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im trying to make make my own theme, but i need some help. i dont know where to begin. i have a couple of themes out on the forum that i want to chop up to make my new theme. how do i package them all together?
also how to you change the taskbar icons and takebar drop down box?
i want these icons
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9821/devicew.png
i want this dropdown box for my notifications
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee97/atoz350/a9a98a9c.png
i want this rosie
http://i40.tinypic.com/mv26nr.png
and im trying to figure out how to package all my apks it to a zip
please someone help me out!!!
i looked at a couple how-to's and guides but still cant figure it out
Yay you want my Rosie haha. Basically everything you wanna change is it framework-res.apk and com.htc.resources.apk in /system/framework
Open the apk's, pull out the res folders, find the images you wanna replace and replace them. Then put the res folder back into the respected apk, and put them into an update.zip and sign it. If you dont know how to do the last part I can do it for you
take the files from the theme elements you like and then replace the ones in the rom youre using with the ones you like. There are many files to edit depending on what you are trying to alter. I suggest editing your own rom before attemting an update.zip theme for us.
Like the title says, this is how to modify your Notification title drawer on the Captivate with Froyo like Tatuyama's theme's drawer(notification slide) for the i9000. This will tell you how to make it transparent and add a graphic or change the colors. This has been tested on Cog B7, dont think it works on i9000 roms like Shep's. I can help you though on this if you absolutely are dieing to do it. It will just take a little fandanglin and searching but can be done. I ripped apart Shep's rom and found all of Tat's mods, I jsut dont remember them off the top of my head..
I have also attached the drop bars from Tat's theme and another black AOSP bar should you want to use it. I have also included a PSD file to modify to your liking, my APK's for the frameworks I edited below (these include the tat icons already inside), a blank black background bar to use should you want, and other goodies for your modding needs. I have also slapped some screenies below to get an idea of wtf I am even talking about. Also if you use my Frameworks be aware that I am using the battery mod version "I" from that one thread, injected Tat's icons and goodies, and other MISC things.
I will try to do this as simple as possible. I dont linger in the themes area so you are pretty much on your own. I am going to write this tutorial based on Windows O/S and Adobe Photoshop. Attempt this at your own risk. If you biff it up its not my fault. I wrote the directions as I did it, and I am working great with awesome sauce dripping from my phone. I cannot be held responsible if you are below par of the preqs listed. I assume if you are going to attempt it you are competent and comfortable with all things required. However, should you somehow mess up, I do provide some SYA (save your ass) directions below. That being said, Good luck and Mod On!
Prerequisites:
1) ADB Dev Kit and experience using it (push, pull, shell)
2) Photoshop or other photo editing software & experience
3) Basic Windows experience: cut/copy/paste/rename/zipping/moving files. (if you use linux you shouldnt worry as you more than likely are a power user already and can cross apply).
Step 1: We need to download the APK's off the phone and get them ready for editing (or yank them out of the ROM package you download).
1) open a CMD (command prompt) window type:
adb pull /system/framework/twframework-res.apk C:\
adb pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk C:\This will save the files to your root of C:. Should you want to do it elsewhere you can specify or else leave it blank and it will stick the files in your developer kit folder.
2) (OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED! STEP) Navigate to where you saved the files, right click and copy/paste to make a set of backups of these files.
3) Rename the .apk to .zip files. You can also associate your .apk to a program like WinRAR or WinZIP instead. This will open APK Files by default or optional secondary(open with). This makes the whole thing a lot easier as you can open the file(APK) and leave it up, make the edits and drop them directly back into the APK. KEEP FILE STRUCTURE PROPER!
4) Extract the APK files to seperate folders or dig out the below files for editing.
Step 2: Editing the proper files.
1) Navigate to twframework.apk's extracted folder from above or these files you extracted.
2) Find and open sub folder /res/
3) Once in /res/ find and open /drawable-hdpi/
4) Once in /drawable-hdpi/ locate the following files:
- status_bar_background.9.png (actual background of the drawer)
- status_bar_header_background.png (this is the 5 icons across the top of drawer)
- status_bar_close_on.png (this is the dropdown bar at the bottom of drawer)
- quick_panel_list_bg_01.9 (seperator between carrier and application info)
5) Open these files in Photoshop(or another editor)
6) Verify these are set to RGB not Index color mode so you can edit them.
7) Edit the layers to make them transparent. If there are not layers, right click and "create layer from background". You can then edit your layer settings. I set mine to 75% transparency in Photoshop, the actual background to 85% to darken it up a little. This will take some tweaking to get it just perfect for you. Make sure you save them in .png format with the same name they started with and not the PSD or "copy". Also you want non interlaced if it prompts you.
8) Do the same steps for the framework-res.apk.
- status_bar_item_app_background_normal.9.png (not sure if this one is necessary)
- status_bar_item_background_normal.9.png (this is teh notifications)
Step 3: Put it together and upload.
After you update the files, you will need to inject them back ito the APK's where you got them (/res/drawable-hdpi/). You can do this by opening the APK with Winzip/WinRAR/7zip and put them in there or if you extracted the entire contents just zip it all back up. You will need to remove the .zip extension if you went that route. Also, make sure you open it after zipping and verify it maintains the correct structure or you will be doing the recovery shuffle after you reboot. If you see only 1 folder in your zip this is WRONG! You need to see assets, RES, META-INF, and 2 other files in there(manifests and resources). If you see all these then you are ready to rock and roll.
After you get them back together upload them to your device using:
adb push <location of apk you edited>\framework-res.apk /sdcard/
adb push <location of apk you edited>\twframework-res.apk /sdcard/
then in teh same command prompt window (or another, whatever)
adb shell
su
cd sdcard
cp twframework-res.apk /system/framework/twframework-res.apk
cp framework-res.apk /system/framework/framework-res.apk
reboot
It shouldnt take but a second to come back up. You are done.
It may take a little bit of editing of the files to get them to look OK. I spent most of my day today getting mine together. You can use them if you like the "hootie edition" or just edit your own.
SEE POST #6 IF SOMETHING GOES HORRIBLY WRONG!!!!!
Screenies:
http://www.wtfokc.com/sef****/snapshot-1.pnghttp://www.wtfokc.com/sef****/snapshot-2.pnghttp://www.wtfokc.com/sef****/snapshot-3.png
That looks fantastic. I want your notification drop down and all minus the owl of course and text, but can this be done by using metamorph instead of having to adb everything?
awsome write up. Looks pretty simple and I will attempt this when I get home today.
This is an absolutely EXCELLENT tutorial. Props to you. I will be doing this shortly to all my Captivates in the house, 3 in use, plus the 4th one I'm using as a Dev phone.
Hi,
I've followed your instructions. After the files have been pushed up, my phone goes through the usual errors due to the framework change. The problem I'm having is that after I restart my phone, the phone gets past the galaxy s screen, but then it goes black and does not respond. Any suggestions?
smeltn said:
That looks fantastic. I want your notification drop down and all minus the owl of course and text, but can this be done by using metamorph instead of having to adb everything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest I have never used metamorph on the Captivate. On my G1 yes you could acheive that. I googled the metamorph tutorial Junkdruggler did and it looks rather lengthy and involved editing XML files. You can find that info here. Also, the files you would need to do my way with just a blank one are above. Just download the closebars zip and the "blank" zip. Then mod/inject your APK - or hell mine from above- and push it to your device. This is a rather quick ordeal.
thehavock18 said:
awsome write up. Looks pretty simple and I will attempt this when I get home today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
miztaken1312 said:
This is an absolutely EXCELLENT tutorial. Props to you. I will be doing this shortly to all my Captivates in the house, 3 in use, plus the 4th one I'm using as a Dev phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks guys, took me a little while to figure it all out and a lot of framework pushing to get it just right Let me know how it turns out for you! Hell post some screenshots when you are done. I want to see them
gangpe said:
Hi,
I've followed your instructions. After the files have been pushed up, my phone goes through the usual errors due to the framework change. The problem I'm having is that after I restart my phone, the phone gets past the galaxy s screen, but then it goes black and does not respond. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS IS HOW TO SAVE YOURSELF
Well, not sure what you mean "usual errors" with framework change? I havent ever had any issues with the framework replacements. I occasionally have then crash if I replace them while phone is on and not in recovery. A reboot fixes this though. Are you using a Cap rom or an I9000? This doesnt work on I9000 roms as thier APK's are slightly different- teh HDPI folder has a v4 at the end (IIRC). I can help you through this though if that's the case..
If it truly is a cap rom, I did experience a similar problem on my phone one time when I pushed the framework.apk. What had happened is I right-clicked the ROOT directory I had placed all the files in and said to zip it. This caused the folder to be INSIDE the zip. So the file structure went like this:
>>ZIP FILE I CREATED>>
--------->>FOLDER ALL FILES WERE IN>>
------------------>>FILE STRUCTURE OF THE ORIGINAL APK>>
Which should have been
>>ZIP FILE I CREATED>>
--------->>FILE STRUCTURE OF ORIGINAL APK>>
To better explain it- If you open the zip you created, do you see the RES folder, META-INF folder, assets folder, and then there will be 2 other files? Or do you see 1 single folder? If you see 1 single folder you zipped it up incorrectly. You will need to go into the folder and select all-> right click-> zip (send to-> compressed folder). This should fix it. If this isnt the case something else went horribly wrong. To fix it we will need to restore the original files you hopefully backed up. If you didnt back up you still arent totally hosed- just redownload the ROM you are running, open it up and navigate to the /system/framework folder and pull out the original frameworks. Then follow these instructions to get them back on the device.
Step 1:
A quick way to get out of this situation is to take the copies rename them back to twframework-res.apk and framework-res.apk (or pull from the original rom package as mentioned above).
Hopefully you have the 2e recovery kernel, as you need it to get back to where you started. If you cant do clockwork, well you may as well odin cause you are a few flashes behind anyway.
K, so first you will need to download the update.zip I have included with this post. This is the clockwork recovery file. You will next need to put your phone in reocvery mode. to do this do:
adb reboot recovery
Step 2:
Next you will need push that file you downloaded to your SD. to do that you need to:
adb push <location of downloaded>\update.zip /sdcard/
Now, once in recovery- tell it to reinstall packages. This may reboot the phone. If it does, tell it to reinstall packages again. This should get you to clockwork recovery.
Step 3:
once you have a green clockwork recovery screen, you will get the chance to SU via ADB SHELL. You can then repeat the pushing of your ORIGINAL fles back to your phone and retry the process.
You could also pull the files you pushed to see what went wrong- but do that first as if you push before they will be overwritten with the original files.
Looking into doing a little custom work but before I do. Like Tat's theme do you need to edit XML files for specific things like the pop ups being black. Or do I just get the naming right and put the proper PNG in the apk.
thehavock18 said:
Looking into doing a little custom work but before I do. Like Tat's theme do you need to edit XML files for specific things like the pop ups being black. Or do I just get the naming right and put the proper PNG in the apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is only for the notification drawer and not the actual pop ups. If you want to edit the popups you will need to edit the XML files.
Thanks for the quick response. I might have to dive into all the XML edits.
thehavock18 said:
Thanks for the quick response. I might have to dive into all the XML edits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do post a how to thread cause I would like to know how myself
status_bar_background.9.png (actual background of the drawer)
If I ONLY wanted to make the pull-down menu background transparent the above file would be the only one that I need to mod... correct??
jslee1020 said:
status_bar_background.9.png (actual background of the drawer)
If I ONLY wanted to make the pull-down menu background transparent the above file would be the only one that I need to mod... correct??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct.
The one problem though is the AT&T (carrier part) at the top is also transparent and you quickly notice it looks a little strange with your items not transparent. I tried to live with it for a little bit but ended up modding the rest too.
malfuncion said:
That is correct.
The one problem though is the AT&T (carrier part) at the top is also transparent and you quickly notice it looks a little strange with your items not transparent. I tried to live with it for a little bit but ended up modding the rest too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quick_panel_list_bg_01.9 (seperator between carrier and application info)
is this the file for the AT&T carrier part??
The quick panel is actually the part that says "Notifications" or "On Going" below the AT&T part. THe AT&T and clear button is part of the actual background peice. So what happens is the AT&T part becomes transparent, while the notification peices are solid. It may not bother you but it bugged the crap out of me. It's personal preference really..
malfuncion said:
The quick panel is actually the part that says "Notifications" or "On Going" below the AT&T part. THe AT&T and clear button is part of the actual background peice. So what happens is the AT&T part becomes transparent, while the notification peices are solid. It may not bother you but it bugged the crap out of me. It's personal preference really..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get it. Well I'll try it out and see... I guess no better way to learn then to experience it first hand Thanks!
I was able to take the Cog Beta 7 framwork and Tat's framwork. I pulled out all the changes from his theme and put them in cog beta 7. I actually did not have to edit any files and was able to apply it.
I had to change a few file names around so all the backgrounds / pop ups applied to the theme. I left DG's background.
I don't want to post it since it is not my own work but if you want to take a look at the framwork and twframwork I can send them PM.
notification bar??
What file is the actual notification bar with the battery/clock/etc... would it be inside twframework-res.apk or framework-res.apk?
EDIT: Just set background transparency to 80% in photoshop and changed the color to black. The transparency seems ok, but it resembles minimalistic theme too much... gonna fiddle with it some more today.
jslee1020 said:
What file is the actual notification bar with the battery/clock/etc... would it be inside twframework-res.apk or framework-res.apk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is in the framework.apk. The notification bar's file is:
statusbar_background.9.png
This is confirmed. I j ust set mine to a gradient and it actually looks kind of good.
screenie:
http://wtfokc.com/sef****/snapshot-4.png
Hey Malfunction,
Finally got it working past the galaxy S screen, thanks for the info. One last question, then I should be out of your hair. Where can I change the settings for the media scanning icons? Currently, the white default icons are showing, but I'm trying to change that to the black SD card. I'm going to look into it myself too; figured I'd ask though.
Thanks,
gangpe said:
Hey Malfunction,
Finally got it working past the galaxy S screen, thanks for the info. One last question, then I should be out of your hair. Where can I change the settings for the media scanning icons? Currently, the white default icons are showing, but I'm trying to change that to the black SD card. I'm going to look into it myself too; figured I'd ask though.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good deal, glad you got it working. What was the problem?
As for the SDCard- depends which you need. In framework-res there are these 3:
stat_notify_sdcard.png
stat_notify_sdcard_prepare.png
stat_notify_sdcard_usb.png
I had to do some hunting to find out which program was the running process for the Media Scanner. It is "MediaProvider.apk" on your /system/app folder. I edited mine and it now works and has all the Tat icons loaded. Thanks for that heads up I hadnt noticed that little piece before you mentioned it.
I looked at Tat's ROM section and also saw that he has edited these, may consider if you are wanting to mimick his:
DownloadProvider (Market)
MediaProvider (Media Scanner)
Vending (Market)
PackageProvider.apk (Uninstallation Screen)
GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk (Google Search)
Hi Guys,
I'm coming from Windows Mobile 6.5 where theming was a bit different:
When I started with 6.5 I used to think the only way to change the look of my phone interface was to flash a custom rom, but then I realized I could theme individual components (6.5 theme, Taskbar, Icons, Start Menu, ect) and it turned out to be pretty easy.
With Android I'm begining to think the opposite exists, is it basically true that in order for me to change the colors of the taskbar, or menus, taskbar icons - I have to use a custom rom?
I have been reading over these threads for the past three days and I have learned a lot, but I'm still confused...
I used to do M2D themes and change the xml and such, but when I read the Android theming guides ALL of it seems foreign to me...does't seem like I can just swap out pngs for pngs I made in Photoshop Am I making this seem more difficult than it is?
Are there individual themes for my taskbar, dialer, ect (not roms)? And if so can a former Windows Phone user explain them in comparison to installing a cab?
I know I have a ton of questions so any help at all would be appreciated
Thanks
MEGA MAN
There are MANY apps out there that will allow you to make these changes. Do some searches on the market and you'll find them. Do some research into rooting your phone (at your own risk) which will allow even more options.
You do not have to use a custom ROM to theme your phone, but it makes it a lot easier overall. AFAIK, you still have to have your phone rooted to theme more than icons.
To theme images, it really is just swapping out your images for the images already there as long as they contain the same dimensions, format (pretty much always .png), and name.
The .xml files are easiest to edit if you have decompiled the apk with a tool call apktool, because then they are in readable format.
Apktool is also really great for getting .9.png's in decompiled format with the stock guidelines intact.
You can theme various different components with an app called Metamorph or Ninjamorph, otherwise, you're going to have all your different parts together.
I've been theming android for getting close to two years now, so if you would like more help, you can PM/email (david1667jones gmail) me for more specific answers.
megaman - ain't it a trip coming from WM to android? yeah...WM seems such a simpler way. especially CHT2...that is really the best modding system ever.
been experimenting for the past 2-3 weeks and have been successful. (even have a usable CM7 theme that i may post...)
so let's hash this out. maybe teach eacho other a thing or two. if i am being too basic, let me know.
apk - like a cab. tricky thing is that (i believe) if you edit an apk, you replace the entire apk. unlike a cab where you can replace 1 single file. there are theme programs (metamorph - haven't used it, ADW and others that allow replacement with a single file...but they take a little work. nothing easy like cabs for WM.)
to begin you need 7zip (or winrar i hear works.) this will allow you to open apks, replace files and restore them in seconds:
http://www.7-zip.org/
i assume your rom is rooted (i really don't understand the term, but it allows freedom to mod your phone. i am using an HD2 - WM phone - running nand android so by default my phone is rooted.)
let's explore - take any apk and open it with 7zip. you will see 3 files (this is off of memory as i am at work right now.) open them and look around. ((want to find your installed apks and back them up? search market for Astro. (settings> backup and save your apks to your sd card)))
under res you will see drawable folders - this is the jackpot. in there you will see your images. there is a lot of redundancy in apks. the trick is finding the right image. try changing some, etc. this is the most basic of theming.
before moving on to xmls, etc (which there are quite good guides for this) just try the above. when you replace the files move up the folder hierarchy and it will ask you something about saving/restoring - cilck yes. the apk is now modded.
install the apk and see the changes.
however, if you are editing the core apks - system and framework-res, we will need to talk about how to do that (i use clockworkmod flashing...easy to do.)
let me know if this helps.
Thank you guys so much for your knowledge!
I do have my phone rooted and I have bootloader installed
The one reason I thought that I had to download a "ROM" is because I keep reading about having to be deodexed in order to modify...and I was underthe impression that most custom roms provide this deodexing?
on to APK's...I do have 7Zip and I have opened some up and found where the graphics are...now I am actually extracting the apk so I can manually go through each folder and see whats there including graphics...there does seem to be another way of opening the APK with 7Zip and not actually extracting it, but I don't thing I can actually see the image previews this way. >>>so I extract, change my desired images, re-zip and change the file extention back to .apk - BUT then I read about signing APK's? ...and signing zips?
After some researching I found a thread in which someone posted something like they make a copy of there current ROM "theme?" and then copy it in zip form on to their PC where they goe through all of the desired APKs and then Zip it back together and install it from the screen that you get to after holding the power button and home (recovery screen maybe?) <<< Anyway is this possible? This seem most like what we did in windows phone...but again I think where I'm getting caught up is the signing aspect...I've seen auto signers, but I feel like the ones I've seen were only for XP and I have Windows 7.
Woo... ok wrote a lot there - if you have anytime to elaborate on anything, I'd be happy to hear.
...and jsmccabe - that HD2 is one awesome device...I remember everybody asking if Windows 7 would everbe available and now you guys are dual booting with WP7 and Android - AWESOME!!! (if I didnt have Verizon
megaman...sorry it took a bit. "real life" and all that...
megaman 2 said:
The one reason I thought that I had to download a "ROM" is because I keep reading about having to be deodexed in order to modify...and I was underthe impression that most custom roms provide this deodexing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- not sure what deodexed means. is your rom cm7? if so, tmobile themes is an "easy" way to make a theme.
- are you theming to share or for yourself? if the latter just replace the the files in your rom and flashe the rom. if the former, what type of rom?
megaman 2 said:
on to APK's...I do have 7Zip and I have opened some up and found where the graphics are...now I am actually extracting the apk so I can manually go through each folder and see whats there including graphics...there does seem to be another way of opening the APK with 7Zip and not actually extracting it, but I don't thing I can actually see the image previews this way. >>>so I extract, change my desired images, re-zip and change the file extention back to .apk - BUT then I read about signing APK's? ...and signing zips?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- you can extract to make life easier. but when you are ready to make the changes just drag the new icons into the original apk. it will update it for you and you can install it and done.
megaman 2 said:
After some researching I found a thread in which someone posted something like they make a copy of there current ROM "theme?" and then copy it in zip form on to their PC where they goe through all of the desired APKs and then Zip it back together and install it from the screen that you get to after holding the power button and home (recovery screen maybe?) <<< Anyway is this possible? This seem most like what we did in windows phone...but again I think where I'm getting caught up is the signing aspect...I've seen auto signers, but I feel like the ones I've seen were only for XP and I have Windows 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM themes are pretty easy to do. i started with this, the problem is it replaces the entire apk to replace 1 image. which if you are modifying systemui or frameworks, may overwrite other things (colors that you didn't want to.) easiest thing to do....find an already established CWM theme and keeping the same structure, replace the images and flash via CWM.
let me know if you want more details...cheers and good luck!
I am making my first theme for the CM7 chooser and I'm doing a total conversion so I have a few questions..
1. Is it possible to load a theme into the Android emulator in the SDK so I don't have to keep loading them to my phone?
1a. Can I even get CM7 onto the emulator?
2. I want to change *everything*. Is the only way to do this to extract the image files from an already created theme, repaint them by hand, and then resign them?
3. Is there any kind of templates that show how each image file goes together? For instance, is there a template I can paint on and then have it extract to the correct images?
4. What about icon sets? How do I get an icon set I use (or create) to go into a theme I make?
5. How do I make an icon set?
6. If I choose a custom clock, etc, how do I get that to stick into the theme?
7. How do I theme things like swype that a user may or may not have installed?
Thanks
no one? the message I entered is too short
another bump. i dont know where to go for help if it's not here
Bumping this thread.
1. No it isnt possible. The emulator is basically a bare version of android. As far as I know you can't change anything about it. Only install/test applications.
1.a. no
2. Pretty much. Or you can change the color via xml
3. no
4/7. After you decompile a theme go to the apps folder and then open one of the apks in that folder. Edit it, then repack it. Same thing applies for swype
5. Making an icon set is basically making icons for the things on the phone. Its pretty straight forward. Use gimp or photoshop or whatever to make an icon. Make it 72x72 pixels then save it as png.
6. its in the framework/res/drawable folder. edit and save
After you do everything build and sign then youre good to go.. look for tutorials
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=964391
Hello A little while ago I managed to learn how to theme totally from scratch. I knew nothing of anything before I started, but now I know how to port themes As I still see myself as a n00b there may be some weird things I've done, but at least I manage to create the themes This might not be the best way to theme, or the easiest, but it works
Overview PNGS
1) Getting the files
2) Getting the images
3) Port
4) Package and Sign
The only programs I've used is 7zip and autosigner download them and install 7zip and extract autosigner to a nice location for example your desktop
Getting the files
The first you need to do (after getting the programs) is to find the file you will mod (edit). This will mostly be the framework-res.apk because this decides most of looks of phone (for example the statusbar). Download the .zip of the rom your going to theme. Open it up (shouldn't require any programs, if does, use 7zip: either drag it onto the 7zip icon or right click and choose open with). Open system -> app and copy the framework-res.apk (or any other apk you would like to theme, for example the settings). Now paste it into an appropriate folder.
Getting the images
Now you need to find the images you want to use in your new theme. Find either an update.zip with a theme or an .apk with a theme chooser theme (if there is both a version for Froyo and GB, use the Froyo version as this will make it easier ) Open it up with 7zip (drag it into the 7zip icon). Now you can do either of two options:
1) You can take the whole drawable-mdpi folder and copy it out. You should probably don’t do this with a Themechooser apk, as they usually don’t have all icons in this folder, as they often lend a few from HDPI.
2) Take only the images you want and copy them to a folder. For example if you want the signal icons, copy the “stat_sys_signal_0” (-4 of course) and copy them out. If you want the statusbar background, copy “statusbar_background”. This way you can mix several themes, take the best of several themes and make your personal theme
When you’re done getting your icons, close the window.
Porting
Now open the Rom’s default framework-res.apk with 7-zip. If you’re going to port a whole theme, delete the /res/drawable-mdpi folder and copy in your own. If you’re going to port just a few icons, open the /res/drawable-mdpi folder and paste your icons. You might want to check if the icons have the same names in the different framework. For example the headset icons can be both “stat_sys_headset” and “stat_notify_headset”. Also if you port from a theme chooser theme, you will have to rename every single .png you port. This is really boring, but necessary. You need to remove the “framework_res” and the “android_systemui” from the beginning of all the names. So “framework_res_activity_title_bar.9.png” needs to be changed to “activity_title_bar.9.png”. Because this is so boring you better keep your renamed icons, so it’s easier to port it to another rom
This is kind of off-topic: my carrier lends network of another carrier. Therefor my phone is allways roaming. This puts a stupid “r” with my signal icons. To avoid this I allways take normal signal icons, copy them, and rename one of the two .pngs from for example “stat_sys_signal_1” to “stat_sys_r_signal_1”. This way I get rid of this stupid “r” and it will always show the normal icons
Packing and signing
Now the porting is done and the next job is to push the new framework to your phone. If you are familiar with adb, you can push it to system/framework on your phone. You don’t need to anything more with the apk before pushing it. Else you can create a flashable .zip for your theme. I’ve attached a .zip with update script (I haven’t created it. Just stole it from one of Elelinux’ add-ons ). Download the zip. Create a folder named system and a folder named framework. First drag the new, modded framework_res.apk to the framework folder, then drag the framework folder into the system folder, before you drag the system folder into the attached zip. If you use Clockworkmod recovery, you can just flash the zip right as it is, but if you use Amon_Ra or want it to be compatible with every recovery because you want to post it, you need to do something.
Unpack autosigner and launch the exe file inside. Drag the .zip into the new window and press sign. It will now appear a new file in the same folder as the file you wanted to sign. Its name is the same, but with “_signed” at the end. You can rename the file as you wish both before and after the signing.
XML Editing:
I decided to add a little section about XML editing as well I really don't know all about this myself, but i can tell how to set it up and some examples to what you can do Even though this may seem really complicated, it's not written in a completely different language, like Java in the smali files, so often it is possible to use logic to get what you want
Tools needed: APK Multi-tool. as well as Java, if you don't have it installed.
Overview:
1) Setting up
2) Examples
3) Finish
Settings up
Download APK Multi-tool and extract/ unzip it to wherever you want ( I have it on my desktop). Now you can place the apk you want to modify (usually the framework_res.apk) in the "Place_apk_for_modding" folder. Then you open the script. If you don't get an error, proceed to b), if you do get an error proceed to a)
a)) If you do get an error where it says something like "java not found" you need to correct the Java path (or install Java if you haven't done that, which you should have) . I had to do this to get it working. First open my computer and click disk C, or D if you have installed Java there. Open programfiles (or whatever it's called in your language) and scroll to the Java folder. Now open the folder there jdk folder or whatever you have there and open the "bin" folder. Look at the top of your window, where it says where on you're computer you are (like Windows: C to the left, and then Programfiles and so on). Right click it and click copy address. Mine is "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_01\bin . Now you can close the window.
Open "My computer" again. On the top bar below the navigationbar, click Sytemoptions (sorry, not really sure what it's called in Englsih, as my computer is Norwegian, please correct me if I'm wrong). On the left click the "advanced" link and in the popup that appears click "environment variables". Scroll down to the "path" variable and edit it. Paste the address you copied and click OK. You should now be able to proceed to b). If you still get an error, please tell me and I'll try to help
b) type 25 and press enter to select current project. Here you will see all the apks in the "Place_apk_for_modding" folder. Select the appropriate number (in this case probably 1) and press enter to continue. Then you hit 9 and enter to decompile it. I cannot really explain it, but it enables you to edit the xmls in the apk. If you try to edit them by using 7Zip, the xmls will be just messed up. When it's done decompiling, you have gotten a new folder in the "projects" folder. In this case it is probably named framework_res.apk. Minimize the script (DON'T CLOSE IT) and you're ready to edit the xmls
Examples on edits:
COMING SOON
Finish:
When you're done editing, open the script again (remember what I said about not closing it? ). Click 11, unless you are editing a non system apk. If you are editing the framework or settings or such, use 11. If you get an error now, you have probably done something wrong, try to see in the log what you have done wrong. Every time I've had an error, I've ended up in bootloop when I've flashed, so it is probably better to just start over. Another tip is to do one thing at the time. For example: you decompile, edit the notification color in pulldown, compile. Take the compiled apk, decompile edit another thing and so on, this makes it easier to not mess up and it also shows what you are doing wrong.
On the "Is this a system apk?" you should probably say y, as I said above. I also usually copy over the files I didn't edit, as this seems safer. Follow the instructions and you should be fine. When you're done and the script is done compiling, you will find a unsigned_**** (for example unsigned_framework-res.apk) in the "place_apk_for_modding" folder. This is your modified apk, and you can try to push it to ur device with an update.zip or adb, if you know how to use that
Well this was the end of my guide for now If there's anything which is unclear or you have other suggestions, feel free to post I've probably forgotten something
Finally after all my attemps to modify the android framework before i have do it correctly. I have changed a couple of things, the lock screen and battery icons so far. The framework I'm modifying is the one on Ele's Gingerbread and i wonder how to get the battery icon percentage 1 by 1 as i saw in some other themes. What i mean is that in the original framework there is only battery icons for 15, 20, 25 and so on, and if i push the 16, 17, 18, 19 they won't work. Is Theme Chooser the one on charge of this? how can i get that? some help please?
(Also tryed to theme a sense rom, but everything was messed up, i guess because of sense or maybe I did something wrong)
So thanks for your guide, really helpfull
Yeah, I've never tried to theme Sense so I don't know. It is probably possible to make icons for every %, but then you'll have to decompile using APK tool, and it is harder. I don't know how. If you want to try, you could try asking a question here
thanks
so funny=))
i'm tried
Great guide helped me a lo thx.
Finally, someone who CAN explain it...
I'm now porting ICS to GB (no cm7), cause I think CM sucks.
mDroidd said:
Finally, someone who CAN explain it...
I'm now porting ICS to GB (no cm7), cause I think CM sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, ICS themes can be made really awesome, if you do some more advanced stuff. For example you want to remap the pulldownbar a bit, and change som text colors. But to do this you need to use a tool like APK multi-tool, and it is a bit more advanced. If you want to, I can create a new section where I show how to this
Thank you.
GUIDE UPDATED! Added a section about XML editing really quick, probably forgotten something and such, so just ask if there is something you don't understand This is for those who are getting used to the PNG editing and want to proceed to something slightly more advanced, for example you 7Tosta
Cheers
BTW: I should've reserved the 2nd post, this is getting messy
Edit: If there's anything specific you want me to add to the EXAMPLES section, tell me