Database Develop

I Need Help With It All!!!

Ok I am terrible at this stuff 1. I dont understand how to get in my cab files on my phone. 2. I dont know anything about the zip files. 3. I JUST NEED ALL THE HELP THERE IS BECAUSE IM AFRAID MY PHONE WILL GET BRICKED AND I NEED IT!!!! IF ANYONE KNOWS PLEASE LET ME KNOW! THANKS

Aaron06 said:
Ok I am terrible at this stuff 1. I dont understand how to get in my cab files on my phone. 2. I dont know anything about the zip files. 3. I JUST NEED ALL THE HELP THERE IS BECAUSE IM AFRAID MY PHONE WILL GET BRICKED AND I NEED IT!!!! IF ANYONE KNOWS PLEASE LET ME KNOW! THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the cab file is a simple way you install an app on your device. Just click on the cab and it should begin installation. Pay attention to where you are sending the cab on your device so that it is easy to find and just click and install. A Zip file is a compressed file or files. You must uncompress before you can install the cab. sometimes you will find the cab file inside the compressed zip file. Another format for compression is rar files. I use winrar to uncompress to desktop.
I strongly suggest that you read this forum as much as possible to learn as much as you can. Read the FAQ's and the WIKI. Also do research on your particular phone to learn its strenghts and weaknesses. There is lots to learn and you will have to do lots and lots and lots of reading. Don't get discouraged, just keep reading. There is a wonderful search feature as well to search for specific things. It takes a little getting use to; however, once you figure it out - how to use it efficiently, you will find things - answers - really easily. Some threads are really long and you will probably want to skip right to the end of the thread. _ Don't. Read the whole thread before posting. Some members get really frustrated with new commers who don't read before asking questions.
Good luck, have fun and remember - READ
Rod

General Questions about Themes GO HERE!!!!!

Hello, I am a little new here. I am kind of a newb with a lot of things. I did root my device and replaced the boot images.. but i do not know how to make themes. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to help by making a theme for me?
I added some images as to what i am looking to have done, that is of course anyone is willing to help. it is fairly simple i am looking to get the color scheme and kids icons if possible... maybe have a little fun with the clock or not if its too much work.
If anyone could help me out I would appreciate it... i am a graphic designer more than a programmer.. a lot of this is confusing to me.
I really like this site and hopefully i can be of some help at some point. This is my first post but i plan on posting a lot more.

Nice concept...but I`m not sure if you have looked at this topic http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=467639 It describe how to make a theme and stuff, good starting point anyways. Hope it helps!

Yeah ive seen that thread but it scares me...lol
I really dont know what I am doing with all that stuff. I dont really know if I understood everything in it either :-\
thanx though I will try to follow it and make a theme myself but it might take me a while...lol

RandumAccess said:
Yeah ive seen that thread but it scares me...lol
I really dont know what I am doing with all that stuff. I dont really know if I understood everything in it either :-\
thanx though I will try to follow it and make a theme myself but it might take me a while...lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahaha I would offer help but unfortunately I am no programmer

Im teaching myself how to make themes as well. I have found it best to read through that walkthrough a million times and then PM a couple of the dev guys to answer specific questions.
Basically this is the process:
- Take a theme that you like for RC30 or ADP1 or whatever you wanna make it in
- Extract 2 folders inside, app, and framework into a new folder on your computer
- Rename add a .zip to the end of the apk files and extract them all so you have a bunch of folders with your app names
- Go into res and find any folder that says drawable and inside of there are the files to edit for your theme. Make sure not to edit the .9.png files.
- Once all your editing is done get into linux and turn all the folders back into zip files, then turn them back into apk files.
- Then take your app folder and framework folder that contain the new files and in linux create it into one zip file.
- Then you send the file back to windows, get the SignAPK files, put your zip in the folder with the SignAPK files and run some commands in the CMD to resign the file.
- Then rename that file update.zip and put it on the SDcard and give it a whirl.
This is how I understand the process after talking to a couple people for the last few days. I am hoping to release my own theme soon and if it works you will know that these steps are right. LOL And dont follow those directions, they are just to give you an idea of the steps involved.

Agusta - haha s ok thanks anyway :-D

@brandenk
why do we need to zip the files in linux? By the way thanks for the theming for dummies guide.

trying it out
brandenk said:
Im teaching myself how to make themes as well. I have found it best to read through that walkthrough a million times and then PM a couple of the dev guys to answer specific questions.
Basically this is the process:
- Take a theme that you like for RC30 or ADP1 or whatever you wanna make it in
- Extract 2 folders inside, app, and framework into a new folder on your computer
- Rename add a .zip to the end of the apk files and extract them all so you have a bunch of folders with your app names
- Go into res and find any folder that says drawable and inside of there are the files to edit for your theme. Make sure not to edit the .9.png files.
- Once all your editing is done get into linux and turn all the folders back into zip files, then turn them back into apk files.
- Then take your app folder and framework folder that contain the new files and in linux create it into one zip file.
- Then you send the file back to windows, get the SignAPK files, put your zip in the folder with the SignAPK files and run some commands in the CMD to resign the file.
- Then rename that file update.zip and put it on the SDcard and give it a whirl.
This is how I understand the process after talking to a couple people for the last few days. I am hoping to release my own theme soon and if it works you will know that these steps are right. LOL And dont follow those directions, they are just to give you an idea of the steps involved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey thanks... i am gonna try it now

Geo411m said:
@brandenk
why do we need to zip the files in linux? By the way thanks for the theming for dummies guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know why, something about how linux packages zip files opposed to windows, and yes once I figure it out and find all the problems people can have I am going to make up a nice walkthrough on making themes. But I wouldn't be surprised if there were already some theme manager apps in the works to make this whole process easier.

to tell everybody the truth i do all my themes in windows lol and only windows and it has worked on other peoples devices but shhhh thats out lil secret

package it for me?
Hey I was wondering if anyone could package my files for me?
I don't know linux commands at all and am lost... I did manage to edit the files but I can't put them back together.
If anyone could help with my New problem I would be very grateful!
randumaccess.com/r.a%20rc30.zip
That is the zip with the folders I edited.
Thanks
RandumAccess

Dave Da illest 1 said:
to tell everybody the truth i do all my themes in windows lol and only windows and it has worked on other peoples devices but shhhh thats out lil secret
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can make the update.zip in Windows as long as you have the update script I wrote in linux and you do not edit, or open it in Windows. If you do it will get corrupted.
Stericson

Stericson said:
Yes, you can make the update.zip in Windows as long as you have the update script I wrote in linux and you do not edit, or open it in Windows. If you do it will get corrupted.
Stericson
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So as long as we take that empty update.zip and just throw the apk's in their respective folders and resign the zip when we are done it should be good to go?

brandenk said:
So as long as we take that empty update.zip and just throw the apk's in their respective folders and resign the zip when we are done it should be good to go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's correct it should be good to go.
Stericson

I guess I need to start learning how to create some themes

I did something wrong (theme newb)
Dave Da illest 1 said:
to tell everybody the truth i do all my themes in windows lol and only windows and it has worked on other peoples devices but shhhh thats out lil secret
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do you do the themes in windows?
heres what i did:
1. I unzipped a theme
2. renamed apk's to zip's
3. unzipped each folder
4. edited the drawable files
5. zipped the folders with winrar
6. renamed them back to apk's
7. then i took the update script from Stericson and opened it with winrar and threw them in the app/framework folders
it didnt work for me.
I dont know linux and use windows, i am a newb with a lot of this stuff. I would like to know so i can create themes to my liking.
any help you could give me would be great!
i have all the files edited i just need to package them now.
thanks,
RandumAccess

make sure you zip the folders inside the main folder. If you're working on launch folder, zip the folder inside the folder named launch not the launch folder itself.

Dave Da illest 1 said:
to tell everybody the truth i do all my themes in windows lol and only windows and it has worked on other peoples devices but shhhh thats out lil secret
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about a how-to using the Windows only method??

Geo411m said:
make sure you zip the folders inside the main folder. If you're working on launch folder, zip the folder inside the folder named launch not the launch folder itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah that didnt work either :-(
I would like to see a "Windows Only Theme Tutorial: Super-Newb Edition" ...lol

did you sign each of the edited apk's? and your update.zip file?

HTC TYTN ii

Hi,
Ive just recently got this phone from my brother, and i am adding videos etc to it successfully.
I want a good alarm tone. I have converted an MP3. file to .wav . I then added it into the windows folder. I click the main clock, click the little bell, and open the drop down list for alarm tone.
As soon as i click the tone i added to the phone, it automatically switches back to the default tone.
How do i get my normal tone, because the other ones just wont wake me up.
cheers

Have attached GAlarm it's not the newest version as it's now a pay for app, but it's far more reliable than the Windows Alarm and also very easy to set up.

Hi thanks. How do i install this?
Sorry, kinda new to things like this. I havnt bought the phone off my brother yet, so dont want to mess anything up by installing it wrong.
Help is appreciated

Hades1992 said:
Hi thanks. How do i install this?
Sorry, kinda new to things like this. I havnt bought the phone off my brother yet, so dont want to mess anything up by installing it wrong.
Help is appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unzip it on computer you will find a .cab place onto phone via async or cardreader, then with File Explorer on phone find the .cab click on it, install to device memory, in start menu will be GAlarm click it, it will promp restart, restart phone.
Now you can set up alarm

Thanks
I unzipped it to pc. opened the file, and there is another zip folder. Do i just unzip that again, drag the 1 cab file across through async, and it will install?

EDIT: Sorry for repost.
There isnt a .cab file in there when i have extracted the 2nd zip.
There is just a load of windows files ending in .152 etc
Also an xml file. Is this what you mean?

Hades1992 said:
EDIT: Sorry for repost.
There isnt a .cab file in there when i have extracted the 2nd zip.
There is just a load of windows files ending in .152 etc
Also an xml file. Is this what you mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The second file is a .cab it's just that it's a compressed file so shows up as same looking, the file you extracted from original .zip do not unzip it place on phone and follow above directions

stylez said:
The second file is a .cab it's just that it's a compressed file so shows as a zip, the file you extracted from original .zip do not unzip it place on phone and follow above directions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes yes im very stupid. I just saw it as another zip file. Looked at windows bar @ bottom and it said GAlarm.cab i was like...... .cab .
Installing it now. Shall tell you if it works Thanks
Update: Going through installation process now. Said it may not function properly due to it being made for a previous version of windows mobile. Carried on anyway. Loaded up app and forced restart. Booted it up and got another error. Booted it up for 3rd time and created my first alarm .
P.S Is there anyway of getting just my alarm on the main screen, without the added buttons? (Contacts, ringtones) etc.

Sorry for spam.
All done and added.
All i can say is thank you very much. Youve been a great help to me and im sure to come back when ive bought the phone, and feel more confident with installing new programs.
thanks
James

Hades1992 said:
Sorry for spam.
All done and added.
All i can say is thank you very much. Youve been a great help to me and im sure to come back when ive bought the phone, and feel more confident with installing new programs.
thanks
James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happy to help
There is alot that can be done with the Kaiser\Tilt custom ROMs, enormous ammount of customization, i'm sure you will be happy with purchase.
Peace,
stylez.

How to Barebone a G1 with CM's 4.2.15.1 ROM

I tried reading through the other forums and posts. I have seen quite a few on wm 6.5 but not on Android 1.6 Donut. Can anyone help me with this? I tried using the instructions on
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php/Barebones#.2Fsystem.2Fapp.2F
I successfully removed the com.amazon.mp3.apk after trying several times, but have tried other apps and nothing thus far. Any help would be great. Also, if this post is unneccessary, teach me how to delete it and I will. Just looking for help. Thank you.

Bare bone and mod
Hi im no dev and much of a noob
but
easiest way I found is to open your rom and resign it. Then test a couple of time and you'll work out by yourself which one are safe to keep and which one are not. Apk are in the system folder and some in the data one.
thanks to stericson, it's easy as cake
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=473580
Mod wise, you can change the font (font folder), edit most apk (use 7zip to open the apk or rename it to a zip file, open it, change watever you want, rename it and sign), change the boot screen (framework-res.apk explicit tut somewhere. you got two png image to change, android-logo-mask and android-logo-shine). Can also change build.prop to enhance 2g/3g performance. work very well.

barebone
Hey sipvn,
I didn't really get what I am supposed to do though boss. I appreciate your help.

dnt understand what you want do......uninstall default app??

Just remove unnecessary apps
Use Stericson signer to resign zip file.
Flash
Oh and btw wrong section

geppo1975 said:
dnt understand what you want do......uninstall default app??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap, just want to take off the apps I knmow she wont need on the phone. For what ever reason she doesnt want internet or data on her phone so I wont argue. But I want to make sure she doesn't accidentally activate anything and ring the bill up you know. Thank you.

Macrophage001 said:
Just remove unnecessary apps
Use Stericson signer to resign zip file.
Flash
Oh and btw wrong section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for wrong section. Where do I go to do it right? And, how do I use stericson signer? Thank you

Help combining framework apks

What I am trying to do (on DC v1.1b5) is combine 3 (or more) signed zips (espresso, clear notification bar, and a taskbar) into an unzipped rom so I can sign it later and flash the whole rom with my changes. (NO I'M NOT GOING TO POST IT AND SAY ITS MY ROM lol)
All of these modifications each change framework-res.apk and com.htc.resources.apk in their own way.
Would I have to figure out every single change to each individual apk and merge them into one file? Or is there another way?
I am not only doing this for my phone, but I am doing this to learn.
Any help would be appreciated

Yes, since there's really no way to tell which files were edited in each theme, you have to go through and find it.
Honestly, the easiest way to do this that I've found is to unzip the archive and scroll through the folders with thumbnails enabled so you can quickly see what they all look like.
I know that the statusbar .pngs are in framework-res.apk/res/drawable-mdpi and they all start with statusbar_* or status_bar*.
The .pngs for the Rosie are found in com.htc.resources.apk/res/drawable-port-mdpi/
EDIT: I would also recommend creating a MetaMorph theme when you get all the files you need. (I'm not sure if it works on 2.1/Sense ROMs, I'm about to use it and find out though) that way you can apply the themes while your phone is on, you can easily transfer it between ROMs, and you only need to use the files that you've changed, instead of the entire .apk. For instructions on creating a MetaMorph theme: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591329

on windows 7 you can make one folder called NEWframeworkapk paste all the original file to it, then copy and paste all the files from the others. it will say "do you wish to move and replace "jpg" say yes for all and then you have the changed files.
haha thats what i do? prolly some super easy way though.

Gregalous said:
Yes, since there's really no way to tell which files were edited in each theme, you have to go through and find it.
Honestly, the easiest way to do this that I've found is to unzip the archive and scroll through the folders with thumbnails enabled so you can quickly see what they all look like.
I know that the statusbar .pngs are in framework-res.apk/res/drawable-mdpi and they all start with statusbar_* or status_bar*.
The .pngs for the Rosie are found in com.htc.resources.apk/res/drawable-port-mdpi/
EDIT: I would also recommend creating a MetaMorph theme when you get all the files you need. (I'm not sure if it works on 2.1/Sense ROMs, I'm about to use it and find out though) that way you can apply the themes while your phone is on, you can easily transfer it between ROMs, and you only need to use the files that you've changed, instead of the entire .apk. For instructions on creating a MetaMorph theme: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=591329
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Avalaunchmods said:
on windows 7 you can make one folder called NEWframeworkapk paste all the original file to it, then copy and paste all the files from the others. it will say "do you wish to move and replace "jpg" say yes for all and then you have the changed files.
haha thats what i do? prolly some super easy way though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you both for the input.
now to go find EVERY change they all make lol
if anyone has an easier way, PLEASE don't hesitate to post lol

regaw_leinad said:
thank you both for the input.
now to go find EVERY change they all make lol
if anyone has an easier way, PLEASE don't hesitate to post lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gregalous said:
I know that the statusbar .pngs are in framework-res.apk/res/drawable-mdpi and they all start with statusbar_* or status_bar*.
The .pngs for the Rosie are found in com.htc.resources.apk/res/drawable-port-mdpi/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a headstart

Gregalous said:
Here's a headstart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks

I actually prefer MetaMorph over doing a zip file because all you need are the files that have been changed. However, in 2.1 a lot of files are scattered around or in different places and once the Sprint update comes through who knows where everything will be. Once I finally figured out how to set up the folders the rest I have done became easy...and no need to turn off your phone.
Edit: You can also combine more than one folder at a time
HTC HERO
DamageControl V1

&RoidRage said:
I actually prefer MetaMorph over doing a zip file because all you need are the files that have been changed. However, in 2.1 a lot of files are scattered around or in different places and once the Sprint update comes through who knows where everything will be. Once I finally figured out how to set up the folders the rest I have done became easy...and no need to turn off your phone.
Edit: You can also combine more than one folder at a time
HTC HERO
DamageControl V1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, MetaMorph is pretty cool.
but my problem was actually FINDING the changes in already made zips lol
but I think I got it, well most of the changes (hopefully all)