Database Develop

App to change statusbar...

Can't figure out how to change my statusbar look and color... I have a ton of programs to have my theme the way I want except a way to change the statusbar.

As far as I know the only way you can change it is by actually flashing a theme from the Magic/Dream theme section. I've yet to hear of an app that can change it.

You can replace just a few files to get the results but not without resigning them into a theme or ROM to flash. I have all the files if anyone knows how to write the app.

You must get the original rom you have, open the zip, go to system/framework/framework-res.apk and unzip this apk. You will see the drawable folder where all images are located, then you must create a update.zip with this framework.apk and flash it with your recovery.

Theme Porting Guide

Well Im not great at directions so this is the best i can do.
Summary
There are 2 ways that I know to port a theme to your device.
1. Using the metamorph app if its a metamorph theme.
2. Using 7zip ect.. if its a flashable theme. (most common)
Metamorph Instructions
1. First things first is to download the theme that you want to port.
2. Your theme will be a zip file containing only image files from apk's
3. Put the zip file on your sd card
4. Make sure your device is set to 320x480 resolution or metamorph app will not work.
5. Open metamorph app and start a new project.
6. Locate your zip file and let all the apks load up.
7. Install each apk one at a time. Do not install any jar files as they will cause your phone not to boot.
8. Reboot and your Theme should be working on your phone.
Flashable Theme Porting Instructions
Its not that difficult, once you get the hang of how 7zip works it will be your best freind. Its just a process of dragging and dropping images from one apk to another all within 7zip.
What the metamorph app does is takes themed images and places them into the correct apks res\drawable folders in your system.
Knowing what metamorph does as an app, you can do this manually using 7zip.
1. Download the theme that you want to port. It will be a system folder with an app,framework, and font folder inside of it.
2. Open up that system folder with 7zip
3. Make a copy of the system folder of your current rom and open up that system with 7zip as well. You should now have 2 different 7zips open. Make sure to keep track of witch is witch.
4. Open up the app folder of the themed system and open up the first apk thats in there.
5. Go into the res\drawable folder in the apk in both your system and the themed system.
6. highlight and drag and drop only the images from that folder to the same folder in the other base apk. Make sure to NOT highlight any xmls.
7. Do the same for any images in any other drawable folders the are mdpi.
8. If there are only hdpi folders and no mdpi folders than you will have to convert those images to mdpi size before using them. If there are both, than only use the mdpi images.
9. When finished overwriting those images in that first apk, go back to the other apks in the app folder and do the same thing. You can do all of this from with in 7zip. No need to exit 7zip in this entire process.
10. Open up the themed framework folder and you will see a framework-res.apk file. Open up that file, you will see the same res\drawable folders.
11. Also open up the framework-res.apk from the base theme in the other 7zip as well. And overwrite the images just like the other apks making sure not to overwrite any xmls.
12. Back out of that back into the framework folder itself, if there is a services.jar in the theme than you will want to use overwrite that file as well.
13. Back out of the framework folder, If there is a fonts folder in the theme, You will want to overwrite those files as well.
14. Now you are done modifying your base theme with all the images from the theme.
15. You can now close the themed 7zip that you downloaded and leave open the 7zip containing you newly modified apks. Create a folder on your desktop called "system". Inside that, create a folder called "app", "framework", and "fonts"
16. Move only the modified apks that you replaced images in into the correct folders in your new system folder.
17. Make an androidupdate.tar with 7zip out of your new system folder and you are ready to flash it using nomorootfs method.
Tips:
Using the shift button to highlight mutiple images saves time.
Using the ctrl button to highlight images with xmls between them aaves time.
Switching views to have all images at the top and xmls at the bottom saves time.
If i forgot steps, I appologize.

Excellent guide.
The only thing I would mention is that most of the time services.jar is specific to a particular rom and as such may not work correctly with the target rom. As services.jar really only contains themed elements for the titlebar, you are better off using colorChanger's, apkTool or a hex editior to manually change the titlebar colors.
Also, in some cases (Like ProLauncher) the apk's must be signed. I prefer to use the test keys and this handy context menu here.

simple direct and effective. thanks again for all you do sir.

myn said:
Excellent guide.
The only thing I would mention is that most of the time services.jar is specific to a particular rom and as such may not work correctly with the target rom. As services.jar really only contains themed elements for the titlebar, you are better off using colorChanger's, apkTool or a hex editior to manually change the titlebar colors.
Also, in some cases (Like ProLauncher) the apk's must be signed. I prefer to use the test keys and this handy context menu here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info man.
BTW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYN

Dzo Odex sample with standard theme
Thanks for this info. This will help a million. Could you also put light on how to odex it?
Eg: Dzo's odexed sample of donut has plastic theme, can it be changed to a standard android theme using the steps above and then odex it to create a androidinstall.tar?

Nice guide.
Thanks for making this.
Ill probably start trying to theme when i finish school in 2 weeks or so.

how to convert hdpi to mdpi

[REQ] Captivate Stock AT&T Theme

I would like to flash a new ROM but i like the stock captivate theme the best.
is there any update.zip packages of the default theme floating around? i want to wait until i know i can do it before i flash. Also, is there any way to "rip" the theme from my ROM? because then i can just do that

I posted a request for this a few weeks back and got really no help.... What I did was unzip the framework.apk's from the theme I wanted and from the JH7_OTA that's floating around here somewhere and compared the images in the drawbale-hdpi folder. I think there are some files in tw-framework.apk that need to be changed if you want to change the pull down menu.
Hope this helps

The themes are mostly inside framework-res.apk, which is very ROM-specific. You can't just install them randomly inside one another.
If you'd like to port a theme, you can either replace the image files using 7-zip, WinRAR, etc. or decompile the .apk using APK Manager for more extensive changes (things like battery mods, etc.).

MikeyMike01 said:
The themes are mostly inside framework-res.apk, which is very ROM-specific. You can't just install them randomly inside one another.
If you'd like to port a theme, you can either replace the image files using 7-zip, WinRAR, etc. or decompile the .apk using APK Manager for more extensive changes (things like battery mods, etc.).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what he said ^^^^
but as a beginner's guide, you will need to pull your FRAMEWORK-RES.APK and TWFRAMEWORK-RES.APK from /system/framework folder
For this, you will need to use either ADB or an app like ASTRO or ROOTEXPLORER
when you copy these two apk's to your computer, you will need to open it up (NOT extract it) and simply replace the images inside with those from a stock FRAMEWORK-RES.APK & TWFRAMEWORK-RES.APK
The images you want to change are going to be in res/drawable-hdpi folder
Don't just replace everything, you will need to see which one's are different.. if there is something you want to change and don't know what .png file it is, just post it back up here and I will help you out

[GUIDE]Changing System Icons + MISC MODS

All mods are at the bottom of this post.
Here is a simple way to change system icons on your application drawer. I was looking for a guide to do this but I couldn't find any so I gave it a try and it worked. So I decided to post the method here for like minded people who wanted to change the system icons in their app drawer and not only on the homescreen.
I will show an example of changing the contacts icon. To change the icons of some other app you just have to pull the relevant apk. I know this looks long and tiresome but bear with me and the results will amaze you. After a few times it becomes really easyYou have to be rooted to do this
A couple of things to note
a. You can change icons in framework-res.apk, SystemUI.apk or any other apk this way too.
b. Please note that the icons you replace should be of the same dimensions.
c. The specific icons name inside the drawable_hdpi might change. Sometimes its icon.png. Sometimes its ic_launcher_XYZ. Just use your head and replace the correct png.
d. The files are located either in system/app or data/app depending on whether its a system file or a data file. System files have to be pushed. Data files have to be installed.
Changing Icons works for all ROMS
1. Download android-sdk from here http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
2. Install all libraries.
3. Install jdk from here http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
Make sure you download jdk and not just jre.
4. Download apk manager from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
5. extract apk manager inside platform-tools inside android-sdk folder. Should be something like this
C:/Android-sdk/windows/platform-tools/("extract apk manager here")
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6. Open cmd
7. Navigate to the platform-tools folder. (Simple DOS commands)
8. Do "adb pull /system/app/HtcContacts.apk" (-Do this without the quotes. If you want to change the icon for, lets say the camera, then instead of HtcContacts.apk, type HTCCamera.apk. To see all the system files just navigate to system/app on your phone using es file explorer or root explorer or any other file explorer you fancy. You can see all the system apks and you can pull anyone you want)
9. Ok so now the HtcContacts.apk should be in the platform-tools folder. Paste it into the folder "place apk here for modding".
10. Start script.bat (apk manager) from the platform-tools folder.
11. Choose option 22 to select a project
12. Choose the number of the project. In this case it would be 1.
13. Choose one again on the next screen. This will extract the apk to the projects folder.
14. Now get to the folder res/drawable-hdpi/ on your windows explorer.
15. Replace people.png with the icon of your choice. Please remember that your new icon has to be of 72x72 dimension and should have the same name. You can also replace other pngs like dialer and stuff.
(Next step is only for system files)
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16. Select option 3 on the apk manager cmd
17. Now select 8. This is a system apk and so we have to retain the system signature.
18. Enter the full path of the file ( system/app/HtcContacts.apk)
Follow these steps for data files
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19. Select 7.
20. Wait for install.
Here are my mods. Please note that I have not made these icons and tweaks. I have just put them all together in one place. If you want to give any credit then please follow the developers.
These are designed for sense based Roms. Please DO NOT try with any other rom. Just download and push to system/framework/framework-res.apk. Please note : This is for the older sense (sense 2.0) Do not try with newer sense.
To get transparency you have to use this file -- Transparency Hack -- through metamorph. I will make this into a flashable zip once I understand how to do that.
App icons are from Tenuis theme - Images
My framework-res
Screenshot - http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9167/snap20110125163003.png
Download
System Icons Zip
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18171691/Mms.apk

Hello,i just use Bettercut.apk available from market .

Marcdu81 said:
Hello,i just use Bettercut.apk available from market .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi I dont use bettercut but does it let you change the system icons in the app drawer. you know the drawer that comes up when you press the menu on the launcher???
Edit: OK i just tried bettercut. Using this you cannot change system icons in the app drawer. You are only changing icons on the homescreen, basically shortcuts. You could do that with launcherpro, desktop visualizer and 10 other apps.

CREDITS
CREDITS
MultiCulti for giving me the idea to get the services.jar for transparency
Icons from MIUI framework
Icons from Gingerbread aosp ROM
sopL87 for his guide
he_stheone64 for his awesome transparency hack
Ps. tell me if I have forgotten to credit anyone and I will add your name here. Thanks to all of the above for inspiring and helping.

Good work
Check this out too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=10157000
Simple Java app to edit .apk files with a nice GUI

You're Just Awesome THNX man !

Nice guide

Ninjamorph lets you edit and change out images within apk files right on your phone. Its a free app on the market.
Still a very nice guide though!

thanks .. i was just looking to put up something which you could use to edit any apk on your phone .. the thing with ninjamorph is that it wasn't working for me. And plus I prefer to do it this way. Gives me more area.
EDIT: Anyone wants to see an MIUI framework on your sense?? I am thinking about getting the exact MIUI framework over to our sense based ROMs. As you can see in my framework I have already copied some of the elements. I am thinking about getting the power toggles and removing the current apps from the notification pulldown.

hi could u help me to change the battery icon plzzzz
i know about kitchen. any thing else i have some pic of a battery icon but dont know how to make one..... htc desire hd rom runny 3.37

Can't extract file
I tried to put option 22 where project start. Then I enter the project name as 1 and following another option 1 to extract files. However, the CMD just close by itself and I opened the project file and still empty inside. Please help!!

[HOW-TO] Theme TouchWiz to be AOSP!

How To Theme TouchWiz Based ROM to look like AOSP!!​
Ok guys I decided to share my theming method with you guys. This is mainly intended for all developers and or ROM developers!
If you have TouchWiz based ROM (Some devices below) you can theme it to have an AOSP feel to it.
Devices:
Galaxy SII
Galaxy SIII
Galaxy Note
Galaxy Note II (Tested by Me )
Some others as well...
Whats Needed:​*APKTool DOWNLOAD HERE
*JAVA DOWNLAOD HERE
*7-ZIP DOWNLOAD HERE
*TouchWiz Base ROM
*SystemUI.apk (in system/app) **FROM TOUCHWIZ ROM**
*SystemUI.apk (in system/app) **FROM AOSP or CM10 ROM**
*Framework-res.apk and TWFramework-res.apk (in system/framework) **FROM TOUCHWIZ ROM**
*Zipalign tool
*Root Explorer App (Get from Google Play Store)
*Holo Launcher (Also get from Google Play Store)​
Lets Get Started:​Follow all of the steps below carefully and you should have an AOSP Themed TouchWiz ROM in no time ​
1. Download the Holo Launcher from the Google Play Store.
(When you run the launcher you will see that you will have an AOSP themed launcher and you will have AOSP system icons [messaging, phone, settings, ect..])
2. You need to install APKTool next. (If you already have this installed then skip this step)
*Download the APKtool files (link above)
*Put the files into your C drive. Make a folder in the root of your C drive called apktool.
*All of your files should go inside that folder (apktool)
*Go to CMD or Command Prompt and type in
Code:
cd C:\apktool
*That should redirect you to the apktool. If it worked then lets move on...
3. Get the framework-res.apk and TWFramework-res.apk (in system/framework) and place it in the apktool folder.
4. In the Command Prompt you will need to direct CMD to the APKtool folder. Then you must install the framework files by doing:
Code:
apktool if framework-res.apk
and
Code:
apktool if twframework-res.apk
Now your framework files are successfully installed. If you have an error in the CMD window then you must check your JAVA.
5. Now get your systemui.apk files from both AOSP (CM10) and TouchWiz ROM. Rename the AOSP systemui.apk to systemuiaosp.apk (so you dont get the touchwiz and aosp systemui's mixed up)
6. Make a backup of the TouchWiz systemui.apk in another folder called "Backup" ****YOU WILL NEED THIS LATER*****
7. Now you should have both systemuiaosp.apk and systemui.apk in the apktool folder. Now you must decompile both files by using these commands:
Code:
apktool d systemuiaosp.apk
and
Code:
aptkool d systemui.apk
You should have 2 more folders (systemuiaosp and systemui).
8. Here comes the actual theming of the systemui. Open both systemuiaosp and systemui folders side-by-side. And now you need to navigate to the drawable-xhdpi folder in both.
***FOLLOW THESE NEXT STEPS CAREFULLY OR YOU WILL HAVE AN ERROR***
9. Find the files you want to replace. They should all be PNG files. DO NOT JUST ADD PNG FILES FROM THE SYSTEMUIAOSP TO THE SYSTEMUI. YOU WILL GET ERRORS WHEN COMPILING THE FILE!! There are XML files (we will not edit in this tutorial) that use those PNG files with those extension names. So you can't just add files from one to another. For example:
If you have an icon you want to change but its only for that AOSP then it wont run on the TouchWiz. If you have a WiFi icon that has a name of AOSP_Wifi_1 and on the other systemui it says TOUCHWIZ_Wifi_1 you cant just delete the one that says TouchWIZ_WIFI_1 and replace it with the AOSP one. The XML files dont tell it to run the AOSP_WIFI_1. So you must ONLY REPLACE FILES WITH SAME EXTENSION NAME!!
10. You can go ahead and transfer files from the SystemuiAOSP to the systemui. Note what i said above!! If you have lets say 6 wifi icons for systemuiAOSP and 6 icons for systemui (touchwiz) you can rename the AOSP PNG files to match the TouchWiz ones so the XML files will know what to run.
I personally suggest only transferring Wifi Icons, Battery Icons, and Signal Icons. These are your most important ones to transfer! You can also transfer the Bluetooth and Airplane mode icons also.
11. After you have transfered the files over and you feel like you have done it correctly then you can go ahead and Compile the SystemUI folder by using this code:
Code:
apktool b systemui semidone.apk
12. If you did all the steps correctly above then apktool will build the apk file with no issues. If you have errors then you did not pay attention carefully. (You may want to try another CM10 ROM to get icons from).
13. Now here is where 7-Zip and your backup file comes into play. Open 7-Zip twice (2 windows). In the first window direct 7-zip to the semidone.apk file. And the second one to your backup file which should be SystemUI.apk (in the backup folder).
14. In the SystemUI.apk click on the RES folder and then find the Drawable-xhdpi folder. Delete the entire Drawable-xhdpi folder. Now in the other window (semidone.apk) go to RES and then transfer the entire Drawable-xhdpi folder into the SystemUI.apk window.
15. Now your SystemUI.apk in the Backup folder is your new modded one. But before you can use it you must zipalign it using any zipalign tools out there. I just use DSIxda's kitchen to do it since I make ROMs with it.
16. Now you can go ahead and transfer the SystemUI.apk onto your phone's SD card.
17. Download Root Explorer. Now go ahead and navigate to your SD card and click the SystemUI.apk file and then click copy or move. (whichever one you like).
18. Now navigate to your system/app folder and paste and overwrite the original one. (You will need to set root explorer to Read/Write). Now you can go ahead and reboot your device.
If you did everything correctly you should now have a themed launcher and a themed status bar with AOSP Icons!​
I don't ask for donations so if this tutorial helped you then please hit that Thanks button!​

MINE

Mine AGAIN

I was just looking for a thread like this... not sure if i have enough time and will to do it but i am very glad you post it!
thanks a lot!!!

ExcaliberX said:
I was just looking for a thread like this... not sure if i have enough time and will to do it but i am very glad you post it!
thanks a lot!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome. I hope it works for you!

So are there any screenshots showing exactly what changed? I'd like most of the UI to have an AOSP feel to it not just some parts. Does this theme all or just bits and pieces?

Shmi117 said:
So are there any screenshots showing exactly what changed? I'd like most of the UI to have an AOSP feel to it not just some parts. Does this theme all or just bits and pieces?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well as said above it themes the launcher (holo) and the status bar icons are aosp.

thanks I was hoping to see where you find the blue background bars in the S2 in the settings menu SecSettings.apk or trframework or framework or systemUI I have looked everywhere and changed colors of .9pngs forever and it never phased them. obviously I never found the right one to change. would you happen to know and could you post here or pm me thanks. have a decent ROm that doesnt really need blue gray bars dominating the screen.