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Just wanted to create a Post so people can bounce ideas off each other as to what would be necessary to change themes on the fly. How does a normal phone change themes?
i just have a folder on my SD card called themes and i update it everyday with everytheme and the latest version of each, the themes folder has all my themes separated into adp1 adp1.1 rc30 and rc33 and i use linda file manager to move them to the root and rename them. i can flash any theme anytime i want. and if a new one comes out while i'm not near a computer i download with steel and try it out.this is the best way as far as i can see, at least with the tools i have access too
anyone seen the iphone emulator? it actually works where it will open a program associated with the icon, could that possibly help get a way to theme similar to how summerboard works?
jdwme said:
anyone seen the iphone emulator? it actually works where it will open a program associated with the icon, could that possibly help get a way to theme similar to how summerboard works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not even close to being a theme though.
A proper theme is more than just smoe icons.
IE. iKid has a much nicer looking media player.
i use the exact same method w the themes on sdcard... i take it one step further... i use andftp to upload to my qctx.org server and upload directly tested themes... so i can access and organize however i need
- great for backing up sdcards
This is how I edit my themes on the fly
Walkthrough for creating your own Android theme
First you need to get signing setup properly. This topic is covered in many places and my recommendation is to use the Stericson walkthrough or the Stericson auto-signing setup tool. Once you can click on any zip or apk file and get the option to Resign it you are ready to proceed with making your own theme.
1. Download an archive manager that allows you to open archives inside of archives without creating new windows. My recommendation for this is the application 7-zip. It is tiny, free, easy to use, and on all my computers it has replaced winzip and winrar.
2. Now take a blank theme from Stericson to use as your starting point, this will be the minimum needed to change your theme and will contain all the original artwork.
3. Open the update.zip and inside are typically 3 files, framework, system or app, and META-INF. Leave META-INF alone, you wont be touching that. Inside framework and system/app is where the files are that you can change. In this case we will open update.zip, then double click framework and then double click framework-res.apk (this is where the next archive will open inside the same window, your life just got a little easier).
4. Now you are looking at assets, META-INF, res, and a couple other random files, the resources.arsc can be edited but I will show you that in another tutorial. Now open up the folder res and you will see the treasure we are searching for, folders with the name drawable. All of the folders that start with the name drawable are where we can edit the themes, this includes drawable, drawable-land, drawable-port, and drawable-finger.
5. Now drag and drop the folders drawable and drawable-land onto the desktop. Once they are on the desktop you can edit the .png files in those folders until you are ready to put your theme together.
6. Now in your still open window at \framework\framework-res.apk\res\ you will open the drawable folders one at a time and drag and drop your edited files into the archive, only dragging and dropping the files you edited and not just everything inside the folder.
7. Once you have your new images copied into the archive in the correct place you can just hit the close button or browse up a couple directories and find other files to edit. Any time you edit an apk and browse out of it or close it you will be prompted to update it in the archive by 7-zip (this is my secret shortcut), always press ok.
8. Now you have a freshly created theme ready to install, all you have to do is right click, chose to Resign the file, and once its done you can copy it to your SDcard, make sure its named update.zip, and flash your new theme.
Its literally that easy! And you use this same technique in the system/app folder to edit the apk files for the individual apps on the phone. Explore around in the update.zip and see what you can find, I only told you about the major items but there is plenty more to find and change. You can always copy a folder out of the archive and if you cant edit anything just toss it but if you can find something to edit, do so and throw it back in the archive. You guys now have all the info I had when I started plus all my tricks to making that process 10x easier.
jdwme said:
anyone seen the iphone emulator? it actually works where it will open a program associated with the icon, could that possibly help get a way to theme similar to how summerboard works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing with the iPhone is that the applications are just folders with a .app extension at the end. This allows one to easily replace resources inside of them using just simple scripts.
In Android, the applications are zip files with an extension of .apk and must be signed. This makes it harder to replace resources on the fly.
I use the Discover App from the MarketPlace. I have a folder called Themes in my SD Card which I have separate folders labeled with the name of the theme. Inside the folder I have the update.zip. With discover I just move the update zips in and out of the folders to change themes.
Rich
Noob to theme'ing.
Do I have to make an update zip to theme or can I modify the framework apk and just push that to /system/app?
You can just modify and push framework-res.apk to system/framework/
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Oddity said:
You can just modify and push framework-res.apk to system/framework/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
system/framework/
sorry i've been at this computer too long lol
My replacement keeps giving me boot loops.
All I changed was: I duplicated the green lockslider and its components and renamed them to replace the other gray locksliders.
then I compressed the framework-res to a zip (using built in mac zip compression, mac user so i can't use winrar) and change zip to apk. adb push to system/framework/
any ideas what is going wrong?
cupcakera said:
My replacement keeps giving me boot loops.
All I changed was: I duplicated the green lockslider and its components and renamed them to replace the other gray locksliders.
then I compressed the framework-res to a zip (using built in mac zip compression, mac user so i can't use winrar) and change zip to apk. adb push to system/framework/
any ideas what is going wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried installing it via a update.zip?
cupcakera said:
My replacement keeps giving me boot loops.
All I changed was: I duplicated the green lockslider and its components and renamed them to replace the other gray locksliders.
then I compressed the framework-res to a zip (using built in mac zip compression, mac user so i can't use winrar) and change zip to apk. adb push to system/framework/
any ideas what is going wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well this gets to be a bit confusing. I will say what i know hopefully others can help out too.
APKs are just zip containers that are signed, that means there is no compression. In your zip program look for a setting under compression labeled store. You would then have to sign that bad boy in order for your phone to work. You can not use the testsign certificate.
With that being said here is a guide...
Modifying?
PNG's -> open the apk up in the zip program, navigate to the res/whatever_folder_had_the_original and drop your files in.
9.PNGs and XML more complicated. You will have to decompile the apk [apktool] then modify them [look for articles on that, i cant get too indepth here]. Compile the apk. Drag the now compiled xml and 9.pngs to the respective folder open in your zip program.
Really the object is not to mess up the signing that comes with the apk. opening up the apk in a zip program, allows you to view, and replace files with not destroying the signature.
This method will not work with all applications. I have still not figured why some programs work with being signed with a testcert and others are not. I have a hunch that all userspace programs can be test signed and all system files need their own [htc?] key.
Also to note is that for some reason the phone when looking at framework-res, services.jar and others does not seem to mind the differences in CRC of the files stored in it, with what is in the manifest. I still can figure out the phones reasoning to allow this to happen on some but not all apps.
I hope this was not very confusing. I am working on video toturials of this same subject. Stay tuned!
That really helps a lot. Thanks.
I'll try that out tonight. Any recommendations for zip programs with a store feature for mac?
cupcakera said:
That really helps a lot. Thanks.
I'll try that out tonight. Any recommendations for zip programs with a store feature for mac?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use BetterZip on my mac..........open the apk with Betterzip, then extract the res folder to your desktop (or wherever you want). Edit the .png files you want.......steer clear ( unless you know how) of editing the 9.png files. Delete the original res folder from the framework folder and insert the res folder you just edited. Then save the framework-res.apk and push back to where it belongs.
I like 7zip better, but this works okay, since there is no 7zip for a mac.
Betterzip worked perfectly! Thanks again.
I unzipped a apk file to change some of the images in the drawable-hdpi folder, how do I zip it back into an apk file to reinstall it on my phone. Or can I flash the zip file? I dunno how that would work...
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Can you get another copy of the apk?
If you can then the best thing to do is use winRAR or 7zip to open/explore the apk just like with a .zip file. That way you never unzip it and don't run into that issue. Using those allows you to delete and add files. You can also do the same thing on your phone using root explorer or something similar.
As far as correcting what you've done already (assuming you can't get a copy of that apk) I've completely forgotten since I never have to do it. I know if you look on the android sdk's site you can find the answer though.
adamtheindien said:
I unzipped a apk file to change some of the images in the drawable-hdpi folder, how do I zip it back into an apk file to reinstall it on my phone. Or can I flash the zip file? I dunno how that would work...
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An apk is just a zip file with the apk extension, once you zip it up change it from a .zip to a .apk
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
i changed what i wanted and rezipped, changed the extension, tried to install it, says problem parsing the package?
adamtheindien said:
i changed what i wanted and rezipped, changed the extension, tried to install it, says problem parsing the package?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can also depend on which APK (system vs non-system) and which images (.9 images can be tricky to replace if you don't know what you are doing). Sometimes, you also need to re-sign the APK, depending on what you modified (there are tools to re-sign in the SDK or you can use something like APK Manager).
You should try the opening the APK directly in WinRAR/7-zip and replacing the images method. In my experience, if you are just replacing simple images, you usually don't have to re-sign when doing this (it leaves the existing signature intact).
ok i mainly just replaced images and and edited a couple. i dont know how to use all that adbsdkwhatever stuff.... -_- i know i should but im too lazy. so i dunno how to re sign it...
all im trying to do is edit the quick search bar images. maybe i dont have to do this if there is somewhere to find themed search bars?
If you can then the best thing to do is use winRAR or 7zip to open/explore the apk just like with a .zip file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your using winRAR click and drag stuff works if its one or two files.
If its a lot of images or a large file like framework-res.apk (I'm thinking your search bar might be in there if I'm not mistaken) then you'll want to make a new ZIP archive with "store" compression (uncompressed pretty much).
(also you shouldn't need to resign the framework-res.apk)
I haven't tested 7zips click and drag but the same principals apply. If its bigger files being recompiled Winrar tends to compress it a bit and sometimes it causes bootloops.
That being said, don't forget to nandroid
82_Z28 said:
If your using winRAR click and drag stuff works if its one or two files.
If its a lot of images or a large file like framework-res.apk (I'm thinking your search bar might be in there if I'm not mistaken) then you'll want to make a new ZIP archive with "store" compression (uncompressed pretty much).
(also you shouldn't need to resign the framework-res.apk)
I haven't tested 7zips click and drag but the same principals apply. If its bigger files being recompiled Winrar tends to compress it a bit and sometimes it causes bootloops.
That being said, don't forget to nandroid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well from my experience, 7zip handles the task like a champ. I've taken every image out and put others back in with no issues. The downside is that some apps set certain dependencies in the .xml files so if you delete the wrong things it won't install and if it does, all you get is a fc all day. In that case it helps to know how to convert the xml binary to something readable (unless you're a king a hex editing).
Hi everyone
is this possible zip file convert to apk?
its very important cause i try to instal any zip file but my rom is not rooted!!
please if this possible tell me
Thanks
change file from zip to apk
to change file type from zip to apk on windows 7
1- open computer in start menu
2- press alt
3- select tools and choose folder options
4- go to view and uncheck hide extentions for known file types
5- finally go to the file you want to change and change its name (ex: .apk)
It depends if you downloaded a file which was a zip file but was packed as an apk then yes changing the extension of .zip to .apk would be fine if you know what I mean.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA Premium App
Use zip2apk v1.0 to convert zip to apk
There is an application known as Zip2apk v1.0 that you can use to convert your zip to apk. unlike all other replies here where you have to interfere with your system settings, zip2apk v1.0 is a portable program built to convert zip to apks and does not alter system settings. link: f1compsolutions.kbo.co.ke/Zip2apk
thanks bro
ali magdy said:
to change file type from zip to apk on windows 7
1- open computer in start menu
2- press alt
3- select tools and choose folder options
4- go to view and uncheck hide extentions for known file types
5- finally go to the file you want to change and change its name (ex: .apk)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks bro, this little help really help me so much, good job
Both methods work like a charm. :highfive:
ali magdy said:
to change file type from zip to apk on windows 7
1- open computer in start menu
2- press alt
3- select tools and choose folder options
4- go to view and uncheck hide extentions for known file types
5- finally go to the file you want to change and change its name (ex: .apk)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is really work Nice tip !
Thank you. I'm also searching for this info
No. Android binaries are located in a apk, you just can't turn a mod into a apk, the only way to build an apk is from Android SDK. Its not possible.
I recently made an android game, just for fun, and for some reason the site i was on changed it to a zip file instead of an apk file. I used a script to make this app. So it works, but i cant play it on my phone because it is in the zip format and whenever i rename it to .apk on my phone, it doesnt work. Any help wold be appreciated.
Sent from my LG-D415 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Maurice5813 said:
No. Android binaries are located in a apk, you just can't turn a mod into a apk, the only way to build an apk is from Android SDK. Its not possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, how would i put my script into Android SDK?
Sent from my LG-D415 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Hi,
I'm trying to do something along these lines.
I have a keyboard skin that I want to change it's theme from blue to green. I unpacked it several months ago with EasyApk and attempted this but eventually gave up.
I've done all of the color editing to the .png files but after zipping and changing the ext to apk, it won't install. I get this message... "There was a problem parsing the package."
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
RuLEoF2 said:
Hi,
I'm trying to do something along these lines.
I have a keyboard skin that I want to change it's theme from blue to green. I unpacked it several months ago with EasyApk and attempted this but eventually gave up.
I've done all of the color editing to the .png files but after zipping and changing the ext to apk, it won't install. I get this message... "There was a problem parsing the package."
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RuLEoF2, have you found a solution. I'm getting the same problem.
dabadoo said:
RuLEoF2, have you found a solution. I'm getting the same problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. The XDA well of good will towards those in need has apparently dried up. Either that or I'm on the do-do list for something.
I haven't gotten responses to any of my last several posts for quite a while now.
Good luck!
RuLEoF2 said:
Nope. The XDA well of good will towards those in need has apparently dried up. Either that or I'm on the do-do list for something.
I haven't gotten responses to any of my last several posts for quite a while now.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found a work around. I used 7zip in windows and made all of the edits (adding files, removing files, editing contents of files) I needed in the zip file WITHOUT unzipping it (7zip and winrar allow this). Once I did that I changed the extension back to apk and the app installed.
Hope this helps some people.
dabadoo said:
I found a work around. I used 7zip in windows and made all of the edits (adding files, removing files, editing contents of files) I needed in the zip file WITHOUT unzipping it (7zip and winrar allow this). Once I did that I changed the extension back to apk and the app installed.
Hope this helps some people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not working for me. What editing program are you using for graphics?
For graphics, let's say images. I would work on whatever it is you need to add, outside of the zip, and then just add that file by replacing it with whatever it is you wanted to edit. Do you get what I'm saying?
I used 7zip on windows to do this.
REVIVE!!
Its like this for me, I got an apk of Loco Craft (Android Game) extracted it into a folder with winrar, then I modified a bunch of things in there, then I compressed it to a .rar file with WinRAR, then I renamed it from application.rar to application.apk. then when I sent it to my phone (Acer B1-730, Android 4.4.2) and opened the apk file, it said: "There was a problem parsing the package"! So what do I do? Please!!! I really want to try my new game! And pls help me I am only 9!!!
How I make a gems generator?
ali magdy said:
to change file type from zip to apk on windows 7
1- open computer in start menu
2- press alt
3- select tools and choose folder options
4- go to view and uncheck hide extentions for known file types
5- finally go to the file you want to change and change its name (ex: .apk)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to create a gems generator for an outstanding game. Can anybody help me to create a gems generator like this
Hello,
I have an idea to make an App, and I have one problem, I have to upload one folder that its content have a lot of files and folders in order to upload to skydrive. I think that it is more easy if I compress the main folder and then upload this compressed file. How Can I compress this folder?
Thanks you
cansado2930 said:
Hello,
I have an idea to make an App, and I have one problem, I have to upload one folder that its content have a lot of files and folders in order to upload to skydrive. I think that it is more easy if I compress the main folder and then upload this compressed file. How Can I compress this folder?
Thanks you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tried zip...
dazza9075 said:
have you tried zip...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi dazza9075,
Thanks by your answer, but I thought the same, but I don't know how to use this, Can you explain about use of zip? Or, Where can I find information about this?
Thank you again
cansado2930 said:
Hi dazza9075,
Thanks by your answer, but I thought the same, but I don't know how to use this, Can you explain about use of zip? Or, Where can I find information about this?
Thank you again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for the idea... I also want a program like winrar which also available in symbian phones.plz any dev note this and develop an app for compressing and decompressing files...
WP will unzip zip files, make the sip, copy to sky drive, open via IE, it will then give you the contents of the zip,, it can't compress files to zip though. Technically there would be little point since docs auto sync to sky drive, and WP doesnt support anything else or file system access, but its doable for unlocked devices I suppose
Sent from my SGH-i937 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
dazza9075 said:
WP will unzip zip files, make the sip, copy to sky drive, open via IE, it will then give you the contents of the zip,, it can't compress files to zip though. Technically there would be little point since docs auto sync to sky drive, and WP doesnt support anything else or file system access, but its doable for unlocked devices I suppose
Sent from my SGH-i937 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi dazza9075,
Thank you by answer, I had thought that it isn't possible, because I want to compress a folder of other app that her content are a lot of files and folders. So, Do some api exist in order to compress this? Or, Have I upload files and folders one by one?
Thank you again
I think it's completely possible
sombody names Ego zheng,wrote an application. It is program manager.
u can repack your apps,and save apps data in a single .zip file.
i think he can do this
contact him for this idea.
Leo_zodiac said:
I think it's completely possible
sombody names Ego zheng,wrote an application. It is program manager.
u can repack your apps,and save apps data in a single .zip file.
i think he can do this
contact him for this idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its doable so long as you have interop unlock and WP tools installed and setup
if the Windows Phone SDK is missing Zip functionality (it may be called "DEFLATE" which is the name of the compression algorithm; ZIP is the file format) then there are surely libraries for various compression methods which you could download. Alternatively, if you don't mind using native code homebrew, there are compression libraries (zlib, etc.) that can be compiled to a native DLL, and you could then access them via COM.
i add this to new version of my file manager and now you can compress and decompress file and folders
Hi!
Thanks you by your answer, they have been very useful.
Thanks you
Hi again,
I'm using the lib "SharpZipLib" and I have problems with it. Can you explain how use it? or what is the problema? I probe in a program of pc and it working correctly but in app for my mobile say it crashed when it go to create the file, this is code:
FileStream fsOut = File.Create("Copia.zip"); //here is the problema at this moment
ZipOutputStream zipStream = new ZipOutputStream(fsOut);
zipStream.SetLevel(3);
zipStream.Password = null;
........
It can't create the file.
Thank you again
Generally speaking, Silverlight (which WP7 uses for apps) doesn't even allow normal file access, so you might just be getting a MethodAccessException on File.Create. If not, that still won't work without elevated privileges. The default working directory for a program is it's install directory. For a WP7 app, that's going to be either its install location (\Applications\Install\<GUID>\Install) or the Windows directory where the taskhost.exe file lives (\Windows\). Trying to create a file without specifying full path will crete it relative to the working directory, which in this case means creating it in the working directory directly (no path specified). Since the app can't write to the working directory, you'll get an error from that too.
To get around the permissions error, use the IsolatedStore folder (\Applications\Data\<GUID>\Data\IsolatedStore\) or run the app with full permissions ("Trusted" or root unlocked).