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Customizing an app with icons of choice:
App considered in example: Settings.apk
Archive software: winrar
Image editor: GIMP Portable
Download and install software needed, if not already present:
An image editor that lets you work on images, a little advanced preferred so the transparency of icons is not lost. I used GIMP portable version since this won't create any registry entries and would be un-intrusive on my system.
Winrar to extract files from the app.
Copy the Settings.apk from /system/app folder to some temp folder, say /sdcard/temp using an app like Root Explorer
Connect the phone to computer and copy this app from temp folder to computer
Download and install winrar on computer
Note: I used winrar, you can use any archive manager of your choice as long as you can open the apk file with it
Open Settings.apk with winrar
Enter the folder "res"
You will find a few folders here. Copy the folder "drawable-hdpi" to desktop.
Open this folder and turn on image previews.
This folder contains the icons used in the app. Select the icons you want to update.
Creative part here: Search for icons that appeal to you, or you feel would appeal to public if you plan to release it public. Don't worry abt the size, but ensure they are atleast 96x96.
Sizes as per my preference:
App icon as seen in app drawer: 96x96
Internal icons in settings: 64x64
The (b) above may not always hold good. You could try with one size, and then try resizing to best fit the app you are working on.
Open the icon you downloaded in GIMP and resize it.
On toolbar: Image --> Scale Image --> Type in the width and height you want (pref in pixels to be accurate) and click "Scale"
Save the file.
Give this file the same name as the icon you want to replace.
Repeat steps 11 through 13 to resize all the icons you want to replace.
Please make sure the icon that is visible in app drawer is atleast 96x96.
Copy these new icons into the "drawable-hdpi" folder overwriting the existing files.
Open Settings.apk with winrar
Enter the folder "res"
Enter the folder "drawable-hdpi"
Drag and drop all the icons in our "drawable-hdpi" on desktop into this folder in winrar
Close winrar (it is auto saved).
Move the "drawable-hdpi" to recycle bin (do not delete it at this point)
Open Settings.apk again in winrar, and extract the "drawable-hdpi" folder to desktop.
Open this folder and make sure all the icons are present in it as per the updating you just did.
Move this file to phone to some location say /sdcard/temp
Open root explorer and move this file to /system/app
You might consider backing up the current Settings.apk file to Settings.bak before copying the new file there (it is always recommended to backup the existing app in case you wanted to revert)
Thats' it. You now have a new look settings app.
*** All standard 'messing with system outcomes' disclaimers apply ***
Word of caution. Non stock apps may not update correctly in the market after doing this.
whiteguypl said:
Word of caution. Non stock apps may not update correctly in the market after doing this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this could cause an issue 'cos all I am updating here are some images, not any XML or anything.
Edit: I haven't so far tried it on any apps I bought from market so far.
Great write up...
Thanks for doing this...It takes the mystery out of changing things around some.
Mac
I was actually looking into this and am very glad you put up a tutorial. Thanks a lot!
If you simply want to change the app icon on the homescreen as opposed to the app drawer, download Desktop VisualizeR. Great and simple app that allows you to pick and choose icons for different apps. Really fast to do if all you want is home screen and don't care about app drawer.
danrubi said:
I was actually looking into this and am very glad you put up a tutorial. Thanks a lot!
If you simply want to change the app icon on the homescreen as opposed to the app drawer, download Desktop VisualizeR. Great and simple app that allows you to pick and choose icons for different apps. Really fast to do if all you want is home screen and don't care about app drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea. Changing just the home screen icon can be done even through Launcher Pro shortcuts. This changes the icon whole. This way it gets changed with the new one in the drawer, and retains the new one even when u create a shortcut wherever u want.
nice write up diablo.
this will help people who might want to make a theme, or customize their phone or whatever, but have no idea where to start.
di11igaf said:
nice write up diablo.
this will help people who might want to make a theme, or customize their phone or whatever, but have no idea where to start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks dilli.
Did u like my settings app customizations? Would it be worth considering to put them into our green and blue themes?
Nice write up but for making only minor changes, such as with swapping out a few images, isn't it much easier and faster to just use ninjamorph?
newter55 said:
Nice write up but for making only minor changes, such as with swapping out a few images, isn't it much easier and faster to just use ninjamorph?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is assuming with no tools. Just the basic editors. And like I said, this is my first step, and I don't even know any tools.
im trying to install these signal bars.
ive tried following these steps but going into framework-res instead of apps for the signal bars, but when i went to paste the folder back into the framework-res / res folder it just made a copy outside of the framework-res and nothing has changed
bignate78 said:
ive tried following these steps but going into framework-res instead of apps for the signal bars, but when i went to paste the folder back into the framework-res / res folder it just made a copy outside of the framework-res and nothing has changed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open framework-res.apk in winrar. Browse to the folder u want within winrar. Drag and drop the files there.
If u can wait abt an hour, I can upload my version of customized 3.0 FF ROM. Incidentally I have customized a couple icons in framework-res.apk, and happen to include the same signal icons. U could use my framework apk if u wanted to.
Will this change anything on my phone besides the signal bars?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
bignate78 said:
Will this change anything on my phone besides the signal bars?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Only a few more icons here n there like changing some icons to green that were initially with no color. Changed the sync icon. Rest all the same.
Unrar the file and u will get an apk file. Copy this into /system/framework folder on ur phone using an app like root explorer, and reboot immediately (ignore any FCs).
Cause I dnt want to change what's done to my phone besides the signal bars.
And thanks a ton for the help!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
bignate78 said:
Cause I dnt want to change what's done to my phone besides the signal bars.
And thanks a ton for the help!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can extract the files from the apk and compare the images between existing and this one. Hardly any changes.
Let me recall:
1. Sync icons
2. Wifi icons
3. Some icons color changed to green, and some error icons to orange (these were colorless earlier)
diablo009 said:
U can extract the files from the apk and compare the images between existing and this one. Hardly any changes.
Let me recall:
1. Sync icons
2. Wifi icons
3. Some icons color changed to green, and some error icons to orange (these were colorless earlier)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok cool let me look at them and if i like them could you possably change the colors?
bignate78 said:
ok cool let me look at them and if i like them could you possably change the colors?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
10char
diablo009 said:
10char
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there anyway i can send my framework and have you change the bars and basically change what would be green in yours to blue in mine?
Hi all,
I'm new to themes and am trying to figure out where the various 4G connection icons are located so I can change them from green to white.
Running the GreybreadX theme, which is great, but the 4G icon is still green.
I was able to locate the 3-bar and disconnected icons within framework-res.apk but not sure where to look for the 2-bar and 1-bar icons.
Any suggestions on where to check?
You should find them in /system/app/SystemUI.apk
inside there: SystemUI.apk/res/drawable-hdpi/
Then look for pngs beginning with stat_sys_data_wimax
..all sorts of notification bar (etc) goodies in there. If you're decompiling and/or modding xml/smali though, I'd read up on it first within these forums.
Ok so I finally got around to editing the 4G icons to be white/grey instead of green/grey, removed the originals from SystemUI.apk and placed mine in there, and placed the edited SystemUI.apk in /system/app/ (made backups of everything).
Rebooted and I still have green/grey 4G icons... what am I missing here?
Edited png files attached.
I don't have it in front of me, but check the framework-res.apk in the drawable hdpi folder. There are a couple sets of 4G icons- once its activated, and then to display your signal.
Also, btw, i usually just drag the edited icons over into the apk (in 7zip) and make sure it asks to replace the files... just to make sure the file names are the same.
. . NS4G . . CM7 . .
Ended up going back to the stock systemui.apk and using Ninjamorph to overwrite the original images. Worked perfectly!
https://market.android.com/details?id=stericson.ninjamorph.free
Hello all! I have been making some UI changes to the stock Mms.apk app on my Nexus S. Nothing huge, just a few tweaks. I have been trying to figure out how or where to remove the left and right margins on messages in the message list. I would like each message to span the width of the entire screen. I have decompiled the the apk and I'm not sure where this can be edited. I am using APK Manager 4.9. I have looked in every file that references "MessageListItem" in its title.
Any ideas? Please and thank you!
See the attached image for what margins I am talking about. The margins are highlighted in red.
pixelswim said:
Hello all! I have been making some UI changes to the stock Mms.apk app on my Nexus S. Nothing huge, just a few tweaks. I have been trying to figure out how or where to remove the left and right margins on messages in the message list. I would like each message to span the width of the entire screen. I have decompiled the the apk and I'm not sure where this can be edited. I am using APK Manager 4.9. I have looked in every file that references "MessageListItem" in its title.
Any ideas? Please and thank you!
See the attached image for what margins I am talking about. The margins are highlighted in red.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that include all the xmls that have list in the title?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
ZiggSVO said:
Does that include all the xmls that have list in the title?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for responding Zigg. Yes, I have opened all xml files with list in the title. I have edited several of the layout xml files including "message_list_item.xml" in the layout folder, which I feel might be related somehow to those margins.
But, when I edit any file in the /res/layout folder and I compile the apk again it results in a force close on whatever screen that layout xml applies to. So, I make any change to the "message_list_item.xml" file and it will force close when I try to enter the message list but not on the main conversation thread screen.
I don't know either if these margins can be altered by way of a theme and, if so, how to add that style.
Thanks for any feedback you may have!
pixelswim said:
Thanks for responding Zigg. Yes, I have opened all xml files with list in the title. I have edited several of the layout xml files including "message_list_item.xml" in the layout folder, which I feel might be related somehow to those margins.
But, when I edit any file in the /res/layout folder and I compile the apk again it results in a force close on whatever screen that layout xml applies to. So, I make any change to the "message_list_item.xml" file and it will force close when I try to enter the message list but not on the main conversation thread screen.
I don't know either if these margins can be altered by way of a theme and, if so, how to add that style.
Thanks for any feedback you may have!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you signing the apk after recompiling it?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
ZiggSVO said:
Are you signing the apk after recompiling it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to successfully edit the layout XML files, compile the apk and the Mms.apk app is working and being pushed to the system/app folder just fine.
My issue now is I don't know where those margins are being declared or set in the layout or XML files. I don't know if there is a parent element creating them. I have been pouring over the files and maybe it might be somewhere in "compose_message_activity.xml" but I'm not sure.
Thanks again for your help!
Got it!
Thanks for your help Zigg.
I believe that I have figured it out. In "compose_message_activity.xml" there is a view tag referencing MessageListView where I edited the scrollbar properties that were adding space and I also set some negative margins all around.
Hi guys,
This is a very early release of my new tool "SystemUI Editor". It basically lets you edit the images inside a SystemUI.apk package to allow skinning the status bar etc for tablets.
This release is far from finished, but is functional.
Download from filetrip.net/f26366-SystemUI-Editor-0-1.html
(I can't post links yet).
Current Features
Expect many more features as I add to the known files list.
Edit the navigation status bar buttons (back, home, menu, tasks etc).
Change the clock font. (Not updating, needs testing)
Edit a few other images (just added for testing at present).
Customisable Files.xml list so you can add files manually that I have yet to add.
Guide
Copy your SystemUI.apk from your /system/app directory to somewhere local.
Open it in SystemUI Editor.
Choose an item from the tree view and alter as necessary.
Save the SystemUI file.
Copy it back into /system/app.
The UI will crash, so just manually reboot the table (hold power down for 5 seconds or so until it turns off, then turn it back on).
Enjoy
Notes
This is currently a windows program. When it is further in development I will create a Mac OS X version if there is enough demand.
You need root to be able to replace the SystemUI file.
I intend, in the near future, to finish the files list and add previews. Any other ideas are encouraged.
I've mainly released this program so early to test out any problems on different tablets, develop the Files.XML file and get any feedback / ideas on further development.
If anyone would like to help me finish the Files.xml file, that would be a massive help, as I can get on with adding new features instead.
This looks like a really cool tool, going to give it a shot when I've got some more time.
Very good tool I recommend.
Great tool. I think that it would be nice to be able to edit framework-res.apk too. Just for full theming, as battery icons are still in framework.
Good idea. I'm heavily developing this right now, and I decided to expand outside of only editing the SystemUI file.
I'll hopefully get an update out in the next few days.
@StormwaveUK, is this just used for tablets or I can use it for fones? Anyway, great tool
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App
This looks good - anxious to try editing the stock 4g icons out of CM7 themes where they are untouched.
Thanks.
Subscribed, looking forward to trying this out.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Why for Mac? Can you make Linux version?
Sent from my IDEOS S7 Slim using XDA App
da900 said:
Great tool. I think that it would be nice to be able to edit framework-res.apk too. Just for full theming, as battery icons are still in framework.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on this. I'm anxious to take a look at this.
Sounds cool.. bump
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
Did anyone get this to work? I keep getting an "unhandled exception" error whenever I try to open up a systemUI image in the editor.
HanSolo607 said:
Did anyone get this to work? I keep getting an "unhandled exception" error whenever I try to open up a systemUI image in the editor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, same here. The problem is kind of easy to fix, though. In files.xml, you can specify the image mapping. It seems that everything is hardcoded for a specific device.
Most phones with large screens don't have "drawable-mdpi" but "drawable-hdpi" for example. And the same may apply to image names.
After installing a theme where are the files save.. where does it pull from? Like normally my phone would pull the circle mod battery from drawable-xhdpi under systemUI.. where is everything after installing the theme... reason being I want to cherry pick things from the theme and make them default... thanks
AnaRchy & ChAos
SGH-i747
Source Code
May i ask for the source code VB, ?
i'll try to modify more..
Anyone knows where are the png files of these icon stored??
Sent from Nowhere....
Probably in framework-res.apk
Sent from note, a phone like never before
I searched inside both framework-res.apk and systemui.apk but I still couldn't find the icon...
Sent from Nowhere....
They are probably in SystemUI.apk. System UI has the "recent apps" activity.
Haven't tried though.