Develop Bugs

Alphanuma 0.9 an Alpha-Numeric Display [Deprecated, 1.0 released]

Do you miss knowing which letters are on which numbers, like when dialing a number from a business? Like, "Call Now! 1-800-YES-YEAH" Here's the fix for Kavana/Ricky/HTC based ROMs.
This is a mod of Surreal Networks Alpha-Numeric Display patch (grey), without the T-Mobile Branding:
Now, with correct spelling. (Hey it was late!)
download BRANDING.GIF
place in the Windows folder
browse to it with resco explorer
rename to ms_mobile.gif, confirm
May require rebooting. You are welcome to modify this, make into a .cab or desktop installer.
UPDATE April 4: Newest version, no branding, simpler install, and works on both the in-call and dialer screens here! Or jump to page three for preview.
UPDATE April 18: One Point Zero release here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=2129954#post2129954

Thanks, that's great. Although, you spelled Excalibur wrong...

Thanks a ton! This is a great help!

Nice but I was wondering how the hell to get the panel AFTER you make a call to show the numbers on Kavana's 6.1. Like automated service tells you to put in your name or whatnot on the dialpad....

dialpad cab minus excalibur branding
attached is the same dialpad without the Excalibur branding.
install cab, reboot, enjoy.
thanks to Ben Hirashima for the cab

MountainDrew said:
Thanks, that's great. Although, you spelled Excalibur wrong...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed!
Now, I am analyzing how to make a slicker package from Ben's example.

Yianaki said:
Nice but I was wondering how the hell to get the panel AFTER you make a call to show the numbers on Kavana's 6.1. Like automated service tells you to put in your name or whatnot on the dialpad....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure. I will look into it. I suppose it could be added to the top of whatever image is in the "next" screen?

So it's only in one colour, and it might not match your blues, but I'll share the one I made for my phone if any of you like it.

I made one too

Windows standard colors
Here are original ones for each of the default colors and Segoe text. No Branding. Included one in grey, too!
Anyone else having a problem with the automatic alpha-num installers with a cooked ROM?

I like the one with T-mobile Branding. It makes the rom feel more official. (Extracted from the Surreal Networks CAB)

ygb said:
I like the one with T-mobile Branding. It makes the rom feel more official. (Extracted from the Surreal Networks CAB)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am working on a complete suite of not T-Mobile Branding, trying to figure out the splash screens at the moment. I just cant dig the pink T; Ive tried! Been cruising the other forums for clues...

It seems that the Ben dialpad works on the in-call screen, but I cant simulate the behavior if i uninstall his cab and manually it the reg. What keys do others use to change background on the in-call screen? IT really needs some livening up anyway.

Profezza said:
It seems that the Ben dialpad works on the in-call screen, but I cant simulate the behavior if i uninstall his cab and manually it the reg. What keys do others use to change background on the in-call screen? IT really needs some livening up anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just one key...but it has to point to a file that exists. So if you've extracted the .gif file from the .cab / make sure you drop the .gif file in the windows directory and note what the .gif filename is as thats what you're going to put in the regitry entry...also make sure you soft-reset otherwise it won't change until then.
And as far as the in call screen is concerned ... look for a file in \windows directory named cprogback_land.png for your in-call screen
Here's the one that i use: It looks good with technology's another blue color scheme .......Just rename the extention from .jpeg to .png if you want to use it

nice tip! thanks!

pudgedaddy said:
...And as far as the in call screen is concerned ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears that that file is hard-coded, so there is no way to mod the reg with the installer, but it looks like windows mobile's .cab-install system will back things up alright from a file replacement approach. So, a single installer for both is do-able.
Interestingly, the image I am overwriting is called Carrierlogo.gif, not cprogback_land.png. Are there two potential images retrieved for the call screen, one in the fore and one in the back? I wonder what I could do with that info...
Or, maybe it is named differently in different source roms with the same purpose. Will text that next.

boom, got it
So, I think i this is how the in-call graphics work:
It appears that the call screen does indeed call up two images (not including a contact thumb, if applicable) The background is hardwired as "cprogback_land.png". Also, instead of having the carrier text string at the top, it can have an image across the top, which is hardwired as "carrierlogo.gif". Nothing can be done, as far as I can tell, to change the pointers to other files, so overwrites are the only method of changing.
If the graphic is put inside the background image itself, it can be the full width of the screen, like any background, and likewise any height (up to 213) But the in-call screen is a bit busy.The top 24 pixels (after the window top) are reserved for the carrier branding text string (or image), followed by 2 blank rows of pixels and a horizontal rule at row 27. The next 88 pixels (the middle area is a call status area followed by another rule at row 116, and pressed digits fill the bottom area.
However, if the graphic (.gif only) is in the foreground, it can be any size and proportion, but if it is taller than 24 pixels, or wider than 311 pixels, it will be (UPDATED) scooted over four pixels and cropped to fit a box of those dimensions at the top. If it is smaller, it will be top-, then left-aligned. Either way, if it is there, it replaces the carrier text string, rather than having to be designed around it. One thing to keep in mind, if using this method is that it has to be 10 pixels narrower than the image that might be used on the dialer screen, or it will "shrink" when you switch screens, if you want them to "match".
If anything is unclear, or anyone has any details to add, or corrections to make, please let me know! Thanks

pudgedaddy said:
Just one key...but it has to point to a file that exists. So if you've extracted the .gif file from the .cab / make sure you drop the .gif file in the windows directory and note what the .gif filename is as thats what you're going to put in the regitry entry...also make sure you soft-reset otherwise it won't change until then.
And as far as the in call screen is concerned ... look for a file in \windows directory named cprogback_land.png for your in-call screen
Here's the one that i use: It looks good with technology's another blue color scheme .......Just rename the extention from .jpeg to .png if you want to use it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot pudgedaddy we definitely needed better visuals for the call in screen. Does anyone else have any other variations of screens like this laying around?

killswitch said:
...Does anyone else have any other variations of screens like this laying around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One could be made by renaming any wallpaper that would work on the home screen.
I am working on a png one that blends seamlessly with a floating .gif dialpad right now. Must test it out tho'

Here is a trio of images to bring a consistent and mellow dialpad feature to BOTH the dial and incall screens.
Directions

[Q] .9.png question about theming

Hey guys, just getting into theming and got a few questions. I've been around the block more than a few times with skining, designing and all. Use to own and run a rather large sized graphics forum and skined god knows how many skins for ipb and vb boards. So I thought to myself that theming my phone should not be any different, just minus the html and css.
Now for my questions
filename.9.png, I take it that these images are ones that are tiled, correct? And is the ".9.png" is something that the system sees and says, "ok this needs to tile this way" or is it an actual file extension? If so how does one handle them in photoshop?
Thanks in advance
Posted by some phone named the Epic.

They're not tiled, they're stretched. As for using them with photoshop, there are two routes. You can add a one pixel transparent border around your image, then add pure black in the needed areas (described momentarily) or you can download the android sdk, go into tools and use the draw9patch program to make your .png into a .9.png. Now, the way it works for stretching is that the bottom and right sides of the image determine how the image stretches (play around wit draw9patch to see this best), while the left and top determine where the center of the image is and where text will be placed, if I'm not mistaken. Modifying any .9.png file will immediately ruin it and the borders will need to be re-added. However, you can simply steal them from other themes (I reccomend IDIOT, check the samsung mesmerize forums).

If you modify it, if must be recompiled not simply placed back in the apk with 7zip.. because the borders aren't seen after they are compiled... so either decompile with apkmanager and edit and recompile... or pull the 9patch with 7zip edit compile it alone with xultimate9 and put it back in with 7 zip
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Thanks for all the info you two. I'll have to look into all that when I get home from work.
Posted by some phone named the Epic.

Need help with themes...

I'm new to Android, coming from my FrankenPre2 after giving up hope on webOS and HP. Picking up the Epic Touch has been great, besides the LOS and battery issues. I was pretty deep into modding the Pre, so I'm looking to do the same here.
My first thought was to try to modify the images on the Epic, but I am lost as to where to find the correct files to modify. I was able to change the icon for the messaging app and the Incoming/Outgoing phone call animation, but that's pretty much it. I don't know where to start with the phone app, since images seem to be spread out all over the place. Opening up the phone apk yeilds a ton of images, and I don't know which ones to change.
My question would be to any themers out there, or anyone familiar enough with Android. How do I know which images I need to edit? Is there a directory or a file list which gives corresponding locations to specific images, such as the "1" button or the "Call" button, or the launcher icons? Or is it more a process of trial and error? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Can you post screenshots of the things you want to change
(sxreeshot is done by holding power and home)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

gtuansdiamm said:
Can you post screenshots of the things you want to change
(sxreeshot is done by holding power and home)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much everything. My first shot will be at the stock icons on the launcher. The I'd like to start on themes for the phone, email, and messaging apps. Pecifically, on the phone I'd like to change much of the color scheme, since the stock colors are in my opinion pretty ugly. But I also want to change the dial pad numbers and other standard buttons.
I was directed to this thread by another Android user:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=821638
Looking into it, the framework-res.apk does have a lot of images that are familiar, but there are a lot of images that aren't there. I think I'll have to start learning about the names of the file locations, and going by trial and error. It would be awesome if there was a simple blueprint as to where the images you want to change are, but ah well. I've got a lot of learning to do. Thanks for the response, and if you have any other suggestions, let me know.

Check out SystemUI.apk
This is the pulldown icons and such
Found under system\app\
I think the dialer is contacts.apk

KelvCast said:
Check out SystemUI.apk
This is the pulldown icons and such
Found under system\app\
I think the dialer is contacts.apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I would never have looked in the contacts for the dialer icons. There doesn't seem to be a perfect logic as to which apk's hold the images, so I guess it's going to be a lot of trial and error here. If you know of any more locations, let me know. Thanks!

you need to modify the images in the following that I know of to get a pretty standard theme
Framework-res
touchwiz framework-res
contacts.apk
systemui.apk

[REQUEST] How to edit app-drawer background

I really love the new graphic style in Android ICS, especially for the blue fades that replaced those horrible plain black backgrounds in almost every list/app/screen. However, the app drawer background is still completely dark, and I was wondering...is there a .png or a file in the android framework, that lets us customizing the app drawer background opacity or better, the entire drawer background image?
The settings blue fade background would be a lot better of plain black, for example. Can you at least point me to the right direction? Thanks in advance!

The app drawer is part of the launcher, I believe, so poking around inside the launcher's .apk file would probably be a good place to start. That said, I probably know less about modding Android than you do, so I could be dead wrong...

Actually, I think this too - despite I talked about the 'framework'. The problem is, that a common android application is made up by a res folder, full of .pngs and pictures, and a lot of other folders that contain all the .xmls for the app itself, that I never achieved to edit in any way. And because I'm sure the drawer background is part of a style .xml, probably being defined by a string such as "background_color=0,0,0/transparency=0" (example taken by some .xmls edited on PC, I actually have no idea of how these things are written in android), it could be useful to know where to find something like that or how to edit this kind of values ;P

C'mon, I can't believe everyone actually never tought of changing the drawer background! I mean...this is one of the first feature that you -devs of several alt. launchers- will have to add, and so far (think to ADW) it has not been so difficoult! So...please, if you know something on that, point me to the right file or config!
I downloaded Launcher2.apk, extracted it, and gone through each single file inside. And "Drawer Layout" or "Drawer Background" aren't there. What could I do next?

Looking at the Launcher2 source, it is a xml file in the drawables folder named wallpaper_gallery_background.xml.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

wallpaper_gallery_background.xml - it was one of my search result for "backgound" keyword. But I went over it, since I think is related to the wallpaper picker (the little gallery of wallpapers at the bottom of the wallpaper selection screen...). Any other ideas?
p.s.: Happy that finally someone is paying attention to this topic... xda doesn't help people with a few posts or subscribed only some months ago (and that doesn't implies that they're newbie or dumb è_é) in ANY WAY... ;D I think this would be a very appreciated feature, this thread has a lot of views in just 1 day and a half!

I will play around with the source and get back with you.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Only thing I could find in Launcher2 is in drawable-xhdpi. The first PNG is apps_customize_bg.png and its a black image. Didn't see any XML files related to app drawer, which leads me to think its all hidden in smali code or another apk.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

@AndHel Great! That's the answer I was waiting for! Thank you so much...I hope we'll be able to find something relatively easy to handle ;D
BTW, it would be very interesting knowing a bit more about Android decompiling and modding...if you want, explain me (even very quickly) how will you reach certain files/configurations, if you'll do, when you'll do.
@mb02 Thank you for your efforts too, I hope you're wrong but I fear you're right...absolutely not even a single word that remembers the "app drawer"! Maybe with your patience, we'll find out more!
...and I keep searching around /system for any kind of thing graphic-related to this damned drawer ;P

ledoweb said:
@AndHel Great! That's the answer I was waiting for! Thank you so much...I hope we'll be able to find something relatively easy to handle ;D
BTW, it would be very interesting knowing a bit more about Android decompiling and modding...if you want, explain me (even very quickly) how will you reach certain files/configurations, if you'll do, when you'll do.
@mb02 Thank you for your efforts too, I hope you're wrong but I fear you're right...absolutely not even a single word that remembers the "app drawer"! Maybe with your patience, we'll find out more!
...and I keep searching around /system for any kind of thing graphic-related to this damned drawer ;P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In every iteration of Android prior, including skinned versions (Sense, TW, blur) the app drawer coding and images resided in the launcher (Rosie, Launcher, etc). The naming, however, wasn't ever "app drawer" but "all apps" as drawer was never he official term for the all apps view. Rosie launcher had multiple XML files in the Rosie.apk res/layout folder that dealt with this "all apps" as well as related images. With the absence of anything related to apps in this Launcher2.apk, I feel as though everything was moved to smali or in another apk, unless they cleverly hid it in another XML in Launcher2.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

It's within /res/layout in Launcher2. The file is called apps_customize_pane.xml
Just change the 2 values ff000000 into something else, i.e. bb000000 to make them slightly transparent.

It sounds promising...i thought that file was for a screen called "apps customization"
...may I ask which other letters could I use to increase/decrease opacity? AFAIK, numbers are for color and letters are for alpha...right?
Anyway, thanks so much for this solution! - I'll give it a try as far as I can. BTW, no way to replace a colour with something better, like a .png? Maybe just removing that string, and replacing it with something slightly different...
Edit: I'm having troubles in editing that .xml. Apktool fails decompiling Launcer2.apk probably because I'm using an old version of the android SDK, and this means...that I'm stuck at unreadable .xmls. I'm waiting for the SDK manager to have all updates installed, and then I might be able to finally "undress" this damned drawer ;P

This is likely harder than you expect. A few technical notes (and yes it's possible this will be a Nova feature in the future but it's not officially planned at this time).
1) App drawer is indeed called "AppsCustomizePagedView"
2) When viewing the app drawer, the launcher disables the wallpaper from showing (I believe as an optimization). I think if you made the drawer fully transparent you would see (in order from top to bottom):
Drawer
Smaller sized home screens
Black background
If you're editing source you can prevent the black background by changing updateWallpaperVisibility(). To hide the home screens you'd probably have to change the animation code in showAppsCustomizeHelper which could be a bit tricky.

[email protected] said:
This is likely harder than you expect. A few technical notes (and yes it's possible this will be a Nova feature in the future but it's not officially planned at this time).
1) App drawer is indeed called "AppsCustomizePagedView"
2) When viewing the app drawer, the launcher disables the wallpaper from showing (I believe as an optimization). I think if you made the drawer fully transparent you would see (in order from top to bottom):
Drawer
Smaller sized home screens
Black background
If you're editing source you can prevent the black background by changing updateWallpaperVisibility(). To hide the home screens you'd probably have to change the animation code in showAppsCustomizeHelper which could be a bit tricky.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i managed to get the app drawer transparent and indeed a black background..
but cant find updatewallpapervisibility anywhere
where can it be found? is it a xml or in a xml ?
thnx!

For that you have to edit source files and recompile, it's not just an XML edit.
Sent from The Past into The Future via The Present.

Milamber33 said:
For that you have to edit source files and recompile, it's not just an XML edit.
Sent from The Past into The Future via The Present.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok!thnx!
i found the trebuchet source on gethub
i managed to change the source so the black screen and all is gone and the drawer is transparent.. but i cant test it because i dont know how to compile it
can you tell me ? thnx

There are plenty of tutorials on setting up an Android build environment and compiling the source floating around. They will be far more detailed and useful than I could be.
Sent from The Past into The Future via The Present.

I did it
I made it transparent its on a thread i started

locomain said:
I did it
I made it transparent its on a thread i started
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the thread?

Im gonna play around with this a bit when I have the chance....
But, using APKtool to decompile or recompile is very similar....
If you already have apktool all setup with your Roms framework file, and you already decompiled the file...... to recompile, all you have to do is use the command "apktool b foldername"
where folder name is the folder that it decompiled the apk to (likely Launcher2)

[TUT]A different approach to .9.png files

While I was researching how to go about creating my own theme I noticed quite a few different approaches to dealing with the infamous .9.png image files. I was curious about why they were so difficult before I attempted to edit them so I did a lot of reading on these boards but when it came to actually doing the editing I found it quite simple. With all my reading and after talking to a few other themers this method isn't mentioned anywhere that I know of so I figured I'd post a tutorial on how I edit them.
First off, this tutorial assumes that you have a working knowledge of how to use image editing software (I use GIMP) and apk multi-tool/manager (or apktool).
Things you need:
1. Gimp or another image editing software (this tutorial is based on Gimp)
2. APK Multi-Tool/Manager or apktool (tut. is based on APK Multi-Tool)
3. The apk that contains the images you wish to edit
4. TIME and PATIENCE!
Ok, first off you need to be able to see the ever important 1px border in the .9.png you want to edit so this requires you to decompile the apk that contains the images to be edited. Therefore go ahead and decompile the apk. Once you have that done you can go ahead and minimize the script window so you can work on them.
Now, go into the folder named "projects" and in there you'll find your decompiled apk. Right click on the folder that contains the images you want to edit and click on "Copy". Now move to your desktop (or wherever you want to save the folder) and "Paste" the folder there.
Double click on the folder and navigate to the .9.png you are wanting to edit. Right click on that image and select "edit with Gimp".
Once the image is open in Gimp "zoom" in to 800% so you can actually see the 1px border and use the rectangle marquee tool to select everything inside that border. Then you can make any edits you'd like to the image.
Once done editing the image, and if it's not still selected, go back to the marquee tool and, once again, select everything inside that 1px border. Right click over the image and select EDIT>CUT.
Close the image by clicking on the "X" in the top, right corner but when the window pops up asking if you want to save your changes click "DON'T SAVE". This is the important step!!
Go back to your folder where the original image is located that you are wanting to edit, you'll notice it went back to it's un-edited state. This is what you want. Open the same image file again in Gimp and again, zoom in to 800% so you can see the border.
Select everything inside that border using the rectangle marquee tool and then hit the delete key on your keyboard. That should clear out the image.
Right click on the image again and select EDIT>PASTE. You're edited image should show up where you cut out the old one.
Make sure that the one pixel border is NOT inside the dotted selection line and your pasted image isn't over the 1px border all the way around.
Anchor your image by clicking anywhere outside of it in the same window. (you'll see the little anchor show up by your cursor when you can click to anchor your pasted image) Now the hard part is done!! All you have to do is close the image you edited by clicking on the "X" again and this time you want to hit SAVE.
Voila.. your .9.png is edited and your 1px border is left untouched. Repeat the above steps on all the .9.png files you want to edit and when you're finished your editing move the folder from wherever you saved it back into the projects folder of apk multi-tool and compile your apk.
This is how I've done all my .9.png files and I have never had any errors!
Good luck and Happy Theming!
ttfn
CDL.

Thank you CDL for sharing what you have learned... this is what xda is all about...

Yea it's a lot easier if you just decompile the apk files then edit them and recompile, just make sure not to touch those borders unless it's what you want.
If your only trying to change one file and don't want to go through the whole process I recommend decompiling the apk and just sticking the one image you wanted to edit into XUltimate and converting the image by itself so you can easily place it back into your apk without the compiling, especially if you get errors.

Great tutorial, thanks for posting this.
So what's the trick with the mms bubbles .9s? Something goes wrong when I try to edit those, I had actually created all new custom bubbles with PSCS4 for sent, pressed, etc etc. The result was miss aligned text with bubbles...the text was outside instead of inside, and never could make it work....aaaahhhhhh! All that work! Lol
XML edits and all other edits worked fine, but not those damn bubbles!
Oh, I used draw9patch to re-add the .9 to the PNG.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Duce HD2 said:
Great tutorial, thanks for posting this.
So what's the trick with the mms bubbles .9s? Something goes wrong when I try to edit those, I had actually created all new custom bubbles with PSCS4 for sent, pressed, etc etc. The result was miss aligned text with bubbles...the text was outside instead of inside, and never could make it work....aaaahhhhhh! All that work! Lol
XML edits and all other edits worked fine, but not those damn bubbles!
Oh, I used draw9patch to re-add the .9 to the PNG.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, I'm not sure although it sounds like your 9patch isn't working correctly... and since I have never tried to mess with them I can't tell you how to fix it.. sorry.
What I'd do if I were you is use the original bubble image as a basis for your new images. I'm sure as long as you keep your custom bubble inside of those borders it should show up properly. If you wanted to you could create a separate image all together and then just cut and paste inside the original 1px border? Dunno if that'd work but that's something I'd try. Just remember, it won't work at all if the original image isn't decompiled first.

Duce HD2 said:
Great tutorial, thanks for posting this.
So what's the trick with the mms bubbles .9s? Something goes wrong when I try to edit those, I had actually created all new custom bubbles with PSCS4 for sent, pressed, etc etc. The result was miss aligned text with bubbles...the text was outside instead of inside, and never could make it work....aaaahhhhhh! All that work! Lol
XML edits and all other edits worked fine, but not those damn bubbles!
Oh, I used draw9patch to re-add the .9 to the PNG.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Duce send me ur bubbles and Ill fix em. Sounds like you moved the patches.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

ssconceptz said:
Duce send me ur bubbles and Ill fix em. Sounds like you moved the patches.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be great, thanks for the help! I'll get back on them this weekend and send them over.
Crazy, thanks for the advice! They work fine if I change the hue of the originals etc, but I didn't like the shape, so I made them squaresh, kinda of like the ones included in the ICS theme, but with transparent center. So pretty much a thin border etc..I thought it looked cool.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

i must be stupid or something
i dont understand
can someone post a video

When I first started porting themes and editing colors, I manually readded all lines. There's A LOT of .9s in framework-res alone, so it was torture. This method is the one I use now and I thank you for letting others know so they don't have to spend so much time like I did.

This method def works thanks for making it so easy! Although the apkmultitool Windows Version 1.0.2 doesn't want to compile for it's life. Downgraded to 1.0.1 works great now...wish i tried that first after like 30 mins of playing with stuff SMH

Glad this actually helped someone out! I didn't see any reference to this method anywhere on here when I was first searching.. but I do have to admit it wasn't a thorough search
ttfn
CDL.