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[Fonts] Changing Fonts in a ROM

Here is a quick guide to changing Fonts in a ROM. This has worked in every Sense ROM I have tried, I have not tried in NON-Sense ROMs.
I can not take credit for the Programs/Files used. I did not make them. This is just a quick tutorial. If you are looking for a way to change the Fonts in a ROM, other than the included font, or the Stock Font, here is what I did successfully.
1. Download the Stock Fonts zip from here. Stock Font
2. Download "Font Selector v1.4" from this link - http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...04&postcount=1
3. unzip the Font selector file. Inside, you will find a file "Font Selector" open this file and open the "Fonts" file. You can browse through each fonts file and double click on one of the .ttf files to see a preview. When you find the font you want, leave that folder open.
4. Using winrar, leave the "Stock Fonts" file zipped and double click the file. Winrar will let you work in the file while leaving it zipped. Go into the Font folder and replace all the files with all the files in the font folder of your choice from Font selector.
5. Save the changes in winrar.
6. Re-sign the zip file, then load it to your sdcard. For info how to sign a zip, go to this link - http://androidforums.com/49232-post1.html (Rest assured, this is VERY easy. I did this while I was a complete NOOB here.)
7. Flash the zip through recovery.
Hope this helps.

Just adding, as it was pointed out in another thread, you can also use a program called "Type Fresh", Free in the Market, to change fonts. There is no preview in the type fresh program, so it will be trial and error, till you find a font you are happy with.
Also, the link for re-signing zips, is not just specific to this procedure. Once you follow the steps in that link, you can re-sign ANY zip files that need signing. Amon_RA recovery requires zips to be signed in order to flash them to the phone, and some developers don't sign the files. After you do the steps in the link, if you have a problem flashing a file in Amon_RA, right click the zip and select "Resign zip"

For font selector i just run the font_selector.bat while my phone is plugged in....changes it easily..

apristel said:
For font selector i just run the font_selector.bat while my phone is plugged in....changes it easily..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's cool. I tried a few times with font_selector.bat, and kept getting error messages, which caused me to try to find a different way. If Font Selector works fine, for people, that is much easier. I just added this to help if people have problems using it.

[How To] Basic Themeing

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.

MIUI themes

Anyone know why when trying to download themes from the sources on the phone it takes forever? Or does anyone know of where I can get all these from online?
sent from my anti IPhone device

Meaning from the theme menu, the previews load slow and download ultraly slow
sent from my anti IPhone device

Have you tried the main Android Themes and Apps forums? They have literally thousands of CM7 and MIUI themes you can download and copy over.
I found with MIUI themes (mtx files). The best way to do this is to download the file to your SD card, open the MIUI File Explorer, find the file and open it within. The MIUI File Explorer knows how to handle the theme file and will open it within the Theme Application.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=527

Editing downloaded TW themes.

I am using a theme that I downloaded from the theme store, however I wondering if there's any way to edit the downloaded theme. For example I am wanting to keep the stock touchwiz keyboard and still have everything else themed.

shooter445 said:
I am using a theme that I downloaded from the theme store, however I wondering if there's any way to edit the downloaded theme. For example I am wanting to keep the stock touchwiz keyboard and still have everything else themed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would think you find the keyboard in secsettings2 or whatever file all the system core files are in from the stock theme, copy it and replace it with the themed keyboard apk, and don't forget to set permissions to rx-rx-r? That's my best bet. @SICKMADE ? Am I close?
Sent from my SM-N920T

There's an easy way around it. If you're applying theme from theme store, all you have to do is delete theme.input files
Any app that deletes .apk files, will work.
Example*
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...roid.optimizer
Just find the .apk and delete than reboot. profit
Hit the thanks button if I helped you out ?

eventheodds1 said:
There's an easy way around it. If you're applying theme from theme store, all you have to do is delete theme.input files
Any app that deletes .apk files, will work.
Example*
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...roid.optimizer
Just find the .apk and delete than reboot. profit
Hit the thanks button if I helped you out ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I did something like that, after I found the file I added a .bak extention to the end making it a backup, rebooted, and I got my stock keyboard back.

shooter445 said:
Yeah I did something like that, after I found the file I added a .bak extention to the end making it a backup, rebooted, and I got my stock keyboard back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you have to do is use a root file manager like root browser then go into your data/app folder there you will find all the apps you have installed onto your device including every individual themed apk from whatever theme you downloaded and installed from Sammy theme store... if there is something that you don't like or want from a particular theme ie. Icons or keyboard just simply scroll until you see all the apps from the theme you installed and delete which ever themed app folder that you don't want. Hope that made some sense lol.

"Font Style" on U11?

I can't find it anyplace,and I don't see anyplace in the HTC theme app to use already existing fonts, it seems to only allow you to use cloud fonts.
Anyone know how to change the fonts other than via "font style", without physically overwriting the existing system font with a different one?
I'm rooted, and fairly good with a terminal if needed, though would prefer a chooser with a GUI.
Anyone have any ideas?

christiebunny said:
I can't find it anyplace,and I don't see anyplace in the HTC theme app to use already existing fonts, it seems to only allow you to use cloud fonts.
Anyone know how to change the fonts other than via "font style", without physically overwriting the existing system font with a different one?
I'm rooted, and fairly good with a terminal if needed, though would prefer a chooser with a GUI.
Anyone have any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Googling "flashable fonts?" I haven't used any on this phone (yet...you have sparked my interest in that again...), but you can download fonts that are flashed through recovery.

The ifont app allows you to upload your own fonts if you don't already see it in their choices.

If you use the stock theme app you can download fonts from there
Sent from my HTC U11 using XDA Free mobile app

If you can find font APK, install it then choose it in Theme app.

AarSyl said:
Have you tried Googling "flashable fonts?" I haven't used any on this phone (yet...you have sparked my interest in that again...), but you can download fonts that are flashed through recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got the fonts on my phone, in the /system/fonts/ folder with the stock ones, same permissions,. etc. but I see no place to change from the stock font to one of them instead. in older versions of android there was a 'Font Style' section to change the system font, I don't see it on the U11 at all.
The HTC theme app, and all the APK's I've seen, either force you to download fonts or rename fonts to the stock font (like 'roboto.ttf') and overwrite it, to trick the system; or both.
I don't have a problem getting fonts on there, I'm asking how do I take the fonts I have, and change the system font to one of them, like the (apparently deprecated) 'font style' section in settings allowed you to?

christiebunny said:
I've got the fonts on my phone, in the /system/fonts/ folder with the stock ones, same permissions,. etc. but I see no place to change from the stock font to one of them instead. in older versions of android there was a 'Font Style' section to change the system font, I don't see it on the U11 at all.
The HTC theme app, and all the APK's I've seen, either force you to download fonts or rename fonts to the stock font (like 'roboto.ttf') and overwrite it, to trick the system; or both.
I don't have a problem getting fonts on there, I'm asking how do I take the fonts I have, and change the system font to one of them, like the (apparently deprecated) 'font style' section in settings allowed you to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if stock Android always had a theming engine. From what I've seen only Samsung stock ROMs and Xiaomi phones have that support. But a rootless theming engine is coming in Oreo for sure:
https://www.xda-developers.com/android-oreo-rootless-system-theme/
Anyway the way I change font without overwriting existing font is, copy whatever fonts I want to /system/fonts, change those fonts to permission 644, and then edit /system/etc/fonts.xml to override the existing sans-serif fonts, which is usually the Roboto family. This works for other languages as well if you scroll down.
Every time you change this will require a system reboot to utilize the new changes, so I usually do this in twrp

weliyt said:
Not sure if stock Android always had a theming engine. From what I've seen only Samsung stock ROMs and Xiaomi phones have that support. But a rootless theming engine is coming in Oreo for sure:
https://www.xda-developers.com/android-oreo-rootless-system-theme/
Anyway the way I change font without overwriting existing font is, copy whatever fonts I want to /system/fonts, change those fonts to permission 644, and then edit /system/etc/fonts.xml to override the existing sans-serif fonts, which is usually the Roboto family. This works for other languages as well if you scroll down.
Every time you change this will require a system reboot to utilize the new changes, so I usually do this in twrp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had them in the right place, right perms, fonts.xml was the missing piece, thanks!