Database Users

Changing Sense's Bottom Bar

Hello all,
I am working on editing sense, and i need help changing the bottom bar, I have the apk ready to edit, but when i try to edit it, it comes in a note pad with a bunch of characters... help?

Extract the .apk to a location, grab the .png you want to modify, open it in Photoshop/GIMP/Paint, whatever... and finally re-save the .png.
Use 7zip to replace the .png inside the .apk.
Push modified .apk to phone.

alexhendershott said:
Extract the .apk to a location, grab the .png you want to modify, open it in Photoshop/GIMP/Paint, whatever... and finally re-save the .png.
Use 7zip to replace the .png inside the .apk.
Push modified .apk to phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do i push it to the phone again?

Erisftw said:
How do i push it to the phone again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's say you're editing framework-res.apk...
./adb push framework-res.apk /system/framework

be sure to make a nand backup before you futz with anything. sounds like ull need it.

ROM Color change?

I ran into a DroidDoesPink ROM which was Sense-able just redone in pink. I was wondering if this can be done with any rom? If any of them could be changed the color you want. http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/64009-droiddoespink-rom.html Here is the link to it. How could I go about changing the color to something i want? or is this not possible? Sorry if this a noob question lol

dyefalcon1 said:
I ran into a DroidDoesPink ROM which was Sense-able just redone in pink. I was wondering if this can be done with any rom? If any of them could be changed the color you want. http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/64009-droiddoespink-rom.html Here is the link to it. How could I go about changing the color to something i want? or is this not possible? Sorry if this a noob question lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all you have to do is change the corresponding png files in the framework-res.apk
its found under /system/frameworks

lets pretend i dont know how to do that...

unzip the rom
find the framework-res.apk under system/frameworks
change apk to zip
unzip
edit the png files for whatever suits your taste
zip the files back up
rename to framework-res.apk
push that to your phone and reboot

awesome thanks ill see what i can do

when i zip them back up what settings should i use i tried to flash and it said cant open

you dont flash it
adb remount
adb push *new framework-res.apk* /system/framework

Actually got it working thanks!

So, i've been trying this for a while. It's not working. Are there any special settings I need to use to zip it? When I reboot the phone it just hangs on the androids on skateboards.

make sure you do exactly what is said and you name the file framework-res.apk and it switches to an apk file. i had trouble here but one you get that right it works great

here's what I did.
1. unzipped the CELB2.4 rom
2. went to /system/framework and renamed the framework-res.apk to a .zip
3. extracted the .zip
4. modified the .png's
5. renamed the framework-res.zip back to a .apk
6. booted my phone into recovery and in a terminal ran
./adb shell mount /system
./adb push framework-res.apk /system/framework
I tried the remount command and it doesn't work while in recovery
*Edit: just looked at the framework-res.apk file again. Although it says it's a .apk, it still acts and looks like a .zip without the .zip extension. What's going on?*

hitman_dreams said:
here's what I did.
1. unzipped the CELB2.4 rom
2. went to /system/framework and renamed the framework-res.apk to a .zip
3. extracted the .zip
4. modified the .png's
5. renamed the framework-res.zip back to a .apk
6. booted my phone into recovery and in a terminal ran
./adb shell mount /system
./adb push framework-res.apk /system/framework
I tried the remount command and it doesn't work while in recovery
*Edit: just looked at the framework-res.apk file again. Although it says it's a .apk, it still acts and looks like a .zip without the .zip extension. What's going on?*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
heres what i did...
create a new folder and put the framework-res.apk in there
archive it
open it up (dont extract)
you will see new folder open that
you will then see "framework-res.apk.zip"
take off the .zip extention and it will then become an apk file
extract it then push it to your phone

dyefalcon1 said:
I ran into a DroidDoesPink ROM which was Sense-able just redone in pink. I was wondering if this can be done with any rom? If any of them could be changed the color you want. http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/64009-droiddoespink-rom.html Here is the link to it. How could I go about changing the color to something i want? or is this not possible? Sorry if this a noob question lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can make an update.zip of that pink theme, or if you send me the rom update.zip you want to integrate it into, I can do that. Always happy to help.

you don't need to change the .apk to .zip it will open just like a zip file. easiest way is to drag and drop the edited png's back into the framework-res.apk without extracting it. I made the droiddoespink rom way back when and to be honest its probably a little outdated. I did update it with overclock and apps2sd though I think but if you are trying to change the colors to something else I would reccomend you start with a stock rom. You don't want to make everything orange and then have a pink highlight pop up somewhere. Also in sense based roms there are some png's in the htcresources.apk too. And to theme the dialer htcdialer.apk and phone.apk.

Conap said:
you don't need to change the .apk to .zip it will open just like a zip file. easiest way is to drag and drop the edited png's back into the framework-res.apk without extracting it. I made the droiddoespink rom way back when and to be honest its probably a little outdated. I did update it with overclock and apps2sd though I think but if you are trying to change the colors to something else I would reccomend you start with a stock rom. You don't want to make everything orange and then have a pink highlight pop up somewhere. Also in sense based roms there are some png's in the htcresources.apk too. And to theme the dialer htcdialer.apk and phone.apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
true.
the instructions i gave are how to do it on mac 10.4

I find that 7-zip http://www.7-zip.org/ is most helpful in this type work in that allows you to open the .apk "archive" files
Hope this helps

do i need to resize the png's because when i edit them and when i push the file to my phone it shows up that i edited it but its not one big edited picture its a whole bunch of small ones.. im thinking i need to resize the png's to the size of my phonne

ashertheplague said:
do i need to resize the png's because when i edit them and when i push the file to my phone it shows up that i edited it but its not one big edited picture its a whole bunch of small ones.. im thinking i need to resize the png's to the size of my phonne
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try resizing the edited files to what the unedited files originally were

I'm using Ubuntu 9.10, Thanks Conap, you're the man! That did the trick for me. I had to not extract the .apk just open it with archive manager and drag and drop the files/folder. White and red here we come!

CPCookieMan said:
I can make an update.zip of that pink theme, or if you send me the rom update.zip you want to integrate it into, I can do that. Always happy to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like the new sense able rom http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=654315 here or evil eris here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=650302 which ever is easier for you if you could integrate that to color #00aeff that would be awesome

[Q] Modifying Stock Keyboard

Hey all,
I was wondering whats the process to modify the stock multi-touch keyboard for the Droid 2? I was able to do it with the multi-touch keyboard that Punk.Kaos ported to the Eris, using some Windows batch files for extracting the apk source, compiling, signing, etc. I just can't remember for the life of me what that little program was called. Any ideas?
Thanks!

it would be nice since the space bar is soooo small i keep pressing . instead of space 70% of the times

Alright, I was able to get the program I was thinking of, it is called APK Manager. But the keyboard is a odex file... Which I don't know how to extract the XML files from... Yet.

I'd de-odex before you try to extract. It will be a lot easier. There's the method I used here.

What exactly is de-odex'ing? How will it affect my phone?

Deodexing just means that all of the stray .odex files will be put back into the correct .apk files this is done mostly for theme purposes in order to edit the services.jar file which has to be de-odexed before it can be edited. It won't corrupt anything if you do it right nothing should change on the outside the phone devs leave the .odex files out for loading reasons but nothing significant should change but you might experience a slightly slower boot up process but like I said nothing significant. Most ROM's now are de-odexed though.

So I deodexed my phone so I could work on the LatinIME.apk package. Using the APK-Manager for Linux, I was able to (0) pull the APK from my phone. Then I (9) decompiled the APK, edited the XML files as I wanted.
Now, from here I'm not entirely sure which direction to take. I tried running (13) Compile APK / Sign APK / Install APK, but I got an error saying something on how the signatures didn't match up. Then I tried running (3) ZIP APK (5) Zipalign APK then (8) ADB push, but now I don't even have the keyboard on my phone anymore.
How can I go about doing the correct way to compile my modified code and install it on my phone?
Here are the options I can do, if you're not familiar with APK Manager:
Code:
------------------Simple Tasks Such As Image Editing----------------------
0 Adb pull
1 Extract apk
2 Optimize images inside (Only if "Extract Apk" was selected)
3 Zip apk
4 Sign apk (Dont do this if its a system apk)
5 Zipalign apk (Do once apk is created/signed)
6 Install apk (Dont do this if system apk, do adb push)
7 Zip / Sign / Install apk (All in one step)
8 Adb push (Only for system apk)
-----------------Advanced Tasks Such As Code Editing-----------------------
9 Decompile apk
10 Compile apk
11 Sign apk
12 Install apk
13 Compile apk / Sign apk / Install apk (All in one step)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 Batch Optimize Apk (inside place-apk-here-to-batch-optimize only)
15 Sign an apk (inside place-apk-here-for-signing folder only)
16 Batch optimize ogg files (inside place-ogg-here only)
17 Quit
****************************************************************************

Anyone? I would love to get my stock keyboard back!
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

Looking for a tutorial: how to cook a ROM?

I'm looking for a guide which tells how to make a own custom ROM from another one
I mean:
1. How to add/replace/remove apps in /system/app/?
1. a) Do they need to have special permission?
2. How to replace boot screen?
3. How to add custom kernel?
4. How to add Desire lockscreen/flip clock?
5. How to add transparent notofication area?
6. How to add Power menu?
I've been serching forum, but didn't find such tutorial. Would be very thanful to get this knowledge.
I think that will be very useful for maaaany android maniacs

1. Simple delete/copy apks in .zip file using 7-Zip or any other.
2. I belive you need to put bootanimation.zip in /data/local/ folder.
3. Idk
4. For Desire lockscreen you need edited HtcLockScreen.apk; for flip clock - HtcClockWidget.apk
5. Edited /system/framework-res.apk or /system/framework/com.htc.resources.apk. I'm not sure
6. You need edited /system/framework/android.policy.jar
69. Resign your zip file using Auto Sign

Attachment doesn't load, but I know about resigning ROM after everything is done
Ad. 1. As I thought, but do the need special permissions? And I also wonder one thing. Are they installed while flashing? Cuz they need to be in system registry, I think...

I have found this: http://wiki.android.com.pl/wiki/Kon...iana_instalowanych_aplikacji_razem_z_systemem
No any permissions etc.

Found this, too. Thanks.

to add a custom kernel you have to unpack the boot image and edit the ramdisk manually, although i think there is an option in dsixda's kitchen to unpack and repack the boot.img

I've got two more questions:
1. When signing, three files are created in folder META-INF: CERT.RSA, CERT.SF, MANIFEST.SF. But in other packages I see also com/google/android/update-script in META-INF. How to make it? Is it necessary?
2. If I want to make only flashable update file which changes one app or another file, eg. framework-res.apk, I have to create folder structure: system/framework/framework-res.apk, add it to zip archive (no compression?) and sing using Auto-sing. Am I right?
Edit:
Found nice guide there: update-script syntax

tomekk_nt said:
I've got two more questions:
1. When signing, three files are created in folder META-INF: CERT.RSA, CERT.SF, MANIFEST.SF. But in other packages I see also com/google/android/update-script in META-INF. How to make it? Is it necessary?
2. If I want to make only flashable update file which changes one app or another file, eg. framework-res.apk, I have to create folder structure: system/framework/framework-res.apk, add it to zip archive (no compression?) and sing using Auto-sing. Am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The most important part of a recovery update zip is the update script. It will tell the recovery what to do. If you want an example of a basic update package, which replaces one file in the /system/framework (although a different one) can found here. Open this and read the META-INF/com/google/android/updater-script (or whatever its called). The syntax is pretty straight forward and I think its easiest to learn from the examples of updater scripts found here on XDA. For the simple case, of only replacing/adding files to the /system partition you can leave the updater script from the above example as is and only change the files under the /system directory in the zip.
Note, that the above example uses the newer upader-script (I hope I am writing this correctly, I am writing from memory) which also has a binary file in the same directory. Some update zips use the older "update-script" lone text script. For these kind of scripts, you can find a guide here.
Personally, I use RA recovery, and for this recovery you need to sign the update zips (last thing you do of course). At least for RA recovery, both the older "update-script" and the newer "updater-script" work fine, so its up to your personal preference which do you prefer.

Thanks. Found a guide you mentioned a couple of minutes ago and read it.
The more I know, the more questions it brings So one more thing. If I'd like to use the newer version of syntax: "updater-script", I need also to put this binary file in this folder. But I create/edit only "updater-script", binary file is the same for all packages, or do I need to edit it, too?

I built a kernel tool long time ago, very easy to use (only for linux)
1: unzip the file, place it where you want it eg your desktop
2: place boot.img in the working directory
3: double-click the menu icon or launch from terminal
4: it creates a new directory named BOOT-EXTRACT,edit what you want in there or change the kernel etc.. and repack it again via the kernel tool
see screenshot. here for those how want the tool >>> http://www.elelinux.se/tools/kernel_tool.zip
Edit: Only for Hero

tomekk_nt said:
Thanks. Found a guide you mentioned a couple of minutes ago and read it.
The more I know, the more questions it brings So one more thing. If I'd like to use the newer version of syntax: "updater-script", I need also to put this binary file in this folder. But I create/edit only "updater-script", binary file is the same for all packages, or do I need to edit it, too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only the updater-script. The binary is a replacement of the script-interpreter I think, but thats just an assumption.

elelinux said:
I built a kernel tool long time ago, very easy to use (only for linux)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that's a good reason to install newest Ubuntu Thanks!
riemervdzee said:
Only the updater-script. The binary is a replacement of the script-interpreter I think, but thats just an assumption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's mine assuption, too, but would like to know it for 100%
Edit: I see you use it in your kernel update package. So you write only updater-script and place also update-binary next to it?

LOL, you've got help from every well known hero dev on xda, I'm sure you'll have all the info you need now to start building rom's. Good Luck!

Found an app called Easy Flashable zip Builder on this thread. Will test it soon.

tomekk_nt said:
Found an app called Easy Flashable zip Builder on this thread. Will test it soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But it is for MS Windows, or saw I wrong ? I have also built a tool to javasign files,but should probably write a manual first,it is easy to use but some dependencies maybe not so easy for a beginner with Linux.

tomekk_nt said:
That's mine assuption, too, but would like to know it for 100%
Edit: I see you use it in your kernel update package. So you write only updater-script and place also update-binary next to it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correcto

[Q] Is it possible?

... to "flash" or otherwise install theme type mods such as changing a notification icon, without recovery? I had experimented with framework type flashable zip files to do with on my GS3 and always flashed from recovery. I am trying to (at least for now) keep from tripping my KNOX.
Also is there a wifi hotspot app or mod that also does not require recovery?
With a towel root, I can probably do everything I want, and keep my KNOX at 0, if I can do these two things.
Bob

ParrSt said:
Is it possible? ... to "flash" or otherwise install theme type mods such as changing a notification icon, without recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure. It's just more work. Having root gives you the necessary permissions to change system files and do anything that a (recovery) flashable zip file would.
But pragmatically, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect everyone going around writing custom install scripts for your theme mods when the common practice is to package them as a flashable zip.
The solution? It would be eminently useful to learn how to make manual changes yourself. Theme mods typically modify a system file e.g. TouchWizHome.apk or SystemUI.apk. You can make simple edits or replace packages with a root aware file browser e.g. FX. And more advanced edits with a decompiler like apktool.
.

fffft said:
Sure. It's just more work. Having root gives you the necessary permissions to change system files and do anything that a (recovery) flashable zip file would.
But pragmatically, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect everyone going around writing custom install scripts for your theme mods when the common practice is to package them as a flashable zip.
The solution? It would be eminently useful to learn how to make manual changes yourself. Theme mods typically modify a system file e.g. TouchWizHome.apk or SystemUI.apk. You can make simple edits or replace packages with a root aware file browser e.g. FX. And more advanced edits with a decompiler like apktool.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I don't expect others to make my scripts. I was making the zip packages myself.
If I understand you correctly, I can use something like FX to replace the an icon in one of the .apks? Those are zip type files but FX can do that?

As I already said, yes you can. Icons are (usually) especially easy. It's literally just replacing an icon with a file browser, usually in the xxhdpi360 drawable folder of the apk.
Something like
Copy the apk to another directory or your PC
Temporarily rename the .apk to a .zip file
Use FX Root to browse the compressed file and locate the icon you want to change.
Delete the icon from the zip.
Drag and drop the new icon to replace it.
Rename the .zip back to .apk
Browse to the folder where you copied the apk from
Rename the original .apk to .bak in case you need it later
Move your modified apk to the directory
Confirm that the permissions are still 0644 (long press to check.. but I've never seen FX mess them up to start with).
Reboot
That may look like a lot of steps but they are all trivial and you can do the entire thing in about 60 seconds.
Features e.g. suppressing nags or some colour changes may require decompiliing an apk.
.