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...
I edit the png files in the zip. Change the zip back to apk.
c:\>android\tools\adb push c:\framework-res.apk /system/framework/framework-res.apk
360 kb/s (4756622 bytes in 12.879s)
so no errors. shows just as successful as pulling the file
upon reboot, none of my changes appear.
If the permissions were incorrect, wouldn't i get an error specifying so?
How would i allow the system framework-res.apk to have the correct perms?
I even did this over again just incase i forgot something. Making sure the files were infact changed and stored back into the apk.
Just changing the battery and bottom of pulldown menu.
Any ideas?
Moto droid 2.2
rooted - Lithium Mod
DixieNormus said:
I edit the png files in the zip. Change the zip back to apk.
c:\>android\tools\adb push c:\framework-res.apk /system/framework/framework-res.apk
360 kb/s (4756622 bytes in 12.879s)
so no errors. shows just as successful as pulling the file
upon reboot, none of my changes appear.
If the permissions were incorrect, wouldn't i get an error specifying so?
How would i allow the system framework-res.apk to have the correct perms?
I even did this over again just incase i forgot something. Making sure the files were infact changed and stored back into the apk.
Just changing the battery and bottom of pulldown menu.
Any ideas?
Moto droid 2.2
rooted - Lithium Mod
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just my thoughts on this, maybe it helps you:
1. You could have changed the wrong png. Change something that you recognize to make sure it isnt that. I don't know how likely that is but the .apk I've messed with had some unused .png's.
2. The first time I ever messed with one I had a problem with it not reflecting my changes in text color. After a long time of frustration I zipaligned to go back to my previous .apk then it showed the changes.
3. Zipalign... unless you do so, you'll have a big performance hit by having Android extract everything form the .apk (and the framework-res is a relatively big one) as it is not optimized. It could also, as in my case be the answer to your problem.
i know there are hunderds of threads about this, but none of them helped me and niether of them describes my situation.
i had to change some values in bools.xml in framework-res.apk of a deodexed cm7.2 rom. so, i decompiled and recompiled using apktool and tried the folowing things (in all cases i remembered to chmod to 664):
- pushed the compiled file without signing. Boot loops.
- wiped dalvik cache. still boot loops.
- signed the compiled file. IT BOOTED! but all system apps fc. And i see a blank status bar. clearing dalvik cache doesnt help.
- copied the compiled resources.asec to original apk with winrar. NO FCs this time. still a blank status bar. Rotating the phone freezes the system instantly. but even if you dont rotate, system soon freezes, within 30 secs. logcat shows repeating messages of "cpu may be pegged. trying again". (no i havent overclocked).
how do u guys mod the frameworkres successfully?
Well, I don't know exactly what the problem you're having is since it may depend on the type of mod you're doing but..
I decompile framework-res.apk with apktool, make my changes and recompile. Then I use 7zip to copy the res folder from the new apk to the old one (just open both and drag across). Next, I extract resources.arsc from the new apk and add it to the old one, making sure to use 'store' compression. If resources.arsc is compressed at all, it causes problems.
So the original framework-res.apk now has a new res folder and resources.arsc at the right compression ratios. If you sign the new apk file, you have to make sure all the other system apps are signed the same way and it's just more trouble than it's worth.
Then I reboot into recovery, mount the system and push straight to the framework folder. I used to do this while the phone was running normally but I'd get all kinds of odd bugs if I made any change to anything other than a drawable. I'd get strange FC's, I'd lose wifi connection, all kinds of things.
And that's about it. As long as the changes I'm making don't stop the phone from working properly anyway, the above works perfectly every time.
Sent from my U20i using xda premium
arnab321 said:
(in all cases i remembered to chmod to 664):
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you made a typo, or did you really have set the permissions to 664?
Its 644.
brainmaster said:
Did you made a typo, or did you really have set the permissions to 664?
Its 644.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that was actually a typo, and once i also accidentally made a typo on adb, but it still boots fine. i dont think giving extra permissions will screw things up.
the problem "cpu may be pegged" is rom/kernel related, because it is still there after a fresh install... sometimes it happens, sometimes not.
but i dunno anything about the blank status bar... i was trying to set "has_soft_keys" to true, to use tablet tweaks on my phone, does that cause a blank statusbar? anyone else got the same problem?
Wait, why are you using framework-res.apk for that? I think you need to change local.prop in /data to do this.
Have you actually got the line "has_soft_keys" already in the bools.xml?
Ticklefish said:
Wait, why are you using framework-res.apk for that? I think you need to change local.prop in /data to do this.
Have you actually got the line "has_soft_keys" already in the bools.xml?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it had that line, and setting it to true does bring the softkeys stuff in tablet tweaks menu. But the status bar always stays empty, nothing on it.
what needs to be changed in local.prop? There's nothing related to softkeys there on my phone.
umm, my ROM had the center clock mod on status bar, is that an issue?
Sent from my LG-P500
edit:
yes it was due to the center clock. tried anoher rom and i got the softkeys just by modding the bools.xml
First of all never sign system apps.
try using apk manager(I know it uses apk tool to do these operations) so try to set compression level to zero and heap size to 512.
I think above solutions should solve your problem but revert if u face any problem.
Sent from my Micromax_A70 using Tapatalk
So here I have noticed issue with using vrtheme on new 4.3 MJ2 and seeking some Linux expert help to solve it.
work around
Simply using vrtheme causing FCs, SO i have changes the destination to see outcome file structure.
-All changes we have applied through vrtheme applied to output file. but icons get changed to android icon.
-Now if you move that output file to other destination using root explorer then also it regenerates original icons and we can use as final apk ready to push to System/app
-Again if we giving same command through recovery, it doesn't works
-Also copying with terminal emulator with cat command, it regenerates original structure. again same command using recovery fails to do it.
May be recovery issue??
here is log cat along with used vrtheme script.
dr.ketan said:
So here I have noticed issue with using vrtheme on new 4.3 MJ2 and seeking some Linux expert help to solve it.
work around
Simply using vrtheme causing FCs, SO i have changes the destination to see outcome file structure.
-All changes we have applied through vrtheme applied to output file. but icons get changed to android icon.
-Now if you move that output file to other destination using root explorer then also it regenerates original icons and we can use as final apk ready to push to System/app
-Again if we giving same command through recovery, it doesn't works
-Also copying with terminal emulator with cat command, it regenerates original structure. again same command using recovery fails to do it.
May be recovery issue??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doc, am not a linux expert, but i tried to inject your black aosp vrtheme files into the apk and flash them from cwm, it kills the wifi and have to wipe and reflash the whole rom. so, perhaps you want to put more attention to it.
waiting for your aosp theme and thanks a lot.
Wifi issue will be solved by reflashing recovery
I can show you temporary solution.
Just change path of pushing files to other from System/app then 1. you want get FCc bcoz it is not in system/app
2. Now from where you have defined destination from there move to some pther place with root explorer, now you will be able to see icons, once icons are correct you can pust to system/app.
dr.ketan said:
Wifi issue will be solved by reflashing recovery
I can show you temporary solution.
Just change path of pushing files to other from System/app then 1. you want get FCc bcoz it is not in system/app
2. Now from where you have defined destination from there move to some pther place with root explorer, now you will be able to see icons, once icons are correct you can pust to system/app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry doc, but i cannot understand what you mean.
do you mean i should change the flashing path (in the script)? or do you mean i should copy the apks manually into the system/app by root explorer? if you mean the later, i can do, but the first one i don't.
i can see all the icons, just the wifi would not start after i flashed the modified apks through cwm flash. what do you mean by reflashing recovery?
Ok making clear again who want to use vrtheme
1.Change path in vrtheme installertheme.sh from system/app to other (e.g. just system)
2.Now when you flash vrtheme, you won't see any changes in system bcoz all apps will be in system and not in System/app.
3. Manually cut all app with root explorer from system to SDcard
4. Now you can see correct icons of all appl after moving to sdcard.
5.Now move those apk to system/app OR System/framework, where it should be.
6.Enjoy all the changes now in system
7.By this process you will lose wifi and you have to reflash recovery to get it back.
PS : For AOSP for MJ2 I have made it with same method above and uploading, Once uploaded will post to MJ2 thread, you have to simply flash that file. without doing anything above.
dr.ketan said:
Ok making clear again who want to use vrtheme
1.Change path in vrtheme installertheme.sh from system/app to other (e.g. just system)
2.Now when you flash vrtheme, you won't see any changes in system bcoz all apps will be in system and not in System/app.
3. Manually cut all app with root explorer from system to SDcard
4. Now you can see correct icons of all appl after moving to sdcard.
5.Now move those apk to system/app OR System/framework, where it should be.
6.Enjoy all the changes now in system
7.By this process you will lose wifi and you have to reflash recovery to get it back.
PS : For AOSP for MJ2 I have made it with same method above and uploading, Once uploaded will post to MJ2 thread, you have to simply flash that file. without doing anything above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will just wait for your file then. dont want to mess my setup again. spent too much time experimenting with it today. lucky it's saturday in my country...
ok then wait 10 min.
EDIT : AOSP theme for MJ2 ROM Posted to MJ2 thread post#2
Doc.
I just came across thia issue thread discussion.
Surprised to see vrtheme issues.
I think it is worth trying morphing instead of vrtheme.
If it fails, then it is not a recovery issue..m
It might be android 4.3 security files that I noticed in /system...
I will dig in further and check...
Thx for sharing this discussion thread. :thumbup:
wesamothman said:
Doc.
I just came across thia issue thread discussion.
Surprised to see vrtheme issues.
I think it is worth trying morphing instead of vrtheme.
If it fails, then it is not a recovery issue..m
It might be android 4.3 security files that I noticed in /system...
I will dig in further and check...
Thx for sharing this discussion thread. :thumbup:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already fixed that (at least in my MJ2 rom)
vrtheme works perfect on framework-res.apk and secsettings.apk