Database Develop

[Q] rom porting question

Alright....I've tried searching and searching but I can't find exactly what I need. I'm wanting to try to port blue echo to cm6.1. Now I'm still a little new at this but I've learned how to smali and baksmali, use flashboot, sdk, sign zips, create flashable zips, zip align, optimize, pretty much all the ends and outs of the basic. I've only been at this 4 months but I love android and want to learn to become a dev. Now I'm trying to learn how to theme roms. There are a million guides that I've found but now will tell me how to do this . Could someone point in the right direction to a thread explaining how to port a sense theme to cm6.1. Ive tried replacing the images in the drawables folders from framework-res . Repackaged zip aligned optimized signed and flashed. Nothing took. So I opened the zip all the images had copied over in the cm6 rom zip. So I wiped and flashed the modded zip it still reverts to the original framework of cm6. I don't understand how that is. I need a way to just copy the colors and images. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong or know of a how to with just the steps .I already have all the programs on my pc.

shawn328 said:
Alright....I've tried searching and searching but I can't find exactly what I need. I'm wanting to try to port blue echo to cm6.1. Now I'm still a little new at this but I've learned how to smali and baksmali, use flashboot, sdk, sign zips, create flashable zips, zip align, optimize, pretty much all the ends and outs of the basic. I've only been at this 4 months but I love android and want to learn to become a dev. Now I'm trying to learn how to theme roms. There are a million guides that I've found but now will tell me how to do this . Could someone point in the right direction to a thread explaining how to port a sense theme to cm6.1. Ive tried replacing the images in the drawables folders from framework-res . Repackaged zip aligned optimized signed and flashed. Nothing took. So I opened the zip all the images had copied over in the cm6 rom zip. So I wiped and flashed the modded zip it still reverts to the original framework of cm6. I don't understand how that is. I need a way to just copy the colors and images. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong or know of a how to with just the steps .I already have all the programs on my pc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simplest way, if you just want the icons, pics and notification bar things is to use 7zip for PC. Don't extract the theme, just open it. Navigate to the framework-res.apk file of the new ROM you want the theme to work on, open but don't extract, copy all the .png files from the theme into the ROM or new theme you are making. It will ask you to replace, obviously you say "yes" When you are done, just close it all back up, no recompressing or signing needed because you didn't extract anything. Just put it on your SD card and it will flash.
Let me know if you need more help. This by and large the simplest method for making minor edits to a theme.

Download the CyanogenSense theme by mrinehart93 found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723224
It's a working Sense-looking theme on CM6. Download it, unzip it on your PC, pick it apart, etc. to see how he changed and compiled it to make it work. Hopefully that will help you figure out how to do what you want to do. Good luck.

chromiumleaf said:
Download the CyanogenSense theme by mrinehart93 found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723224
It's a working Sense-looking theme on CM6. Download it, unzip it on your PC, pick it apart, etc. to see how he changed and compiled it to make it work. Hopefully that will help you figure out how to do what you want to do. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 Good idea!

ranger61878 said:
Simplest way, if you just want the icons, pics and notification bar things is to use 7zip for PC. Don't extract the theme, just open it. Navigate to the framework-res.apk file of the new ROM you want the theme to work on, open but don't extract, copy all the .png files from the theme into the ROM or new theme you are making. It will ask you to replace, obviously you say "yes" When you are done, just close it all back up, no recompressing or signing needed because you didn't extract anything. Just put it on your SD card and it will flash.
Let me know if you need more help. This by and large the simplest method for making minor edits to a theme.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this but had to flash clockword because i was using ra, it wasn't verifying the update. So i turned off signature verification. But I'm using firerat mtd and forgot that i have to repatch the clockword for this so I did'nt really get to see if it worked yet. But thanks all of you responding I appreciate it. Ill let you know if these methods work.

I fixed the prob. Did everything suggested by copying the png's between the zips without extracting them. Even doubled checked all the png's everything looked like it was a go . But I only got 3 of my new icons. Everything else was still stock cm6 even the notification bar was stock. Do I got to do more than just transfer the png's cause it seems like maybe the xml's are reverting them back to stock?

[How To] Replace Shutdown Animation

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Heres one I did. It's animated but it goes so fast you practically miss it anyway...
Couldn't get a gif preview up.

I got a few more I made but I wanted to share this one. A good universal shutdown sequence.
Also just for reference, it seems the png's can so far be anything under a png 24.

I love the Android Scribble boot animations that GLa'DOS put together here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=696193
I decided to create an "un-scribble" shutdown animation which is basically his work in reverse. I had to cut several "frames" to get it down to 26 images but it looks pretty good. It's attached as Scribble_shutdown.zip.
Martian21

Here is an i, robot shutdown sequence i made. I wish the picture was a little clear but it works.

Can i use the same animation for the Shotdown as for the Startsup?
I mean that both 26 png's
Would be nice to know that

Thank God for custom shutdown animations. Oh if anyone is looking for tutorial on how to do it check: http://www.phonebuff.com/2011/06/change-shutdown-animation-for-android/

I am unable to find system/media/video folder.
i made folder of this kind and ket the zip too nothing happens.
help will be much appreciated

s.yogamurthy said:
I am unable to find system/media/video folder.
i made folder of this kind and ket the zip too nothing happens.
help will be much appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The newest ROMs do not use this file format. They are utilizing the *.qmg files - not hackable. If you roll back to Froyo or Eclair you can use this type of shutdown.

I have a problem
Hi guys
In my phone the shutdown animations is in a diferetn location
the location is system/bin/shutdownanimation and i can run this as a script.
I renamed it to .bak and now it doesent show up wich is great but i cant replace another one i've tried as a .gif .qmg i've changed the permisions to be de same as the original animation but the new one never works HELP
using root explorer
stock rom
stock kernel
root using xda how to
device huawei y300
boot splash screen was succesfuly changed with genotools
What is the correct file type and how can i replace it?

[Q] Assonance theme in other ROMs?

Is it possible? I love the theme. Particularly in the notification pull-down thing with the wifi icons and such.

They are just png images in the framework. Depending on what other rom you are wanting to use it on you may be able to just swap out the framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk in /system/app. Otherwise you can just move the images into the new rom framework files (the ones used are in /res/drawable-hdpi usually). You might be interested in learning to create metamorph zip files as well.

Thank you. However, I extracted the framework-res.apk and I have found some image files, but I see none that are pull-down icons like the GPS, Wifi, Auto-rotate icons. Any help?
Not sure what you mean by metamorph.

Because they're not there.
They're in twframework-res.apk. And you have to edit the status_bar_expanded.xml to get rid of the text.

It is essentially "Gingerbread" with some minor tweaks.
The only issue you might have is when you copy all of the images out of the framework-res.apk -> drawable-hdpl folder that your menu buttons might be a little off. Unless you start out with a Dark theme that has already adjusted the menu to have a black background and white text...
I think there is a Gingerbread theme in the Theme/App forum that would be close to what your looking for.
I was trying to do a MetaMorph for this type of theme but I could never get the *.xml edits needed to overwrite using MetaMorph correctly. (Check the Q&A Sticky for MetaMorph)
... It can be done but it'd be a little more complicated

Okay, I am still trying to understand. I extracted the twframework-res.apk and took out the files from the Assonance theme. I extracted the twframework-res.apk from another theme that I liked, and replaced the Assonance parts I like into it. Now, can I just zip it back up and rename it to .apk? I'm not really sure what to do now.
Thanks for your help so far!
max

xml files and animations

Trying to alter a theme a little bit and I want to swap the animations from one theme to a new one. Here are the issues:
The theme with the animations are from a 2.2 framework file and the theme I want to add them to is a jpy (2.2.1). So, first question: would it work if I just copied the .xml files from the anim folders from one theme to another (I doubt this would work) or do I need to alter the xml files. If the latter, how and where can I alter the .xml files because the default windows .xml editor is not working for me.
Thank you.

Anyone got any advice?

The issue with this is that they are most likely incompatible with each other.
You would have to decompile the *.xml's then attempt to re-compile them after making the necessary tweaks to work with the 2.2.1 kernel.
But how to exactly do this? I know there is APK manager to decompile/re-compile the framework-res.apk - but I couldn't begin to tell you what you have to do to tweak it to work.

couple of options without decompiling:
find a theme for JPY that has the animations. the anim folder doesnt interfere with the rest of the theme, and doesnt actually include any theming in it. it is purely animations. open both framework-res.apks with 7zip or winrar(do not extract them). copy anim folder from the one with animations to the one without, then push your framework to your phone
option 2: take a stock JPY framework, use the UOT kitchen to create the animations and copy the anim folder in the same manner as above
if you look in the i9000 themes section, you will find a wide variety of themes that will work just fine for you.

[Q] Confused former Windows Phone 6.5 user/themer

Hi Guys,
I'm coming from Windows Mobile 6.5 where theming was a bit different:
When I started with 6.5 I used to think the only way to change the look of my phone interface was to flash a custom rom, but then I realized I could theme individual components (6.5 theme, Taskbar, Icons, Start Menu, ect) and it turned out to be pretty easy.
With Android I'm begining to think the opposite exists, is it basically true that in order for me to change the colors of the taskbar, or menus, taskbar icons - I have to use a custom rom?
I have been reading over these threads for the past three days and I have learned a lot, but I'm still confused...
I used to do M2D themes and change the xml and such, but when I read the Android theming guides ALL of it seems foreign to me...does't seem like I can just swap out pngs for pngs I made in Photoshop Am I making this seem more difficult than it is?
Are there individual themes for my taskbar, dialer, ect (not roms)? And if so can a former Windows Phone user explain them in comparison to installing a cab?
I know I have a ton of questions so any help at all would be appreciated
Thanks
MEGA MAN

There are MANY apps out there that will allow you to make these changes. Do some searches on the market and you'll find them. Do some research into rooting your phone (at your own risk) which will allow even more options.

You do not have to use a custom ROM to theme your phone, but it makes it a lot easier overall. AFAIK, you still have to have your phone rooted to theme more than icons.
To theme images, it really is just swapping out your images for the images already there as long as they contain the same dimensions, format (pretty much always .png), and name.
The .xml files are easiest to edit if you have decompiled the apk with a tool call apktool, because then they are in readable format.
Apktool is also really great for getting .9.png's in decompiled format with the stock guidelines intact.
You can theme various different components with an app called Metamorph or Ninjamorph, otherwise, you're going to have all your different parts together.
I've been theming android for getting close to two years now, so if you would like more help, you can PM/email (david1667jones gmail) me for more specific answers.

megaman - ain't it a trip coming from WM to android? yeah...WM seems such a simpler way. especially CHT2...that is really the best modding system ever.
been experimenting for the past 2-3 weeks and have been successful. (even have a usable CM7 theme that i may post...)
so let's hash this out. maybe teach eacho other a thing or two. if i am being too basic, let me know.
apk - like a cab. tricky thing is that (i believe) if you edit an apk, you replace the entire apk. unlike a cab where you can replace 1 single file. there are theme programs (metamorph - haven't used it, ADW and others that allow replacement with a single file...but they take a little work. nothing easy like cabs for WM.)
to begin you need 7zip (or winrar i hear works.) this will allow you to open apks, replace files and restore them in seconds:
http://www.7-zip.org/
i assume your rom is rooted (i really don't understand the term, but it allows freedom to mod your phone. i am using an HD2 - WM phone - running nand android so by default my phone is rooted.)
let's explore - take any apk and open it with 7zip. you will see 3 files (this is off of memory as i am at work right now.) open them and look around. ((want to find your installed apks and back them up? search market for Astro. (settings> backup and save your apks to your sd card)))
under res you will see drawable folders - this is the jackpot. in there you will see your images. there is a lot of redundancy in apks. the trick is finding the right image. try changing some, etc. this is the most basic of theming.
before moving on to xmls, etc (which there are quite good guides for this) just try the above. when you replace the files move up the folder hierarchy and it will ask you something about saving/restoring - cilck yes. the apk is now modded.
install the apk and see the changes.
however, if you are editing the core apks - system and framework-res, we will need to talk about how to do that (i use clockworkmod flashing...easy to do.)
let me know if this helps.

Thank you guys so much for your knowledge!
I do have my phone rooted and I have bootloader installed
The one reason I thought that I had to download a "ROM" is because I keep reading about having to be deodexed in order to modify...and I was underthe impression that most custom roms provide this deodexing?
on to APK's...I do have 7Zip and I have opened some up and found where the graphics are...now I am actually extracting the apk so I can manually go through each folder and see whats there including graphics...there does seem to be another way of opening the APK with 7Zip and not actually extracting it, but I don't thing I can actually see the image previews this way. >>>so I extract, change my desired images, re-zip and change the file extention back to .apk - BUT then I read about signing APK's? ...and signing zips?
After some researching I found a thread in which someone posted something like they make a copy of there current ROM "theme?" and then copy it in zip form on to their PC where they goe through all of the desired APKs and then Zip it back together and install it from the screen that you get to after holding the power button and home (recovery screen maybe?) <<< Anyway is this possible? This seem most like what we did in windows phone...but again I think where I'm getting caught up is the signing aspect...I've seen auto signers, but I feel like the ones I've seen were only for XP and I have Windows 7.
Woo... ok wrote a lot there - if you have anytime to elaborate on anything, I'd be happy to hear.
...and jsmccabe - that HD2 is one awesome device...I remember everybody asking if Windows 7 would everbe available and now you guys are dual booting with WP7 and Android - AWESOME!!! (if I didnt have Verizon

megaman...sorry it took a bit. "real life" and all that...
megaman 2 said:
The one reason I thought that I had to download a "ROM" is because I keep reading about having to be deodexed in order to modify...and I was underthe impression that most custom roms provide this deodexing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- not sure what deodexed means. is your rom cm7? if so, tmobile themes is an "easy" way to make a theme.
- are you theming to share or for yourself? if the latter just replace the the files in your rom and flashe the rom. if the former, what type of rom?
megaman 2 said:
on to APK's...I do have 7Zip and I have opened some up and found where the graphics are...now I am actually extracting the apk so I can manually go through each folder and see whats there including graphics...there does seem to be another way of opening the APK with 7Zip and not actually extracting it, but I don't thing I can actually see the image previews this way. >>>so I extract, change my desired images, re-zip and change the file extention back to .apk - BUT then I read about signing APK's? ...and signing zips?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- you can extract to make life easier. but when you are ready to make the changes just drag the new icons into the original apk. it will update it for you and you can install it and done.
megaman 2 said:
After some researching I found a thread in which someone posted something like they make a copy of there current ROM "theme?" and then copy it in zip form on to their PC where they goe through all of the desired APKs and then Zip it back together and install it from the screen that you get to after holding the power button and home (recovery screen maybe?) <<< Anyway is this possible? This seem most like what we did in windows phone...but again I think where I'm getting caught up is the signing aspect...I've seen auto signers, but I feel like the ones I've seen were only for XP and I have Windows 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM themes are pretty easy to do. i started with this, the problem is it replaces the entire apk to replace 1 image. which if you are modifying systemui or frameworks, may overwrite other things (colors that you didn't want to.) easiest thing to do....find an already established CWM theme and keeping the same structure, replace the images and flash via CWM.
let me know if you want more details...cheers and good luck!