Database Develop

Guide to ADW for newbs

This guide is to help people start creating Themes for ADW and understand what they are doing.
Instead of just replacing images by unzipping an APK I will tell you how to create your own theme from scratch.
I had a real struggle to find all this and I now I want to share what I found out
I will provide you with links with content that you should read and write some things by myself.
How to : Setup your working environment
How to : Make your own theme
Where should I put my images/xml?
The drawables (images/xml) should be putted in the drawable folder as standard. If you want to have different images for different pixel density(xhdpi/hdpi/mdpi/ldpi) make the folders: drawable-xhdpi,drawable-hdpi,drawable-mdpi and drawable-ldpi.
the text behind the hyphen (-) is a configuration qualifier. Android looks for these and if it suits the specific device it will choose the drawables from that folder instead of from the default folder. If a resource android looks for isn't found in the special folder it will instead look in the default folder for it.
If you want different images for landscape mode you would need to create a folder called drawable-land and if you want different images when the device is both mdpi and in landscape you would create a folder called drawable-land-hdpi.
Find out more about resource qualifiers
How do I add my own icons?
Find the name of the icon you want to replace at Theme Icon Name Database
Place your own drawable in the right folder.
E.g. To change the icon for the Android stock browser in a hdpi device I would ad a file called com_android_browser_browseractivity.png in drawable-hdpi. If I want the same icon for all devices that uses my theme I could add the same icon in the folder drawable.
How do I export my theme for testing?
Right click on you project in Eclipse and select export. Click the Android folder and select Export Android Application. Press next and then next again. Choose "Use existing keystore". Press browse.
In windows find C:\Users\ENTER YOUR USERNAME HERE\.android\debug.keystore
In Linux and OS X I think it is in: ~/.android/debug.keystore
The Password is android.Press next.Choose "Use existing key".
Alias: androiddebugkey
Password:android
Press next. Press browse and choose your destination of the apk. Click Finish and you are done.
Help! ADW force closes and I can't uninstall the theme!
Look here for sulution
If there is something that needs to be added send me a PM or write a comment.
I will add: program to use to create the images and eventually a complete sample theme with documentation.
If you find the tutorial good, please post to bump the thread.

hello
can you tell me how i make one of CUSTOM DOCK using the v0.3 dock_pack.xml standard in the theme ?
thanks

Nice guide damn thats a big youtube video lol

Hi there. Just wondering if you have gotten multiple wallpapers into a theme , and if they look right on screen?
I can change the wallpaper in the theme but i want to have a couple to choose from. Also i have tried a wallpaper that has a built in 'dock' graphic at the bottom. When i add it to a theme the dock is completely below the bottom. Any hints?

i hate that if after done with my theme and it says application not installed.
somebody knows how to fix it?

[TUTORIAL]Customizing App Icons

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?

Question about titanium panel

how to make my slideshow appear behind all the gadget of my titanium panel. i meant i want to see all the info on top of the slide show. at the moment only the digital clock appear ontop of the slideshow. i only know how to modify the cpr file using chome visual editor.
thanks

solved my problem. i just bring the line of the slideshow on top of the rest of the other info.

ahhl said:
solved my problem. i just bring the line of the slideshow on top of the rest of the other info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what theme have you used for titanium?? how i can make my titanium like yours???

i am using http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=511483 for the analog clock ( but theres virus..detected if u download thru computer..so far nothing happen . i download using my wm)
i am using JML launcher http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=573978
and this for the titanium panel http://forum.xda-devinaelopers.com/showthread.php?t=504716
and i modify the titanium.cpr file using http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=525499 to enlarge the size of the slideshow.
you have to use notepad++ to move the line of the slideshow inside the CAnalog to the first line of the expanded line. if not the slideshow will cover the rest of the info inside the titanium bar.
take alook at my titanium.cpr file

Make your Apps e-ink friendly

I've been playing around alot with my nook simple touch and one of my biggest issue is that there isn't a complete theme that i like... I've never been very good at making them apk.
You'll need to use astro or titanium backup to back the apps up so you can download them to your computer.
Then the simple solution to the problem if found... Use APK Edit to change the icon in the apk file. Now i realize that this is not permanent solution because when you update to a newer version of the app it will erase the new icon.
One positive this does have over using a theme is when you customize the quick menu that pops up when you press the N button your new icon will show up.
The app will also let you change the displayed name of the app. so if you have a long app name you can shorten it.
You can also open the APK file with a program like Winzip or 7z replace the any of the images and then re-sign the apk with App Manager.
I've used this app to replace all the image files with ones I've make b/w with photoshop so they are nice an crisp on the e-ink display.
once you replace all the files you want to change you place your Apk in the folder called place-apk-here-for-signing
run script.bat and enter option 16
give it a few seconds and its resigned..
Once you've made your changes just sideload your new apps and install.
Hope this helps others make there Nook Simple Touch more theirs.

Think you post is a bit misnamed.
You can change the name and icon of the app in nearly any launcher. Even hide the name. You can achieve your goal much quicker than tearing up the apk...

ace7196 said:
Think you post is a bit misnamed.
You can change the name and icon of the app in nearly any launcher. Even hide the name. You can achieve your goal much quicker than tearing up the apk...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not only the name and icon but you can also change any of the images that the app uses once your in it. You can change the background image to a white one or make the buttons a more contrasting black and white.
Plus if you add any app to the quickmenu it uses the default name and app icon regardless of what you have changed it to.Changing it in the laucnher only changes the in name of the app and the icon in the launcher and the quickmenu is complete separate and the launcher has influence on it.

[instructions]Edit themes

As always, use at your own risk!
Quelle
BecauseI know I'm not theonly one whowants tounderstandit a lot,I'll showyoua way.Inspirationand ideasI got from this article.​ Huawei EMUI Themes gestalten und verändern [Teil 1]
What is needed:
- 7zip
- Sublime Text 3
Here we go. The prerequisite is time to rest and work accurately!
After you have installed the two programs are set to go.
Think up a folder where the issues come in here (.hwt). Always works only with copies!
Here you should create a subfolder with the topic name you now. There you unpacked the topic. Go into that folder and subfolders again sets each with the appropriate name. example:
com.android.settings = com.android.settings e
So you keep track of things.
The repeated her with the topic, which ye icons, etc you want to have.
Now comes the actual act. Take the issue of the want to edit it, in my case, Edward Returns.hwt and clicks it right (not extract!), Just select Open.
Next, locate the com.android.settings and open it again.
Here again open the res folder. Here delete the contents (click there and delete right).
Now we take the topic from which we want the icons. Also re-open and click through to the folder res. Now we select the content and push it, hold by the left, into the folder from another topic. We confirm the prompt with Yes. Now is the content in the other folder. Now we can both close, confirm the prompt with Yes and we already did it. Only on Mate7, select and look the topic. If you want, you can even assign a name. For the description.xml with Sublime Text 3 Open Notepad and then copy into the theme.
You can also use your own icons here on size, format and name eighth! It is also possible to take files from other themes if they do not exist.
Of course, goes even more, color etc, but you will still need to edit the corresponding .XML files.
Here are a few paths:
- Contacts com.android.contacts
- Gallery com.android.gallery3d: Here lies the Gallery widget.
- Player com.android.mediacenter: Here the player is widget.
- Settings com.android.settings: Here is what you see under settings and submenus.
- Links com.android.systemui: Here is what you see Status Bar / Benarichtigungen / Verküpfungen.
- Designs com.huawei.android.thememanager: Here is what you see under Themes.
- Clock / weather widget
com.huawei.android.totemweather / res
drawable-nodpi: Here are the wallpapers
drawable-sw360dp-xxhdpi: Here are the symbols
- Icons icons: This is what you see on the homescreen icons.​
​

Thanks , i would like to create a theme for me, a dark one, simple and clear but unfortunately, i really didnt understand the procedure Is it possible for you to make a step by step guide ? Taking the default theme and changing it ?
I need one with dark toggle background, and white toggles, the one selected blue or red.
Than the notifications background black and white text and icons.
on settings , dark background and white text + icons.
So sorry i dont understand , i would have tried to make some themes
Thanks !

For the font you need to edit the corresponding XML files. This is tedious. It is easier to look for the best ducks already in coarse threads and replace only the background, symbols etc is.
A Guide for the XML I'm not going to write, which is too complex, as there is also still required Chinese.
You can read here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-7/themes-apps/mod-thememessages-notification-panel-t2973486
Or here keeping an eye out for suitable topics.
http://www.android-hilfe.de/root-cu...7/654285-themes-der-grosse-themes-thread.html

Fooox1 said:
For the font you need to edit the corresponding XML files. This is tedious. It is easier to look for the best ducks already in coarse threads and replace only the background, symbols etc is.
A Guide for the XML I'm not going to write, which is too complex, as there is also still required Chinese.
You can read here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-7/themes-apps/mod-thememessages-notification-panel-t2973486
Or here keeping an eye out for suitable topics.
http://www.android-hilfe.de/root-cu...7/654285-themes-der-grosse-themes-thread.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you dude !

cool instruction
i also want to edit this specific theme Edward Returns for my Ascend p7, the theme is as of now only for Mate 7 it cant be found on p7 online themes, so i downloaded this theme and installed on my p7, everything is as it should be except the icons, the system Apps icons are well, but the apps that i have installed their icons dont fit in the icon frame of the theme, they are bigger than the theme icons so they come on top of the frame, but some of the Apps that have smaller icons i can see the icon frame of the theme behind them. So i wanna know if it is possible to resize the icons so they fit the icon frame? and how it can be done?
Thanks in advance :good:

Unpack theme, edit icons and then copy the unzipped not matter.

Does anyone know how to change the background color in Messeges? i have a really cool theme but there is some error in its Messages App the background is white while the timestamp in the left side is also in white color so i can read the time... i dont know which line in themes.xml should i change????

Unfortunately, I do not quite understand you. The background images are. Just as the symbols of the timeline. About the xml you lay down only the text color and the assignment.

can you help me of that modified whatsapp called WhatsMaap changing icon cause it looks so bad because the whatsapp icon is circle so there is a black or green background the app icon
this is the app dude : https://plus.google.com/communities/111022663413469989470

I need to modify the text colour of notifications into NOTIFICATION PANNEL.
Not the standard text you find below email notification or whatsapp notifications, just the ones poping up with text surrounded by circle and asking to close a particular application consuming too much battery, for example.
Actually these notifications text are in black and, since the background is black, they aren' t readeble at all, while the others notifications (i.e. whatsapp notifications, email notifications, etc. etc.) are properly in white (see picture attached).
Considering that I need to keep the background as black, I would need to modify the notifications text colour only, from black to....white, or light blue, or other which result more readable on the black background.
I tried to edit and modify the hwt file, as well as the XML file contained into the com.android.systemui file, but unsuccesfully.
Can you explain me which file and line I must modify in order to have fixed this?

None can help me??? Fooox1, Kolembo,Hannanzikrea, please assist.

I've edited the stat_sys_battery_15.png file on a theme, but every time my phone goes down to that level the battery icon reverts to stock. All other times the battery icon displays the custom one. Anyone know why and/or how to fix this?
Sent from my HUAWEI MT7-L09 using XDA Free mobile app

mighty_moose said:
I've edited the stat_sys_battery_15.png file on a theme, but every time my phone goes down to that level the battery icon reverts to stock. All other times the battery icon displays the custom one. Anyone know why and/or how to fix this?
Sent from my HUAWEI MT7-L09 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should add another .png file with name stat_sys_battery_15_new.png and stat_sys_battery_7_new.png
Sent from my HUAWEI MT7-L09 using XDA Free mobile app

hannanzikrea said:
You should add another .png file with name stat_sys_battery_15_new.png and stat_sys_battery_7_new.png
Sent from my HUAWEI MT7-L09 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okies, thanks. I thought they were extraneous and deleted them... Then forgot all about them lol
Sent from my HUAWEI MT7-L09 using XDA Free mobile app

My modified dark theme
https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0Bw1wBQi9rn3WMnc1cHQ0eVNUQTQ/edit
Here's my modified theme Dark Knight v3.2.9. Some bug fix for Honor 6.