yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Never a noob'ish question. We all had to start somewhere.

I dont personally use Apk Manger. I wanted more options at my fingertips so I use:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1053227

Awesome product and can do alot of the stuff you have to do as a themer.

Anyways to you question. (Windows)

1. You must load the Framework-res.apk and com.htc.resources.apk, as well as the SystemUI.apk into the system so APKtool knows what files to use for decompiling. it's not hard at all to do.

2. Extract framework-res.apk, com.htc.resources AND apk files you want to decompile from the ROM and copy them to the root directory of APKTool(If doing another brand of phone the system files names may be different)

From command prompt type:

apktool if framework-res.apk

apktool if com.htc.resources.apk

apktool if SystemUI.apk

This in effect loads these files into your system and now the APKtool of your choice will know how to decompile apk files.

If the above is done right, you will see it saying it loaded them as 1.apk, 2.apk, and SystemUI.apk loads as some number like 300 or something.. As long as it loads them into the system you are on your way.

This is the type of thing your looking for:

I: Framework installed to: C:\Users\apktool\framework\1.apk

** If you use autoApktool use can use option to load your system files from within program **

Now that your done with that your ready to decompile. Depending on your tool you use, you can use the options to decompile, and then edit and then recompile.

If you want to decompile manually you would do this from command prompt(where your apk's and apktool files are at.)

apktool d SystemUI.apk (that command tells apktool to decompile SystemUI.apk)

You should see something like this:

I: Loading resource table…

I: Decoding resources…

I: Copying assets and libs…

3. Yes you can use Notpad++ for xml editing, I use Ultraedit, becuas eit allows me to search through xml's and such. Personel choice.

4. Signing apk's really depends on your ROM and the files you are trying to edit. I know this is not an answer, but in my ROM I dont need to sign my SystemUI, but say I edit Mail.apk, that needs to be signed. As a gerneral rule any apk's in system/app need to be signed, unless you find out otherwise. The apk's in system/framework do not need to be signed. (framework-res.apk, and com.htc.resources.apk)

I hope this helps get you started. Ask away..
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Yea some apps push very specific stuff to notification bar. If by makign the changes I show and it is still not color you want:

1. Look to the app itself.

2. Look to the colors.xml

3. Look to the styles.xml
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] nolimitzr2:
Kick ass gonna give this a shot, too bad its going on the work week. I'll try sneaking this in tonight before bed. Thanks
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
nice tutorial. I wanted to ask, if I wanted to have diffrent background images , like two diffrent wallpapers, one for notification background and one for quick settings background. how do I edit systemui to accept this? Do I use your tutorial on animated background or what. I find the Images in system UI I want to change but nothing happens after the flash. do I have to edit xml to point to my images or what?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Need more info.. to give a great answer, but here is a less than perfect one. LOL

The Status bar Notification has several png's. The one for the Dropdown itself, the ones for the actual notifications themselves.

The Quicksettings use the same one as the notifications(if your on Sense 3.0)

Using the tutorial for the Background animation ends up adding a third to the Status bar. It ends up being behind the Notifications and the notifications layered on top of that, and then thirdly the actual dropdown(pulldown) on top thoses.

So if say you want to just change the ones used for Quicksettings, you would have to do xml edits to add the png, and you might need to add another layer to the linerlayout(not sure, not looking at it)

If you have edited the images in SystemUI, and reflashed they should change. However look at the tutorial as the transparency comes into play as well.

Please let me know if further questions...
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
I'm gonna give it a go when i get home and see what happens ill let you know thanks for your help.

Here's a screen shot of what im trying to achive to change this avengers png that is set as background to what I like for quicksetting background and notification page background.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Then add it as what my animation tutorial says, just dont add the stuff for animating. But you will have to fool with your dropdown transparency to suit to taste to be seen.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Ok will do thanks
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
No problem, let me know
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Awesome work gun! (Ok, I'm actually just tagging the thread so I can find it easier, haha -sorry;D ....but still, that shouldn't detract from my first statement;))
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Thank you....
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
hey man ive been messing around with systemui.apk and found an easy way to add custom background images to notifications background and quicksettings background on sense 3.0.

all I did was in quick_settings.xml: android:background="@drawable/quicksettingsbg"

and in status_bar_tracking.xml: android:background="@drawable/shade_bg"

drop the two images sized and named accordingly in drawable hdpi,then recompile and there ya go, new backgrounds. this is loads easier than trying to use the animation method to add your images.

thanks to : mohit1234 for teaching me this.

i've changed images multiple times and it works everytime great easy way of modding phone
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
can u POST a pic or two?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Here ya go
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Thnx ...looks really good
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Great Job!

Thanks for sharing!!!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Using Wallpaper as Background in different windows

Using Wallpaper as Background in Settings

** Thanx to Clever for showing me this little trick!!!

What this does is allow you to be able to change your wallpaper and it changes the background in your other apps. In this example changing the background in Settings.. Now if you change the Wallpaper on your phone all other use the same from their background!!!! Pretty cool trick!!!

Settings\AndroidManifest.xml

Look for:

<application android:theme="@style/Theme" android:label="@string/settings_label"

a.	Change to android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Wallpaper"

See Below:

Word of caution!!!!!

In most cases you will be required to resign this apk becuase of this change to the AndroidManifest.xml file

So in the above example:

Compiled Settings.apk

Zipalinged Apk

Signed apk

Flash it!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Wow, that is concise! ....can u imagine wut it would look like if I wrote this tutorial?;) lol!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] c_live_lee:
lol! I don't know know about Gunthermic but, I know I CAN'T imagine how it would look. You're a very smart guy but, you have your own unique thought process which tends to be hard for us mortals to follow. ;)
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Lol ..its hard for me too;)
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] BennyJr:
Bump?? Hoping for more tutorials :)
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Whatcha looking for? I do have some things in the works..

Or just looking for more goodies?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Make a tut that does the mods for me! That'd be great!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] nolimitzr2:
what edits are neeeded for the notifications and quick settings coloring tabs in that screenshot?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
I'd have to look to say exactly but I know for fact its in 'status_bar_tracking.xml' .....and I THINK its the last rgb value in there ....tho on stock it may defer to another xml rather then show rgb (if I'm not mistaken it actually says "color/white" in stock xml.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Edit: lemme know if u need more info than that ....
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
I just put true transparency in GoogleSearch and in Settings if u guys want a tut on those:
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] daman215:
those are png`s you can make them to what ever you like just make shore they are the same size the bottom tabs are .9.png but you dont have to use .9.png just change the name on the png your going to use to .9.png enless you edit the xmls to name them differently
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Oh, I'm sorry, I was confused apparently. I thought he was asking bout changing the text color on the tabs;)

...well, if u ever wanna change text color on tabs, refer to my previous answer, lol!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Hey guys, ill have to wait to write the trans tut till I can verify all my edits. My comp is crashed ...hard!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] VaiO1080:
hello, can you tell me how to change the clock to the center???
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
For those of u that wanted a tuturial on transparency in Settings, here's an edited copy of an email I sent to someone else. This is just one method, and it doesn't work with all APKs, but does with many.

In order to get full transparency in my Settings bg I've added a PNG called 'clever_bg.png' to /res/drawable in framework-res.apk. Then I added this style to both 'styles.xml's in framework-res.apk:

<style name="Theme.CleveStyle" parent="@style/Theme.Translucent"> <item name="windowBackground">@drawable/clever_bg</item>

(NOTE: U can name this style wutever u like. I named mine "Theme.CleveStyle" -- eg: <style name="Theme.Wutever.The.Hell.U.Want'. Also make sure that ur item name in ur style matches the PNG u placed in framework-res. -Notice the file extension '.png' is not named in my style.)

Next I compiled this newly edited framework-res.apk and installed it to my apktool 1.4.1. (or use option in APK Manager or wutever themeing tool u use)

Then i decompiled Settings.apk and edited line #52 of my AndroidManifest.xml as follows:

52) <application android:theme="@android:style/Theme.CleveStyle"......

And finally after saving all edits, compiling (receiving no errors with either APK) I 'pushed' both APKs to my device and rebooted.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Sorry guys. I'm trying to edit that last post to make it more descriptive and coherent but my comp is screwed and its too long to edit from my device apparently.

Maybe gun can put more order in it, LOL. I'm not always too good at making myself understood.

Anyway, I use a PNG for transparency cuz I believe it gives me more control. I'd give u mine but I don't have access to it atm. To make a trans background PNG, just find another bg (wallpaper works nicely), black it out and make it transparent. Mine has a trans fade (more trans in middle) but u can do wutever u like. It doesn't even need to be transparent ...but that kinda defeats the purpose;)
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Most clock stuff is in /res/layout-hdpi/status_bar.xml inside SystemUI.apk I believe. U should be able to change the 'gravity' from

gravity="center_right"

to

gravity="center"

In 'id:clock' but I'm not sure and can't test atm.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Idk why that whole tut I posted a few posts back doesn't show up while using TapaTalk, but it does show completely on XDA so go there if ur viewing this from TapaTalk.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Hey guys, I made settings background transparent on sense 3.5 only one problem the title says port. I really can't remember what all I changed. Any idea where I can find this line so I can change it?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
LOL! How the hell did u manage that? Did u try recompiling it again? Cuz I don't imagine that's easy to screw up just accidentally! Somewhere in an xml in Settings, the display text "Settings" is specified so if its not from a bad compilation, then u or someone must have written that in there .....somehow! Least that's how I see it. Did u use anyone else's files?

Anyway, I'd have to take a look at it, but my comp needs fixed first .... I'd start by looking in /res/layout/ or /res/layout-hdpi/ of ur Settings.apk. Somewhere I'd expect to see the title text specified to read "port" ....but that's just a guess.

Sorry I can't help more atm. BTW, did u get trans in there by following my tut? I'm just wondering if it was coherent enough. Ur Settings looks really good tho!

Note: that could also be controlled ny framework-res I suppose. If u used anyone else's code, then definitely start there.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Well after I made my edits and recompiled. I added my drawable hdpi folder from the theme I'm using. With 7 zip. I don't remember changing that but I,m going back thru it now. And no the xml layout is a little diffrent on sense 3.5. I looked at one he_stheone did. Side by side in notepad++ and copied his edits.

Edit: think I found it in strings. Don't remember touching strings. Lol. I'll push it after work and see if it fixed it.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Cool. Let us know ....so does the method I posted work for Sense 3.5? U nvr said whether u used the tut or not. Was it easy to understand?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
@rayford -also, how did u center the clock? Can u describe exactly wut u did ...and if any other status icons r behaving strangely.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Oh on rcmix roms it's an option you can pick in the rcmix tweaks apk in settings. You can pick right center or none, you can also color it how you want in this apk. You can find an app that's pretty close to this I'm the sensation forums. The developer is romanbb its his tweaks apk. Several guys use it in there themes in dhd forums. You should check it out to add to your theme.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Yes I could understand your tutorial but could only find one data XML in framework and it pointed to screen on and off animation so I just copied he_stheones apk and copied it all
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] daman215:
as you can see the quicksetting strings are reading wrong i ust cant get it right been up for two nights trying please help
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
Yea, that is in a strings.xml, but can't recall which one off the top of my head. But I it's either in systemui or framework. I wil verify after i get home if this doesn't, get you to the right place.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] daman215:
thanks Gunthermic i hope you can help me gets this right i been up for nights trying
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Apparently I won't be of much help any time soon...

....but love ur bg and just general use of color! It all blends very nicely. Well done!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] c_live_lee:
Beautiful work!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
I find the strings your talking about:

SystemUI\res\values\Strings.xml

If this is not correct for your Theme, then please post a location to let me get your systemui,framework files so I can find your problem.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] daman215:
Thanks Gunthermic i finally figure it out had to to change the string id in the framework thanks to you telling me were to look at,thanks to everyone who like my set up its coredroid 2.4 on the sensation forum i added my own little effects to it thanks to your tut on transparent notification still have a little more to do heres some more screenies
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Looks really great! How did u get the patterns in ur blue color for things like ur signal bars and music player button icons (eg: play, forward, back)?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] daman215:
Thats cordroid theme i just added extra blue to certain things most of the important stuff on sense 3.0 rom is in the fusion apk also gimp editor is great for matching colors together
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Oh ok. Yeah I use GIMP exclusively ....and have become pretty familiar with fusion (and pretty much every other apk -i think I've themed almost all of them, lol) ....I've just nvr found a satisfactory way to impose patterns in images without them looking over-stated. Those look really professional -subtle. I love seeing other peoples work -thnx!

BTW, the method for affecting transparency in Settings bg (tut I wrote a couple pages back) also works for GoogleQuickSearchBox. Ur theme would look great in those places as well, imo;)
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] romified:
How can you add an option to the settings menu? Like if I wanted to add an option for my own advanced settings? I have searched through the XMLs in settings.apk, and even the framework files but can't find the layout for that.

I even used file seek to search the decompiled files and I must be missing something somewhere.

I was looking to also change the settings background and scored a bullseye with this post, hoping someone knows where the menu items are controlled so I can add an option to it.

I appreciate anyones help on this.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] Gunthermic:
I dont have the exact answer, but will explain what i have been told and seen.

You cant add to the QuickSettings menu, 1. Without adding a resource 2. Editing public.xml 3. and adding info into smali code as well.

Synergy ROM has one of the most all inclusive Settings(Quick) menu i have seen, but all the items i listed above had to be done. Now where is all the stuff in the smali, dont know, would have to ask myself.

Not the answer you want... But you ar eon the right track. Using a file compare of your ROM decomiled.apks and another ROM's decompiled apks might give you a direction. Just make sure you ask permission if you publish something.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Sorry, I certainly can't help more than gun alreagy has .....but if/when u figure it out exactly (especially the smali part) can u please post ur findings here? I'm sure we'd all appreciate it! -thats wut this thread is for;) (or give it to gunthermic to post in the OP)
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rel500:
Wow. Awesome tutorial. Going to try and finish my theme once and for all tomorrow.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] cbrown245:
Ok guys im a NOOB when it comes to XMLs but Im running Gingerbread on my droid charge , and I pulled my SysUI and modded them to the tut for the dropdown animations and placed all in the appropriate places except for the public . I do not see the res\values,, mine are as follows drawable , drawable-hdpi , layout , and xml . any suggestions ? this should work if I can find where this goes . Thanks
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Sounds like u didn't decompile first.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] cbrown245:
how do I decompile ? I now opened the SysUI with apk manager and now its just sayind when I open res drawable , drawable-hdpi , layout and thats it .
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Oh, ok. Well, u need to install a utility on ur home computer

to do that for u.

First of all, wut OS r u on?

I run Linux n Mac so I use 'Android Utility' and I cant express how awesome it is!

....but assuming ur running...

Windows:

1) *APKtool -this is a set of simple commands to be run from a command prompt (terminal -no GUI)

Link: code.google.com/p/android-apktool/

2) **APK Manager - this is a ***GUI (folder) based application. Commands r still run from a terminal but in the form of options (eg: option 1, 2, 3...) Items r placed in specific folders for specific functions.

Link: xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=695701

3) (Sorry, there is atleast one more utility for modifying APKs that gunthermic uses ...and swears by ...but I can't recall it atm)

Linux or Mac:

1) APKtool (again)

2) Android-Utility (my personal all time fave of all android utilities:D) Like APK Manager, this thing has many options (and then some!) all localized into one intuitive, easy to use interface!

Link: xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1167623

****Requirements for all: SDK, ADB, JRE (on ur computer). Don't forget to place these in ur PATH as variables.

Index/notes:

*As far as I know, all these apps utilize APKtool, so if ur planning on installing a GUI based utilty, u shouldn't need to install APKtool also. Most will install it for u.

**APK Manager works on other OS's but not very well imo. If ur running sumthin other than Windows ...see above;

***GUI=Graphical User Interface;

**** U'll need to have 'adb' (w/in ur Android SDK) and JAVA (JRE) set up first. For more detail on this, read thru the instructions for the applicable utility. Some (Android Utility atleast) will install ur SDK (along with adb and other necessary files) for you.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Removed.......
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
****removed****
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Eff u TapaTalk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
APK Manager:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=695701

Android-Utility:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1167623

APKtool:

http://code.google.com/p/android-apktool/

.....finally. Apparently Opera Mobile doesn't copy url's well either!
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Lol yeah I hate to copy links from the app always screw me up. Anyways I got a new system(windows 7 64 bit) and I'm having a hard time getting any utility to work on my system. I can't ever get com.HTC. resources.apk to load in as 2.apk. in apktool folder. Always get errors. Tried all day yesterday to figure it out. Any pointers on what to do on this system? I have the log if someone can help.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Yeah, well first try loading this one:

http://db.tt/0qn0eDge

Note: I'm not sure if that works for Sense 3.5 tho ...but try it no matter wut. U may just have a bad copy of resources.

Btw, wut happens when u try to install it to frameworks? U get any error msg's?
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Also, I didn't read thru guns tut entirely but I'm willing to bet anything that he means for all copying 'n pasting to be done while the xml's r decoded ....so u must decompile the apk first.

Note: it is possible to paste coded xml's into a compiled apk ...but he has u pasting into folders that only appear when the apk is decompiled, so I'm sure those xml's r decoded ....and if he has u pasting lines of code into an xml, well there's no way to do that w/out the xml u wanna paste the code into being decoded first!

So just a general rule; ALWAYS decompile b4 attempting to edit

.xml's.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Thanks ill try when I get home. And yeah I get something like can't decode something changing to something bla bla bla every time. Had no issues at all on my 32 bit system. But this one kinda a headache.
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rel500:
help?

ok so heres a step by step of what ive been doing so far.. BTW im using APK Manager, hope someone is familiar with it..:rolleyes:

im trying to use my wallpaper as my background in settings

1 copy settings apk to place here for modding

2 open script, type 22 and select apk

3 type 9 to decomplile

4 ApkM decompiles apk for me

5 i locate <application android:theme="@style/Theme" android:label="@string/settings_label"

Now heres where i get confused.. do i replace

this "@style/Theme" android:label="@string/settings_label" with this "@android:style/Theme.Wallpaper" ????????
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] CleveRuse:
Yeah, those r all bad patches, I guaruntee it! U need to fix them all. I really wish people/devs would be more mindful of those! I see really great ROMs with the sloppiest .9.pngs all the time.

Mine are all fixed but they're also themed so I'm not sure how much that'll help, lol! Ull need to fix as many 9pngs as there r errors (30 errors=30 patches ...not fun)
[Thunderbolt Themes and Apps] rayford85:
Yeah that sucks I was thinking I was doing right by loading a stock file ....guess not. Thanks for your help. I will try when I get home.