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I have been theming on the x2 for awhile now building custom themes .. I just got my nexus yesterday so I downloaded the gummy rom and tried to theme first with apktool and also with apk manager.. I see there have been themes made.. I have yet to be able to decompile any system apks successfully.. are there any new tools I'm missing or steps... would love to start theming again if I can get things to work
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Kevin3328 said:
I have been theming on the x2 for awhile now building custom themes .. I just got my nexus yesterday so I downloaded the gummy rom and tried to theme first with apktool and also with apk manager.. I see there have been themes made.. I have yet to be able to decompile any system apks successfully.. are there any new tools I'm missing or steps... would love to start theming again if I can get things to work
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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yep, you need to update apktool for use with Android 4.0
edit: more specifically...
-Wrong version of apktool (get the latest)
-Wrong verison of apktool dependancies files (same site)
-Wrong version of aapt.exe in Android SDK (get latest SDK)
Alright awesome I'll look into it tonight after work
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I have the latest version of all of that and can decompile with apktool. The problem is when I build the new apk and copy over the edited files and push back to the phone the app won't work.
A run down of everything I did is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1452530
Did u try putting it back in the flash able zip with 7 zip? I never use adb push.... in theory if u are able to compile the apk without errors it should work
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Kevin3328 said:
Did u try putting it back in the flash able zip with 7 zip? I never use adb push.... in theory if u are able to compile the apk without errors it should work
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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I pulled the music apk, edited it, rebuilt it, and put the edited files back in the original apk. I did that because I don't know how to sign my own apk so I just used the already signed one with some edited png and xml files. The thing I don't understand is that I pulled an apk once and opened it via 7zip and edited some things, pushed it back and everything was fine (changed out some icons on the contacts.apk)
Do you know where an up-to-date theming guide can be found? I'm very interested in making my own themes instead of requesting themers to make one. Learning experience and all that jazz.
Thanks.
coverton341 said:
I pulled the music apk, edited it, rebuilt it, and put the edited files back in the original apk. I did that because I don't know how to sign my own apk so I just used the already signed one with some edited png and xml files. The thing I don't understand is that I pulled an apk once and opened it via 7zip and edited some things, pushed it back and everything was fine (changed out some icons on the contacts.apk)
Do you know where an up-to-date theming guide can be found? I'm very interested in making my own themes instead of requesting themers to make one. Learning experience and all that jazz.
Thanks.
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Click to collapse
You can't replace xml's in that way.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
If u properly recompile the apk then yes u can .. u edit it all the XML s and pngs in the apk then recompile.. then drop the recompiled apk into the system app section of the rom u r using unless its the framework Res apk or other framework apk.. once u do this put the new rom zip back into your phone and flash in recovery ... bottom line I'm not the most experienced themer in the forums I just got the phone yesterday so its gonna take time for me to begin theming anything.. that being said perhaps if this thread stays open and more experienced themers can chime in with some tips and advice
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
coverton341 said:
I pulled the music apk, edited it, rebuilt it, and put the edited files back in the original apk. I did that because I don't know how to sign my own apk so I just used the already signed one with some edited png and xml files. The thing I don't understand is that I pulled an apk once and opened it via 7zip and edited some things, pushed it back and everything was fine (changed out some icons on the contacts.apk)
Do you know where an up-to-date theming guide can be found? I'm very interested in making my own themes instead of requesting themers to make one. Learning experience and all that jazz.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also in my short experience theming u should not have to sign a system app... u should recompile then rename it.. then reinsert into the rom you are using.. reflash the rom without any wiping and u should be good try it that way
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Kevin3328 said:
Also in my short experience theming u should not have to sign a system app... u should recompile then rename it.. then reinsert into the rom you are using.. reflash the rom without any wiping and u should be good try it that way
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Hey Kev did u figured it out yet? I replied to ur PM...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Kevin3328 said:
Also in my short experience theming u should not have to sign a system app... u should recompile then rename it.. then reinsert into the rom you are using.. reflash the rom without any wiping and u should be good try it that way
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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Actually, GoogleMusic.apk is found in data/app not in system, at least in the ROM I am on. But, am I correct in assuming that I can do the same thing in this instance?
Furthermore, is there no way to theme a single application? Do I need to always theme an app, place it back into the ROM zip, and reflash said ROM?
Can I make my own flashable zip file for a single app?
Sorry to ask so many questions, I just really like tinkering with things and I would really like to get good at theming.
Kevin3328 said:
If u properly recompile the apk then yes u can .. u edit it all the XML s and pngs in the apk then recompile.. then drop the recompiled apk into the system app section of the rom u r using unless its the framework Res apk or other framework apk.. once u do this put the new rom zip back into your phone and flash in recovery ... bottom line I'm not the most experienced themer in the forums I just got the phone yesterday so its gonna take time for me to begin theming anything.. that being said perhaps if this thread stays open and more experienced themers can chime in with some tips and advice
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Sorry misread what you were saying then.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
I am at work until 1030 then I am gonna set up shop on my CPU first... gotta get the new sdk and apktool then I will gtalk u from there with issues.. all I know is this should be a learning experience lol.. by the looks of this phone it could be awhile b4 I learn what everything "is" framework will be all the apks will be different than what I'm used to
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
coverton341 said:
Actually, GoogleMusic.apk is found in data/app not in system, at least in the ROM I am on. But, am I correct in assuming that I can do the same thing in this instance?
Furthermore, is there no way to theme a single application? Do I need to always theme an app, place it back into the ROM zip, and reflash said ROM?
Can I make my own flashable zip file for a single app?
Sorry to ask so many questions, I just really like tinkering with things and I would really like to get good at theming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can make update zips and yes u should b able to do the same.. I usually borrow someone else's at first
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
wut? i've never done what you guys have when it comes to compiling/decompiling and replacing stuff. i'm not so sure that works, but i'll take your word for it for now since i've never tried it either. in theory, you can decompile and change xml, recompile and replace that xml, but not if you're dealing with the actual xml folder in apks. your resources change when you mess with that. this is the same for changing smali, except something else changes (it's been a bit since i've dealt with actual dev stuff).
also, it's a big waste (and sometimes troublesome) to flash an entire ROM to update one or a few apks. making one for just testing out things in \system\ will save you time and frustration. you can also make a backup easier for if something bootloops you
Success!!!
All right, first and foremost, thank you immensely for all the suggestions Kevin and others as well.
Here's what I did. I searched the ROM zip to no avail, but then found the apk in the gapps zip. I took it out of there, decompiled, messed around with just a few png files, recompiled and put it back into the gapps zip. Flashed it and it worked. Problem is, only a couple of the edits I made showed up which brings me to my next issue, ICS optimised apps have a tonne of "drawable-***" folders. Drawable, drawable-hdpi, drawable-hdpi-v8,v9,v11, drawable-xdpi, etc....ad nauseum.
I am not messing with any smali code, xml files, or .9.png files yet as I don't know what smali does, xml is a headache, and I have heard horror stories about .9.png files.
I'm going to dink around and see if I can sort out what items need to be changed for my current dpi setting (241) and will report back any findings, but probably not tonight as I have an early course in the morning followed by work.
coverton341 said:
Success!!!
All right, first and foremost, thank you immensely for all the suggestions Kevin and others as well.
Here's what I did. I searched the ROM zip to no avail, but then found the apk in the gapps zip. I took it out of there, decompiled, messed around with just a few png files, recompiled and put it back into the gapps zip. Flashed it and it worked. Problem is, only a couple of the edits I made showed up which brings me to my next issue, ICS optimised apps have a tonne of "drawable-***" folders. Drawable, drawable-hdpi, drawable-hdpi-v8,v9,v11, drawable-xdpi, etc....ad nauseum.
I am not messing with any smali code, xml files, or .9.png files yet as I don't know what smali does, xml is a headache, and I have heard horror stories about .9.png files.
I'm going to dink around and see if I can sort out what items need to be changed for my current dpi setting (241) and will report back any findings, but probably not tonight as I have an early course in the morning followed by work.
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Let us know how you (hopefully) succeed. Im a bit tempted to try theming myself but ive cant seem to find a guide that is up-to-date - and im learning somthing with every question you are asking - and with every answer the other nice fellows are providing.
:thumbs up!:
I am still trying to figure out how to setup everything.. I know I need newest sdk and newest apk multi tool which I didn't get yet.. I'm gonna tinker around today/tonite and see what I'm doing wrong
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mrvirginia said:
wut? i've never done what you guys have when it comes to compiling/decompiling and replacing stuff. i'm not so sure that works, but i'll take your word for it for now since i've never tried it either. in theory, you can decompile and change xml, recompile and replace that xml, but not if you're dealing with the actual xml folder in apks. your resources change when you mess with that. this is the same for changing smali, except something else changes (it's been a bit since i've dealt with actual dev stuff).
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See this is how I read it too. I believe the OP means that he's making changes and then replacing the apk in the flashable zip. Not actually replacing the edited xmls in the original apk. Glad I'm not the only one that read it that way though
coverton341 said:
Success!!!
All right, first and foremost, thank you immensely for all the suggestions Kevin and others as well.
Here's what I did. I searched the ROM zip to no avail, but then found the apk in the gapps zip. I took it out of there, decompiled, messed around with just a few png files, recompiled and put it back into the gapps zip. Flashed it and it worked. Problem is, only a couple of the edits I made showed up which brings me to my next issue, ICS optimised apps have a tonne of "drawable-***" folders. Drawable, drawable-hdpi, drawable-hdpi-v8,v9,v11, drawable-xdpi, etc....ad nauseum.
I am not messing with any smali code, xml files, or .9.png files yet as I don't know what smali does, xml is a headache, and I have heard horror stories about .9.png files.
I'm going to dink around and see if I can sort out what items need to be changed for my current dpi setting (241) and will report back any findings, but probably not tonight as I have an early course in the morning followed by work.
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Click to collapse
no decompiling is necessary for tweaking pngs.
smali code is for messing with policies, etc.
.9.png files can be a pain if you don't recompile the apk correctly.
and this should help with your dpi as far as what to edit so you can see it...
http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html
Can anyone edit a framework-res.apk with no mods other than adding the crt animation? I've found guides on how to edit the bools file in the res/values filder inside the apk, but I can't get it to recompile the apk correctly. Can someone tell me how or send me an edited apk or something?
If you want to post your framework file, I'll do it for you and send it back.
I just posted several of these for Caulkulin's 3.0 rom. What are you using now? His framework, but with a stock battery look.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
kyamora said:
Can anyone edit a framework-res.apk with no mods other than adding the crt animation? I've found guides on how to edit the bools file in the res/values filder inside the apk, but I can't get it to recompile the apk correctly. Can someone tell me how or send me an edited apk or something?
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You need to check the error and see whats wrong with the framework file. Also you just want a stock framework file with crt on? Also what are you using to compile and decompile
playya said:
You need to check the error and see whats wrong with the framework file. Also you just want a stock framework file with crt on? Also what are you using to compile and decompile
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I was using apk manager 4.9, and I have no idea how to read the log.
I attached my framework-res. It's stock from FD19, I probably should have specified.
If no one gets to it, I'll mod it when I get home.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
All done. I tested on my phone. After I replaced the apk, I had to manually restart the phone for it to work. I placed your apk in a zip file before I uploaded, so make sure you unzip your apk before putting it back on your phone.
Thank you so much, it works very well.
Now I'd just like to know how you did it. Coming from a clean computer with nothing installed, what would I need to decompile an apk, edit it, and compile it again? I'm trying to get a handle on the whole thing to do some development myself.
Try and upgrade to Apk Manager 5.02 since I just de-compiled and then compiled your apk file without an issue. Also try and update everything associated with it like your java... But it seems quite fine to me
Edit: just tried yours again as well as removing animation I lowered autobrightness which is something I do on all my roms for better battery life.. Try that mod next
playya said:
Try and upgrade to Apk Manager 5.02 since I just de-compiled and then compiled your apk file without an issue. Also try and update everything associated with it like your java... But it seems quite fine to me
Edit: just tried yours again as well as removing animation I lowered autobrightness which is something I do on all my roms for better battery life.. Try that mod next
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Do I have to do anything to set it up or is it good to go from install? Should I restart my computer?
Also where can I find 5.02? I had a lot of trouble finding 4.9 in the first place.
I've never used apk manager, so I'll check that out also. I used apktool to mod your framework along with all the java runtime files it needed to work.
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&roid said:
I've never used apk manager, so I'll check that out also. I used apktool to mod your framework along with all the java runtime files it needed to work.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
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Apktool confused me so I used apk manager. I can't figure out how to get apktool to work. Do you have a link to a good guide or anything?
There are some good ones on xda. I'll link you one when I get home.
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I was apparently using the gingerbread method for an ICS build. Would that have kept it from compiling correctly?
kyamora said:
I was apparently using the gingerbread method for an ICS build. Would that have kept it from compiling correctly?
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Click to collapse
YES
&roid said:
YES
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Click to collapse
Haha, at least I'm learning.
To be fair, no one specified. Thanks for all the help guys.
Hi. Any help me to on crt effect in this framework ? I try apk menager and apk edit, and always some problem when compile, program loop and only exit work
http://db.tt/W2DKqulN
This is mainly for the rom devs/themers out there.
Since ICS, there have been issues recompiling Phone.apk - the recompile fails with errors in various strings.xmls in the values language folders.
Had the same issue trying to recompile Phone.apk in the lastest Sense4+ ROMs. But thanks to a sharp eyed user over in the Apktool thread I managed to fix the faulty xmls.
Thought I'd upload them here, to save others the effort. Just add the folders in the zip to your decompiled Phone.apk, and it should recompile fine. Have tested these with both Sense4 and Sense4+ Phone.apk, both recompiled fine.
DOWNLOAD HERE
fisha21 said:
This is mainly for the rom devs/themers out there.
Since ICS, there have been issues recompiling Phone.apk - the recompile fails with errors in various strings.xmls in the values language folders.
Had the same issue trying to recompile Phone.apk in the lastest Sense4+ ROMs. But thanks to a sharp eyed user over in the Apktool thread I managed to fix the faulty xmls.
Thought I'd upload them here, to save others the effort. Just add the folders in the zip to your decompiled Phone.apk, and it should recompile fine. Have tested these with both Sense4 and Sense4+ Phone.apk, both recompiled fine.
DOWNLOAD HERE
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Click to collapse
Good work mate
problem recompiling custom hand made skin as well , have to use both VTS and apktool .. no big deal , but i prefer making everything with VTS
Do you face that to ??
Dougi said:
problem recompiling custom hand made skin as well , have to use both VTS and apktool .. no big deal , but i prefer making everything with VTS
Do you face that to ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did have one issue where ICS skins wouldnt recompile. Was due to an error in decompiling AndroidManifest. Check the difference in manifest between VTS and manual apktool....you'll see there is a "minimum SDK version" line missing from the manifest in VTS. If you add that back in, it should recompile properly.
Though I only had that issue trying to convert JB skins to ICS. Currently working with JB skins and they compile just fine.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
OK poeple need some help. I am using rujelus22 apktool. so i am trying to theme secphone.apk. decompile with no errors, but when i compile it gets errors like crazy. i have also tried multi-apktool and get the same error. what i am asking is there a apktool that themers are using that can compile secphone.apk. any help
monkeytools said:
OK poeple need some help. I am using rujelus22 apktool. so i am trying to theme secphone.apk. decompile with no errors, but when i compile it gets errors like crazy. i have also tried multi-apktool and get the same error. what i am asking is there a apktool that themers are using that can compile secphone.apk. any help
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Click to collapse
What are you trying to theme? And what changes are you making?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
just theming a rom and trying to change some of the .9 pngs back grounds. and trying to find the top buttons in contacts. some one told me that it was in secphone.apk not in sec contacts.apk. and sorry forgot to put theming jb fl16.
monkeytools said:
just theming a rom and trying to change some of the .9 pngs back grounds. and trying to find the top buttons in contacts. some one told me that it was in secphone.apk not in sec contacts.apk. and sorry forgot to put theming jb fl16.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Becareful with the .9.pngs. they can be a pain. I kmow I've had issues compiling if their not set up right
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
ya did alot of reading on .9 pngs. but that is not what is causing the problem. have decompiled and compiled without making any edits and it errors out. i think there is aproblem with aresource file or a smali file. not sure but it is making theming hard. personaly i have never had a problem with any of the .9 that i have edited.
Just a quick question, what version of rujelus22 apktool do you have?
I have the jb version it has 1.5.0 apktool.
Everytime i try to compile system apps i get this error, i have latest sdk installed, latest jdk and last version of apktool. I did apktool if framework-res.apk then apktool if semcgenericuxp.apk and decompiled systemui.apk, i have it done. I edited things, when i try to recompile it, gives me this error. I searched a lot but nothing helped, so if there is anyone who's facing this issue and then solved it, please help me. This is really eating me inside
federico rotundi said:
Everytime i try to compile system apps i get this error, i have latest sdk installed, latest jdk and last version of apktool. I did apktool if framework-res.apk then apktool if semcgenericuxp.apk and decompiled systemui.apk, i have it done. I edited things, when i try to recompile it, gives me this error. I searched a lot but nothing helped, so if there is anyone who's facing this issue and then solved it, please help me. This is really eating me inside
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Click to collapse
Try deconpiling then recompiling without any changes
If it still shows error change the semcgeneric or framework
Sent from my LT18i
Sahaab said:
Try deconpiling then recompiling without any changes
If it still shows error change the semcgeneric or framework
Sent from my LT18i
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It showed that error, i changed it showed that again, i tried it again with framework and semcgenericuxpres from your rom.
federico rotundi said:
It showed that error, i changed it showed that again, i tried it again with framework and semcgenericuxpres from your rom.
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Click to collapse
Where is the systemUI from?
Is it a port?
Sent from my LT18i
Sahaab said:
Where is the systemUI from?
Is it a port?
Sent from my LT18i
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Click to collapse
Yes it's from MXY1997's thread.
federico rotundi said:
Yes it's from MXY1997's thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then I suggest u PM him
But I will give u a suggestion
Use the framework-res and semcgeneric from DdcCabuslay's Xperia Z theme
Sent from my LT18i
Sahaab said:
Then I suggest u PM him
But I will give u a suggestion
Use the framework-res and semcgeneric from DdcCabuslay's Xperia Z theme
Sent from my LT18i
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Click to collapse
It is not about the SystemUI, there is something wrong about java, i can't recompile any other system app with apktool as i said, i used lots of versions of apktool and this problem still remains, maybe it is something to do with Windows 8?
federico rotundi said:
It is not about the SystemUI, there is something wrong about java, i can't recompile any other system app with apktool as i said, i used lots of versions of apktool and this problem still remains, maybe it is something to do with Windows 8?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya maybe windows 8 isnt supported yet
Sent from my LT18i