Database Users

[Q] How to edit theme images and not have phone hang on boot?

I've figured out all apk files are really just zip files, but why am I not able to unzip the framework-res.apk file, edit the images within, then save it again without causing my phone to hang on boot?
Is there some step I am missing? I've tried rezipping with normal compression, store only, and only photoshopping and resaving a single image within the apk and still it fails.
How are images edited and updated? What am I missing?

I use apkmanager myself for most theming. You might look into it
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

An apk is a zip, but it's a *signed* zip
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Here is the way I do it. I use 7zip to do this and I think it is the only program that can do it.
The way you can do it is to extract the drawable-hdpi folder within the framework-res.apk then do all your edits and save them with the exact same file names. Then you can go back into your framework-res.apk and drag and drop the drawable-hdpi folder back in and it will over write the original ones. Now just hit the Up (like to move up a directory) button until you see the message "framework-res.apk has been changed. Update it in the archive?" then click yes. Now you can put it on your phone without force closing. If you were just editing framework-res and it was not within another .zip file then you won't get that message and that is fine.

APK Manager.
You can use extract/zip (2/3) for image-only edits, but you need to decompile/compile (9/11) to mess with xml files.
Do *not* sign system apks (like framework-res.apk). Do sign other apks.
Btw, this is in the wrong forum.
(Next step: learn about the update.zip packaging script. Remember to name it something besides update.zip afterwards, because on the Fascinate we're installing everything through Clockwork, which should be the only file actually called update.zip.)

s44 said:
APK Manager.
You can use extract/zip (2/3) for image-only edits, but you need to decompile/compile (9/11) to mess with xml files.
Do *not* sign system apks (like framework-res.apk). Do sign other apks.
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Oooh! I didn't know this app made xml's editable. That opens up a whole new set of theming fun. I can't wait to release my new theme. It should be well received (I hope)
Btw, this is in the wrong forum.
Click to expand...
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I considered putting this in Themes, but this was a theme development question, so here it ended up. If the Theme and Development forums ever hook up and have a few drinks, then spawn a sub-forum, Theme Development, I assure you it would have been a much easier decision to make

Thanks everyone for helping me out. My last time playing with a phone is an old WinMo 5 device. Anroid seems limiting in it's own ways (no dedicated theme files (can't update without losing the apk theme), but much better for customizing for a 'look' of the OS.

[Guide]Solving T-Mobile Engine/Cyanogenmod Theme "IMPROPERLY COMPILED" error

[Guide]Solving T-Mobile Engine/Cyanogenmod Theme "IMPROPERLY COMPILED" error
If u r using Cyanogenmod or Metamorph then u might see an error "THEME IMPROPERLY COMPILED" while applying some themes... Sometimes it might get fixed by just restarting the phone but many times it doesnt... There is a simple fix for this...
Requirements:-
1. Windows PC
2. Java Installed
Get one from here...
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
3. apktool
Download here http://www.multiupload.com/OV96GE5JOL
4. Autosign Tool http://www.mediafire.com/?recnmyzergg
5. .apk file of the theme which you want to make work (there are many tools to create apk file of apps you downloaded like Astro file manager or Estrong file manager)
Huh.. That was quiet simple...
Procedure:-
1. Install the java you downloaded
2. Extract the apktool & autosign you downloaded (i assume you extracted it on desktop for convenience)
3. place .apk file of the theme in the same folder where you extracted apktool & rename it to something simple like theme.apk (in my case it is desktop/apktool)
4. open command prompt (type cmd in run)
5. Go to the location with command prompt where you extracted the apk tool
(in my case type cd desktop)
6. then type cd apktool ( I assume there is no sub folder inside apktool folder)
7. Now type apktool d theme.apk
It will process some files and in less then a minute it will be completed
8. Now type apktool b theme
9. Open the folder apktool on desktop (with windows explorer and not with cmd)
Go to folder "Theme", Open folder "dist"
10. Copy the file "theme.apk" inside dist folder and paste it in autosign folder on desktop (which you extracted earlier)
NOTE:- There shouldn't be any other .apk file except theme.apk in autosign folder)
11. Now open sign.bat and press any key to sign the app...
YOU ARE DONE
A file will be generated with name "your_app_signed.apk" copy this to your phone and install this (obviously after removing the theme which was giving error)
Now it should work without any problems..
NOTE:- In theme manager you wont get display image of the theme instead you will get a black coloured image with name @string/theme_name....
This is the theme you just installed (I dont know y no image is shown in display after recompiling)
IT MIGHT SEEM A DAUNTING TASK FOR THE BEGINNERS BUT IN SHORT WHAT I HAVE DONE IS EXPLAINED YOU THE WHOLE PROCESS IN DETAIL OF DECOMPILING & COMPILING THE APK FILE AND THEN SIGNING IT

Alternative
Thanks for solution friend, u can also add this aternative fix to ur post.
Download LCD densiy modder pro. change dpi to 140 reboot. install theme & apply. change dpi to default reboot. OK
Tested number of times on many roms, and works fine...
Found here: http://lavabite.blogspot.in/2012/10/cm-theme-chooser-fix-for-theme.html

AmAnzx said:
Thanks for solution friend, u can also add this aternative fix to ur post.
Download LCD densiy modder pro. change dpi to 140 reboot. install theme & apply. change dpi to default reboot. OK
Tested number of times on many roms, and works fine...
Found here: http://lavabite.blogspot.in/2012/10/cm-theme-chooser-fix-for-theme.html
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Actually changing screen density changes the overall screen perspective, so its not good to recommend it, everything looks too small

fundoozzz said:
Actually changing screen density changes the overall screen perspective, so its not good to recommend it, everything looks too small
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Click to collapse
After applying theme returns to 160 dpi and everything looks normal.

Whenever I try to apply the 140 DPI setting, my boot screen screws up and I'm stuck in a boot loop. Running unofficial JB ROM on LG Phoenix. Any suggestions?

SiberianLeopard said:
Whenever I try to apply the 140 DPI setting, my boot screen screws up and I'm stuck in a boot loop. Running unofficial JB ROM on LG Phoenix. Any suggestions?
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idk this error hapens on my thrive (same as phoenix) when im runing 4.2.1 cm10.1
why dont they work without the stupid fixes, the themes should work without them

Battery mod links

Ok, So after copying 200 or so png's in the Drawable_xlarge_mdpi and the drawable_mdpi folder, I get my image mods after flashing.
But, they still only show the stock number of images, 9 or 10. Charging works ok.
So somewhere, there are some xml files I need to edit to reflect the filename additions?
Or am I missing something else?
A501 HC 3.2
Thanks guys and girls!

Battery_Charge.xml & Battery_Discharge.xml should be what your looking for.
Sent from my DROIDX using Xparent Red Tapatalk

DRTMI said:
Battery_Charge.xml & Battery_Discharge.xml should be what your looking for.
Sent from my DROIDX using Xparent Red Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I kind of figgured those were the xml files I was looking for. Problem is, I'm playing hell with de-compiling my framework-res to be able to edit the xml files.
Can't make much progress with the apktools available, even when including the dependancy apk's. So clearly I am a noob with decompiling framework-res
So my next question, is there any difference between a com gen 1 stat_battery_charge.xml; for the a500 and 501? If not, is it feasible to switch the modified xml to replace the current stock one?

here is how i mod those files as well as the icons and so on
i copy the system ui.apk to a folder on my desktop
i open it with winrar.. DO NOT EXTRACT IT.. pull out the folder containing the png files or xms you want to edit.. Just drag and drop them to another folder..
edit them to your hearts desire.
open the system.ui apk again in win rar.. drag the edited folder back into the system.ui.. push it to your tablet.. to say download folder..
then copy it to the original place it will ask you to replace say yes.. your tablet will CRASH .. REBOOT then if you edited the files corectly it will boot and show your changes.
i dont know if this is the correct way easiest way .. but IT DID WORK FOR ME.. USE AT YOUR OWN DESCRESSION..

I could send you the apktool I am using. Its the only one I have found that works worth honeycomb.
Sent from a phone.

NunHugger said:
I could send you the apktool I am using. Its the only one I have found that works worth honeycomb.
Sent from a phone.
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Click to collapse
Would be much appreciated Just send a link, and thanks!

erica_renee said:
USE AT YOUR OWN DESCRESSION..
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Click to collapse
Thanks Erica! That's what I've been doing Actually, wanted to do some editing to the xml files itself. It's easy for png's, at they don't get compiled.
Anytime we take the first step, and install iconiaroot, we do so at our own discretion

Here's an updated apk_manager if you prefer that method.
I normally use a CWM zip since I have to reboot anyway. You can usually start with any theme zip and just make sure their updater-script copies /system to /system and just look through the zip to see what it copies, and if it looks normal, you can make the directory structure the same but copy your own over the old ones (and delete any orginal files that you won't be overwriting). i.e. it should look like:
system/app/SystemUI.apk
system/framework/framework-res.apk
system/fonts/blah.ttf
Just drag your files into the zip in the same place and use it.
And then as a precautionary measure, just do this once or any time you mess with more files (for inexperienced modders): Make a 2nd copy of that zip and call it blah-revert.zip then copy the orginal files over those modified files. Once you have both zips on the device, if anything goes wrong you can flash the revert to get back quick.

Tutorial: How to use 7zip to Theme your favorite ROM: Updated how to mod market app.

I decided to detail and share how I used 7zip to Theme my favorite ROM. Im doing this because I found it a bit tough to find a detailed guide that contained all the steps. Hope this will help some people who would just simply like to change a battery or signal icon, or whatever.
Have you ever seen a ROM that you really liked the icons but it was not for your phone. Well I did so heres what I did.
1. Download 7zip.
2. Download your current ROM, and the ROM which contains icons you like.
3. Right Click on your current ROM, choose 7zip and choose" extract to "what ever your rom is called"". This will create a folder with contents of your ROM.
4. Do the same for the ROM that you may want to take icons from.
5. Now start opening up the folders. I like to keep one ROM on one side of the screen and the other on the other side. Depending on whether the two roms are for the same phone will determine whether similar files will be in the same location. For the most part you will be opening framework_res.apk and systemui.apk.
6. Opening these apk's is as simple as following step 3 again. Right click apk, choose 7zip, extract to whatever apk is called.
7. Go into the folder of the apk, go to res, go to different hdpi folders, there may be a few. I found it helpful to have both roms open at the same time. Looking for icons of the same name.
8. So you've found the icons you want to change. Once you are ready to copy them from one rom to the other, you must be certain they have the same name, if they dont, then you must change the name of your new icons to match the ones you plan on replacing. Do this before copying them. When you copy them over its important that your computer ask you if you want to replace the file of the same name. That means it does in fact have the correct name.
9.This is where I got confused, putting it back together again. So here is what you do. Back out of the folder that you just changed all the pngs in. Lets say its drawable hdpi. Keep this drawable hdpi folder handy cause you will need it in a moment. Now open up the folder which contains your ROM in a seperate window. Lets say we are changing stuff in the systemui.apk. Navigate to the original apk for systemui, not the new folder of the same name.
10. Right click it, Choose 7zip. But this time select open archive. Now in archive navigate into the res folder and you will see drawable hdpi.
11. Right click it. and delete it. Now remember I said to keep the other drawable hdpi folder handy....drag and drop it into the archive to replace the one you just deleted. Now close the window. Do this for as many system apks you choose, most common are like I mentioned earlier framework-res and systemui, but you may want to change things in settings, dialertabactivity, contacts....etc.
12. Now you want to put these newly themed apks back into the original rom. Its easy. Keep the newly themed apks handy.
13. Right click on the original rom zip, choose 7zip, choose open archive. Navigate to the apk you want to replace. Delete it. Now drag and drop the newly themed one into the archive. Repeat this process for all the apks you may have changed.
14. Close the archive window and install the newly themed zip in cwm. You may want to add something like a V1 onto the end of the newly themed rom, that way when you copy it onto your sd, you can keep the original on there as well.
Hope this will help someone get there rom exactly how the like it...and if it did...hit thanks.

Lets say you are running cm9 with theme Chooser but you don't like some of the icons but more less like the theme.
Copy the apk from your data app folder using root explorer or whatever you are using...paste to your SD....copy it too your computer.
Use 7zip the same way you do with a system app. But this time at the point where you are in the archives delete the Meta folder also. Don't replace, just delete it. Now close 7zip.
Next you will need a tool called autosign, just Google it. With this tool you will drag and drop your newely themed apk into it and run it. Its very easy you will see, the result be an new signed apk being produced. Rename it back to original and move your modded apk back to your SD. By now you should have uninstalled the original from your phone so that you can install this one.
Remember if this apk ever has an update on the market it will revert back and you would need to mod the new version.
Hope this helps. If it does hit thanks.

vanisleryan said:
I decided to detail and share how I used 7zip to Theme my favorite ROM. Im doing this because I found it a bit tough to find a detailed guide that contained all the steps. Hope this will help some people who would just simply like to change a battery or signal icon, or whatever.
Have you ever seen a ROM that you really liked the icons but it was not for your phone. Well I did so heres what I did.
1. Download 7zip.
2. Download your current ROM, and the ROM which contains icons you like.
3. Right Click on your current ROM, choose 7zip and choose" extract to "what ever your rom is called"". This will create a folder with contents of your ROM.
4. Do the same for the ROM that you may want to take icons from.
5. Now start opening up the folders. I like to keep one ROM on one side of the screen and the other on the other side. Depending on whether the two roms are for the same phone will determine whether similar files will be in the same location. For the most part you will be opening framework_res.apk and systemui.apk.
6. Opening these apk's is as simple as following step 3 again. Right click apk, choose 7zip, extract to whatever apk is called.
7. Go into the folder of the apk, go to res, go to different hdpi folders, there may be a few. I found it helpful to have both roms open at the same time. Looking for icons of the same name.
8. So you've found the icons you want to change. Once you are ready to copy them from one rom to the other, you must be certain they have the same name, if they dont, then you must change the name of your new icons to match the ones you plan on replacing. Do this before copying them. When you copy them over its important that your computer ask you if you want to replace the file of the same name. That means it does in fact have the correct name.
9.This is where I got confused, putting it back together again. So here is what you do. Back out of the folder that you just changed all the pngs in. Lets say its drawable hdpi. Keep this drawable hdpi folder handy cause you will need it in a moment. Now open up the folder which contains your ROM in a seperate window. Lets say we are changing stuff in the systemui.apk. Navigate to the original apk for systemui, not the new folder of the same name.
10. Right click it, Choose 7zip. But this time select open archive. Now in archive navigate into the res folder and you will see drawable hdpi.
11. Right click it. and delete it. Now remember I said to keep the other drawable hdpi folder handy....drag and drop it into the archive to replace the one you just deleted. Now close the window. Do this for as many system apks you choose, most common are like I mentioned earlier framework-res and systemui, but you may want to change things in settings, dialertabactivity, contacts....etc.
12. Now you want to put these newly themed apks back into the original rom. Its easy. Keep the newly themed apks handy.
13. Right click on the original rom zip, choose 7zip, choose open archive. Navigate to the apk you want to replace. Delete it. Now drag and drop the newly themed one into the archive. Repeat this process for all the apks you may have changed.
14. Close the archive window and install the newly themed zip in cwm. You may want to add something like a V1 onto the end of the newly themed rom, that way when you copy it onto your sd, you can keep the original on there as well.
Hope this will help someone get there rom exactly how the like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Vanisleryan for this. I always wondered exactly how to do this!

Subscribed to it and looking for more guides...
-----------------
I9000 powered by RemICS-JB

If I understand your tutorial, we modify the ROM apks/theme before flashing the whole ROM on phone ?
But what if we just want to adjust some icones without re-flashing the complete ROM ?
I may not have really understood tour tutorial I try to do my best with english language lol, anyway thanks for it

That's how I do it, but yes you could just theme one system app like say contacts. Delete it using root explore and then reinstall it after. You may have a few force closes but everything should be fine after you do a reboot.
Personally I like having the whole rom themed so its easy to get back to reinstall if go and try some other rom. To each there own..there is always more than one way to do just about anything.
JW1 with Dmore 3.1, personally themed to look like Omega black and blue.

Updated second post how to change a market app and reinstall on phone.
JW1 with Dmore 3.1, personally themed to look like Omega black and blue.

[GUIDE] Remove/change gradient on navbar and statusbar- Change navbar icons [ROOT]

A very simple guide on removing the disgusting shadow effect on the homescreen, plus changing the icons in the navbar.
EDIT: Useless guide. Every change can be made using themes. Coming from a N5 confuses me too much. Thanks @vobiscum
Since usually we would make this changes in xposed, and since xposed is not aviable (for now, I hope), we need to change some png images in the SystemUi.apk container located in #/system/priv-app/systemui folder.
This is just one way to achieve our goal, I made it supereasy for beginners.
Attention: don't extract and compress again any system apks with 7zip or similar programs: it will result in a bootloop. Just replace the needed images directly in the container. If you need to do something else, google APK-Tool.
1)Get a root explorer from googleplay. I'm using FX File Manager (it needs a plugin for root privileges);
2)Go to #/system/priv-app/systemui folder and copy systemui.apk;
3)Paste it in a pc-redeable partition or in the external sd;
4)Get the file and extract it with 7zip or winrar. Don't delete the systemui.apk imported.
5)Navigate in the excracted folder and get the files you want.
---Gradients are located in res/drawable-xxhdpi-v4, their names are: nav_background.9.png and status_background.9.png.
---Navbar Icons are located in res/drawable-xxhdpi-v4 and drawable-ldrtl-xxhdpi-v4.
6)Open the files with Photoshop or Gimp and edit them on your taste. Want a ghost navbar? Do it.
7) Drag and drop the modified files in the Systemui.apk according to their original locations;
8)Put the modified file on your sd/phone;
9)IMPORTANT: DO A BACKUP VIA TWRP
10)Copy-paste via root-explorer the SystemUi.apk back in place. It may be requested to remount the folder in r/w.
11) DONE! If you get some lag/problems, just reboot. If it bootloops, go for twrp.

nice work there, some genuinely earned thanks :good:
it will result in a bootloop
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i guess this is to do with the odexed apk's..?

sminki said:
i guess this is to do with the odexed apk's..?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that is to do with zipaligning, but don't ask me further, I'm pretty noob about this. I know that many apks works well even after they are recompiled as a zip; but some resources need a particular procedure. This way avoids any problem due to recompiling.
For editing xml, I generally use APKtool and replace the original META-INF folder and AndroidManifest.xml, this is the proper way to recompile it (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2203166).

Smokehrbar88 said:
I think that is to do with zipaligning, but don't ask me further, I'm pretty noob about this. I know that many apks works well even after they are recompiled as a zip; but some resources need a particular procedure. This way avoids any problem due to recompiling.
For editing xml, I generally use APKtool and replace the original META-INF folder and AndroidManifest.xml, this is the proper way to recompile it (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2203166).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man made a theme is too easy no need root
https://plus.google.com/+MassimoBotta/posts/27CAAv91Lth

vobiscum said:
Man made a theme is too easy no need root
https://plus.google.com/+MassimoBotta/posts/27CAAv91Lth
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So you can change navbar icons with a theme? Well, damn me. Damn Haweii. How about other pngs in SystemUi.apk (for example the gradient?)

Not useless, and to be honest, I prefer getting my hands dirty pulling things apart rather than relying on other people, gives you a better understanding of how things work