[TUTORIAL][How-To] Edit .jar or .apk files using VTS - Xperia Play Android Development

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PREFACE
Hello guys, first of all I want to say thanks to all the real developers (and not just rom-modder like me) that are here, helping us to get better performance and features everyday, so thanks to FXP, CosmicDan, DooMLorD, wedgess, smokerman, krisdee, Spizzy, Keiran, fareneith, Pizza_Dox, Bakisha, and many, many others.​
This guide is intended for those who want to make some mods, for example touchpads fix to their rom, and it's not too hard to understand how to do it (we will just use an IDE to achieve that, so it'll be pretty simple).
Let's start!​
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DECOMPILING .APK AND .JAR FILES
without custom framework
Make sure you have installed NetFramework 4.5,
if not download it from here and then install ;
You can now install Virtuous Ten Studio (VTS):
download it from here and follow the passages to install it ;
Run VTS (you could easily find it under Start) ;
Now you can create a new Project:
simply click on File (on the left top) and select New Project ;
Projects can be of 4 kinds: apk, jar, m10 and boot.
Select apk if you want to edit an apk; select jar if you want to edit a jar ;
Compile the fields on the bottom (Solution and Project name) ;
Wait for VTS to create the folders...;
Now you can import the file you want to edit:
simply right-click on the project you have created (you can find it under Solution Explorer bar, on the left)
and select Import File, then find and select the file you want to edit ;
Here we go! VTS will now decompile our file, and when it finishes,
Solution Explorer bar will be updated to show you what your file contains (smali files and whatever) ;
Now you can make every modification you want to do;
When you have finished, you can recompile that file by right-clicking your project and selecting Build Project:
you can easily find your modded file, just click Binary (under Home tab on the top) and select your file project name;
Here we are! If you've got some questions, just ask here!
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DECOMPILING .APK FILES
with custom framework
first of all, you must know what to do: just take a look at the guide above and follow the steps (from 1 to 7) ;
now you must take the custom resources needed from the apk you want to decompile to work (that resources file is another apk, generally located under /system/framework and its name contains always something like Res or Resources - for example SemcGenericUxpRes -) then place it wherever you want ;
once you've done that you can create your project (DON'T import now the app you want to modify, because you'll get errors related to missing resources) and set-up a custom framework: just right-click on your project and go under Properties ;
find External tools on the left and click on apktool: select Add single framework, import the custom-resources apk that you took from your rom ( see first step ) and set a Tag (the name you want to assign to that file) ;
now you must select that framework to be used instead of the default one: right-click on your project and go under properties; here you can find a selector called Framework tag: select the one you've just setted ;
that's it! Now you can import your custom-framework-based apk ( if you don't know how just take a look at the guide above - step 8 ) .
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When i have the time, i really have to give this program a chance. Tnx for tutorial
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

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Good job, I've used vts.for awile now.its a great program.
Dark Lords Development Team

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Needed to learn Apk Decompiling, now i can!,

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simpler than apk tool..and easy to use in small changes..comes handy. nice post.

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i have a problem with decompiling resource files can anyone help plz???
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and this is my log

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raminta said:
and this is my log
View attachment 2048601
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It seems apktool is missing, maybe an incorrect installation? Have you tried reinstalling?

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CriGiu said:
It seems apktool is missing, maybe an incorrect installation? Have you tried reinstalling?
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Yes but nothing has changed
Sent from my R800i using xda premium

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raminta said:
Yes but nothing has changed
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
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try using an older version of VTS, but I can't promise anything
it's clearly related to missing binary, and that's strange. does this happen just with that specific apk, or with all of them?
And keep in mind that you're decompiling an apk with a custom framework, so before you can decompile it, you must add its resources by right-clicking on your project, selecting properties, going under External tools and clicking on Apktool, selecting Add single framework (here you must place your resources apk file: it's generally located under /system/framework folder of your rom - the rom from which you're taking the apk you're modifing - it's something having for name SonyResources or something like that).
Then you must set that framework to be used instead of the "stock" one by right-clicking on your project and going under properties; here you can find a selector called Framework tag: select the one you've just placed in.

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CriGiu said:
try using an older version of VTS, but I can't promise anything
it's clearly related to missing binary, and that's strange. does this happen just with that specific apk, or with all of them?
And keep in mind that you're decompiling an apk with a custom framework, so before you can decompile it, you must add its resources by right-clicking on your project, selecting properties, going under External tools and clicking on Apktool, selecting Add single framework (here you must place your resources apk file: it's generally located under /system/framework folder of your rom - the rom from which you're taking the apk you're modifing - it's something having for name SonyResources or something like that).
Then you must set that framework to be used instead of the "stock" one by right-clicking on your project and going under properties; here you can find a selector called Framework tag: select the one you've just placed in.
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Ok thanks for replying:thumbup:
Sent from my R800i using xda premium