Database Users

New To theming

I am new to theming, and was just going to reach a kind hand out for some help... i can get into the framework and all but just missing some steps on how to put it all back together. any help would be appreciated, and if i am posting in the wrong location feel free to delete or move the post. thank you

Use winrar to open the framework-Res and mess with those files then just put them back in framework-Res with winrar.

Rel500 has a great themeing guide. Thats how I got started check it out and if you have any questions ill be glad to answer it for you
Hope that helped.....
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Search for a program called "Apk Manager"
Play around with your frameworks...
Soon you'll get the hang of it...and don't be afraid to ask around

Great thread. I'm in the exact same position. Looking forward to creating MY theme.

Anyone know what program to use to view/edit the xml files?

buru898 said:
Anyone know what program to use to view/edit the xml files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the apk must be de-compiled first (use Apk Manager for that)...then use Notepad++ to view/edit xml's..the re-compile using Apk Manager

Im still fairly new to the theming scene, but ive found a good place to start is by porting a theme, find a theme you like on another theme and port it to the vibrant teaches you quite a bit about theming minus creating images from scratch.
some essential apps i have found are:
gimp (for image editing)
apk manager
notepad++
of course android sdk for draw9patch and other android utilities
other programs i may be forgetting.
Ive heard cs5 and corel are really good for creating icons and the like but im a college student and dont have the cash for those kinda programs

shreddintyres said:
Im still fairly new to the theming scene, but ive found a good place to start is by porting a theme, find a theme you like on another theme and port it to the vibrant teaches you quite a bit about theming minus creating images from scratch.
some essential apps i have found are:
gimp (for image editing)
apk manager
notepad++
of course android sdk for draw9patch and other android utilities
other programs i may be forgetting.
Ive heard cs5 and corel are really good for creating icons and the like but im a college student and dont have the cash for those kinda programs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Neither do i

when using notepad++ I get alot of jiberish, how do I edit when the things the guides on xda tell you to search for arent in the xml code?

sorry about duplicate post but heres a pic

aamir123 said:
when using notepad++ I get alot of jiberish, how do I edit when the things the guides on xda tell you to search for arent in the xml code?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to decompile the apk using Apkmanager or apktool in order to view the xml in a readable format.
Ginger Clones of the World Unite!!! via the XDA App

aamir123 said:
when using notepad++ I get alot of jiberish, how do I edit when the things the guides on xda tell you to search for arent in the xml code?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to decompile the apk to edit the xmls.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

[Q] Can someone mod a rom for me? please :)

can anyone mod a ACS rom for me so it can say "Stevie" in the lock screen and notification bar? instead of acs
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=976194

bump.......

there's a couple problems with this. What theme are you using. If your using a theme your gonna have to contact that dev and ask him. If your just using the rom I'm the man to talk to.
if I do this for you then others are going to want it done then it will be time consuming. And I won't be able to work in my other projects. However I wrote a how-to on changing the sprint branding. You can always follow those instructions.
If I have some free time I may try to fit this in.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

steviee7 said:
bump.......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need to give the thread some time so people can see it. If no response in 24 hours then bump it. Not in the same time or in a matter of minutes. We don't live on the internet
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

sorry bout that... yes im just running the rom itself no theme or anything

steviee7 said:
sorry bout that... yes im just running the rom itself no theme or anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I either suggest trying it your self or wait to see if I have time to do it
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

i tried it the other day but i messed up and i think i would rather wait for whenever you have time to mod it im in no rush i just thought it would be cool

just keep trying until you get it to work, you will feel awesome and you may learn a thing or two about android. there are a pretty limited number of ways to mess up such a small change so just do a little reading and you'll figure it out.

amirite said:
just keep trying until you get it to work, you will feel awesome and you may learn a thing or two about android. there are a pretty limited number of ways to mess up such a small change so just do a little reading and you'll figure it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 to this. I recently started using a theme that I wanted tweaked in one little way. I posted something in the thread and got no response and so started screwing around with it myself. It took a while (and multiple screw ups) but I eventually got it to do what I wanted. However, I learned a ton in the process that made me come up with new and improved ways I might screw up... I mean improve... my phone.
By the way, I think the key to doing this with confidence is doing a full "nandroid" backup (i.e. a backup in clockwork). As long as you do this before messing with anything on the phone, you can pretty much always restore the backup and be right where you were. I got myself stuck a couple times and this saved me.

dr_gibberish said:
+1 to this. I recently started using a theme that I wanted tweaked in one little way. I posted something in the thread and got no response and so started screwing around with it myself. It took a while (and multiple screw ups) but I eventually got it to do what I wanted. However, I learned a ton in the process that made me come up with new and improved ways I might screw up... I mean improve... my phone.
By the way, I think the key to doing this with confidence is doing a full "nandroid" backup (i.e. a backup in clockwork). As long as you do this before messing with anything on the phone, you can pretty much always restore the backup and be right where you were. I got myself stuck a couple times and this saved me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I'm working on mods I zip up the files I edited so I can flash and test the mod. I also create a 2nd zip with the same files but un modified. So if the modified zip breaks things I flash the un modified zip
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

MysteryEmotionz said:
However I wrote a how-to on changing the sprint branding. You can always follow those instructions.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is this located?

BWFBezerk said:
Where is this located?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strings.xml after you decompile framework-res.apk zz_roaming text you'll see it probably says acs already. Pull the framework res.apk decompile in apk manager, then navigate to projects/framework-res.apk/res/values/strings.xml. Scroll down towards the bottom and search for zz_roaming_. Note in apk manager when you recompile and it asks is this a system app choose y. Then it asks to preserve signature as well as files choose yes thenin apk manager you'll now have a keep folder. Delete the file named resources.arsc and then goto place here for modding folder. You'll see unsigned-framework-res.apk in there rename that to framework-res.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

dreamsforgotten said:
Strings.xml after you decompile framework-res.apk zz_roaming text you'll see it probably says acs already. Pull the framework res.apk decompile in apk manager, then navigate to projects/framework-res.apk/res/values/strings.xml. Scroll down towards the bottom and search for zz_roaming_. Note in apk manager when you recompile and it asks is this a system app choose y. Then it asks to preserve signature as well as files choose yes thenin apk manager you'll now have a keep folder. Delete the file named resources.arsc and then goto place here for modding folder. You'll see unsigned-framework-res.apk in there rename that to framework-res.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
should have just linked him to my thread. Give me a minute and I'll dig it up
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=872222
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MysteryEmotionz said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=872222
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You right forgot all about it!
Lmao miss read that question thought he asked where the name was located seems he wanted the thread
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

well i tried to do it myself again... using your guide and when i try to install the new rom it says installation aborted!

Just push the framework-res.apk file... installation aborted is a problem with your updater-script
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

chris41g said:
Just push the framework-res.apk file... installation aborted is a problem with your updater-script
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Either push it using adb or root explorer. Or use update script from another theme but leaving the file structure the same
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

chris41g said:
Just push the framework-res.apk file... installation aborted is a problem with your updater-script
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah... i dont know how to do that...

steviee7 said:
yeah... i dont know how to do that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turn usb debugging on in settings applications development. Hook your usb cable open a command prompt and in the terminal cd to the directory with the modded framework and type adb push framework-res.apk system/framework/ and then hit enter. This requires you have the android sdk installed and the tools in your path if u you have trouble with that then get a theme that works on your rom open the theme with a zip program and delete everything inside the system folder except the folder framework. Next open the framework folder and delete both framework-res.apk and twframework.apk. Next drag and drop your framework-res.apk into that framework folder close the zip and flash
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

[Q] Editing System Files

*N00B Alert*
I just downloaded this ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=769026
I'm trying to change the DPI back to 240. The guide seems easy enough; use a text editor and change the value in the file.
However the problem is that I can't seem to save the changes I have made. Read Only?
I'm new to these things so I'm problem doing something fundamentally stupid. The rom is already rooted I think.
BTW in b4 "lolololoool use search tool on forum". I already have, but my android lingo isn't good so I'm probably searching for the wrong thing.
Using "File Manager" and "Text Edit" apps to find and edit the file respectively.
Thanks

Infiniteey said:
*N00B Alert*
I just downloaded this ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=769026
I'm trying to change the DPI back to 240. The guide seems easy enough; use a text editor and change the value in the file.
However the problem is that I can't seem to save the changes I have made. Read Only?
I'm new to these things so I'm problem doing something fundamentally stupid. The rom is already rooted I think.
BTW in b4 "lolololoool use search tool on forum". I already have, but my android lingo isn't good so I'm probably searching for the wrong thing.
Using "File Manager" and "Text Edit" apps to find and edit the file respectively.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need root explorer to do that.
Sent from my HD2

maybe this app will help you: LCDDensity

jose makalolot said:
You need root explorer to do that.
Sent from my HD2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this app the only one that will do this? No free alternative?
p107r0 said:
maybe this app will help you: LCDDensity
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! this worked

Infiniteey said:
Is this app the only one that will do this? No free alternative?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe File Expert or Astro

ES File Explorer (free) will let you mount system directories, you have to enable it in settings.

App name

I like customize rom in my way. i changed app icons but now i want to change app names. please someone guide me for this which file to be edited.

Try APK Edit
With this tool you can change every text that appears in that app and even add new languages...
For me it was also quite useful and it's not very complicated. Only open the APK (You must have the apk on your computer) and edit it

Mohanshbhr said:
I like customize rom in my way. i changed app icons but now i want to change app names. please someone guide me for this which file to be edited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't it manifest.xml ? I'm not sure... Look at it !

brigo said:
Isn't it manifest.xml ? I'm not sure... Look at it !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks let me try

GalaxyDrei said:
Try APK Edit
With this tool you can change every text that appears in that app and even add new languages...
For me it was also quite useful and it's not very complicated. Only open the APK (You must have the apk on your computer) and edit it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it worked

Editing XML wierd characters

Hello!
I'm trying to edit one of the XML's of the S Health app so hopefully I can discover some way to hide some info from the widget. However opening the said XML file in Notepad++ gives me a bunch of weird characters.. How do I procede?

testmonkey1 said:
Hello!
I'm trying to edit one of the XML's of the S Health app so hopefully I can discover some way to hide some info from the widget. However opening the said XML file in Notepad++ gives me a bunch of weird characters.. How do I procede?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
You cannot just pull out the file and edit it. You need to learn to decompile it first and then edit. When done, recompile. Hope this helps ?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Jishnu Sur™ said:
Hi,
You cannot just pull out the file and edit it. You need to learn to decompile it first and then edit. When done, recompile. Hope this helps ?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh I thought it was the same as when replacing images, just change the file in 7z and resign the app.
How would one go àbout the most easy/fast way to decompile? I am no developer, I just want to edit out some text that is displayed on a widget by removing a couple of ljnes in the XML (I guess), nothing fancy. I don't want to be installing SDKs and what not..

testmonkey1 said:
Ahh I thought it was the same as when replacing images, just change the file in 7z and resign the app.
How would one go àbout the most easy/fast way to decompile? I am no developer, I just want to edit out some text that is displayed on a widget by removing a couple of ljnes in the XML (I guess), nothing fancy. I don't want to be installing SDKs and what not..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The easiest way is this mate :
1. Download tickle my android.
2. Download java applet 6U25.
3. Framework.resapk and other abc-res.apk.
4. Run tickle my android and decompile.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Jishnu Sur™ said:
The easiest way is this mate :
1. Download tickle my android.
2. Download java applet 6U25.
3. Framework.resapk and other abc-res.apk.
4. Run tickle my android and decompile.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot mate