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Figured we might need a help thread for metamorph and since I need help here goes the first question
So I took part of my theme and made it Metamorph compatible with the guide here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591329
Now MM opens the zip fine, starts to install it, asks permission to edit framework-res.apk then after about 1 minute it asks for a reboot and then before I can answer it just reboots. At this point it gets stuck in a boot loop and I have to nandroid.
Never really messed with MM so it could be something I am doing wrong or I did read this:
Depending on the device you have you may need a different SPL to be able to apply themes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyways I attached my test theme (no where complete, just wanted to test it). Is the issue with me, the phones spl or metamorph not ready for the incredible yet?
ps: If your going to test my theme uploaded here, be smart, do a backup, this is just a test and not a full theme and I just told you it is causing boot loops
test file download
I wonder if the SPL will be the roadblock until Froyo is officially released. Of course I know nothing of these things...
*Sent via Tapatalk on my Incredible
running latest leak 8/1/10 new radio 2.15 busybox all set up. tried to installed metamorph and ninjamorph, gives /system error about space and then my root is broken ?!? any ideas folks, so lost on this one. thank god for nandroid restore
icedmayhem said:
running latest leak 8/1/10 new radio 2.15 busybox all set up. tried to installed metamorph and ninjamorph, gives /system error about space and then my root is broken ?!? any ideas folks, so lost on this one. thank god for nandroid restore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you run the unrevoked forever to unlock the nand
I'm having mixed results with metamorph. I was able to do everything I wanted on CM6. I actually ported this over for us and it works great on metamorph not problems, check it out: http://androidforums.com/roms-incredible/149055-theme-vatsense-cm6port.html
now I tried porting one of my themes over to skyraider2.2 and I can get framework-res and com.htc.resources to work fine, but when i tried to add in my themed apps, I get a f/c and have to pull battery. http://androidforums.com/roms-incredible/148221-theme-do-bluev1.html
Ran the unrevoked tool so give me s off as well...
I had somebody in the nexus forum metamorph the weather channel widget but I cant get it to install, anyone game to take a look? I would love this to be transparent.
I have ran unrevoked forever and installe the latest metamorph.
Thanks
Im running (latest) stock 2.2 leak, and i cant get metamorph or NinjaMorph to make ANYthing stick. (YES I HAVE S-OFF) Both run as if they are making the changes, No diff than they did with the Moto Droid. MM reboots after ANY package, not just framework, with out asking to reboot. Ninja will usually break the app (app is no longer installed)
ANY IDEAS?
EDIT: just for kicks i installed a Deodexed Stock ROM, and still the same results... It says its doing it, but i the end it makes NO changes to the APK files.
see if you can manually (adb) replace the files and see if it sticks..... if not then the issue is not metemporph.... it's a rooting/nand issue.
R1lover said:
see if you can manually (adb) replace the files and see if it sticks..... if not then the issue is not metemporph.... it's a rooting/nand issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Manually replacing the entire APK... work just like it did when we needed recovery. Just now you type ADB remount, then push it.
If you mean manually replacing the edited files within the apk, thats not directly possible via adb. you have to PULL, EDIT,PUSH.
The problem here is metaMorph is supposed to open the apk replace just the edited files then close it up right on the phone, and its just not doing that!
what i did that fixed all my issues was install busybox from market. its odd but it all works perfect now even though i though it had been prebuilt into the rom. strange but ill take it
icedmayhem said:
what i did that fixed all my issues was install busybox from market. its odd but it all works perfect now even though i though it had been prebuilt into the rom. strange but ill take it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I just did what you said, before Metamorph would say not enough free space in /system/
I was using the 8/1/10 Froyo leak and I guess that one didn't have busybox, weird I was able to use Titanium Backup and I though that required busybox as well...
everytime you switch a rom, you should download busybox and let it update, it changes per rom.
Welp , Im still at a loss... I updated busybox, using the market app... and it still gives me the same results...
It takes 2-3 min to "apply theme" then reboots... and NO changes !
My theme contains ONLY the folders and files that need to be replaced, and my xml is copied from an existing theme, then edited. So i dont know wtf is goin on with this ****.
try making it into a file that can be flashed from recovery, then ull know for sure u made it correct....
Not sure this will help but I just installed Metamorph today and was getting the "system memory" error. To fix the problem I just used Root Explorer to mount /system as rw. Could the problems be related to write permissions?
I'm new to this...
I'm running SkyRaider's 2.5.2. Sense ROM. Just downloaded MM & BusyBox via market. When I start MM I select "Start Checks" or whatever. It then either forces my phone into reboot or gives me the "not enough memory in /system" error.
I did not install unrevoked forever. Is that my problem?
ksidirt said:
I'm new to this...
I'm running SkyRaider's 2.5.2. Sense ROM. Just downloaded MM & BusyBox via market. When I start MM I select "Start Checks" or whatever. It then either forces my phone into reboot or gives me the "not enough memory in /system" error.
I did not install unrevoked forever. Is that my problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh yea, it needs to write to system, you need S-off to use it.
I'm reviving this thread so as to not clutter up the Metamorph Themes Master List thread
This quote is from the other thread, I just thought it would be more appropriate to answer here instead.
mikesincredible said:
Wow. What you just told me is like trying to learn chinese...lol I see there's more involved...any good articles to point out so I can learn. I just know rom manager and adb push code... ::
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure there are some guides floating around XDA, but I mostly learned MM just by messing with it and learning from trial and error.
Basically, metamorph just opens up an .apk file, replaces any of the files it finds in the folders specified by a theme's .xml file, then closes/re-signs the apk.
This is much better than flashing themes from the recovery menu or rom manager because doing so replaces the entire framework-res.apk, overwriting any themes you had previously installed. Since metamorph only replaces the files you want, any theme you already had will be preserved.
Here's an example to get a quick overview of how it works. Say you've already applied my black rotary lockscreen mod (found here) and you want to use some of the elements from SoCalMiles' Incredible rEVOlution theme.
First you should download his file, and inside the .zip find "\Incredible_Revolution_Original_Theme.zip\system\framework\framework-res.apk" and extract it somewhere.
Then rename "framework-res.apk" to "framework-res.apk.zip" or something similar. Now you can browse/unzip the files just like you would any other folder.
In your new .zip navigate to \framework-res.apk.zip\res\drawable-hdpi-v4, most of a rom's theme will be in that folder.
Now, if you've applied my theme through metamorph (or any theme, for that matter) you should have the directory "\sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\" on your sdcard.
Choose any of the files you want to apply to your phone from the extracted Incredible rEVOlution drawable-hdpi-v4 folder and copy them from to the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\ folder. Now when you run the metamorph it should copy the files you added as well as the ones that were previously there.
If you want to copy files that are not in the drawable-hdpi-v4 folder, simply make a new folder for the containing folder. Basically just make sure the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\whatevs\framework-res\ directories match the directories in the framework-res.apk file you're pulling from.
That's the easiest way to combine two themes, if you're looking to make you're own metamorph theme to post on xda you'll need to learn to edit the .xml file which directs metamorph to which files to modify, but that isn't too hard either, and there's no need to do this if you're just making metamorphs for your own personal use.
mixedlemon said:
I'm reviving this thread so as to not clutter up the Metamorph Themes Master List thread
This quote is from the other thread, I just thought it would be more appropriate to answer here instead.
I'm sure there are some guides floating around XDA, but I mostly learned MM just by messing with it and learning from trial and error.
Basically, metamorph just opens up an .apk file, replaces any of the files it finds in the folders specified by a theme's .xml file, then closes/re-signs the apk.
This is much better than flashing themes from the recovery menu or rom manager because doing so replaces the entire framework-res.apk, overwriting any themes you had previously installed. Since metamorph only replaces the files you want, any theme you already had will be preserved.
Here's an example to get a quick overview of how it works. Say you've already applied my black rotary lockscreen mod (found here) and you want to use some of the elements from SoCalMiles' Incredible rEVOlution theme.
First you should download his file, and inside the .zip find "\Incredible_Revolution_Original_Theme.zip\system\framework\framework-res.apk" and extract it somewhere.
Then rename "framework-res.apk" to "framework-res.apk.zip" or something similar. Now you can browse/unzip the files just like you would any other folder.
In your new .zip navigate to \framework-res.apk.zip\res\drawable-hdpi-v4, most of a rom's theme will be in that folder.
Now, if you've applied my theme through metamorph (or any theme, for that matter) you should have the directory "\sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\" on your sdcard.
Choose any of the files you want to apply to your phone from the extracted Incredible rEVOlution drawable-hdpi-v4 folder and copy them from to the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\BlackRotary-hdpi-v4\framework-res\res\drawable-hdpi-v4\ folder. Now when you run the metamorph it should copy the files you added as well as the ones that were previously there.
If you want to copy files that are not in the drawable-hdpi-v4 folder, simply make a new folder for the containing folder. Basically just make sure the \sdcard\AndroidThemes\whatevs\framework-res\ directories match the directories in the framework-res.apk file you're pulling from.
That's the easiest way to combine two themes, if you're looking to make you're own metamorph theme to post on xda you'll need to learn to edit the .xml file which directs metamorph to which files to modify, but that isn't too hard either, and there's no need to do this if you're just making metamorphs for your own personal use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What other folders contain the status icons? I'm looking to restore the circle battery and alarm from the incredible revolution theme, I found the battery.pngs..but no alarm..so if I copy and paste them to the blackrotary folder in androidthemes and metamorph, I should have the battery back
I installed the stock MMS.apk file on my de'odexed stock rom (rooted of course). Everything worked well and the app runs, but when reading text threads there is an ugly white border around the edge of the screen, its strange. Its not present when viewing the list of conversations, only in the thread view. I'm not sure if that's how its supposed to look or not, but if not, anyone have any idea how to fix this?
I'll get a screenshot up as soon as I get home.
I first obtained the MMS.apk from the cyanogen rom, then thinking that it might be modified and thus creating my problem, I grabbed the AOSP version from this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=789493
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE:
Found another thread where people are experiencing the same issue, apparently its a problem with how sense handles the application:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=752604
I attempted to open up the Mms.apk (AOSP version) with APKtool and play around with the xml files for the UI, but wasn't able to get it to recompile and test any changes I made, the app would just crash on launch. I simply made a few changes to the colors, but I admittedly don't really know what I'm doing and it wouldn't run. If anyone who's more experienced in this area could offer some advice I'll try again.
That's a picture of the issue, it appears in both landscape and portrait mode.
Texts were blacked out just for privacy sake.
Well after a few hours of messing around in the XML files for the AOSP messaging app, I was able to find a solution to this issue. I modified the XML file to have it correctly display the black color background when using the black theme. I was not able to eliminate the border entirely, but by changing the scrollbar type from Inset to Overlay I was able to make it uniform and far more visually pleasing.
I have attached my modified Mms.apk file, feel free to test it out.
For the specifics of what I did for those who are interested:
Two files were modified in the apk
- /res/layout/compose_message_activity.xml
- /res/layout/compose_message_activity_black.xml
In both files I changed the scrollbarStyle propery to "insideOverlay", in addition to removing the reference to always show the scrollbar track.
In the black xml file I changed the background color to "@android:color/black".
The original XML files were extracted using APKTool and Recompiled to their binary format, then reinserted into the original apk without resigning.
This is awesome! ... Except it doesn't filter out the VVM message streams that come through. :|
I haven't encountered this problem though I use google voice so I'm not really sure what it is you're referring to.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
ty!
beautiful ty!!!!!!!!!
Imma cry
I cant send mms!
Try turning off wifi while sending/receiving mms
no wifi
i don't have wifi on when i do this i just have 3g on so i can send mms!
i zipped the file with the one that had the white outline .is there a way to make this new apk. file into a .zip file for me ?
I'd imagine you could simply replace the APK file in your zip with my modified one and install that way. Use a program like winrar or 7zip to replace the apk within the zip.
tehpsyc said:
I'd imagine you could simply replace the APK file in your zip with my modified one and install that way. Use a program like winrar or 7zip to replace the apk within the zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but i cant find either of thoses programs u mention to replace the APK file in my zip with your modified version .is there another program or a manual way of doing this process ?
how do i install this? since it's an APK, i thought i'd just install it from Astro but it says it's already installed and asked if i wanted to uninstall.
To install this you need to either delete or rename the Mms.apk that's already on your phone in the /system/app directory (I just rename to Mms.apk.bak) and then copy the modified one into that same directory followed by a restart of the phone. Because its a system app you cant install it the same way you would a regular apk, at least from my understanding.
You will need to get write access to the system directory to accomplish this (I used an app on the market called root explorer, though you can also do all this through the ADB shell)
my first attempt into creating a new theme it's just a swype keyboard however i get fc when i try to open it. i am on starburst 1.95 i wipe after applying before launching. i modded png files compressed them originally i thought the apk being 6 megs was my issue but i have the same issue after compressing them. I didn't know if the apk needed to be resigned so i first tried without signing then with signing with the same result. can someone help me find what i screwed up.
didn't download your file to look but did you change any .9.png's ?
if all you changed were png's the .9.are probably causing your problems.
try this.
if just changing normal pngs just unzip the .apk (its a zip file) edit your png files and zip it back up.
see if that works.
once you get that going there are quite a few good tutorials out there on modding .9 files.
they take a few extra steps.
they are all .png
i have noticed swype themes for other phones don't completely work or they don't swype at least, but they do work for standard typing. my failed theme however just force closes so i am thinking this is a different issue not necessarily compatibility. the swype i modded was pulled from starburst, my current rom.
their is a com.swypeinputmethod file under data/data i am not sure if or how this effects the swupe.apk in system/app. thanks for the reply
try replacing the png files without decompiling the .apk first
just rename .apk to .zip and extract to a folder then rezip and change back to .apk
or easier just open the zip without extracting and copy the files to thier spots and close.
this way you don't have to worry about all the decompiling and signing.
it works
i got it
since it is a no install system app i just put it into the rom and installed the rom, i also got a fresh apk to dump the png's into not sure what did it but it is now working and i can look for something else to theme, skin or play with.
thanks guys
Not sure if this is the right spot or should actually go in development or here since I got lectured for putting it in development the last time.
But what I am trying to do is decompile the framework file from the stock rom and change a xml and recompile so as to bypass the tetheringprovison call.
The last time I did this on the HTC One S I ran into the trouble that the recompiled verision didn't work and ended up just opening the recompiled apk as a zip pulling the xml and replacing it in the original apk and load that.
That seemed to do the trick on that phone.
I think the problem is with compression as the output apk I get after recompiling is never even close to the original size.
I am having the same issue when it comes to the file for the gs3.
So far I haven't tested a recompiled one yet since I haven't rooted yet but just working on the file.
That is a job for a little later on my days off where I don't need my phone.
But with this one the file I am looking for once it is decompiled shows in res/values/arrays.xml for this one. How ever if I open either the source file or the recompiled when I don't see those values folders anywhere inside.
I am not sure if they are just hidden in something else or where the other files are.
I am using the newest verision of apk multi tool to recompiling and decompiling with compression values tested at 1 and 0.
both the framework-res.apk and twframework files are loaded into it as well as dependencies.
Any ideas on the best way of changing out this one file?
Or if anyone can recompile one with the following arrays.xml file instead that I have attached.
When it is decompiled it does show the right folder string "\res\values" and the array.xml inside I have just made a change to the xml that would not check the tethering provision on the device to allow the built in tether to work again. and a recompiled verision with that file will bypass any tethering check
any help would be greatly appreciated.
*edited* to include the arrays xml
Anything found in the "values" directory are not going to be visible inside the apk they are files used to build the actual apk that tells the other XML and other files where things are. Compression won't break an apk. What exact file are you editing? Also you are going to have to root if you want to put the modded file back on the device..
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Yeah will be rooton on day off so i dont have to worry about it too much.
But with the arrays file that has a call in it to consult a different program before starting tethering.
I have changed that file so it dont check anymore.
This worked on it before with it just unlocked and a different apn update came and dont work anymore.
I am just confused that why it recompiled before for the one and wouldnt work right.
Based on what i read should be no problem as long as both frameworks are installed to the apk multitool
M9x3mos said:
Yeah will be rooton on day off so i dont have to worry about it too much.
But with the arrays file that has a call in it to consult a different program before starting tethering.
I have changed that file so it dont check anymore.
This worked on it before with it just unlocked and a different apn update came and dont work anymore.
I am just confused that why it recompiled before for the one and wouldnt work right.
Based on what i read should be no problem as long as both frameworks are installed to the apk multitool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decompile framework-res.apk all the time with no issues. What is the exact issue you're having?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Just that when I decompile the framework-res.apk replace one xml file and recompile it using the multitool (am using the system apk with dependancies and linking the twframework) and then try and load it on the phone it seems to cause it to crash.
M9x3mos said:
Just that when I decompile the framework-res.apk replace one xml file and recompile it using the multitool (am using the system apk with dependancies and linking the twframework) and then try and load it on the phone it seems to cause it to crash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot replace XML files with other XML files. You have to open the XML in notepad++ and edit the actual lines of code then recompile. And I thought you weren't rooted so how are you able to push the app back to the device? Also, are you setting correct permissions for the newly compiled apk?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Yeah sorry for the late reply.
I am still tinkering with it. I wanted to root just till I had a day off that it wouldn't kill me to have the phone down for a little.
I will be rooting it in the next day or two since I am off.
After recompiling the APK and pulling the XML out of that one and putting in the original was the only way I could get the change to take on the One S.
When I was testing then, and will try the same procedure with the GS3, is after recompiling it with the tool I would put on sd card then using twrp copy to the phone and chmod 644
Out of curiosity what would be the DD command for backing up the recovery to the sd card?
I am having trouble finding that.
I would like to have that to flash back on the phone as I am planning to try this again from within twrp and see what happens.
From my understanding for triangle away to work you need to be on stock recovery right?
Ok
Now I have a new problem I have stumbled upon.
I have modded the file but when I try and push it with ADB from the pc even after system mounted it tells me that permission is denied.
Any ideas why that is happening?
Tried copying over with root explorer and that froze during copy and then resulted I'm a boot loop.
Not sure if that was because of the method or a problem with the file I made.
When decompiling does that need to be done with the twframework dependence or just simple decompile?
Also then after switching the arrays.xml I can just recompile with no compression or do I have to do something with keeping files.
Since the arrays is in something else I'm not sure what it shouldn't keep.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
And I can't find if should either be zipaligned or signed. Some articles say signed some say don't sign system apks
Holy crap... youre allllllllllll over the place one bite at a time.. Quick answers first:
You do not need to backup your recovery. It is flashable via Odin and is much safer to flash via odin then it is using DD. With DD, you could flash the wrong partition by a simple slip of a keystroke. IE you typed '9' instead of '0'
Secondly: You got that 'freeze' issue using Root Explorer because framework-res.apk is constantly in use by the system. The BEST way to apply any system file is by creating a flashable zip file then applying it through recovery.
Thirdly: You do NOT need stock recovery to use Triangle Away, ive used it twice now with CWM as my recovery.
About your issues with decompiling recompiling.. I dont think its necessary to install the twframework... i dont recall if i had to when i was on Frosty, but doing "java -jar apktool.jar if <twframework here>" wouldnt hurt.
Also what exactly are you trying to modify?
Yeah Sorry about that
was just as I was reading other things and playing with it I kept coming across other questions.
Was thinking about that with the recovery so I am just going to skip doing that and flash a custom one then.
Was trying to do it without switching to avoid tripping the counter but seems like that is un neesicary
I am looking to stay on the stock software of the phone but want to edit the arrays file out of the framework so it don't check for tethering provisions.
Previously I was able to tether just by changing the APNs on the device now I can't do that. Says I don't have a tmo tathering plan. But also not with T-Mobile so that is problematic.
M9x3mos said:
Yeah Sorry about that
was just as I was reading other things and playing with it I kept coming across other questions.
Was thinking about that with the recovery so I am just going to skip doing that and flash a custom one then.
Was trying to do it without switching to avoid tripping the counter but seems like that is un neesicary
I am looking to stay on the stock software of the phone but want to edit the arrays file out of the framework so it don't check for tethering provisions.
Previously I was able to tether just by changing the APNs on the device now I can't do that. Says I don't have a tmo tathering plan. But also not with T-Mobile so that is problematic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quick question, are you running Stock Jellybean? And who is your carrier? There was a hacked apk that enabled tethering.. not sure what its called. just read about it. Never tried/downloaded it.
i got this to work last night for frosty 11.2.1, AllenD87 over at the att forums helped me get it right.
I have the stock jellybean on tmo device and use with simple mobile service
Just checked out the other one hack/mod that was looking like the same kind of mod where made changes to the framework and put it back.
different firmware so I don't that I should try that on mine.
i just decompiled framework-res.apk made the changes and recompiled. put it in the rom and flashed the whole rom.
Trying to keep the absolute stock rom.
I just installed twrp since it has file manager so I don't need to make a flashable zip but just copy over and chmod 0644
first attempt gave me a boot hang so I am going to try compiling with a different tool
Ok found out the problem was the multi tool inwas using
Used the beta instead and everything worked ok
I've been researching on here for a few days trying to figure out exactly how I should go about using a custom icon (or really just an icon I found and would like to use instead) for the 3rd party SMS app (chomp) I use as my default instead of stock SMS. I'm getting very helpful information but I am also finding that changing anything in a system app requires copying more apk files into apktool to decompile in xml editor and then recompiling. I know that system apps do not need to be signed, but 3rd party apps do, so does this make the entire process of editing different (as in which apk files to copy)?
I do have apkTOOL installed and up running fine, I also have a java xml editor one both my Note II and my MAC. And I use ES File Explorer. The problem is understanding which files I should be copying and decompiling in the apktool folder in order to replace the stock icon of chomp SMS. I am unsure of each step seeing how the app is not a system app. I am a bit of a noob with this type of modding, so I apologize if my questions seem obvious or simple, but I can and do understand details and directions. I appreciate any help
Phone is:
SGH-i317
Rooted
Stock JB 4.3
CWM Recovery
Factory Unlocked