yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Themes] prash:
I wonder why the other thread was deleted?

Anywho, thanks again for all the help on the .9.png files, I know its probably one of the biggest frustrations for new theme makers like me. I'll be working more with them on my second theme, the first one will just have to do without I suppose.

Thanks for all the contribution to the theme community!
[Android Themes] brandenk:
:eek: Nice find, thanks for the info!
[Android Themes] crys|s:
Seems like a lot to do, I've had no problems at all with my .9.png's, but this is good to know.

Bookmarked.
[Android Themes] savethechicken:
Thanks Man I have been trying to piece this info together with the thread and was getting nowhere. thank you for putting this out here.
[Android Themes] mannyb:
A lot of work for sure, but if you're going for a full system theme you'll pretty much have to take the time to do things right. Very good info.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
There are a few .9s you can change with minimal defects but things like buttons and tabs its pretty tough to get them perfect
[Android Themes] parmenti:
when I try to export it fails because it says the .apk doesn't exist. What am I missing here? Thanks for your help.
[Android Themes] parmenti:
it says the bin folder doesn't exist. but if I try to create the bin folder it says it already exists. confusing. what should I do?
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Hmm not familiar enough with Eclipse to help out with this. But make sure there are not any errors on the images or any part of the app.
[Android Themes] parmenti:
when I open up all of the sample apps they already show errors. Any thoughts on that? They show errors in the srs and the Android Manifest. I checked all of them. They all do.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Do they show warnings or errors?
[Android Themes] parmenti:
they have a red box with an X next to them. What does that mean?
[Android Themes] parmenti:
says I have to fix the build path for java.lang.object - any idea how I do this? Sorry for bothering you.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Ahh its no problem. The red X's are errors, yellow triangles are warnings.

You might want to run thru the steps of setting it up again and see if that fixes it.

Sounds to me something is missing. You did set the path of the SDK in Eclipse right?
[Android Themes] parmenti:
haha... nope.. that fixed it - thanks so much. As you can tell you're talking to a real nube here that just tries to get things to work when he needs them.
[Android Themes] parmenti:
ok, 1 more question. If I'm using the images that you provided in the zip, what are the necessary steps to edit them? Not sure I'm clear on that
[Android Themes] parmenti:
for example. I want to make the search_bg.9.png in the drawable-port transparent. What's the steps? (I of course know how to edit it in photoshop so you can skip that step)
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
you set the layer to whatever % you want it at. then save for web and devices.(make sure you replace the right image) remove the .9 from the name, open it in the draw9patch tool, set the guides, save the file, drag it into the drawable folder for any android project, right click the root folder in the project, choose Android tools, choose export unsigned apk, save the apk, open it in winrar take the .9.png you just put in it and replace the original in the update.zip.

done =)
[Android Themes] jdwme:
what would cause the images not to compile when exporting from eclipse? I moved the images over, went through the steps to export and opened the apk but the drawable folder does not contain my edited images I added
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
My experience the biggest issue with not compiling is the outter edge isn't pure black or some of the effects cause dim imperfections around the edge. Eclipse will tell you if there are errors...if you dont have the problems tab at the bottom, go to Window, Show view, Problems.

Hope that helps.
[Android Themes] jdwme:
I'm getting a warning, shows "the import android.view.KeyEvent is never used
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
I've compiled with warnings similiar to that. Not sure why it doesnt bring the images over. Open them in the draw9patch tool and make sure there are guides on all 4 sides.

Alot of times when Eclipse wont compile when you open the image in draw9patch it will show a missing guide.
[Android Themes] smeyerhuky:
sdk has .9s with guides

I have noticed somethin interesting about the .9s...

In the sdkfolder "/tools/lib/res/default/drawable" there are .9s(most of which are needed to edit for a theme...

Interesting thing is all these .9s still have guides. I have managed to just edit the images (change color or other basic edits....) andthen using the method in the first post to compile them in eclipse. Works great for me haven't had a problem yet, just be sure to back them up so you can use them over and over again....

Another nice thing is to just take the one you edited, and add it as a layer to the one from the SDK, if all goes as it did for me the edited one from you should be 1 pixel shorter on each side causing the layer to default at the center of the sdk's .9 file.

DO NOT EDIT THE GUIDES FROM THE SDK'S .9s, be sure to save the new .9s and then compile in eclipse...

Hope this helps... if anyone gets errors doing this please let me know so I can replicate and fix the error....
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Some good info...those images are what are in the first post...they are from the sdk and source.
[Android Themes] smeyerhuky:
i know, it was more the quicker layer on top of layer process i was trying to point out for an easier/quicker process... thats alll. thanks for all yopur hard work.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
An even quicker way is to use the original file from the update.zip, make your changes...then go to Image\Canvas Size(Alt+Cntrl+C) add 2 pixels to width and height, then using a 1px Pencil draw in the guides. At first you will want to check your work by opening it the draw9patch tool. but once you get the hang of it you should be able to skip this step.
[Android Themes] manup456:
This should be a sticky.
[Android Themes] manup456:
@damnitpud

I got everything but when i start a new Android project in eclipse and put the path to the folder where the image is it asks for name i put the name of the icon and it says this.

File AndroidManifest.xml not found in tools.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
What doy ou mean but in the path to the image? I always open eclipse expand the folders until i see drawable, then drag the images from Windows Explorer to the drawable folder.

Does that make sense?
[Android Themes] manup456:
I use this C:\Users\owner\Desktop\android-sdk-windows-1.0_r2\tools for location and there is a part on top it says project name what should that be? because everything i type in i get that message ontop.

Also what do i need to have in the SDK tools folder another folder named what and what should i have in it? Lets say its the top box icons in launcher for the top of the folders when there open. I made the edits should i put just the icons in this folder im creating in tools or do i need the drawable folder with all the icons?

Sorry for all the Q: but the guide does not mention any of this.

Thanks for the help.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
link it to one of the samples...When you create a new project it has an option for open existing project, try opening the HelloActivity one at C:\Users\owner\Desktop\android-sdk-windows-1.0_r2\samples\HelloActivity

This will fill in all the info for you. Which will give you an idea of what to put in those boxes for future use. Once you get into Eclipse with that project loaded, expand the HelloActivity,res and you will see the drawable folder. That is where you drag the images.
[Android Themes] tehseano:
Thank you so much damnitpud!! Your methods work perfectly! I hope at some point we can find a shorter, easier process for doing this. It also makes it very annoying when adding the guides to have to punch in pixel by pixel, would kill for a line tool for setting the contents guides haha.

But once again, thanks a ton!
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Once you learn where the guides go and how they are supposed to line you can just resize the canvas by 2px height and 2px width then use the pencil tool =)
[Android Themes] tehseano:
Really? I thought I had to use drawpatch to compress the image to a .9.png and whatnot, but as long as I just make a black line in the extra 2px, eclipse will remove them and compile them correctly? Awesome!
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Yeah takes you a bit to get used to doing it that way. But once you do you will hardly ever bring up the draw9patch tool. Once in a awhile i open it on some images...but hardly ever anymore.

You're doing basically what the draw9 tool does if the file doesn't have a .9 in the file name. When it saves the file it adds the .9 to it.
[Android Themes] manup456:
Yeah this makes it easier but i still use 9patch to make sure the images look the way i want. sometimes when you add guide lines with CS3 when you put it in eclipse it shows the icon to be bad and if you open it with 9patch and save it eclipse will recognize it fine.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
I noticed it gave me errors when i tried to pick black from the color picker. it would end up being 010101 if you make sure its 000000 you wont have an issue.
[Android Themes] tubaking182:
headache

alright, i thought i had learned enough about theming to start screwing with the .9 images, but apparently i'm too dumb to get eclipse to open a new android project. attached is what my screen looks like after i click Android Project(i edited my name from my name to ***** for the pic)

aany help would be greatly appreciated, this is driving me insane i wanna make my next theme amazing
[Android Themes] tehseano:
Try giving it a different name than the application, name the project YourNameG1 or something.
[Android Themes] tubaking182:
I tried naming it all kinds of things and nothing seemed to work, for the time being I'm gonna get some sleep and start making my status icons and maybe it'll just work for no reason later. Hopefully I come to some kind of epiphany and can fix it tomorrow
[Android Themes] prash:
Bump asking for sticky. This is REALLY REALLY vital for theme makers. I finally got the hang of handling patch9 images and it's all thanks to this thread. Thanks damnitpud!
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Instead of making your own project, just open a sample from the SDK. This fills in all of the info needed. Go to File, New, Android Project, then select Create project from existing source.

Once you have the project open it will always show in the project list on the left.

Check out the picture i attached.
[Android Themes] tubaking182:
EDIT: FINALLY GOT IT FIGURED OUT

now to finish my heroes theme and make it kicka$$
[Android Themes] Jrbourque:
I took the png and didnt even edit it and moved it over and clicked on unsigned app and it doesnt show up in the drawable no matter what i do
[Android Themes] armoredraven:
Alright guys. Sorry to bump this thread to revival, but I've got a question.

When using the draw9patchtool, when making the area where you place text/etc, on the bottom and right sides, can you just put endpoints, or must it be a straight line?

Thanks for this guide!
[Android Themes] prash:
A line is prefered..especially if its a big image for content areas.

Hint: Use the sliders and the check points to see where the content would appear and what happens when the image is stretched (it should be in blue IIRC)
[Android Themes] mianosm:
This either needs a sticky, or an inclusion within the howto theme sticky.

Excellent information for those that would like to edit the little things that make up the total package. : )
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Has anyone figured out an easier way of changing the .9s?
[Android Themes] prash:
Not here, I wish there was though. But in a way it does make sense, since these images are made to be stretched, it needs to be processed by an app to be converted into the .9.png mode. I have found working with .9's easier once I used this technique though, you being to visualize it and the drawpatch tool helps a lot. Thanks for making this, and I still am pushing this to be a sticky! Mods please do this!

On a related note: If anyone can help me pull the original .9 images from source I'd be highly appreciative.

(tried it myself, but I'm on a 10 year old pc currently, so things aren't going so smoothly, even tried to download the source on a linux partition with linux mint and no go).

I'd just need the major things like the official 1.5 based frameworks folder and possibly launcher. Phone, contacts and etc are also helpful.

I prefer working from originals from source, Cyan's theme template images are apparently run through an optimizer that leaves silly matte's around the transparent png's and combined with .9's its not pretty.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
haha, the thing that sucks about falling out of a scene for awhile, is you have to re-learn the things you taught to others...If i can remember the steps of getting the source i will link you.

I know i had Ubuntu running in a VM and ran a few commands to get the source, then shared the folder over the network and copied them that way. haha but that's all i remember. I am not even sure i still have that VM.
[Android Themes] prash:
I know what you mean, lemme guess just like me, at some point you stopped making themes for RC33 because new cupcake was supposed to come out 'soon' and you were going to start again after Cupcake but found that theres too many roms out that are not as 'stable' as you were used to with RC33 with all the updates and such so you got stuck flashing more and more roms rather than themes as we did on RC3x...am I close?

Well thats my story anyway.
[Android Themes] mianosm:
Use the red triangle at the top right of the posts to report the post/thread - and for a reason ask for a sticky.

If enough people do it - it will have to be addressed.
[Android Themes] damnitpud:
Yeah that had a lot to do with it, but i think i burnt myself out at the competition, then only ended up getting like 6 votes or something. During the competition i was still tweaking FadetoBlue and was working on 2 themes....then changed my theme for the comp midway. I tried pulling FadetoBlue to cupcake and after flashing it, none of my pngs showed...so i figured i'd wait to see someone else figure it out. then i just fell off the scene completely cause i had bought a used Iphone. So i was switching between the G1 and the Iphone to often.

I got to get ready for work...ill try and grab that source at work and upload it sometime today.
[Android Themes] Barina:
thanks a lot! works awesome..!
[Android Themes] namsir:
What version of the source in that zip file?
[Android Themes] prash:
I believe it was the 1.1 SDK source. Before cupcake came out. Worked perfectly with RC33 roms. I'm trying to get a hold of the new frameworks images but I may be slow and can't find where they are located in the source :[

EDIT: Wow, did some real digging, and the original images were right under my nose, in the SDK files (for frameworks .9 original images) and found Stericson's link to an uploaded android source online site where I can grab the phone, contacts etc images as well. So for now, at least I don't have to pester anyone else to find them for me. Thanks for the guides on how to use them!
[Android Themes] jiqqaman:
...nevermind answered my own question..
[Android Themes] noizeuk:
I have done the same with the oen source images available in the GIT repository. Where you state that you can use them, i did just that and tried them out. But they were still distorted. Then I loaded them up with draw9patch tool and saved. The file updated but when applied, it was the same distortion. Checking back the paths are still valid, the black lines are still there and the bad parts and locked elements are still intact.

Any thoughts except for compiling in eclipse and extracting? I would rather not do that to every apk i have skinned but if needs must....
[Android Themes] bmfc187:
Did you remember to remove the ".9" from the filename before you editted the images with draw9patch? I forget that alot....

-BMFC
[Android Themes] Dyonas:
I absolutely hate these files. HATE! The drawpatch-9 tool is also really hard to use on some of the larger images. The bar that tells you to press Shift to remove pixels ends up obscuring the top line and you can't move it around to see. I'm trying very hard not to let off a stream of swearing at how frustrating this is thank goodness the pixel border technique was mentioned or I'd be going more crazy than I already am (a lot). It doesn't help when you want to be sure, which is what I assume the tool is for. Not fit for purpose! *screams*
[Android Themes] the_fish:
Hello,

so thanks to some video tutorial i finally figured out how this works basically. However i don't know how i have to set the guidelines for example on a button... could someone show me? the buttons work on my phone, however they look like this: http://img5.imagebanana.com/img/i83f18zj/device.png

what am i doing wrong? :)
[Android Themes] NoobGuru:
Good info ! Deff a good intro to the .9pngs, clear to read and understand...thanks
[Android Themes] theimpaler747:
Thanks for this, nice and helped me resolve some issues with my theme :)
[Android Themes] _calum_:
Hi,

Thanks heaps for this, helped me a lot :)

Just wanted to note that you can compile/decompile the .9.png's with apktool.

I've written a rough guide here
[Android Themes] epinion:
I still had the error. It show the red X, each time I drag the .9.png file. If I remove .9 it not showing any error but the output is not what we want from the tutor. Please advice. :confused:
[Android Themes] JAguirre1231:
What error is it giving you?
[Android Themes] epinion:
It said "Failed to export HelloAndroid.... HelloAndroid.apk doesn't exist"

For note: I should have everything set cause I could compile/run the sample just fine.
[Android Themes] sisterchick:
Thank you!

Thanks for providing these instructions! Nine patch had been eating my lunch!
[Android Themes] Slaveoffear:
Nine Patch is very comfortable. Application can run on different resolutions
[Android Themes] Slow50:
Ok, noob question. How do you get 9patch to open? I can do everything else but that.
[Android Themes] momashi:
Here's what to do for those of us on Linux

For those of you using Linux, you'll have to get Eclipe IDE via the "eclipse" package in Synaptic or command prompt via:

"sudo apt-get install eclipse"

Once you installed Eclipse, you will have access to the Android SDK through Eclipse itself:

1. Start Eclipse, then select Help > Install New Software....

2. Click Add, in the top-right corner.

3. In the Add Repository dialog that appears, enter "ADT Plugin" for the Name and the following URL for the Location:

https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse/

Note: If you have trouble acquiring the plugin, try using "http" in the Location URL, instead of "https" (https is preferred for security reasons).

Click OK.

4. In the Available Software dialog, select the checkbox next to Developer Tools and click Next.

5. In the next window, you'll see a list of the tools to be downloaded. Click Next.

6. Read and accept the license agreements, then click Finish.

7. When the installation completes, restart Eclipse.

If you want to Install a 64bit Linux compatible version of ADB, go to my post at:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=904303
[Android Themes] Stellasl1985:
if I take off .9

for examples

status_bar_header_background.9.png

in

status_bar_header_background.png

the framework-res.apk works???

obviously the file without .9 already extended.

I found rom file with .9. png without stretchable area (normal image), but if i try to remove this area in other file i have compile filed why?
[Android Themes] Adizzzle:
There is a transparent thin line of code

on the border of your '.9.png'.

Simple.
[Android Themes] Adizzzle:
Made my year there man!
[8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario ROM Development] baalpeteor:
And why wont it work? is it hardware inside the phone, or just a software issue? Seems if it was software though someone would've made a hack to manually select the network, or emulate the phone as another phone when it connects.

I have a 3g sim now but it only goes on edge... at like 100 kbps and it fluctuates lower :(

i heard someone gets 150-180 kbps on edge in silicon valley using the media net proxy. anyone have any tips to get it the fastest u can like that? the area im in is saturated with att. in fact i have like 2 stores right up the street
[8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario ROM Development] RangerX:
The thing about running on a proxy is that you will see faster burst speeds, but that does not necessarily mean that it loads something faster.

The reason you will see faster burst speeds is that the proxy will first cache the information, then send it to your phone. So you will see something like this:

S-------RRRR <- proxy
S----rrrrrrr <- no proxy

S = Send request
R = Receive response

The little r's are not as fast, but they started sooner (data sent directly to you, instead of the proxy waiting to send it to you). You will notice that the entire thing is just as long.
[8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario ROM Development] baalpeteor:
great way to explain it. Ill just leave it like it is then
[8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario ROM Development] witch1:
If I'm not mistaken, it is a hardware issue. The best speeds you'll ever achieve will be on wifi. I purchase the 100 mb package from at&t but rarely use it, more for maps or directions when I'm out.
[8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario ROM Development] baalpeteor:
Yeah i'm going to have to load a backtrack cd and make use of all this wep encrypted wifi spots around the apartment then.

Using edge, it took a looong time (maybe over 13 or 15 mins?) to download a 11 mb audio file off zshare on my wizard. Then i'm also downloading a 233 mb file on it (torrent) and that will take a while, going at speeds of up to 19 kbps but usually around 10 :-(

If I did want 3g though, was is the next best htc device that supports 3g that is very similar to a wizard? I love the wizard alot in looks and functuionality. Only thing I would change is 3g support and to put the stylus at the top and a better fit for it. Oh and maybe 1 cm more bigger screen heh.
[8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario ROM Development] Myrddin Wyllt:
Depends on your budget, your service provider, and your willingness to put up with nonsense.

The best new pocket pc, in my opinion, is the HTC Fuze/HTC Diamond Touch Pro (the Diamond with a keyboard). Has everything the Wizard had except a 2.5mm headset jack, which you won't miss, since those headphones sucked anyways. Also, has GPS, has 3G, has 6.1 with Touchflo, and in spite of the 640x480 VGA screen, it's still the same size screen (the only way to get a bigger screen is to leave Windows and buy an iPhone or non-smartphone like an LG, at least in the US...).

It won't be cheap though. My SP is still asking $250 w/contract, and I imagine it's much the same, elsewhere. Also, if you're on Verizon or another non-SIM network, your device may or may not be badly crippled by the SP (hence the mention of nonsense), but of course we know there are ways around those problems...it just adds another element to your final equation.
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] domi144:
hi, i dont have outlook and i have also no idea where i can find my sms files.

i want to save my recieved sms and self written ones on my pc...beacause i dont want to loose them when i install a new rom next time.

can anybody tell me where to find the whole sms folder on my device?

thx , domi
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] hjlow:
or just use microsoft myphone to back it up to their server
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] domi144:
is there any other possibility?
[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] idloco:
You could use Pim Backup too.