Related
Does anyone have a way to change the analog clock to digital?
Thanks
solution
Hi.! Yes,there is a possibility for this...firstly, you must download the :"Manila 2D customizer" from a link reported in the "hacking & developement" section of this site (see on top of the main page), and install it on the Opal..after, also in this forum's section, you can find a lot of Skins..Clocks, icons etc...so, when you have find and choose it, download the.zip file that you want, and copy it in the "theme" folder (collocated where there is installed the application; you will find a folder with this name) and after, open this application. secondly you should make a backup of the original theme installed by HTC (this application allow you to do this action. Check the last tab) in case you want return back of the original status..after that, you can go on the step 3: return on the "Theme" section, select the name of file that you have copied and click on "Apply theme" and wait...during the installation the program will ask you if you don't want make the changing also for Weather tab and another point..don't make a tick on this two point, and press continue...finally the TouchFlo will restart automatically, and this procedure permise you to change the skins without soft reset the PDA!
In addiction to this operation, you can change a lot of other parameters as: colors & fonts of tabs, browser internet, the parameters of the main page (ex. if you don't want the analog clock, on the digital clock) etcc...
good luck.!!
if you have problems, contact me
Thank you for your help
Thank you very much for the detailed instructions. Will try it out over the weekend.
It "almost" Worked. Thanks for detailed instructions.
However, The digital and analog clocks both appear. If I disable the analog clock, the layout of the digital clock is totally disturbed and its useless.
any idea why?
instructions
yes i've an idea...have you downloaded the Van_de_bosh clock.? if yes, firstly you should modify manually the HTChomesetting.xml in the Windows folder of Opal..(so connect it on the PC, see and click on top bar of the PC folder Utilties -> folder option-> select the Visualization tab and after click on "show folder's and hide's folders", then apply). secondly enter in the Windows folder in PDA (wait if is slowly the loading, don't worry the PC can appear freeze for a few second, but don't close the folder)..after serch the "HTChomesetting.xml" and copy it on the desktop..So open the .zip and here you probabily find a .txt file. open it. after you will see some strings that you will copy into the file on desktop..when you have finish all steps, take this "HTChomesetting.xml" and replice the old file into the .zip..after try to install this skin package on PDA i know, is quite difficult but , when you have understand the procedure all become simply
If you have problems contact me
Thanks for the reply. However, I just found an updated version of M2DC which "fixed" the bug with digital clock placement. I tried it, and yes, it works like a charm
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!!
Let's face it, Swype is ugly and there are not many HVGA themes out there, so I made a Gingerbread-inspired HVGA Swype theme for our Arias.
First off, I am greatly indebted to Marurban, who set me on the right path, as well as provided the inspiration in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=930306
But I want to emphasize, all images in this theme are 100% created by me.
Installation is a little complicated and is pretty much the same as for Marurban's theme.
Stuff needed:
apk manager (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701)
ADB pull your Swype from /data/app/
HxD if you want to modify the color of the tracer line (http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/)
Swype GB theme files (attached -- download and unzip)
How to:
in apk manager, place Swype apk into folder place-apk-here-for-modding
run Script.bat
choose 19 (-Select compression level for apks-)
choose 0 for compression level
choose 22 (-Set current project-)
choose the number corresponding to your Swype file
choose 9 (-Decompile apk-)
go into apkmanager > projects > [app folder name] > assets > keyboards and overwrite Swype keyboard PNGs with themed files.
go into apkmanager > projects > [app folder name] > res > drawable and overwrite Swype horizontal selection highlight files with themed files. (these are for landscape mode word suggestions -- see screenshot#5)
go into apkmanager > projects > [app folder name] > res > drawable-hdpi and overwrite Swype voice input files with themed files. (see screenshot#4)
if you want to change the color of the Swype trail:
go into apkmanager > projects > [app folder name] > lib > armeabi
open libSwypeCore.so in HxD
CTRL+F (search) for DD A2 5B
find a color you want to use and note it's HEX value. (IIRC, I used #ffba00)
switch values around so that it is B-G-R (mine would be 00 BA FF)
replace values and save
a .bak file will be created in the directory -- delete it
when you are finished with all mods, go back to console window and choose 11 (-Compile apk-)
choose Y (-is this a system apk-)
followed by N (-would you like to copy over any additional files-)
choose 12 to sign your apk
signed apk is in place-apk-here-for-modding folder
uninstall your previous version of Swype before installing this one!
License It:
If you just start using Swype, it will only let you tap type and will say "Swype is not configured for this device," IIRC.
License your modded Swype by running the Swype Installer app. It will guide you through the steps and generate a license.
Enjoy!
Dealing with Swype updates
I'm glad so many people are trying out my theme! Apologies to those that are having problems--I have been busy and not been able to update this thread recently.
So, some people are having problems as of the new Swype Installer (1.1.20186) and Swype version (2.29...)
If you have applied my theme to a previous Swype version, and try to license it via the Swype Installer (after flashing a ROM, for instance), you will run into problems when the installer updates itself, and consequently fails to generate a license for your old version of Swype.
To fix this:
uninstall any versions of Swype you may have, themed or not.
download and install the newest official Swype from the installer (installer may want to update itself first)
ADB pull Swype and apply the theme as above
uninstall the official Swype
install the themed Swype (via sideloading, DropBox, or whatever)
license it, as above
Just to clarify, you won't have to do this every time Swype releases a new beta. But you will have to do this workaround whenever you try to theme the lastest Swype. Seems the Swype Installer only recognizes the latest and greatest, and will fail to license prior versions of Swype.
Here is the Swype beta changelog for the recent update:
http://forum.swype.com/showthread.php?2865-Swype-BETA-for-Android-UPDATE-March-2011
this is pretty cool. good jorb!
Can someone just Make an apk and post please?
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Javi97100 said:
Can someone just Make an apk and post please?
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not allowed.
Sent from my cm7 Aria using XDA App
Yeah, but if someone wanted to help me make a flashable update.zip, that would be cool.
From the screenies it appears the popup word suggestion box also behaves as it does in the regular GB keyboard (across the top of the keys, rather than the vertical box in regular swype). Is this actually the case, and if so, does it behave like this in portrait as well as landscape?
Either way, excellent work - now I have a little project for tonight
Edit: Tried to work through your steps on my linux machine: The APKManager script I am getting (not sure if this is due to linux vs. windows discrepancy, or being a different version for Linux, or both) only 17 options for selection. This means options 19 and 22 (steps 3 and 5) in your instructions are unavailable to me. Could you please post the text related to those options in the script so I can determine the correct options in linux? Unfortunately I don't have a windows box available to play with right now.
Thanks.
Think I'll take a WAG at it in the meantime though...wish me luck.
Edit 2: I think I have it mostly working - can't figure out how to get APKmanager to find java on my linux machine to get it to sign the zipped apk. Not sure what I need to add to the path for it to be found. Out of time screwing around at work now...will be back at it later maybe.
dandrumheller said:
From the screenies it appears the popup word suggestion box also behaves as it does in the regular GB keyboard (across the top of the keys, rather than the vertical box in regular swype). Is this actually the case, and if so, does it behave like this in portrait as well as landscape?
Either way, excellent work - now I have a little project for tonight
Edit: Tried to work through your steps on my linux machine: The APKManager script I am getting (not sure if this is due to linux vs. windows discrepancy, or being a different version for Linux, or both) only 17 options for selection. This means options 19 and 22 (steps 3 and 5) in your instructions are unavailable to me. Could you please post the text related to those options in the script so I can determine the correct options in linux? Unfortunately I don't have a windows box available to play with right now.
Thanks.
Think I'll take a WAG at it in the meantime though...wish me luck.
Edit 2: I think I have it mostly working - can't figure out how to get APKmanager to find java on my linux machine to get it to sign the zipped apk. Not sure what I need to add to the path for it to be found. Out of time screwing around at work now...will be back at it later maybe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you're trying it out.
#19 is set compression level for .zips and you want it to be 0. #22 is choose current project, and you just want to navigate to the Swype file (in case you have a bunch of other APKs you are working on. Later, when I am on my PC, I will transcribe the more detailed text choices and edit first post.
Also, I should have put in a screenshot of the word choice window. Swype functionality is 100% the same as normal. In landscape you get the bar atop the keyboard, and in portrait, you get the squareish pop-up. I made the pop-up grey so it looks good with the theme, but it's still there.
stone_ship said:
Glad you're trying it out.
#19 is set compression level for .zips and you want it to be 0. #22 is choose current project, and you just want to navigate to the Swype file (in case you have a bunch of other APKs you are working on. Later, when I am on my PC, I will transcribe the more detailed text choices and edit first post.
Also, I should have put in a screenshot of the word choice window. Swype functionality is 100% the same as normal. In landscape you get the bar atop the keyboard, and in portrait, you get the squareish pop-up. I made the pop-up grey so it looks good with the theme, but it's still there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for getting back to me. Neither of those options exist in the linux version of apk manager (or I don't know how to find them if they do). I'm going to guess I'll be ok once I figure out the java/path issue.
Thanks.
Sent from my Liberty using Tapatalk
Thanks
stone_ship said:
Let's face it, Swype is ugly and there are not many HVGA themes out there, so I made a Gingerbread-inspired HVGA Swype theme for our Arias.
First off, I am greatly indebted to Marurban, who set me on the right path, as well as provided the inspiration in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=930306
But I want to emphasize, all images in this theme are 100% created by me.
Installation is a little complicated and is pretty much the same as for Marurban's theme.
Stuff needed:
1. apk manager (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701)
2. ADB pull your Swype from data/app
3. HxD if you want to modify the color of the tracer line (http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/)
4. Swype GB theme files (attached -- download and unzip)
How to:
1. in apk manager, place Swype apk into folder place-apk-here-for-modding
2. run Script.bat
3. choose 19
4. choose 0 for compression level
5. choose 22
6. choose your apk for current project
7. choose 9 to decompile
8. go into apkmanager > projects > [app folder name] > assets > keyboards and overwrite Swype keyboard PNGs with themed files.
9. go into apkmanager > projects > [app folder name] > res > drawable and overwrite Swype horizontal selection highlight files with themed files. (these are for landscape mode word suggestions -- see screenshot#4)
10. if you want to change the color of the Swype trail:
a. go into apkmanager > projects > [app folder name] > lib > armeabi
b. open libSwypeCore.so in HxD
c. CTRL+F (search) for DD A2 5B
d. find a color you want to use and note it's HEX value. (IIRC, I used #ffba00)
e. switch values around so that it is B-G-R (mine would be 00 BA FF)
f. replace values and save
g. a .bak file will be created in the directory -- delete it
11. when you are finished with all mods, go back to console window and choose 11 (compile)
12. choose Y, followed by N
13. choose 12 to sign your apk
14. signed apk is in place-apk-here-for-modding folder
15. uninstall your previous version of Swype before installing this one!
License It:
1. If you just start using Swype, it will only let you tap type and will say "Swype is not configured for this device," IIRC.
2. License your modded Swype by running the Swype Installer app. It will guide you through the steps and generate a license.
3. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never used ANY of these programs, and was able to follow this tut 100%. Thanks
This is gorgeous! Can you build a WVGA version? Would love it for my DInc.
Love swype and now even more so, thanks.....
nerdBrain said:
This is gorgeous! Can you build a WVGA version? Would love it for my DInc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this one by Marurban is pretty similar and has a WVGA. For now, it's just going to be HVGA. You big screened people get all the good themes and such anyway
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=930306
Thanks. I actually knew about that one...I just think yours looks better . Let me know if you change your mind.
I used Root Explorer to find the name of the Swype app to pull in ADB (com.swype.android.inputmethod-1.apk). However, when I issue the adb pull command, it can't find it.
This is what I get:
C:\android>adb pull data/app/com.swype.android.inputmethod-1.apk c:\android\
remote object 'data/app/com.swype.android.inputmethod-1.apk' does not exist
What am I doing wrong?
I ended up using Root Explorer to copy the APK to the SD card, then followed all the steps from there. However, after compiling the new signed APK, the file size is way off - does that matter? Original file is 2,266KB, New file is 1,911KB. When I try to license the new one it says Registration of Swype failed. Rebooted and tried again with same result.
No help? Anyone...?
911jason said:
No help? Anyone...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't had a chance to get back to troubleshooting my linux issues with getting this done, but wanted to mention there is a new version of swype installer available through the beta program - you might want to give that a shot for licensing if you haven't yet...
Sent from my Liberty using Tapatalk
(then)
i believe it should start out "C:/Android/tools>adb pull. . .after that im confused on where to have it pulled to, since it keeps giving me the "it does not exist crap"
No, I've added adb to my environmental variables so I don't have to be in the tools folder to use the adb command. It works from any location.
Good Afternoon XDA Family and Friends - Modders and such...
Today, I would like to bring you something of a how to that would possibly get Sticky-d as I think that this app is growing in popularity and customization requests. Due to some demand on our Youtube Partner Channel, we are working on a Video on how to modify and deploy these new themes for this app to your non-rooted phone / device.
Many of you may or may not know about this software: MiLocker - App to allow you to get the MIUI type Themes that are seen on their ROMS on Non-Rooted and Rooted Phones. This app will let you customize your Lockscreen and have that MIUI type theme.
Please note that this tutorial - How To involves basic knowledge of XML and modifications of types of variables that are used in the theme.
I have enclosed 2 Samples that you can use as a basis, I have converted them from Japanese / Chinese language so that you can understand them better.
Some of the basic steps are outlined below.
1. First get the theme downloaded that you wish to modify using the Machine of your choosing: Mac or PC.
a. Upon getting the theme from the provider of the application to the device, you will then need to get it on the PC.
b. Connect your device to your machine as normal, and use “Disk Drive” to access the data storage on the device. (this could be internal or SD depending on device)
c. Once you have accessed the data on the device, look for the folder “MIUI” and under will be the “Theme” folder. In this folder will be all your downloaded themes. (MTZ Format)
2. After you have the MTZ files copied to your machine, (always best to create copies as this ensures you don’t break the mtz file you have already as source)
3. You can then (if you don’t already get 7zip for PC or The Unarchiver for Mac both free utilities) to then open the MTZ file and extract it’s contents to your desktop or destination of choosing.
4. Upon extraction you will usually find a few folders and files in there. Most notably: “Preview Folder”, “Wallpaper Folder” “Fonts folder”, lockscreen file, icons file, description.xml.
5. These are usually the basics for the theming. Most of them are self-explanatory.
a. For modifying or making your own wallpaper or preview, this is quite simple, just modify the wallpaper you find in the folders and create new ones using Paint, Photoshop or GIMP (utility of your choice)
b. Create a new wallpaper of the same dimensions used and name it the same as the original file found in the folder. Just delete the original when done. (Best cases for this I have tested are : 480x954, 480x860 and a few others) at about 72DPI or better.
6. Once you have created the wallpaper and it’s preview that you wish to show in the chooser, place those files in the respective folders.
7. To first start the modification and in this the main reason for the XML is to change the Chinese Characters displayed to English or US. Most people will just change the Wallpaper and repack, and that is ok. This is for those who seek to have English displayed.
8. In the first XML : description.xml - This file allows you to customize fields of Title of the Theme , Author, Version and such. These are the only three I recommend changing. ONLY CHANGE DATA between the <Title> THIS IS TO BE CHANGED</Title>
a. (changing only the data between the start and stop tags which are the <Field></Field> items)
9. Please note that changing the information in-between the start tags and end tags for XML is how the data is read by the application. So those values are how this is displayed.
10. The second XML is called the manifest.xml file, and it’s in the lockscreen file.
11. To modify this file, you need to rename the lockscreen file to lockscreen.zip and then extract the contents and open the folder under and look for the manifest.xml file.
a. Renaming method for Windows: Start > Run > cmd | in the command prompt, CD to the correct location of the lockscreen file and then issue the command with out quotes: “rename lockscreen lockscreen.zip”
b. Renaming method for MAC: Terminal – cd to the location of the lockscreen file issue the following command : “sudo mv lockscreen lockscreen.zip” It will ask for password, input your user password.
12. If the renaming happened correctly you should now see the file as a zip file.
13. You can now extract this file using 7zip or Archive utility or other to extract to a destination of your choice.
14. After you have done this, find the “manifest.xml” file in the folder from extraction.
15. You can edit this file in any great number of free XML utilities out there: PC : Notepad++ and MAC : TextWrangler. Editing this will allow you to find all the characters, which are not English and then copy them, open a browser and go to translate.google.com and translate them and insert the correct words as necessary.
16. When you have completed editing all the Japanese and Chinese out of the document, save it and then back out of the directory that you extracted and then ZIP the lockscreen file back up using Winzip, 7zip or Arhcive Utility in Mac or whatnot.
17. Once you have compressed and ZIP’d the lockscreen folder back up, you will see a new lockscreen.zip file with your modified files in it.
18. Now it’s time for you to Reverse Rename the file and removes the .zip file making it a file plain object. (Hint – Do the reverse of step 11 above, going from lockscreen.zip to lockscreen)
19. Once you have completed this phase, you will need to compress it to a MTZ to put back on the phone. 7Zip has this built in and you can just compress using 7zip and select MTZ as the file format. As for MAC I recommend using this Automator, which will do it for you. (MAC USERS WILL NEED TO TO one extra step)
a. Mac users will need to after creating the MTZ file, make the file Unix Executable – Terminal (open this app) and then go to the MTZ file and issue the following command: “sudo chmod a+x yourfile.mtz” , it will ask for password, do as above. Then the system will make it a UNIZ Executable just like the other MTZ’ files
20. Now transfer the MTZ file you have created back to your device and launch the app and choose your new theme.
MAC TOOLS for MTZ:
PLEASE EMAIL ME for TOOLS (don't have enough posts)
IF you have any questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected]
Or check our Youtube Channel as we will be posting a tutorial on this soon!
Please EMAIL for YouTube Channel (not enough posts)
Thanks.
FluxboxMedia and GeekTekneek
*****UPDATE******
Upon more and more research , our team has discovered that simple repackaging of the theme once modified does not always work as listed above. If you are using the PC and wish to use the 7zip method, the tip we found on DroidForums was to Open the MTZ file in 7zip and leave it open. Then 'Drag' From the file manager of 7zip the contents to your machine which will allow you to modify a copy of the theme. Make your changes , wallpapers and such, and then copy 'drag' them back into the open Archive of MTZ theme you did from above in this update. Once done, close the archive by closing 7zip. If you make any changes to the 'advance' folder under the lockscreen file (note you can just 2x click on the lockscreen file while in the 7zip archive and it will open), you will need to copy the changed files into this folder, and then click the "up one folder icon " it will annouce "There are changes to the original packing files, would you like to update the file and repack?" CHOOSE YES. Then you can close the entire 7zip app and deploy to your device. If you have questions, please feel free to email us. Video YTube tutorials will be online shortly.
Great idea. I really like this application. I also see it becoming a hit.
Yup, this app is awesome! I didn't know about 7zip's ability to compress to mtz, thanks for sharing that. What we really need is a tutorial on converting themes to mdpi
Great tut tho. Excellent and clear.
Tapatalkin it from my IHO CM7.1'd, ICS Themed Optimus V
Thanks for the support so far. We at our studio have done lots over the last 2 years with customizations and installations and testing, and just feel that now is the perfect time on a brand new app.
We are going to be doing a tutorial Video which will show the basics on it.
Some of them however are not happy with configuring the XML in the manifest file. (meaning as soon as you modify any part of it, the repack and then put on device) The theme comes out as just the default.
We are still working on some of the buggy themes.
Thanks
Examples of our work thus far
Examples of the Customization Completed
Converted from Japanese/Chinese to English Format
Attached as Inline image posting is restricted to people more posts than 8
???
Nice, I'm also working a TUT, nice locker/screenlocker to have! Easy to theme!
Pitty it doesn't run the ICS'ed ones
Hello
if i want to modify a theme for my SGA what resolution and DPI should i choose?thnks
kcls said:
Yup, this app is awesome! I didn't know about 7zip's ability to compress to mtz, thanks for sharing that. What we really need is a tutorial on converting themes to mdpi
Great tut tho. Excellent and clear.
Tapatalkin it from my IHO CM7.1'd, ICS Themed Optimus V
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From HDPI to M/LDPI just resize images, and change dimension values in manifest.xml (be aware of how MIUI roms/apps sees y value), although you don't need to do that, if you're using newest MiLocker version (1.4.2 I guess?). But as for M/LDPI Miui rom port you have to do it.
Sent from my GT-I5800 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5
Nice Info for people who are Novice about MIUI Themes and Lockscreens.
Thanks for the great tut :good: You deserve more thanks.
Introduction
This is going to be a long post! A few weeks ago I started thinking about making my own themes for my LG G5. I had installed some custom roms previously and used substratum a bit but I have always ended up going back to xpirt's Fulmics rom, which doesn't allow this. I started to think how I could do this and have today got to the first stage of being able to change the colours of my phone to precisely what I want, not only for the settings but in some of the stock apps. I thought I would share this with the community and provide some step by step instructions so you can try it yourself. This should work on LG G6, V10, V20 & V30 if you use an app made for these phones but I have no way of testing this so don't hold me to it. This has taken me about 5 full days to work this out and there is still more that I need to do.
I am not in anyway a developer or coder and have very little knowledge of Java so if anything goes wrong here it is likely that I will not be able to help you. I absolutely am a noob at this and do this only for a hobby, using just my common sense and our friend Google to overcome the problems I have come across. Saying that, I will try to offer assistance if I can.
I managed to make my theme from reverse engineering a free LG theme app that was readily available. If you do this method though please consider getting approval from the app developer first. There is a template on here posted by Raafat here. While this was helpful it was only basic and I could not work out exactly what to do. Reverse engineering an app was much easier. Here is how I did it with step by step instructions:
******DISCLAIMER******
I am in not responsible for what you do to your phone. If you decide to try and theme your phone make a backup first or be prepared to do a full reset if anything goes wrong. You do this at your own risk.
1. Programmes
The programmes/software needed for theming are:
• Notepad++
• Apktool
• Android Studio (I used version 2.3 as I was getting an error on re-signing with 3.0)
2. Installing Frameworks Using Apktool:
• Firstly, delete the files in your local temp directory. To do this open ‘Search’ and type in %temp% and delete all files in this folder. You may not be able to delete some of the files. This does not matter
• Next, extract the framework files from your rom/custom rom. For Fulmics 5.5 this was:
Frameworks-res.apk
lge-res.apk
• At a guess I would say that any rom will have these files named exactly as they are above, but I am not sure if these have been altered by xpirt for his rom so you may not be able to use them across other roms.
• Open a command prompt and navigate to the folder where the framework files are kept. This is easiest in a folder called C:/apktool so create a folder in your C:/ drive and place them there. You can of course name the folder or locate it where you want though.
• Use apktool to install the frameworks using this command in the command prompt in C:\apktool
apktool if framework-res.apk
apktool if lge-res.apk
• Once this is done you should find the following files Installed here: C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Local\apktool\Framework
1.apk
2.apk
• If, like me, you get an error with apktool that says it cannot write to C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Local\apktool\Framework and instead has placed them in the temp folder then go into the Local folder using the pathway above and create a folder called 'apktool' and then a subfolder called 'framework'. Try the commands again and it should then work.
• You should also find the following files in the C:\apktool folder (if that is the folder you are using). If they are not here you may have to copy and paste them from the apktool github download.
apktool.jar
apktool.bat
• If you have found these files then you are set to go with decoding the theme/app you have chosen as a basis to amend.
3. Decoding APKs Using Apktool
• Download the apk/app you want to use. I used Backup and Restore app from Play to get the app I wanted to use onto my PC. Once you have this on your PC place the main APK/app in the same folder as the apktool.bat and the apktool.jar (for me this this was C:\apktool)
• Point the command prompt at this place and type the following:
apktool d [app name]
• A folder with the name of the app you just decoded will appear in the directory that you use (in this case C:\apktool)
• In this folder you should find another folder called assets. There may be more sub APKs here in subfolders. This subfolder will likely be assets>overlays
• All the sub APKs in here will have to be decoded otherwise you will have different signing keys and the app, once compiled again, will not work. Decode all the sub APKs in this same folder. You will have to copy the following files to the folder you are decoding the sub APKs in. These are:
apktool.jar
apktool.bat
• Decode every sub apk using the command apktool d [sub_apkname]
• You should now have the same number of folders in the drive as the number of sub APKs, if you decoded them all.
4. Changing the Colours and other Themes from the Decoded APKs Using Notepad++
• Many theme APKs will have internal APKs, such as common, settings, phone, systemui, calendar etc, etc. This is what I have worked out so far:
Common: Changes the switches, brightness bar and the text headings in settings, changes swipe left panels in apps such as gallery, changes background, message icon & phone icon colour in contact/phone app, statusbar background, separating lines in settings (some themes do not have these), background bar of setting title (i.e. wireless network, device etc), settings text colour, secondary text (i.e. the text you see under Wifi and Bluetooth which shows you what you are connected to), the headings in apps such as clock where it shows 'Alarm' 'World Clock' 'Timer' etc
System UI: Changes the quick settings tiles & text and the non-heading text in settings
• To change the colour of these you have to amend the colors.xml located in one of the folders in the assets>overlays and then the folder of the overlay you want to change. I used Notepad++ to do this. Navigate to 'res' folder and then usually something like 'values-xxxhdpi-v4'. There is sometimes more than one color.xml file so you may need to look in more than one folder and amend all the color.xml files. The colours are at the end of the lines of text and will be standard Android colour coding, such as ffffffff (white) or 00000000 (black) or any other colours.
5. Building APKs & Signing with Android Studio
• If you are building the sub APKs from an app (these are the ones inside an APK such as common, systemui, phone etc) I found it best to use a different folder. For this I used C:\apktool builder
• Copy and paste the folder from the decoded APK (e.g. the [appname].LGE.common folder) that is in the asset>overlays folder to the apktool builder folder above
• Once you have made the colour amendments it is time to build the amended themes. To do this you will need Android Studio
• Open the splash screen of Android Studio and instead of the 'Open' command use the 'Import Project' command and navigate to the folder you want to import
• When opening Android Studio you have to configure the frameworks otherwise you will not be able to sign the app. This warning should come up automatically. THIS MUST BE DONE FOR IT TO WORK
• Navigate and find your APK in apktool builder and import it. If you do this more than once you will be prompted to overwrite the settings a few times.
• Go to ‘Build’ along the top and choose ‘Generate Signed APK’. If this is the first time it will ask for the Key Store Path. You will need to choose ‘Create New’. Select a place to store this key (I chose C:\apktool Builder) and input the passwords and the other data in the boxes. You must put a two-digit country code in the last box, for example US, UK etc). For ease I kept most of these very simple. For example, password was 'asdfgh'
• Once this has been completed and if there are no errors (warnings are ok) then it will generate a signed sub APK and save it to the location you are in (in this case C:\apktool builder). Copy and paste that sub APK over the one in the C:\apktool folder where the original sub APK was kept.
• Once you have done this then you need to sign the main app APK. Do the same as above and build in Android Studio. If there are no errors it will save it to your directory (in my case C:\apktool\[app name].
• Copy and paste this APK into your phone, apply the theme and it should work.
Everytime you amend a sub apk you will have to re-sign it through Android studio and then re-sign the main app apk. Once you get the hang of it though it is fairly straight forward.
6. Other Things
Nothing else in the app will change at this point. The name, wallpaper jpegs, screenshots and icons will all be the same. I am working on this at the moment but they don't actually need changing that much. The difficult thing for me is how to change the 9.png icon files and still get them to work. Once I have worked this out I will be able to finish it off.
7. Screenshots
Attached are some screenshots of how my phone now looks. I have made a few different apk's with different colours so I can now change this daily if I want a change (see post 2 for updated screenshots).
8. Thanks/Credits
@xpirt - Made it easy to get the framework files I needed for apktool and for a great custom rom!
@Raafat - for giving me the idea and the initial information
@iBotPeaches - for developing apktool.
.
Building Your Own LG Theme
I've been able to fine tune the themes over the past few weeks and have been able to colour the settings icons on the main settings page as well as putting a background behind it. I've also been able to theme the switches initially getting over a problem of the 'off' switch not showing. Here is some updated screenshots of a green/grey&blue theme.
I've also attached the updated blue & red theme from the initial post. I've not fully completed this yet though as I started to concentrate on the green/grey&blue theme as I preferred that.
Could someone make a stock theme just dark? I found one on play store but is not the best thing (it changes system sounds and other things that i don't like) I'd like a full stock theme but dark. Thanks in advance
Help
Can you help me? I tried changing package names in .json file and added new icons in the theme. I don't understand why it is failing on apply. It was running properly with only color change before doing this.
[email protected] said:
Can you help me? I tried changing package names in .json file and added new icons in the theme. I don't understand why it is failing on apply. It was running properly with only color change before doing this.
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Here is the apk.
I probably won't be able to get round to this until the weekend due to work commitments but will have a look and let you know.
strikerman10 said:
I probably won't be able to get round to this until the weekend due to work commitments but will have a look and let you know.
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Take your time, and thanks. ?
[email protected] said:
Take your time, and thanks. ?
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In case you haven't checked the apk I provided earlier, I have found and fixed some package name errors but the result is still same. It get stuck at 90% and then fails. I have changed icons too, is there anything needed to do in public.xml ? New apk is attached below.
strikerman10 said:
I probably won't be able to get round to this until the weekend due to work commitments but will have a look and let you know.
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Did you took a look at it?