Ok, I'm going around in circles trying to find out if I can theme a rom. I've done themes, icons, UI (just the images, not the xml's or codes) I would love to create my own theme for a rom, but how does it work?
I wanted to create a rom but its difficult when you're not a code person. but I am good with photoshop. Can somebody tell me how to start a theme. There are so many good ones for other phones and I would love to create a nice one for the Eris.
what i would do is grab one of the themes that are available and take it apart and see how it was done, but best of luck man,
I personally have not made any themes but i do like to tweak things where i can, and that would be a step i take to figure something out.
snyluc13 said:
what i would do is grab one of the themes that are available and take it apart and see how it was done, but best of luck man,
I personally have not made any themes but i do like to tweak things where i can, and that would be a step i take to figure something out.
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thanks. I wanted to theme like the phone dialer, calculator, and maybe the drop down screen. Is that possible?
You can theme phone, kb, notification panel, etc...anything really
To theme the "system" stuff you need to modify framework-res.apk (can be found in /system/framework)
To theme anything else you just need to modify the .apk files, i.e. to theme the phone dialer you need to modify phone.apk and contacts.apk
To theme anything you will need to change the file extension to .zip (.apk changed to .zip) and then extract the file so that you can explore what is inside. Most image and xml files are stored in /res/drawable-mdpi
Once you have modified .png and xml files you will need to zip the file and then sign it so that it can be used on android. There are a number of tools for signing .apk files, just google it.
Hope this helps a little...
Hello!
I'm trying to make my own Rom right now. With dsixda's Kitchen it isn't very hard to do so I thought I'd just give it a try. I'm taking a rooted official Update (Version: 2.10.405.2) as my base. Adding busybox runparts, the /data/app functionality, a2sd+, the custom bootanimation functionality etc. isn't a problem. Removing some apps like Maps, Facebook, Teeter (and so on) and adding some like Rom Manager, Neocore or Quadrant isn't a problem, too. But if I want to implement a theme like the Carbon Espresso Mod or a theme I made with the UOT Kitchen I'm getting bootloops at booting the phone. Here's what I do: I unzip the folder (for example a theme made with the UOT Kitchen) and I copy over the framework-res.apk from the unzipped folder to my Working Folder of the Kitchen (to system/framework) and I overwrite the original framework-res.apk.
And NO: I didn't choose a battery mod or a bootanimation in the UOT Kitchen....
Hope you guys can help me
I might be wrong but doesn't the new file have to be signed? I know there is a signing option in the kitchen.
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It's a system .apk so it doesn't have to be signed.
I can't shed any light on the subject, but here's a bump.
Are you replacing the whole "framework-res.apk" file? If so then you will need to resign your entire ROM. Why? When you change a system file ("framework-res.apk", "com.htc.framework.apk", "twframework-res", "rosie.apk", etc.) it no longer has a matching "signature" for all the files it serves images to. Plug your phone into your computer and open up "ddms" in your android_sdk > tools folder to watch what happens when the phone boots up.
A workaround (The way I do it, it's more fun IMHO) is to open up your .apk files in 7zip (or if you're on a mac BetterZip) and add the images from the themed .apk to your stock .apk. This way makes it so your original .apk has the same signature as your other system files yet has the new images from the other files that you wanted. I've had a lot of luck with this method. I don't know if it will still work if you change any .xml files as I have not messed with those yet.
I've subscribed to this thread so if you have any questions post back here or you can PM me if you want. I'm on XDA all day, every day so I'll try to help as much as I can.
Thanks for all the answers! Especially to you, mbobino. Is there a way to sign the whole Rom new? When I make my Rom at the End, the Kitchen signs it automatically, doesn't it? The idea with the images is very good, but if I want to implement a theme like Carbon Espresso it isn't that easy, 'cause Carbon Espresso isn't just a few images. There are several .xml's etc.
The reason you boot loop is mis matched resource ID's in the public.xml file. If you decompile the framework using apktool after adding your images using an archiver then recompile apktool will update the public file for you which saves you from pulling ID''s for every image. I have a video tutorial of how to set up apktool and decompile framework in my Rom thread. Changing images in app apk's won't cause you to boot loop just messing with the framework will.
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DomiKamp said:
Thanks for all the answers! Especially to you, mbobino. Is there a way to sign the whole Rom new? When I make my Rom at the End, the Kitchen signs it automatically, doesn't it? The idea with the images is very good, but if I want to implement a theme like Carbon Espresso it isn't that easy, 'cause Carbon Espresso isn't just a few images. There are several .xml's etc.
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The kitchen signs the .zip that you flash when you build it. It does not sign any .apks for you on its own. However, there is an option to sign .apks within the kitchen.
In my opinion, taking all of the images and figuring out how it all works is fun. I feel like I've already learned quite a bit from just digging around and moving files around.
As for the .xml files, you can decompile the .apk and edit them and then recompile the .apk. I'm actually looking into this today. It sounds like some work but hopefully I'll get it figured out.
Sounds like fun indeed So, I'll just have to try it. Where can I find the "Settings" for the Notification Bar? Thanks
The variois status*.xml files in the res/layout folder of the framework-res.apk and the status*.smali files in the services.jar.
What? If I want to implement a Theme made with the UOT Kitchen (without battery) I should just copy over those files to my existing res-framework.apk OR copy over the whole res-framework.apk (the new one) and sign it?
EDIT: Just tried it with a theme from the UOT Kitchen and it worked perfectly. I've just signed the res-framework.apk and the htc.com.resources.apk (or whatever) in the Kitchen, flashed it on my Phone and it just worked like a Charm. But I have got a 50% Transparent Notification Bar and all the system icons (Battery and time/date) are still black and not transparent! Has anyone got a idea where to change this? (.xml or whatever)...And does anyone know where I can find the HTC Wallpapers? I want to change them a little bit
HeyItsLou said:
The reason you boot loop is mis matched resource ID's in the public.xml file. If you decompile the framework using apktool after adding your images using an archiver then recompile apktool will update the public file for you which saves you from pulling ID''s for every image. I have a video tutorial of how to set up apktool and decompile framework in my Rom thread. Changing images in app apk's won't cause you to boot loop just messing with the framework will.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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HeyItsLou, I looked up your ROM thread but couldn't locate the video tutorial.... do you mind providing the url? Specifically, I am trying to add to the list of wallpapers in a ROM. (I have setup apktool but not sure where/which folder to add my wallpapers in Framework-res.apk Launcher.apk before recompiling/signing). Thanks.
You COULD use the Theme Porter by daneshm90. It will only port the PNG s for it so things like clock colour n stuff will be lost, but it will get you alot closer...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=737526
Sent from my HTC Hero using XDA App
Thanks! But like I've written before in my Edit, I made it. The bigger theme (Carbon Espresso) wasn't a problem, too. I just had to sign the .apk's in system/app and system/framework (the kitchen doesn't do it by itself. You have to choose the option to sign a single .apk and then look, where the system/framework .apk's are...). Works great now!
DomiKamp said:
Thanks! But like I've written before in my Edit, I made it. The bigger theme (Carbon Espresso) wasn't a problem, too. I just had to sign the .apk's in system/app and system/framework (the kitchen doesn't do it by itself. You have to choose the option to sign a single .apk and then look, where the system/framework .apk's are...). Works great now!
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Isnt that what I said in the 2nd post -.- lol jk. Glad you got it working!
Yes! And that's why I tried it. And it worked! Thanks Husker and, of course, everybody else!
Glad you got it working. Welcome to the development side of android!
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I don't sign system files or apps and apkmanager among other threads I've read say not to. Im on a rooted backflip. I find I only have to sign third party apps to install.
Why do you have to sign YOUR files?
Sorry for answering that late. Had a few things to do, so I wasn't online very often
If you want to cook an App into your Rom (NeoCore for example), then you don't have to sign it. You can just copy it into data/app. But if you want to change the whole framework-res.apk of the Rom, you have to sign it. 'Cause if you don't sign it, you'll get a Bootloop. The framework-res.apk is a very important part of the Rom, so it has to "fit" to the others. There are some ID's which have to match. Otherwise it won't work. That's how I understood it
Another Question: Has anybody got an Idea where to change the things that are coming, when you first start the phone with a new Rom (the "installation" of the Rom)? I wan't to write: "Welcome to DomiKamp's Rom!" Or something like that...
bestialbub said:
I don't sign system files or apps and apkmanager among other threads I've read say not to. Im on a rooted backflip. I find I only have to sign third party apps to install.
Why do you have to sign YOUR files?
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I was curious about this too. I always edit the framework-res of any ROM I flash using a custom set of images I have and have never signed the apk afterwards and it has always worked. Maybe cause I'm only replacing images? I usually do this with framework-res and twframework-res and they both can sometimes grow by 1MB or more. Just my experience.
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DomiKamp said:
Sorry for answering that late. Had a few things to do, so I wasn't online very often
If you want to cook an App into your Rom (NeoCore for example), then you don't have to sign it. You can just copy it into data/app. But if you want to change the whole framework-res.apk of the Rom, you have to sign it. 'Cause if you don't sign it, you'll get a Bootloop. The framework-res.apk is a very important part of the Rom, so it has to "fit" to the others. There are some ID's which have to match. Otherwise it won't work. That's how I understood it
Another Question: Has anybody got an Idea where to change the things that are coming, when you first start the phone with a new Rom (the "installation" of the Rom)? I wan't to write: "Welcome to DomiKamp's Rom!" Or something like that...
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I think that in order to do the "welcome to" thing you'll have to edit the update-script file. I'm not 100% on it though. Look at a cm Rom and see what all is in there.
Sent from my HTC Evo 4G using XDA App
my first post so hello
I'm working on a red/black theme on my xoom tablet, and was wondering if anyone here knows how I can change the ui color to red? By ui i mean the buttons,clock,wifi,batt on the bottom bar.
I haven't rooted my xoom yet, which is a wifi xoom fyi, But I have a feeling I will have to probably modify something. Someone said I might have to use a custom rom as he believed it was hard-coded.
If you could point me in the right direction that would be great but any help is appreciated.
thx for reading
For the status bar edit files in systemui.apk in /system/app for other system components look in /system/framework/framework-res.apk ps apk files are zip files in disguise rename any .apk to .zip and you will be able to edit it then rezip and rename .apk for your theme though id suggest using theme chooser so it works with updates just download a theme and have a look inside to naming system is quite self explanatory
typed by using my vega as a tennis racquet
Hi I've been trying to change individual icons for my apps in MIUI with no luck. Does anyone here know how to change the icons?
Or if the only way to do it is to make my own theme, does anyone know how to do that? I've tried to follow a guide on the MIUI forum with no luck. It was a really easy thread and just didn't work at all.
Have also tried to modify an already existing theme with no luck. (rename .mtz to .zip. unzip, change the icons they have in there, rezip, rename to .mtz, do import theme from theme manager).
This has been bugging me, so if anybody knows that would be amazing! Thank you!
There might be an easier way, but I'm pretty sure you can open each application apk with a zip tool(winrar) and pull out the image icon, then edit it and replace the original in the zip tool(overwrite). then push the apk back to your phone.
Is there an easy way to replace icon images such as contacts. I downloaded some icons from a different theme and would like to use those instead of the ones I currently have. They are PNG files and I can't seem to find the original files in the framework directory.
Try ninjamorph in the market.
your looking in the frameworkres.apk located in the contacts.apk correct?