If you have ever wanted to use a custom font on your phone and have tried to change the font using iFont you will know the resulting theme file generated by iFont doesn't work. Fortunately, there is a simple fix.
1. Use iFont to create a theme file containing your desired custom font.
2. This theme file is stored under /storage/Huawei/Themes and will have a name similar to "iFont-123456789.hwt".
3. Copy this file to your PC, and change the file extention to .zip.
4. Using 7-Zip or similar extract the fonts folder and open it.
5. You will see the folder contains two font files one called "Roboto-Regular" and the other called "Roboto-Bold".
6. Both of these files contain a copy of your desired font.
7. Change the name of one of these files to "DroidSansChinese".
8. Replace the fonts folder in your zip file with your newly modified fonts folder.
9. It's important that your modified fonts folder contains two font files (each with a different name) and the "pic_font_default" file.
10. Change the zip file extension back to "hwt" and copy it back to your phone replacing the original.
You can then apply the font by changing the text style using your phones Themes app.
Related
Well Im not great at directions so this is the best i can do.
Summary
There are 2 ways that I know to port a theme to your device.
1. Using the metamorph app if its a metamorph theme.
2. Using 7zip ect.. if its a flashable theme. (most common)
Metamorph Instructions
1. First things first is to download the theme that you want to port.
2. Your theme will be a zip file containing only image files from apk's
3. Put the zip file on your sd card
4. Make sure your device is set to 320x480 resolution or metamorph app will not work.
5. Open metamorph app and start a new project.
6. Locate your zip file and let all the apks load up.
7. Install each apk one at a time. Do not install any jar files as they will cause your phone not to boot.
8. Reboot and your Theme should be working on your phone.
Flashable Theme Porting Instructions
Its not that difficult, once you get the hang of how 7zip works it will be your best freind. Its just a process of dragging and dropping images from one apk to another all within 7zip.
What the metamorph app does is takes themed images and places them into the correct apks res\drawable folders in your system.
Knowing what metamorph does as an app, you can do this manually using 7zip.
1. Download the theme that you want to port. It will be a system folder with an app,framework, and font folder inside of it.
2. Open up that system folder with 7zip
3. Make a copy of the system folder of your current rom and open up that system with 7zip as well. You should now have 2 different 7zips open. Make sure to keep track of witch is witch.
4. Open up the app folder of the themed system and open up the first apk thats in there.
5. Go into the res\drawable folder in the apk in both your system and the themed system.
6. highlight and drag and drop only the images from that folder to the same folder in the other base apk. Make sure to NOT highlight any xmls.
7. Do the same for any images in any other drawable folders the are mdpi.
8. If there are only hdpi folders and no mdpi folders than you will have to convert those images to mdpi size before using them. If there are both, than only use the mdpi images.
9. When finished overwriting those images in that first apk, go back to the other apks in the app folder and do the same thing. You can do all of this from with in 7zip. No need to exit 7zip in this entire process.
10. Open up the themed framework folder and you will see a framework-res.apk file. Open up that file, you will see the same res\drawable folders.
11. Also open up the framework-res.apk from the base theme in the other 7zip as well. And overwrite the images just like the other apks making sure not to overwrite any xmls.
12. Back out of that back into the framework folder itself, if there is a services.jar in the theme than you will want to use overwrite that file as well.
13. Back out of the framework folder, If there is a fonts folder in the theme, You will want to overwrite those files as well.
14. Now you are done modifying your base theme with all the images from the theme.
15. You can now close the themed 7zip that you downloaded and leave open the 7zip containing you newly modified apks. Create a folder on your desktop called "system". Inside that, create a folder called "app", "framework", and "fonts"
16. Move only the modified apks that you replaced images in into the correct folders in your new system folder.
17. Make an androidupdate.tar with 7zip out of your new system folder and you are ready to flash it using nomorootfs method.
Tips:
Using the shift button to highlight mutiple images saves time.
Using the ctrl button to highlight images with xmls between them aaves time.
Switching views to have all images at the top and xmls at the bottom saves time.
If i forgot steps, I appologize.
Excellent guide.
The only thing I would mention is that most of the time services.jar is specific to a particular rom and as such may not work correctly with the target rom. As services.jar really only contains themed elements for the titlebar, you are better off using colorChanger's, apkTool or a hex editior to manually change the titlebar colors.
Also, in some cases (Like ProLauncher) the apk's must be signed. I prefer to use the test keys and this handy context menu here.
simple direct and effective. thanks again for all you do sir.
myn said:
Excellent guide.
The only thing I would mention is that most of the time services.jar is specific to a particular rom and as such may not work correctly with the target rom. As services.jar really only contains themed elements for the titlebar, you are better off using colorChanger's, apkTool or a hex editior to manually change the titlebar colors.
Also, in some cases (Like ProLauncher) the apk's must be signed. I prefer to use the test keys and this handy context menu here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info man.
BTW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYN
Dzo Odex sample with standard theme
Thanks for this info. This will help a million. Could you also put light on how to odex it?
Eg: Dzo's odexed sample of donut has plastic theme, can it be changed to a standard android theme using the steps above and then odex it to create a androidinstall.tar?
Nice guide.
Thanks for making this.
Ill probably start trying to theme when i finish school in 2 weeks or so.
how to convert hdpi to mdpi
1. Kindly read my post at
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1078446
2. Download this file
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28960469/Lalit lock.zip
3. Download these trial icon files
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28960469/256x256.rar
4. Download a free tool Paint.net (google...its free for windows).
5. Patience is required only once then onceu r done..u'll remember all on fingertips
- Make two separate folders and copy icon files in one.
- Open the downloaded zip file with winrar and extract the contents to another folder (do not mess around with original zip always make a backup copy)
- In extracted files you will have three folders
data
meta-inf
system
- open system then app u will find htclockscreen.apk ..Extract this file in different place so that u can view it separately.
- when you have extracted htclockscreen.apk (winrar can do it) go to folder htclockscreen.apk>res>drawable-hdpi folder.
6. Now you will see all the icon files used by lockscreen.. And you will easily identify the icons used by me in my lock screen.(screenshots)
7. Now either use your own collection or the demo icons provided by me open each file you want to edit with paint.net and edit the file as per your
requirement and play around with icons as you like.
8. Now u have a new set of icons in drawable-hdpi folder.
9. Important
Open the lalit lock.zip (do not extract jst keep clicking in winrar in sequense
lalit lock.zip>system>app>htclockscreen.apk>res>drawable-hdpi
copy the icons you edited here via drag and drop (do not destroy the directory or file structure)
10. Let it recompile zip if it asks.
11. Do backup and jst shoot ur zip and u will have ur lockscreen
Happy modding
Is it possible to get the icons in an icon pack in separate image files?
*bump*
i'm wondering the same thing, how to extract the image files from an ADW icon pack?
Getting image files
vince_junior said:
Is it possible to get the icons in an icon pack in separate image files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can make a copy of the apk file and change the apk to zip. After changing the file designation use your favorite unzipping program and extract the files. You should find the icons listed in one of the folders as .png files.
awesome, thanks!
there's no apk file if the pack is downloaded from the market, right? so i just have to search for icon packs in the net?
thanks, tabfreak!
Yes, even if you install from market there is an apk file. If you are rooted there are any number of programs to use to copy the file to your sd card or to a network drive. I use SystemPanel App/ Task Manager (a paid app) to backup all my apps. You can also use a free app "App Backup & Restore" to backup unprotected apps to the sd card and then access the backup from the sd card with the tab attached to your pc.
You don't need to be rooted. Use "ES File Explorer". Go to the apps. Long press the icon pack app and select "share". Then you can save the apk anywhere you want.
So to get this straight: I have to create a zip of the apk and then extract the icon files. Could that be done through the phone or is winrar necessary? And as far as zipping the apk, that could be done with any file explorer?
Sent from SM-T800 or SM-G920F Using IronRom or WETA Audiophile Rom
Steps to pull .png files from an icon pack
Zwhlol-Zniper said:
So to get this straight: I have to create a zip of the apk and then extract the icon files. Could that be done through the phone or is winrar necessary? And as far as zipping the apk, that could be done with any file explorer?
Sent from SM-T800 or SM-G920F Using IronRom or WETA Audiophile Rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rename the extension of the .apk to .zip. Then extract the zip file.
As an example for the Axis font pack:
1) Find the "base.apk" for the font pack by searching with ES Explorer at the device root level (/)
2) Copy the apk file to another folder
3) Rename "base.apk" to "axis.zip"
4) Extract the zip with the tool of your choice
5) Navigate to "<extract folder>/res/drawable-nodpi-v4" and you will see all of the icons in .png format
sparzdos said:
Steps to pull .png files from an icon pack
Rename the extension of the .apk to .zip. Then extract the zip file.
As an example for the Axis font pack:
1) Find the "base.apk" for the font pack by searching with ES Explorer at the device root level (/)
2) Copy the apk file to another folder
3) Rename "base.apk" to "axis.zip"
4) Extract the zip with the tool of your choice
5) Navigate to "<extract folder>/res/drawable-nodpi-v4" and you will see all of the icons in .png format
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for this procedure Sparzdos, I was looking for this since a while
now I can extract only the icons I want from each pack whitout risks of getting virusses on the phone
Hi
I modified Kroz's Asul theme (OK) but now I'd like to add new themed apps like Chrome to start with an example.
I extract the apk file on my PC then I modify the .png and .9.png files.
I copy/paste the files in the right directories.
But now it seems that I have to create an .xml file in res/xml folder:
1/ How to know which name I have to use for the new .xml file?
2/ Which redirections I have to enter to apply the themed pictures?
Thanks in advance.
EDIT
Answers:
1/ How to know which name I have to use for the new .xml file? Check "package" in AndroidManifest.xml of themed app
2/ Which redirections I have to enter to apply the themed pictures? one line for each same file nam without extension. Example: one line for drawable folders and one other for mipmap folders.
Hey guys,
you might have discovered that on your Mate 7 all app icons (that shouldn't have a background) have a background set by your phone.
However, this does not always look good (in my opinion at least) - so I tried to fix it.
There is basically a simple solution to it which I want to share with you here.
Requirements
7zip or any other similar tool on your computer
A file manager app on your phone that supports accessing the whole file system (for example "FX File Explorer")
My solution will probably work with other apps and programs too but I will only describe it for these exact ones.
Part 1: Copying the theme to an accessible location
Copying a preinstalled theme
Open FX File Explorer on your phone. Locate the System category and open it.
Navigate to /system/themes and copy the file you wish to modify. (long press -> copy). The default theme is "Golden.hwt"
Now go back to the main window in FX.
Go to Main Storage and paste the file there. (click on "CLIPBOARD" in the top right corner and click paste in the sidebar that just opened)
Copying a user-installed theme
For user-installed themes this process is optional and mostly unnecessary. However, I will explain it anyway:
Open FX File Explorer on your phone. Locate the Main Storage category and open it
Navigate to HWThemes and copy the file you wish to modify. This time you might have to copy all the .hwt files because they aren't named the same as the theme.
Step 3 and 4 are the same as for preinstalled themes.
Part 2: Modifying the theme
Connect your phone to your computer. Open it with explorer or the file manager you have installed if you are not using Windows.
In the folder Internal Storage you should now find the themes you copied in part 1. Move them to your computer.
For user-installed themes you have to locate the correct theme first. To do that, you have to open each file with 7zip and look for the name in the file description.xml inside the zip (The name is always the entry "title")
Once you have found the correct theme, open it with 7zip. then doubleclick on icons inside the zip.
Download the universal transparent icon pack from the attachment. Open it in a seperate window of 7zip.
Copy all the files in the downloaded zip to the image folder in the theme.
Now navigate up one directory inside the theme zip. Open the file description.xml again and change the name inside the title tag. (Example: <title>XYZ</title> -> <title>XYZ_modified</title>
Close 7zip and copy the file back to your device. YOU HAVE TO PLACE IT IN THE "HWThemes" FOLDER!
Now you can enable the theme just like you activate any other theme (in the Designs app)
Congratulations, you have removed the icon backgrounds from your theme.
Sorry if my english is not that good... It's not my native language
I tried this on Ascend G6 (EMUI3.0).
Srangly enough, it works for some icons, but some icons (not the stock ones!) still have a coloured added background.
MrStickmanPro1 said:
Hey guys,
you might have discovered that on your Mate 7 all app icons (that shouldn't have a background) have a background set by your phone.
However, this does not always look good (in my opinion at least) - so I tried to fix it.
There is basically a simple solution to it which I want to share with you here.
Requirements
7zip or any other similar tool on your computer
A file manager app on your phone that supports accessing the whole file system (for example "FX File Explorer")
My solution will probably work with other apps and programs too but I will only describe it for these exact ones.
Part 1: Copying the theme to an accessible location
Copying a preinstalled theme
Open FX File Explorer on your phone. Locate the System category and open it.
Navigate to /system/themes and copy the file you wish to modify. (long press -> copy). The default theme is "Golden.hwt"
Now go back to the main window in FX.
Go to Main Storage and paste the file there. (click on "CLIPBOARD" in the top right corner and click paste in the sidebar that just opened)
Copying a user-installed theme
For user-installed themes this process is optional and mostly unnecessary. However, I will explain it anyway:
Open FX File Explorer on your phone. Locate the Main Storage category and open it
Navigate to HWThemes and copy the file you wish to modify. This time you might have to copy all the .hwt files because they aren't named the same as the theme.
Step 3 and 4 are the same as for preinstalled themes.
Part 2: Modifying the theme
Connect your phone to your computer. Open it with explorer or the file manager you have installed if you are not using Windows.
In the folder Internal Storage you should now find the themes you copied in part 1. Move them to your computer.
For user-installed themes you have to locate the correct theme first. To do that, you have to open each file with 7zip and look for the name in the file description.xml inside the zip (The name is always the entry "title")
Once you have found the correct theme, open it with 7zip. then doubleclick on icons inside the zip.
Download the universal transparent icon pack from the attachment. Open it in a seperate window of 7zip.
Copy all the files in the downloaded zip to the image folder in the theme.
Now navigate up one directory inside the theme zip. Open the file description.xml again and change the name inside the title tag. (Example: <title>XYZ</title> -> <title>XYZ_modified</title>
Close 7zip and copy the file back to your device. YOU HAVE TO PLACE IT IN THE "HWThemes" FOLDER!
Now you can enable the theme just like you activate any other theme (in the Designs app)
Congratulations, you have removed the icon backgrounds from your theme.
Sorry if my english is not that good... It's not my native language
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But do I have to downl. your file to get bckgrnd removed ?
Can u show us one screenshot of icons ? how it looks like ?
Thnx
helped!!! BROTHER THIS REALLY HELPED A LOT.. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.........
mrstickmanpro1 said:
hey guys,
you might have discovered that on your mate 7 all app icons (that shouldn't have a background) have a background set by your phone.
However, this does not always look good (in my opinion at least) - so i tried to fix it.
There is basically a simple solution to it which i want to share with you here.
requirements
7zip or any other similar tool on your computer
a file manager app on your phone that supports accessing the whole file system (for example "fx file explorer")
my solution will probably work with other apps and programs too but i will only describe it for these exact ones.
part 1: Copying the theme to an accessible location
copying a preinstalled theme
open fx file explorer on your phone. Locate the system category and open it.
navigate to /system/themes and copy the file you wish to modify. (long press -> copy). The default theme is "golden.hwt"
now go back to the main window in fx.
go to main storage and paste the file there. (click on "clipboard" in the top right corner and click paste in the sidebar that just opened)
copying a user-installed theme
for user-installed themes this process is optional and mostly unnecessary. However, i will explain it anyway:
open fx file explorer on your phone. Locate the main storage category and open it
navigate to hwthemes and copy the file you wish to modify. This time you might have to copy all the .hwt files because they aren't named the same as the theme.
step 3 and 4 are the same as for preinstalled themes.
part 2: Modifying the theme
connect your phone to your computer. Open it with explorer or the file manager you have installed if you are not using windows.
in the folder internal storage you should now find the themes you copied in part 1. Move them to your computer.
for user-installed themes you have to locate the correct theme first. To do that, you have to open each file with 7zip and look for the name in the file description.xml inside the zip (the name is always the entry "title")
once you have found the correct theme, open it with 7zip. Then doubleclick on icons inside the zip.
download the universal transparent icon pack from the attachment. Open it in a seperate window of 7zip.
copy all the files in the downloaded zip to the image folder in the theme.
now navigate up one directory inside the theme zip. Open the file description.xml again and change the name inside the title tag. (example: <title>xyz</title> -> <title>xyz_modified</title>
close 7zip and copy the file back to your device. you have to place it in the "hwthemes" folder!
now you can enable the theme just like you activate any other theme (in the designs app)
congratulations, you have removed the icon backgrounds from your theme.
sorry if my english is not that good... It's not my native language
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thİs really helped bro.. And it works too. Thanks again.. I have beeen looking for this for ages... But i found itnow..
Hi,
This is something I was eagerly looking forward on my new Y6 (EMUI 3.1).
I have followed all your steps unto 6.
Bit confused with "Copy all the files in the downloaded zip to the image folder in the theme.".
Can you please clarify the above for me?
Thanks in advance :good:
MrStickmanPro1 said:
Hey guys,
you might have discovered that on your Mate 7 all app icons (that shouldn't have a background) have a background set by your phone.
However, this does not always look good (in my opinion at least) - so I tried to fix it.
There is basically a simple solution to it which I want to share with you here.
Requirements
7zip or any other similar tool on your computer
A file manager app on your phone that supports accessing the whole file system (for example "FX File Explorer")
My solution will probably work with other apps and programs too but I will only describe it for these exact ones.
Part 1: Copying the theme to an accessible location
Copying a preinstalled theme
Open FX File Explorer on your phone. Locate the System category and open it.
Navigate to /system/themes and copy the file you wish to modify. (long press -> copy). The default theme is "Golden.hwt"
Now go back to the main window in FX.
Go to Main Storage and paste the file there. (click on "CLIPBOARD" in the top right corner and click paste in the sidebar that just opened)
Copying a user-installed theme
For user-installed themes this process is optional and mostly unnecessary. However, I will explain it anyway:
Open FX File Explorer on your phone. Locate the Main Storage category and open it
Navigate to HWThemes and copy the file you wish to modify. This time you might have to copy all the .hwt files because they aren't named the same as the theme.
Step 3 and 4 are the same as for preinstalled themes.
Part 2: Modifying the theme
Connect your phone to your computer. Open it with explorer or the file manager you have installed if you are not using Windows.
In the folder Internal Storage you should now find the themes you copied in part 1. Move them to your computer.
For user-installed themes you have to locate the correct theme first. To do that, you have to open each file with 7zip and look for the name in the file description.xml inside the zip (The name is always the entry "title")
Once you have found the correct theme, open it with 7zip. then doubleclick on icons inside the zip.
Download the universal transparent icon pack from the attachment. Open it in a seperate window of 7zip.
Copy all the files in the downloaded zip to the image folder in the theme.
Now navigate up one directory inside the theme zip. Open the file description.xml again and change the name inside the title tag. (Example: <title>XYZ</title> -> <title>XYZ_modified</title>
Close 7zip and copy the file back to your device. YOU HAVE TO PLACE IT IN THE "HWThemes" FOLDER!
Now you can enable the theme just like you activate any other theme (in the Designs app)
Congratulations, you have removed the icon backgrounds from your theme.
Sorry if my english is not that good... It's not my native language
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi ArnoJeroen,
Huawei Y6 / EMUI 3.1
I am facing the same problem It works for some icons but not for all ... did you find out any solutions to resolve this? any feedback will be much appreciated.
ArnoJeroen said:
I tried this on Ascend G6 (EMUI3.0).
Srangly enough, it works for some icons, but some icons (not the stock ones!) still have a coloured added background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse