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[Q] Reverse Enginner and edit Manifest problem!

Hello wazzup!
Ive try this but still dont acomplish this:
Ive got a APK which i want to edit the manifest(like package, label name, such stuff)
if i open the APK with WINRAR the manifest is decoded so ive moved on:
Ive downloaded the APKTool to reverse the application to smali or what it is called and get the real AndroidManifest.XML
I open the reversed Manifest.XML with notepad and have edit the things i want.
Now i am not sure how to decode the manifest. Because it wont work if i put the manifest.XML and use the AUTOSign tool because it expect the manifest to be decoded.
So what do i do? or is there another way to edit the manifest?
Thank you!
Your Mate!

Idon't think it's that simple, I tried and it doesn't work, you need something like apktool to do this for you
http://code.google.com/p/android-apktool/ (with or without the easier to use shell apkmanager)

@wixi909
You have to build XML file back to binary format using apktool or similar tool.

Brut.all said:
@wixi909
You have to build XML file back to binary format using apktool or similar tool.
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hmm...ihave apktool. but could you explain more please

wixi909 said:
hmm...ihave apktool. but could you explain more please
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Click to collapse
I don't understand: you know, how to decode apk using apktool, but you don't know, how to build it back? This is almost the same, but "apktool b" instead of "apktool d". Everything is in apktool's usage help.

Brut.all said:
I don't understand: you know, how to decode apk using apktool, but you don't know, how to build it back? This is almost the same, but "apktool b" instead of "apktool d". Everything is in apktool's usage help.
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I know but how do i edit the manifest. im just able do edit the drawables.
Do you understand now?

wixi909 said:
Do you understand now?
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Click to collapse
No, I don't.
wixi909 said:
I open the reversed Manifest.XML with notepad and have edit the things i want.
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Click to collapse
wixi909 said:
I know but how do i edit the manifest. im just able do edit the drawables.
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You have written in your first post that you have edited manifest, but don't know, how to put it back to apk file. Now you say you can't edit manifest.
Whole process is:
Decode apk using apktool.
Edit AndroidManifest.xml using any text editor.
Build apk using apktool.
Nothing less, nothing more.

I'm having a related issue..
I'm using apktool to decode my apk. I then edit my AndroidManifest.xml, and repack it using
apktool b name_of_folder
For some reason though, the Manifest isn't being saved with my edits. I'm using Text Editor on Windows to edit the Manifest.
I know that it is saved before running "apktool b" so it seems to be reverting to the original during the repacking script.
Any ideas?

phiredrop said:
I'm having a related issue..
I'm using apktool to decode my apk. I then edit my AndroidManifest.xml, and repack it using
apktool b name_of_folder
For some reason though, the Manifest isn't being saved with my edits. I'm using Text Editor on Windows to edit the Manifest.
I know that it is saved before running "apktool b" so it seems to be reverting to the original during the repacking script.
Any ideas?
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Click to collapse
How do you know your modifications aren't saved to manifest? Did you tried to decode new apk back and see whether your changes are really there? Or you just don't see changes on a device? What did you changed?

Brut.all said:
How do you know your modifications aren't saved to manifest? Did you tried to decode new apk back and see whether your changes are really there? Or you just don't see changes on a device? What did you changed?
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Yes, I decode the modified apk and can see my changes aren't there.
Its worked for me before, so it's strange that it's not working now. Primarily I'm adding version:Code and version:Name so I can upload to the market. Would changing the package name and/or label cause this issue?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

[Q] decompiling androidmanifest.xml

I'm fooling with an sgsii apk that works on Vibrant and I9000 but not on 4g -- anyone know of a PC application that will decompile the AndroidManifest.xml file so it can be edited?

nazcalito said:
I'm fooling with an sgsii apk that works on Vibrant and I9000 but not on 4g -- anyone know of a PC application that will decompile the AndroidManifest.xml file so it can be edited?
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Click to collapse
Look into apkmanager
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk

Don't know if it will work or not but try using the "how to decompile an apk" guide that I posted
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

it will work but for that you need to decompile a working classes dex file one from the origonal apk and one from the sgs4g u also need to delete out the resources arsc and let it compile a new one the new_classes.dex file (the one from the sgs4g) needs to be put into the modified apk file and renamed from New_classes.dex to classes.dex

You're not saying just replace the classes.dex and the resources.arsc files with ones from the 4g? I can already rename an apk file to zip and unzip the thing, in fact I've replaced icons and stuff in apps with no problem

nazcalito said:
You're not saying just replace the classes.dex and the resources.arsc files with ones from the 4g? I can already rename an apk file to zip and unzip the thing, in fact I've replaced icons and stuff in apps with no problem
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Click to collapse
images are one thng no the classes dex needs to be decompiled and recompiled (after your edits) for the 4g.. They are not that interchangeable
the resources will be rebuilt when u recompile the apk so thats not a really big issue

ok the app is the digital clock from sgs II. This is a picture.
I know there are lots of digital clock apps around but I don't like any of them.
Plans were not to change app at all but just port it.
Hmm now I'm confused. The apktool decompiles the classes.dex and resources.arsc files and I end up with smali files, so I guess I should re-read the thread on porting roms, aha but what 4g classes.dex file do I use, something from an apk like this one?

I have gone through the smali files and there is nothing about storage. I'm not sure why the stock app won't install without modification.

I am sure all you need to do is get a key and sign the app. Not sure how to do it though because I don't build apps, I mod (system) apps only, and test key sign zips.

[help] cant recompile apk

Hi Im using cm10.1 on my desire s.
I'm using latest apktool. I'm trying to mod in call screen to make more transparent I did found out how to do it thanks to XDA.
but when I recompile it I got error as in screenshot.
I installed framework-res.apk from my rom and decompiled phone.apk
than I edited Phone\res\layout\in_call_screenui.xml that's it.
when I try to recomple it. I get errors in Phone\values\strings.xml which I didn't even edited. I don't get error in every values folder though.
so what am I doing wrong here? can any1 help please?

You may need to install another resource apk, look in your framework folder for one and retrace your steps to make sure you didn't miss anything.

[Q] Decompiling JB Rosie

So I asked this question a long while ago, never got an answer, so I am trying again. I am interested in creating a 4x5 Rosie for JB Sense with mikeyxda's tut. I had done so previously for ICS Rosie, but can't seem to get anything going with JB Rosie. I get stuck at the very first step - decompiling Rosie.apk
1) I installed the framework from com.htc.resources.apk, framework-htc-res.apk, and framework-res.apk
2) Decompiled Rosie.apk
3) Without doing anything I attempt to recompile Rosie.apk
When I compare the original (step #2) to the recompiled one (step #3) I see a huge size mismatch - 1868 KB vs. 788 KB. If I flash the recompiled Rosie back to the phone it crashes immediately and does not work. I have tried this with both apktool 1.5.2 as well as VTS, with the same result in both cases.
Any suggestions?
EDIT: after comparing the recompiled and original APK, I am seeing the following differences:
assets\ is stored with zero compression in the original but "deflated" in the recompiled app
META-INF is present in the original but absent in the recompiled app
resources.arsc is a slightly different size and a newer version
Not sure whether any of this is significant or what to do about it. Heeeeeelp

When you decompile Rosie.apk do you get any errors?
Only asking due to the fact that MIUI has a ToolBox mod that was made by a dev, he made a special smali.jar and baksmali.jar for it. He had made the file names of the two main smali files for toolbox too long so the "commercial" smali/baksmali couldn't decompile those files.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

Myrder said:
When you decompile Rosie.apk do you get any errors?
Only asking due to the fact that MIUI has a ToolBox mod that was made by a dev, he made a special smali.jar and baksmali.jar for it. He had made the file names of the two main smali files for toolbox too long so the "commercial" smali/baksmali couldn't decompile those files.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
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No errors only warnings

errors when recompiling framework-res.apk

I need to edit eri.xml and that is why I am trying to decompile framework-res.apk
I tried decompiling with apktool 1.4.2 and compiling with 1.4.3. I tried extracting androidmanifest and meta-inf from the original apk and adding them to the newly compirled apk and the mobile loops when rebooting.
Also tried with the newest apktool(1.5.2) and still have the same problem.
Has anyone successfully decompiled and rebuilt the framework-res.apk?

xiltepin said:
I need to edit eri.xml and that is why I am trying to decompile framework-res.apk
I tried decompiling with apktool 1.4.2 and compiling with 1.4.3. I tried extracting androidmanifest and meta-inf from the original apk and adding them to the newly compirled apk and the mobile loops when rebooting.
Also tried with the newest apktool(1.5.2) and still have the same problem.
Has anyone successfully decompiled and rebuilt the framework-res.apk?
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Click to collapse
Try decompiling and recompiling using the same version without modifying it to see if you still get the error. If you don't, make sure your modification isn't affecting other files. I don't have any issues decompiling & recompiling apks including framework-res
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app

Lol zip it up sand rename to. Apk
Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app

saloums7 said:
Try decompiling and recompiling using the same version without modifying it to see if you still get the error. If you don't, make sure your modification isn't affecting other files. I don't have any issues decompiling & recompiling apks including framework-res
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app
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Saloums, Have you done that with your XT925? Which version of apktool have you used? I tried decompiling and recompiling with the newest version. 1.5.something. I can't remember because I am not at home but it didn't work with that version.
EcHoFiiVe what do you mean to rename it to apk? it is already an apk. Do you mean to zip the .apk and rename it again to .apk?

xiltepin said:
Saloums, Have you done that with your XT925? Which version of apktool have you used? I tried decompiling and recompiling with the newest version. 1.5.something. I can't remember because I am not at home but it didn't work with that version.
EcHoFiiVe what do you mean to rename it to apk? it is already an apk. Do you mean to zip the .apk and rename it again to .apk?
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Click to collapse
I think it was 1.5 or something I'm not quite sure I'll check once I get home. And yes I've done it with my XT925. This week I don't have much time for messing around with my phone but I'll give it a shot again once I have some time and tell you exactly the steps I do
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app

What I did was
1- decompile
2- edit eri.xml
3- recompile
4- extract androidmanifest and meta-inf from the original apk and add them to the newly recompiled apk
5- extract all files to a new folder from the newly recompiled apk
6- with winrar create a new zip file and add all the files again choosing the option store
7- pushed the new apk to my phone and it worked.
Isn't it weird? I extracted to the apk again and decompiled it to verify the edited file and all was fine...
I am not sure if this process is the correct one which I don't think so but it worked

Porting framework
EcHoFiiVe said:
Lol zip it up and rename to. Apk
Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app
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I want to port z3 framework... Zipping it and renaming will work?