I am very interested in theming and I downloaded all the recommended software/programs mentioned in the theming threads...
However I can NOT find the answer to my question---
once I have everything I need to edit/create a theme how do I actually begin?
What I mean is, for example, if you want to edit a .PSD file you would open Photoshop to edit the file....
so which program do I use first to open the theme I plan to edit? and is there a "stock" theme to edit as I like or would I download...say...the Evo stock ROM and edit the files in there?
I think I read I should begin with 7z? is this right?
All I've found so far is alot of technical explanations for someone who has experience...once I find out the basics I'm sure it will all fall into place...
if there IS an easy answer posted can someone PLEASE point me in the right direction?
Thanks.
*EDIT*
I was double-clicking on framework-res.apk (following instructions) which was why it wasn't working...once I extracted the file using 7zip all the drawable files were there...I had NO IDEA there were THIS many .png images to edit...lord have mercy...this is gonna be FUN.
If u use a program called apk manager u can put an apk in the and decompile the apk. That mean it opens up the resources.arcs and the classes.dex files and also turns the bianry XML files to readable XML. Meaning u can use this to edit XML and smali files to change colors(mostly in xml files) and also rearange things if u know how to edit smali files. The decompiling also show u all the pngs and the .9 PNG files. The .9 PNG files here will already be showing there draw 9 edit so all u really have to do is edit the image leaving the very edges alone and ur done. Then once all ur edits are done u can recompile the apk and push it back to ur phone. U might have to resign the apk or however u want but there is an easy way to get started. The framework apk is a system apk so u might have to select the correct way to decompile it.
Hope this helps.
See other tutorials on how to create flashable zips and how to edit smali files and XML files.
Usually codes in XML files for colors are set in an eight digit code that cool look like this...ff000000(black) or this ffffffff(white). If u good XML color codes u can find many sites that give show u colors and there codes but to help it works like this...ffrrbbgg....meaning ff (amount of transparency) rr (red) bb (blue) gg (green). I might have put colors in wrong order but u get gist I hope.
Just make sure when editing ur PNG images that when u save them u save them as a PNG only also when editing .9 png files(stretchable pngs) that u leave it as a .9png file. When u save it if it asks just save as PNG but the .9 will stay.
Hope this helps a little
Btw the amount if edits through out an entire them (many apks) is rediculous and many people have no clue how time consuming it can be.
If u need further help u can gtalk me and id be happy to walk u through the process. [email protected]
yeah I downloadad all the tools needed but where I got stuck was, once I have the tools, ROM, etc where do I actually begin at?
I was reading the Ultimate Theming Guide by Google (here) but got confused when it said "double-click the framework-res.apk"...it should have said "extract framework-res.apk with 7ZIP"....when I double-clicked I got all the crazy-looking letters that seemed to be encoded...when I extracted with 7ZIP I saw all the drawable images...all 800+ of them...had no idea there were that many...
so all I have to do, as far as small changes, is edit the .png images in the drawable folders, archive it back together and sign it? do I make it a .ZIP or an UPDATE archive?
broad_st_bully said:
yeah I downloadad all the tools needed but where I got stuck was, once I have the tools, ROM, etc where do I actually begin at?
I was reading the Ultimate Theming Guide by Google (here) but got confused when it said "double-click the framework-res.apk"...it should have said "extract framework-res.apk with 7ZIP"....when I double-clicked I got all the crazy-looking letters that seemed to be encoded...when I extracted with 7ZIP I saw all the drawable images...all 800+ of them...had no idea there were that many...
so all I have to do, as far as small changes, is edit the .png images in the drawable folders, archive it back together and sign it? do I make it a .ZIP or an UPDATE archive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If u want to flash it yes if u want to just copy and paste to ur phone then no. If u c & p it then make sure u set the permissions after
smurf
so if i edit the 9.pngs say just the color i dont have to run them through draw9patch or anything like that?
dased14 said:
smurf
so if i edit the 9.pngs say just the color i dont have to run them through draw9patch or anything like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If u edit their colors u have to run in draw9patch and then recompile them. There is a program called "xultimate-d9pc" that u can use to recompile them. Do a goodle search and Ull find the script. Its easy to use and easy to setup. If u don't ur .9 files will look jacked up
i have that(couldnt get it to work right) i'll try it again. thanks smurf
dased14 said:
i have that(couldnt get it to work right) i'll try it again. thanks smurf
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To get it to work I created a folder call draw 9 compiler. I put the script and the folder called originals in there. Inside the original folder I creates a few folders called drawable, drawable-hdpi, drawable-mdpi, drawable-ldpi. Then after I edit and draw9patch my images I put each one in the ffolders they belong in and go to xultamate-d9pc and click k on it and it will create a done folder u can go into and and all the images will be fixed in there
I'll try that, thanks for the tip
now the voices are 3d
sweet that looks to work perfect only thing extra i had to do was make original/res/then the other folders you said. thank you smurf
dased14 said:
sweet that looks to work perfect only thing extra i had to do was make original/res/then the other folders you said. thank you smurf
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ur welcome and yeah my bad I meant to tell u Res file first. But glad its working
Hello,
Im kind of new to developing for android....
But I did a bit of developing on blackberry in the previous years...
Ive been working on some soft buttons. I designed some buttons in a different thread that work great. But I wanted to edit my SystemUI.apk myself (navagation_bar.xml) so that I could edit a search soft key and the order of the soft key buttons myself....
I can't for the life of me, get this thing to decompile. If you open the navagation_bar.xml from within the SystemUI.apk (even in notepad ++), you get a bunch of random characters. I am assuming this is because I have to actually decompile the SystemUI.apk first.
- so I have downloaded apktools,
- I have it all setup correctly following the instructions for decompiling posted here: http://rootzwiki.com/topic/1836-guide-how-to-decompile-an-apk-updated-w-guide/
I used the framework-res.apk of the rom that I am currently using (Android Rev 2.1.2)
And then I place the SystemUI.apk in the folder to be modded, and go ahead and run the script, try an decompile it. And every single time I try it says "an error occurred, please check the log"
I check the log and nothing there makes any sense to me....
It just says an error occurred in "main" multiple resources....
and then it lists a whole bunch of (unkown source)
Super frustrated here, because I have found some coding and studied some coding and I know how to edit the navigation_bar.xml to my likings.... but I cant get the damn SystemUI.apk to decompile....
Can someone please help me here?
and ideas on what might be going wrong?
Thanks a lot
Replace the files in the "other" folder with these.
http://db.tt/1Cii8tGa
The guide you are using will only work for samsung phones running touchwhiz. You'll need to use the framework specific to the ROM you are working on.
You should be able to find all the necessary info in Brut.all's thread, although Ill admit it did take me a little while to get it all figured out myself.
[UTIL][08.12.11] Apktool v1.4.3 - a tool for reengineering apk files
Hi all,
I`got a problem to decompile the stock home.apk.
Everytime i decompile i get a error saying i have the wrong framework installed but i have the right one installed manually.
I want to have rotate on homescreen only 3 screens and 3rd thing 6 rows and 6 cols. I have to change the folder res\values\ i think but how can i get it or better edit it.
Is their anyone out here who can give me a link or a little tutorial howto.
I have had a look at several pages and gave lot`s of promissing tools a go but nothing helped me out .....
so much moders can please only one share his knowledge
Your best bet would probably to ask someone like vr5411 who posted this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1519742
Hey everyone,i've just started to learn more about the framework and stuff(to give back to this awesome community) by decompiling it and looking at the xmls and pngs within and one thing i found was really obvious that there is no bible of information that us new comers can consult for our questions
I would like to request all the brilliant minds here on xda to help me with a few things if this thread catches their attention.It would educate me and everyone else if our brilliant devs can share their info.I would like to start with a few questions and i really hope this thread takes off as the real reason we are all here is to learn
Questions:
1.The /res/anim folder in the framework has all the animations of the rom if i am not mistaken.But if i overwrite the xml files within with my own collection of xmls there are some files that are not overwritten and hence some animations of the rom donot change.The question here is this.How do find out what xml stands for what animation.Htc has removed the home button animation and i would be very grateful if someone can help me find it.Also app opening animations are still sense and i can't tell which xml to edit to find which one is the app opening one.
2.Recompiling the framework through apk-tool is giving me a lot of errors even when i don't modify anything.I'm using a custom rom framework so maybe thats the cause but still it should compile right.
3.Is it possible to decompile the framework in the phone(through an app i mean),add stuff to it,and then recompile it? Or is my only option to open it as a zip file and just replace and delete xmls .
I will update the thread with more questions and request anyone who has any info to please share it so we can all learn
Long live xda
I've run through several how-to's and I still can't get an app to compile after I make the changes to add something to the settings app. I make the changes to strings xml and settings_header but then it won't compile. The reason for it not compiling seems to be an issue with the android manifest xml but in all I have done I do not alter it (or maybe I need to)
Anyone have an idea ? Thank you !
hednik said:
I've run through several how-to's and I still can't get an app to compile after I make the changes to add something to the settings app. I make the changes to strings xml and settings_header but then it won't compile. The reason for it not compiling seems to be an issue with the android manifest xml but in all I have done I do not alter it (or maybe I need to)
Anyone have an idea ? Thank you !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most devs don't cruise the Q&A section, so you will probably get more help here. It will also benefit other members having it all in one place.
Some more info will help like what app you are trying to add.
upndwn4par said:
Most devs don't cruise the Q&A section, so you will probably get more help here. It will also benefit other members having it all in one place.
Some more info will help like what app you are trying to add.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. It's a bit unclear the best place to ask questions not related to flashing or someone else's ROM. That and I was getting pretty mad and now that
I read my above question,it is so vague and rambling.
I posted my question over there.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=42007405&postcount=41