Editing Settings.apk - Signing possible or custom ROM needed? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi guys,
my father recently bought a so-called China phone (Doogee X5max) that comes with several malwares right out of the box.
Most of the are quite easy to remove, two of them give me the creeps.
I am no pro when it comes to Android and so I stumbled across several problems.
First of all I managed to remove the malware from Settings.apk and SystemUI.apk by decompiling, editing and odexing the files and compiling them again. Easy going...
So far so good.
Now for the hard part.
How to get those files back into the ROM? Since those files need to be resigned with the same certificate that was used signing all the other system files I am kind of stuck here. Resigning the files with Zipsigner (using all possible types, "platform", etc.) did not work which leads me to the conclusion that Doogee did not use the AOSP certificates to sign their ROM. Am I right?
The only possible solution seems to be creating a custom ROM out of the Doogee X5max stock ROM. Is this correct?
I googled a lot but have not found up-to-date or understandable manuals/instructions on how to do this.
Can someone please help me or give me a hint at least?
Thanks in andvance
deomaki

deomaki said:
Hi guys,
my father recently bought a so-called China phone (Doogee X5max) that comes with several malwares right out of the box.
Most of the are quite easy to remove, two of them give me the creeps.
I am no pro when it comes to Android and so I stumbled across several problems.
First of all I managed to remove the malware from Settings.apk and SystemUI.apk by decompiling, editing and odexing the files and compiling them again. Easy going...
So far so good.
Now for the hard part.
How to get those files back into the ROM? Since those files need to be resigned with the same certificate that was used signing all the other system files I am kind of stuck here. Resigning the files with Zipsigner (using all possible types, "platform", etc.) did not work which leads me to the conclusion that Doogee did not use the AOSP certificates to sign their ROM. Am I right?
The only possible solution seems to be creating a custom ROM out of the Doogee X5max stock ROM. Is this correct?
I googled a lot but have not found up-to-date or understandable manuals/instructions on how to do this.
Can someone please help me or give me a hint at least?
Thanks in andvance
deomaki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After recompiling your modded apk, unzip it and the original apk, replace everything in the original apk with what is in your modded apk except meta-inf and Android manifest. Zip back up, change it from .zip to .apk. That is what you use to replace your system apk. That only goes for system apks. You sign the others.

Tulsadiver said:
After recompiling your modded apk, unzip it and the original apk, replace everything in the original apk with what is in your modded apk except meta-inf and Android manifest. Zip back up, change it from .zip to .apk. That is what you use to replace your system apk. That only goes for system apks. You sign the others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
Before giving this a chance, just one question: By "Android manifest" I suppose you mean manifest.ms?
Kind regards
deomaki

deomaki said:
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
Before giving this a chance, just one question: By "Android manifest" I suppose you mean manifest.ms?
Kind regards
deomaki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never seen a manifest.ms but I suppose so if that is what is in yours.

Tulsadiver said:
I have never seen a manifest.ms but I suppose so if that is what is in yours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The manifest.ms resides inside the META-INF folder...
Trying to installl the so manipulated original apk via adb results in [INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_NO_CERTIFICATES].
Am I supposed to uninstall the original settings.apk from the device first (which I did) or just replace the original apk on the device with the newly created one and delete the odex in oat/arm?
Thanks in advance
deomaki

deomaki said:
The manifest.ms resides inside the META-INF folder...
Trying to installl the so manipulated original apk via adb results in [INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_NO_CERTIFICATES].
Am I supposed to uninstall the original settings.apk from the device first (which I did) or just replace the original apk on the device with the newly created one and delete the odex in oat/arm?
Thanks in advance
deomaki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You leave the original meta-inf like I said. You use the original apk replacing everything in it with the modded stuff, res, resource.arsc if any and any classes.dexs. Don't worry about any oat folders.

Tulsadiver said:
You leave the original meta-inf like I said. You use the original apk replacing everything in it with the modded stuff, res, resource.arsc if any and any classes.dexs. Don't worry about any oat folders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Tulsadiver,
I followed your advice and replaced everything except the menta-inf folder from the original apk. Then I copied over my modded apk and restarted the device (just to be sure).
After rebooting the Settings icon was gone from my homescreen and the app drawer, leaving me unable to start the settings.
Tapping the seetings.apk using a file browser left me with the error, that there was an error while parsing...
Regards
deomaki

deomaki said:
Hi Tulsadiver,
I followed your advice and replaced everything except the menta-inf folder from the original apk. Then I copied over my modded apk and restarted the device (just to be sure).
After rebooting the Settings icon was gone from my homescreen and the app drawer, leaving me unable to start the settings.
Tapping the seetings.apk using a file browser left me with the error, that there was an error while parsing...
Regards
deomaki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually said, everything but the original meta-inf folder and original Android manifest....
Steps
Decompile apk.
Edit your apk
Recompile apk.
Unzip both modded and original apk
Delete everything in the original apk except meta-inf and Android manifest.
Copy everything from modded apk over to original apk except for the meta-inf and Android manifest.
Zip it back up, change it from .zip to .apk.
Copy this apk to the root of your phone.
Change permission to 0644
Copy/Move to replace the existing apk.
Reboot

Tulsadiver said:
I actually said, everything but the original meta-inf folder and original Android manifest....
Steps
Decompile apk.
Edit your apk
Recompile apk.
Unzip both modded and original apk
Delete everything in the original apk except meta-inf and Android manifest.
Copy everything from modded apk over to original apk except for the meta-inf and Android manifest.
Zip it back up, change it from .zip to .apk.
Copy this apk to the root of your phone.
Change permission to 0644
Copy/Move to replace the existing apk.
Reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi again,
thanks for your efforts by the way
That's exactly what I did except taking the original androidmanifest.xml since I had to change some things in it...
Will the whole process be not applicable then?
Regards
deomaki

deomaki said:
Hi again,
thanks for your efforts by the way
That's exactly what I did except taking the original androidmanifest.xml since I had to change some things in it...
Will the whole process be not applicable then?
Regards
deomaki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unclear. I've seen some doogee posts on here. Maybe try one of those?

Tulsadiver said:
Unclear. I've seen some doogee posts on here. Maybe try one of those?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmmh, maybe if will have to find out all system apks that use the same certificate framework-res.apk does and resign them with a new cert including the modded system.apk.
I was trying to find a way around that, but maybe I have to go the hard way...
I think that should solve my problem, what do you think?
Regards
deomaki

Related

[Q] Implement Theme in Rom

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.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
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.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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

Need Help

Posted it here because i need a dev.
I pulled my Framework-res.apk and modified all the icons for everything. I decompiled using apktool.
My question is what steps do i take now (do i need to sign it, what a good tool to recompile it as apktool does and gives me a framework-res.apk but caused my phone not to boot up)..also someone said seomthing about resources.arsc or something..not sure where to go...thanks for your help.
Open ur new apk using 7zip (righr click>7zip>open archive) and do the same with ur old one. Delete the resources.xxxx(i dont know the name by heart lol) and drag and drop the one (by one i meant the resources.xxxx file) from the new zip to the old zip and adb push ur old frameworkres apk and reboot
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
kpkimmel said:
Posted it here because i need a dev.
I pulled my Framework-res.apk and modified all the icons for everything. I decompiled using apktool.
My question is what steps do i take now (do i need to sign it, what a good tool to recompile it as apktool does and gives me a framework-res.apk but caused my phone not to boot up)..also someone said seomthing about resources.arsc or something..not sure where to go...thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sounds more like a question. Use apk manager and or 7zip
how does just that one file carry over all the new pics and stuff i changed...
edited......
What exactly have you edited? If you just change non patch9 images... then you can just drag and drop the new images into the apk (may have to rename apk to zip).
If they are patch9's... you need to..
decompile framework-res.apk (apktool d framework-res.apk)
swap out images
recompile (apktool b framework-res)
Now take the newly compiled apk (in the /dist folder). Open it up and take the edited images (only the ones you need changed) and put them into your original apk.
No need to resign just push it to your phone and verify that it works
If you are editing xml files in /values* or /layout..
do the same as above, except after re-compiling, you're going to swap over the resources.arsc file to the original apk.
This is using apktool... in my experience apk manager doesn't do the job to my expectations... so i just do it manually with apktool.
Lemme know if u need anything more, or if i didnt touch on a specific situation.
Btw, maybe to combat the retarded comments about q&a and being in the right section... maybe turn the OP into a How-To?
preludedrew said:
What exactly have you edited? If you just change non patch9 images... then you can just drag and drop the new images into the apk (may have to rename apk to zip).
If they are patch9's... you need to..
decompile framework-res.apk (apktool d framework-res.apk)
swap out images
recompile (apktool b framework-res)
Now take the newly compiled apk (in the /dist folder). Open it up and take the edited images (only the ones you need changed) and put them into your original apk.
No need to resign just push it to your phone and verify that it works
If you are editing xml files in /values* or /layout..
do the same as above, except after re-compiling, you're going to swap over the resources.arsc file to the original apk.
This is using apktool... in my experience apk manager doesn't do the job to my expectations... so i just do it manually with apktool.
Lemme know if u need anything more, or if i didnt touch on a specific situation.
Btw, maybe to combat the retarded comments about q&a and being in the right section... maybe turn the OP into a How-To?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much..finally...one last question, where do i put the wallpaper so when the system is fully booted it shows the wallpaper i want? Thanks.
kpkimmel said:
Thank you very much..finally...one last question, where do i put the wallpaper so when the system is fully booted it shows the wallpaper i want? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's an xml edit for it... but forgot it off the top of my head... quickest way is to replace system/customize/resource/shows_over.jpg with your image.
preludedrew said:
There's an xml edit for it... but forgot it off the top of my head... quickest way is to replace system/customize/resource/shows_over.jpg with your image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks you, sorry about the stupid framework-res question...i knew the answer but had been so long forget the simplest of steps....instead of normal compression i was using store instead.....duh.......thank you though for the reminder because 7zip will automatically restore the same it was decompressed with, unlike that crap winrar. Have a good one man and thank you again.

[Q] Signing APKs/Themeing.......

So I'm trying to do a little themeing and I have some questions. For instance, if I modify idlescreen_base.apk, do I have to sign that and then also sign the .zip? I'm trying to do a full on theme, modifying every little part of the ROM. When do you have to sign the .apks and .zips? One thing I don't like is the bubble around the four icons on the lock screen, so I went in to modify that and then found more files to change and so it began. And so while I'm on it, why do some m10s decode and some don't? Gingeritis3D and ShiftS3NS3 v3.0 have a default folder, but others have Blue Sky, etc. The default folder that has sharedm10 will decode but the others don't. Just curious. I'm using ShiftS3NS3 v3.0 as my base ROM to theme, by the way.
TheBeardedMann said:
So I'm trying to do a little themeing and I have some questions. For instance, if I modify idlescreen_base.apk, do I have to sign that and then also sign the .zip? I'm trying to do a full on theme, modifying every little part of the ROM. When do you have to sign the .apks and .zips? One thing I don't like is the bubble around the four icons on the lock screen, so I went in to modify that and then found more files to change and so it began. And so while I'm on it, why do some m10s decode and some don't? Gingeritis3D and ShiftS3NS3 v3.0 have a default folder, but others have Blue Sky, etc. The default folder that has sharedm10 will decode but the others don't. Just curious. I'm using ShiftS3NS3 v3.0 as my base ROM to theme, by the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not much of a themer, but I might be able to help you with the signing.
You have to sign an APK any time you decompile and recompile it. Alternatively, if you use apktool, build the apk, then take the META-INF folder and AndroidManifest.xml from the original apk and copy them to the /build/app folder of the decompiled apk. Rebuild and your apk is signed. Your essentially taking the signature from the original apk and copying it to the one you recompiled.
If you want the zip to flash, you have to sign it. If you remove anything from an already signed zip, you have to resign it.
orkillakilla said:
I'm not much of a themer, but I might be able to help you with the signing.
You have to sign an APK any time you decompile and recompile it. Alternatively, if you use apktool, build the apk, then take the META-INF folder and AndroidManifest.xml from the original apk and copy them to the /build/app folder of the decompiled apk. Rebuild and your apk is signed. Your essentially taking the signature from the original apk and copying it to the one you recompiled.
If you want the zip to flash, you have to sign it. If you remove anything from an already signed zip, you have to resign it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes total sense. I get it now. Thanks!
orkillakilla said:
I'm not much of a themer, but I might be able to help you with the signing.
You have to sign an APK any time you decompile and recompile it. Alternatively, if you use apktool, build the apk, then take the META-INF folder and AndroidManifest.xml from the original apk and copy them to the /build/app folder of the decompiled apk. Rebuild and your apk is signed. Your essentially taking the signature from the original apk and copying it to the one you recompiled.
If you want the zip to flash, you have to sign it. If you remove anything from an already signed zip, you have to resign it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I seen this thread, and was wondering if you use metamorph to theme if you add the META-INF folder and the AndroidManifest.xml to the respective theme will the .apk be able to be installed into the data/app folder?
Deftoolfinch said:
Sorry I seen this thread, and was wondering if you use metamorph to theme if you add the META-INF folder and the AndroidManifest.xml to the respective theme will the .apk be able to be installed into the data/app folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure. I don't use metamorph so I can't help you there. Sorry.
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium
I don't use metamorph. I modify the .apk then flash in recovery. Meta and ninja morph aren't necessary once you get the hang of flashing .zips.

Help with Default themes.apk

Hy i just de-compiled Default Themes.apk from ST15i
as i wanted to change the name From DefaultThemes.apk to something i want & i successfully did it
but now that .apk in not installing as a normal apk or by pushing into system app
even tried to sign it but no luck:crying:
I attached the .apk i moded, please someone look into it and tell me whats wrong
This defaultthemes.apk is de-compiles so just extract it and peep into it
Thanks
piousheart said:
Hy i just de-compiled Default Themes.apk from ST15i
as i wanted to change the name From DefaultThemes.apk to something i want & i successfully did it
but now that .apk in not installing as a normal apk or by pushing into system app
even tried to sign it but no luck:crying:
I attached the .apk i moded, please someone look into it and tell me whats wrong
This defaultthemes.apk is de-compiles so just extract it and peep into it
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you do after you recompiled the apk?
Ticklefish said:
What did you do after you recompiled the apk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pushed in system\app rebooted phone ( This method didn't worked, defaultthemes.apk didn't installed )
Then i tried to sign the apk and pushed - didnt workred.. then installed as a normal apk still no sucess
Thanks for the reply.
piousheart said:
Pushed in system\app rebooted phone ( This method didn't worked, defaultthemes.apk didn't installed )
Then i tried to sign the apk and pushed - didnt workred.. then installed as a normal apk still no sucess
Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you didn't use the signing from the original app? Or change the compression rate of resources.arsc? Just compiled and pushed?
1.Make a copy of an original apk
2.Decompile the app
3.Do desired changes
4.Recompile
5.Replace changed resources from recompiled app back to original app (without unpacking it, use winrar or something like that open the apk and then just paste the changed resources inside)
6.Copy the file to /system/app
7.Give 644 permissions.
Ticklefish said:
So you didn't use the signing from the original app? Or change the compression rate of resources.arsc? Just compiled and pushed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to use the signing from original app?
How to change the compression ratio of resources.arsc?
Sorry for making you concern but i am really a noob
Theonewithideas said:
1.Make a copy of an original apk
2.Decompile the app
3.Do desired changes
4.Recompile
5.Replace changed resources from recompiled app back to original app (without unpacking it, use winrar or something like that open the apk and then just paste the changed resources inside)
6.Copy the file to /system/app
7.Give 644 permissions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying..
I tired to paste the changed work from recompiled app to original but the problem is i changed the values in res\value\string ( changed the name of application so that i can install w\o replacing the original themes ) but after recompiling VALUE folder disappeared from res, now how do i move the STRING to original apk?
piousheart said:
Thanks for replying..
I tired to paste the changed work from recompiled app to original but the problem is i changed the values in res\value\string ( changed the name of application so that i can install w\o replacing the original themes ) but after recompiling VALUE folder disappeared from res, now how do i move the STRING to original apk?
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That's inside resources.arsc. Which needs to be compressed at a STORE rate. Have a look at the tool in my signature, it can do all this for you automatically.
Ticklefish said:
That's inside resources.arsc. Which needs to be compressed at a STORE rate. Have a look at the tool in my signature, it can do all this for you automatically.
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Can you teach me how do i make that defaultThemes.apk a normal installable apk?

[Q] PinyinMe to normal APK, English only and AZERTY

So there is this PinyinMe keyboard which looks the most like an iphone keyboard which I like as my phone is an iPhone Replica.
1. So the things I want to do is change the APK to a normal APK but I only know the way by TitaniumBackup but this app aint installed so it doesnt work.
2. The next thing I want to do is edit the APK xml files so I can remove all the chinese signs in it and change it to normal letters (mainly english).
- I already tried this but the APK wont install
3. If this is all working, I would like to make a second version of it which has AZERTY keyboard instead of QWERTY.
Please, I would really apreciate it and others too.
bOyka8 said:
So there is this PinyinMe keyboard which looks the most like an iphone keyboard which I like as my phone is an iPhone Replica.
1. So the things I want to do is change the APK to a normal APK but I only know the way by TitaniumBackup but this app aint installed so it doesnt work.
2. The next thing I want to do is edit the APK xml files so I can remove all the chinese signs in it and change it to normal letters (mainly english).
- I already tried this but the APK wont install
3. If this is all working, I would like to make a second version of it which has AZERTY keyboard instead of QWERTY.
Please, I would really apreciate it and others too.
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Click to collapse
Here's the APK and OBEX which I forgot to add
http://www.mediafire.com/?216cm8rcgi2z5m8
I really hope someone can help me out with this !
Ok so in this ZIP file is the original APK that you can just install and use. Also the one I edited which gives App not installed.
Can anyone look into this please??
http://www.mediafire.com/?216cm8rcgi2z5m8
bOyka8 said:
Ok so in this ZIP file is the original APK that you can just install and use. Also the one I edited which gives App not installed.
Can anyone look into this please??
http://www.mediafire.com/?216cm8rcgi2z5m8
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Click to collapse
You have two files in the zip. One is an .apk and the other is an .odex file.
I saw this thread as I was browsing around and came across your GooApple thread.
I am not sure what your level of expertise is, but basically, an apk from a manufacturer comes in two parts (.apk and .odex). If you want to edit the app, you must either edit both the .apk and .odex files, or you can 'deodex' the file which basically takes the contents of the .odex file and places it inside the .apk file.
If you have deodexed an apk file (removed the need for the .odex), you no longer need the .odex file. In this way, you get 'deodexed' ROMs with no .odex files inside. These are much easier to edit and work with.
There are lots of tutorials to find out more about this and about deodexing and editing .apk files if you search.
Here is a good starting point
If you are already aware of this, I apologise
nobnut said:
You have two files in the zip. One is an .apk and the other is an .odex file.
I saw this thread as I was browsing around and came across your GooApple thread.
I am not sure what your level of expertise is, but basically, an apk from a manufacturer comes in two parts (.apk and .odex). If you want to edit the app, you must either edit both the .apk and .odex files, or you can 'deodex' the file which basically takes the contents of the .odex file and places it inside the .apk file.
If you have deodexed an apk file (removed the need for the .odex), you no longer need the .odex file. In this way, you get 'deodexed' ROMs with no .odex files inside. These are much easier to edit and work with.
There are lots of tutorials to find out more about this and about deodexing and editing .apk files if you search.
Here is a good starting point
If you are already aware of this, I apologise
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Hey man, thanks for giving me this information.
I did read about deodexing but havent had the time to look it up. And I think TBP does the deodex (I could be wrong) when changing the system app to a user app.
Anyways, I have been able to edit the xml & png's, but whenever I try to install the newly created APK, I get the error : App not installed.
Maybe this deodexing can do the trick, I'll test it out once I find 30min of free time ^^
Titanium backup doesn't deodex the .apk. That is why you are having the issue. You can swap pngs etc without decompiling, but to edit smali and some xmls etc you have to decompile... it is much easier if you have first deodexed your apk to remove the .odex file.
nobnut said:
Titanium backup doesn't deodex the .apk. That is why you are having the issue. You can swap pngs etc without decompiling, but to edit smali and some xmls etc you have to decompile... it is much easier if you have first deodexed your apk to remove the .odex file.
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Click to collapse
I did recompile a working APK, but when I put it all back together and try as a system/normal app and do zipalign or no zipalign, I always get an error or just a crash. But probably deodexing will do the trick.
Hopefully I'll get some time this week for doing it cause its like:
Wake up - Eat - Job - Eat - Sleep - Eat - Soccer - Eat - Sleep
The life of a mailman

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