Related
Just wondering if there's something I can do to simply make all my apps and/or widgets black and white?
Or I suppose if someone can lead me to a tutorial on how I can just do it myself? I can just throw them all in Photoshop and greyscale em, if someone could just point me in the right direction
adb pull each app/widget that you would like to theme. Extract the apk using 7zip, winrar, or whatever you use. I prefer 7zip because I think you have to change the file extension with winrar, and there's no point in using extra steps to achieve the same thing. Anyways, after you extract the apk, navigate to the res folder. You'll then see folders that say drawable, drawable-mdpi, or something like that. In those folders are the .png images that you can edit using photoshop. Save them with the same name in the same directory that you got in from. Now, go back to the .apk file you pulled from your phone. Open the archive (DON'T EXTRACT). Navigate to the res/drawable folders within the archive and drag and drop the edited images into the archive. Now (still in the archive) back up to META-INF folder and delete everything in there. Now, close the archive and sign the .apk. Now, you can push it back to your phone.
Or you could get better cut or adw from the market and download icon packs that meet your monochromatic needs. Seems easier than the above.
YoungSinema said:
adb pull each app/widget that you would like to theme. Extract the apk using 7zip, winrar, or whatever you use. I prefer 7zip because I think you have to change the file extension with winrar, and there's no point in using extra steps to achieve the same thing. Anyways, after you extract the apk, navigate to the res folder. You'll then see folders that say drawable, drawable-mdpi, or something like that. In those folders are the .png images that you can edit using photoshop. Save them with the same name in the same directory that you got in from. Now, go back to the .apk file you pulled from your phone. Open the archive (DON'T EXTRACT). Navigate to the res/drawable folders within the archive and drag and drop the edited images into the archive. Now (still in the archive) back up to META-INF folder and delete everything in there. Now, close the archive and sign the .apk. Now, you can push it back to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no need to ever rename any archive with winrar just goto "open with" and choose winrar and then check the box to associate winrar with apks you can do this with jars also.
Check black mod them in apps and themes I think you'll be satisfied with that.
YoungSinema said:
adb pull each app/widget that you would like to theme. Extract the apk using 7zip, winrar, or whatever you use. I prefer 7zip because I think you have to change the file extension with winrar, and there's no point in using extra steps to achieve the same thing. Anyways, after you extract the apk, navigate to the res folder. You'll then see folders that say drawable, drawable-mdpi, or something like that. In those folders are the .png images that you can edit using photoshop. Save them with the same name in the same directory that you got in from. Now, go back to the .apk file you pulled from your phone. Open the archive (DON'T EXTRACT). Navigate to the res/drawable folders within the archive and drag and drop the edited images into the archive. Now (still in the archive) back up to META-INF folder and delete everything in there. Now, close the archive and sign the .apk. Now, you can push it back to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You failed to mention that modifying the 9.pngs will have to be 9patched or else they will get distorted. But an easier thing to do is look in the themes section and find a theme or use an alternate Home launcher and use themes for those found in the market.
A lot of what u want to do is XML edits. U can always change icon colors. 7zip is a must use cause winrar is crap and to many steps.
unCoRrUpTeD said:
You failed to mention that modifying the 9.pngs will have to be 9patched or else they will get distorted. But an easier thing to do is look in the themes section and find a theme or use an alternate Home launcher and use themes for those found in the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah. Thanks. I recently read that we can edit 9.pngs using photoshop if a 1px border is added to the image. Is that true? If so, it'll be easier for me that eclipse.
Hello,
little background. i know my way around ROM installation (changing Kernels,modems, installing themes etc.) and read about how to use apk manager.
one of the things i still can't figure out, and seems to me like the next step is modifiyng themes.
i am currently using Perception 10.2, with stock theme. i really like the paragon basic theme + few more icons and items from phoneix and other themes.
i wend ahead and decompiled framework-res.apk from all the themes, and tried to copy over the images from the paragon drawable-hdpi folder to the same folder in Perception.
importent note, i know that there might be an issue with editing a .9.png file, but i assumed copying over a file that works in another rom is acceptable.
hope some of you are still with me.. here is the catch... tried to Compile the apk... and errors...
here is a parital log:
--------
|Sat 01/22/2011 -- 17:23:37.28|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
java version "1.6.0_22"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_22-b04)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 17.1-b03, mixed mode, sharing)
'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
W: Could not find sources
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
libpng error: Read Error
ERROR: Failure processing PNG image Z:\F\kombinator work\android hack and hebrew\Developer\Tools\apk_manager_4.9\other\..\projects\framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\btn_zoom_down_disabled.9.png
libpng error: Read Error
ERROR: Failure processing PNG image Z:\F\kombinator work\android hack and hebrew\Developer\Tools\apk_manager_4.9\other\..\projects\framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\btn_zoom_down_disabled_focused.9.png
libpng error: Read Error
ERROR: Failure processing PNG image Z:\F\kombinator work\android hack and hebrew\Developer\Tools\apk_manager_4.9\other\..\projects\framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\btn_zoom_down_normal.9.png
libpng error: Read Error
ERROR: Failure processing PNG image Z:\F\kombinator work\android hack and hebrew\Developer\Tools\apk_manager_4.9\other\..\projects\framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\btn_zoom_down_pressed.9.png
libpng error: Read Error
ERROR: Failure processing PNG image Z:\F\kombinator work\android hack and hebrew\Developer\Tools\apk_manager_4.9\other\..\projects\framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\btn_zoom_down_selected.9.png
libpng error: Read Error
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
different error:
Z:\F\kombinator work\android hack and hebrew\Developer\Tools\apk_manager_4.9\other\..\projects\framework-res.apk\res\values\public.xml:3756: error: Public symbol drawable/zzzzz_tw_quickcontact_slider_grip_left declared here is not defined.
Z:\F\kombinator work\android hack and hebrew\Developer\Tools\apk_manager_4.9\other\..\projects\framework-res.apk\res\values\public.xml:3757: error: Public symbol drawable/zzzzz_tw_quickcontact_slider_grip_right declared here is not defined.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hope someone can make sense out of this... i thought it would be a simple proccess, hope i did something wrong and it will be an easy fix...
Thank you so much for reading this far, your help will be appreciated!
Yossi
The problem you're having is with semi-transparent .9 files. The Android SDK png handler can't decompile them, so when you look at them in explorer they'll have a default image meaning they're corrupt.
The easiest way to deal with them is to not decompile and recompile.
PNG Only: With apk manager, take the original framework files from the ROM (or phone if stock) and drop them into place-apk-here-for-modding, then take the themed frameworks, rename them (something like framework-resParagon.apk) and drop those into place-apk-here-for-modding.
Select each one and extract (not decompile).
Open the drawable-hdpi folders side-by-side of the original and the theme, and drag (Copy) the ones you want to the original.
Then Zip the original and select System APK, and you're done. The reason this work is because the .9 files are still in their compiled state.
If you need to copy xml files, do this first, then the first step for png files: Decompile the two, copy the XML files, and recompile. Compiled XML files convert the png names to IDs which may be different between two roms. If you already have .9.png files that don't decompile, here's the fun part and I guess I'm doing all of this out of order, sorry...
Have an orginal apk decompiled with a different name, extract your modded apk, drag the drawable-hdpi out to say desktop, delete that project, decompile, drag the original decompiled drawable-hdpi into your modded one, and now you can edit/copy XML files and recompile. Then delete the project, extract, delete drawable-hdpi and drag the desktop drawable-hdpi to the project and zip it up. Done.
Or quick version.. 7zip helps.
right click the apk you want the images from, extract it.
right click open archive the apk you want the images in.
navage down to the folder that the images are stored in while in 7zip.
go back to the extracted folder and navagate down to the folder the images you want are in.
drag and drop them into the open archive 7zip window.
close archive
push
whiteguypl said:
Or quick version.. 7zip helps.
right click the apk you want the images from, extract it.
right click open archive the apk you want the images in.
navage down to the folder that the images are stored in while in 7zip.
go back to the extracted folder and navagate down to the folder the images you want are in.
drag and drop them into the open archive 7zip window.
close archive
push
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CuriousTech said:
The problem you're having is with semi-transparent .9 files. The Android SDK png handler can't decompile them, so when you look at them in explorer they'll have a default image meaning they're corrupt.
The easiest way to deal with them is to not decompile and recompile.
PNG Only: With apk manager, take the original framework files from the ROM (or phone if stock) and drop them into place-apk-here-for-modding, then take the themed frameworks, rename them (something like framework-resParagon.apk) and drop those into place-apk-here-for-modding.
Select each one and extract (not decompile).
Open the drawable-hdpi folders side-by-side of the original and the theme, and drag (Copy) the ones you want to the original.
Then Zip the original and select System APK, and you're done. The reason this work is because the .9 files are still in their compiled state.
If you need to copy xml files, do this first, then the first step for png files: Decompile the two, copy the XML files, and recompile. Compiled XML files convert the png names to IDs which may be different between two roms. If you already have .9.png files that don't decompile, here's the fun part and I guess I'm doing all of this out of order, sorry...
Have an orginal apk decompiled with a different name, extract your modded apk, drag the drawable-hdpi out to say desktop, delete that project, decompile, drag the original decompiled drawable-hdpi into your modded one, and now you can edit/copy XML files and recompile. Then delete the project, extract, delete drawable-hdpi and drag the desktop drawable-hdpi to the project and zip it up. Done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks guys! i knew there should be a simple solution!
will try this soon. and post results!
Yossi
Also make sure to double check the sizes, the height and width my be different and give you issues if you copy and past the pngs
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
Also with 2.2.1 there's a problem with compressed apk files, so in apk manager, you need to set compression to 0. It's not a problem when dropping them into an apk with 7zip.
Different sized png files are usually the expanded notification bar switches. The darkness theme for example uses smaller ones. The size change is in twframework-res.apk/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml so those should be copied together (decompiled).
Another way to customize just 1 or a few .xml or .9.png files is to decompile the original, edit the xml or .9.png (with your modified one in mind), then compile. Then rip the compiled files from it and drop them into the themed one, assuming you already used the original the first time.
CuriousTech said:
Also with 2.2.1 there's a problem with compressed apk files, so in apk manager, you need to set compression to 0. It's not a problem when dropping them into an apk with 7zip.
Different sized png files are usually the expanded notification bar switches. The darkness theme for example uses smaller ones. The size change is in twframework-res.apk/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml so those should be copied together (decompiled).
Another way to customize just 1 or a few .xml or .9.png files is to decompile the original, edit the xml or .9.png (with your modified one in mind), then compile. Then rip the compiled files from it and drop them into the themed one, assuming you already used the original the first time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so, double - checking that i understood...
method1: replacing images (same size) using copmpiled source and destination.
if i want to copy iver png's from one theme to another, i only decompress (or 7ZIP - open) the apk's - Replace the pics, and compress bacl (with compression set to 0).
method 2 : replacing images of different sizes
if the images are of different sizes, i should decompile both apk's, than i should copy the corrosponding XML from the new image's source, and drop in the original drawable directory, compile the apk, than copy over the image using method 1.
am i correct?
Thank you all for your help!!!
Yossi
In method 1, don't decompress it when using 7zip (or any other), just open the apk, drop the files in where they go, leaving the apk (zip) intact. If you extract the full apk, modify the files, and compress it back to a new apk it will lose the signature. That's what apk manager does when you zip it and select "system APK". It copies the signature from the original to the new one. Think of it like a zip comment. It's not a file, but a chunk of data attached to the zip that can't be copied from one zip to another.
Method 2: Too complicated. Just use method 1 to do as much as you can.
Whoever put the theme together originally did it incorrectly/lazily.
If you want to spend the time fixing it, then you need to decompile the same version of the .apk (the Samsung stock version, for example) and copypasta the themed one on top of it, while keeping the 1 pixel border.
One more question...or maybe two
when i decompile a framework-res.apk, i only get one drawable-hdpi folder.
if i open the apk using 7zip...i have a 2 folders: one is the same... and and another one that have this name: drawable-hdpi-v4
i replaced all the items i wanted in the drawable-hdpi folder..uploaded to the phone...and nothing happend... than i tried copying over some items to the drawable-hdpi-v4 foder..than i saw the changes.... the question is... do i have to copy the files to both follders? or just the drawable-hdpi-v4 folder?
another question tha poped into my mind right now, is it common that after i replace the framework-res.apk, my accounts data gets erased? (gmail account, facebook, etc)?
Thanks!
Yossi
Get the apktool in this thread and rename your old one just in case:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=864424&page=5
Oh, read the thread too. Good info!
The -v4 folders are higher resolution, or supposed to be. They take priority over the others, so if the image is only in drawable-hdpi it will be used, if it's in both the -v4 is used, or if it's only in -v4 it's used. I just leave the non-v4 alone, but it might save space to empty it, just scared to try.
You shouldn't lose account data though. That might indicate a problem. Not sure?
MikeyMike01 said:
Whoever put the theme together originally did it incorrectly/lazily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the theme makers are to blame. Try decompiling a stock apk, then set the opacity of any .9.png to anything but 100%, draw9patch it again, then compile, then decompile and try to view that png. It's going to be damaged.
Well, it's actually easier to photoshop a compiled one, then remove the .9 and drop in draw9patch but you know what I mean.
I just don't think apktool can handle the extra info in a png.
Hi guys,
im currently using netdrg`s sense theme http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1048792
Now i changed all the green elements of the framework-res.apk to blue. Ive done everything so far, but i have no clue how to edit the color of the progress bar. (the bar when u change the volume, download something and so on...)
Ive heard that u have to edit an xml file, but as i have no clue about editing these files, i want to ask for a little favour.
Ive attached the xml file, and the color which i will use is 1761ab (hex).
So ill thank the guy who will do this for me a thousand times and i can share the theme with you afterwards!
lg l
In order to edit this xml file you need to decompile framework-res.apk. You can use apk_manager. Once the framework has been decompiled you can easily change the hex color for the progress bar (remember that the first 2 digit are for alpha channel). After that you need to recompile the framework. Actually there is another way to do that, but it‘s a bit triky as you need to modify the xmls file by using an hex editor..
If you want i can modify and compile the xml attached for you! Let me know m8
hey, thanks for your answer.
I put the framework-res.apk in the "place here for modding" folder, opened the script and hit 9 to decompile.
Then i edited all the values in the xml file in the "projects" folder and saved it.
Now i compile it, delete the file i edited in the "keep" folder and that other file mentioned.
Now i tried to apply the compiled framework_res.apk back to the system which results in a bootloop, what am i doin wrong?
soulcrash said:
hey, thanks for your answer.
I put the framework-res.apk in the "place here for modding" folder, opened the script and hit 9 to decompile.
Then i edited all the values in the xml file in the "projects" folder and saved it.
Now i compile it, delete the file i edited in the "keep" folder and that other file mentioned.
Now i tried to apply the compiled framework_res.apk back to the system which results in a bootloop, what am i doin wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, you are getting close to the solution
Once you got the unsignedframework.zip inside the place-apk-here-for-modding folder, you have to do a little trick in order to get it working...
Unzip all the content of the "unsignedframework-res.apk". You should have 5 objects (3 folders, 2 files).
Zip these files with Winrar/Winzip (whatever) but you must choose "No compression (store)" method to zip it.
Rename this zip into "framework-res.apk".
Put it into an update.zip and it should be OK to flash trough the recovery mode.
keep me updated
So I've been asking for help from all the great LS-Themers on XDA with little things like changing the music controls to notifications to resolution, etc.
I've been wanting to do the edits myself, but XML editing seemed a little hard.
Anyway, I tried today and correct me if I'm wrong, but, when you want to edit the XML of a LS, you change the mtz file to zip. Unzip it and you should be presented with the files in that lockscreen, pngs, etc.
I unzipped my current LS, 'iDroid.' I got none of that.
I'm attaching the screenshot of what shows when I unzip it.
In the 'description' XML file, I don't get a huge XML code..I get this;
Code:
This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.
<MIUI-Theme><title>iDroid Slide2Unlock</title><author>thefsfempire</author><version>1.0</version><uiVersion>1</uiVersion></MIUI-Theme>
I've opened it with the XML Editor that's on my computer. Microsoft Word and Firefox. They all show that ^
And then there's that 'lockscreen' file. That's just...a file. I can't do anything with it.
There are no folders that show the pngs and stuff.
What am I doing wrong? D: I want to start editing little things on my own, instead of asking everyone all the time.
God! said:
So I've been asking for help from all the great LS-Themers on XDA with little things like changing the music controls to notifications to resolution, etc.
I've been wanting to do the edits myself, but XML editing seemed a little hard.
Anyway, I tried today and correct me if I'm wrong, but, when you want to edit the XML of a LS, you change the mtz file to zip. Unzip it and you should be presented with the files in that lockscreen, pngs, etc.
I unzipped my current LS, 'iDroid.' I got none of that.
I'm attaching the screenshot of what shows when I unzip it.
In the 'description' XML file, I don't get a huge XML code..I get this;
Code:
This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.
<MIUI-Theme><title>iDroid Slide2Unlock</title><author>thefsfempire</author><version>1.0</version><uiVersion>1</uiVersion></MIUI-Theme>
I've opened it with the XML Editor that's on my computer. Microsoft Word and Firefox. They all show that ^
And then there's that 'lockscreen' file. That's just...a file. I can't do anything with it.
There are no folders that show the pngs and stuff.
What am I doing wrong? D: I want to start editing little things on my own, instead of asking everyone all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add .zip to the end of the lock screen that just says 'file' and extract
wez89 said:
Add .zip to the end of the lock screen that just says 'file' and extract
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oooh ok. I got it. Thanks. I didn't know you had to change that to zip too.
Okay, so now that I got the editor and I can start changing little things.
In order for this to take effect, I need to save it over the original file as XML.
What about this 'manifest.xml.bak' file? Should I do anything with that, or leave it alone?
Once I've done the edits and save. I need to rezip the advanced folder it's in with 'themes value' that was unzipped with it, then how do I rename it back to just a 'file' type?
God! said:
Oooh ok. I got it. Thanks. I didn't know you had to change that to zip too.
Okay, so now that I got the editor and I can start changing little things.
In order for this to take effect, I need to save it over the original file as XML.
What about this 'manifest.xml.bak' file? Should I do anything with that, or leave it alone?
Once I've done the edits and save. I need to rezip the advanced folder it's in with 'themes value' that was unzipped with it, then how do I rename it back to just a 'file' type?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need the manifest.xml.bak you can delete that if you want
To zip it back up you need winrar
You need to have everything in the right folders, so you need your advance folder with your manifest in there, and you need the theme_value..
You have to add those 2, to archive by selecting them and right clicking
Then with the winrar pop up you need to make sure 'store' is selected under compression or method, not at a computer/laptop so not 100% which it is and also make sure zip is selected not rar
Finally remove zip extension from the file and zip the whole lock screen back
EDIT: NVM I GOT IT. YAY. Haha. I can now do little things by myself on future lockscreens.
Now, the next thing I need to learn how to do is changing battery charging status and pngs.
you can use the "old format":
that is
your_theme
|__description.xml
|__preview (optional)
|__lockscreen (it is a folder)
......|__advanced (it is a folder too, coming from lockscreen)
..............|__all lockscreen stuff (as files)
......|__theme_values.xml (in lockscreen)
you ahve to zip in the contents of "your_theme" and name it mtz. then copy to phone and phone asks if you want to convert to new format. chooese yes and done
God! said:
Alright, I added the Advanced folder and themes value file to winrar.
Selected Zip and "Store" under the compression menu. Then ok.
Well it saved it as a zip as 'lockscreen' but there's no way to change it back to just the 'file' type it was.
I tried zipping THAT zip with the rest of the files into a zip, then renaming it to mtz and applying it on my phone, but it just ended up being the default lock.
I must be doing something wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you have zipped it up using the store and zip options, and are left with lock screen.zip.. Open the zip with winrar, don't extract just open, when winrar opens with the files go back a step so you can see the lock screen.zip rather than its files and just delete the zip extension that way and close winrar
---------- Post added at 12:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 AM ----------
picard666 said:
you can use the "old format":
that is
your_theme
|__description.xml
|__preview (optional)
|__lockscreen (it is a folder)
......|__advanced (it is a folder too, coming from lockscreen)
..............|__all lockscreen stuff (as files)
......|__theme_values.xml (in lockscreen)
you ahve to zip in the contents of "your_theme" and name it mtz. then copy to phone and phone asks if you want to convert to new format. chooese yes and done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This method is by far easy and quicker in my honest opinion
Alrighty then.
Now onto my next issue.
How hard would it be to take away the charging battery/status off this lockscreen and replace it with this kind of battery charging status?
As you can see, the default iPhone charging covers up the music controls and notifications when they come in. I want just the simple glowing bar above the unlocker like the other one.
if you have both manifests then you can swap in the battery section to the ls you want (look for "battery")
you have to copy the appropiate images to your ls and might have to change coordinates
Thanks Picard. That wasn't as hard as I thought.
I deleted all the battery images from the first one and put in the ones from the second.
Deleted the battery section in the XML and replaced it with the other.
Changed the coordinates and ****ing bam! I did it!
Edit; Fixed my coordinate mistake.
I like this MiLocker Lockscreen , but its in chinese.
What i did is here
1) I copied .mtz file from sd card to computer , renamed it to .zip and extract all
2) chaged lockscreen to lockscreen.zip and extract all
3) change all .png files of chinese date to english date (created all dates, times, days on png and replaced, with same name and sizes)
4) rezipped lockscreen.zip and delete .zip
5) rezip it (main file ) and change .zip to .mtz
6) place it to miui on sd card
and now when i open milocker app, it says there is some error on sd card and its modifying and take me to homescreen !
How do i make it work
Please help me !
Try not to rename or change the extension files (mtz, zip) : try to make it with 7zip, easier to work on drag and drop with the png and the manifest.xml u have to edit.
tlkh and picard666 helped me on the same case, here. Give a look to both manfests of each mtz, before and after the translation, it should help. I'll give a look to yours.
EDIT : can you add the original mtz pls ?
21vm said:
Try not to rename or change the extension files (mtz, zip) : try to make it with 7zip, easier to work on drag and drop with the png and the manifest.xml u have to edit.
tlkh and picard666 helped me on the same case, here. Give a look to both manfests of each mtz, before and after the translation, it should help. I'll give a look to yours.
EDIT : can you add the original mtz pls ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
I have never done this before
I will give a try .
Here is original mtz file.
Thanks again
I tried to unzip via 7zip but it gave me error and didnt move more than 3% , now what?
hi, from what i know you right click the file and click "Extract All..."
I also tried editing this lockscreen but to no avail.