[Android Themes] IronTechmonkey:
Although these instructions would benefit from a clearer workflow and a few other tweaks they are usable if you do some research. Here is how I figured out how to replace the SuperSwiftkey themes with test themes from one Dev. http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=57957688&postcount=2803. Note: That post does not describe necessarily the best way but it does show how you can figure it out.

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copy/paste of refered post

Since interest has been expressed by others to see that new theme for which [] AL [] posted material a few pages back http://xdaforums.com/show...ostcount=2767: Here is how I got it set up to test. Note that this is as much a description of how to figure a thing out as it is how to test that theme.

Also, like Homer Simpson said “Until then I didn’t even know what a Nuclear Panner Plant was”. That is to say, this is the first time I ever worked with an apk. So… season to taste and consume at own risk

It is indeed as simple as opening an archive file, changing it’s contents, repacking it and doing a thing called “signing”… and there is a utility (actually many utilities) that do most of the work for you however this requires a willingness to gather and arrange the required utilities and explore the content of what is being worked on.

A) EXPLORATION THAT DETERMINES WHAT TO DO

- Assuming working from PC but others systems might work.

- Make sure computer has Java installed.

- Create a work folder. Many subfolders get generated at a few points so this is a good idea to have an this organizational starting point.

- Get “APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE”.zip http://d-h.st/Zdo and unzip it to the work folder,

- Get and Install Notepad++ and copy a shortcut for it to work folder.

- Get and install 7Zip (archive extractor) – place a shortcut for it in project folder.

- Put a copy of the newest superswitfkey apk in the project folder.

- Use 7zip to open the SuperSwiftKey apk and note the folder structures and contents.

- Use 7zip to extract the zip file containing [] AL []’s folder and note the folder structures and contents.

- Use Notepad ++ to look at the themelist.json files in both the main superswiftkey apk and [] AL []’s folder structures.

NOTA BENE: The last 3 of the steps above reveal that [] AL [] has provided the contents of the themes folder containing only his themes with a themelist.json to match, while the original apk contains all the themes and a themelist.json file to match those. This means that you can just replace the contents of the \SuperSwiftKey-5.1.2.75-v1-Beta.apk\assets\themes folder in the original apk with the folders provided by [] AL [] without having to edit any individual files.

OK, so like Monty Python said: "There! We have all the words. Now we just have to get them in the right order" Onward to swapping themes into the apk.

B) MODIFYING THE APK

1) In the “APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE” folder run “Setup.bat”

2) Press 3 to create directories then press enter, then close the utility

3) Put SuperSwiftKey-5.1.2.75-v1-Beta.apk in the folder named “place-apk-here-for-modding”

4) In the “APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE” folder run script.bat then press enter at the intro screen. you will now be in the APK-Multi-Tool console.

5) To “Extract apk” Press 1 then enter.

6) Go to newly created folder “\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\projects\SuperSwiftKey-5.1.2.75-v1-Beta.apk” and delete the contents of the “themes” folder

7) Copy the contents of AL_7_SSK_themes.zip into the “themes” folder that you just cleared out.

8) Back in the APK-Multi-Tool console press 3 then enter to re-pack (zip) the apk.

9) At the next screen press 2 then enter to pack as regular apk (as opposed to system apk).

10) Confirm that the folder “\APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\place-apk-here-for-signing” contains a file named unsignedSuperSwiftKey-5.1.2.75-v1-Beta.

11) Back in APK-Multi-Tool console, press 4 then enter to sign the apk.

12) in folder \APK-Multi-Tool-Stable-RELEASE\place-apk-here-for-signing you will now have a file named signedSuperSwiftKey-5.1.2.75-v1-Beta.apk

13) Backup and uninstall existing versions of swiftkey then install the apk that was just created.

I found that after going though this, the Dev's descriptions about how to make seemingly more complicated modifications make more sense.

[EDIT]

I found it very helpful to go through all of the above since that workflow is largely managed by one utility but there is an easier way for those who feel more comfortable with the material. You can repack contents of an apk directly with 7zip (and similar programs) if you maintain compression settings (for these themes you don't even need to worry about compression settings) then use a separate program to sign the apk. I did not try this method but will next time I play with a superswiftkey themes because it is simpler, requires less tools and in particular it does not require java.