I was curious if anyone knows how to unencrypt(sp?) xml files. I am trying to build a theme and wanted to browse through some xml's to see if I could change the color of the digital clock on the status bar, among other things. I tried googling to no avail. Is this even possible at this time, or am I just going to have to wait until someone figures out how to unencrypt these files? Just some general advice on how this filetype behaves in android would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance...
Stericson is currently in the process of this. He'll let us know when he's got it.
Shoulda figured Stericson had a hand in this matter. He is extremely valuable in the development of our devices, in fact, I almost sent him a PM to ask him about this matter directly, but I wanted to gather some general info/advice from everyone. Thanks for the reply Phromik, and thanks be to Stericson too, for being such an indispensable asset to these forums.
Ahhh, many thanks....Unfortunetly, this is not easy in the least. As for right now the xmls can be decrypted, vis some tool online you can find by googling, but you can also see the xmls in plain text by downloading the source and looking through them. I am trying hard to get these done but it is not easy in the least. Much more difficult then what we are doing now.
We will get it though, no worries, just may take some time.
Stericson
Related
A few changes:
Alright so first off after seeing that this actually got some response, I'm opening it up for other people to edit as well. Hopefully we can figure out a way to do this responsibly... But I figure a community effort on this is much more valuable (especially because my theming is a bit rusty)
Key Files Chart
I am also gonna start modelling this off of a Cyanogen build because those builds seem to be the most poplar now. Keep in mind that much of what works in one theme translates well to most others.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Post:
Hey guys so here is what I've been working on.
(Use new Link Above)
Its pretty much a simple list of locations of files that are essential to theming and what they control. This is definitely meant to be simple and geared more towards beginners. I think the thing that was hardest thing for me to learn theming was finding out where specific files were. So hopefully this might help bring down the learning curve.
Plan is to keep on updating this as long as there is interest and questions that people raise. Most of this is from my, relatively, limited knowledge of theming so if anyone else wants to jump in on this, I would be more than happy to add you as a collaborator (thats right, YOU!).
Also, I have this written according to how I know Haykuro's Builds work (because thats the version I use). If things are similar enough to other builds, it shouldn't be too hard to compile a master list across all three 1.5 builds. Let me know. : )
what a great idea! I wish this would have been available to me when I started my first theme! good work
Haha thanks. I been lax bout it lately cuz it really doesnt seem to be catching on at all. Ill wait and see if anymore interest builds up before continuing to update.
Hi!
I would be interested in an update I have been wading through a ton of information, I want to make a theme myself and I have just finished setting everything up properly on my system. I have seen how many image files there are to sort through and the names would be a great help, and I think, a good idea for others too
RainCrow said:
Hey guys so here is what I've been working on.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r_ua-t_U23ci5_oxwQ4mGrg
Its pretty much a simple list of locations of files that are essential to theming and what they control. This is definitely meant to be simple and geared more towards beginners. I think the thing that was hardest thing for me to learn theming was finding out where specific files were. So hopefully this might help bring down the learning curve.
Plan is to keep on updating this as long as there is interest and questions that people raise. Most of this is from my, relatively, limited knowledge of theming so if anyone else wants to jump in on this, I would be more than happy to add you as a collaborator (thats right, YOU!).
Also, I have this written according to how I know Haykuro's Builds work (because thats the version I use). If things are similar enough to other builds, it shouldn't be too hard to compile a master list across all three 1.5 builds. Let me know. : )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is great; although I am new to Android themes, I have extensive experience with BB themes, although that is the "apples to oranges" scenario. Plazmic of course does the grunt work in those, but I have written svg's for animation, hidden docks etc. Hopefully that will help me catch on at a faster rate compared to never having done that sort of thing. So any info you can pass along is much appreciated!- Chris aka riffman
TY
Awesome work. You just simplified SO much of what I was not looking forward to.
I would like an update as well. I am lost sometimes. lol
I'm good on what most of the .png files control, but if you could make one for the .xml files in framework-res.apk/res/layout that would be killer.
Haha wow. Five months later I'm seeing this thread actually got some feedback (And linked on the "Helpful Threads" sticky to boot). I was considering making the document an open project and just working on maintaining the structure if that sounds helpful to people because there are plenty of things that I would like to know as well (like .xmls)
EDIT: Alright I just changed it to open system so that anyone can edit it. I should probably also change the name off from Haykuro seeing as how hes out of the running now...
Paging through some of these threads, I notice that some of the changes I want here and some of the changes I want over there tend to end up overwriting each other. This means you might REALLY want to have no clock and battery icon in the notifications bar, but if you want that transparent bar mod too, you're SOL.
What I am advocating for is an open discussion about the possibility of publishing not only signed zips but some sort of standard that gives themers access to a list of changed images and alterations in the code so that collaboration can be a bit more effective.
I obviously expect that some won't be interested in this, or people that are just grabbing and re-skinning other people's projects aren't going to understand what's necessary, but I think a little bit of documentation may go a long way in helping everyone.
Just my 2 cents, but I'm interested to hear if anyone else has a different take.
Thanks!
Aa a themer, im just going to say that im too bust grinding ro make themes to write down wvery change I make. So, im giving a **** no on my end.
A better resolution would be to make a thread full of links to tutorials and resources. That way its all in one spot. However thatd take effort from YOU as well to find the info and keep it updated.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Hey everybody,
I recently bought the galaxy nexus because I wanted to start getting into Rom Development.
I can programm Java and also programmed some simple apps..
But what I really wanted to do is to modify a Rom.
Can anybody tell me where to start? I read guides on how to compile from source and so on, but I don't know if that's what I need.
I want to add things like Notification bar quick settings to the rom.. Are there tutorials on how to develop these things?
Every help is appreciated, maybe you've got some great links for me, thanks!
00hero00 said:
Hey everybody,
I recently bought the galaxy nexus because I wanted to start getting into Rom Development.
I can programm Java and also programmed some simple apps..
But what I really wanted to do is to modify a Rom.
Can anybody tell me where to start? I read guides on how to compile from source and so on, but I don't know if that's what I need.
I want to add things like Notification bar quick settings to the rom.. Are there tutorials on how to develop these things?
Every help is appreciated, maybe you've got some great links for me, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
start with decompiling apks (SystemUI.apk and framework-res.apk for example) , if u've wrote android apps before (and u said u did), then it shouldn't be that hard to look into the .xml and .jar files. when u finish, compile the .apk back. if u've worked with Eclipse then u probably know the android structure.
Edit: Here is an example of a "ROM modification" - just posting it to give u an example..
Well first thing is first. You need to have the bare basics of Android thoroughly understood obviously. Often overlooked as a first step in this process, just learning about(different than knowing about)the Android Open Source Project first will give you a specific sense of direction, purpose, as well as an identity in the community..
So again- I don't just mean knowing about it- I mean knowing exactlyhow the whole project is structured. Read about all the different types of contributions you/anyone can make to the Android ecosystem. Are you an aesthetics kind of person who would excel at UI designs for apps or whatever; Are you a person who has a good eye for problem solving? Maybe you should be scouring source code, trying to fix little-noticed "bugs" that "bug" the hell out of you. Once you know what you want to do, make sure you find out exactly how much Google provides for you, and what your own roles/responsibilities would be in the whole scheme of things.) This should give you a good idea of where you might fit in (with your current skill-set)and hopefully, it gives you some inspiration about the direction you might want to take it in the future.
Once you do this and "find your calling", post back here, and I'm sure that others qualified in that field will be more than happy to share how they got started.
There is no substitute to just jumping in and trying things though. Everybody makes their own journey differently, so do what comes naturally, and you can't go wrong.
Here ya go
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1661770
and maybe this as well?
http://www.xda-developers.com/andro...rs/ShsH+(xda-developers)&utm_content=FaceBook
Wow thank you every body for these great comments! I think I'll compile a Rom from source first and look through all the files..
Decompiling apks looks interesting too.
Thanks for the fast responses & links, you're awesome!
Okay so I've got another question..
One thing I always liked on some custom roms was the lockscreen flashlight..
If I would hold power for 3 seconds, the flashlight would turn on until I let go the power button.
I decompiled the framework-res.apk but didn't find anything there, just .xml files.
Where are the files where I can actually code / programm something for the lockscreen?
Try android.policy.jar
Usually the jar files contain the code, xml are for visual stuff.
But my question is, are u sure it is a lockscreen feature? (I mean the torch option) . Tbh this is the first time i hear of such a mod and i've been using android devices for over 2 yrs
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I will start off saying I am new to this as the title , so I will probably ask a lot of redundant questions and noobie questions, I hope that's ok.
What I want to do (for now):
I am attempting to do is modify the systemui.apk file. I would think that would be a fairly easy task, but with my VERY limited knowlege of things I'm not sure.
The file has a lot of icons for customizability, but I want to add some of my own, or rather this phones icons(samung epic 4g) default icons. I have the icons I grabbed from a stock rom, and saved them.
I have the toggles, and battery icons, which are what I want to add into the systemui.apk. Iwill probably call it something like Samsung default, since default name is already taken.
So all that said, how easy would it be for me, someone who has never even attempted this before, but has a small amount of knowledge of what stuff is, ie: difference between odex and deodex, where the files are located at, etc?
Stuff like what file/files to edit, what to put in the xml files as in what line coding or whatever they call it. Stuff like that.
I'm very simple in nature, so if there is a way to do what I want to do, please direct me in the right direction, and please, keep it simple if possible.
I do realize there are tutorials about how to theme and how to make or edit a systemui file but I can't seem to find a more specific way/thread to do what I want to do, not that I have found anyways.
My guess is I will have to edit some xml files and add some lines, I just an not sure what exactly to put in those lines, or what files to edit.
First of all: wrong section - this belongs to Q&A.
About modifying APKs, I'm also not much familiar, but I believe that apktool and those GUI tools that includes it can be fairly helpful. I personally use APKChanger to do all my APK-related mods.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM11
AndyYan said:
First of all: wrong section - this belongs to Q&A.
About modifying APKs, I'm also not much familiar, but I believe that apktool and those GUI tools that includes it can be fairly helpful. I personally use APKChanger to do all my APK-related mods.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM11
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome it looks like a good start, I will give it a go, and report back.
Hope this works, as I am not really doing much to the systemUI file, all I am doing is adding in, what's not there, so the rest can stay in tact, just I want to add some preferred icons/png files I have on hand already. I'm not diescting to make a rom or anything, so I can't see this as being really hard thing to do.....for those that have done it could probably do this in about 5 mins work without breaking a sweat....me however it seems it's takeing awhile lol.
easyrider77 said:
Awesome it looks like a good start, I will give it a go, and report back.
Hope this works, as I am not really doing much to the systemUI file, all I am doing is adding in, what's not there, so the rest can stay in tact, just I want to add some preferred icons/png files I have on hand already. I'm not diescting to make a rom or anything, so I can't see this as being really hard thing to do.....for those that have done it could probably do this in about 5 mins work without breaking a sweat....me however it seems it's takeing awhile lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very cool program, thanyou for the info. I kinda messed around with it a bit, and it's vvery nice for those not so smart at heart people like me.
I still have a snag though. I know where the icons are, I'm just not sure how to activate them via the like settings and such.
Take the battery mod within 3mini for example, you open 3minit, and under the battery part it you select it and it has a bunch of icons you can pick, but the stock ones aren't there. I am wanting to add stock icons, which are in the res/label-dhpi folder, (I think that's what it's called), but it's the folder that has the icons in it. Now, to access those icons, you have xml file you have to point to to tell it to actually see the icons in said folder, via a code line as I call it.
There is my problem, I am not sure really WHAT code line to put in said xml file/files, so I'm running into a wall.
So I can extract/decompile the apk file fine, and I have a folder/files with some more folders and files under that. I have looked at the stuff but since I'm not a programmer at all, and not to get off on another rabit trail here, but I cannot even do simple plain html....yes I know it's a text thing, but if you don't understand the if's and waits and the language of it all, well it might as well be german.
People always say "what's the problem, it's easy" well I suppose it is, if you are savvy to that stuff, but for those that have a hard time with one thing, it comes oh so simple for another, but it doesn't mean someone is stupid, it just means it's not their thing. Some atre meant to be some things, some are not. Not everyone is meant to be a doctor, yet some are because they understand those sorts of things better.
Anyways, I am sorry for trailing off, in short I am saying if you have a hard time with what I call coding, and yes it is a coding in some form, just as html is, even though it's still text, it's still a code that tells things what to do, IE: code
In short, I am nt sure what file/files to edit,. and even then I am not sure what lines to put in them.
Here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2032614 is a good example of what I mean. While I appreciate this persons hard work and efforts, people like me it may as well be written in a foreign language of sorts, because while I understand editing a certain file, and I get the concept of CODE: that's where I end up getting lost. I have opened the said xml file, and see the code, but when they say code, well I have to ask things like what line to I edit, where do I cut/paste the lines in that post to, do I delete another line and replace it with that code, etc..etc..
I in NO way am trying to trash people for their posts and efforts, so I hope it's not taken that way, I just sometimes have to be drawn a picture for things, like a child. As hard as I might try, I just am not grasping what to do after the point of opening the file and editing it.
I suppose I will just give up this quest I have for what I want to do, unless I fin somone kind enough, and patient enough to go a little further into explanation of what I need to do to further go on. it can be hard for some people, especially if you are a programmer to explain a little more in depth about what a person needs to do, I have friends that have that mind set, and they to get irritated at people like me .....I guess it is what it is.
Thanks again for the info, I appreciate all that xda and the people here do, and all thier time and effort towards the mods.
Well I can't provide further help then... My ability stops at making navigation bar mods which only involves modifying 5 lines of xml. Good luck with learning from scratch :beer:
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM11
UPDATE - thanks to kwerdenker pointing me in the right direction I stumbled upon this post which is amazingly helpful for anyone else interested!
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LutzLinke/posts/TNhQ4ypuurw
-------------------------------------------------
I'm trying to add a custom iconset I made to a paid theme of mine. As posted by a couple other people there are apparently some issues with this that no one can figure out. Well I am making this post to hopefully find people who are willing to help me squash this. As an independent themer with limited time this frustrates the piss out of me. I also have Go Locker themes that no one can every help me with my issues and it drives me crazy... anyway back to Zooper. This is my post from G+
having problems with my apk when I build it since I added my custom iconset. can anyone give me any insight on this?
currently it's in
assets/iconset/whatever/whatever/config.xml.jet with the font in there also whatever.ttf.jet
this is how it's exported in the apk templete from the app itself though and thats the only thing not working, is the iconset.
so to recap, the app install, loads, and works minus my icons from the custom iconset.
I'm lost.
I also tried removing all the .jet extensions like someone suggested and it didn't fix it...
the name of the iconset shows up and everything. just no preview image. it was like that when it was .jet too.
tried taking away all the .jet extensions everywhere too... no luck
trying to build using Android Studio if that matters
so far I tried taking out one of the folders so it was just
/assets/iconsets/whatever/config.xml & the font and that got letters to show up at least, just not from my font.
I also tried putting the zip file in there so it was
/assets/iconsets/whatever.zip
no luck either way... anyone else care to chime in or have any other ideas?
AntwonJenkins said:
I'm trying to add a custom iconset I made to a paid theme of mine. As posted by a couple other people there are apparently some issues with this that no one can figure out. Well I am making this post to hopefully find people who are willing to help me squash this. As an independent themer with limited time this frustrates the piss out of me. I also have Go Locker themes that no one can every help me with my issues and it drives me crazy... anyway back to Zooper. This is my post from G+
having problems with my apk when I build it since I added my custom iconset. can anyone give me any insight on this?
currently it's in
assets/iconset/whatever/whatever/config.xml.jet with the font in there also whatever.ttf.jet
this is how it's exported in the apk templete from the app itself though and thats the only thing not working, is the iconset.
so to recap, the app install, loads, and works minus my icons from the custom iconset.
I'm lost.
I also tried removing all the .jet extensions like someone suggested and it didn't fix it...
the name of the iconset shows up and everything. just no preview image. it was like that when it was .jet too.
tried taking away all the .jet extensions everywhere too... no luck
trying to build using Android Studio if that matters
so far I tried taking out one of the folders so it was just
/assets/iconsets/whatever/config.xml & the font and that got letters to show up at least, just not from my font.
I also tried putting the zip file in there so it was
/assets/iconsets/whatever.zip
no luck either way... anyone else care to chime in or have any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Font-based icon sets are broken in Zooper APKs. This has been a known problem for a long time and there have been some attempts to fix this issue but those were by users most of the time (here is one good example: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106201536507820539535/posts/dY1vras522H). The devs haven't responded to this for a while now. Might be they are working on it, might also be that theme APKs are not a priority anymore since the buyout through Themer. Hard to tell since the communication with the developers has stopped almost entirely.
kwerdenker said:
Font-based icon sets are broken in Zooper APKs. This has been a known problem for a long time and there have been some attempts to fix this issue but those were by users most of the time (here is one good example: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106201536507820539535/posts/dY1vras522H). The devs haven't responded to this for a while now. Might be they are working on it, might also be that theme APKs are not a priority anymore since the buyout through Themer. Hard to tell since the communication with the developers has stopped almost entirely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for this information. It's sad to see one of the best customization apps on Android lose support like that but not surprising. So... are we able to create Themer themes? I can't imagine them being much different than their Zooper counterpart.