Database Develop

help making/undoing transparent/translucent button effects

Hi Guys
How do you make buttons have a transparent look? I have seen both some mods and roms that have made the sense launcher/navbar buttons transparent and or translucent. I have contacted the creators of the mods and roms and asked how they accomplished their effects but my requests for help have gone unanswered.
I imagine that the effects are made possible by an entery in one of the xml files I just don't know which files I should be looking at and what to be looking for inside those files.
Help would be greatly appreciated.

You need to find the PNG files that you want to change and create them so that they are transparent.
As an example, /system/framework/com.htc.resources.apk has a file called "lockscreen_arc.png. *see attached* It is semi-transparent (when viewed in photoshop).
What little I know how to do I learned from THIS, a few questions answered by JsChiSurf and some fearlessness to dig in and hope my nandroid saved me.

kelmar13 said:
You need to find the PNG files that you want to change and create them so that they are transparent.
As an example, /system/framework/com.htc.resources.apk has a file called "lockscreen_arc.png. *see attached* It is semi-transparent (when viewed in photoshop).
What little I know how to do I learned from THIS, a few questions answered by JsChiSurf and some fearlessness to dig in and hope my nandroid saved me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you are saying that it is the image itself that is transparent or translucent and not an attribute somewhere in one of the xml files?
What I am trying to do is actually undo the transparency/translucency of a an image. I figured it might be the result of an xml attribute since upon replacing the image with one of my own nothing changed (now I may not have replaced the correct image, this is always a possibility)

dsMA said:
So you are saying that it is the image itself that is transparent or translucent and not an attribute somewhere in one of the xml files?
What I am trying to do is actually undo the transparency/translucency of a an image. I figured it might be the result of an xml attribute since upon replacing the image with one of my own nothing changed (now I may not have replaced the correct image, this is always a possibility)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it can actually be done both ways some are controled by the image itself adn some are controlled my xml.

nfinitefx45 said:
Well it can actually be done both ways some are controled by the image itself adn some are controlled my xml.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is controlled by xml do you know what files I should be looking at and what inside the files I should be looking for?
Note this is for the laucher/navbar buttons in particular the ones found in konirosie (but I imagine any help could be applied generally)

I am just learning the editing of xml's myself, so I can really help much, this is a question that should be directed to JsChiSurf. That man is the expert on editing the xml's and could probably guide you to what you are looking for.

Change color of Button Text & General theming Questions

Does anyone know how to change the color of the text on buttons? Ive been messing around with my phone a lot and have somehow changed the color to white and now I cant see the text on buttons. I'm running kaos froyo but all of the framework-res has been replaced. I have tried colorchanger.jar but it doesn't control these colors and I cant seem to find what file it is?
I have found a great looking theme that has all it's graphics in the drawable-hdmi folder. The only thing I need to do to use them is resize them to same size as the corresponding file for our phone, correct? Basically spinner_black.png has to be the same dimensions as the original.
Also I want to take the spinner, wait, icon out of the NFL mobile app and use it in my theme. I have been reading a lot and trying to figure this out on my own. I am now able to read all xml files in plain readable English and am able to convert it back to binary. I still don't know what all the java means but I'm trying to learn that now. Does anyone know any easy way to find what I'm looking for or should I just wait and figure it out with the knowledge of more java.

For those who are interested the resources.arsc file found in framework-res.apk is where the control of the color of buttons is located. I dont know how to decompile it into readable form yet but that is what controls colors and size of images for some things. Colors for the notification bar is held is services.jar so at least Im making some headway. I will keep posting small things I find here to help anyone wanting to make there own themes.

P.S. My **** is starting to look really sweet

Did you figure it out?

[Q] ?s about themeing

I really want to theme my phone, is there any tips to make it easyier
an also theres no meny png files that im not sure what changes what, is there a guide of any sort for that or anything.
I got editing images down but im still gettin lost on changing things
an out of curioisy is there a good themer out there that would be willing to work with me personally so im not gettin mixed results

here ya go..this should get you a start
http://www.google.com/cse?q=how+to+...ub-2900107662879704:fs7umqefhnf&ie=ISO-8859-1

Great resource here

im not sure if im wording this right, but to theme an app u open that apps apk. to theme a widget u open that widgets apk. right?
So what all does framwork control?
still tring to get it togather what png's edit what on my phone

Essentially yes. Most of the app's .png's will be in the respective .apk, although if it's a Sense ROM then a lot is stored in the 'com.htc.resources.apk'
The 'framework-res.apk' holds all the files for like the notification area, the pull down menu, status icons, buttons, tick boxes, radio buttons etc...
The best way to familiarise yourself with it all is just to have a look through the image folders and see what you see.

not much luck, im gettin lost, so ill be back in a cuple days let u knw if i got it yet, if i cant come up with it, ill just make a list of things i want done an see where it goes.

Are you on a Mac or PC?
Keep in mind, you have to sign it to get it to install if you unpack it. After weeks of failed signing attempts (I still cant get them to sign) I found a way around this though...just don't unpack it Use 7zip on PC or I am on a Mac so I use Springy. Replace what you want and you are good to go.
Let me know if you need more help with this method. It isn't the way everyone else does things, but it works for editing things and making it what you want.

@reanger91878 I was just looking into start some theming and was trying to figure out if using a Mac put me at a disadvantage... but I guess since I found you I'll know who to ask if I run into a problem. So I guess I'm gonna get Springy and see what I can figure out. (I've never done this crap before).
:edit: boo it costs money, any free options? or will the non-licensed version work for me?

Alright
heres what i want done
I have NFX Sprint 2.31.651.7 STOCK Odex Update3.
Lock screen bar where its grey i want black
All screens under settings an phone options like device1 pic 1 want there its white to be black an the black letters white with a green boarder.
Device2 pic: want top an bottom where its grey to be black save with bookmark widget an calander app
Device3: white section black an the letter white
Device4: change all screens from white to black an white lettes an the grey buttons at the bottom to green same with clock, messages, music and photos
Device5: i want the ui buttons at the bottom like that but for it to be Phone in the middle app drawer on the left an add to home on the right
Invert all menus uder browser
so if some one would be willing to help with what xml an pic files i edit to do it, or some one helps me put it togather it would be awsome an id be very thankful

BuddahWolf01 said:
@reanger91878 I was just looking into start some theming and was trying to figure out if using a Mac put me at a disadvantage... but I guess since I found you I'll know who to ask if I run into a problem. So I guess I'm gonna get Springy and see what I can figure out. (I've never done this crap before).
:edit: boo it costs money, any free options? or will the non-licensed version work for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using a Mac does not put you at a disadvantage per se...kind of, but there are workarounds
You don't have to use Springy, that is just what I use. The key is to find an Mac application that can open up a .zip file without extracting it, because once you extract, you need to resign (no big deal really, but for whatever reason my computer won't properly sign). I think the free version of Springy lets you open up a ROM of a certain size? Can't remember...but if you are editing a theme, they should open, because most are under 15MB. You can also just search around for other Mac apps that handle zip files and find one that does not extract. Let me know what you come up with and what you need help with...I gained much knowledge here, and will gladly pass on what I have gleaned.

DubsideWICKED said:
heres what i want done
I have NFX Sprint 2.31.651.7 STOCK Odex Update3.
Lock screen bar where its grey i want black
All screens under settings an phone options like device1 pic 1 want there its white to be black an the black letters white with a green boarder.
Device2 pic: want top an bottom where its grey to be black save with bookmark widget an calander app
Device3: white section black an the letter white
Device4: change all screens from white to black an white lettes an the grey buttons at the bottom to green same with clock, messages, music and photos
Device5: i want the ui buttons at the bottom like that but for it to be Phone in the middle app drawer on the left an add to home on the right
Invert all menus uder browser
so if some one would be willing to help with what xml an pic files i edit to do it, or some one helps me put it togather it would be awsome an id be very thankful
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Big tasks Don't know if anyone will actually be able to do it for you, but check the resources above to get an idea where to start. It's the whole "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime" idea.
Open up your ROM and check the framework-res.apk and see what you find...but you are looking to do more than just framework edits...

ranger61878 said:
Big tasks Don't know if anyone will actually be able to do it for you, but check the resources above to get an idea where to start. It's the whole "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime" idea.
Open up your ROM and check the framework-res.apk and see what you find...but you are looking to do more than just framework edits...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Out of what all i want edited what is controlled by frame work an then would the rest be Apk files in the system app
my biggest problem is im not understanding what xml files change what an some of the pngs idk what they change
edit: I found post that said this, is that a pretty good way to descride it.?
app folder - This folder contains all of the apps that will be installed during an update or wipe. You will need to extract only the apks of the apps you wish to change the icon and graphics for.
-Launcher.apk - This file is in the app folder and contains the menu launcher tab, clock, google search widget, wallpapers and some other things.
framework - This folder contains framework-res.apk, this is where the bulk of your editing will take place.
When you open a apk you will see:
assets - This will contain images, sounds and other content used by the programs. Not always used!
META-INF - This contain the encryption data of the update.zip.
res - This folder contains all of the png and xml files. The xml files are used to format the UI, these can be used to change the locations of things on the screen. The xmls need to be unencrypted first. Depending on the apk there can be a bunch of folders under the res folder but we will only concentrate on the drawable ones.
-drawable - The png files in this folder are displayed wheather the keyboard is open or closed. The majority of the files are here.
-drawable-land - These are the files that will show when the keyboard is open. There won't be as many files in these folders. Most of the time the programmer will re-organize the layout with an xml file.
so basically everything is a picture that i want changed an xml files control text color an placement of where things are or what?,
im try my best to but thoes darn xml files are messing with me lol

To start, don't mess with the XML files. Just make changes to the PNG files. Once you get familiar with changing icons and status bar colors, then you can start messing with XML files. Let's say you want a different alarm icon.
Look in the DeskClock.apk under res/drawable-mdpi. You would find an icon(PNG) you want to substitute with, size it to the same size as ic_launcher_alarmclock.PNG, name it the same name and replace the original in the apk.
Use adb to push the apk back to your phone. I would then reboot and then enjoy your new icon.
Some icons will be in drawable-mdpi and some just in drawable. No need to change hdpi on our phones.
The majority of your status bar icons and base OS icons will be in framework-res.apk.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

poashll said:
To start, don't mess with the XML files. Just make changes to the PNG files. Once you get familiar with changing icons and status bar colors, then you can start messing with XML files. Let's say you want a different alarm icon.
Look in the DeskClock.apk under res/drawable-mdpi. You would find an icon(PNG) you want to substitute with, size it to the same size as ic_launcher_alarmclock.PNG, name it the same name and replace the original in the apk.
Use adb to push the apk back to your phone. I would then reboot and then enjoy your new icon.
Some icons will be in drawable-mdpi and some just in drawable. No need to change hdpi on our phones.
The majority of your status bar icons and base OS icons will be in framework-res.apk.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said.
You can also do it on your computer...don't extract, just open, replace, close, put on SD and flash (after you nandroid...just in case )

iv been looking an looking, but cant seem to find a black stock theme
with stock htc green when a button is pressed, any one kno off a stock black theme i might be over looking

still havent figured ths out, an im having problems because im odexed?

DubsideWICKED said:
still havent figured ths out, an im having problems because im odexed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes more than likely your only have trouble theme and odexed rom. Try a rom that is deodexed or I heard the have some deodex sripts that will do it.

ASimmons said:
Yes more than likely your only have trouble theme and odexed rom. Try a rom that is deodexed or I heard the have some deodex sripts that will do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright is there a performance or memory difference between odex an deodex

Does this same process apply with adw? If so, does that mean theming aosp and cm6 are equally as easy?
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

[HELP] Landscape Framework Elements

Big question. When you rotate the phone, the status bar background (in themes like Darkness, with a design) gets messed up because it's shaped for our screen and not a small piece that gets tiled like the original. Can you make a landscape version of the background? I noticed in TouchWiz30Launcher.apk there is a homescreen_icon_bg.png and homescreen_icon_bg_h.png the latter being for a horizontal orientation of the launcher. Can we apply this concept to a custom made portrait AND landscape drawer background in twframework-res.apk? I would really like to know if it is possible, but am not asking for the creation of the background. I can make my own, but I need to know how to make it work.

I think you have to create a layout-land and layout-port folder and put something in there. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
A simpler idea might be to modify status_bar_expanded.xml to have multiple images for the background and bottom bar, like 3 where the center is fixed and the outer 2 are tiled matched up to look seamless of course. Or just allow certain parts to be stretched and some not with draw9patch.

CuriousTech said:
I think you have to create a layout-land and layout-port folder and put something in there. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
A simpler idea might be to modify status_bar_expanded.xml to have multiple images for the background and bottom bar, like 3 where the center is fixed and the outer 2 are tiled matched up to look seamless of course. Or just allow certain parts to be stretched and some not with draw9patch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for your post, I looked into status_bar_expanded but couldn't find anything applicable. Looked at status_bar.xml and it contains all the info on status_bar_background in the vertical position. How would you put it all into horizontal? Would you have to edit the existing xml or make a new one in layout-land? Could I just copy it into layout-land and edit in some new filenames and stuff?
EDIT: You know how to signify a file it says @drawable/statusbar_background? Does this actually refer to status_bar_background.9.png? And how would you signify a drawlable-land destination? @drawable-land/statusbar_background?

That's mostly what I don't understand yet. In framework-res there are 3 folders:
layout
layout-land
layout-port
icon_menu_layout.xml is in land and port and not in just layout. I think because layout is default for both, and land or port is used for those modes if the file doesn't exist in layout. Just like an xml in drawable can replace an image if the same name is used. But I think there's more to it than that. I tried creating a layout-land and layout-port and moved status_bar_expanded.xml to both and it looked normal both ways. I would think that layout-land would automatically use the drawable-land images too. Something else is missing.
EDIT: Oh yes @drawable/statusbar_background is the png in drawable-hdpi, unless there's actually a drawable/statusbar_background.xml which would make it use that instead. I just don't know where drawable-land-hdpi fits in.

Inside the XML there is a "vertical" and "horizontal" section, you'd have to change that too. I have changed it and will try it tonight in my framework. I just don't understand the references it makes too well...

I've been trying to find a simple reference, but I guess most of it's here:
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/layout-objects.html
Or around that area of the docs. The vertical/horizontal I think is the alignment of objects in a group. I don't think it has to do with land/port.
This looks interesting too. I just found it. It looks like a way to view layouts on the computer.
http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/hierarchy-viewer.html

CuriousTech said:
I've been trying to find a simple reference, but I guess most of it's here:
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/layout-objects.html
Or around that area of the docs. The vertical/horizontal I think is the alignment of objects in a group. I don't think it has to do with land/port.
This looks interesting too. I just found it. It looks like a way to view layouts on the computer.
http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/hierarchy-viewer.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly don't know what that stuff means with a headache, so I can't understand what the links refer to, sorry

It's all really disorganized or I'm just used to Microsoft docs. The xml corelates with the android classes for coding java. So xml is used sort of like html tables where everything is nested so you can have rows or collumns of buttons (horiz/vert) or menus or whatever, but the elements used are all the members of the android class. It's just so hard to find the meaning of each one.

CuriousTech said:
It's all really disorganized or I'm just used to Microsoft docs. The xml corelates with the android classes for coding java. So xml is used sort of like html tables where everything is nested so you can have rows or collumns of buttons (horiz/vert) or menus or whatever, but the elements used are all the members of the android class. It's just so hard to find the meaning of each one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crap 10char

Just cant find it.....

Ive been searching and searching but just cant find the background for the music bar on the notifications pulldown so I can change it, see screenshots
Anyone know where it is??
EDIT: I have noticed that the same background is used when in a call behind the call in the notifications pull down so that means that it cant be music specific so it must be in framework-res or com.htc.resources but I have searched and just cant find it :-(

What a coincidence... just sent you pm with this...
Did you checked if this is the topround_v1.9.png in HtcMusic\res\drawable-hdpi ?
Edit: Or check the topround_v3.9.png in the com.htc.resources\res\drawable-hdpi

kalagas said:
What a coincidence... just sent you pm with this...
Did you checked if this is the topround_v1.9.png in HtcMusic\res\drawable-hdpi ?
Edit: Or check the topround_v3.9.png in the com.htc.resources\res\drawable-hdpi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope its not them......

common_transport_play_rest.9.png in com.htc.resources\res\drawable-hdpi???
edit: or common_slide_bar.9.png in com.htc.resources\res\drawable-hdpi???

kalagas said:
common_transport_play_rest.9.png in com.htc.resources\res\drawable-hdpi???
edit: or common_slide_bar.9.png in com.htc.resources\res\drawable-hdpi???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it cant be that one, if you look at my image in first post its purple.....
EDIT: actually its doesnt look purple at all, maybe i was tired earlier lol, its a weird grey color and also it is 1 solid color

It's not purple for sure...
Have you tried to change any icons i have told you???
I believe it's on of them...

kalagas said:
It's not purple for sure...
Have you tried to change any icons i have told you???
I believe it's on of them...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried them all and its none of them :-(

I think i found it
status.png in HtcStreamPlayer\res\drawable-hdpi

kalagas said:
I think i found it
status.png in HtcStreamPlayer\res\drawable-hdpi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looked promising but its still not it :-(

Please someone must of found this?
It is very easy to find in other roms just a simple png in tw-framework :-(

I have noticed that the same background is used when in a call behind the call in the notifications pull down so that means that it cant be music specific so it must be in framework-res or com.htc.resources but I have searched and just cant find it :-(

bumping for possible solution???

I never took care for that one so far, since it looks fine to me, but you can try the following procedure, since it seems an RGB value, not a png.
1. Make a screenshot
2. Sample the RGB color code in Photoshop
3. go to first xml folder like layout in com.htc.resources and mark all xml and open all of these at the same time in Notepad++
4. Search all files for the sampled RGB value
5. Repeat this folder by folder until you find an entry, that makes sense

he_stheone64 said:
I never took care for that one so far, since it looks fine to me, but you can try the following procedure, since it seems an RGB value, not a png.
1. Make a screenshot
2. Sample the RGB color code in Photoshop
3. go to first xml folder like layout in com.htc.resources and mark all xml and open all of these at the same time in Notepad++
4. Search all files for the sampled RGB value
5. Repeat this folder by folder until you find an entry, that makes sense
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Notepad++ has a nice feature that allows you to search through all files in a folder. (Search menu -> "Find in Files" or something like that) With this it should be quite easy to find.

I tried that method and came up with 292c31
I decompiled com.htc.resources, framework and system ui and I found some instances in colors xml and one in drawables but changing all of them didnt work so it must be somewhere else or maybe ive missed something........