Develop Bugs

Updating system apks (Making a zip file)

I've been reading through but not been able to find the way of creating the zip file that everyone distributes. What should the file structure be? Can someone point me in the location of this please?
e.g. I want to update framework-res.apk in /system/framework. Do I just create /system/framework in a zip? Do I need to have anything in META-INF/com/google/android/update-script? I've tried just editing existing zips and replacing with my file but when I apply the zip it fails. I've even tried signing the zips too.
It's probably me just missing something! Thanks.

Code:
show_progress 0.1 0
copy_dir PACKAGE:system SYSTEM:
show_progress 0.2 10

Thanks, I have this in the update-script already. It just doesn't seem to apply the zip though. Am I going about the process wrong?

What recovery are you using? Is your zip signed?

I signed the zip with Desire Tools and the sign rom process. Using clockwork mod recovery to flash the zip.

Should be fine. What is the error your getting? Are you sure your update-script doesn't have an extention?

I got it to work by using windows zip in the end. It seems OS X zip utilities weren't working properly. Thanks for your help!

[Q] android problem

trying to run android on top of windows mobile 6.1 on a o2 xda stellar. but the instructions on http://www.androidonhtc.com/ says put androidinstall.tar on the memory card, but none of the builds come with androidinstall.tar, they come with androidinstall.tgz
I re-named it but when installing on the phone using haret it says unable to open androidinstal.tar. so then when trying to boot it has no system files as it hasn't installed them. so i get error no:2 when trying to boot.
any help?

try opening the .tgz see if there is an androidinstall.tar inside of it. If not then place it in the install directory instead.

aceoyame said:
try opening the .tgz see if there is an androidinstall.tar inside of it. If not then place it in the install directory instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no there isnt an androidinstall.tar inside of it.

r.lepecha said:
no there isnt an androidinstall.tar inside of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then rename it androidinstall.tgz and install it like you would a .tar file

thoughtlesskyle said:
then rename it androidinstall.tgz and install it like you would a .tar file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried it, it still says unreadable file because it makes it into a .tar file with the the .tgz as another file inside

Why not try just not renaming it and keeping the .tgz extension? If all else fails the build i have, my bare bones one inside the rar file sits an androidinstall.tar

i extracted it, and i have re-compressed to .tar, going to try that

failed to extract. can some one give me a printscreen of what is in each folder because im confused now.

I think it would be nice if all the releaser make the same compression for the rom rls, if it would be .tar inside zip or just .tgz
It would make you guys not have to answer this question too many times.
Edit : If you can't extract it, does that mean your file corrupted?

vellowax said:
I think it would be nice if all the releaser make the same compression for the rom rls, if it would be .tar inside zip or just .tgz
It would make you guys not have to answer this question too many times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have now got the .tgz to install but i get many IO errors. and then when it goes to boot all it does is go blank? any help on that?
Android Installed
Fixing Permissions on files
chown: /data/app_s: No such file or directory
chmod: /data/app_s: No such file or directory
chown: /system/bin/su: No such file or directory
chmod: /system/bin/su: No such file or directory
chown: /system/init: No such file or directory
chmod: /system/init: No such file or directory
sh: 2: unknown operand
e2fsck 1.38 (30-Jun-2005)
e2fsck: while determining whether /dev/block/loop1 is mounted
/dev/block/loop1: clean, 544/65536 files, 83557/262144 blocks
e2fsck 1.38 (30-Jun-2005)
e2fsck: while determining whether /dev/block/loop0 is mounted
/dev/block/loop0: clean, 272/65536 files, 25007/262144 blocks
mount: mounting /data/sysfiles/su on /system/bin/su failed: No such file or directory
my file setup is
\root\default.txt
\root\haret.exe
\root\intrd.gz
\root\KAISimg.nbh
\root\rootfs.img
\root\zimage
\root\andboot\androidinstall.tgz
\root\conf\with lots of .conf files inside
\root\media\audio\....etc etc
\root\media\resource\with images inside.

i now managed to get it to boot into android. but it didnt extract the androidinstall.tgz so the system files aren't there. can some one please send me a link to download the androidinstall.tar because no matter what I do with the .tgz it doesn't work.

http://www.mediafire.com/?5ioe4z80db9e7dm that is my barebones android. Basically you just use market and configure it the way you want. I linked you my De-odex'd release 3 which is more configurable.

thanks a lot.
going to try it now.
edit : still doesn't work.
i dont know what else to try

UOT KItchen

I recently put together a battery icon and boot loader in UOT Kitchen, if I install the file I edited form zip will it format anything or just change what ever I edited?
I'm running RMK Gingerbreadsense

It should just change what you've edited, but make a backup just in case.

If you flash the .zip it won't modify any other files that are not inside the .zip
Sent from my ADR6350 using XDA App

speaking of this kitchen, i was trying to change my boot animation and found a 'bootanimation.zip' file on my phone....
although kitchen is asking me to upload a system.ui file or some com.htc.resources.apk file
the system file is on my phone but keeps saying it's "read only" and won't let me do anything with it.. and the other file doesn't seem to exist.
that and "kitchen's list" doesn't even show the rom i'm using anyway.
what gives?
[EDIT] actually any of the .apk files in the system/apps folder say "read only".
[EDIT 2] - i found the com.htc.resources.apk file, but i can't get around the 'ready only' on the systemui.apk file - is there a way to remove read only status?
[EDIT 3] - damn terminal won't even allow it: "Unable to chmod /system: Read-only file system"

I have a copy of all the roms I use so I just extracted RMK Gingersense and got the files, put on desktop, then uploaded them with out a problem. I haven't installled customized files though lol I don't want to brick or ruin anything. Might just end up doing it though.

To the person with the read-only problems: were you using root explorer when you were browsing those system folders? You have to mount R/W, there's a button on the upper right.

k_nivesout said:
To the person with the read-only problems: were you using root explorer when you were browsing those system folders? You have to mount R/W, there's a button on the upper right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that worked. thank you!

create flashable zip question

I have 4 computers that I use and 2 of them have adb drivers installed, the other 2(work computers that i am not really allowed to install much on) does not. To be able to push files to my htc desire on the computers that i do not have adb drivers installed I need a flashable zip. I only want to push files such as ringtones, /system apps, bootanimation.zip files and such, i have no intention of changing the framework or the theme and so on. So could anyone point me in the direction of where could i find a ready empty zip file like this or a tutorial in how to make one?
P.S. one of the uses for this is when i am out on a business trip i do not have my personal computer with me, so if brut-maps gets updated i want to be able to push it to the phone without adb.

Hello.
I only have basic knowledge on the subject, so i'm just gonna explain what i do when i need to flash something via flashable .zip.
1) Get a simple flashable .zip used to flash files anywhere on the /system partition.
2) Open it with WinRAR or 7zip or whatever. Navigate to META-INF/com/google/android/. There you will find two files: update-binary and updater-script. You need not touch the binary, because it's the same for all flashable .zips. What you need to do is extract then edit the updater-script, as that tells the recovery what to do with the flashable .zip's contents.
3) Editing the updater-script: let's say we need to create a .zip to flash a new Mail.apk to /system/app. The updater-script's content would need to be:
Code:
show_progress(0.1, 0);
mount("MTD", "system", "/system");
delete("/system/app/Mail.apk");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
show_progress(0.1, 10);
unmount("/system");
The "show_progress" lines are self-explanatory. The "mount" command tells the system to mount the /system partition. We then delete the old Mail.apk and tell the recovery where we want to extract the contents of the .zip. After everything's done, we unmount /system.
Add the edited updater-script to the archive, overwriting the original one. Be sure to set your archiver to "Normal" compression level.
4) Creating the proper directory structure: again, let's say we need to flash Mail.apk to /system/app and that we have properly configured the updater-script for this task. We now need to create a folder named "system" (anywhere on the PC), place a subfolder named "app" inside it, then place the new Mail.apk inside the "app" subfolder. We then add the whole structure to the flashable .zip (making sure that there are no other folders in it than "META-INF") and that's that! Again, make sure you use "Normal" compression.
5) Copy the .zip to your SD card, reboot into Recovery and flash the .zip.
6) Enjoy!

thank you very much, that was exactly the kind of information i was looking for.

You're welcome.
Here's a simple flashable .zip i used to replace media_profiles.xml in the /system/etc folder when i didn't have a PC handy and my phone wouldn't boot. You can edit it and use it for your own purpose.

[SCRIPT] DeBloat roms

*****DISCLAIMER: Make a full Nandroid backup of your phone before using these scripts. I'm not responsible for damaging or bricking your phone.
DO NOT FLASH THESE ZIP FILES IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO CREATE NANDROID BACKUPS OR RESTORE YOUR DEVICE.*****​
What is it:
If you like to add and remove extra files to your roms zip while flashing the roms, this flashable script will help speed up the installation process. This script is to delete unnecessary apps (ie. bloatwares) from roms. The zip file of this script also contain specific folders that you can put in apps, ringtones, etc which will be copied to the phone when flashed.
I created this scipt with my limited knowledge of linux commands for personal uses, they come as flashable zip files that you can flash using custom recoveries such as "CWM" or "TWRP". I received helps from joesmammafat with the commands so thanks to him.
IF YOU FLASHED THIS SCRIPT ON STOCK FIRMWARE, OVER THE AIR UPDATES WILL NO LONGER WORK.​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download is in bottom of post.​
*****addremovefiles script package*****
ui_print(">>> MOUNTING /SYSTEM PARTITION... <<<");
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/system");
ui_print(">>> DELETING APPS... <<<");
#****Essential stock apps****
#delete("/system/app/Browser.apk");
#delete("/system/app/Calendar.apk");
#delete("/system/app/CalendarProvider.apk");
#delete("/system/app/CalendarProvider.odex");
#delete("/system/app/Email.apk");
#delete("/system/app/Exchange2.apk");
#delete("/system/priv-app/CalendarProvider.apk");
#delete("/system/priv-app/CalendarProvider.odex");
#****Essential Google stock apps****
#delete("/system/app/CalendarGoogle.apk");
#delete("/system/app/CalendarGoogle.odex");
#delete("/system/app/EmailGoogle.apk");
#delete("/system/app/EmailGoogle.odex");
#delete("/system/app/Exchange2Google.apk");
#delete("/system/app/Exchange2Google.odex");
#****Google's Extra Keyboards****
delete("/system/app/GoogleHindiIME.apk");
delete("/system/app/GooglePinyinIME.apk");
delete("/system/lib/libjni_googlepinyinime_5.so");
delete("/system/lib/libjni_googlepinyinime_latinime_5.so");
delete("/system/app/iWnnIME.apk");
delete("/system/app/iWnnIME_Kbd_White.apk");
delete("/system/lib/libiwnn.so");
delete("/system/app/KoreanIME.apk");
delete("/system/lib/libjni_koreanime.so");
delete("/system/app/PinyinIME.apk");
delete("/system/lib/libjni_pinyinime.so");
delete("/system/app/OpenWnn.apk");
delete("/system/lib/libwnndict.so");
delete("/system/lib/libWnnEngDic.so");
delete("/system/lib/libWnnJpnDic.so");
#****Roms preloaded apps****
#delete("/system/app/CMFileManager.apk");
#delete("/system/app/SlimFileManager.apk");
delete("/system/app/Apollo.apk");
delete("/system/app/CMWallpapers.apk");
delete("/system/app/DashClock.apk");
delete("/system/app/Development.apk");
delete("/system/app/HoloSpiralWallpaper.apk");
delete("/system/app/HoloSpiralWallpaper.odex");
delete("/system/app/LiveWallpapers.apk");
delete("/system/app/LiveWallpapers.odex");
delete("/system/app/LockClock.apk");
delete("/system/app/MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk");
delete("/system/app/MagicSmokeWallpapers.odex");
delete("/system/app/mGerrit.apk");
delete("/system/app/Microbes.apk");
delete("/system/lib/libmicrobes_jni.so");
delete("/system/app/Music.apk");
delete("/system/app/QuickSearchBox.apk");
delete("/system/app/SlimIRC.apk");
delete("/system/app/SpareParts.apk");
delete("/system/app/SwagPapers.apk");
delete("/system/app/Term.apk");
delete("/system/app/UnicornPorn.apk");
delete("/system/app/VideoEditor.apk");
delete("/system/app/VoiceDialer.apk");
delete("/system/priv-app/VoiceDialer.apk");
#****Google apps (downloadable through PlayStore)***
#delete("/system/app/CloudPrint.apk");
#delete("/system/app/CloudPrint2.apk");
#delete("/system/app/GoogleTTS.apk");
#delete("/system/app/GoogleTTS.odex");
#delete("/system/app/Hangouts.apk");
#delete("/system/app/HPLegacyPlugin.apk");
#delete("/system/app/HPPrintPlugin.apk");
#delete("/system/app/Wallet.apk");
#delete("/system/priv-app/Wallet.apk");
delete("/system/app/Books.apk");
delete("/system/app/Chrome.apk");
delete("/system/app/Currents.apk");
delete("/system/app/Drive.apk");
delete("/system/app/GenieWidget.apk");
delete("/system/app/GenieWidget.odex");
delete("/system/app/Gmail.apk");
delete("/system/app/Gmail2.apk");
delete("/system/app/Gmail2.odex");
delete("/system/app/GMS_Maps.apk");
delete("/system/app/GoogleEars.apk");
delete("/system/app/GoogleEars.odex");
delete("/system/app/GoogleEarth.apk");
delete("/system/app/GooglePlus.apk");
delete("/system/app/Keep.apk");
delete("/system/app/Keep.odex");
delete("/system/app/Magazines.apk");
delete("/system/app/Maps.apk");
delete("/system/app/Music2.apk");
delete("/system/app/Music2.odex");
delete("/system/app/OccamQuickOffice.apk");
delete("/system/app/PlayGames.apk");
delete("/system/app/PlusOne.apk");
delete("/system/app/Quickoffice.apk");
delete("/system/app/QuickOffice.apk");
delete("/system/app/Street.apk");
delete("/system/app/Translate.apk");
delete("/system/app/Videos.apk");
delete("/system/app/VideoEditorGoogle.apk");
delete("/system/app/VideoEditorGoogle.odex");
delete("/system/app/VoiceSearchStub.apk");
delete("/system/app/VoiceSearchStub.odex");
delete("/system/app/YouTube.apk");
#****Google's Accessibility****
#delete("/system/app/talkback.apk");
#delete("/system/priv-app/talkback.apk");
ui_print(">>> DELETING EXTRA MEDIA FILES... <<<");
delete("/system/media/LMprec_508.emd");
delete("/system/media/PFFprec_600.emd");
delete_recursive("/system/media/video/");
#****Essential media files****
#delete("/system/media/bootanimation.zip");
#delete_recursive("/system/media/audio/alarms/");
#delete_recursive("/system/media/audio/notifications/");
#delete_recursive("/system/media/audio/ringtones/");
ui_print(">>> DELETING PICOTTS LANGUAGES... <<<");
#****PicoTTS's non-English languages****
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/de-DE_gl0_sg.bin");
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/de-DE_ta.bin");
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/es-ES_ta.bin");
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/es-ES_zl0_sg.bin");
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/fr-FR_nk0_sg.bin");
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/fr-FR_ta.bin");
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/it-IT_cm0_sg.bin");
delete("/system/tts/lang_pico/it-IT_ta.bin");
ui_print(">>> EXTRACTING SYSTEM FILES... <<<");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
ui_print(">>> UNMOUNTING /SYSTEM PARTITION... <<<");
unmount("/system");
ui_print(">>> FINISHED... <<<");
WHAT IT DO:
--Delete unnecessary apps preloaded by popular roms (CM, AOKP, PA, Slim).
--Delete unnecessary Google apps downloadable from PlayStore (important core Google services are kept).
--Delete unneeded media files from the "/system/media" directory.
--Delete non-English PicoTTS's languages.
--Copy everything from the "system" folder from the zip file to the /system partition of the device.
IMPORTANT:
--The script file is called "updater-script" located in the folder "\META-INF\com\google\android\" of the zip package.
--Some 'delete' commands are commented out with a # sign, this means those lines will not execute. I comment out lines that will delete apps that might be essential for most users. If you want those apps deleted anyway, remove the # sign before the commands.
--This package contain a folder called "system" in it, with a few common subfolders such as "app" and "media". You can add your own APKs, bootanimation and ringtones into the appropriate folders, which will be copied over to your device once you flashed the package.
Google apps:
--Only non-important Google apps are removed, all which are possible to be downloaded from the PlayStore. Important Google apps such as; core Google services, GmsCore, Phonesky, Velvet, Google Launchers are left alone. You will still be able to log into your Google account, sync and use the PlayStore. You can always delete these lines from the script if you want to keep the gapps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
F.A.Q.
How do you use this script packages?
This is a flashable zip package that you can flash using custom recoveries such as TWRP. They are meant to be flashed after a factory reset or a clean rom install. Remember you are taking a risk by using them and I'm not responsible for damages to your phone, make a Nandroid backup before flashing them.
How to edit the script file?
Open up the zip file, go into the folder: \META-INF\com\google\android\ and extract the file updater-script and edit it with a text editor. If you are using Windows, I recommend using Notepad++ to edit the script file. While editing it, rename the file to "updater-script.sh", it will be much easier to edit with NotePad++ since the commands will become color coded. Do not use Wordpad or Microsoft Office, the file needs to be in unix format otherwise it will fail to work. Copy the new 'updater-script' back into the zip file when you're done.
I get "E: error executing updater binary in zip" when trying to flash the zips?
Could be for a number of reasons. Your version of custom recovery may not work with these scripts or its 'update-binary' file doesn't work with your device possibly. You may have an encrypted device. Maybe you edit the script, but made a typing or syntax error in the process.
I added an APK into the "/system/app folder/" to flash, but the app doesn't work afterward:
Some apps required "lib" files to work properly, which is located inside the APK itself, they needed to be placed in the '/system/lib' folder. Some apps will simply not work installed in the /system partition and will need to be installed the traditional way.
I flashed your zip files and now my phone is bootlooping / bricked.
Sorry, should have read the warning disclaimer above and made a back up first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
>>> DOWNLOAD: see attachment. <<<​
MD5 sum
ea3e7d36aacc9dd3dd41e4888335a09a addremovefiles_v1.07.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changelog:
v1.07:
-added more apk to be deleted:
HoloSpiralWallpaper, MagicSmokeWallpapers odex
CloudPrint, HPLegacyPlugin (not deleted by default)
GMS_Maps
Quickoffice
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