Related
Making this thread in effort to keep things a little less cluttered in the forum/threads
Post your inquiries here and I'll try my best to answer your questions when time permits... this is a community so hopefully the other experienced senior members will chime in to help.
Overground: can we get a sticky?
reserved for faq
Alrite just a couple questions about theming and customization.
I would like to apply your red sense theme.
-Do I have to use a rom or can I just apply it on my rooted phone?
-If I have to use a rom which do you suggest so I can still use the original internet app that came with the phone?
Thx for all your help!
Sent you a PM about this actually.
Whats the trick to enable transparency? Particularly the notification pull-down. I have already modified framework-res.apk to include the transparent images, however they are not displaying transparent when applied to the phone. I read a few things about hexing, and even found a 'transparency patcher' program from droid-forums. This patcher apparently, does the hex work for you on services.jar. However, it did not do the trick. What am I missing here?
I'm running my own fully deodexed custom rom based on the 2.2 sense leak.
I'm working on Transparency as well...I contacted Xeudoxus at droidforums...hopefully he can help.
I would just like to know how to manually change my icons and or folders on my home screen and in my app drawer. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
I too would like to find out how to change the "Folders" icon from the plain manila to obviously something else.
Tyler 3 said:
Alrite just a couple questions about theming and customization.
I would like to apply your red sense theme.
-Do I have to use a rom or can I just apply it on my rooted phone?
-If I have to use a rom which do you suggest so I can still use the original internet app that came with the phone?
Thx for all your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All root themes will usually only work for the rom they are made for. Sometimes there are big changes to the firmware, sometimes little... a good rule of thumb is to always make a nandroid backup if your an early adopter. So long story short:
1. yes
2. whatever rom i made the theme for... you can only use the original browser app with sense
deficitism said:
Sent you a PM about this actually.
Whats the trick to enable transparency? Particularly the notification pull-down. I have already modified framework-res.apk to include the transparent images, however they are not displaying transparent when applied to the phone. I read a few things about hexing, and even found a 'transparency patcher' program from droid-forums. This patcher apparently, does the hex work for you on services.jar. However, it did not do the trick. What am I missing here?
I'm running my own fully deodexed custom rom based on the 2.2 sense leak.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SoCalMiles said:
I'm working on Transparency as well...I contacted Xeudoxus at droidforums...hopefully he can help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea... If you guys get ahold of Xeadoxus then let me know how its done. I have a feeling he'll tell you to download xUltimate though.
emplox said:
I would just like to know how to manually change my icons and or folders on my home screen and in my app drawer. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
KGBxxx said:
I too would like to find out how to change the "Folders" icon from the plain manila to obviously something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing folder icons/app icons: you're gonna have to theme the rom you're using
basic ingredients in no particular order:
1. update.zip- just download one of themes and the update script in there (META-INF) or make your own if you feel like learning the syntax
2. resigning tool http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3175518&postcount=2
3. 7zip for extracting apks
4. Android SDK
5. Lots of time
Start extracting apks and viewing the contents of res/drawable-hdpi---where you'll find icons
Most icons are named ic_launcher_XXXX.png, some are named app_icon, others are just simply icon... you'll have to look around to find them as there is no easy way to change them. Once you find the icon you want to replace, drop your new icon (with exactly the same name) into the same directory (preferably using 7zip since you don't have to have the directory extracted to replace it) and resign the entire zip file... flash zip and win!
So how much time do you think I would need if I was to do this? Just kidding looks like a pain in the ass. However, doable. Thanks for the link to signing the zip. Thought it just might be a bit easier. Hopefully soon I can change the plain folders to a picture of my girlfriend or something.
Sent from my noob rooted dinc.
Signal Bars
I have seemed to try everything to change the signal bar(s) colors. I have changed all of the icons to a red theme and the only way I can think thats left is that it has to be hex coded. Important fact is I am running skyraider 2.0.1. Has anyone had any luck changing these?
Hello guys i have a few questions. I am planning on making several themes for the htc evo, very detailed ones. I want to put them on the market, but so far all the tutorials i have seen show how to make themes but only as a ROM.
Is there a way to:
1. Make an ap to install only the theme files.
2. How can i put the themes i make in the market.
I would rally appreciate any help.
bump please help
cristorb said:
Hello guys i have a few questions. I am planning on making several themes for the htc evo, very detailed ones. I want to put them on the market, but so far all the tutorials i have seen show how to make themes but only as a ROM.
Is there a way to:
1. Make an ap to install only the theme files.
2. How can i put the themes i make in the market.
I would rally appreciate any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. look into "Metamorph"
2. I don't know
I am not sure how that would work in the market since Themes are not installable, they are flashable. Your are modding the existing installed apk's and then overwriting them back to the device by flashing it just like a rom.
Metamorph is the only way I know of other than flashing the themes to the phone... Sorry maybe someone has a better sugestion. Good luck I would love to see EVO Themes in the market.
This will guide you through making a theming template.
Why: it was requested
What is it for: This is the base in which you start your custome theming. If you have read through Dreamsforgotten thread on theming, you will see that he refers to a theming template to start with.
Be advised, This is not a rom. It is just a template that some dev/themers use as a base for their custome themes or to return to a stock deodex theme. Also, this assumes that you are on a stock rooted system
The Difference you ask:
Theming templates : do not have a modem or kernel, They do have a system folder with and App, font, and framework folder.
Rom: has everything needed to run the OS. Modem (sometimes), kernel, and a full system folder
This is how I do it. That is not to say it is right or wrong, but it works for me. There may be other/easier way developed by other devs.
EI22 Theme Template
Tools:
Rom kitchen form here ( follow the thread and set it up )
7zip from here
Notepad++ from here
Rooted device: if you are not rooted look in the dev section of your device for the instructions on that
Clockwork mod: if you don’t know what this is or don’t have it go to the dev section and research.
Instructions:
1: get a copy of the STOCK system folder. It really does not matter how you get it. JUST GET IT
HINT: if you are rooted already, use root explorer or equivlant and copy it to the sdcard….
Depending on how you got it, you may need to copy it to your computer desktop ( do so now)
2: now you will need to make a zip file (by now you should have 7zip installed)
r-click on system folder that you just copied to your desktop
choose 7zip > add to archive.
under archive change name to (build#).zip ( replace (build#) with the build you are using i.e ec05, ei22 ect….)
At this point you will need the rom kitchen. So, if it is not set up, DO SO!!!!!!!
3: copy to the zip folder to kitchen > original_update. Then open the kitchen.
Choose option 1, answer the next few questions as you need to. For me, I just hit enter at the 4 questions. You should be back at the main screen now
option 0 (enter) > option 11 (enter) > option b (enter) > enter ( best so that if there are errors you can troubleshoot) ( this takes a while: 20 min) assuming all went well, you should get
0 *.odex in system/app
0 *.odex in system/framework
Hit the enter key
option 99 > option 2
At this point, there should be a new folder named “output_zip” with your rom in it. (enter) you should be back to the mail menu. We are done with the kitchen so you can close that.
BUT your not done yet.
4: go to the above mentioned folder. In the folder there will be a zip file.
r-click on it and rename theme_template_(build#) ( replace (build#) with the build you are using i.e ec05, ei22 ect….)
r-click> 7zip> open archive - There you will see two folders and a boot image.
delete the boot.img file
go into the system folder and delete everything except app, framework, and font folders
back out one level and go into meta-inf >com > google >android
Now delete the updater-script (leave 7zip open)
Now we need to write the updater-script for CMW to read
5: open notepad++
BE ADVISED, this portion is for the EPIC 4G and the updater-script may change formats based on your device. So do some research first. I tend to look at other script for my devices to see how it should be formatted.
You can copy and past this in or type it yourself:
show_progress(0.1, 0);
delete_recursive("/system/framework");
delete_recursive("/system/app");
delete_recursive("/system/fonts");
mount("MTD", "system", "/system");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
delete_recursive("/data/dalvik-cache");
show_progress(0.1, 10);
unmount("/system");
Or use this: updater-script
file >save as
Name file: updater-script
File type: chose all types (*.*) you may need to scroll up or down to find it.
save to desktop
drag and drop the updater-script into the 7zip screen. ( you will be prompted with a ?. just hit yes.)
You should now have 3 files on the 7zip screen
Updater-script, update-binary, update-script.orig
close 7zip.
Connect phone via USB
Copy file to sdcard
Disconnect phone
Reboot to CMW
Choose: backup and restore >backup (when its finished you will have a nandroid to restore if you F.U.B.A.R. your phone.
Choose: install zip from sdcard and install your theming template.
Reboot.
Now use your favorite file explorer and go to system/framework and make sure it has been deodexed. If so, the flash was successful and your theme template works.
Congradulations you built your first theme. All be it a stock one. lol
mine for the thank you's
dreams - for all of his tuts
dsixda - for the kitchen.
Finally
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Zeinzu said:
Finally
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your welcome.... lol
Download doesn't work. Just downloads and empty zip.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
You can use this thread or learn to do the XML code changes and mods by hand as most of the seasoned theme devs do... I find it a whole lot more rewarding than letting this kitchen or the UOT Kitchen do the work for me....
This also works hand in hand when something goes wrong with your theme you know where to look to fix the problem.
FYI, even with the various themes that myself and ZiggSVO have worked on we still don't know everything and we all do exchange ideas and trouble shoot among each other. That is what makes all this stuff fun and rewarding.
Just my opinion...
Zeinzu said:
Download doesn't work. Just downloads and empty zip.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
looking into it.
just dl'ed - worked fine for me.
Paul627g said:
You can use this thread or learn to do the XML code changes and mods by hand as most of the seasoned theme devs do... I find it a whole lot more rewarding than letting this kitchen or the UOT Kitchen do the work for me....
This also works hand in hand when something goes wrong with your theme you know where to look to fix the problem.
FYI, even with the various themes that myself and ZiggSVO have worked on we still don't know everything and we all do exchange ideas and trouble shoot among each other. That is what makes all this stuff fun and rewarding.
Just my opinion...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tend to agree. but a noob has to have someplace to start. I wish there was the help i needed when i started doing these things a yr ago. I've learned alot throught the guids that i've found, but yes learning to do them by hand is great to.
Z..
what are you tring to dl. the template "worked fine for me" or the updater-script?
Paul627g said:
You can use this thread or learn to do the XML code changes and mods by hand as most of the seasoned theme devs do... I find it a whole lot more rewarding than letting this kitchen or the UOT Kitchen do the work for me....
This also works hand in hand when something goes wrong with your theme you know where to look to fix the problem.
FYI, even with the various themes that myself and ZiggSVO have worked on we still don't know everything and we all do exchange ideas and trouble shoot among each other. That is what makes all this stuff fun and rewarding.
Just my opinion...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely agree, doing it by hand gives you a more broad understanding of how the xml code works. This allows you to perform other modifications as well, and like Paul said it is rewarding and also exciting.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely appreciate the guide! Perhaps you could divide it into a noob section and a more involved section.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
thomasskull666 said:
I definitely agree, doing it by hand gives you a more broad understanding of how the xml code works. This allows you to perform other modifications as well, and like Paul said it is rewarding and also exciting.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely appreciate the guide! Perhaps you could divide it into a noob section and a more involved section.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paul627g said:
You can use this thread or learn to do the XML code changes and mods by hand as most of the seasoned theme devs do... I find it a whole lot more rewarding than letting this kitchen or the UOT Kitchen do the work for me....
This also works hand in hand when something goes wrong with your theme you know where to look to fix the problem.
FYI, even with the various themes that myself and ZiggSVO have worked on we still don't know everything and we all do exchange ideas and trouble shoot among each other. That is what makes all this stuff fun and rewarding.
Just my opinion...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you are asking for. There is no XML editing involved here. If you are talking about the deodexing process, sure i can write out the long way to do it by hand. But there are alomost 200 odex files btween the apps folder and the framework folder to deodex. This process would take you all day to do if it wasnt for the kitchen.
spdwiz18 said:
Not sure what you are asking for. There is no XML editing involved here. If you are talking about the deodexing process, sure i can write out the long way to do it by hand. But there are alomost 200 odex files btween the apps folder and the framework folder to deodex. This process would take you all day to do if it wasnt for the kitchen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe some are misunderstanding the guide? I'm a little confused also lol. The way I read it...it comes across as just how to deodex your ROM? No actual themeing? Just to get a base template to start themeing...
Is that right?
Further clarification would be appreciated.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
I probably jumped the gun myself on thinking this was a theme guide. Only point I was trying to make was I hate seeing people use UOT Kitchen or other means to do themes or build a ROM using it and then put it out as their own work. These methods I think are great for personal use but to build an entire themed frameworks, etc and then expect to take credit for it is a bit overboard and trust me there has been plenty of work here in the past based off of UOT Kitchen and other means.
Bottom line, its more rewarding in the long run when you do as much as possible by hand and learn how its all done. Heck I even recently went back and learned how to use APK TOOL itself to decompile and recompile apks aside from just using APK Manager. Sure I know APK Manager is the tool of choice but I still wanted to see how others did it before the big move over to APK Manager.
Otherwise, this is a great thread having a tool to deodex a ROM. Personally I have never successfully deodexed a ROM myself, I've come close and had working ROMs but usually ended up with one thing or another broken in the deodexing process.
Paul627g said:
I probably jumped the gun myself on thinking this was a theme guide. Only point I was trying to make was I hate seeing people use UOT Kitchen or other means to do themes or build a ROM using it and then put it out as their own work. These methods I think are great for personal use but to build an entire themed frameworks, etc and then expect to take credit for it is a bit overboard and trust me there has been plenty of work here in the past based off of UOT Kitchen and other means.
Bottom line, its more rewarding in the long run when you do as much as possible by hand and learn how its all done. Heck I even recently went back and learned how to use APK TOOL itself to decompile and recompile apks aside from just using APK Manager. Sure I know APK Manager is the tool of choice but I still wanted to see how others did it before the big move over to APK Manager.
Otherwise, this is a great thread having a tool to deodex a ROM. Personally I have never successfully deodexed a ROM myself, I've come close and had working ROMs but usually ended up with one thing or another broken in the deodexing process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I will admit so did I lol, the xml portion is in reference to theme porting, not deodexing.
Carry on >_>
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Paul627g said:
I probably jumped the gun myself on thinking this was a theme guide. Only point I was trying to make was I hate seeing people use UOT Kitchen or other means to do themes or build a ROM using it and then put it out as their own work. These methods I think are great for personal use but to build an entire themed frameworks, etc and then expect to take credit for it is a bit overboard and trust me there has been plenty of work here in the past based off of UOT Kitchen and other means.
Bottom line, its more rewarding in the long run when you do as much as possible by hand and learn how its all done. Heck I even recently went back and learned how to use APK TOOL itself to decompile and recompile apks aside from just using APK Manager. Sure I know APK Manager is the tool of choice but I still wanted to see how others did it before the big move over to APK Manager.
Otherwise, this is a great thread having a tool to deodex a ROM. Personally I have never successfully deodexed a ROM myself, I've come close and had working ROMs but usually ended up with one thing or another broken in the deodexing process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thomasskull666 said:
Ya I will admit so did I lol, the xml portion is in reference to theme porting, not deodexing.
Carry on >_>
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And this is why im not in the field that i went to school for. lol (cysco networking) i got to the last class and they told me i had to document everything. I just dont have the skills to do that. I am going to edit the OP to better clarify what i was tring to do.
No worries to everyone. your opinions are wellcome. I am not all knowing, but i love to learn and share what i do know.
useing ubuntu what do i need to download
Glewis21 said:
useing ubuntu what do i need to download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What kind of rom? Stock based? Aosp/miui/cm7?
Are you going to be building from source?
Personally as a miui porter, I use 7zip, apktool, and notepad++
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
On Ubuntu there is already a good notepad. You need the android sdk (add it to path), apktool, smali, baksmaly, all of the crap needed for compiling cm7, eclipse and it's ADK plugin, 7zip, voodoo kernel repack tools, that's probably all...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
I had a question along the same lines. But I'm a total noob to coding. What I really wanna do is take an already built rom and add some mods to it that I like and then save the package as a rom . In doing that I'm hoping to cut my teeth a little into the world of rom creation.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Xalky said:
I had a question along the same lines. But I'm a total noob to coding. What I really wanna do is take an already built rom and add some mods to it that I like and then save the package as a rom . In doing that I'm hoping to cut my teeth a little into the world of rom creation.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you are talking about Xalky is more on the lines of themeing. Customizing icons, layouts and adding in fixes, then repackaging it into the flashable. Check out the Themes subforum and the sticky at the top by Dreamsforgotten on How to theme. That may be what you are looking for. Then either Dreams, myself or the dozens of other helpful users here can help you repackage it. It is just a matter of swapping the finished product back into the ROM flashable and of course giving credit to all that contributed or developed the stuff you grabbed to mod.
kennyglass123 said:
What you are talking about Xalky is more on the lines of themeing. Customizing icons, layouts and adding in fixes, then repackaging it into the flashable. Check out the Themes subforum and the sticky at the top by Dreamsforgotten on How to theme. That may be what you are looking for. Then either Dreams, myself or the dozens of other helpful users here can help you repackage it. It is just a matter of swapping the finished product back into the ROM flashable and of course giving credit to all that contributed or developed the stuff you grabbed to mod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct. Thats what I'd like to do......for now. Thanks for the lead. It's mainly for myself to be able to save my phone setup as one flashable zip. Is there a way to take your current Rom/theme setup with mods and copy the entire thing from the phone and turn it into one flashable zip? minus my add on apps. I thought I saw someone do that around here.
Xalky said:
You are correct. Thats what I'd like to do......for now. Thanks for the lead. It's mainly for myself to be able to save my phone setup as one flashable zip. Is there a way to take your current Rom/theme setup with mods and copy the entire thing from the phone and turn it into one flashable zip? minus my add on apps. I thought I saw someone do that around here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe there is a way to make an Odinable tar backup of your phone just how it is. But that would backup all your accounts and settings too. What you want is to just stuff your modded files back into the ROM zip.
Hi, first of all thanks for coming here
I've been trying to mod an existing theme for me but till now no luck, i've tried to open the apk with 7z, drop the new pngs i want, save and close,
Then sign and installation failure, then someone sugested try to delete META-INF and still no luck
So i tried to go into hardcore and decompile and all that crazy stuff but still no luck, my JDK refuses to work =S, so im really going crazy =S
If someone kindly can give some advice or take a look into my theme files i would be really gratefull
ill post the gdrive link: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bxt51MAjKyi0MDNCMm1HaV9sU1U/edit?usp=sharing
thanks
good Luck
Tyrany said:
Hi, first of all thanks for coming here
I've been trying to mod an existing theme for me but till now no luck, i've tried to open the apk with 7z, drop the new pngs i want, save and close,
Then sign and installation failure, then someone sugested try to delete META-INF and still no luck
So i tried to go into hardcore and decompile and all that crazy stuff but still no luck, my JDK refuses to work =S, so im really going crazy =S
If someone kindly can give some advice or take a look into my theme files i would be really gratefull
ill post the gdrive link: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bxt51MAjKyi0MDNCMm1HaV9sU1U/edit?usp=sharing
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man One day i will try to do this I am hoping for the best and I'm sure someone will come up with some help for you!
No need to mess with decompiling if all you are changing is images. You can use 7zip like you said, but rename it to theme.zip first, then replace your images (not .9.images, only .png) then rename back to theme.apk and install.
Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a similar question.
How easy would it be to remove custom icons from a (Theme Chooser) theme? You know how they sometimes replace the messaging and camera icons, etc. I want the theme but not the icon replacements. Possible?
Would it be as easy as renaming to a zip and finding and deleting the icon images?
jakis39 said:
Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have a similar question.
How easy would it be to remove custom icons from a (Theme Chooser) theme? You know how they sometimes replace the messaging and camera icons, etc. I want the theme but not the icon replacements. Possible?
Would it be as easy as renaming to a zip and finding and deleting the icon images?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep.