Database Users

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

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] How to easily edit/modify .apk files! (Simple, Noob Friendly)

Hey Guys an' Girls!
Anyway, so when I first learnt how to decompile, modify then recompile .apks I found it was a rather slow process and figured out a far faster way.I searched google and xda many times and couldn't find my method anywhere. So without further ado, let's go through an easy, simple, step by step guide on how to modify .apk files!
Step 1 - Getting the .apk
Firstly, of course, you will need to obtain the .apk file that you want to edit. There are two methods to do this:
a) If you have the recovery flashable zip for the rom you are currently on, simply open it up, navigate to the file you want to edit (in my case system -> app -> settings.apk) and drag the .apk file onto your desktop.
b) Using root browser or a similar app on your device, navigate to the .apk you wish to edit and copy it onto your sdcard. Then connect to your computer and copy the file from your phone to the computer.
Step 2 - Editing/Modifying your .apk
Now is the important part. Install Winrar by clicking the link. http://www.win-rar.com/download.html?&L=0 Then open the .apk by right clicking the file -> open with -> WinRar. Now you can look around the .apk file. Find a file inside the .apk you wish to edit. (In my case I'm going to navigate to res -> mipmap-hdpi -> ic_launcher_settings.png). Just drag the file from the .apk and edit to your liking.
NOTE: It is recommended never to completely take everything out of the .apk and then put it all back in. Just do one file at a time.
Then when your finished, select the old file in the .apk and press the delete button. Now drag in the new edited file into where you found it. Easy!
Step 3 - Putting the new .apk back where it belongs
Now of course, your going to have to put it back on your device to see the changes in effect, there's no point having it on your computer! There are two ways to go about this:
a) Open up your rom and navigate to the place where you took your .apk file from. Click on the old .apk file and press the delete button. Now drag your new edited .apk file into the zip. Then connect your device to your computer and drag the rom onto the sdcard and flash it via recovery. Now reboot the system and see your change/s in effect!
b) Copy your new .apk file from your computer to your device. Then, using Root browser or a similar app, navigate to the old .apk file and look at the permisions. (eg. RW--r--) Now delete the old file and replace with the new, but make sure to set the permissions the same as they were before. Now Simply reboot and see your change/s in effect!
NOTE: For some .apk files (eg. Framework-res.apk) there might be missing folders inside the .apk (eg. Values).

Just hit the thanks button, he doesn't bite your finger!

This is an easy way to edit the images only(icons,wallpaper,etc),not XML files,Smali's and such.I do this using the kitchen,easy way if you theme alot.

Diablo67 said:
This is an easy way to edit the images only(icons,wallpaper,etc),not XML files,Smali's and such.I do this using the kitchen,easy way if you theme alot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to use this guide just for images. That was just the example. You can use it for almost any file inside an .apk. I was just saying that SOME folders aren't there.

Can you guide me to how do i keep same apps of diff versions.

i tried to modify a 3rd party app e.g whatsapp and when i tried installing i got an error which said "the app is not signed", may u kindly assist!

tendyfish said:
i tried to modify a 3rd party app e.g whatsapp and when i tried installing i got an error which said "the app is not signed", may u kindly assist!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You also have this tool
Easy Apk Dissassembler
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14049173

How do I use a flashable to get rid of .apks??? ₩

On the app I have here it returns 20 results that it scrapes from a website. I only want it to return 3 or 4. How do I get in there and change that value?

I want to change values on touchwiz launcher on my note 3, to use it in 440 dpi. When I use it there is so much margin on all sides, and I need to reduce. I need to add a new icon row as well. Can I do that just by modifying the app?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

are the .xml files encrypted or something? when i try to edit them, it is a bunch of strange characters

Hi,
I would like to modify the tinychat.apk so that i can find how to change my device info/platform from android to something else, like pc or whatever. I dont want to be identified as using an android device. Is this possible?
Regards.

ksaul said:
are the .xml files encrypted or something? when i try to edit them, it is a bunch of strange characters
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, depending on what tool you use to decompile the apk files it may or may not decrypt them. I use apktool and it decrypts them just fine.

I think this method is no longer working for 4.3+

Modify JAR files
littlejoelgriffo said:
Hey Guys an' Girls!
Anyway, so when I first learnt how to decompile, modify then recompile .apks I found it was a rather slow process and figured out a far faster way.I searched google and xda many times and couldn't find my method anywhere. So without further ado, let's go through an easy, simple, step by step guide on how to modify .apk files!
Step 1 - Getting the .apk
Firstly, of course, you will need to obtain the .apk file that you want to edit. There are two methods to do this:
a) If you have the recovery flashable zip for the rom you are currently on, simply open it up, navigate to the file you want to edit (in my case system -> app -> settings.apk) and drag the .apk file onto your desktop.
b) Using root browser or a similar app on your device, navigate to the .apk you wish to edit and copy it onto your sdcard. Then connect to your computer and copy the file from your phone to the computer.
Step 2 - Editing/Modifying your .apk
Now is the important part. Install Winrar by clicking the link. http://www.win-rar.com/download.html?&L=0 Then open the .apk by right clicking the file -> open with -> WinRar. Now you can look around the .apk file. Find a file inside the .apk you wish to edit. (In my case I'm going to navigate to res -> mipmap-hdpi -> ic_launcher_settings.png). Just drag the file from the .apk and edit to your liking.
NOTE: It is recommended never to completely take everything out of the .apk and then put it all back in. Just do one file at a time.
Then when your finished, select the old file in the .apk and press the delete button. Now drag in the new edited file into where you found it. Easy!
Step 3 - Putting the new .apk back where it belongs
Now of course, your going to have to put it back on your device to see the changes in effect, there's no point having it on your computer! There are two ways to go about this:
a) Open up your rom and navigate to the place where you took your .apk file from. Click on the old .apk file and press the delete button. Now drag your new edited .apk file into the zip. Then connect your device to your computer and drag the rom onto the sdcard and flash it via recovery. Now reboot the system and see your change/s in effect!
b) Copy your new .apk file from your computer to your device. Then, using Root browser or a similar app, navigate to the old .apk file and look at the permisions. (eg. RW--r--) Now delete the old file and replace with the new, but make sure to set the permissions the same as they were before. Now Simply reboot and see your change/s in effect!
NOTE: For some .apk files (eg. Framework-res.apk) there might be missing folders inside the .apk (eg. Values).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's very helpful thank you for sharing. Is there a way to modify JAR files the same way?

gilbertgk said:
That's very helpful thank you for sharing. Is there a way to modify JAR files the same way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rename the jar to apk..after done,rename it back to jar

zamzameir said:
rename the jar to apk..after done,rename it back to jar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can this work on my note 3 4.3 not rooted?

gilbertgk said:
Can this work on my note 3 4.3 not rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
idk..but you can try n report back

littlejoelgriffo said:
Hey Guys an' Girls!
Anyway, so when I first learnt how to decompile, modify then recompile .apks I found it was a rather slow process and figured out a far faster way.I searched google and xda many times and couldn't find my method anywhere. So without further ado, let's go through an easy, simple, step by step guide on how to modify .apk files!
Step 1 - Getting the .apk
Firstly, of course, you will need to obtain the .apk file that you want to edit. There are two methods to do this:
a) If you have the recovery flashable zip for the rom you are currently on, simply open it up, navigate to the file you want to edit (in my case system -> app -> settings.apk) and drag the .apk file onto your desktop.
b) Using root browser or a similar app on your device, navigate to the .apk you wish to edit and copy it onto your sdcard. Then connect to your computer and copy the file from your phone to the computer.
Step 2 - Editing/Modifying your .apk
Now is the important part. Install Winrar by clicking the link. http://www.win-rar.com/download.html?&L=0 Then open the .apk by right clicking the file -> open with -> WinRar. Now you can look around the .apk file. Find a file inside the .apk you wish to edit. (In my case I'm going to navigate to res -> mipmap-hdpi -> ic_launcher_settings.png). Just drag the file from the .apk and edit to your liking.
NOTE: It is recommended never to completely take everything out of the .apk and then put it all back in. Just do one file at a time.
Then when your finished, select the old file in the .apk and press the delete button. Now drag in the new edited file into where you found it. Easy!
Step 3 - Putting the new .apk back where it belongs
Now of course, your going to have to put it back on your device to see the changes in effect, there's no point having it on your computer! There are two ways to go about this:
a) Open up your rom and navigate to the place where you took your .apk file from. Click on the old .apk file and press the delete button. Now drag your new edited .apk file into the zip. Then connect your device to your computer and drag the rom onto the sdcard and flash it via recovery. Now reboot the system and see your change/s in effect!
b) Copy your new .apk file from your computer to your device. Then, using Root browser or a similar app, navigate to the old .apk file and look at the permisions. (eg. RW--r--) Now delete the old file and replace with the new, but make sure to set the permissions the same as they were before. Now Simply reboot and see your change/s in effect!
NOTE: For some .apk files (eg. Framework-res.apk) there might be missing folders inside the .apk (eg. Values).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thnax for great guide but,my gopro app has a update and I have changed the icon on it but the app store dosent show me the update button. How to fix so I can update?

What do I need to change in an app to substitute it for another app?
OK so I've installed a new ROM and it comes with a kernel setting app preinstalled. This app has been integrated into the system settings portion of the ROM. I want to replace this kernel settings app with one of my choice but I want to be able to integrate it into the system settings like the original app is. I tried disguising the new app by changing the name of the app and .apk files but that didn't work. Closest I got was being able to convert my app to system app but even though I changed the name, the app, when installed goes back to it's original name. Or what permissions or files do I need to change to allow the integration of my app into the settings interface. Thanks ahead of time, it's appreciated.

Possible to change leanback home background from the green blood cell wallpaper?

Hi, I recently bought a 2017 shield and Im now running the latest Android TV but to my dismay I haven't been able to figure out how to change the background from the, in my opinion, tacky wallpaper of the green blood cells? Is this possible at this time?

uratrtl said:
Hi, I recently bought a 2017 shield and Im now running the latest Android TV but to my dismay I haven't been able to figure out how to change the background from the, in my opinion, tacky wallpaper of the green blood cells? Is this possible at this time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not my work but here you go:
Anyone interested in a tutorial on how to change the default wallpaper on your Nvidia Shield TV? (And possibly Android TV in general, have to figure that out first)
Root required..
Step 1: Edit your own wallpaper image so that it is named nv_wallpaper.png with dimensions of 1920x1080. Don't just rename a jpg to png, convert it.
Step 2: Back-up the NvCustomize.apk file in the /system/priv-app/NvCustomize/ folder to a secure location. Or use a backup tool.
(Note that when you copy the file back, the permissions have changed and you need to change them back to chmod 644 (for the apk) and chmod 755 (for the folders, which you don't need to backup per se)
Step 3: Copy a second version of the NvCustmize.apk to a location you can access on your PC or an easy to remember location you can access with a file explorer. Not all file explorers let you write to the apk when it's still in the system folder. So copy it anywhere else.
Step 4: Somehow merge the new PNG you made with the NvCustomize.apk, without decompiling or extracting the apk. You can use Winrar, but DON'T extract it. leave the file intact and just copy the nv_wallpaper.png to the location of the same png in the file and overwrite it. Done.
You can also do this on the device itself, with some effort. I use X-Plore for that (in the ATV Play store). To open the file as a zip and copy the png inside that apk.
the correct folder inside the APK is: NvCustomize.apk/res/drawable-xhdpi-v4/
put the file there (within winrar or the file explorer on the device) and overwrite.
Step 5: Copy the modified NvCustomize.apk back to the /system/priv-app/NvCustomize/ folder and overwrite it.
Step 6: Check the permissions of that file. In X-plore you can long press the apk, scroll down and select permissions. There you must see 644 in the bottom right. Or all Read checked and one write (owner) checked. Owner should be root.
Step 7: Reboot!
Done.
Hope that helps!

Thanks, that certainly does help, but heavens is that convoluted for such a seemingly simple request.

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player...3728-tool-windows-androidtv-wallpaper-changer

default theme

hello every body lastly i found that my phone theme return to default one after restart my phone . note 4 one nemsis rom 601 android .any suggestion to fix it please

any help

ammarsg said:
any help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
open samsung theme -> don't closed it, just press home
install desired theme
then go to - root/data/overlays/preferences folder
delete all its contents (7 to 9 files) not the actual preferences folder
then navigate to:
then go to - root/data/overlays/jsonfiles
from there, CUT and paste the contents (the installed theme file) of trialjson folder to inside of userjson folder.
restart phone and reapply default theme and your then theme

w41ru5 said:
open samsung theme -> don't closed it, just press home
install desired theme
then go to - root/data/overlays/preferences folder
delete all its contents (7 to 9 files) not the actual preferences folder
then navigate to:
then go to - root/data/overlays/jsonfiles
from there, CUT and paste the contents (the installed theme file) of trialjson folder to inside of userjson folder.
restart phone and reapply default theme and your then theme
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thx my friend for reply . its good now after delete all contents in folders in root/data/overlays