Related
I've seen it asked quite a few times now, so I thought I would share how I've been creating my own themes for the Nook. This is a quick and dirty guide as I've almost got it down to a science for quick, keyboard shortcut, theming.
Things you'll need
Photoshop or The Gimp for editing files
Android SDK so you can push and pull files to/from the Nook.
draw9patch app in the Android SDK /tools folder for creating 9.png files
APK Manager (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=6703735&postcount=1)
Notepad++ or some other text editor for editing XML files. After using Notepad++ on this, I'd highly recommend it though
An attention span
Some restraint
This is a rather good guide that helped me get started. My only complaint is that it is almost to complicated and includes more information than what is needed for a basic theme.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=916814
Getting Started:
Download the Android SDK and get it installed.
Download APK Manager
ADB pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk
Make a copy of the framework-res.apk files as a back-up in case you need to revert
Copy the framework-res.apk file to the /place-apk-here-for-modding folder under the APK Manager folder
Launch the APK Manager Script.bat file
Type in 22 to select the default project
Type in the number next to framework-res.apk in the list to select it as your project
Select 1 to extract the files
Select 9 to decompile (this is what makes the XML files readable)
Go to the /projects/framework-res/res folder under the APK Manager folder to view all the files from the theme
Images are located in the /drawable-mdpi folder. XML files are located throughout, but the files specific to layout are under the /layout folder. To change global settings, such as color codes and strings, edit the XML files under the /values folder.
Creating custom PNG files: If you are using Photoshop, use the Save For Web feature when saving. Save the image as PNG-24. Select None under the Matte option. Select None under Metadata.
A word on 9.png files: 9.png files are files that can be stretched by the OS. There is a 1 pixel border all the way around the image. In that 1 pixel border, you'll notice solid black lines here and there. The black pixels indicate which portions of the image are to be stretched. You can add this border and the black pixels in Gimp or Photoshop, or you can open the file the draw9patch app under the Android SDK /tools folder. The draw9patch app will actually display how the image will look when stretched as you add the black pixels around the border, so it can come in handy and it's what I prefer to use. You can open and edit .9.png files in draw9patch and edit the border even after you save the file.
Once you have all your files edited, recompile the APK package with APK Manager
Option 11
y
y
It will tell you to delete the files under the /keep folder that you have edited. Delete any images and XML files, from the /keep folder, you edited under the /projects folder. If you edited XML files, delete the /keep/res/resources.arsc file as well
Press any key to continue and let the script finish
In a separate command line window, mount your Nook's /system folder (adb shell mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mmcblk1p2 /system)
back in APK Manager, select 8
/system/framework/framework-res.apk
Reboot your Nook
Boot Loop: If you messed something up and are stuck in a boot loop, most of the time you can still mount your Nook, push the original framework-res.apk to it and reboot. Or, you can use an unedited version of the CWM flashable zip file from the link below.
NOTE: it is not smart to push your framework-res.apk file to the Nook. I've learned the hard way that you can only do this about 10 times before you run out of memory and can no longer boot your Nook until you reflash Froyo again.
I'd recommend only a few flashes on a bare bones copy of Froyo until you feel comfortable with working on the framework theme. After that, I'm attaching a base, flashable zip for you to use in CWM so you can flash the theme instead of pushing. This will prevent you from getting stuck in a boot loop (unless you do something wrong yourself).
To add your framework-res.apk file to the zip, just open the zip and replace the /system/framework/framework-res.apk file (I'd recommend 7zip).
A Few Goodies
I'm including all of the PSD files I use to edit and create themes. If you want to create your own, custom theme, these will get you started. The only downside to these PSD files is that they are at the MDPI scale. If you want to create an HDPI theme, you'll need to increase the sizes.
Link to PSD files for creating your own theme, plus the flashable CWM zip file:
http://jjis.me/android-theme-templates
Hey man, I know you theme the froyo roms, but Im attempting a theme for the Phiremod CM7 and I cant seem to get anything but splash hangs and bootloops. I theme CM7 for the hero so I know my way around that, but Im wondering if theres something about the Nook that I have to do differently. For instance what is the mount.sh file you have in the tools folder on your themes? Is that only for froyo? Any help you could give me would be appreciated.
PMDColeslaw said:
Hey man, I know you theme the froyo roms, but Im attempting a theme for the Phiremod CM7 and I cant seem to get anything but splash hangs and bootloops. I theme CM7 for the hero so I know my way around that, but Im wondering if theres something about the Nook that I have to do differently. For instance what is the mount.sh file you have in the tools folder on your themes? Is that only for froyo? Any help you could give me would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CM7 is a little different than the stock builds of Froyo and others. They use the theme manager for it. If you are looking to theme for CM7, I'd suggest learning what it is needed to package it for the theme manager. I spent about an hour one day trying to find documentation, but couldn't. If can, or have it, please let me know where to find it so I can link to it and use it myself.
With that said, it appears that CWM does not flash, or at least mount, the same on the Nook. I'm assuming it's because it's on the external SD card and not internal. The mount.sh file was borrowed from samuelhaff's flashable ROMs. It actually tells CWM to mount the internal memory and flash to it.
If you are flashing without the mount.sh, it could be why you're getting the boot loops.
CWM uses edify language instead of amend. Again, it took me forever to find little to no documentation on it.
If you are using the mount.sh file and you are still getting stuck in a boot loop, I did discover a little issue with it yesterday. I was trying to use it to flash my new theme without the Vending.apk mod and I kept getting stuck in a black screen during start up. I forgot my edify code deletes the Vending.apk file so that was causing my problem. If you know how to edit the file, go for it. If not, I'm planning on updating it to correct this. If you need to, for now, just copy the Vending.apk to your flashable zip file.
It deletes the services.jar file as well. This was a requirement on Froyo since the status bar text is black by default. The services.jar file has to be edited to change the status bar text to white. Since CM7 does not need that change, try pushing just the framework-res.apk file, reboot and see if you boot successfully. If so, that is more than likely your problem.
wretchedlocket said:
CM7 is a little different than the stock builds of Froyo and others. They use the theme manager for it. If you are looking to theme for CM7, I'd suggest learning what it is needed to package it for the theme manager. I spent about an hour one day trying to find documentation, but couldn't. If can, or have it, please let me know where to find it so I can link to it and use it myself.
With that said, it appears that CWM does not flash, or at least mount, the same on the Nook. I'm assuming it's because it's on the external SD card and not internal. The mount.sh file was borrowed from samuelhaff's flashable ROMs. It actually tells CWM to mount the internal memory and flash to it.
If you are flashing without the mount.sh, it could be why you're getting the boot loops.
CWM uses edify language instead of amend. Again, it took me forever to find little to no documentation on it.
If you are using the mount.sh file and you are still getting stuck in a boot loop, I did discover a little issue with it yesterday. I was trying to use it to flash my new theme without the Vending.apk mod and I kept getting stuck in a black screen during start up. I forgot my edify code deletes the Vending.apk file so that was causing my problem. If you know how to edit the file, go for it. If not, I'm planning on updating it to correct this. If you need to, for now, just copy the Vending.apk to your flashable zip file.
It deletes the services.jar file as well. This was a requirement on Froyo since the status bar text is black by default. The services.jar file has to be edited to change the status bar text to white. Since CM7 does not need that change, try pushing just the framework-res.apk file, reboot and see if you boot successfully. If so, that is more than likely your problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! I actually took yours apart and was able to correct my script and I noticed that the delete services.jar line was causing issues as well. If you can I'd like you to take a look at the updater script after I edited it and see if you see any errors. It's attached below. I have gotten the framework and other themed apps to flash fine, but for some reason the themed market will not install. After flash it is in the /system/app folder as vending.apk. but it doesn't actually replace the stock market anywhere else. I actually spent several hours today trying to get the market back because I got frustrated and went all delete happy in root explorer, lol.
As far as Theme Chooser goes, here is a decent tutorial, but I haven't taken the time to really try and change my whole MO to use it. I theme the aospCMod for the heroc without using the chooser app. You can also get some good tips on building themes for the chooser in the #aospbot irc channel. A few of the guys in there build themes for it.
View attachment updater-script.zip
PMDColeslaw said:
Thanks for the reply! I actually took yours apart and was able to correct my script and I noticed that the delete services.jar line was causing issues as well. If you can I'd like you to take a look at the updater script after I edited it and see if you see any errors. It's attached below. I have gotten the framework and other themed apps to flash fine, but for some reason the themed market will not install. After flash it is in the /system/app folder as vending.apk. but it doesn't actually replace the stock market anywhere else. I actually spent several hours today trying to get the market back because I got frustrated and went all delete happy in root explorer, lol.
As far as Theme Chooser goes, here is a decent tutorial, but I haven't taken the time to really try and change my whole MO to use it. I theme the aospCMod for the heroc without using the chooser app. You can also get some good tips on building themes for the chooser in the #aospbot irc channel. A few of the guys in there build themes for it.
View attachment 546902
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stupid question, but you are copying the vending file as Vending.apk and not vending.apk, correct?
Also, if you're using my themed market, there are only two icons that are customized. The rest looks stock.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
wretchedlocket said:
Stupid question, but you are copying the vending file as Vending.apk and not vending.apk, correct?
Also, if you're using my themed market, there are only two icons that are customized. The rest looks stock.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the file is Vending.apk but its my themed market.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
PMDColeslaw said:
Yeah the file is Vending.apk but its my themed market.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delay in response. I had too many things to do with the family yesterday.
If you haven't got this working yet, I'd suggest trying to start with removing just the /system/app/Vendind.apk file via the updater-script. If it works, then go back in and add each additional line until you run into problems again. At that point, you'll know what your problem is.
Since everything else (framework-res.apk, services.jar, etc.) gets replaced successfully, leave those lines alone. I'd just start with the basics of replacing the Vending.apk first and then work your way back up from there.
Hi,
I have downloaded many themes from this site and I really love them. However, personally, I like to mix some of the best from each theme into one new theme for my Vibrant. Can someone show me a way to do that? Detailed guide is highly appreciated. . Thanks.
I think there is a guide somewhere but take the themes you like, open the .zip file and under system/framework take out the framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk and use winrar to open those 2 files and each will have 1 folder FULL of .pngs.
Then you take out the same .apk files you have from the current rom you're using and get those same 2 folders that have the pictures... then drag and drop and overwrite what you want. Then you'd just replace the folders from your edited framework-res and twframework-res and put them back in your Rom apk files then put those in our phones system/framework with root explorer or adb..
That's a rough explanation sorry :/
I looked around and found a whole lot of nothing.
halp
Re
To create a theme your going to want to edit the visual ui of the phone. A good place to start is the systemui.apk and the main theme of the phone, in cm7's case, the cyanbread and system themes witch you can also find in system/app. Bassically with the systemui.apk and theme you are editing of your choice will be the finished product if your just starting, making a theme from scratch is a bit more complicated. As for boot animations that I believed is located in data/local and fonts should be in a folder for them selves I cannot think of the topr off of the top of my head but it is easy to identify I'm sure.
the way I edit and make themes is use the above apk's and just go crazy with transparencys and colors in gimp. Be in mind your going to need a Linux based os to edit the apks and place and take them from your zip rom your theming. I also think ther might be a apks editor for windows but idk what it is called.
Re
To create a theme your going to want to edit the visual ui of the phone. A good place to start is the systemui.apk and the main theme of the phone, in cm7's case, the cyanbread and system themes witch you can also find in system/app. Bassically with the systemui.apk and theme you are editing of your choice will be the finished product if your just starting, making a theme from scratch is a bit more complicated. As for boot animations that I believed is located in data/local and fonts should be in a folder for them selves I cannot think of the the closer off of the top of my head but it is easy to identify I'm sure.
the way I edit and make themes is use the above apk's and just go crazy with transparencys and colors in gimp. Be in mind your going to need a Linux based is to edit the apks and place and take them from your zip Tom your theming. I also think there might be a apks editor for windows but idk what it is called.
ya you are going to need to have the android sdk setup for the ADB and then you will use something like apk manager for pulling, extracting, decompiling, image edits, or xml edits which you can find here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
you will need the SDK setup first
which can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=834748
and here
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
then you need to know simple ADB commands like:
"adb pull /system/app/Mms.apk" and push command which is "adb push Mms.apk /system/app/"
more commands here:
http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/adb.html
and
http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-all-things-root/187820-how-adb-commands.html
it is also a GOOD idea to learn to use Eclipse for the compiling of the .9.png files which cannot be just simply edited and saved like a normal .png file can.
NOTE: the best way to edit the .9.png files are going to be with the Draw9Patch tool that is included in the SDK and draw the black lines (guides) this is located in the tools folder and then you use Eclipse to compile .. get rid of the black lines pretty much.
info about the .9.png can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=487001
info for eclipse, like how to set it up and download it is here:
http://developer.android.com/sdk/eclipse-adt.html#installing
does say to use the classic version of Eclipse.
once you have all of that figured out then you are pretty good. But there are other stuff to learn to like the programs themselves and stuff .. you will have to look on Google a lot .. I know that there isnt anything much there about any of this stuff .. I kid you not .. it took me a good 2 days to figure out how to use the apk manager and eclipse and how to alter the .9.png files. That was from getting bits and pieces off the web and a lot of trial and error .. the support around here sucks so dont expect much.
there is also a video that shows you how to setup the sdk along with the eclipse that is here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIL1UouA4dE
just use the previous links above to get the stuff like the sdk is at version 10 now and then the Eclipse Classic.
If this is too much for you to do and figure out then you are out of luck.
Yeah, I've used ADB and Eclipse before. I'm quite ****e at Eclipse, but I guess I could mozy around a bit and see if I could get the hang of it enough to do themes. I'm really eager to do that stuff.
Anyway, is there anything I'll have to look out for in regards to turning my phone into a lovely paperweight?
wauterboi said:
Yeah, I've used ADB and Eclipse before. I'm quite ****e at Eclipse, but I guess I could mozy around a bit and see if I could get the hang of it enough to do themes. I'm really eager to do that stuff.
Anyway, is there anything I'll have to look out for in regards to turning my phone into a lovely paperweight?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eh nothing that I have come across or know about.
so if you know ADB and a little with eclipse . what exactly are you trying to figure out?
Right now I'm trying to figure out how to open the APK. I used WinRAR to open the file and now when I try to open it in Eclipse, it just opens WinRAR. >_>
wauterboi said:
Right now I'm trying to figure out how to open the APK. I used WinRAR to open the file and now when I try to open it in Eclipse, it just opens WinRAR. >_>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the easiest and the best method is to use that apk manager that I linked in there and use that to extract the apk after you pull it from the phone using ADB
I usually use the adb pull /data/app and adb pull system/app to get all the apk files out at the same time.
after they are out you will put the ones you want to alter (up to 10 at a time) into the place apk here for modding folder and then open apk manager terminal ..
1) type 22 to select the apk that you want to mod.
2) then you will type 1 to extract it.
3) then you can go to the projects folder to see the extracted apk contents.
- usually the images that you want to alter will be in the res/drawable or the
res/drawable-hdpi or res/rawable-hdpi longfinger
- also some of the apps that do not use the .9.png files you will have to find
the image in two folders ... one for portrait mode and landscape mode.
alter the images you want and put them in the original folder.
4) then you will optimize the images which is option number 2.
5) then you will sign the apk which is number 3.
- if it is a system app select the correct option
6) then you will see an unsignedsomething.apk in the place apk here for modding.
7) to sign the apk you will hit number 4.
8) and then number 5 to zipalign the apk.
when you go back to your place apk here for maodding folder you will see that the unsignedsomething.apk is now signedsomething.apk
then you will push that to your phone using the adb/push something.apk /sdcard
then simply install the apk from the phone ... may have to uninstall the original app first.
winrar will not open the apk .. 7zip will . but i rarely use this as I cannot see the thumbnails for the images and cannot optimize the apk with it or anything else for that matter.
Here is a link to the wiki for the T-Mobile Theme Engine.
http://code.google.com/p/tmobile-themes/w/list
I know where to find them, the problem is i'm currently running newt's ics with sense 4.0 . I want to change the sense icons with ics icons. Where can i learn how to do this? I want to make a flashable zip. I know is too much to ask but i really want to learn how to do this. I know there are applications in google play but i want to be able to do this using other methods.
How to change apk icons
Mexhawk06 said:
I know where to find them, the problem is i'm currently running newt's ics with sense 4.0 . I want to change the sense icons with ics icons. Where can i learn how to do this? I want to make a flashable zip. I know is too much to ask but i really want to learn how to do this. I know there are applications in google play but i want to be able to do this using other methods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, download APK manager (search xda or google) and learn how it works. It's really straightforward, just mess around with it by dropping some apk's into the "place apk here for modding" folder and use the options to see what they do.
After that, find an AOSP rom and gapps, and put all of the apk's that you want the icon from into the modding folder, and extract each one. Now go to the projects folder, where you will find a subfolder for each app. In each app's subfolder, find the images folder, locate the app's icon.
Next do the same thing with the Sense version apps, locate the icon in the images folder. Take note of the name. Then go back to the AOSP icon and change the name of the file (if needed) to the same name as the Sense version icon. Last copy/replace the AOSP icon over the Sense icon, rezip the apk (using apk manager), push it to the /system/app folder on your phone (either with ADB or a file manager on your phone, if you do it either of these ways, a flashable zip is not needed), reboot, and you're done.
tjb3401 said:
First, download APK manager (search xda or google) and learn how it works. It's really straightforward, just mess around with it by dropping some apk's into the "place apk here for modding" folder and use the options to see what they do.
After that, find an AOSP rom and gapps, and put all of the apk's that you want the icon from into the modding folder, and extract each one. Now go to the projects folder, where you will find a subfolder for each app. In each app's subfolder, find the images folder, locate the app's icon.
Next do the same thing with the Sense version apps, locate the icon in the images folder. Take note of the name. Then go back to the AOSP icon and change the name of the file (if needed) to the same name as the Sense version icon. Last copy/replace the AOSP icon over the Sense icon, rezip the apk (using apk manager), push it to the /system/app folder on your phone (either with ADB or a file manager on your phone, if you do it either of these ways, a flashable zip is not needed), reboot, and you're done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much that was very easy. I just wanted to create a flashable zip so that i could share it with everybody else.
Mexhawk06 said:
WOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much that was very easy. I just wanted to create a flashable zip so that i could share it with everybody else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think there's some threads around xda on that, I just always theme stuff for myself cause I don't have time for people's requests so i've never looked into making flashable zips. Probably not too hard though. Have fun!
OK so I decided to write a tutorial with some hints on how to make a Sense 3.6 theme. This may also work on Sense 3.5 but I don’t have it to test it. This is done on Windows 7 64bit, but it should work similarly on earlier versions of Windows.
What you will need
M10 Tools
APK Multi Tool
Photo Editing Software – I use Photoshop AND Fireworks but Gimp will also work
Notepad++
Latest java and adb
Patience
Creativity
Please follow the instructions for proper installation of all of these tools on their respective page.
Download my basis theme
Copy the file into the place-apk-here-for-modding folder
Open the script
Option 25 – Set Current Project
Choose the basis theme
Option 9 – Decompile
Go to the Projects folder
Go to the com.htc.skin.rachelm920_basis folder
Go to the res folder
Drawable-hdpi and drawable-land-hdpi have the images. Values has the .xmls
Make any image edits you like. Also make and .xml edits you like.
I typically take the images in this folder and separate them based on the type, making several folders for different things like “pressed”, “focused” , “normal” “black” etc. Then whatever I changed black to I also change any references to 000000 to the color I changed it to. I do the same for the other colors. Make sure you keep the black lines on the .9 images. I usually use the “magic wand” to select the black borders and then do an invert selection so I select the rest of the picture. Make sure you move all the images back when done, and delete the folders.
Choose AndroidManifest.xml and open it with notepad++
Under where it says package=”com.htc.skin.rachelm920_basis” change the rachelm920_basis to what you would like your theme to be titled
Open M10 tools – M10Editor.exe
Click Load file
Browse to Projects\com.htc.skin.rachelm920_basis\assets\rachelm920_basis\drawable
Make sure the file type is m10 file
Choose shared.m10
Click on the m10 files tab
Check the Decode images box
Click Decompile/Show
In the editor tab select textures then texture
You should see a picture on the right
Right click on the picture and choose show in explorer
Make any image edits you like. I do the same process here as I did in the other folders.
In M10 tools click on the start tab
Click Save File
Close the M10 tools
Browse to projects\com.htc.skin.rachelm920_basis\assets
Rename rachelm920_basis to your skin name
In the Image folder, put a wallpaper you would like your skin to have as wallpaper.jpg replacing the one already there
This folder also contains the theme previews which are impossible to achieve unless you have root and a screen print program AFTER you install the theme on your phone.
Go back to APK Tool
Choose 11 - Compile
Is this a system apk? No
Would you like to copy over any additional files that you didn’t modify from the original apk in order to ensure least # of errors? YES
Go to the keep folder
Delete resources.arsc, the rachelm920_basis folder, wallpaper.jpg, and all of the images in drawable-hdpi and drawable-land-hdpi folders
Go back to APK Tool and press any button
Choose 12 - Sign apk
Go to the place-apk-here-for-modding folder. There should be a file called signedcom.htc.skin.rachelm920_basis.apk. Rename it to your theme's name. You can remove the word "signed" also.
Copy to the SD Card on your phone, browse using a file explorer and install.
If you have problems recompiling make sure that all of your .9 images have the black borders. Check the log file, it usually tells you what you did wrong.
Some good websites –
http://www.colourlovers.com where I get my color schemes from
http://www.color-hex.com a good hex site and also gives you color schemes based off of one color.
PS - The basis theme does not look good, it is just a basis to use to create your own.
Open for me
question, does this make a theme or a skin?
Skin sorry I worded it wrong
Sent from my customized Amaze from tapatalk
Guess I'll be giving this a shot other than my typical theming methods, thanks.
Wow I had been looking for something like this for a while. thanks
M10 tools
Can't get M10 tools to install, any direction you can give me?
Calabrese1984 said:
Can't get M10 tools to install, any direction you can give me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need a net.4 framework installed.
Red.
M10 tools
I do have net.4 framework installed.
Calabrese1984 said:
I do have net.4 framework installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then what do you mean it won't install? You have to extract the zip file and run the .exe file inside it.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
Thank you, I got it!
Thanks for good guidence
Lost
2.Copy the file into the place-apk-here-for-modding folder
3.Open the script
Where can i find the folder? how about the script? Sorry, noob...
cordz said:
2.Copy the file into the place-apk-here-for-modding folder
3.Open the script
Where can i find the folder? how about the script? Sorry, noob...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both the script is at the root of apkmanager. The the folder referred to is the /place-apk-here-for-modding/ folder, also in the root of apkmanager.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
why am i getting this(see attachment)
and also in step16 there is no assets file ?!?
How
Help.Bro how do i rename a sense theme and isntall it twice?
the basis theme's download link is gone
please give me a substitution or a solution
New link is up... still had it on my laptop Happy theming!
HELP
please I need your help
I didnt understand step 2
where is this "place apk here for modding after"?
stevenson97 said:
please I need your help
I didnt understand step 2
where is this "place apk here for modding after"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the apk tool it should have made several folders
Sent from my gorgeous Galaxy S3