Let me start by saying that I have googled, and used the search box for XDA. I haven`t been able to find a clear guide, or even a hint on how to go about making a custom theme for manila 2d. The only things I can find are lots of link to themes others have made and other unless information. It`s like it`s everybody else`s big secret or something. I just want to be able to make my own theme that I actually like, and contribute to the Pocket PC community. I`m not exactly a noob when it comes to PPC`s , but I`m certainly no expert. I just want to learn how to do things myself, instead of waiting to see what others come come up with.
Enough with my sad plea though, if any one can help me out I`d appreciated it. I`m not asking for a 20 page detailed step by step guide or nothing just maybe a explaination of how the stuff in the theme fits together, what types of files and extension, the basics.
Whenever I make custom graphics for apps, I do this. First, take a look at the files associated with the app. If you have actual graphic files, than it's just a simple create and replace. Some apps use .dat files, which are protected sets of files. Like with Spb apps, you have to rename "file.dat", to "file.zip" and extract with the password. If after browsing through the files and find nothing, PM someone about how to change it.
I used M2D once, but never really looked at what it included. I suggest downloading a theme that is not a .cab file, and see what's included. If you still can't find your answer, PM someone.
Wish I could help, but I have only used it for a grand total of 10 minutes.
Well, in my whole 5 minutes of looking into this, the quickest way i can see is to download a theme from someone like - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=448326...
Then modify to your liking, and extract to the windows folder on your vogue.
Hope this helps.
nosco said:
Well, in my whole 5 minutes of looking into this, the quickest way i can see is to download a theme from someone like - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=448326...
Then modify to your liking, and extract to the windows folder on your vogue.
Hope this helps.
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Ewww, not too hot on all that red.... Take a look at these while you are at it....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=425974
I was wondering the same thing on how to make the custom themes. Did you have any luck pknyo?
From what I've seen on these you can take the elements you like from several themes and combine them.
If you open one of the .ZIP files, you'll see a structure. All of the icons that are needed are named and there's a bunch of them.
You can also open and check out the .XML file at the end it has the sizing criteria for the themes.
If I am incorrect here, feel free to correct.
I successfully edited my first .png and ported it as a theme!
Colored Vibrating Phone!!
I want to appologize for being impatient to all the current theme developers specifically Manup. After spending an hour how to get the .png to save in the archive file, I can see that editing each individual icon could take hours and hours if you want it to look right.
Time for me to try at some more difficult stuff.
Hope to be posting my first theme within the next few months.
um..what did you do that took so long?
well....
Remember that this is my first self attempt at this.
I was having trouble getting it to save to the archive. The pop up was behind other applications I was running, so I didn't see it prompting me to save to the archive.
Next is just the editing of the .png itself. If I was just copying and pasting it wouldn't have taken any time. I had to find the icon I wanted to put there, then change the colors just right. It isn't really hard, just time consuming, but you already know that. This is why I was apologizing. Its my first time, give me a break.
Ok I went to edit the first android boot screen.
and of course it hung on boot screen in a loop. My file went from around 3k to 31k so obviously the file is too big. I can't seem to find an option to compress or deflate the file using 7zip.
Can any give me some suggestions?
You don't the .png images with 7zip you do it with Photoshop or whatever graphic design program. There is a post some where explaining how to compress the .png images i just don't know it of hand.
Yeah you want to save the file in photoshop using the save for web & devices...or the pngout program. read thru this here. has my way and the pngout way in the posts.
Ill give ya a tip, this is how i do it at least. i extract the update.zip then extract all the apks that i am going to change. I start editing all the files in framework-res, then move to Launcher, contacts and phone. After these are done i normally import them into the update.zip, sign it and test it.
When i import the images i just open the update.zip in WinRar, then double click the apk i need to import images into. It opens the apk in a new WinRar window, i browse tot he folder i need then just drag the images into it. Do that for each apk then sign it and test it.
Hope this helps.
I was using 7zip for extraction and paintshop pro for editing
I was doing fine. I was just excited to get that far. One of the problems I ran into was when I edited an image file it went from 3k to 30k when. I even used png crush and it only compressed to 24k. Not sure if it is even important yet.
I was only:
A) apologizing for expecting so much when it is so much work.
B) proud that I figured it out and am on my way to editing/creating my own theme.
I only ask one thing of some of the more senior devs. Please don't be so critical. All of us are at several different levels. What may seem juvenile to you might be a huge hurdle to others. This is why we are dependant on you for themes.
Brutal-Force said:
I was doing fine. I was just excited to get that far. One of the problems I ran into was when I edited an image file it went from 3k to 30k when. I even used png crush and it only compressed to 24k. Not sure if it is even important yet.
I was only:
A) apologizing for expecting so much when it is so much work.
B) proud that I figured it out and am on my way to editing/creating my own theme.
I only ask one thing of some of the more senior devs. Please don't be so critical. All of us are at several different levels. What may seem juvenile to you might be a huge hurdle to others. This is why we are dependant on you for themes.
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Good job on getting going, im getting ready to make a go of it as well. I dont think they are criticizing you just being helpful. Have you seen how critical people are in the theme makers posts, cant believe half the theme makers still do it lol.
Brutal-Force said:
I was doing fine. I was just excited to get that far. One of the problems I ran into was when I edited an image file it went from 3k to 30k when. I even used png crush and it only compressed to 24k. Not sure if it is even important yet.
I was only:
A) apologizing for expecting so much when it is so much work.
B) proud that I figured it out and am on my way to editing/creating my own theme.
I only ask one thing of some of the more senior devs. Please don't be so critical. All of us are at several different levels. What may seem juvenile to you might be a huge hurdle to others. This is why we are dependant on you for themes.
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Hope i didn't come off that way...i was just trying to help. no ill intenet in that post at all =)
Thank you.
It always helps with reassuring words while trying something this complicated.
Thank you damnitpud.
I have been following the forums very closely since October. I have even followed your posts and tutorials. I am just trying to ride the wave crest and not fall in, because getting out is a *****. I have had to not only pick up the 'ol writing computer
Read through my post here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3339701&postcount=6
It tells you how to edit the update.zip without extracting anything but the drawables folder. After a lot of time and effort I have streamlined the process as much as possible so maybe you can pick up a few tricks with that walkthrough. And I use gimp, I dont mess wtih compression or saving file for web. I take big images, save them as a png, resize them to 48x48 using the XP power toys resizing tool and drag-and-drop them into my update.zip. I dont know what is happening but everyone keeps thinking its way harder than it really is.
Then when I swap themes from ADP to RC33 or vice versa I open up my theme in 7zip and a blank theme in the version I want to convert too. I got to each apk and drag-and-drop the drawables folder straight into the other update.zip replacing the existing drawables folder. If you do it my way you can convert a theme in minutes or if you have all the artwork you can turn it into a theme in about 15-20 mins TOPS.
My biggest suggestion is to experiment with trial and error, use your nandroid backup and make mistakes, its the best way to learn and there is nothing that compares to hands on experience, that way you know what works and you can tell people from experience instead of hearsay.
7Zip is the best tip you gave B, I tried using WinRar but it wasnt as user friendly for this stuff. Especially as 7Zip saves as you swap and move up the file tree.
I am using your tutorial B.
I don't have photoshop, so I am using Paintshop pro PhotoX2 which works fine for me.
I was using 7zip, but I am used to using Winzip. I am currently using Winzip12 so thats serving my needs nicely.
What I was referring too isn't so much difficult in moving files around, it is more or less knowing WHICH files you can mess with. I have seen posted that don't mess with .9.png files at them moment as that can cause problems. I also do not know what size a theme is aloud to be in the update.zip. I also wanted to know If i have to include ever single file or if it is just neccessary to do just the things you want to change.
It isn't hard to actually do the file changing and such, the "HARD" part is more Time consuming then hard, and thats the artwork required to actually change the look of the component.
More questions will pop-up I am sure, but I am in the Trial and Error Stage right now.
Another question if anyone reads this, Where is the Clock Widget located? I see that every theme maker edits this, and lets be honest, If you use this widget, it is the center focal point of every theme. Just changing this gives the whole desktop another feel.
Brutal-Force said:
...Where is the Clock Widget located? I see that every theme maker edits this, and lets be honest, If you use this widget, it is the center focal point of every theme. Just changing this gives the whole desktop another feel.
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Click to collapse
It's in the Launcher.apk.
All your questions are in the tutorials, if you drag the drawable folder onto your desktop you can see the pics when you doubleclick the folder.
Just my thought,
The clock is something that most people change, but I dont use the clock, that is why the time is in the corner constantly. I feel the clock just eats up space on my desktop. Of course I like it with as few icons as possible.
Thanx for the replies.
I had also found the clock in the Launcher.apk file, but for some reason, when I try and edit it and put it back into the folder it causes my phone stop at the boot screen. I just wanted to make sure I was trying to edit the right file.
I somehow expected it to be in a completely different place.
Yes a lot of my questions may seem to be repeats, but I had initially started this thread as just a Eureka thread. But as long as people who are in the know are reading it, I am glad to ask questions. Sometimes the Main threads and stickies are 150 pages deep and after not reading them for two days you kind of get behind.
well if we are asking questions....then can someone help me
when I go to update my phone with the update zip i get
E:Wrong digest
system/app/Launcher.apk
E:Verification failed
and yes I am new at this...
Have you rooted with RC29 yet?
Looks like what happens before you root.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=442480
Read this first.
I had the exact same "wohoo" feeling when I made my first theme mod and it was a success.
Well, I've always worked with Froyo (way easier tbh, since it lacked SystemUI.apk)...anyways, I'm just trying to figure out which image is the notification background in this picture? I'm sure I can find the XML's affiliated with it, just need the image name and location.
Its status_bar_item_app_background_normal.9 i believe found in framework.res/res/drawable hdpi. Hope this is what your looking for.
The .9.png files are a while 'nother animal. Be sure to search the Android Themes section on how to edit these files if you haven't done it before.
.....
hugo87 said:
Its status_bar_item_app_background_normal.9 i believe found in framework.res/res/drawable hdpi. Hope this is what your looking for.
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I'll give this a shot.
Hey all. I'm not sure if this question has an obvious answer, but...how on earth do you know what images to change when creating a theme? It took me a while to realize that the dialpad was in the contacts apk, and I'm constantly searching for which image goes with the corresponding image on the phone. Is there an easy way to look at, say, the messaging app, and know which images within the apk I need to edit? It can't be simple trial and error, or I'm sure many of you would've gone crazy creating the themes you've brought here. Please, if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.
morrison0880 said:
Hey all. I'm not sure if this question has an obvious answer, but...how on earth do you know what images to change when creating a theme? It took me a while to realize that the dialpad was in the contacts apk, and I'm constantly searching for which image goes with the corresponding image on the phone. Is there an easy way to look at, say, the messaging app, and know which images within the apk I need to edit? It can't be simple trial and error, or I'm sure many of you would've gone crazy creating the themes you've brought here. Please, if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.
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Click to collapse
Think again. Trial and error all the way. There is no this image goes here type guide.
Hey all. I'm not sure if this question has an obvious answer, but...how on earth do you know what images to change when creating a theme? It took me a while to realize that the dialpad was in the contacts apk, and I'm constantly searching for which image goes with the corresponding image on the phone. Is there an easy way to look at, say, the messaging app, and know which images within the apk I need to edit? It can't be simple trial and error, or I'm sure many of you would've gone crazy creating the themes you've brought here. Please, if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.