First off, I would like to say, I know nothing about themeing Android, which is why I'm posting this.
My basic knowledge is: framework.apk in /sys is where the theming is kept. I know how to pull it from my phone, but do not know how to edit/open a .apk once its on my computer. Thats it. Thats all I know when it comes to theming. I don't know how to use the SDK or command prompts(I use root explorer) or what the individual files are in the apk are.
What I do know is graphic design, which makes me want to get into this.
What I'm trying to do is take part of a theme I like and port it to a different ROM, with my own added touches. I contacted the original developer, but since he doesn't have the phone I have(Droid A855), he has no experience on how to port it himself. In fact I was able to port his theme over from a CM ROM to Bugless v0.5 using a program I found online. However I'm unable to port the theme to Bugless v0.6. I assume this because v0.6 has bits of Gingerbread in it, and things aren't lining up.
More specifically, I'm looking to do the following:
-Take a theme that works on Bugless V0.5 and get it to work on Bugless V0.6
-I'd be happy with just porting the status bar and all the icons that come with the status bar(Wifi, battery, downloading, downloading complete, sms etc...) and the notification menu with the ability for me to change a few of the icons.
-And theming the keyboard
I understand that this may be or may not be a lot of work for someone to tell me how to do this, due my 0 knowledge of anything like this.
Thanks in advance.
Dude just a search for theme Porter, there's a couple of them and there's a sticky at the top of the forum how to theme.
My sig has links that could be useful to you also.
Hope this helps.
dully79 said:
Dude just a search for theme Porter, there's a couple of them and there's a sticky at the top of the forum how to theme.
My sig has links that could be useful to you also.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read my post, you would see that a theme porter doesn't work.
Besides I'm looking more into how to do it for future reference too, the sticky at the top is lacking.
As I say there's a few theme porters, 1 may work better than another unless you've already tried them all.
Basically youll have to use apktool/manager to decompile the apk, swap out your desired images, and recompile. You may also have to edit the xml's inside the decompiled apk to change colours. The sticky can point you in the right direction to the xml's to edit.
Just be aware of. 9png images as they can create head f#$k.
Everything you need to know is already posted its just a case of finding it.
To put the new apk on your phone you can use adb or create an update zip, there's threads for these hanging about too.
Sorry I can't link but I'm sending this from my phone, hope this sheds a little light on the subject.
Related
I searched the forum to see if someone had done this and couldn't find it. I back ported the weather widget from 2.0 in case anyone is interested (works fine on donuts). This is the beginning of my development work. Hope this helps!
Please just take the .zip file and rename it to .apk
copy to your sdcard and install with any file explorer or
connect your device to your pc with development enabled
type "adb install MotAccuWeatherWidget.apk"
Red
G1 with latest Cyan
Thank you to this site and all the developers for their inspiration and hard work.
This has been around for a while...
Good work, though. Kudos and thanks for the effort.
Oh, sorry. I guess I'll probably get flamed by like 30 ppl now. lol. I guess I will try my hand at the Dock applications, unless that has been done too?
Red
redd12345 said:
Oh, sorry. I guess I'll probably get flamed by like 30 ppl now. lol. I guess I will try my hand at the Dock applications, unless that has been done too?
Red
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If anyone flames you, they're stupid. You did good work, even if it was in vain. Car Dock has been ported to Donut, though I don't think the little nightstand Dock from Droid is running on anything prior to 2.0... Not sure, though, as it doesn't interest me all that much.
thanks for the encouragement. is there a list of things that show what needs to be back ported or which ones have already been? I want to contribute.
Red.
redd12345 said:
thanks for the encouragement. is there a list of things that show what needs to be back ported or which ones have already been? I want to contribute.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to my knowledge. It might not be a bad idea for one of the leading devs to start a thread here on things we want from new phones to run on our phones, and check them off as they are accomplished. 75% of the list would be from the Nexus One, at the moment. You really want to help? See what you can do to get Launcher2 from the Nexus working on Dream... Just changing the build.prop doesn't work, so we'll have to fix errors one by one. Hope you're better at coding than I.
There is also more info in the Dream app section, where these apps are usually released...good work, keep it up!
Hi, there's a version that does not work with 1.6 (only 2.X). Which version is?
BR.
I'm not sure. I pulled this weather widget from Eugene373's AOSP Rom port and hex edited the AndroidManifest.xml to make the MinSDK 3 instead of 5. I can't tell you much more than that. I hope this helps you.
Red.
Give this widget a shot and see if it's the one you are looking for. At least one person might make use of it. haha
Red
yukkio said:
Hi, there's a version that does not work with 1.6 (only 2.X). Which version is?
BR.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, does anyone know if this will work on 1.6? Cyanogen MOD ROM?
It will work on any 1.6 rom. I am running Cyanogen's 11.1 (most recent.) This widget typically works on most people's "custom roms" as long as the 1.6 base is the same, it's just that there is a MinSDK value that prohibits users on a lower SDK from using the application. I dropped that value to 3, so I think that it should also work on hero roms (1.5 cupcake base) if someone likes the graphics on this widget better than the weather app that is included. Hope this helps.
Red.
Ps. I am going to be trying my hand at creating themes instead. My only experience with programming was C++, Pascal, and Visual Basic and that was close to 8 years ago! lol. I'm a little outdated as far as Java goes.
I'm really looking forward to using Stericson's Metamorph. It is such a great effort for theme development.
i sure could use it im new to xda im non root for now, but i would like to make a few nice add ons to my mt3g till i get the guts to root. is thr some good stuff here for a non root like me
Awesome job. I appreciate the work.
Odd question though, what do you do in the process of back porting? I'd love to learn..
Nice Widget, thanks. I was using weathereye before. I like this one better.
Thanks. In the case of this widget, it was ok to backport it because it doesn't call on any other functions that are proprietary to a specific rom (ie. Happenings widget from Blur calls tons of other functions in the home.Blur). There are a few places online when you look up backporting (I'll try to remember to post the links for people.)
You want to start by unziping the aplication you want to backport. Just rename it to a .zip file.
When you look in the file, you will see AndroidManifest.xml. This file has been compiled out as a binary file so you can't read it like a normal .xml file. You want to then download AxmlPrinter2.jar and run that to change the AndroidManifest.xml to AndroidManifest.txt by typing "Java -jar AmxlPrinter2.jar AndroidManifest.xml > AndroidManifest.txt"
The hard part is to find the byte offset in the AndroidManifest where it says the MinSDK value is. The MinSDK value needs to drop from 6 or 7 down to "2" so that you can use the widget on Cupcake or higher. There is a program online and I will post the link when I get home that you use with Eclipse to find the byte offset and then you have to use a Hex editor to change the value in the original .xml file.
Once you use the hex editor and save your changes, you zip up all the files and use the apkbuilder.exe that is in the sdk tools directory by typing "apkbuilder application_name.apk -z application_name.zip"
that will make an apk from a zip file and then you right-click and resign the apk file. From there, you just copy it to your sd card and you know the rest.
It is a pretty dirty and painful approach to porting an app. That is why I am more interested in working on themes. You can just unzip the apk's you want to use and edit the /res directory and then rebuild the app and sign it. Photoshop works great for it.
I'm planning on making a theme/rom that uses hero (1.5) for a base, but slimming it down and using widgets that are smaller like the one that I ported and changing a lot of the graphics for the clocks and such.
I hope this helps for anyone interested in developing.
Red.
Wisefire said:
Awesome job. I appreciate the work.
Odd question though, what do you do in the process of back porting? I'd love to learn..
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Click to collapse
Long time lurker, first time poster... I have been learning a lot really fast about customizing different aspects of the eris, but what I have been really searching hard for is a way to customize certain components to add to an already great rom. Right now I am running Eris_Official_0.8.1T2 btw. Anyways what I am really looking for is something like this forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=654852 Mostly the Launcher is what I really want to change but to be able to tweak everything else would be great too. If someone knows how to do this or can point me in the right direction to maybe even learn how myself I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
unzip the rom files
system/framework/com.htc.resources
once in there go to
res/drawable-port-mdpi
the file named common_app_rosie_navbar.png
is the launcher, and thats the main thing u need to edit.
and also go to
system/apps/rosie.apk
one inside the apk go to
res/drawable-normal-mdpi
and
drawable-normal-port-mdpi
edit those to your liking
Wow I feel dumb now lol... Ive been poking around in com.htc.resources for a couple days now and completely overlooked that... Thanks alot... Only question I have now is how do I remove the word phone that overlayed on the launcher? I would post a screenshot of my home screen but since im a new user its not allowing me.
Thanks for the help
well I uploaded a photo to my album so if you feel like checking it out just go to my profile... Im starting to like the phone (icon and word) over the orb but if anyone knows how to remove the word for future reference please let me know... I am also trying to find out how to change the status bar's clock color, which searching around has brought me to editing the services.jar or services.odex file but Im still uncertain on how to do this. Any input would be great.
Im going to sound like an idiot, but i can't open the apk to edit, im missing something.. help?
Right click and open with winrar or 7zip. Once you have edited the images you will have to resign either the .apk or the rom. Depending on if you are editing the whole rom or not. Hope I was able to help
I know I'm probably going to get the 4th degree here, but I'm at that point where my brain is jammed and its killing me. I've found guides to doing this but it either too old, or not finished.
I read a guide on how to theme, found out it wasn't really that hard. Love building sites and this is right down my road. Yes I'm a noob, and search isn't cutting it. : )
I am working with my Epic 4G with 2.2. I used UOT Kitchen to get the Battery % mod to work and it did the trick! I can go through and edit png and even .9 files.
1. That kitchen adds -v4 on the drawable folders. Its works but I don't fully understand how to change it back after it adds it.
2. That kitchen makes a whole new framework. How do I pull stuff out and make it update just what it needs. I guess I'm asking how do you make an addon or update zip?
I do all my editing by using 7zip and just placing apps and for moving things around and it seems to work. I'm also re-flashing the whole rom to test it. nothing else. 7zip.
3. Is this the way to do it? I know I'm supposed to de-compile and compile, sign some where.
4. It there a special way to combine Mods together? I've just been opening them in 7zip and adding them.
ok so... If you can point me in the right direction, to guides, search key words, links, or just explain a little. I will take any help I can get. I just need that little tap to get my mind rolling again. I will kiss your feet! Really!
Thanks!
Please go easy on me...
For an "add on" make metamorphs. All your doing is creating folders of the pngs and adding a xml which is already created you just fill in the blanks using any xml editor. It's pretty easy to make mini themes or change certain icons
Yeah the guys right Metamorph is THE ONLY way to change images in an apk without changing the entire apk. I have been doing a whole lot of themes lately but mostly porting images of other themes I need to learn the GIMP or PHOTOSHOP I started on the opposite side from you I guess. If I can help PM me and I will show you or package the themes or morphs for you.Good luck!
First, I apolgize if this belongs in the general section, I just wasn't sure where to post. I would like to change the look of my dialer (the one you hit the phone icon to bring up), specifically to the look of Jt's AOSP rom dialer posted by Captainkrtek and pictured below. I really can't find anything that says exactly what to change in the contacts apk to get it to look like that. Rather, everything I have done has failed miserably. can anyone give me a little insight into what I take from one to put into the other? Thanks in advance
the touchwiz dialer and aosp dialer don't line up right, you'll need some xml edits (DIP) and images and a bunch of other stuff.
the dialer is TabDialerActivity.apk (or something like that)
DialerTabActivity.apk and framework-res.apk
Big thanks to both of you. I have that apk on my phone, but the aosp rom doesn't, do they hide that somewhere else on aosp? I am just sifting thru the whole rom right now looking for the same files. Also, if they don't line up right, am I just wasting my time?
Fyrmedic654 said:
Also, if they don't line up right, am I just wasting my time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it all depends on what you want. You might want to check Phone.apk also.
Eh, looked there but nothing matches up. I give up. Getting it like that may be more than my noob behind can handle right now. I'm still learning the ins and outs so, I may put this on the back burner next to my custom boot animation. Thanks again for the help. At least now if I find one I like in another theme, I will be able to change it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9102683&postcount=80
These are winmo cabs, any way to put one of those into a ROM, either a flashable zip, an APK, a CM7 theme via tmobile theme chooser?
I'm especially interested in the bottom left Houston Texans one.
highly unlikely wihtout changing the scripts etc in the cab file adn then rebuilding it
Thats sucks
I'm talking about putting that image on a CM7 dialer. So it shouldn't be THAT hard right?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
i did respond to your pm...but i see you are very eager to get this done.
overall, no it isn't hard. but the best way, i dunno.
the dialer is in two locations, really - contacts.apk (com.android.contacts) and phone.apk (com.android.phone) in cm7 roms. look for:
dial_num_*_wht where * = a number, etc. (they are pretty obvious)
the hard part - getting the images to look as you please. (always the hardest thing, i guess).
then to get it on your phone. many theme apks won't simply allow you to drag/replace in the apk (anastasdroid always gave me errors when i did that.)
so options:
1- decompile/recompile the above system apks with your edits and push to your phone / replace in your rom
2.a- decompile/recompile your favorite theme with your edits and install the theme
2.b - make your own theme (though then no other theme)
3- try metamorph to push your files to your apk (this would make more sense to me)
the above makes sense in my head; hopefully it will to you.
if you can edit images, i am more than willing to help - or as i wrote in the pm, when work evens out i will be glad to help.
-----------------------
edit - one concern i see is that the numbers on the cm7 dial pad seem spaced out. at least on hdpi. that may make it less of a statement as the above cab.
Ill try it out and see what happens
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
lol, it is indeed the hardest part to get the image looking like the pic.
I will try using Photoshop and MS paint p) and see what I can get to.
I will update this post soon.
Edit :
*1- Tried on my phone, normal background hasn't changed. Pulling attachments (for now).
*2- Now the app won't even start and there is no signal, lol.
*3- It's no use, even though I changed the background, but it keeps the phone off having signal. sorry, you'll have to have a professional do it for you .
orangekid said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9102683&postcount=80
These are winmo cabs, any way to put one of those into a ROM, either a flashable zip, an APK, a CM7 theme via tmobile theme chooser?
I'm especially interested in the bottom left Houston Texans one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should PM Nando. He's starting to branch into droid and I would bet hard cash he can figure it out.