To Theme Creators - G1 Themes and Wallpapers

I was playing with the emulator and I copied my nandroid system.img from my own backup to the images folder of the sdk and it runs my custom android image. Do any of you know if its possible to edit the system images directly as this would be an ideal way to test themes?

The best way to test a theme is on the phone itself. Sure the emulator is good, but not everything is available on the emulator that is on the phone itself, so I would prefer to test everything on the G1. If you want to do it that way though, go for it.

When I meant by "test" was to see how they're turning out (looking). I wouldn't test it to see if feature get broken on the phone. What I hate is when I'm working on a theme I have to flash it or fastboot just to see how it looking, I would think an emulator would be ideal for this.

I just make all the edits i want to each .apk then start pushing them as i go along until the whole theme is on my phone then i package the all my .apk into a update.zip and i am done.

Related

Changing application icons - possible workaround?

So, I'm well-aware that the reason icons can't be changed easily on the Android home screen is because the icon image is stored in the APK file, and editing that image is, essentially, near impossible.
However, I had an idea that could potentially fix that problem, and I'm just curious how realistic the solution is:
As most G1 users know, AnyCut is a great application that can allow a user to create a shortcut to any number of actions on the phone. These shortcuts are customizable by name, and, for the time being, have a limited number of icons, one for each shortcut type.
I also recall using an app several months ago to change the icons of bookmarks (Bookmark 2, I believe it was called). With this app, a user could choose exactly what their icons would look like on the home screen, except, of course, that these icons could only link to bookmarks.
By combining these two applications, wouldn't an icon changer be quite possible?
Using this same methodology, wouldn't it be possible to create "shortcuts" to applications on the home screen, and thus, allow the user to rename apps and change their icons, at least on the desktop? I know that the icons would not be changed in the pull-out drawer or elsewhere on the system, but wouldn't this be a temporary workaround, until a better solution is reached? I have quite a few programs with horrendous icons, and it really takes away from the aesthetic of the home screen.
Again, all I'm asking is if there's a way to place a shortcut to an APK on the desktop, and preferably to customize that shortcut's icon, not the actual apps.
It is possible to edit .apk's and change the icons. Just look at the forum for theams.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=450
soundwire said:
It is possible to edit .apk's and change the icons. Just look at the forum for theams.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=450
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I know that the icons can be edited in a theme, but can non-stock icons be edited as well?
And also, my concern with that is that it seems like a lot of work to update a theme everytime a new app appears on the market. I'm a little OCD, so if I were able to change all the icons on my home screen, I would want them all to be absolutely uniform (like the themes' icons are). However, if a new, super-useful app were to appear on the market, and I absolutely needed it on my home screen, it would seem much easier to simply add an image to my phone, and make a shortcut using that image, than to have to edit an APK, resign the entire package, and reflash the phone each time. While I know my way around the G1, and I'm comfortable with basic rooting, I am by no means a developer, and just like most G1 users, I would probably be more comfortable making shortcuts than updating firmware.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
I too, would also like to know how to change "non-stock" app icons. Bump.
jayaustn said:
Well, I know that the icons can be edited in a theme, but can non-stock icons be edited as well?
And also, my concern with that is that it seems like a lot of work to update a theme everytime a new app appears on the market. I'm a little OCD, so if I were able to change all the icons on my home screen, I would want them all to be absolutely uniform (like the themes' icons are). However, if a new, super-useful app were to appear on the market, and I absolutely needed it on my home screen, it would seem much easier to simply add an image to my phone, and make a shortcut using that image, than to have to edit an APK, resign the entire package, and reflash the phone each time. While I know my way around the G1, and I'm comfortable with basic rooting, I am by no means a developer, and just like most G1 users, I would probably be more comfortable making shortcuts than updating firmware.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have yet to try this, but (provided you have root), you should be able to use adb to pull the apk for an app off your phone, edit it as described, and push it back to the same place. I will give this a go tomorrow, as I'm rather sleepy, and it's probably not a good thing to mess about with superuser stuff when I can't think straight.
If there's any flaws in my theory, I'd be happy to hear them.
RE: Changeing Icons!
I have a video on you tube on how to change icons. Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnV_d9b22E
Hope you enjoy and your able to Change Your Icons.
Good Luck!
bms122223 said:
I have a video on you tube on how to change icons. Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnV_d9b22E
Hope you enjoy and your able to Change Your Icons.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Video doesnt show you how to change "non-stock" app icons, only icons for the original apps.
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
I have used astro as well, I even signed the apk the same way I sign themes and no luck.
ultra spikey said:
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're real close; once you replace the icon you need you need to delete META-INF folder then zip it back up, rename file extension to .apk and sign it with the test keys like the stock .apk. The META-INF is where the signature info is kept from the original author, you need to delete this so it doesn't conflict with the test keys.
Geo411m said:
You're real close; once you replace the icon you need you need to delete META-INF folder then zip it back up, rename file extension to .apk and sign it with the test keys like the stock .apk. The META-INF is where the signature info is kept from the original author, you need to delete this so it doesn't conflict with the test keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will that a try. So this also mean that if author updates .apk file we will not be able to install update? Similar to google RC30 updates, we have to wait for JF to modify it.
johnowa636 said:
I will that a try. So this also mean that if author updates .apk file we will not be able to install update? Similar to google RC30 updates, we have to wait for JF to modify it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed; this might be a problem.
I mean, opening up the APK files is definitely a start, but it seems the shortcut approach I mentioned earlier is just so much easier. Shortcuts would allow basic users to change icons effortlessly and without fear of ruining the app, and the process could be just as easy as Bookmark 2, if a developer took charge, no?
ultra spikey said:
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would like to verify that this method works to change non-stock apps without pushing files or inserting apps into updates. i used 7zip but i'd imagine winrar will work fine as well. just remember to delete the entire metainf folder, not just its contents. once you have your .apk, re-sign it using stericson's auto-sign utility and you'll be able to install the app through astro.
i should also note that i deleted all instance of the unmodified app from my sdcard. i uninstalled it and deleted the backup on my sd card. this may or may not be necessary, but i just wanted to take precautions.
I've given this method a try, and it seems simply too complicated for a moderate user like me. Wouldn't the shortcut method I mentioned be so much easier to quickly change home screen icons? Would any of the developers on this forum be interested in throwing such an app together? I'd gladly donate some money if a good app was able to take care of this problem.
what are you having trouble with, exactly? i'm far from an advanced user myself, but this is probably one of the easier things to do on the g1, probably second to flashing themes.
though i will say that there are a few apps that i can't change icons for. chomp and cubik have installed but force close when opened.
i have a feeling it's something to do with the signing the apk's, but like i said, i'm not an advanced user at all.
TruLuvNvrDies said:
what are you having trouble with, exactly? i'm far from an advanced user myself, but this is probably one of the easier things to do on the g1, probably second to flashing themes.
though i will say that there are a few apps that i can't change icons for. chomp and cubik have installed but force close when opened.
i have a feeling it's something to do with the signing the apk's, but like i said, i'm not an advanced user at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I opened up the APK using WinRAR, replaced the icon.png with my icon of choice, and then I'm stuck. I known I have to auto-sign the APK, but am not exactly sure how. I have Stericson's auto-signer tool, and used command 4 to manually enter the APK path, but once I do that I get a bunch of errors. If need be, I can copy down the exact error I get.
ultra spikey said:
Video doesnt show you how to change "non-stock" app icons, only icons for the original apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice video!
jayaustn said:
I opened up the APK using WinRAR, replaced the icon.png with my icon of choice, and then I'm stuck. I known I have to auto-sign the APK, but am not exactly sure how. I have Stericson's auto-signer tool, and used command 4 to manually enter the APK path, but once I do that I get a bunch of errors. If need be, I can copy down the exact error I get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you probably need to delete the contents of the meta-inf folder. there should be three files in there, delete them all. if you extracted the contents of the .apk, zip them back up with an .apk extension. if you didn't extract them, you're at the last step, which is to re-sign the .apk. you don't actually need to manually re-sign the file through the console on stericson's re-signer. just right-click the .apk file and at the very top, there should be an option that says "resign .apk". click on that and your app will be re-signed and ready for an install attempt.
though, as i said before, this method is not 100%. of the 6 apps that i modified so far, i was only successful with 4 of them. even if you do all of the steps correctly, you might not have a working app at the end. the apps will install but will automatically force close when launched. i don't know what causes this, actually, and any suggestions would be appreciated.
I agree with the OP, while it is easy enough to edit the apks, resign them, copy them back onto your phone it would be far more elegant (IMHO) if you could have an application that allowed you to copy "Icon Packs" onto your SDCard, and then add links to applications on your home screen giving you a choice of icons from the aforementioned "Icon Pack".
Theme developers could then distribute the "Icon Pack" with the theme, and end users could easily add custom icons to your home screen from your phone without having to mess about on a PC.
liamw said:
I agree with the OP, while it is easy enough to edit the apks, resign them, copy them back onto your phone it would be far more elegant (IMHO) if you could have an application that allowed you to copy "Icon Packs" onto your SDCard, and then add links to applications on your home screen giving you a choice of icons from the aforementioned "Icon Pack".
Theme developers could then distribute the "Icon Pack" with the theme, and end users could easily add custom icons to your home screen from your phone without having to mess about on a PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what everyone wants is Anycut that can do custom icons.

Like changing themes but hate having to change desktop shortcuts?

Do you like to change your theme?
Do you hate having to redo your custom shortcuts 1 by 1?
Then I have a timesaver for you!
Step 1: Install a theme and setup your icons.
Step 2: Use mybackuppro and make a backup. Select backup, data, sdcard, home shortcuts. Save as *themename*.
Step 3: Use Gscript to save this scipt
Themer.sh
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
echo "boot-recovery
--update_package=SDCARD:themes/"$1"/update.zip" > /cache/recovery/command
reboot recovery
Step 4: Use Gscript to apply new themes with the following command:
sh /sdcard/themer.sh *themename*
Step 5: Save Gscript theme by name.
Now whenever you want run Gscript using the saved script for the theme you want. After your G1 restarts run MyBackup Pro and restore, data, sdcard, home shortcuts!
Note: for this script themes must be stored as /sdcard/themes/*themename*/update.zip
Replace *themename* with the name of the theme.
Changing themes and keeping desktop icons
I don't intend on discounting beagz's method or app here but I found a way that seems much simpler. After I get tired of my current theme, I re-flash the phone with the firmware I am currently using to get me back to the stock theme while keeping my desktop shortcuts and then I flash my new custom theme. It has worked every time and always retains the desktop folders and shortcuts. To make it even easier and portable, I keep a folder on my memory card that has subfolders with each of the themes and one with my current firmware. When I am ready to flash, I just copy the update.zip that I need to the root and I'm ready to flash my theme or firmware. Hope this helps.
Hey, it's all good. Any suggestions are great and somebody is sure to use them. I just like to post different ideas I find that I think may help someone else. If anyone has a better way then GREAT! I will probably try it myself.
Thanks.

How to extract certain parts of a theme or ROM

How do i take certain things out of a theme like wallpapers/sounds?
In specific cyanogen and hero roms.
For future reference, try using the search function in the top right corner...
in answer to your question, its pretty simple, you just download the theme or Rom update you want and unzip it to a folder somewhere. But that just gets the images/xmls out of the zip. you can edit them to your choosing, but to be able to use them you need to be able to sign updates, i suggest you search this forum for "Signing", and get yourself set up to sign updates and .apks. then if you want to extract things from apks, you just add .zip to the end and then extract it, like HTCMusic.apk you would rename to HTCMusic.apk.zip, and then unzip that and it will give you everything inside the apk. then you have to sign every individual .apk before you put it back.
I also suggest you search this forum for "Draw9patch", and you should google "Android SDK" and download and setup the android sdk AND eclipse (you will need that to recompile ".9.pngs" before repackaging them). All this is well documented, but you gotta search like everybody else, its alot more than one post worth of reading...just start diggin around inside a theme and learn how they work and how they break down, and then go study what you need to do to put it back together and make it work right..
-BMFC
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=569529
i had the same problem and now its solved . Just open the .apk and change the images or copie

Metamorph and the Incredible Help thread

Figured we might need a help thread for metamorph and since I need help here goes the first question
So I took part of my theme and made it Metamorph compatible with the guide here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591329
Now MM opens the zip fine, starts to install it, asks permission to edit framework-res.apk then after about 1 minute it asks for a reboot and then before I can answer it just reboots. At this point it gets stuck in a boot loop and I have to nandroid.
Never really messed with MM so it could be something I am doing wrong or I did read this:
Depending on the device you have you may need a different SPL to be able to apply themes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyways I attached my test theme (no where complete, just wanted to test it). Is the issue with me, the phones spl or metamorph not ready for the incredible yet?
ps: If your going to test my theme uploaded here, be smart, do a backup, this is just a test and not a full theme and I just told you it is causing boot loops
test file download
I wonder if the SPL will be the roadblock until Froyo is officially released. Of course I know nothing of these things...
*Sent via Tapatalk on my Incredible
running latest leak 8/1/10 new radio 2.15 busybox all set up. tried to installed metamorph and ninjamorph, gives /system error about space and then my root is broken ?!? any ideas folks, so lost on this one. thank god for nandroid restore
icedmayhem said:
running latest leak 8/1/10 new radio 2.15 busybox all set up. tried to installed metamorph and ninjamorph, gives /system error about space and then my root is broken ?!? any ideas folks, so lost on this one. thank god for nandroid restore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you run the unrevoked forever to unlock the nand
I'm having mixed results with metamorph. I was able to do everything I wanted on CM6. I actually ported this over for us and it works great on metamorph not problems, check it out: http://androidforums.com/roms-incredible/149055-theme-vatsense-cm6port.html
now I tried porting one of my themes over to skyraider2.2 and I can get framework-res and com.htc.resources to work fine, but when i tried to add in my themed apps, I get a f/c and have to pull battery. http://androidforums.com/roms-incredible/148221-theme-do-bluev1.html
Ran the unrevoked tool so give me s off as well...
I had somebody in the nexus forum metamorph the weather channel widget but I cant get it to install, anyone game to take a look? I would love this to be transparent.
I have ran unrevoked forever and installe the latest metamorph.
Thanks
Im running (latest) stock 2.2 leak, and i cant get metamorph or NinjaMorph to make ANYthing stick. (YES I HAVE S-OFF) Both run as if they are making the changes, No diff than they did with the Moto Droid. MM reboots after ANY package, not just framework, with out asking to reboot. Ninja will usually break the app (app is no longer installed)
ANY IDEAS?
EDIT: just for kicks i installed a Deodexed Stock ROM, and still the same results... It says its doing it, but i the end it makes NO changes to the APK files.
see if you can manually (adb) replace the files and see if it sticks..... if not then the issue is not metemporph.... it's a rooting/nand issue.
R1lover said:
see if you can manually (adb) replace the files and see if it sticks..... if not then the issue is not metemporph.... it's a rooting/nand issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Manually replacing the entire APK... work just like it did when we needed recovery. Just now you type ADB remount, then push it.
If you mean manually replacing the edited files within the apk, thats not directly possible via adb. you have to PULL, EDIT,PUSH.
The problem here is metaMorph is supposed to open the apk replace just the edited files then close it up right on the phone, and its just not doing that!
what i did that fixed all my issues was install busybox from market. its odd but it all works perfect now even though i though it had been prebuilt into the rom. strange but ill take it
icedmayhem said:
what i did that fixed all my issues was install busybox from market. its odd but it all works perfect now even though i though it had been prebuilt into the rom. strange but ill take it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I just did what you said, before Metamorph would say not enough free space in /system/
I was using the 8/1/10 Froyo leak and I guess that one didn't have busybox, weird I was able to use Titanium Backup and I though that required busybox as well...
everytime you switch a rom, you should download busybox and let it update, it changes per rom.
Welp , Im still at a loss... I updated busybox, using the market app... and it still gives me the same results...
It takes 2-3 min to "apply theme" then reboots... and NO changes !
My theme contains ONLY the folders and files that need to be replaced, and my xml is copied from an existing theme, then edited. So i dont know wtf is goin on with this ****.
try making it into a file that can be flashed from recovery, then ull know for sure u made it correct....
Not sure this will help but I just installed Metamorph today and was getting the "system memory" error. To fix the problem I just used Root Explorer to mount /system as rw. Could the problems be related to write permissions?
I'm new to this...
I'm running SkyRaider's 2.5.2. Sense ROM. Just downloaded MM & BusyBox via market. When I start MM I select "Start Checks" or whatever. It then either forces my phone into reboot or gives me the "not enough memory in /system" error.
I did not install unrevoked forever. Is that my problem?
ksidirt said:
I'm new to this...
I'm running SkyRaider's 2.5.2. Sense ROM. Just downloaded MM & BusyBox via market. When I start MM I select "Start Checks" or whatever. It then either forces my phone into reboot or gives me the "not enough memory in /system" error.
I did not install unrevoked forever. Is that my problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh yea, it needs to write to system, you need S-off to use it.
I'm reviving this thread so as to not clutter up the Metamorph Themes Master List thread
This quote is from the other thread, I just thought it would be more appropriate to answer here instead.
mikesincredible said:
Wow. What you just told me is like trying to learn chinese...lol I see there's more involved...any good articles to point out so I can learn. I just know rom manager and adb push code... ::
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure there are some guides floating around XDA, but I mostly learned MM just by messing with it and learning from trial and error.
Basically, metamorph just opens up an .apk file, replaces any of the files it finds in the folders specified by a theme's .xml file, then closes/re-signs the apk.
This is much better than flashing themes from the recovery menu or rom manager because doing so replaces the entire framework-res.apk, overwriting any themes you had previously installed. Since metamorph only replaces the files you want, any theme you already had will be preserved.
Here's an example to get a quick overview of how it works. Say you've already applied my black rotary lockscreen mod (found here) and you want to use some of the elements from SoCalMiles' Incredible rEVOlution theme.
First you should download his file, and inside the .zip find "\Incredible_Revolution_Original_Theme.zip\system\framework\framework-res.apk" and extract it somewhere.
Then rename "framework-res.apk" to "framework-res.apk.zip" or something similar. Now you can browse/unzip the files just like you would any other folder.
In your new .zip navigate to \framework-res.apk.zip\res\drawable-hdpi-v4, most of a rom's theme will be in that folder.
Now, if you've applied my theme through metamorph (or any theme, for that matter) you should have the directory "\sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\" on your sdcard.
Choose any of the files you want to apply to your phone from the extracted Incredible rEVOlution drawable-hdpi-v4 folder and copy them from to the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\ folder. Now when you run the metamorph it should copy the files you added as well as the ones that were previously there.
If you want to copy files that are not in the drawable-hdpi-v4 folder, simply make a new folder for the containing folder. Basically just make sure the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\whatevs\framework-res\ directories match the directories in the framework-res.apk file you're pulling from.
That's the easiest way to combine two themes, if you're looking to make you're own metamorph theme to post on xda you'll need to learn to edit the .xml file which directs metamorph to which files to modify, but that isn't too hard either, and there's no need to do this if you're just making metamorphs for your own personal use.
mixedlemon said:
I'm reviving this thread so as to not clutter up the Metamorph Themes Master List thread
This quote is from the other thread, I just thought it would be more appropriate to answer here instead.
I'm sure there are some guides floating around XDA, but I mostly learned MM just by messing with it and learning from trial and error.
Basically, metamorph just opens up an .apk file, replaces any of the files it finds in the folders specified by a theme's .xml file, then closes/re-signs the apk.
This is much better than flashing themes from the recovery menu or rom manager because doing so replaces the entire framework-res.apk, overwriting any themes you had previously installed. Since metamorph only replaces the files you want, any theme you already had will be preserved.
Here's an example to get a quick overview of how it works. Say you've already applied my black rotary lockscreen mod (found here) and you want to use some of the elements from SoCalMiles' Incredible rEVOlution theme.
First you should download his file, and inside the .zip find "\Incredible_Revolution_Original_Theme.zip\system\framework\framework-res.apk" and extract it somewhere.
Then rename "framework-res.apk" to "framework-res.apk.zip" or something similar. Now you can browse/unzip the files just like you would any other folder.
In your new .zip navigate to \framework-res.apk.zip\res\drawable-hdpi-v4, most of a rom's theme will be in that folder.
Now, if you've applied my theme through metamorph (or any theme, for that matter) you should have the directory "\sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\" on your sdcard.
Choose any of the files you want to apply to your phone from the extracted Incredible rEVOlution drawable-hdpi-v4 folder and copy them from to the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\ folder. Now when you run the metamorph it should copy the files you added as well as the ones that were previously there.
If you want to copy files that are not in the drawable-hdpi-v4 folder, simply make a new folder for the containing folder. Basically just make sure the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\whatevs\framework-res\ directories match the directories in the framework-res.apk file you're pulling from.
That's the easiest way to combine two themes, if you're looking to make you're own metamorph theme to post on xda you'll need to learn to edit the .xml file which directs metamorph to which files to modify, but that isn't too hard either, and there's no need to do this if you're just making metamorphs for your own personal use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What other folders contain the status icons? I'm looking to restore the circle battery and alarm from the incredible revolution theme, I found the battery.pngs..but no alarm..so if I copy and paste them to the blackrotary folder in androidthemes and metamorph, I should have the battery back

Need some help

Hi all I need help I want to start building roms.But I need a good guide for themeing if any one can help me or just show me where to start that would be great ..
Thank you
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
There aren't any, try asking this question in the theming section and somebody might be kind enough to help you out...
Are you trying to build a rom or are you trying to theme an existing rom? if you are just trying to change the theme and arent doing any development work it will be much easier on you if you just learn how to make/edit a theme. In fact it can be relatively simple (though very very time consuming) to make your own basic theme.
To start with you will want to get your framework-res.apk file and you will want to decompile it. once you do this you will see several folders in the res folder you should see a drawable folder. this holds all your xml files. These are the actual "code" for a good part of the framework. you should see several other folders drawable-hdpi is the folder that will hold most of your images (in .png or .9.png) these can be replaced with the images you want (keep them same name and same format for .png for .9 it is not suggested that you mess witht hem till you do research and learn how specifically to edit them .once done recompile the framework-res.apk file and put it in your rom or into a flashable zip.
this will let you change a large portion of the framework theme of your phone. it takes a little practice and patients. Obviously there are many other things you an do that are much more difficult but this should get you started at least.
DO NOT EDIT .9s IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YET!!
Stick to regular pngs as a starting point.
When decompiling existing themes I have seen them throw errors left and right because of badly edited .9s. These errors won't allow the framework to recompile correctly.
Grab some themes you want to play with and pull the drawable-hdpi folders out of the apk then mix and match the images you want into the apk you are going to use.
Once you get an idea of which images change what in the system then you can start looking at editing .9s. When you get to that point you will see just how amazing it is that themes even work with badly compiled .9s.
I know first hand. I literally had to fix .9 pngs in an entire theme just to be able to edit the xmls myself and have it recompile.
very true i dont sugest editing .9s unless you know how. Most basic icon changes can be made without editing them however if you mess them up it can be a huge pain to get the theme going. Another tip always make a back up of your default untouched framework. this can help save you if you mess something up and need to replace the files.
omegasun18 said:
very true i dont sugest editing .9s unless you know how. Most basic icon changes can be made without editing them however if you mess them up it can be a huge pain to get the theme going. Another tip always make a back up of your default untouched framework. this can help save you if you mess something up and need to replace the files.
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Another good suggestion.
To add to this, op you should learn to use adb.
It will save you ALOT of time when testing the icon changes.
Instead of having to make a flashable zip file, when you learn adb you can push the one file you are testing and if it bootloops your device guess what, just adb push the original back and your system will boot again.
This prevents you from having to nand restore everytime you boot loop your device.
At this point, the only thing I flash via zips are full roms (mine at least). Everything else I either adb push/pull or fastboot flash it.
Thanks for all your help...I will try to figure this thing out

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