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...
Im not trying to re-engineer an app, but I simply want to check out an apk to look at the placement of a certain line of code. When i open up the files within the apk though, i get a bunch of nonsense. How do I edit the files within the apk...i know theres a way, or else we wouldnt have custom roms.
Apktool (or some wrapper like Apk Manager). It's quite outdated, so you won't be able to decode some newer apks though.
Brut.all said:
Apktool (or some wrapper like Apk Manager). It's quite outdated, so you won't be able to decode some newer apks though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gahh, i was hoping there would be an easier way than that xP...I experimented with apktool, but it wasnt recognizing the .apk i was typing in...i just suck with command prompt stuff
....thanks anyway though
schwartzman93 said:
gahh, i was hoping there would be an easier way than that xP...I experimented with apktool, but it wasnt recognizing the .apk i was typing in...i just suck with command prompt stuff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brut.all also mentioned APK Manager in his post which is a script wrapper for his apktool that automates much of the process. It's available at the link I gave for both Windows and Linux. All you should need to do is run the script, place your apk in the appropriate folder created by the script, have the script decompile your apk, then you can find the decoded xml file(s) of interest.
thanks guys
i was having a bit of trouble with apk mananger, i couldnt get it to do anything with this one app, i would tell it an action and it just closed the script
EDIT: I figured it out
Hi guys, i'm using APK Manager and i was able to change the xml without having any trouble by decompressing the apk. I'm wondering what i need to do in order to resign the APK. I have already tried to compress the apk and then sign it, but streight away after I installed the apk i got in boot looping.
The file i'm talking about is the framework-res.apk
Any suggestion?
Thanks in advance.
Edit/
Solved.
Basically i was trying to sign framework-res.apk, instead i have found the solution in this forum that actually worked fine for me:
Code:
1. Place your original "framework-res.apk" into "\place-apk-here-for-modding\" folder
2. Run "script.bat"
3. Set Project (22) and choose the "framework-res.apk" (1)
4. Decompile (9)
5. Place or overwrite new Xmls and PNGs in "\projects\framework-res.apk\res\drawable or drawable-hdpi"
5. Recompile (11)
6. Answer "Yes" when it asks wheter it is system file
7. Answer "Yes" when it asks "would you like to copy over any additional files...?"
8. Script is paused => (don't press a key)
9. Go to the "keep" folder (it's in the same folder than "script.bat")
10. In this "Keep" Folder,
- delete "resources.arsc" file
- delete originals "stat_sys_battery.xml" and "stat_sys_battery_charge.xml" from the "keep\res\drawable" folder
- delete all originals PNGs that were meant to be edited
11. Go back to "script.bat" and press a key to let him finish the job
12. Your new "framework-res.apk" has been created in the "\place-apk-here-for-modding\" folder. It's called "unsignedframework-res.apk".. but he's not working yet.
13. Unzip all the content of the "unsignedframework-res.apk". You should have 5 objects (3 folders, 2 files).
14. Zip these files with Winrar/Winzip (whatever) but you must choose "No compression" method to zip it.
15. Rename this zip into "framework-res.apk".
15. Put it into an update.zip and it should be OK to flash trough the recovery mode.
Thanks anyway!
ive decompiled the apk and reziped it both unsigned and signed with the apk manager and for some reason whenever i edit the theme apk then reinstall or push it it shows 1/4 in the theme manager but only lets me select the 3 basic themes. its like the one i edited and pushed/installed is hidden..
searched but found nothing. any ideas?
n388mm said:
ive decompiled the apk and reziped it both unsigned and signed with the apk manager and for some reason whenever i edit the theme apk then reinstall or push it it shows 1/4 in the theme manager but only lets me select the 3 basic themes. its like the one i edited and pushed/installed is hidden..
searched but found nothing. any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you edit androidmanifest xml correctly? At times if your preview.png is not in the right place then there is no preview but the name should show up from androidmanifest with blank preview.
i didn't think i needed too. i pulled a already build theme. changed out 1 png file. re zipped it and it disappears. if i install off the sd card, adb install, or adb push it produces the same result.
n388mm said:
i didn't think i needed too. i pulled a already build theme. changed out 1 png file. re zipped it and it disappears. if i install off the sd card, adb install, or adb push it produces the same result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you are just changing a png, just use 7zip or an equivalent program. But in the op you said decompile and recompile with apk manager, then you better update the Androidmanifest.xml and might need to change values and style xmls as well. but either ways I would use the application installer for this instead of ADB. So if its an existing package with the same name , browse to the apk with say Astro and it will take you to the installer, uninstall first and then install the new one.
I just use 7zip, way easier...
quick question relating to CM7 themes.If i wanted to change the look of the Latin IME keyboard that the theme changes it thru theme itself where would those files be located
djnarcotics said:
quick question relating to CM7 themes.If i wanted to change the look of the Latin IME keyboard that the theme changes it thru theme itself where would those files be located
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
through theme changer? it would be in the theme apk, drawable-hdpi folder... theme apk is most likely in system/app directory...
WFG said:
through theme changer? it would be in the theme apk, drawable-hdpi folder... theme apk is most likely in system/app directory...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
searched in there but couldn't seem to find the files
bump..... 10 char
djnarcotics said:
quick question relating to CM7 themes.If i wanted to change the look of the Latin IME keyboard that the theme changes it thru theme itself where would those files be located
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very likely in the Drawable folders. Or go through the redirections xmls and you should be able to reverse engineer. I think it depends on what your base apk is.
HI folks i was just playing with rom tools and stuff i have found we can modify icons and layout stuff which apear on screen very easy way so here what i found just rename any apk to *.zip and open it in 7z zip or winrar and go to res and find drawablemdpi or drawablehdpi whatever in your case open it and you will find all the display icons or separators etc etc so change the icon with the one you want but remember the format,size,name should be same otherwise it will make a mess careful with it and rename it back to *.apk and sign it with any apk signer and simply replace your stock apk with your modified one and you will get the icons you want it works with farmework.apk,settings.apk,mms.apk maybe works with all other apks but did,nt tried it so try and post result
sohailrabani said:
HI folks i was just playing with rom tools and stuff i have found we can modify icons and layout stuff which apear on screen very easy way so here what i found just rename any apk to *.zip and open it in 7z zip or winrar and go to res and find drawablemdpi or drawablehdpi whatever in your case open it and you will find all the display icons or separators etc etc so change the icon with the one you want but remember the format,size,name should be same otherwise it will make a mess careful with it and rename it back to *.apk and sign it with any apk signer and simply replace your stock apk with your modified one and you will get the icons you want it works with farmework.apk,settings.apk,mms.apk maybe works with all other apks but did,nt tried it so try and post result
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think you should read up on vrtheme
this kind of thing is very old news
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1207017
DSA said:
this kind of thing is very old news
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ancient more like.
Hi Xda today i will show you how to change apps icons to marshmallow's one
First you will need X-Plore Apk And Solid Explorer Or any Root Explorer.
Second You Will Need Marshmallows icons pack i made them in two zips first zip for system apps and the second one for user apps.
Now open solid explorer and go to system/privapp or apps here you will find all system apps. In this tutorial i will theme stock music app that located in system/privapp in folder named as Smusic. Open the folder and copy the apk to any folder in internal storage. After that open x-plore apk and press on three dots and choose open apk as zip then go back and select the apk of music app then you will see two folders open the folder that named as "res" then scroll down until you see folder named as mipmap-xxxhdpi then open it and scroll down until you see the icon of music app then swipe from right to left to open another window and open the folder of icons you downloaded then find the new style music app icon and rename so it be same as the original one and then choose copy then overwrite. Repeat this steps with this following folders (mipmap-xxhdpi/mipmap-sw411dp-xxxhdpi). In Some apps you will find drawable folders so search in them for the icon and rename and copy and overwrite. Also some apps the icon will be in qmg format so just rename the new icon from png to qmg and replace.
After you changed icons take the new Smusic apk and go to System/Privapp and overwrite and dont forget to give prim R-W-R-R for the new apk then reboot.
You must search in all folders just to be sure that you replaced all icons.
ENJOY
Credits goes to @qareembizzle for providing the icons
Kill-Switch said:
Hi Xda today i will show you how to change apps icons to marshmallow's one
First you will need X-Plore Apk And Solid Explorer Or any Root Explorer.
Second You Will Need Marshmallows icons pack i made them in two zips first zip for system apps and the second one for user apps.
Now open solid explorer and go to system/privapp or apps here you will find all system apps. In this tutorial i will theme stock music app that located in system/privapp in folder named as Smusic. Open the folder and copy the apk to any folder in internal storage. After that open x-plore apk and press on three dots and choose open apk as zip then go back and select the apk of music app then you will see two folders open the folder that named as "res" then scroll down until you see folder named as mipmap-xxxhdpi then open it and scroll down until you see the icon of music app then swipe from right to left to open another window and open the folder of icons you downloaded then find the new style music app icon and rename so it be same as the original one and then choose copy then overwrite. Repeat this steps with this following folders (mipmap-xxhdpi/mipmap-sw411dp-xxxhdpi). In Some apps you will find drawable folders so search in them for the icon and rename and copy and overwrite. Also some apps the icon will be in qmg format so just rename the new icon from png to qmg and replace.
After you changed icons take the new Smusic apk and go to System/Privapp and overwrite and dont forget to give prim R-W-R-R for the new apk then reboot.
You must search in all folders just to be sure that you replaced all icons.
ENJOY
Credits goes to @qareembizzle for providing the icons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bro.Thanks for your guidance.But unfortunately i found qmg files in these mimap folders of most of the system apps.Any idea how to apply these png files to them?
kakkooran said:
Thanks bro.Thanks for your guidance.But unfortunately i found qmg files in these mimap folders of most of the system apps.Any idea how to apply these png files to them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just rename .png to .qmg and replace it in midmap folder.
You most welcome bro
Just rename the png to qmg and replace ?
Kill-Switch said:
You most welcome bro
Just rename the png to qmg and replace ��
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bro
---------- Post added at 03:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:48 AM ----------
rozzerx said:
Just rename .png to .qmg and replace it in midmap folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bro
Screenshoot bro...
How can I theme YouTube app . I can't find it in my system app
Ok !! I found and done
Thx
Kill-Switch said:
Hi Xda today i will show you how to change apps icons to marshmallow's one
First you will need X-Plore Apk And Solid Explorer Or any Root Explorer.
Second You Will Need Marshmallows icons pack i made them in two zips first zip for system apps and the second one for user apps.
Now open solid explorer and go to system/privapp or apps here you will find all system apps. In this tutorial i will theme stock music app that located in system/privapp in folder named as Smusic. Open the folder and copy the apk to any folder in internal storage. After that open x-plore apk and press on three dots and choose open apk as zip then go back and select the apk of music app then you will see two folders open the folder that named as "res" then scroll down until you see folder named as mipmap-xxxhdpi then open it and scroll down until you see the icon of music app then swipe from right to left to open another window and open the folder of icons you downloaded then find the new style music app icon and rename so it be same as the original one and then choose copy then overwrite. Repeat this steps with this following folders (mipmap-xxhdpi/mipmap-sw411dp-xxxhdpi). In Some apps you will find drawable folders so search in them for the icon and rename and copy and overwrite. Also some apps the icon will be in qmg format so just rename the new icon from png to qmg and replace.
After you changed icons take the new Smusic apk and go to System/Privapp and overwrite and dont forget to give prim R-W-R-R for the new apk then reboot.
You must search in all folders just to be sure that you replaced all icons.
ENJOY
Credits goes to @qareembizzle for providing the icons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
System ui please
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