Related
Trying to learn and I have yet to see a place for such basic questions. Also, there was a request for this type of information in my Sticky thread.
What is the difference? Both are done from Stericson... I've read he doesn't really use MetaMorph any longer (not sure if he does Ninja).
Metamorph is for theming... ninjamorph is for apps?
Is one better than the other?
Does a morph for one, work for the other?
Why morph vs. doing the flashes of a .zip file (old school way)......
Also... morphs... do they have to be specefic to your phone?
Would morphs for the Nexus work on our phone?
I know metamorph was suppose to make themeing easier and allow you to mix and match themes. Update.zip files couldn't to that easily. IIRC themes are specific to each device and ROM. I've seen ninja morph but have yet to use it. Would like to know how it works as well.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
To my understanding, Ninjamorph is for allowing you to extract and modify apk files to create the morphs on your phone (along with using something like silveredit to create the xml files). Metamorph just lets you apply the morphs.
I'd be curious to learn some more about this as well. I found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=763439 about creating morphs which is helpful but still leaves me with questions.
s15274n said:
Is one better than the other? They do different things. So far I figured out that ninjamorph is good for unpacking .apks so that you can find what you need to modify/modify it. Metamorph does the actual replacing.
Does a morph for one, work for the other? They do different things.
Why morph vs. doing the flashes of a .zip file (old school way)...... This seems to be because a morph doesn't change much and it allows you to make updates and things easier. Not really sure other than what I read in one of the battery mod threads and since using them a bit it is much faster to apply a morph.
Also... morphs... do they have to be specefic to your phone? Yes because they replace specificly named things. If you try and use one on a different device or different rom it may not work because the file names will be different. I don't think there is a reason you couldn't modify that though.
Would morphs for the Nexus work on our phone? Would probably need to be updated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use them together... Want a quick tut?
Go to ninja and start a new project...
System/framework/framework-res.apk
You just extracted the files from the app... Inside the res/drawable-hdmi folder are the images you want to change...
Statusbar_background.9.png is the status bar color... If you click it it will ask what you want to replace it with... you can do the same think to any other pics...
Now make a new folder, My_Morph, add another folder here, framework-res, and now another res,
copy the android themes/workspace/frameworkresapk/res/drawable-hdmi (folder you just changed) and add it to the res folder you just made..
Now to make an xml doc... I have a tut/template here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=759329
and there is one by stericson in my sticky morph thread...
I use silver edit to create my .xml docs on my phone...
Add the My_Morph.xml to the My_Morph folder with the framework-res folder.. You just made a morph...
To test the morph first you can finish project with ninja.. It will rebuild the apk then install it... This is how I build half of my stuff...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Junk you're the man. I think I just found me some android crack to play with lol.
Vibe the XDApp
What does this do? Needs to be installed? Bionox V...thanks!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
framework-res.apk is the visual template for your phone's OS. It is not a universal app, it is typically different for each firmware/ROM. When you hear the words "theme" or "theming", its referring to changes made to framework-res.apk. It consists of a bunch of .pngs and .xmls that dictate your OS's appearance (i.e. notifications bar, progress bar, pulldown menu, etc.).
Your phone WILL NOT operate without this, nor will it operate if you make improper changes to your framework (i.e. install a theme that isnt compatible with a certain ROM). It does not need to be installed, because you already have it, otherwise your phone would not even turn on.
Cool. The reason I was asking is because I was wanting to change done png's. (specifically the color of the xda app icon) I wanted blue instead of orange. I'm just trying to figure out how to do this.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
"some" png's
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
what you will have to do is extract the apk. you can use bitzipper or appmanager. (i would suggest bitzipper for simple .png edits, apk manager can be kind of buggy). simply open the .apk with bitzipper.....drag the "res" folder out onto your desktop. find the .png you want to edit. edit it. then drag the "res" folder back into framework-res.apk (it will automatically compress it for you.
once you make all of your changes, you will need to resign the app since its not a system app. you do this by first deleting the "meta-inf" folder. then you need to resign using any resigning tool.....i use this.......once you successfully sign it you can reinstall
Sooooo basically I've never actually gotten all technical with the the theming on android. Nothing legit like you guys. But isn't it just a series of file replacements? Im an artist and have spent all my life drawing n such, and if someone would show me what to replace and how to safely do it I would give then whatever they need to release a flashable theme if anyone likes It. Im a very picky person. I like change on my phone baaddddd. If shown how; expect to see new themes like every other week if possible (depending on how difficult it is). Along with wallpapers that I usually spend hours trying to find.
Any takers?
Use search. I found some great links in this forum alone on theme creation.
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda premium
I'm new to theming, but for my theme, UOT Kitchen helped me out! The only downside is that you can't do status bar, boot animation, or lock screen. There's a thread for UOT Kitchen some where around this forum. But your right, just file replacements. Look under the systemUI.apk and framework-res drawable-hdpi files with 7zip (or something similar). You can edit the images without unzipping the file!
I started with a UOT Kitchen file and added/changed stuff in the file. If you can't find an image or need help with changing something, try asking the ROM creator, the would probably know where the stuff is in the ROM.
If you fail, try and try again! I epically failed my first time and SBF a couple times because I was an idiot. Then I asked some questions and got started the right way. But make sure you do a back up before you flash a new file. I learned the hard way. A file can look fine to the phone at first, then it deletes everything it should, and then starts to copy files over like normal until a part of the file is bad. Then you have to SBF or restore.
Backing up is easy, just go into recovery and go to advanced, then back up, and choose to put the back up file under internal or external SD card. I do external, just my preference.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
A lot of it is file replacement. However to change some of the colors such as text and the color of the volume indicator (those are the only ones that I can think of right now) will involve replacing the color hex values in XML files. In order to get the xml files in a readable/editable format you'll need to use apkmanager or apktool. Those are used to decompile the apk packages. You can then edit what you need to (including images) then re-compile the package. Search around in this themes forum for Navenedrobs post about android tools. He includes a download for apkmanager, apktool and some other necessary tools. I use apkmanager myself.
I also use 7zip for some small edits as mentioned in the last post but I prefer to decompile then edit. Apkmanager makes it easy to then optimize the images prior to recompile.
Oh another that required xml edits for colors is AOSP calendar. Not too many images in there but lots of colors are defined.
Here's a link to naven's android tools post.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1261198
Theming is time consuming... its not quite as easy as simple image replacement especially on stretchable images also known as 9 pngs ... also if u want to start creating your own images that too could get tricky as u will need to use a program like gimp or another photo editing program.. gimp is the best in my opinion... sometimes it is necessary to add layers when creating your own images.... Hedwig... do use draw 9 patch for your. 9 pngs.... if not how do u edit those... I use apk manager to decompile and recompile each apk.. just curious if u know of a better tool for editing the. 9 pngs .. neways the way I started theming is with 7 zip... I went in and changed the images regular pngs and then tested it out uot kitchen is a good start but u r limited as far as how much u can theme
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
Kevin3328 said:
Hedwig... do use draw 9 patch for your. 9 pngs.... if not how do u edit those... I use apk manager to decompile and recompile each apk.. just curious if u know of a better tool for editing the. 9 pngs ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you decompile the apk the 9.png images gain the one pixel border where the patch is drawn. I'm just careful not to edit any of the black pixels around the edges. When you re-compile the border is lost (values of those are stored). So, no, I don't use draw 9 patch at all. If you're making new images that you plan to compile into the apk the you can just draw the patches in gimp, photoshop, or whatever you use. Just remember to add a one pixel border all around to the size of your new image.
So, XGrinder911. Any of this discussion helping out or are we all just blah, blah, blah?
Well I was considering Adobe Illustrator? Might that program work to create images? And so I get this apk manager, it decompiles and whatnot then I edit the files. Recompiles and voila theme? I get using apk manager on like the calendar cause its an actuall app but what about things like the status bar n notification pull down? they are in serious need of a make over.
And I tried using the kitchen. Didn't work out for me. Got my loving boot loops. Even when replacing the framework res apk.
Ooohhhh! Is It that? That's the apk?
PS- Hedwig your my new best friend.
IDMA.DROID.X2 said:
I'm new to theming, but for my theme, UOT Kitchen helped me out! The only downside is that you can't do status bar, boot animation, or lock screen. There's a thread for UOT Kitchen some where around this forum. But your right, just file replacements. Look under the systemUI.apk and framework-res drawable-hdpi files with 7zip (or something similar). You can edit the images without unzipping the file!
I started with a UOT Kitchen file and added/changed stuff in the file. If you can't find an image or need help with changing something, try asking the ROM creator, the would probably know where the stuff is in the ROM.
If you fail, try and try again! I epically failed my first time and SBF a couple times because I was an idiot. Then I asked some questions and got started the right way. But make sure you do a back up before you flash a new file. I learned the hard way. A file can look fine to the phone at first, then it deletes everything it should, and then starts to copy files over like normal until a part of the file is bad. Then you have to SBF or restore.
Backing up is easy, just go into recovery and go to advanced, then back up, and choose to put the back up file under internal or external SD card. I do external, just my preference.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just want to say you DO NOT go to advanced for backup(nandroid)
You go to backup/restore
just clarifying
Good luck OP....hope to see some awesome theme soon....don't give up PLEASE! !!
ashclepdia said:
Just want to say you DO NOT go to advanced for backup(nandroid)
You go to backup/restore
just clarifying
Good luck OP....hope to see some awesome theme soon....don't give up PLEASE! !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah! Your right! Sorry about that!
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
Wasn't trying to "get on your case"
just wanted to clarify
Haha didn't even notice it. I make a backup everydayyyy (flashaholic).
Question: is there anything I can do about those lil lines that separate lists like in messaging and settings? I hate them and we all know on this phone's screen they basically become invisible while scrolling anyway. Get them out of here.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
I used UOT Kitchen to color. Not sure what file you would change to take them away. Ain't no shame in being a flashaholic! I bootlooped my phone on purpose when I for bored
Ash, no worries. Glad you clarified. Don't know what I was thinking with the advanced haha
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
To "take them away" can't u just make em the same color as the menu
XGrinder911 said:
Haha didn't even notice it. I make a backup everydayyyy (flashaholic).
Question: is there anything I can do about those lil lines that separate lists like in messaging and settings? I hate them and we all know on this phone's screen they basically become invisible while scrolling anyway. Get them out of here.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The file is in framework-res.apk
framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\dark_header.9.png
Do what ashclepdia said and change the color in the bottom of that image to match the top. You'll see what I mean when you look at the image.
(Or light_header.9.png if you're working with a light framework.)
hedwig34 said:
The file is in framework-res.apk
framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\dark_header.9.png
Do what ashclepdia said and change the color in the bottom of that image to match the top. You'll see what I mean when you look at the image.
(Or light_header.9.png if you're working with a light framework.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is this exactly? All I see is a long rectangle with a hint of blue at the bottom.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
XGrinder911 said:
What is this exactly? All I see is a long rectangle with a hint of blue at the bottom.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That image is streatched across the width of the screen. Creating the menu item that has the blue line at the bottom.
Think of it as that image repeating over and over again side by side.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
hedwig34 said:
That image is streatched across the width of the screen. Creating the menu item that has the blue line at the bottom.
Think of it as that image repeating over and over again side by side.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait so where exactly is this rectangle?
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
Its a vertical rectangle repeated over and over again to make a skinny little horizontal line?? Wow, that's deep.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
I have a question too. How do you devs mod the build.prop? Is that mostly the difference between ROMs?
(Thought it would be better here instead if a new thread. Don't mean to thread jack)
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
IDMA.DROID.X2 said:
I have a question too. How do you devs mod the build.prop? Is that mostly the difference between ROMs?
(Thought it would be better here instead if a new thread. Don't mean to thread jack)
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No the differences between roms isn't mostly the build.prop
the build.prop can easily(usually) be modified using root explorer or similar.(I am having trouble editing the additions that kejar has made to build.prop tho. Never had this problem before. But its just the extra entries at bottom I can't change.
The biggest differences in roms come from the UI and system frameworks and scripts inside init.d
There are a few performance tweaks and edits u can make inside build.prop but ur.choices are kinda limited in what can be.done. even the line in eclipse build.prop that mentions raising the touch points recognized by the screen to 5 requires changes elsewhere in the "framework" to allow it to actually recognize that amount.
Good day ladies and gentlemen.
If I may ask, does any person presently reading this post know of a method to alter the images contained within SystemUI.apk? I would be grateful to anybody who could resolve my conundrum. I must also present some background information; I have unsuccessfully recompiled the apk file and I have also attempted to edit the files whilst not extracting said apk which also resulted in disappointing failure. However, I have not attempted to create a flashable zip file due to the fact that I lack this information. If this can be confirmed working, then I require no more assistance as I would not want to burden anybody with the simple task of using Google. Once again, I kindly request any assistance from any persons reading this if you would so choose to help a fellow XDA user.
Thank you for reading and/or responding to my post. I wish you all a happy week.
jdeoxys said:
Good day ladies and gentlemen.
If I may ask, does any person presently reading this post know of a method to alter the images contained within SystemUI.apk? I would be grateful to anybody who could resolve my conundrum. I must also present some background information; I have unsuccessfully recompiled the apk file and I have also attempted to edit the files whilst not extracting said apk which also resulted in disappointing failure. However, I have not attempted to create a flashable zip file due to the fact that I lack this information. If this can be confirmed working, then I require no more assistance as I would not want to burden anybody with the simple task of using Google. Once again, I kindly request any assistance from any persons reading this if you would so choose to help a fellow XDA user.
Thank you for reading and/or responding to my post. I wish you all a happy week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea it can be done. IDK what ROM you're running or if you're rooted,but I was going to make my own nav buttons before I switched ROMS. The Dev of the Icylicious ROM has made a few mod packs (flashable systemUI.apks) of the nav buttons for his ROM. I asked him a question about doing my own images and this is what he said...
I like the stock buttons myself...the stock icy buttons. I would like to do a few of my own images, but is it as simple as overwriting your images and rezipping? Anything in particular I should know/do? I'd really appreciate your help with that aspect...as far as images, I've been using Photoshop for years so I'm good there. Thanks
system/app/SystemUI.apk/res/drawable-mdpi
you'll find the buttons in that directory. No need to unzip. Just open the ROM in Winrar, navigate to that directory, pull out just the files you want to modify, and drag and drop them back in. What I do is just pull the systemui out, and open the apk in winrar (winrar treats it just like a rar or zip file), modify the file in Photoshop, and when you're done, just replace the systemui.apk in one of the zips I have in the "Mods" post with yours and flash it.
It really is that simple.
Hope that helps..
jaycustom said:
Yea it can be done. IDK what ROM you're running or if you're rooted,but I was going to make my own nav buttons before I switched ROMS. The Dev of the Icylicious ROM has made a few mod packs (flashable systemUI.apks) of the nav buttons for his ROM. I asked him a question about doing my own images and this is what he said...
I like the stock buttons myself...the stock icy buttons. I would like to do a few of my own images, but is it as simple as overwriting your images and rezipping? Anything in particular I should know/do? I'd really appreciate your help with that aspect...as far as images, I've been using Photoshop for years so I'm good there. Thanks
system/app/SystemUI.apk/res/drawable-mdpi
you'll find the buttons in that directory. No need to unzip. Just open the ROM in Winrar, navigate to that directory, pull out just the files you want to modify, and drag and drop them back in. What I do is just pull the systemui out, and open the apk in winrar (winrar treats it just like a rar or zip file), modify the file in Photoshop, and when you're done, just replace the systemui.apk in one of the zips I have in the "Mods" post with yours and flash it.
It really is that simple.
Hope that helps..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long a you don't alter the .9.png a they need to be decompiled, then recompiled. I've been taught to use APK Manager to unzip/edit the systemui.apk I it's easy to use one you get the hang of it. Do yourself a favor and dl Gimp, it's a great image editing tool.
I have a thread in Droid X2/Theme + Apps / Theme Creation....
Good luck, enjoy
This ISN'T my Transformer Prime
jaycustom said:
Yea it can be done. IDK what ROM you're running or if you're rooted,but I was going to make my own nav buttons before I switched ROMS. The Dev of the Icylicious ROM has made a few mod packs (flashable systemUI.apks) of the nav buttons for his ROM. I asked him a question about doing my own images and this is what he said...
I like the stock buttons myself...the stock icy buttons. I would like to do a few of my own images, but is it as simple as overwriting your images and rezipping? Anything in particular I should know/do? I'd really appreciate your help with that aspect...as far as images, I've been using Photoshop for years so I'm good there. Thanks
system/app/SystemUI.apk/res/drawable-mdpi
you'll find the buttons in that directory. No need to unzip. Just open the ROM in Winrar, navigate to that directory, pull out just the files you want to modify, and drag and drop them back in. What I do is just pull the systemui out, and open the apk in winrar (winrar treats it just like a rar or zip file), modify the file in Photoshop, and when you're done, just replace the systemui.apk in one of the zips I have in the "Mods" post with yours and flash it.
It really is that simple.
Hope that helps..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found a way to get it working. I just had to dl one of the other qs mods and use the included scripts to install from cwm. I did try to replace the systemui.apk manually with es file explorer but idk why it failed.
Pixelation said:
As long a you don't alter the .9.png a they need to be decompiled, then recompiled. I've been taught to use APK Manager to unzip/edit the systemui.apk I it's easy to use one you get the hang of it. Do yourself a favor and dl Gimp, it's a great image editing tool.
I have a thread in Droid X2/Theme + Apps / Theme Creation....
Good luck, enjoy
This ISN'T my Transformer Prime
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have gimp and its great.
Can only replace PNG files as of right now. No one has been able to recompile the SystemUI.apk successfully.... will most likely need the source from Asus.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
Ok, I got down to business but the look is still inconsistent with grey lines and blue lines. Wat do?
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
If you don't see the PNG that you're looking for, you might also want to try the framework-res.apk. if it's not there either, then it may be a XML edit, in which case you're out of luck.
Sent from my CM7 Atrix 4G
Swiftks said:
If you don't see the PNG that you're looking for, you might also want to try the framework-res.apk. if it's not there either, then it may be a XML edit, in which case you're out of luck.
Sent from my CM7 Atrix 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU man that sucks. Checked mah dubs ... excuse me, my framework-res apk and it was chock full of images. It's gonna take a year to sort through them all. Imma try emailing Asus and see if they could release the sauce code for systemui or whatever. Thanks for the intel bro.
Sent from my tablet thing with XDA Premium.
jdeoxys said:
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU man that sucks. Checked mah dubs ... excuse me, my framework-res apk and it was chock full of images. It's gonna take a year to sort through them all. Imma try emailing Asus and see if they could release the sauce code for systemui or whatever. Thanks for the intel bro.
Sent from my tablet thing with XDA Premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Batch editing is great, there are a ton, so be patient, or leave it to a theme. The regular .png you don't need to worry about much. It's the .9.png where the recompiling becomes an issue.
This IS my Transformer Prime, my DX 2 is boring
Pixelation said:
Batch editing is great, there are a ton, so be patient, or leave it to a theme. The regular .png you don't need to worry about much. It's the .9.png where the recompiling becomes an issue.
This IS my Transformer Prime, my DX 2 is boring
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you batch edit? And why is the .9.png so important?
jdeoxys said:
How do you batch edit? And why is the .9.png so important?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.9.pngs are usually things like boarders, boxes, popups, etc.
But they have to be decompiled and recompiled in order to edit them and have them work.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
Swiftks said:
.9.pngs are usually things like boarders, boxes, popups, etc.
But they have to be recompiled and recompiled in order to edit them and have them work.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn, that means I can't do anything unless they find out a way to decompile...
Sent from my tablet thing with XDA Premium.
jdeoxys said:
Damn, that means I can't do anything unless they find out a way to decompile...
Sent from my tablet thing with XDA Premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AOKP Rom is kicking ass, and since it's not based off of Asus's source, everything decompiles and recompiles quite nicely.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using XDA Premium HD app
.9.PNG are bastards. I spent hours and hour working on them.Worst part is that they have index, which Photoshop doesn't read, so it just messes up gradients. Paint.net handles them well IIRC.
Sent through the wormhole from my CoinInserted Sensation OG.
.9s aren't bad as long as you know what's going on with them. If working on a .9 PNG the previous statement that you cannot edit them without decompiling is accurate. The .9 essentially is an image that is going to be stretched. The ".9" or "guides" tells the system where the stretching is going to happen. With out decompiling the .9 you will be unable to see the guides... therefore you cannot edit the image without destroying the guides! Once decompiled the .9 image will show its guides as black pixels or lines on the border of the image. Once you see those you can just edit everthing inside of those guides and recompile without an issue. Now there are other work arounds that you can do to still modify these images without being able to successfully decompile/recompile your existing framework. Such as pulling the compiled .9 image out of the .apk... renaming to remove the .9... editing then using 9patch from the Android sdk to reguide the image... but then of coarse you will have to go through the process of recompiling the image to drop into the apk. Another quick possibility would be to pull the image you want to edit from let's say framework-Res.apk... download a theme that you know you're able to recompile... replace one of the images within that theme with yours(renaming if needed). Decompile-edit-recompile... then pull your edited .9 from the recompiled project and dropping into your actual framework. There's almost always a work around... just keep in mind should something go wrong you could end up starting from scratch.
Btw.. your top and left "guides" are where the image will be stretched. The bottom and right are for padding(if I recall correctly) lol.. but I'm positive top and left are the stretch points...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
question in title. I mean things like the SMS app, dialer, etc. I love the work people are doing with them (dark themes and whatnot) and was just curious as to how they do it. Can be technical, I feel comfortable with all the "android jargon" lol
You'll need something to decompile your apps. If you are working on odex files you'll need to deodex first. Once you decompile your app it'll be broken into 2 folders project and project-smali. You'll focus on the project folder -or- where the folder "res" is.
In there is drawable folders in various DPIs. Those contain the picture files you can edit. Some of the background colors, text colors, and placement of items will be controlled inside of the various XML files.
While in there you could also look around at potential mods in the bools.xml and you COULD remove some of the extra languages if you want to lean it out.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
Dubbsy said:
You'll need something to decompile your apps. If you are working on odex files you'll need to deodex first. Once you decompile your app it'll be broken into 2 folders project and project-smali. You'll focus on the project folder -or- where the folder "res" is.
In there is drawable folders in various DPIs. Those contain the picture files you can edit. Some of the background colors, text colors, and placement of items will be controlled inside of the various XML files.
While in there you could also look around at potential mods in the bools.xml and you COULD remove some of the extra languages if you want to lean it out.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have sorta played around with them and whatnot and have seen the res folder. so when you go and replace the images and everything, how do you recompile so that they will install fine? I'm rooted of course so I can put them in system and set permissions
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
I've found it works best to recompile it using whichever tool you prefer. If it doesn't install nicely you can open the apk with 7zip and pull the compiled images and xml files out to use in either a vrtheme installer or you can open up the stock apk with 7z and copy them in.
There are tons of ways to do things. :good:
sent from my GE gs4
that is what I am starting to realize I may start playing around with it. thank you for the help, really! this is what makes XDA rule so much. :thumbup:
No problem buddy. Everyone has to start somewhere
sent from my GE gs4
Dubbsy said:
No problem buddy. Everyone has to start somewhere
sent from my GE gs4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
one more question, might not pertain to you...what is the best/easiest way to sign an apk after editting it? i am using a macbook pro by the way
coltonwood said:
one more question, might not pertain to you...what is the best/easiest way to sign an apk after editting it? i am using a macbook pro by the way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I generally don't sign mine. If i themed something that wasn't mine and it could potentially be updated i would want the update to fail due to mismatching signatures in order to keep my theme.
But a way to keep the same signature is to recompile your work, open the new one with 7zip and copy the compiled pngs, xmls, and arsc file at root from the new one and over write the stock one's files using 7zip again. That'll change everything but leave the signature.
sent from my GE gs4
Dubbsy said:
I generally don't sign mine. If i themed something that wasn't mine and it could potentially be updated i would want the update to fail due to mismatching signatures in order to keep my theme.
But a way to keep the same signature is to recompile your work, open the new one with 7zip and copy the compiled pngs, xmls, and arsc file at root from the new one and over write the stock one's files using 7zip again. That'll change everything but leave the signature.
sent from my GE gs4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ohhhhhhhh okay that makes sense! okay here is a question that could be getting away from the theming, im not sure:
i was playing around with textra (the sms app) just changing the png's to look like ios 7 (lol just for testing). I decompiled, changed some png's, and then recompiled (using apktool). It created a new textra.apk that i then transferred to my phone. i deleted my current textra and installed my new one (successfully) and i can tell my theming worked from a test sms they send you. but when i try to compose a new message, Textra force closes. I rebooted and everything to make sure. Do you think this would be from my attempt at theming, or would it have to do with signing at all? this is where i am really lost lol, considering it installed and everything fine.