[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Connor Baker:
Alright. So, because I really would like to have the Sense multitasking screen, I decided to re-install Ubuntu, in an attempt to see if a different OS fixed the problems I was having. Unfortunately, it didn't. So for whatever reason, I have decided to use the java version of the command.

I did find something interesting though.

When I run the java version of the command:

connor@connor-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Y470:/usr/local/bin/apktool1.5.2$ java -jar apktool.jar b finished-framework-res
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.directory.DirectoryException: java.util.zip.ZipException: error in opening zip file
at brut.androlib.Androlib.readMetaFile(Androlib.java:164)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:183)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:176)
at brut.apktool.Main.cmdBuild(Main.java:228)
at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:79)
Caused by: brut.directory.DirectoryException: java.util.zip.ZipException: error in opening zip file
at brut.directory.ZipRODirectory.<init>(ZipRODirectory.java:55)
at brut.directory.ZipRODirectory.<init>(ZipRODirectory.java:38)
at brut.androlib.res.util.ExtFile.getDirectory(ExtFile.java:55)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.readMetaFile(Androlib.java:160)
... 4 more
[COLOR="Red"][B]Caused by: java.util.zip.ZipException: error in opening zip file[/B][/COLOR]
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.open(Native Method)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.<init>(ZipFile.java:127)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.<init>(ZipFile.java:143)
at brut.directory.ZipRODirectory.<init>(ZipRODirectory.java:53)
... 7 more

I get quite a few errors. But what made me wonder is when I do the same command, except with the flag for aapt (-a), I not only get fewer errors, but a different "Caused by"

connor@connor-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Y470:/usr/local/bin/apktool1.5.2$ java -jar apktool.jar b [COLOR="Red"][B]-a[/B][/COLOR] finished-framework-res
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.directory.PathNotExist: apktool.yml
at brut.androlib.Androlib.readMetaFile(Androlib.java:164)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:183)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:176)
at brut.apktool.Main.cmdBuild(Main.java:228)
at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:79)
[B][COLOR="Red"]Caused by: brut.directory.PathNotExist: apktool.yml[/COLOR][/B]
at brut.directory.AbstractDirectory.getFileInput(AbstractDirectory.java:103)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.readMetaFile(Androlib.java:160)
... 4 more

I am now thoroughly, and utterly lost as to what to do. Again, any suggestions or ideas would be much appreciated.

Many thanks for your time and patience,

Connor Baker

EDIT:

I forgot to mention that I do Google a bunch of my errors and try to be as proactive as possible about solving my problems. I notice that a lot of people are getting the same errors that I am, and that different things will fix it.

I think it could be as simple as apktool not working correctly for me.

So, here's a list of things I have and have not done:

I did install Java (JRE, and JDK)

I did set up the Android SDK (Ubuntu)

I do have working adb (Ubuntu)

I did try to use a variety of programs to get the decompiled and editied .apk's to compile back

I did notice that if I decompiled framework-res.apk, and then tried to recompile it without editing it, I still got the same errors. I'm getting the creepy feeling that it may just be apktool. The latest version that I found was made back on the 2nd of February.

I did try Chainfire's fappt (fast aapt), and recieved the same results as the normal aapt.

I did switch out the aapt from the apktools package with the one in the Android SDK.

I DID NOT mess with any environmental varibales in Windows

I DID NOT add anything to my PATH file/directory "thingy" in Ubuntu

NEW: I have NOT edited SystemUI's public.xml, which may be causing some issues.

Thanks again,

Connor Baker