So, I downloaded the app I'd like to mod. I unpack it and then go through the meticulous process of replacing all the images to change the overall look. I have done texture work, I understand what I'm doing with this simple program. However, when I rezip all the files into an apk, it won't install. None of the code has been edited, just graphical changes and it won't work.
I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.
@ChronicNeo
Use APK Editor. This always worked for me.
Related
For the last week everything has been going good cooking my own ROM's. I thought I would see if I could change the color of some of the background images, but when I do. The ROM appears to build fine, but when I try to flash my phone, it says "no image found". Is there a way to safely edit the images. I tried a few things like marking the file read only, which the original was, but no go. Any thoughts?
A Bit more detail. What program are you using to edit the images?
The most likely suggestion is that you are changing the file type when editing (bmp to jpg etc...) or changing the extension. Take a look at those options and see if that will correct the error.
You can change what is in the file, but you cannot change the file type or extension.
Good Luck,
Doug M.
I'm using gimp to edit the images. Maybe there is some other problem too. I unzipped the kitchen again and only added my packages back in, without any of the images edited, and it still said no image file. It was working with my packages before, and now it isn't. Not sure what is wrong.
OK, I think I figured it out. It has something to do with my memory card. once I took it out, everything worked fine.
Im trying to start theming, as i have only been in the android club for about a month. The issue im having is with xml files. Everywhere i read, its like, open in notepad to edit. I open them in notepad and all i get is a bunch of gibberish symbols and letters. Is there any special way that i need to use to edit xml files?
Any help is appreciated, Thanks.
Sorry if this is a repeat, used the search but not in depth, so please dont flame.
I spent a long time searching for how to do this as well. Easiest way is to use APK manager.
Go download it from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
Basically you put the apk you want to edit into the edit folder and decompile it. Then go into the projects folder and the xml files created will be readable. Edit them using textpad, notepad, w/e you want. Once you are done load apk manager backup, select the same project and then compile the apk. Thats the gist of it, its a tiny bit more complex but you should get it after trying it. Also if you are looking to edit something like services.jar I found you can rename it to services.apk and it will decompile the smali for you so it can be edited. Just play around with APK manager and it should do everything you will need.
sweet, thanks for the help. hopefully ill have a nice theme on here in a couple weeks. thanks
yeah, if you want a full look into any apk you're going to have to decompile it unless you know what you're looking for in the hex of a compiled xml... also with a decompiled apk you can see alot of stuff such as how the .9 borders (or what ever you wanna call em) are done so make sure they stretch the same way
I looked everywhere tried every program from APK Edit, APK Tool, APK Manager, Eclipse and a few others, I cannot figure out how to edit the Strings.xml in APK files.
APK Edit and APK Tool / APK Manager just gives me issues when i try to edit the strings, when i finally get them changed over and push to the phone it doesn't install the .apk, tried this on two different devices with no change.
I'm making theme files but i require to edit the strings value so the names are different, and i'm using an OEM file as my base file.
When I edit the .apk with my themed graphics and go to install it, it always wants to overwrite the original, but i've found that others have been able to just rename the strings value to another name so it wouldn't replace it.
What i'm trying to do is not replace original skins in HTC sense 2.x. Since there installable they can be installed multiple times if there values are changed in strings.xml, allowing for massive customization options.
I need the developers community to show me how to do this, i've tried on my own and i've failed each time, and i also tried contacting the themers that have done this on there own but they refuse to help me.
I have a bunch of skins i'm working on but i can't render my skins and theme the apk files until i can do this
You guys are my last bit of help i can find.
This guide will explain how to theme your Dialer for firmwares 2.2 and higher. This will very likely only work on De-Odexedroms. If you're not sure what deodexed is, it is not Dell Stock, if you have a custom ROM check with the Chef.
I will make this as easy as possible. This is for windows. The only tools you should need is 7zip and a good image editor, like Photoshop, Paint.net or GIMP.
I will attach an DialerTheme.zip with custom Contacts.apk and a stock Phone.apk to use.
Theming Contacts.apk, will customize the things you see before placing a call.
Theming Phone.apk, will customize images during or in-call.
For Dialer background in Contacts before calling, I recommend using an 800x800 .png, make sure its not just renamed .png but actually saved as a .png
This can be a photo, picture or solid color, whatever you desire. Name this "custom_dialer_background.png" without quotes and with the underscores.
I will explain how to copy this to the .apk, most will know how to do this, but I will explain. With 7zip installed, right click on my DialerTheme.zip, choose 7zip, then mouseover to ..open archive. then double click on \system folder, then double click \app folder, then double click contacts.apk, double click \res folder, then double click \drawable-long-finger folder. Now simply drag and drop your custom_dialer_background.png into this folder. It will ask you if you want to replace. Say Ok or yes. Don't worry it doesn't move, just copies and keeps your original. Next do the same and copy to \drawable-long-land-finger and also \drawable-mdpi-finger. Now close the window and it should ask yo to update the archive, say Ok or yes. Done. That's it for contacts and the 1st dialer.
The next one is a bit trickier and may take a bit more time. It involves .9.pngs, which are stretchable images and can be difficult to work with. Lets make it easy for our selves. Again open DialerTheme.zip as an archive with 7zip and navigate to Phone.apk\res\drawable-hdpi. we need to copy the first 5 files from here to your desktop, or a folder to make things neater.
These are:
bg_in_call_gradient_bluetooth.9.png,
bg_in_call_gradient_connected.9.png,
bg_in_call_gradient_ended.9.png,
bg_in_call_gradient_on_hold.9.png, and
bg_in_call_gradient_unidentified.9.png
A quick way to do this is to open any one with your photo editor and make your changes, (eg.paste your picture or image). The ones I am using are 480x754, but I think it should be fine using the same 800x800 from before. If you start adding layers to it though it may not save correctly, I find copy/paste works just fine. Now save and it should retain the .9.png extension. You can either do the remaining 4 or just open the 1st one and choose save as: bg_in_call_gradient_connected.9.png,(or even a copy and rename should work) just make sure it naturally retains the .9.png extension which already contains the boundaries and data we need. When you have all 5 looking as you wish with .9.png extension still intact, we can then move these to our zip in the same location( mulit-move by holding CTRL while selecting all 5). It will ask if you want to overwrite say yes. Also copy these 5 files to phone\res\drawable-long-finger, and say ok to overwrite.
Now we need these same 5 for a landscape view in-call. So you either rotate them, if it doesn't compromise your image. These images are also normal .png's, so they will not stretch. You may need to crop them, or expand your canvas. The ones I am using are 802x477 and look just fine. When you have all 5 name them as before except without .9. (I wouldnt recommend just renaming a .9.png to .png, although it would probably work, I suggest opening a.9 and saving it as .png first then copying and renaming should be fine. Same 5 filenames as before without .9
bg_in_call_gradient_bluetooth.png,
bg_in_call_gradient_connected.png,
bg_in_call_gradient_ended.png,
bg_in_call_gradient_on_hold.png, and
bg_in_call_gradient_unidentified.png
copy these like we did before to phone\res\drawable-long-land-finger.
Close the archive when finished and it should ask you to update, say OK. Thats it. Now place on SD Card and flash in recovery.
This doesn't theme anything else, but you can change all the other images yourself in the same manner. Try making the buttons transparent,etc! Just remember to retain the .9.png or it will not display correctly.
Because we have done it this way, if you try to decompile and rebuild it is likely you will get "missing .9.chunk data, etc." But we shouldnt need to decompile again, all images can be drag and dropped.
This method should not have any problems, bootloops, stuck at logos, because were only swapping out .png's, If anything you may get an immediate force close when trying to open phone or contacts, likely becuase an image is missing/named incorrectly or the size is too far from the original.(which I think android will still try to display...up to a point)
There is also a .zip in next post to return to stock phone and contacts.apk
If you need further assistance, search, then post here and we will try to help.
reserved
Update: custom background will now be on all screens!
If no one else makes a transparent buttons-so you can see your whole wallpaper-theme, I may do it when I have time. This theme also doesn't change any background in your contact list, etc. Those will still be black. I can change those as well and may do so in an update. If so, it will use the same image as custom_dialer_background.
::bump::
The secret sauce...
great post
Howdy
I'm glad you posted this, I have been PM'ing peolpe to try and found out how to do this, not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but might you have something similiar for the keyboard??
THanks again for the post.
Good day,
I need help on modifying an apk, its basically a game that can be dowloaded on playstore. I read alot in the forum and I saw this APK tool reverse engineering an app.
apktool. I already ask a question but maybe it's better to create a new thread that I can monitor..
Now. what I achieved now is that I can decompile the apk, edit some things like splash.png, values on strings.xml and few line on androidmanifest.xml. I tried to recompile it and I have done it with no problem. Now i have the modified apk. I signed it using apk signer and followed all the procedure with no error. I copied it to my phone and test run it but sadly it says "App not installed". I also tried using zip signer from playstore and got the same result.. I dont know where am I messing it. Please help thanks.
There is Windows app called Virtuos Ten Studio, designed to do exactly that - it works pretty well and makes the whole process much easier (no need to use cmd line at all if I remember correctly).