[Android General] ahmad89098:
HEY THERE XDA!

ahmad89098 here and this is my first tutorial

In this tutorial, I am going to show you guys how to make your own custom theme for SwiftKey!

Note: I am not allowed to post links. So you will be needing to find source files yourself.

The hell is SwiftKey?

Swiftkey is an Android app which customizes your keyboard. You can buy themes for it. These themes are around $1.25. The SwiftKey app is very fun to use and gives an appelaing look to your keyboard!

There was a post on XDA as well in which, there were hundreds of more themes. The developer(s) called it Super SwiftKey.

At this point you might be wondering, how do you make your theme for it? Well, your'e gonna learn that today!

This tutorial is compatible for the following:

Complete Android Beginners (and above)

For Android Noobs (and above)

People who really want to get into keyboard design

People you want their own keyboard for SwiftKey

So without further ado, lets get started! :laugh:

1. GET YOUR TOOLS![/SIZE]

For making the keyboard, we will be needing the apk itself. We will later on install it once it has keyboards.

To download the apk go to google and google: download swiftkey apk and use the first link whose link says apk4fun. Donwload apk.

Once we have the apk file, we will need our tools. Download WinRAR and Notepad++ (Don't be lazy!)

2. GET READY TO WORK!

Now, we will need to get the files out of the apk.

Move the apk from your Downloads to your Desktop (for conveniance.)

Open Winrar. When you open it, it gives you the files on your desktop. Find the apk, open it. A new windows pops up, with some folders.

Now make a new folder on your Desktop. Name it Swiftkey.

Extract them files using WinRAR.

Once extracted, open up your folder. Should look something like this:

Congratulations! Your working space has now been set up!

2. NOW START TO WORK!

OK guys! We will now start our work.

Remember: The language we will be dealing in is xml. If you know about it, then you will be at an advantage. If you don't know problem!

Open the folder named "assets"

Then open "themes"

Now opens up a list of folder. If you are familiar with SwiftKey, then you know that when we open the themes menu, these are the exact names of the themes.

For beginner conveniance, we will work using the "pumpkin template". because it has a jpg background which can easily be replaced.

Now copy the "pumpkin" folder and paste in the same location.

We will be working in the new pumpkin folder. Name it whatever you like!

When we open the working folder, there are some folders. Open "hdpi"

Now open a list of xml files with a blank icon.

Open key_special.xml with notepad++ .

As you can see, the first line says,

<item state_pressed="true" drawable="key_base_pressed.9.png" />

This means that when a key on the keyboard is pressed, the key should look like the png specified. In this case, the png is

key_base_pressed.9.png.

Keeping this window open, go back to the working folder and open "key_base_pressed.9.png"

If you look at more files in the folder, you will find key_base_normal.9

When you compare these two png's, you will find that key_base_pressed is just a highlighted version of key_base_normal.

Now, edit key_base_normal.9 to whatever color you want your keys to be. Use Paint, Photoshop, or any other image editor.

After this, edit key_base_pressed.9 to what color you want a pressed key to be. Usually, a highlighted version of the color you have chosen is suitable. The whole thing, however, entirely depends on you.

Now, it is time to chose the background of the whole keyboard. This background will be overlapped by the keys.

To choose this, open the file"popup_background.xml" in Notepad++

We will now edit the line where it says: "<solid color="#333333" />"

#333333 is the color code. Now, when you decide the color you want, you need to find out the code for your color.

Now enter the code. Done!

We now have our own:

a solid background key color

a color for the key

and for when the key is pressed.

The only thing left is the text color. I am just getting to that.

there is a .png file, flip_left. Its like a wifi signal tilted. Orange is growing from lighter to darker.

Along with it is another png, flip_right. It is an inverted image of flip_left.

Edit these to your liking.

Chose your color. E.g blue.

Open flip_left.png in any image editor. We will use Paint

Zoom in as the image is very small.

Start working on your "triangles"

Do the same thing for flip_right.png. Note: these should be exactly the same tint of white in both.

Once completed, copy all these png's and edited xml files to the folders "hdpi" "ldpi" " xhdpi" "mhdpi". These are located in "pumpkin"

:laugh: CONGRATULATIONS :laugh:

WE HAVE FINISHED ALL THE EDITING :highfive: :victory:

The only thing now left is to compile all these files back into the apk. It is now time to wrap up.

Change your folder name to: "Whatever you want.."

Open the SwiftKey apk in WinRar.

Copy the folder "SwiftKey" to the apk.

Now delete all the original files in the apk.

Once deleted, copy the edited files from the SwiftKey folder from dekstop to the apk.

Delete the folder in the apk.

Done!!!!!!

You now have a custom keyboard! Install the apk on your phone and boom!

I hope you learned stuff.

Support me by liking and making use of this thread!

Goodbye!

AHMAD SALEEM MIRZA