Creating 9 patch PNGS for theming!! - Epic 4G General

Alright, last week or so, I said I was going to try working on themes and after a few days finally got the whole 9 patch PNG jargon figured out!!! It was a pain in the ass figuring out how it all worked and even after searching i was still unclear.
Software you will need:
Adobe Photoshop or equivalent to edit your PNGs, adjust transparency, add effects)
Android SDK Tools and SDK starter package
Xultimate-d9pc.exe and repsective .zip file (this converts the raw .9.png into a working .9.png)
draw9patch (included in the SDK Tools) *I am working on another way to cut this step out since it is what takes the majority of time*
Java JDK (For Android SDK Tools to work)
Android SDK: Click Me! Android SDK r12 Do all the updates for the tool packages.
Xultimate-d9pc: Click Me!! Extract this into the Android SDK Tools Folder!! VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Java JDK: Click.. for 64 bit Windows Click.. for 32 bit Windows
I have uploaded all of these to my website for your convenience. I don't have the quickest server, so be patient with the downloads!!
Sorry for no audio in the video either. I didn't have a Mic hooked up and figured a video tutorial would be enough. Below is a youtube link and the pasted instructions from the youtube video.
WARNING: the steps below look intimidating, but really are quite easy after you grasp the idea.. I created so many steps to keep the total n00b in mind.
Step 1: Send the .apk that you want to modify from your phone to your email (or transfer your way of choice)
Step 2: copy the .apk somewhere on your harddrive (I put all my android stuff including tools and SDK in an 'android' folder as you will see in the video)
Step 3: open up the .apk in 7zip and navigate to the drawable folder (in this case; res >> drawable-hdpi)
Step 4: highlight all the pngs and .9.png's you would like to modify and copy them to a folder (this is where you will make your edits outside the .apk and compile them at a later time)
Step 5: Open the .9.pngs in photoshop and have some fun! (use your creativity to add overlays, borders, glows, etc.) tip: don't get to complicated, because you will need to pick split/stretch points later for the 9 patch conversion.
Step 6: When done modifying the .9.pngs, just save and overwrite the files you would like (in the case of the MMS app, the same image is used for multiple bubble files)
Step 7: Open up ONLY the .9.png's in the draw9patch tool located in your android SDK tools folder. Add the 9 patch data as shown in the video. Tip: some people only add one middle top and middle left split point/pixel, but i find its usually easier to add TWO points for the top and left quadrant as you will be picking your EXTENTS of where you want the content to be.
Step 8: On the right and bottom quadrant, create a solid line connecting the respective pixels together. These two steps will add the information to the PNG of where to split and stretch from, while also giving constraints of where the content can go.
Step 9: After all the 9 patch images are saved in draw9patch, if you open them you will notice the black pixels you just created. Do NOT, DO NOT try and recompile the .apk at this point, thinking you are done.. the bubbles (in this case) will look like crap, because you are not finished yet.
Step 10: Copy (or move) the newly created .9.png's into the ORIGINALS folder for the xultimate.exe software.
Step 11: Run the xultimate.exe. This will take about 2 seconds or less.
Step 12: naviigate through the 'done' folder and you will notice the .9.PNGs no longer contain the black border pixels!!! CONGRATS!!!
Step 13: Copy all modified images back into the open 7zip .apk archive and overwrite all the existing.
Step 14: replace your current .apk on your phone with this 'new' .apk and enjoy!!
and finally...
Tutorial -couldn't get youtube tags to work.
*If anyone is wondering why I Copied to the REV 2 folder but did the tutorial on the REV 1 folder, I was just demonstrating how to copy the files, but was working on my theme in the Rev 1 folder. DONT BE CONFUSED!!*

Thank you kind sir!
-Sent from my Random Epic.

This could be useful enough to move to Themes and be stickied with dreams tutorial.

Only reason I didn't throw it in those forums yet was that I figured a few people could try it and review the process before it became a 'good' tutorial. I know sometimes a tutorial is easy to understand or works for some people, but others have issues or don't understand the directions as well.
I hope this works for everyone and people are less intimidated to mess with this type of stuff!!
Relating to my other thread, I will continue to work on the MMS and Swype theming, I just wanted to get this together so everyone can start theming!

Wow, this looks very "easy"
Maybe I'll finally be able to edit .9.pngs without help
/sig
Avelnan said:
Phones are going to come to life someday. Take note: LG Optimus line. ASUS Transformer. And now the Nexus Prime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Why not just use apk manager to decompile, edit the .9.png's leaving the black outer border pixels alone, then recompile the apk, extract the modded png's, then copy them into the source apk?

shane6374 said:
Why not just use apk manager to decompile, edit the .9.png's leaving the black outer border pixels alone, then recompile the apk, extract the modded png's, then copy them into the source apk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's fine in some instances, but it wouldn't really allow you to create .9pngs that are of a different size....
Also...I would think editing them in say GIMP only would "corrupt" the draw9patch data? It seems to me that it's more than just having a few pixels as borders and guidlines, it's also the files data in relation to those pixels
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

squshy 7 said:
That's fine in some instances, but it wouldn't really allow you to create .9pngs that are of a different size....
Also...I would think editing them in say GIMP only would "corrupt" the draw9patch data? It seems to me that it's more than just having a few pixels as borders and guidlines, it's also the files data in relation to those pixels
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Editing with gimp wouldn't and doesn't corrupt the image from what I know. That's why your able to compile the image after editing it with gimp without error.
Sent from my SPH-D700

ac16313 said:
Editing with gimp wouldn't and doesn't corrupt the image from what I know. That's why your able to compile the image after editing it with gimp without error.
Sent from my SPH-D700
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. What I do is cut all but the 1 pixel border into a new layer, edit that layer, merge the layers and save. I understand the concept the op is stating, but all of this can be done with the method I said as well. If you want to completely change, or add png's you will need to also make xml edits to add the image there or change container sizes, which is done by decompiling with apk manager. The only thing you might have to do is run the images throught the draw9 tool, but in most cases you wouldn't even need to do that.
Sent from shane6374's Epic via Tapatalk

also, if you see the black bars, you are dealing with a previously edited rom/apk. when you build from leaks or official google aosp releases you dont have that. very nice work mr. socks

I have a question. How do you create a new 9.png to use, for example with miui lockscreen. I dont really get that. Do I have to create the 9.png as the same as the original 9.png on the lockscreen. just wondering. Any help would be appreciated
thank you

cowsquad said:
I have a question. How do you create a new 9.png to use, for example with miui lockscreen. I dont really get that. Do I have to create the 9.png as the same as the original 9.png on the lockscreen. just wondering. Any help would be appreciated
thank you
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Click to collapse
It really depends on what image it is and what you want it to do. Some aspects that you might think are controlled by an image might actually be controlled by a xml file.

shane6374 said:
It really depends on what image it is and what you want it to do. Some aspects that you might think are controlled by an image might actually be controlled by a xml file.
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Is there a way to find what aspects are controlled by a xml file.
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

cowsquad said:
Is there a way to find what aspects are controlled by a xml file.
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, you can take the name of the image and search for it in the xml files. Very easy to do with windows explorer. I use it to fine images and color codes all the time. If you know how to read the xml file you can see how it all works.
I don't know what file you're wanting to edit, but that might help. I'd throw up some resources I've used for you but I'm at work right now.

shane6374 said:
Sure, you can take the name of the image and search for it in the xml files. Very easy to do with windows explorer. I use it to fine images and color codes all the time. If you know how to read the xml file you can see how it all works.
I don't know what file you're wanting to edit, but that might help. I'd throw up some resources I've used for you but I'm at work right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whenever you have time, could you email me those resources. That will be appreciated. Pm and I send you my email
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

cowsquad said:
Whenever you have time, could you email me those resources. That will be appreciated. Pm and I send you my email
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Start with this one here. If you have sdk and draw9patch in the tools folder, you can use this to help guide you. There was one other site I found when I was starting out themeing, but I'm not finding it right now.
http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/draw9patch.html

i tried to run the ultimate.exe but i get an error, my ant/res doesnt exit. how do i fix that

cowsquad said:
i tried to run the ultimate.exe but i get an error, my ant/res doesnt exit. how do i fix that
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I don't even know what that is. Do you have sdk installed?
Sent from shane6374's Epic via Tapatalk

shane6374 said:
I don't even know what that is. Do you have sdk installed?
Sent from shane6374's Epic via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I do. I have sdk, eclipse and java set up already. I'm gonna reinstall everything now and see the results.

Related

(Dev) Here goes nothing

This is my attempt to get some more creativity, innovation, and roms here on xda. alot of people here have incredible skills but they cant be harnessed because they dont know what to do. if you are an artist we need you make icon packs. you have made 30 roms but you cant sign them. blah blah.
so no one abuse this but i attached a toolkit to do anything and everything with android on windows. im pushing this to be used for creating themes. hopefully it can help. but i thought it would be nice if everyone had this and the opensource community could start to grow even more.
i like this idea because it can help fellow Devs and even the watchers. everyone can get involved and give something to the community.
And now i present the Avabox
Any questions post them up.
OUTLINE------------------------------------------------------------
unyaffs-you have the ability to take system.img and data.img from you nandroids and get specific items from them.
Autosign- sign anything and everything. name your zip update.zip and follow the readme. roms themes, apps, anything.
Baksmali- put in apk in the folder. read readme. edit any icons wallpapers, anything. close it up and enjoy.
Perlscripts- this opens the boot.img for you.
Read the readme on all of these programs.
So this is going to be a quick tutorial Im gonna put up a video soon on how i got this to work on my computer
First things first download Avabox and unzip it in your C folder (same place you put androidsdk).
then get the java runtime from here not to be confused with the java development kit but since your there might as well grab it as well.
Install the java runtime then reboot
then open up avabox and click on autosign and place the zip you want signed in that folder and name it update.zip (dont add the .zip part it should already be a zip file).
then open up command prompt and type:cd\
cd Avabox/auto-sign
java -jar signapk.jar testkey.x509.pem testkey.pk8 update.zip update_signed.zip
After that last enter give it a second and look in your avabox/update file and you'll notice a new file called update_signed.zip
I know that this is almost word for word from the read me but a few differences can go along way expect a video shortly..... well around wednesday or whenever i can get someone to help with this
porting
im interested in learning how to port and combine different aspects of themes and other mods. will this do it or is there other software i need. I can do the work if shown the way. I read all the post everday with peopl;e asking for this and that and i do it myself. If shown I would help with requests as much as possible. HELP PLEASE
Thank you Avalaunch!!
so with this software, can i take a signed theme mod (like launcher or taskbar) and it will grab the images for me to edit, and then repack and sign to a flashable zip?
Everyone that knows how to use bak/smali, I have a question.
The modifications I made to the extracted pngs aren't getting transferred back to the original apk when I close it back up. Any Ideas? I'm getting really close to a breakthrough for 2.1. Any help would be appreciated
regaw_leinad said:
Everyone that knows how to use bak/smali, I have a question.
The modifications I made to the extracted pngs aren't getting transferred back to the original apk when I close it back up. Any Ideas? I'm getting really close to a breakthrough for 2.1. Any help would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hm ill have to check into it. it should be making a new classes.dex too. i never really used it on edits.
Avalaunchmods said:
hm ill have to check into it. it should be making a new classes.dex too. i never really used it on edits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It changes the classes.dex and resigns it it looks like, but doesn't copy the mods of the pngs to the apk.
regaw_leinad said:
Everyone that knows how to use bak/smali, I have a question.
The modifications I made to the extracted pngs aren't getting transferred back to the original apk when I close it back up. Any Ideas? I'm getting really close to a breakthrough for 2.1. Any help would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean? Baksmali and Smali are for decompiling classes.dex and opening it up for the .smali files that are inside. Smali takes that output and recompiles it back into classes.dex for your .apk or .jar file.
You need to update the baksmali and smali .jar's. You have older versions and that will cause issues with certain .jar and .apk's when decompiling. baksmali-1.2.1.jar and smali-1.2.1.jar are the latest versions and will not require the BOOTCLASS PATH to be included...
Does the autosign work windows 7 (64 bit)? I've heard issues with other autosigns on 7. If it doesn't, no biggie I got xp in a VM... lol
obannvi said:
What do you mean? Baksmali and Smali are for decompiling classes.dex and opening it up for the .smali files that are inside. Smali takes that output and recompiles it back into classes.dex for your .apk or .jar file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I get it now, after playing with it for a while.
Avalaunch, you should change the first post.
Baksmali- put in apk in the folder. read readme. edit any icons wallpapers, anything. close it up and enjoy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that description is a little confusing to a person that NEVER used smali/baksmali before. It makes it seem like after you edit the unzipped files, you could just run smali and it will put al the changes in the new apk. I figured out that's not how it works lol I feel pretty stupid now looking back at my last question haha
regaw_leinad said:
Yeah I get it now, after playing with it for a while.
Avalaunch, you should change the first post.
that description is a little confusing to a person that NEVER used smali/baksmali before. It makes it seem like after you edit the unzipped files, you could just run smali and it will put al the changes in the new apk. I figured out that's not how it works lol I feel pretty stupid now looking back at my last question haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What im trying to figure out is why would you even need to use baksmali/smali to edit .png's inside an .apk. All that needs to be done is opening of the .apk with 7zip, modify whats in /res/drawable etc then close...No need to sign .apks or anything. If anything, the script needs to contain something to extract /res/ * from the .apk to edit.
obannvi said:
What im trying to figure out is why would you even need to use baksmali/smali to edit .png's inside an .apk. All that needs to be done is opening of the .apk with 7zip, modify whats in /res/drawable etc then close...No need to sign .apks or anything. If anything, the script needs to contain something to extract /res/ * from the .apk to edit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm actually doing more than that. I am changing the code to look for instead of <name of file>.jpg to <name of file>.png
While also putting the new png in the apk. Think that's possible? I changed all of the locations where that file comes up in the smali code.
regaw_leinad said:
I'm actually doing more than that. I am changing the code to look for instead of <name of file>.jpg to <name of file>.png
While also putting the new png in the apk. Think that's possible? I changed all of the locations where that file comes up in the smali code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gotcha. So you're looking in blah.smali for any reference to .jpgs and changing that reference to look for .png instead??
obannvi said:
I gotcha. So you're looking in blah.smali for any reference to .jpgs and changing that reference to look for .png instead??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, not working too well atm, but working on it.
I think this is what I've been looking for. Downloading now.
Just noticed that ActivePerl was for 64bit. I am downloading 32bit as I have only have 32bit Vista Pro installed and not the 64bit.
regaw_leinad said:
Yeah I get it now, after playing with it for a while.
Avalaunch, you should change the first post.
that description is a little confusing to a person that NEVER used smali/baksmali before. It makes it seem like after you edit the unzipped files, you could just run smali and it will put al the changes in the new apk. I figured out that's not how it works lol I feel pretty stupid now looking back at my last question haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i guess i need to explain more. i use baksmali to make apks easier to search through. for me at least. instead of changing the type and everything i just put it in the folder and baksmali then do changes and create a new archive. sign and change .apk. if you smali it back to apk then it wont save edits. sorry about that anyways has this helped people so far? i love showing that windows can be a dev platform
&RoidRage said:
I think this is what I've been looking for. Downloading now.
Just noticed that ActivePerl was for 64bit. I am downloading 32bit as I have only have 32bit Vista Pro installed and not the 64bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes just google active perl i use win 7 64bit and when this toolbox was made, it was only made for certain people who had 64bit.
Sorry for the n00b question, but I have searched and haven't had much luck. Hopefully, this is the best place for this question. I just started editing .png's and updating some apk's files to customize some things on my phone for looks. However, I am really interested in modifying the taskbar and notification screen, but I have no clue where to start. Is there a guide somewhere I could follow to learn how to change them? What programs, if any additional ones will I need etc..?
Thanks for your help!
Figured it out on my own. framework.apk and resources.apk

[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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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...
Click to collapse
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.

[Q] Help understanding to make Themes

ok so i've read several, several threads on making themes, metamorph files, and what not and just wanted to ask a couple of questions since i'm going to try to start my own theme for my fascinate.
i know i need to be in the framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk files. Is the twframwork-res.apk only needed if i'm themeing for tw or can i just work in the framework-res.apk? also i've read somewhere not to mess with the .9.png files is this true here or is it ok to change these? also i'm not 100% on how to zip for a clockwork flash. do i just do a normal .zip file or is there something else thats has to be done to be flashable thru clockwork. o and is there anyhting else in the drawable folder i shouldnt touch? thanks for the help in advance
I am a little curious myself, but I haven't taken the time to look into it. You might check out this wonderful pdf:
http://tinyurl.com/2dnt4lv
I hope you get a more proper answer. Bump.
Swyped w/ XDA App. System: http://tinyurl.com/26tmcr9
Best way to learn how to build something is to take it apart. There are many valuable resources on line about android themeing. Knowledge of performing xml edits for font color and graphic placement. And using 7zip to be able to open an apk using the open archive feature and being able to extract and add image files from the drawable-hdpi folder. Make a back up of you phone and utilize some reverse engineering and experiment with some image replacement and give it a flash. Coming from windows mobile and no android knowledge I had things figured with about 3 hours of reading and experimenting.
good day.
You will need both framework files if you intend on getting it fully themed. It all depends on what you want to change. You can mess with the .9's, assuming you know how to do it properly. IE: modify your .9, edit your .9 in draw9patch, then compile in eclipse.
To sign a zip ---> java -jar signapk.jar testkey.x509.pem testkey.pk8 zip-name.zip new-zip-name.zip.zip
ty for the pdf that explains a lot in simple terms, and maybe I'll dive in on my eris first just in case lol, and thanks for the zip signing
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Also look up apk manager in search (don't have the link handy)
on the .9.png files do I just open them in gimp/photoshop and then open it again in draw9patch to resave it? lol lil confused on these particular files
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

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.
Click to expand...
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.

[mod] ICS apk de/recompile script for APK Tool - Windows

ICS Framework-res.apk does not like to be decompiled and recompiled by APK tool.
The work around is to use 2 different versions of APK tool and keep swapping files for decompile and recompile.
I have put this in a handy little batch file package to manage all this. It really is basic stuff, but hopefully for those who are not quite sure, it will ease the pain a little.
Please feel free to test it. Enjoy:
This is an updated script to modify ICS *.apk using APK tool.
I take no credit for Apk tool or the process.
I have simply automated it for Windows as there are issues with ICS framework-res modification
Pre -requisites
1. WinRar
2. Java
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Initial setup
1. Extract the apk folder from the .zip to the root of C:\
The structure should then look like c:\apk\ACTIONS
2. Go into c:\apk\ACTIONS\Install_files
3. Double click "Setup_Install.bat"
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Usage
Simply double click START.bat and follow the instructions
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Limitations
Can decompile any one .apk with any name at a time. Do not put any .apk files into the "in" folder until prompted to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to Rob222 for confirming the method.
Updated the OP. Now can decompile / recompile any name .apk
Simple script. Double Click start and follow prompts.
hi!
got this problem
Ficheiro não encontrado
1 ficheiro(s) copiado(s).
Error: Unable to access jarfile C:\Windows\System32\\apktool.jar
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any hint ?
i already made the java paths .. tryed java6 and java7
but always that error
ruizit0 said:
hi!
got this problem
any hint ?
i already made the java paths .. tryed java6 and java7
but always that error
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What command did you run when you did that?
Did you run the setup file first?
You will need to be an administrator. Are you? If so try right click on the start script > Run as administrator
Just realised I somehow had left part of the usage instructions for the old version in the post by mistake. That maybe why some of you have issues.
Nice one bro... that was surely something that many have tried.. nice work..
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Did not work
I set up the script as per the OP but I get the error attached
Think I need this. Getting errors trying to build apks.
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Phone_Guru said:
I set up the script as per the OP but I get the error attached
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Please walk me through, step by step what you did from downloading to receiving this error
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Hey I'm a total noob with apktool on win. But I have unzipped apks on my phone using root explorer swapping res files and made working theme mods...
Could you guide to a good guide to doing this stuff on windows with a GUI I'm code illiterate virtually but know what's going on
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I was able to get the CM 10 Framework-res to decompile and recompile using this version:
http://www.mediafire.com/?clk29i70rg7n8i9
The beauty of apks is that if you're swapping oranges for oranges, you don't need to decompile. You only really need to decompile if you're changing XML files.
To swap one image for another image with the same name is easy.
1)Download winrar (or 7zip - but I use winrar).
2)Open the apk with winrar (do NOT extract)
3)Delete the images you want to change
4)Drag the replacement images back in. When the window pops up with options, change "compression" to "store"
5)Close winrar
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rootSU said:
The beauty of apks is that if you're swapping oranges for oranges, you don't need to decompile. You only really need to decompile if you're changing XML files.
To swap one image for another image with the same name is easy.
1)Download winrar (or 7zip - but I use winrar).
2)Open the apk with winrar (do NOT extract)
3)Delete the images you want to change
4)Drag the replacement images back in. When the window pops up with options, change "compression" to "store"
5)Close winrar
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Oh... yeah cool so this automates replacing different images in the apk with the same location... I just use a vrtheme skeleton CMW.zip folder and zip it when done for flashing.
So how do you decompile the arsc archive and mess with deeper stuff?
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thankssssssssssssssssssssss Alot
first i Run Setup_instal.bat as administrator in "C:\apk\ACTIONS\Install_Files"
after that my problem solve (i have problem like post 2 and 3)
and thats Awsome ,
graffixnyc said:
content removed
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Kindly remove your link. This thread is about the mod I am sharing, which I scripted. It is not about other mods.
rlorange said:
Oh... yeah cool so this automates replacing different images in the apk with the same location... I just use a vrtheme skeleton CMW.zip folder and zip it when done for flashing.
So how do you decompile the arsc archive and mess with deeper stuff?
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Click to collapse
No, you don't use this at all if you're going to be changing images. This is for the deeper stuff.
rootSU said:
Please walk me through, step by step what you did from downloading to receiving this error
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I did exactly what the OP says, extracted the files into the root of the C drive, ran the setup and clicked on the start.bat and followed instructions. I now ran the setup again and took a screenshot of what appeared because it was so fast I couldn't see it. It said access denied and 0 files copied. I then took ownership of the System32 folder and ran setup again and it said 1 file copied. I now ran the start.bat again and got the attached error.
So am I right in thinking that you can't simply merge folders/files and zip like you can with root explorer because windows is not a Linux system?
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Phone_Guru said:
I did exactly what the OP says, extracted the files into the root of the C drive, ran the setup and clicked on the start.bat and followed instructions. I now ran the setup again and took a screenshot of what appeared because it was so fast I couldn't see it. It said access denied and 0 files copied. I then took ownership of the System32 folder and ran setup again and it said 1 file copied. I now ran the start.bat again and got the attached error.
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can you try right clicking the start.bat and run as administrator please? You're still getting access denied messages.
rlorange said:
So am I right in thinking that you can't simply merge folders/files and zip like you can with root explorer because windows is not a Linux system?
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Click to collapse
You can swap anything like-for-like. You can put in a replacement folder, xml file or png as long as everything has the same name.
If you want to edit an existing XML, you cannot do this without decompiling as when an xml is compiled, it does not appear as plain text. Similarly if you want to add more pngs or xml files, resources changed so it has to be decompiled too.
But if its simply swapping like-for-like, you can just use winrar or 7zip as mentioned earlier.
rootSU said:
can you try right clicking the start.bat and run as administrator please? You're still getting access denied messages.
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I tried that and still got the error messages.

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