used contacts.apk as an example, it could be anything you wanted really. But its generally only used for when making an update.zip for boot screens.
And yes, you could take an already existing zip... but i was a little confused as to what you were doing sorry.
Correct me if I'm misunderstanding you again lol, but you're editing images within .apks and want to make a flashable-update.zip once you finish?
Easiest way, as stated before would be to use 7-zip.
Open the .apk Directly with 7-zip (no renaming the .apk to .zip or anything) and drag the replacement images into the .apk - overwriting the older images
Test it by pushing the apk to your phone, if it works without any problems great
If it doesn't then use something like Apk Manager to extract the apk/edit the files/and zip them back up < generally what I do
Put the .apk into the apps folder in my "template update.zip" file
Delete the framework folder and readme.txt file
Sign the .zip
Flash
kyouko said:
haha i just used contacts.apk as an example, it could be anything you wanted really. But its generally only used for when making an update.zip for boot screens.
And yes, you could take an already existing zip... but i was a little confused as to what you were doing sorry.
Correct me if I'm misunderstanding you again lol, but you're editing images within .apks and want to make a flashable-update.zip once you finish?
Easiest way, as stated before would be to use 7-zip.
Open the .apk Directly with 7-zip (no renaming the .apk to .zip or anything) and drag the replacement images into the .apk - overwriting the older images
Test it by pushing the apk to your phone, if it works without any problems great
If it doesn't then use something like Apk Manager to extract the apk/edit the files/and zip them back up < generally what I do
Put the .apk into the apps folder in my "template update.zip" file
Delete the framework folder and readme.txt file
Sign the .zip
Flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL I really appreciate the help! You guys kick ass!!!! BUT I tried this method MINUS the renaming part and it didn't work. Sooooo....I'm assuming the renaming caused the issue.
Also, I was using winrar. I read somewhere that 7zip should be used instead of winrar but I just don't think this should matter considering the compression method is no different. Am I wrong? Also, will my theme have to vary from rom to rom? If I create this theme for people will I have to specify what rom I'm on?
Thanks again SOOOOOOOOOO much for the help guys...I know working with noobs can be a headache. I did it in the WinMo world for YEARS till I came to the "Dark Side"
abadasstanker69 said:
LOL I really appreciate the help! You guys kick ass!!!! BUT I tried this method MINUS the renaming part and it didn't work. Sooooo....I'm assuming the renaming caused the issue.
Also, I was using winrar. I read somewhere that 7zip should be used instead of winrar but I just don't think this should matter considering the compression method is no different. Am I wrong? Also, will my theme have to vary from rom to rom? If I create this theme for people will I have to specify what rom I'm on?
Thanks again SOOOOOOOOOO much for the help guys...I know working with noobs can be a headache. I did it in the WinMo world for YEARS till I came to the "Dark Side"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes 7zip works better for theming and roming. I tried winrar and it was a pain in the ass.
Yes u will have to specify which roms it will work on. Files on darchdroid r different than our 2.1 roms and so forth. So they wont work right.
Download avabox and use the signing tool in there to sign ur zips.
Make sure in ur zip if ur editing an app it's in the right place...ie system/app or system/framework or data/app. Then make sure ur Meta file is in there. After that sign it and then u can change the name and flash it
Papa Smurf151 said:
Yes 7zip works better for theming and roming. I tried winrar and it was a pain in the ass.
Yes u will have to specify which roms it will work on. Files on darchdroid r different than our 2.1 roms and so forth. So they wont work right.
Download avabox and use the signing tool in there to sign ur zips.
Make sure in ur zip if ur editing an app it's in the right place...ie system/app or system/framework or data/app. Then make sure ur Meta file is in there. After that sign it and then u can change the name and flash it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm such a freaking noob....what's the meta file for? This seems like alot to do for a theme :/
abadasstanker69 said:
I'm such a freaking noob....what's the meta file for? This seems like alot to do for a theme :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Meta file is for the update script. It has other uses but for ur purpose its for the update script which is the instructions the recovery uses to flash the theme. Like I stated before just use an existing one from a different theme or mod. Creating ur own is possible but not needed. Hit me up on gtalk if u want to ask me questions.
[email protected]
I don't mind teaching if anyone wants to learn
I started a theme the other day, and I'm moving through the files pretty quickly but without context it's hard to know which graphic is which. So I want to flash or apply the current work I'm doing so I can see where things are and how they look.
Right now I'm working through a deodexed version of Froyo so all the files should be in order. Assuming that I strip out all files but the graphics, how do I create a update.zip for it or use any other method? I'm new to Android so any help would be appreciated.
I'm guessing you already have the sdk installed?
chocmatic said:
I'm guessing you already have the sdk installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. SDK + Eclipse.
Emulator? no?
you can either figure out how to make them Metamorph compatible (sorry, can't give you advice on that, never done it)
Or you can put the images in the correct folder of whatever .apk they go in and make a flashable update.zip, basically replacing the existing .apk's with the full complete modded ones.
You'll need to put all the modded .apk's into a file structure that mimicks where they would be on the phone and zip that structure up with an update_script and sign the update.zip.
I would highly recommend you unzip some small flashable .zip and poke around in it to see the structure and look at the update_script.
This is a download link to a transparent tray mod I did. It replaces ONE .png but because I chose to make it a flashable .zip it requires replacing the framework-res.apk. Except for the actual .apk's you'll need to put in it, this .zip would be perfectly suitable to use as a base for your mods (and you're welcome to use it). If you did use it you would put your .apk's in the system/framework folder, delete the 3 cert files in the META folder, zip the system and META folders into "update.zip" and sign it using an autosign script.
fire away with any questions
ps, you don't need eclipse or the sdk for any of this but you will need an auto-sign script which is one of the tools in Avabox
AFAIK you couldnt use the emulator in the SDK to preview this stuff anyways because you can't get Sense running on the emulator, not to mention the emulator runs SOOOOO SLOOOOWWWWW. Even if you could get Sense running on the em I would bet you would spend less time making a nand, flashing your mods, checking them out and restoring your nand if you didn't like them than using an emulator to preview this stuff.
Award Tour said:
Yup. SDK + Eclipse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the attached file and save folder in your tools directory. Then look at sign.txt to sign files
chocmatic said:
Download the attached file and save folder in your tools directory. Then look at sign.txt to sign files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothings attached.
nebenezer said:
you can either figure out how to make them Metamorph compatible (sorry, can't give you advice on that, never done it)
Or you can put the images in the correct folder of whatever .apk they go in and make a flashable update.zip, basically replacing the existing .apk's with the full complete modded ones.
You'll need to put all the modded .apk's into a file structure that mimicks where they would be on the phone and zip that structure up with an update_script and sign the update.zip.
I would highly recommend you unzip some small flashable .zip and poke around in it to see the structure and look at the update_script.
This is a download link to a transparent tray mod I did. It replaces ONE .png but because I chose to make it a flashable .zip it requires replacing the framework-res.apk. Except for the actual .apk's you'll need to put in it, this .zip would be perfectly suitable to use as a base for your mods (and you're welcome to use it). If you did use it you would put your .apk's in the system/framework folder, delete the 3 cert files in the META folder, zip the system and META folders into "update.zip" and sign it using an autosign script.
fire away with any questions
ps, you don't need eclipse or the sdk for any of this but you will need an auto-sign script which is one of the tools in Avabox
AFAIK you couldnt use the emulator in the SDK to preview this stuff anyways because you can't get Sense running on the emulator, not to mention the emulator runs SOOOOO SLOOOOWWWWW. Even if you could get Sense running on the em I would bet you would spend less time making a nand, flashing your mods, checking them out and restoring your nand if you didn't like them than using an emulator to preview this stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. Seeing the file, it makes sense. In your simple example you modded the framework res APK -- did you have to sign that single APK or was it taken care of when you signed the update.zip? I've modded some apps already and I know that with single APKs you have to sign them so it can be installable again. Don't know if that is needed once you sign the update.zip.
BTW, I can't wait to release this theme. It makes Sense look substantially better.
Award Tour said:
Thanks a lot. Seeing the file, it makes sense. In your simple example you modded the framework res APK -- did you have to sign that single APK or was it taken care of when you signed the update.zip? I've modded some apps already and I know that with single APKs you have to sign them so it can be installable again. Don't know if that is needed once you sign the update.zip.
BTW, I can't wait to release this theme. It makes Sense look substantially better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually signing the .apk's is not necessary. If all you're doing is swapping out images just open the .apk's archinve with 7zip (or similar program) and drop the new .png's into the correct folder (almost always res/drawable-hdpi)
Signing the .zip makes it flashable, the .apk is usable whether you sign it into a .zip or not. Actually when you're testing stuff out I find it's much quicker to just push the modified .apk to the phone via usb, I don't make a flashable .zip until it's ready for sharing
If you push a framework file to the phone ADB REBOOT immediately.
Also, don't be surprised if some of your wallpaper gets reset to stock and your google account gets wiped out after reboot, comes with the territory
nebenezer said:
Actually signing the .apk's is not necessary. If all you're doing is swapping out images just open the .apk's archinve with 7zip (or similar program) and drop the new .png's into the correct folder (almost always res/drawable-hdpi)
Signing the .zip makes it flashable, the .apk is usable whether you sign it into a .zip or not. Actually when you're testing stuff out I find it's much quicker to just push the modified .apk to the phone via usb, I don't make a flashable .zip until it's ready for sharing
If you push a framework file to the phone ADB REBOOT immediately.
Also, don't be surprised if some of your wallpaper gets reset to stock and your google account gets wiped out after reboot, comes with the territory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh okay, I think I'd prefer using ADB too. What command would I use to push the files?
Award Tour said:
Oh okay, I think I'd prefer using ADB too. What command would I use to push the files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this:
Code:
adb remount
adb pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk c:\
then I make my changes to the .apk and:
Code:
adb push c:\framework-res.apk /system/framework
adb reboot
nebenezer said:
this:
Code:
adb remount
adb pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk c:\
then I make my changes to the .apk and:
Code:
adb push c:\framework-res.apk /system/framework
adb reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, just so it's clear, and I'm sorry to bug, but I'd have to pull (remove I guess)
the file before pushing the new one in?
Award Tour said:
Cool, just so it's clear, and I'm sorry to bug, but I'd have to pull (remove I guess)
the file before pushing the new one in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
meh, you can use another compatable copy. I always just pull it first for 2 reasons: 1) I know its the one I'm using at the moment and 2) if you're gonna be using adb it's just convenient to have it right on c:\, less typing
Award Tour said:
Oh okay, I think I'd prefer using ADB too. What command would I use to push the files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adb push <filename> </target dir/targetfilename>
Read this guide, very informative on ADB
SteelH said:
Nothings attached.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oops my bad...it's attached now
nebenezer said:
you can either figure out how to make them Metamorph compatible (sorry, can't give you advice on that, never done it)
Or you can put the images in the correct folder of whatever .apk they go in and make a flashable update.zip, basically replacing the existing .apk's with the full complete modded ones.
You'll need to put all the modded .apk's into a file structure that mimicks where they would be on the phone and zip that structure up with an update_script and sign the update.zip.
I would highly recommend you unzip some small flashable .zip and poke around in it to see the structure and look at the update_script.
This is a download link to a transparent tray mod I did. It replaces ONE .png but because I chose to make it a flashable .zip it requires replacing the framework-res.apk. Except for the actual .apk's you'll need to put in it, this .zip would be perfectly suitable to use as a base for your mods (and you're welcome to use it). If you did use it you would put your .apk's in the system/framework folder, delete the 3 cert files in the META folder, zip the system and META folders into "update.zip" and sign it using an autosign script.
fire away with any questions
ps, you don't need eclipse or the sdk for any of this but you will need an auto-sign script which is one of the tools in Avabox
AFAIK you couldnt use the emulator in the SDK to preview this stuff anyways because you can't get Sense running on the emulator, not to mention the emulator runs SOOOOO SLOOOOWWWWW. Even if you could get Sense running on the em I would bet you would spend less time making a nand, flashing your mods, checking them out and restoring your nand if you didn't like them than using an emulator to preview this stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was very helpful to me as well; thanks!
Actually I just thought of a question. After you sign the file and it becomes update_signed.zip can you rename it to something else like BlahBlah.zip and have it still flash properly?
Tried twice and it failed. It would create to Meta files and not find the update script. Followed the directions but that still happened; any advice?
Everything seems to work fine so far, but I've hit a snag.
Here's what happens. I've made some changes to my rom. I'm on modaco's latest, I have theme with the battery percentage mod installed (can't remember which), but everything runs perfectly with no hiccups or hangups.
The problem I'm running into is with the battery icons.
Here's what I do.
1) Pull framework-res.apk from device(to keep my changes)
2) Pull battery icons from framework-res
3) Modify icons
4) Put icons back into framework-res
5) Push framework-res back to device
As soon as I push this back to the device, everything starts force-closing. Phone, gmail, launcher, contacts...everything.
I've made changes like this before and this has never happened. Am I doing something wrong here? Any help would be appreciated. I would like to eventually release this as a theme that people can flash.
try pushing the modded files while in recovery...
..never pushed framework-res.apk.
In recovery sounds good..
But why not makin a morph?..or you could do an update.zip.
i am assuming you rebooted after pushing the new framework-res.apk across?
Did you zipalign before pushing? I know CM zipaligns on boot after changes in recovery but can't remember for stuffed pushed across- i either just zipalign it myself or the easiest and best thing to do is what rori~ said- just make a metamorph- that way when the rom gets updated you dont have to change anything at all (assuming there are no xml changes)..
eg. i have been using the same CM metamorph theme i made since about 5.0.X and it still works on every nightly- i have had tyo remove xml edits etc as CM now does that itself but it makes it all so easy.
instead of using adb, try doing it the easy way with Metamorph. Basically you'll need to create custom pngs with the same name as the ones you want to replace in the framework-res.apk.
So get a copy of your framework-res.apk and rename it to .zip and unzip it. Erase all the folders where you have no custom images to push. You'll prob just end up with some nested folders like "framework-res-->res-->drawable-hdpi" or a similar last folder. Place the custom images in there, then just reuse this attached xml file, making sure to change the pertinent information such as the file structure to be the correct path so the images push to the correct folder when you apply it with Metamorph. Be sure to save the xml file with a reasonable name, then zip the xml and framework-res folder containing your custom images together. Make sure the zip has the same name as the xml file only with .zip extension or you may get an error.
From there install Metamorph. Load the zip you created onto your sd card inside the "android themes" folder. Launch Metamorph, grant su, then "unzip new theme", and "apply all".
Hope this is helpful. A bit longer than I pictured it, but easy to do. If you run into trouble just DL a couple ones other people did and it should become easier to figure out.
^^^ what they said
made life even easier ......
here is a blank framework-res morph drag drop your desired pngs in the drawable-hdpi folder within the zip and morph away
http://www.mediafire.com/file/d1zr12fke13i61l/Framework_res_obama.zip
icegad said:
^^^ what they said
made life even easier ......
here is a blank framework-res morph drag drop your desired pngs in the drawable-hdpi folder within the zip and morph away
http://www.mediafire.com/file/d1zr12fke13i61l/Framework_res_obama.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Thanks a ton! I'll report back my findings...
Sorry, no such luck. Endless force closes and reboots. Bummer. I'll have to sleep on it for a day or two and come back to it.
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
If u like u can upload the images and ill try to morph it on my phone and see what causes the fcs if any
icegad said:
If u like u can upload the images and ill try to morph it on my phone and see what causes the fcs if any
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be great, thanks!
morphed the icons onto my phoneno fc or bootloops here
see screenshot....(i have a black status so it maybe hard to see your icons )
only thing i can think of is.... dont know if you were putting your folder within the drawable-hdpi folder that can cause errors..put the standalone images only
and i went ahead and put the icons in the morph you so you can jus morph this zip >>>
http://www.mediafire.com/file/9ldnfsf4t894kz6/Framework_res_obama.zip
I've been seeing way too many requests for this with just about every mod possible. Considering the simplicity of this mod, the easiest way to please everyone, is for all of you to know how to accomplish this mod yourself.
BTW, this is for the status bar itself, not pulldown bar or notification background.
What you need:
- Paint.NET software (or any other image editing software that you are already comfortable with, this one seems to be the easiest for setting transparency though.)
- Your framework-res.apk AFTER you have all of your other mods applied to your phone. Otherwise you will have to apply this mod again every time you add or change mods (most likely).
- 7zip
So, you should have your framework-res.apk on your computer and 7zip installed to open the apk. Open up the framework, navigate to /res/drawable-hdpi folder. In that folder, find the file statusbar_background.png. You can either pull that file out to your computer to edit it or open it straight from 7zip (which is the best way to ensure there is no issues when pushing framework back to the phone) but you must have your editing software set as the default to open .png files.
Now once you have that file open in Paint.NET, you will see the image of the status bar as you currently have it. Up on the top toolbar, you should see the option "Layers". Click that then select "Layer properties" at the bottom of the drop-down. At the bottom of the window that pops up, you should see "Opacity" and the number set at 255 with the neighboring slider all the way to the right. I suggest using the slider because as you move it you will see the transparency applied to the bar image, allowing you to slide it around to the desired transparency.
Once you have finished setting your transparency, click the little disk image at the top left to save your changes, close the program out and you should then see a box pop up in 7zip (if you made changes without unpacking the file from 7zip first) asking if you would like to apply changes to file you edited. Say yes, then close 7zip, which may or may not state that changes have been made to the apk and if you'd like to update it, which you would say yes to if it does. If you unpacked the file from 7zip, simply drag and drop the file back into its correct spot, confirm you want to replace the file, then close it up. After all of this is done, just put framework-res.apk back into the framework folder on your phone whatever way you like, turn your phone on and you have a transparent status bar.
As a side note, you can play with Paint.net to see all of the modifications you can make to your status bar like changing colors, texture, and a few other things. One piece of advice is to have a backup framework-res.apk in case you make a mistake or something.
excuse my extreme noobness, but what is the best way to transfer the apk back and forth from the phone to computer? yes I am new to this and yes I am a retard and yes I probably shouldnt even try this..
JoeyBones1 said:
excuse my extreme noobness, but what is the best way to transfer the apk back and forth from the phone to computer? yes I am new to this and yes I am a retard and yes I probably shouldnt even try this..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easiest way would be to get root explorer so you can navigate to the /system/framework folder and copy the apk from there to your sdcard, where you can just copy it to your computer. the other option would be plugging your phone into your computer, phone should be on, open up command prompt then navigate to your sdk/tools folder (get it if you dont already have it), then type "adb pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk c:\" without the quotes. the file will be in the root of your C directory. To get it back on your phone when finished, for root explorer just reverse the steps, but when moving the apk back to its proper folder, just hit the "Mount R/W" button at the top right of root explorer, copy the file back in and reboot. For alternate method, boot into recovery, mount /system partition, then in prompt after navigating to sdk tools folder type "adb push c:\insertdirectoryto\framework-res.apk /system/framework/" without quotes, then boot up and youre done.
tried this...boot looped...had to restore backup...thanks for the info though...might try again soon
BillytheKid82 said:
tried this...boot looped...had to restore backup...thanks for the info though...might try again soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try editing the file without extracting it or did you extract it and reinsert it?
Or you could edit the .png and use metamorph to push it into the framework-res.apk without moving or unzipping anything. And you could just keep the metamorph theme with that one .png on your sdcard to re-apply it whenever you flash a new rom, without altering any other theme elements you've already applied.
What do I edit to change the pull down notifications?
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
thx a ton got it
transparent, transferring back to phone now..we will see
edit ..boot loops too..
i used root explorer ..extracted framework-res.apk to my sd card ,,then on my computer i opened paint.net and edited the statusbar_background.png file and then
zipped back up the framework-res and renamed to apk then copied back to my framework folder and it the forced closed and went into boot lopes...
i know im close to getting this right ..what step am i skrewing up?
i edited the file w/out extracting it...using root explorer i copied the framework res to my sdcard...plugged my phone in to comp, opened the framework res w/ 7zip, edited w/ gimp, saved all changes...unmounted phone, used root explorer and copied the new edited framework, then navigated to the original framework res and pasted the new one there to overwrite the original...then it force closed so i tried to paste it again, then the phone rebooted and boot looped? not sure if i did something wrong
Gahh Its Lee said:
What do I edit to change the pull down notifications?
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That file is a .9.png file. editing these is ridiculously difficult and ill-advised.
chrisloveskaos said:
thx a ton got it
transparent, transferring back to phone now..we will see
edit ..boot loops too..
i used root explorer ..extracted framework-res.apk to my sd card ,,then on my computer i opened paint.net and edited the statusbar_background.png file and then
zipped back up the framework-res and renamed to apk then copied back to my framework folder and it the forced closed and went into boot lopes...
i know im close to getting this right ..what step am i skrewing up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BillytheKid82 said:
i edited the file w/out extracting it...using root explorer i copied the framework res to my sdcard...plugged my phone in to comp, opened the framework res w/ 7zip, edited w/ gimp, saved all changes...unmounted phone, used root explorer and copied the new edited framework, then navigated to the original framework res and pasted the new one there to overwrite the original...then it force closed so i tried to paste it again, then the phone rebooted and boot looped? not sure if i did something wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I JUST remembered that I think you need to be running a deodexed rom to allow modifications. I've always used deodexed roms and forgot that it might be a requirement for things like this. Do either of you know if what youre running is deodexed or not?
mixedlemon said:
Or you could edit the .png and use metamorph to push it into the framework-res.apk without moving or unzipping anything. And you could just keep the metamorph theme with that one .png on your sdcard to re-apply it whenever you flash a new rom, without altering any other theme elements you've already applied.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
metamorph is definitely more useful. I just have never created anything to run with it so I don't know the process of doing so.
im running skyraider vanilla, i tried to look on the thread to see if it is deodexed and i couldn't find if it is or not...may not be...thanks for your help
mb02 said:
I JUST remembered that I think you need to be running a deodexed rom to allow modifications. I've always used deodexed roms and forgot that it might be a requirement for things like this. Do either of you know if what youre running is deodexed or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
running new skyraider 3.3 and im sure it is
Yea it seems they are both deodexed, and btw I didn't know skyraider 3.3 was so awesome I'm tempted to switch over to it. But yea, I'm not sure why your phones aren't allowing the modifications to the framework. I might as well load SR 3.3 and see for myself what's up. I'll get on that later tonight when I have time and let you guys know if i figure anything out.
Use this with metamorph. It will work on any rom (tested on skyraider 3.3) except those that still use the "drawable-hdpi-v4" folder in the framework-res.apk. If your rom uses that folder, simply rename the folder it puts on your sdcard in /sdcard/AndroidThemes/HalfTransparentBar/
If you'd rather have a different transparency just replace the .png in the folder with yours.
In fact, if you want to edit ANY graphic on your rom, just put the .png in the /sdcard/AndroidThemes/xxxxxx/framework-res/res/drawable-hdpi/ folder with the same file name as the one you want to replace. And of course, do a nandroid backup just in case.
EDIT: As Berzerker7 pointed out, this file probably wont make anything transparent unless you have a modified services.jar. oops.
mixedlemon said:
Use this with metamorph. It will work on any rom (tested on skyraider 3.3) except those that still use the "drawable-hdpi-v4" folder in the framework-res.apk. If your rom uses that folder, simply rename the folder it puts on your sdcard in /sdcard/AndroidThemes/HalfTransparentBar/
If you'd rather have a different transparency just replace the .png in the folder with yours.
In fact, if you want to edit ANY graphic on your rom, just put the .png in the /sdcard/AndroidThemes/xxxxxx/framework-res/res/drawable-hdpi/ folder with the same file name as the one you want to replace.
edit: and of course, do a nandroid backup just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well then that simplifies a lot of things lol. Thanks for putting that up for us, makes everything even easier.
Simply swapping a file won't work. It's the same reason simply swapping a transparent image for the notification pull-down doesn't work. Opacity is controlled on another level by services.jar. You need to modify the values there, as well as swapping out for a transparent image.
Btw, this didn't work for me on SkyRaider 3.3. (Metamorph or swapping the file).
It makes the background black but not transparent on virtuous 3.0.1
mixedlemon said:
Use this with metamorph. It will work on any rom (tested on skyraider 3.3) except those that still use the "drawable-hdpi-v4" folder in the framework-res.apk. If your rom uses that folder, simply rename the folder it puts on your sdcard in /sdcard/AndroidThemes/HalfTransparentBar/
If you'd rather have a different transparency just replace the .png in the folder with yours.
In fact, if you want to edit ANY graphic on your rom, just put the .png in the /sdcard/AndroidThemes/xxxxxx/framework-res/res/drawable-hdpi/ folder with the same file name as the one you want to replace.
edit: and of course, do a nandroid backup just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Berzerker7 said:
Simply swapping a file won't work. It's the same reason simply swapping a transparent image for the notification pull-down doesn't work. Opacity is controlled on another level by services.jar. You need to modify the values there, as well as swapping out for a transparent image.
Btw, this didn't work for me on SkyRaider 3.3. (Metamorph or swapping the file).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I must have already installed a theme that modified it, then.
WOOOT!
SO can't wait to try this!
Wow... epic fail on my part... edited the image, repackaged, compared to original, file sizes/compression were similar enough, so I copied it onto my SD card and went in to Root Explorer... Mistake number 1)forgot to do a nandroid OR a titanium, Mistake number 2)Renamed the framework-res.apk to framework-res.bak BEFORE I copied the new file to the /system/framework. As soon as I did that, everything went haywire so I did a battery pull and went to do it the ADB way from recovery. Thought I did that right, so I rebooted into a bootloop... Finally gave up so I decided to do mistake number 3)full nandroid restore of a backup that was admittedly a few days old (See mistake 1 lol) after which I had rearranged a few things and added more apps etc... Now on to the important stuff...
MAKE SURE YOU DO STEP 1 BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY OF THIS AND IF YOU RUN INTO PROBLEMS, DO STEP 2 SO YOU DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID!
Step 1)For the love of all that's holy, do a Nandroid and Titanium backup first!
Step 2)In Clockwork Mod Recovery, do NOT do a full restore, instead go to advanced restore and simply restore the system (the part that you were messing around with to do this mod lol I realized this gem just as I clicked "Yes" in CWM, I still have the palm print on my forehead... haha
Hopefully you folks will have better luck than I did, but if not, hopefully I can save you some of the headache I went thru...
Well I've started theming myself since I wanted a Windows Phone 7 Theme and learning as I go along but I've come across a few hurdles.
1. How do I push framework-res.apk without losing configurations like my email/gmail set up or wallpaper being back to default?
2. Where do I find the icons for the top right voice search and search buttons? I've found a couple that look identical within the files but when I change them nothing happens.
3. Any good guides or tools on how to make a flashable zip? I used to just use a script to make an updater script but it doesn't work anymore since they changed it to edify. I'm a lowly designer and can't figure out how to make a working updater script.
Thanks in advance.
Bump to the top.
and another bump ):
hope this helps...
seshmaru said:
Well I've started theming myself since I wanted a Windows Phone 7 Theme and learning as I go along but I've come across a few hurdles.
1. How do I push framework-res.apk without losing configurations like my email/gmail set up or wallpaper being back to default?
2. Where do I find the icons for the top right voice search and search buttons? I've found a couple that look identical within the files but when I change them nothing happens.
3. Any good guides or tools on how to make a flashable zip? I used to just use a script to make an updater script but it doesn't work anymore since they changed it to edify. I'm a lowly designer and can't figure out how to make a working updater script.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. grab an old zip for a system/framework file
toss the previous file(s)
toss in your new edited framework res
resign using this and this
flash via recovery
2. let you know when i get a chance to look.
3. grab apk manager.
MagnusRagnarok said:
1. grab an old zip for a system/framework file
toss the previous file(s)
toss in your new edited framework res
resign using this and this
flash via recovery
2. let you know when i get a chance to look.
3. grab apk manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 is as simple as that? Sweet.
Also I have apk manager and Update zip packer but they use the old updater script ): But if I can simply use other peoples update script and replace their files with mine then that shouldn't be a problem, thanks for the help.