How to go about modding the on screen keyboard? - Android Themes

Ok so I have been searching the forums and I cannot find an exact answer for what I want to change so if this is a problem that had already been solved, please direct me to the thread.
I just recently dl'd the chm binary release and like it. But the on screen keyboard is hard on my eyes.
So my question is how would I go about replacing it with something like, o say the buuf on screen keyboard instead?
HTC_IME is not what I want just to clarify.
And once again, I apologize if this has already been threaded...

There is no way that none of you know this...

philosophics said:
There is no way that none of you know this...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We could help you, but it is a 3rd party keyboard. What keyboard is it?

I'm not really sure. After installing the HTC_IME, I now have 2. Htc keyboard and android keyboard. If I knew how to take a screenie, I would but I don't.
As far as I know, its the on screen keyboard I've had since I rooted...
The keyboard that comes with chm binary is what I want to change...

well, I know how to modify the look of the builtin keyboard, but I haven't messed with 3rd party stuff.
The stock keyboard can be changed by theming. They're just png files, although the .9.pngs make it a little bit more complicated.

Well I kinda figured as much but what I'm really trying to ask is where do I find them?

They're in framework-res.apk on the phone. If you extract this file they'll be under res/drawable/
The filenames are btn_keyboard*.png
By using metamorph or creating an update.zip style theme you can change these and apply a theme to the phone. Theming is a real pain, but I think it's worth learning how to do.

Ya, I have already pieced together a blackbar to my liking so I'm well aware of the hassles it is to do. I'll be learning the .9's as soon as I get my pc parts back from rma and then I'll try to put out a skin.
Thanks bud, I'll look into this tomorrow after I've slept...

If you want to do this easily, download the buff keyboard skin for better keyboard, and take the .9.pngs from there.

Wow! Now that should have been said at the very beginning. Good thing I was too busy today to get to that. Cloverdale, you just saved me a few hours of frustration. still though, I thank the both of you for the help. I will update the thread when I have success so everyone knows its solved!
Ps- anyone else try to read the forums on your phone? Its a little tricky...
Sorry for the off topic comment but I felt the need...

ok so I couldn't really find a way to download the better keyboard/buuf theme on the pc so I went and tried swapping the btn-keyboard---'s and noting happened after add.
So now I'm on the hunt for the better keyboard dl
I don't know where to look for the file when dl'ing to phone so if all else fails, I guess I could dl to phone and then search for it by folder by painstaking folder...
Update - I cannot for the life of me find the file on the web or on the phone. I dl'd from marketplace but I must not be very smart cause I don't know where marketplace stores stuff...
Downloading the better keyboard theme was supposed to save me grief but in fact, it did the exact opposite...
Update - Well I thought by removing the btn_keyboard_key.xml would solve my problem considering the BUUF skin does not contain one. Same nasty black and blue keyboard. All the buuf keyboard .--- are there so I'm confused once again.
I do not want to install another pay-for app and I don't want the entire buuf theme as of now so I will wait till later today after sleep and try again.
Unless someone knows exactly what's wrong. I'm doing everything I can to keep this 3 month old drywall from having holes in it...
I thought the black bar mod was hard to do... hahaha! That was a cake walk compared to this...
Update - Removing the xml's to the keyboard was a bad idea. It forced closed the android keyboard cause it wanted to change the language to latin or something like that. Touch Input keyboard (HTC_IME) will still work though and I made backups so all of this is just a learning experience for me.
...This is so not like modding and skinning a moto. Way more complicated. So much can go wrong.
Which reminds me, how do I view the .xml's with win7? Never done it before...

So does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe there's something I've been missing this whole time?
I have replaced the btn_keyboard--- files in the framework-res.apk like I was told to do and there is no effects... at all. Positive or negative...

philosophics said:
So does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe there's something I've been missing this whole time?
I have replaced the btn_keyboard--- files in the framework-res.apk like I was told to do and there is no effects... at all. Positive or negative...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the only other place I can think of is the LatinIME.apk, but I'm not sure about that one

You know, that almost makes sense cause when I removed the .xml for the keyboard to make it match with buuf, the phone kept screaming at me about ..... latin something. So I will check this out and let you know.
But now I have a new problem. I think I need to remove a few applications cause my phone keeps force closing everything after reboot due to an update.zip file. So once I conquor this then I'll start working on the original problem...

Related

if i want to add a"third party" keyboard to Cyanogen's build?

if i want to add a"third party" keyboard to Cyanogen's build
how to accomplish that?
and if i want to make it the default keyboard
how to do that..?
thanks in advance
Roy
if this "third party" keyboard is an app like better keyboard or something similar, i would assume just install it or put into your update.zip package and flash it. it should appear under settings-locale and text and just check it on and uncheck any other keyboards like with the htc_ime. unless you are talking about something else then in theory this should work.
thanks for the comment
yes it is an App file.. so i just need to add it to system/app in the update?
and how i can make it the default keyboard so right after a fresh install it would appear and ready to use with specific config that i set?
thanks again
Barina said:
thanks for the comment
yes it is an App file.. so i just need to add it to system/app in the update?
and how i can make it the default keyboard so right after a fresh install it would appear and ready to use with specific config that i set?
thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you can. All roms use android kbt as default (don't quote me on this but I believe so)and it's more trouble then it's worth to make something else default before install. It would be easier to go into settings->locale and text the first time you use it and just make it default (i.e. uncheck all other VKs). Once you do that, your vk will pop up everytime you touch fill-able field. Hope that helps.
OK, I'm curious about the other keyboard. The hardware keyboard. I have a German G1, and have actually become quite fond of QWERTZ even though I mostly only speak English. I've gotten used to reaching down for y and up for z. Also, There are keys like the euro symbol that I actually use a lot living in Deutschland. Not to mention that all the little symbols are laid out completely differently than QWERTY, so looking at the keys just makes life that much tougher. Anyways, I want to change QWERTZ to be my default keyboard, other than having to type in a long string of commands each time or use gscript. I would like it to be so that it works in recovery, and doesn't get lost each time I change builds. Is this possible?
hmmm, I would say yes...I wouldn't be able to tell you how though. I downloaded Russian keyboard from the market and it has the ability to change mapping of hardware KBT and change languages on it. So obviously there is a way. I believe devs name is Game Warrior (could be one word). It's on the market... contact him-he may be able to point you in the right direction.
Also... did you try switching locales in Settings->Locale and Text menu? That could do the trick (not sure what would you choose though as I'm not familiar what country uses QWERTz set-up).
Good luck, I hope you figure it out... sorry I had it easy.. I just dl'd my vk from the market
I DID have it working when I first got my phone. Everything was just dandy with JF1.51 as well. I decided to install the latest DizzyJACHero, and had to update my recovery image, SPL and Radio. Somewhere in there, it borked things up. I tried going back to another SPL and recovery, but only ended up in bootloops when I did that. I redid everything, but I'm stuck with QWERTY unless I do some terminal stuff each time I change roms. And with all the nice new ones (I LOVE Rosie, but she's a resource/battery hog) it's becoming more frequent that I change roms. Eh, I guess I'm just stuck having to terminal my way out of it, like usual with computers.
SPL, Radio and/or Recovery image have nothing to do with the way your keyboard behaves... hmmmm
Here... talk to DudeOfLife in the developement forum (pm him or something). His rom at some point had every language and every layout included.. he should know about this. As an alternative... you can make a script of what you put in terminal and have G1 run it on start-up to change mapping for you. Rogro82 is the king of scripts fyi.
Good luck
all u need to do is istall the new keyboard as an update. thats if it come in an update.zip format. otherwise, just install the .apk file and you should be good to go. best of luck!
shelay said:
all u need to do is istall the new keyboard as an update. thats if it come in an update.zip format. otherwise, just install the .apk file and you should be good to go. best of luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is not talking about virtual keyboard... he is talking about hardware.
borodin1 said:
I don't think you can. All roms use android kbt as default (don't quote me on this but I believe so)and it's more trouble then it's worth to make something else default before install. It would be easier to go into settings->locale and text the first time you use it and just make it default (i.e. uncheck all other VKs). Once you do that, your vk will pop up everytime you touch fill-able field. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot
Well, I actually feel kinda smart for once. I just opened up a build which had the QWERTZ files in it. I deleted everything else except that folder (and the ones inline above it) and those files. Renamed them to the v3 files. I also added in all the ringers/notifications/alarms that I wanted from other builds in the right locations as well. I now can unzip any build I want to check out, copy the system folder I created over, and it fixes all my keyboard issues, plus ensures I'm never left with just one ringtone/alarm again. Just rezip and resign, then I can flash it right over. Just verified it all worked before posting. If anyone else wants that, I recommend trying it. My next question will be, can I JUST use these files, make a new update.zip that I will flash over any existing rom. If so, I'll just make one and post it up. Well, I guess I may as well try that now. I'm not doing much else tonight.
So, quick answer, NO. It didn't work like I hoped.
Long answer, If I understood more about the update script, I may have been able to get it to work. I noticed it was formatting the System folder when it went to install, pretty much screwing EVERYthing up. Maybe if someone knows how to make the script only replace the files instead of completely wiping the system folder, I may have something others can use. As it stands, it's really useful for me, and pretty much noone else.
ghrayfahx said:
So, quick answer, NO. It didn't work like I hoped.
Long answer, If I understood more about the update script, I may have been able to get it to work. I noticed it was formatting the System folder when it went to install, pretty much screwing EVERYthing up. Maybe if someone knows how to make the script only replace the files instead of completely wiping the system folder, I may have something others can use. As it stands, it's really useful for me, and pretty much noone else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Can't you put your commands (that you type in the terminal) into your userinit.sh and it will run on every start up? Not a pro about this but I think it's one way of doing it.
2. There's a guy in the development forum who will build a custom rom for you. He made a post, you should see it on first or second page. Drop him a line. He may just show the way how to do it or he may just build you a rom. Don't worry, we'll figure it out one way or another
Cool, sounds good. I was looking at the script, and it's pretty straight forward. I COULD possibly figure it out if I wanted, but I wouldn't want to put other people's phones at the risk of me being an idiot. Heh. I'll check with the other guy. Thanks

Need to get started

hey peeps,
i've had my HD2 now for a week and well i'm getting itchy to customise some of the ui. well i've got some ideas for a full on theme, and the taskbar at the moment.
however i've googled myself close to death trying to find how to edit the files.
first i can't see how to assemble and disassemble CAB files, and probably DLL's aswell.
and where do i find the originals on the phone itself? Taskbar Icons?
I've downloaded the /Windows directory and found Lockscene buttons, and icons for different bits, but as i said above i have no idea how to assemble an CAB out of my edited files, and not just do an overwrite.
Im sure some people are reading this as a user who hasn't a clue as to what there doing but tbh this is the first WinMo phone i've had in probably 5 years, so i've forgotten most of what i know, but i'd really like to have a crack at making my own experience/community release.
One problem i've had is Total Commander can't see my phone, do i need to have total commander on both the PC and the Phone? or should it just see the phone? as i said i'm a little lost.
So if you can help me, i'll really appreciate the help
Many Thanks,
Luke.
come on guys, is this the secret society of something. either no one knows or you just cant be bothered. surely supporting a fellow modder isn't a hardship.?
Come on, I was able to figure everything out myself as well (or search!).
For editing CABs, the best way is to use WinCe CAB Manager. For DLLs and EXEs, you can use ResHack, Resource Tuner or the like... just search.
Then, take any theme you like, extract the files with a CAB and modify the grapics... Yes, you can !
thanks dude,
i've tried searching, but if you don't know what to search for your screwed.
now i've got a few apps listed i can look em up. Massive Thanks to you
Regards,
Luke.
ok well i just had a look at Brians V6 Taskbar Cab.
tbh I can see what needs to be done but it's not very simple. I've been iPhone themeing the past few years and it was no where near as confusing as this. tbh i think i'll leave it alone on second thought.
I thought it would be a case of redesign the images and bundling them into a cab for deployment, not registry entries, and random coding which to me meant nothing.
I think i'll stick to my overwriting files upposed to CABS. and hope some things i want turn up.
Well, you don't need to change any registry keys. Just put your graphics in a CAB and you're done .
ok maybe i'll have another go i guess.

Signing Help. I KNOW, I TRIED Q&A. Its About Themes!!

Hey guys .. well i have a pretty sick ass theme put together, and i am at a loss here .. and i have PM'd almost everyone and the new flag-away response is gtalk me .. psh .. if it were only that easy ..
now question one .. when i go to sign my *.zip, it will let me apply the zip, boot, function almost 90 percent correctly, and than i will proceed to get a multitude of errors in my OS. Mainly my GApps. I have found that this only has happened on recent Cyan .2.3.1, and .1.2.3 - as well as EVERY 2.0. 2.01, and 2.1 build.
I NEED YOUR GUYS HELP. it just keeps telling me that i have a f/c and the usual shmiiit in between.. i am ready to pull my hair out. i have used Stericsons tool, and the cmd.exe method, and the right click. WHICH ALL USED TO WORK FINE..
PLEASE PEEPS. If you have any suggestions, or anything like that, email me, telegraph me, whatever your chosen means of communication may be. Thanks.
email - [email protected]
gtalk - /\---------------/\ same
i have all error reports as well. LEME KNOOOW. THANKS
it happens to me randomly, wipe, 1.6 image, cm 4.xxx, theme.
but the first thing i did when i clicked this thread is clicked back but then i thought id give it a chance, next time try not to type in rediculous sized fonts it doesnt get you any more help than typing in regular sized font
the reason your theme doesnt work on eclair is because most of the files in drawable within the framework-res.apk have been moved to drawable-mdpi
edit: nvm i think you said they work 90% on eclair roms? if so, disregard this post lol
thanks for the insight....
xxmonsterx said:
it happens to me randomly, wipe, 1.6 image, cm 4.xxx, theme.
but the first thing i did when i clicked this thread is clicked back but then i thought id give it a chance, next time try not to type in rediculous sized fonts it doesnt get you any more help than typing in regular sized font
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea i didnt think the massive font showed through the Header all the way through to the XDA welcome screen, damn im good...
im playin, i know man it was an error, just is aggrivating when all the 1.6 works, but noooooo 2.0? wow
Can you please fix your OP so it is not so hard on the eyes?
This isn't going to be a signing issue if you can flash your theme. You may want to post your theme or at least the images you edited so people can see what you did, you may have editing something you shouldn't have or did it incorrectly. Do you know what .9's you edited before? Did you look at any changes between the images from one version to another? In 4.2.x some thing have changes and images needed to be reprocessed and such for certain .9's. Btw, most willing to help would rather do it in gtalk over PM's. I know I do because it is easier to explain things on the fly rather then keep going back and forth on a PM.
as op you mean signiture?
sorry man, kinda neebish on these, anyways got the signing issue solved, took about an 8th of chron, and some reading, and a COMPLETTTE redo. haha. got it though.. look out for my theme .. it will be out today, as well as Obsidian 2.1 - the REAL 2.1

Custom Theme Components

Long time lurker, first time poster... I have been learning a lot really fast about customizing different aspects of the eris, but what I have been really searching hard for is a way to customize certain components to add to an already great rom. Right now I am running Eris_Official_0.8.1T2 btw. Anyways what I am really looking for is something like this forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=654852 Mostly the Launcher is what I really want to change but to be able to tweak everything else would be great too. If someone knows how to do this or can point me in the right direction to maybe even learn how myself I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
unzip the rom files
system/framework/com.htc.resources
once in there go to
res/drawable-port-mdpi
the file named common_app_rosie_navbar.png
is the launcher, and thats the main thing u need to edit.
and also go to
system/apps/rosie.apk
one inside the apk go to
res/drawable-normal-mdpi
and
drawable-normal-port-mdpi
edit those to your liking
Wow I feel dumb now lol... Ive been poking around in com.htc.resources for a couple days now and completely overlooked that... Thanks alot... Only question I have now is how do I remove the word phone that overlayed on the launcher? I would post a screenshot of my home screen but since im a new user its not allowing me.
Thanks for the help
well I uploaded a photo to my album so if you feel like checking it out just go to my profile... Im starting to like the phone (icon and word) over the orb but if anyone knows how to remove the word for future reference please let me know... I am also trying to find out how to change the status bar's clock color, which searching around has brought me to editing the services.jar or services.odex file but Im still uncertain on how to do this. Any input would be great.
Im going to sound like an idiot, but i can't open the apk to edit, im missing something.. help?
Right click and open with winrar or 7zip. Once you have edited the images you will have to resign either the .apk or the rom. Depending on if you are editing the whole rom or not. Hope I was able to help

com.htc.resource.apk issues...

hey, i've been screwing around pulling .apks from /system/app + /framework...and pretending i'm some hardcore themer or something...lol anyway...
firstly sorry for my lack of correct terminology...i only learnt how to use adb properly a few days ago and am very green when it comes to all this stuff.
i've managed to pull some pngs from com.htc.resource.apk which correspond to the main part of the sense/rosie interface (ie the buttons at the bottom of the home screen).
All i have been looking at doing is editing the colours of these pngs to add slight customisation..for now.
After editing i pushed com.htc.resource.apk back to my hero and hey presto it worked...nice new coloured interface (just the bottom of the homescreen, not everything like i've seen in some themers work and metamorph themes) but alas i came across a MASSIVE issue:
I lost the ability to sign into my google account and sync my contacts!!!!
I tried again and had the same issue...very strange i thought seen as i was only editing images...but i know computer systems can be temperamental...
so does anyone know what i'm doing wrong? possibly how i can fix this issue? it's been bugging me for at least 24 hrs and i'm sure there must be some easy fix. at first i thought it could be something to do with signing the files, but as far as i'm aware as i'm only playing with pngs no signing has to be done...correct me if i'm wrong.
I'm using villain rom 10.3 at the moment...if that makes a difference to whatever answers i'm hoping to get.
I've attached an image oh my status bar so far. i'm hoping to make a corresponding rosie/sense button thingy interface in the near future...
all help is GREATLY appreciated and i'm happy to share any "work" that i've done with anyone..so don't be shy.
Cheers
hey bro! i was playing around with the htc.com.resources.apk too! was trying to edit the lockscreen to a different style but too encounter the exact same problems as you faced!
apparently this guy, odin13 in his post
"clear sense lockscreen for Cronos 1.7.1"
managed to edit the htc.com.resources.apk without any facing any problems like us. im actually using his edited htc.com.resources.apk for clear lockscreen right now..
Cheers for the reply, bit of a flummoxing problem. I'll try an find odin and see if he can help!
Please anyone else feel free to help me here :-D
Hi guys,
Sorry for my late response but i just noticed the msg i got...
I'm really sorry but i really can't help you with this problem.
You should better ask it in the Villain forum since i'm no developer or some like that.
The boyz at Villain will definately be able to help you out with this or at least they can tell you what's going wrong.
The 'trick' with lockscreen is something i read once in a post ( can't remember which forum though ) so it's not even something i will take credit for.
Good luck bro and srry again for the late response!
hoi,
odin
Hey thanks for getting back to me man, greatly appreciated. Those boys at villain did solve it, i think it was a combination of pulsar & ultimately shen who sorted me out.
For stuff like the lockscreen and sense interface you need to create an update signed zip file and flash that way. no more loss of contacts which is great!
Happy days!

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