Database Develop

How to theme android

I'm trying to theme android.
I know that I can extract the APK's and edit the images, but what do I do after that?
how do I pack them back into APK files?

Learn to use either metamorph or ninjamorph. Their both apps by stereicson that let you change every image from an apk from within the phone.

what I meant was how would I create my own theme.
I'm not trying to apply themes that were already made, I'm trying to create a new theme.
but I've found that ubuntu lets me edit the images without extracting the apk

swee08315 said:
what I meant was how would I create my own theme.
I'm not trying to apply themes that were already made, I'm trying to create a new theme.
but I've found that ubuntu lets me edit the images without extracting the apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
creating your own theme is very really easy. but it can be very time consuming depending on what you are trying to accomplish and edit.
After you edited your .png file (NOT .9.ping because that requires a much more advance and complicated method) simply sign the apk file, create the update-script to place in the /META-INF/com/google/android directory and then sign the update.zip file. You will need to use the search feature to lookup.
"update-script"
"signing tool"
Good luck

mejorguille said:
Learn to use either metamorph or ninjamorph. Their both apps by stereicson that let you change every image from an apk from within the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest the metamorph as well instead of flashing. Flashing seems like it would just take too much time.
Also, Android Commander and Droid Explorer (maybe a few others) offer easy signing tools/transferring the apk without the need of any metamorph or flashing.

Thank you Binary100100
that's exactly what I needed
and also to r3s-rt:
I need to create an update .zip for this task.

swee08315 said:
Thank you Binary100100
that's exactly what I needed
and also to r3s-rt:
I need to create an update .zip for this task.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For ANY themeing, you don't need an update.zip. I'm just saying look into metamorph a bit; it really is easier than flashing and reflashing if it doesn't come out right. If updates are easier for you, though, go for it. =]

thanks again.
but where exactly would I look to modify the widgets?
specifically the music and clock widgets?

swee08315 said:
thanks again.
but where exactly would I look to modify the widgets?
specifically the music and clock widgets?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Music widget is in Music.apk. Clock widget is in DeskClock.apk.
Though metamorph is convenient, in my opinion it is a better tool to test parts of a theme. Learn how to sign update.zip files (with ubuntu it is as simple as a right click), there will be less errors this way (and you can theme the market,....).
p.s. Do learn metamorph also, it is great.

thanks, but where is the search widget?
and yes, I will learn

swee08315 said:
thanks, but where is the search widget?
and yes, I will learn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
launcher.apk

creating a black softkey menu pop up with white text.
Hello everyone! I posted something like this and got no real answers. I'm not trying to create a full theme just edit what I already have. I'm trying to change the stock cyanogenmod softkey menu pop up. If gotten my images in place and got the background and icons the way I want them but I don't know which values XML file I need to edit in order to change the text color. Does anyone have any insight on which file I need in order to edit the menus text to white? Already decompiled the framework-res.apk.

Thanks
This is awesome, I'm just trying to get started with customizing android and theming seemed like the logical starting point. Thanks for the input guys/gals.

Is it really that hard to extract a theme from a Rom?

Hi!
I have been trying to extract the theme from this ROM
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=869408
It looks awesome and I want to add some animations from a different ROM and use it with Darkys or Assonance for example but this seems to be much harder than I though unless someone has a quick and easy for dummies procedure for poor me that is.

It should be as easy as extracting the framework-res.apk, twframework-res.apk, mms.apk, bootanimation.zip and fonts as that is what is listed as being themed in the ROM thread. Then use the theme porter posted in the Android Themes section of XDA to inject them in your apk's, then manually change whatever didn't copy over.

rrrrramos said:
It should be as easy as extracting the framework-res.apk, twframework-res.apk, mms.apk, bootanimation.zip and fonts as that is what is listed as being themed in the ROM thread. Then use the theme porter posted in the Android Themes section of XDA to inject them in your apk's, then manually change whatever didn't copy over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmm sounds simple when you say it lol I will need to dig deep here it seems but that is a good post to point me towards the right path

I usually just extract the framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk from the ROM I am taking the theme from and the ROM I want to put it in, then I copy the res/drawable-hdpi folder from the old apk into the new one. It is a quick/dirty method, and wont let you change font colors or add a circle battery mod to one without it, but I have never had problems with it before.

You also have to be sure it is compatible with the rom you are using. Some roms have different xml code behind and if you simply put the framework and tw framework in your rom you risk getting fc at boot and not getting past them.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Both are JPY Roms so I hope that is enough. I guess worst thing that could happen is having to flash again

shaolin95 said:
Both are JPY Roms so I hope that is enough. I guess worst thing that could happen is having to flash again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try first with /system/framework/framework-res.apk and /system/framework/twframework-res.apk
I'm attaching a cwm zip file that has those files as found in Doc's 6.1 rom.
Just replace them with the files from whatever rom you want and keep that as a backup in case something goes wrong. It will save you from reflashing

If both are JPY roms then it shouldn't be an issue.

I tried doing what Ryukeima mentioned but I ended up with a Frankenstein of a theme as not all things from the them I wanted came over to the new one!
This is going to require some practice. That ROM has also some very nice Icons for Launcher Pro so is going to be another thing to look for..in fact I think I could be happy just getting those Icons.

shaolin95 said:
I tried doing what Ryukeima mentioned but I ended up with a Frankenstein of a theme as not all things from the them I wanted came over to the new one!
This is going to require some practice. That ROM has also some very nice Icons for Launcher Pro so is going to be another thing to look for..in fact I think I could be happy just getting those Icons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rip all the framework folder. Make a CWM zip and flash it over your ROM. It should work without problems. Then try to either apply animations on UOT kitchen or inject them with metamorph.

icezar1 said:
Rip all the framework folder. Make a CWM zip and flash it over your ROM. It should work without problems. Then try to either apply animations on UOT kitchen or inject them with metamorph.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for my noobness...Just trying to learn this stuff
So if i rip out all framework folders from one rom and manually replace them in another rom (like i did for kernel..replacing zimage file)...will it work?
Also, can anyone tell me how to make a CWM zip...i know there is a post for that on XDA but i am not able to find it...

viny2cool said:
Sorry for my noobness...Just trying to learn this stuff
So if i rip out all framework folders from one rom and manually replace them in another rom (like i did for kernel..replacing zimage file)...will it work?
Also, can anyone tell me how to make a CWM zip...i know there is a post for that on XDA but i am not able to find it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To answer the first question, it won't straight out work. You have to add the images to the file 'framework-res.apk' in the 'drawable-hdpi' folder located within it. Different framework-res.apk's will differ from ROM to ROM, and will just FC or bootloop your phone if you use one that it doesn't like. That's why most themes have the ROM they will work with posted in the title. If it is the same base ROM (in the case of my phone, running Assonance, any JK3 theme will work), then it is as simple as drag & drop. But if it's between say Axura and Assonance, it would have to be manually changed as stated above, since there may be subtle differences in the framework.
As for the second question, here ya go
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=717437

viny2cool said:
Sorry for my noobness...Just trying to learn this stuff
So if i rip out all framework folders from one rom and manually replace them in another rom (like i did for kernel..replacing zimage file)...will it work?
Also, can anyone tell me how to make a CWM zip...i know there is a post for that on XDA but i am not able to find it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the theme was made for JPY and the Rom you want to put it on is JPY, it should work. However, there are sometimes system apps which need to be installed with the theme. Easyest thing would be to rip it off, put it on your rom and see if it works. Experiment a bit, thats how you'll learn.

thanks and thanks.
Its really interesting to have a full control of your phone....so i am enjoying learning this stuff....tried using UOT kitchen but got errors...
I just want to modify notification bar...
I am on darky's 7.7...i will have to look for compatible theme

viny2cool said:
I am on darky's 7.7...i will have to look for compatible theme
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's plenty of jpy based themes in the i9000>theme section.

You could metamorph it if it doesn't require any xml edits... it looks like Marilyn img edits which could be taken foment that rom..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

i have a question along these same lines. if one wanted to copy the notification pulldown from a different ROM|theme, how would you do so? im using Perception 9.5 which is built on JK3, but the Androdena theme is built on JPX files. all i want is the notification pulldown elements. can you just copy those image files over and go? i always see themers talking about 9.pngs and i was just wondering if they'd prohibit just a simple copy from one tw-framework to another.

[Q] Making Minor Theme Modifications

Hello Devs,
I'm interested in making a few very minor modifications to the overall theme for my phone. I'm currently using FireFly, and although I like it for the most part, I'm not very fond of the current animation used to display dialogs.
I currently develop for Android, so I'm familiar with aspects of applying styles and themes to my own app as well as using styles from within the android.jar. I've read a few things about doing this, but I'm hoping there's a way to clear up some loose ends.
1. If I were to just open up and modify the main FireFly zip package, paricularly the files under /system/framework/framework-res.apk, would it be possible to to zip it back up, flash back to stock and then follow the usual procedure to install the Rom?
2. Is it possible to modify that .apk and just upload it directly to the my current rom?
3. Do I need to be concerned with apk signing?
Thanks to everyone in advance,
Jeremiah

Im not a moderator but I believe this should be in themes section or Q&A. =/
From what Ive done. You can modify the zip packages. Best results I'v had is using 7zip to modify them internally. Ive only modified images in them, and my little experience you have to keep the same amount of images it had from the beginning. Im not sure if that is changed by modifying the xml's or something else.

prbassplayer said:
Im not a moderator but I believe this should be in themes section or Q&A. =/
From what Ive done. You can modify the zip packages. Best results I'v had is using 7zip to modify them internally. Ive only modified images in them, and my little experience you have to keep the same amount of images it had from the beginning. Im not sure if that is changed by modifying the xml's or something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn it... I had a feeling I missed a section this would be belong more in, my eyes glazed right past the words Theme in the App/Theme section. A mod is more than welcome to move it, sorry for the mistake.
Thanks for the advice though

I haven't done any themeing myself mainly because I'm too lazy, but from what I understand based off what other people who do theme have said to modify the number of images you need to edit the corresponding xml file.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1227179
Might help alleviate some of your worries about signed apks and what not.

Many of the colors are handles by XML. You will need to decomplie apks to modify xml files and then recompile them again.
You can use APK Manager to decomplie and recomple the APK packages.
Also, go through this thread.
PS: Request mods to move this thread to Q&A section.

Takes time to do it. I used to do a lot of themeing to roms but had to hang it up. You have to know what picture files to change and then what each line is in each .XML.

IlluminatedOne said:
Many of the colors are handles by XML. You will need to decomplie apks to modify xml files and then recompile them again.
You can use APK Manager to decomplie and recomple the APK packages.
Also, go through this thread.
PS: Request mods to move this thread to Q&A section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, thanks so much for this, exactly the information I was looking for.

Adding a Theme Chooser theme to a ROM permanently (as default/system setup)

If this is in the wrong forum, please move for me, could not determine where to ask this...
A quick question, I hope someone can point me in the right direction....
On Theme Chooser themes, how can I take a theme and integrate it into a ROM so it is the "default" of "system" theme. I know I can just migrate the graphics over to the proper files (framework-res and systemUI) but there are also quite a few xml files involved, and no easy way I can tell as to where to put these or how to use them as their filenames don't all match the original files in the ROM. When you apply a Theme Chooser theme, it does not effect the atcual framework files, correct? In other words, if you aplly the theme you can't just copy the frameowrk and systemUI files to capture it. I tested this and from I could tell, it did not work like that. I hope this makes sense, very much looking forward to any help someone experienced with this can offer.

How to replace ROM icons

Hi guys =)
I need your help please, because I want to replace icons of a ROM (I know I must change framework-res.apk ?) by own icons or another ROM's icons.
I have .jpg (or another image file) but if I note in the apk, it's .xml file.
So, I'm lost.

one of the easiest method in my opinion:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1225432

Maneth said:
Hi guys =)
I need your help please, because I want to replace icons of a ROM (I know I must change framework-res.apk ?) by own icons or another ROM's icons.
I have .jpg (or another image file) but if I note in the apk, it's .xml file.
So, I'm lost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend UOT Kitchen. http://uot.dakra.lt/kitchen/
Here is the related thread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=990829
You can also use the application called "Rom Toolbox". But i didn't use it so i can't give any feedback. But i used UOT kitchen and worked like a charm.. And looks like crazy beautiful.