So this is a simple how to aimed to people with unrooted phones that still want to replace the icons inside Samsung Themes.
First of all, just a bit of theory
1) Samsung Thems are simple apk files, so you can edit them and re-install without any trouble, they don't need a particular signature by Samsung.
2) The icons inside such themes are in qmg format, which is a proprietary format that cannot be converted without Samsung Theme designer's kit or by using the built-in converter which is in our phones... It's something that packs a png file and an xml one andnot even imagemagick for Linux can convert it.... No problem, you can replace qmg files in themes with png files flawlessly, you just need to rename them as png
So, you need apk extractor (see play store) which can extract installed apk very easily (even system files) without root and apkeditor pro (see play store as well) wich is a very handy tool for minimal decompiling. I am not affiliated to apk editor pro and you can obviously do the same thing with apk tool and a pc, though this simple how to is for 'noob dummy themers' and it makes more sense to use just your phone than apktool.
Once you have installed such apps, open apk extractor and look for the apk you must edit. Let's say you want to edit the material theme by Cambunch (see galaxy store). So, you will find two apk files with cambunch etc.... Choose the first one, the one with the words appicon inside and extract it. It will be placed into the folder ExtractedApk
I don't like, in such theme, the icons for calendar and messages, which are green and yellow, so I replaced them with google original ones. Just download them somewhere and rename them to qmg. I mean, if the original file was named message.png, just rename it to message.qmg for example.
Now open apk editor pro and choose to edit an apk file, go to ExtractedApk folder, choose the theme you have extracted and choose simple edit....
You should see a partially decompiled apk.... Go to res folder and then open the drawable etc.. folder
Inside that folder you'll see several qmg files... Look for the one that refers to message (the names are quite self explanatory) and click the 'pen' option, then use the file manager to choose the icon message.qmg you've saved as said above and replace the original one with the new icon. It can obviously been done with any icon inside that folder.
Now follow the steps suggested by the app itself and install the new apk over the former and your theme will have been updated.
If the theme had already been applied, move to a different one (even the default one) and then apply it back to see the changes.
Very simple
Just as a sample, this is the apk modded with calendar and message icon respectively in blue and light blue like the original ones by Google. It must be installed as an update of the nice theme by Cameron Bunch
How can you pull out the keyboard from a theme and apply without root?
AnThOnY- S7 Edge
iTouch24 said:
How can you pull out the keyboard from a theme and apply without root?
AnThOnY- S7 Edge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not so simple, you need apktool and a pc. Apk editor is unable to fully decompile the apk files of samsung themes.
To be honest, I haven't played with themes yet and I don't exactly know how they are applied to keyboard, notification bar and so on.
Cool! Thanks for posting this. I used this to edit the soft keys on my last LG, but didn't realize it would work for themes, too. Got some editing to do when I get back from my next trip.
meyerweb said:
Cool! Thanks for posting this. I used this to edit the soft keys on my last LG, but didn't realize it would work for themes, too. Got some editing to do when I get back from my next trip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you appreciate it
I googled a little bit and saw that you can't make a theme from scratch without Samsung's proprietary software which is reserved to approved designers only, but still it should be possible to edit a free theme and changing it into something different. I mean, not only the icons, even the Ui. At least for the things that this theme engine allows to be themed.
I would like a ubuntu touch theme or a Sony xperia one, which are not available in the theme store, but atm I have just been able to replace the icons... I have to get some spare time to decompile a theme on my pc
Why several APK files inside?
Hi,
Followed the procedure. But when choose simple edit, it shows several apk files inside the main apk file. how to replace the images?
I replied to your PM. It depends on the theme.
jisharka said:
Hi,
Followed the procedure. But when choose simple edit, it shows several apk files inside the main apk file. how to replace the images?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lucaoldb said:
I replied to your PM. It depends on the theme.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue with sd-Black theme. Only apk files in assets folder, no res folder. Any way to do it?
I am sorry, but I am now on Echoerom note 7 port which has the new theme store, so I can't directly check the old themes for the s7.
Anyway, when I posted this thread, I had had a look only at a couple of themes, which were very simple do as the ones by Cameronbunch. In the following day I realised that in the theme store there a basically to kind of themes and the ones of the second kind are much more complicated to edit.
To be honest, after opening this short thread, I haven't spent any time in editing themes, but I don't think apk editor is powerful enough for the themes of the second kind. You'd better go with apktool, since you need to decompile not only the main apk, but even the ones inside it.
Sorry for not being very helpful.
I have req for someone with root, can you share here themes from store: Athletics sports and Sparkle. I want to mix it and change some things. Thanks in advance.
the easiest way: use "awesome icons" app from google play (free); than, install any icon pack that you like (I prefer Note 7 icon pack), open the mentioned app and it will give you the possibility to change any icon from each app installed in the phone, keeping the functionality (eg: unread count badge for emails); you can opt for an icon in the icon pack or a picture or any .png/.jpg etc file
Related
Hey guys,
I'm trying to finish up my new homescreens, and my last widget is Audio Manager Pro. I've tried the metamorph on it, but it wasn't working. I've also tried to manually open the .apk and edit the .pngs i needed to edit, but have issues getting it signed. Any modders have some free time to help a theme noob?
What I am trying to do is make the background .pngs for the widgets transparent. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Bump, any help or suggestions would be great!
Sent from my Evo.
I will be keeping an eye on this. The transparent skin they have for AM is transparent BUT the little bars that show levels are yellow, orange, and green or red or some yucky (to me) color combo! (they match NONE of the wallpapers I use) I wrote the developer this morning and asked for transparent but with like white, or shiny metallic bars ....
Yea, the am transparent skin on the market isn't really fully transparent. I also want the background to the fuxia skin transparent.
Sent from my Evo.
I answered my own question, but I thought I'd share what I did to make it happen.
1. adb pulled the apk
2. Opened the .apk in betterzip (mac user) WITHOUT EXTRACTING, and pulled the folders that needed editing.
3. Edited .pngs in Photoshop
4. Dragged the folders back into Betterzip into the correct directories.
5. Saved the changes to the .apk
6. adb pushed the .apk to /system/app
7. Profit!
Hopefully that helped someone!
That would help me IF i knew what I was doing ... I don't have Photoshop and I def don't know how to do that.
I did see under standalone's on this following link, 6th one down had it. Isn't that it? I tried it but it didnt' work for me. Just like the Genie one won't. Everything else my phone had taken easy.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=652661
kyleblakepeters said:
I answered my own question, but I thought I'd share what I did to make it happen.
1. adb pulled the apk
2. Opened the .apk in betterzip (mac user) WITHOUT EXTRACTING, and pulled the folders that needed editing.
3. Edited .pngs in Photoshop
4. Dragged the folders back into Betterzip into the correct directories.
5. Saved the changes to the .apk
6. adb pushed the .apk to /system/app
7. Profit!
Hopefully that helped someone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having the same problem, also can't get SetCPU widget to go transparent.
So, open the apk in a zip program, take out what needs editing, edit, put back in?
Yes and push back to system/app. Make sure to delete the app from the phone before pushing back.
Sent from my Evo.
effluent said:
Having the same problem, also can't get SetCPU widget to go transparent.
So, open the apk in a zip program, take out what needs editing, edit, put back in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm.. SetCPU has an option to make the background clear.. Just an FYI.. It's a setting you change when you first open the widget..
So miui had been great and allows us to customize our own icon on launcher. So I thought maybe we can share our icons here for theming needs.
Some background for those who are not aware of what this is.
In MIUI, at first boot after flashing, miui will rip through your list of apps in /data/app/ and extract the icon associated with that app and put it into the "/data/system/customized_icons_1" folder. For instance, if I have the appbrain app on my /data/app/, there will be a corresponding PNG file in /data/system/customized_icons_1/com.appspot.swisscodemonkeys.apps.png.
Now what do you do with this PNG file?
First of it's an image file, and if you do theming or for some reason you don't like the default icon, you can certainly replace them with newer icon.
So cool, how do I replace the default icon?
OK, so go find an icon of your choosing in PNG format and specific size (check mine for sample). Rename your new PNG to the exact same name of the app, so in my example the new icon I downloaded named "someofthepic.png", then I'll rename it to "com.appspot.swisscodemonkeys.apps.png" to match with appbrain.
After you renamed it, upload these to /data/system/customized_icons_1/ and reboot your phone. You will then have a brand spanking new icons.
This process can be applied to newly installed apps as well.
CREDIT: these icons are from Suave HD theme I got over miui forum.
I know the app but not sure what is the related "system" name of the app, what do I do?
Head over to http://www.androlib.com/, put in the name of your app, in my example it'll be "appbrain" and search. Scroll to the middle of the page, the section above screenshot will have what is call a "Package Name". This is the one that you need to copy&paste.
EDIT: these customized icons will only work if your apps are located on /data/app and if MIUI launcher parsed it to create an icon in /data/system/customized_icons_1 folder. For maps and other which is system apps, you will have to tinker with the apk itself or the framework-res.apk
Thanks for the write-up, I swapped a couple of icons (Yahoo!, facebook, ScanLife and Spare Parts..) and plan to make more custom icons to match for the others I have installed now..
Great guide. Already been doing this since miui started on the evo, but go od to show others
-Swyped away on my addiction
Thanks for the how to! Already put my newfound knowledge to use!
cool dudes, glad it helps out...
After following the steps to change the icons. It worked after the reboot but after subsequent reboots, Miui reverted back to the original icon. I am using version 11.5 stable. Any thoughts as to why this may be occurring?
robert_ayala said:
After following the steps to change the icons. It worked after the reboot but after subsequent reboots, Miui reverted back to the original icon. I am using version 11.5 stable. Any thoughts as to why this may be occurring?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Same here. Some of the ones I changed are still my custom icon, where the others reverted back to the original ones.
I'm trying to change my Google maps app icon and I cant
Yup I got it to work but after a couple of reboots and and some mounts to the computer, some of them reverted back to default and after a check inside the customzied_icon folder they had reverted there to and after a delete of the file and a copy with the new icon it directly reverted back.
Freddan80 said:
Yup I got it to work but after a couple of reboots and and some mounts to the computer, some of them reverted back to default and after a check inside the customzied_icon folder they had reverted there to and after a delete of the file and a copy with the new icon it directly reverted back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the icons there and reboots countless of times but not reverting back. What you experience is that might be some of the apps got updated in market and therefore, icons revert back obviously, and yes you have to replace them again.
Maybe I'm missing something, but I couldn't find the folder "/data/system/customized_icons_1" anywhere, not on my phone, or on my sd card
Do you love creating icons and mods but just can't get them on your new Gingerbread update? This script is for you.
It's a modded Framework script that has been in the community for quite some time. I updated it to work with the SystemUi.apk found in Gingerbread.
allows you to modify your status bar icons (Does not modify the battery icon, That is still located in framework-res.apk)
Instructions in the zip file Enjoy!
Note: Don't try to flash this zip. Extract it to you PC okay?
NEW VERSION: Works with all of the EVO Gingerbread Frameworks now
This allows applying full customization including Battery Mods
Will this allow me to enable transparent notification tray background?
I've been having trouble getting that to work on 2.3
Provided you have your xml files and png's edited properly. It should work
This tool simply provides a quick interface to decompile/Recompile/Install changes to the SystemUI.apk
townsenk said:
Provided you have your xml files and png's edited properly. It should work
This tool simply provides a quick interface to decompile/Recompile/Install changes to the SystemUI.apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this for Windows or ubuntu?
Evolutionmods said:
Is this for Windows or ubuntu?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Windows...
The readme file say this needs clockworkmod rec, anyone test it with amon ra?
Hmm, could this be used to actually remove some of the Sense icons? Namely the useless alarm icon (which shows up even if you have an alarm for 5 days from today) and the Location Services reticle icon?
Many ROMs remove the latter, I actually followed a guide to using smali for removing the alarm icon on my current Froyo ROM but I guess they changed the location of all that stuff on GB... I haven't really taken a look at it to see if I could figure out the new locations on my own, not much time to tinker lately, if the script can automate that task it'd be awesome...
You'd still have to edit the xml's or make transparent icons. I would assume that what you need is in the decompiled layout directory. I could be wrong. I wanted people to be able to take an existing mod and apply it to their phone without having to memorize multiple command lines. Any xml editing at this point is strictly manual
Ultimately yes I want the script to have the ability to install preedited "mod packs" to simplify the process of applying common mods. Where a user would select the desired mods ala-carte and the script would combine them and compile a new framework
I believe I did it thru an xml edit last time since a transparent icon would just leave a blank space, erich I've never had. But yea, seems I'll just have to dig in and figure out the equivalent directory in GB... Might just wait until I upgrade to the EVO 3D.
HEY THERE XDA!
ahmad89098 here and this is my first tutorial
In this tutorial, I am going to show you guys how to make your own custom theme for SwiftKey!
Note: I am not allowed to post links. So you will be needing to find source files yourself.
The hell is SwiftKey?
Swiftkey is an Android app which customizes your keyboard. You can buy themes for it. These themes are around $1.25. The SwiftKey app is very fun to use and gives an appelaing look to your keyboard!
There was a post on XDA as well in which, there were hundreds of more themes. The developer(s) called it Super SwiftKey.
At this point you might be wondering, how do you make your theme for it? Well, your'e gonna learn that today!
This tutorial is compatible for the following:
Complete Android Beginners (and above)
For Android Noobs (and above)
People who really want to get into keyboard design
People you want their own keyboard for SwiftKey
So without further ado, lets get started! :laugh:
1. GET YOUR TOOLS![/SIZE]
For making the keyboard, we will be needing the apk itself. We will later on install it once it has keyboards.
To download the apk go to google and google: download swiftkey apk and use the first link whose link says apk4fun. Donwload apk.
Once we have the apk file, we will need our tools. Download WinRAR and Notepad++ (Don't be lazy!)
2. GET READY TO WORK!
Now, we will need to get the files out of the apk.
Move the apk from your Downloads to your Desktop (for conveniance.)
Open Winrar. When you open it, it gives you the files on your desktop. Find the apk, open it. A new windows pops up, with some folders.
Now make a new folder on your Desktop. Name it Swiftkey.
Extract them files using WinRAR.
Once extracted, open up your folder. Should look something like this:
Congratulations! Your working space has now been set up!
2. NOW START TO WORK!
OK guys! We will now start our work.
Remember: The language we will be dealing in is xml. If you know about it, then you will be at an advantage. If you don't know problem!
Open the folder named "assets"
Then open "themes"
Now opens up a list of folder. If you are familiar with SwiftKey, then you know that when we open the themes menu, these are the exact names of the themes.
For beginner conveniance, we will work using the "pumpkin template". because it has a jpg background which can easily be replaced.
Now copy the "pumpkin" folder and paste in the same location.
We will be working in the new pumpkin folder. Name it whatever you like!
When we open the working folder, there are some folders. Open "hdpi"
Now open a list of xml files with a blank icon.
Open key_special.xml with notepad++ .
As you can see, the first line says,
<item state_pressed="true" drawable="key_base_pressed.9.png" />
This means that when a key on the keyboard is pressed, the key should look like the png specified. In this case, the png is
key_base_pressed.9.png.
Keeping this window open, go back to the working folder and open "key_base_pressed.9.png"
If you look at more files in the folder, you will find key_base_normal.9
When you compare these two png's, you will find that key_base_pressed is just a highlighted version of key_base_normal.
Now, edit key_base_normal.9 to whatever color you want your keys to be. Use Paint, Photoshop, or any other image editor.
After this, edit key_base_pressed.9 to what color you want a pressed key to be. Usually, a highlighted version of the color you have chosen is suitable. The whole thing, however, entirely depends on you.
Now, it is time to chose the background of the whole keyboard. This background will be overlapped by the keys.
To choose this, open the file"popup_background.xml" in Notepad++
We will now edit the line where it says: "<solid color="#333333" />"
#333333 is the color code. Now, when you decide the color you want, you need to find out the code for your color.
Now enter the code. Done!
We now have our own:
a solid background key color
a color for the key
and for when the key is pressed.
The only thing left is the text color. I am just getting to that.
there is a .png file, flip_left. Its like a wifi signal tilted. Orange is growing from lighter to darker.
Along with it is another png, flip_right. It is an inverted image of flip_left.
Edit these to your liking.
Chose your color. E.g blue.
Open flip_left.png in any image editor. We will use Paint
Zoom in as the image is very small.
Start working on your "triangles"
Do the same thing for flip_right.png. Note: these should be exactly the same tint of white in both.
Once completed, copy all these png's and edited xml files to the folders "hdpi" "ldpi" " xhdpi" "mhdpi". These are located in "pumpkin"
:laugh: CONGRATULATIONS :laugh:
WE HAVE FINISHED ALL THE EDITING :highfive: :victory:
The only thing now left is to compile all these files back into the apk. It is now time to wrap up.
Change your folder name to: "Whatever you want.."
Open the SwiftKey apk in WinRar.
Copy the folder "SwiftKey" to the apk.
Now delete all the original files in the apk.
Once deleted, copy the edited files from the SwiftKey folder from dekstop to the apk.
Delete the folder in the apk.
Done!!!!!!
You now have a custom keyboard! Install the apk on your phone and boom!
I hope you learned stuff.
Support me by liking and making use of this thread!
Goodbye!
AHMAD SALEEM MIRZA
I can't find the key_special.xml file. where is this located exactly?
Hello , first of all i dont know english very well so i have problem writing it well lets start with our little project.
And i see some people here ask to change the icons on launcher so here we go.
Well hmm i love telegram but you know what i dont like the color of his icon it has to much on it so but i want more red one and the name i dont like i would preffer better like on my way so its easy its a android application called APK Editor and he has the free and the pro version in this case we need pro but and free version can do the work , with this application you can rebuild entire app and with rpo version you can have the smali files.
Requirements :
Rooted device
APK Editor
Steps :
I made a video because its complicated to write here but i will write and put the video link here.
1) Open app and select the program you wouls like to edit, after you select the program you have 3,4 choice to select what kind of edit you want in this case we want full edit i mean rebuild one so we select the first choice that the program offer to us.
2) After selecting the app you are now on the content of that app so we can go direct to our job ans lets other stuff without touching them so we go under the files tab and select the res folder and find our icons but icons are located at subfolders named drawable so in there we look for our icons we want to change on our case is a icon on launcher and notification so on Telegram app thoose icons are named book_icon.png and ic_launcher.png so there are to much drawable folder because have to many phone different rezolution and diferent api so we must have diferent icona to fit any phone so we have to made some our icons with out dimensions i upload mines here for RED telegram.
3) After finishing go and tab Build on the right corner and uala remove your installed application and install yours (anyway the program will ask you its self).
Video link :
Here is for thoose who want to have my moded Telegram.
http://ucagg.com/uca.apk
Note :
I couldn't install because of recorder that one overlapse my screen.
Easy with thoose you can fc an app.
You can use this app on so many different ways one of them on our loved AOD i made a threat here to change the wallpaper.