yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Themes] VegasEvo4G:
When a search turns up blank, I can always find an answer here...

I'm looking for some help with either apk manager or apk tool. (on a PC running windows) I've always used apk manager to decompile .9's before theming them and re- compiling them in eclipse. The only thing I've ever successfully done with it as far as entire apks go was theme the old version of widget locker before it supported theming. Now I'm trying to basically do just that- I want to make some minor png changes to non-system apks but all I do is get error messages. If I take an apk, extract it OR decompile it, and then try to compile it without even changing a thing in the projects folder, I still get an error message and the new unsigned apk won't install.

So, with all this trouble I thought I would try apk tool. My problem there is that I can't figure out how to install the damn thing!! I've searched and searched for a how-to on setting it up with no luck. I've downloaded the two files but cannot figure out where to put them. I'm sure I'm making this harder than it is. I just can't believe I can't find a tutorial or a how-to video on setting it up on windows.

So, could someone please explain if I'm missing a step in apk manager, guide me through setting up apk tool, or point me in another direction where I might find this info?? Thanks guys!!!
[Android Themes] tommytomatoe:
Vegas, as soon as you touch the apk (archive, basically), by changing png or decompile or even just opening up, you break Its integrity/signature. At this point you need to resign it. Another option is to push it to system/app.

But if you use apktool, apk manager, android-utility, or any tool that uses apktool, after recompile there is NO signature. Apk will not work. You need to 1. Resign, or 2. Place original META-INF from original apk into new apk, then push to system/app.

As for 9.png....don't use eclipse! You're wasting your time. Apktool automatically decodes 9.png, and it will rebuild them also. :-)
[Android Themes] VegasEvo4G:
Mr. Tomatoe--

Thanks for the reply! I was able to finish my little project in apk manager finally. Yep, forgot to sign it. DUH!! I do still get errors sometimes even when just decompiling apks. I've decompiled all the apk's in this weeks MIUI build no problem with the exception of the market. It will let me extract it, but if I try to decompile it, all I get is the smali folder. So, I still want to try apk tool. I've heard that it is much easier to compile .9's than with eclipse. (I'm working on my first extremely expansive theme for MIUI) I'm ANXIOUSLY awaiting your Android Utility for windows, but until then I'd like to get apk tool set up.

As I said before, I'm sure I'm doing something stupid because all of the instructions I have read are super basic. Regardless though, after I download both files and extract them using 7-zip, I can't figure out where to put them exactly. Do I create a new folder in my C drive called apktool or do they go in my android-sdk-windows folder since that is where I have the sdk?? From what I've read, after they are in a folder (somewhere), I'm supposed to open up the command prompt, cd to (somewhere) and then type "apktool" and press enter or is it type "apktool <enter>" and then press enter?? I just need a little clarification on what exactly I need to do once I've downloaded the files to get this thing going!

Thanks again for your help and everything you do for this community. I wish I could just use Android Utility... can't WAIT to try it out!
[Android Themes] nqk:
Hi all,

I want to change some color in MIUI, and I open theme_values.xml. The color codes look like this: #ff9d9d9d. At first I thought it was html color code but html color has only 6 characters after #, like #000000, while the former one has 8.

How can I define the correct color?
[Android Themes] 3rdstring:
The first 2 digits are an alpha value.
[Android Themes] danielcr12:
how do i change the color for the text in the apps that are placed on the notification bar that do not have the opcion to inverse the text color, can i do that editing the framework or services.jar?
[Android Themes] NismoDrift240:
That's a tough one. You could change the ongoing notifications in the framework, but a lot don't use that (I.e. Pandora, Tune In Radio). You You would have to change it in the app, and change it every time the app was updated. I stopped caring after the second update.

If someone has found another way, please chime in.
[Android Themes] Oxirane:
Installing Apktool on mac...

Whenever I try to use the tar -C /usr/local/bin -xvf <apktool1.4.1.tar.bz2> command I get the following error message:

sh: syntax error near unexpected token 'newline'

My Mac is rooted. Anyone able to give me a hand?
[Android Themes] theimpaler747:
Take out the "<>" see if that works
[Android Themes] Oxirane:
Now I get "tar: Error opening archive: Failed to open 'apktool1.4.1.tar.bz2': No such file or directory

Thanks anyhow. :/
[Android Themes] tommytomatoe:
Where is your apktool1.4.1.tar.bz file located? cd to it first.

For example. If it is in downloads folder...

cd $HOME/Downloads

Then run the tar command.

Also, take a look at android-utility on my signature. Has all the tools you want :-) Made for Mac.

tapatalk signature here. lovely.
[Android Themes] Oxirane:
It's on my desktop, so I cd $HOME/Desktop then I get Desktop before my name in the terminal. But I need to activate su for the tar command, right? Then $HOME becomes /var/root, so how do I cd back to desktop?

Thanks a ton for trying to help out either way, never knew I had to cd first :)
[Android Themes] tommytomatoe:
Never ever use 'su' command!!!! Especially at a stage where you don't seem to be familiar with the structure of Unix base systems. I only use su in certain situations. For general purposes, use 'sudo'.

But for tar you don't need superuser permissions....

For example

cd $HOME/Desktop

tar blah blah

And for any commands that you need superuser for, just stick a sudo in front of it. For example.

You need to write to /use/local/bin

sudo mv MYFILE /usr/local/bin/MYFILE

When you use sudo it prompts for your password but won't show when you type to protect it. Just press enter after punching in your password.

And to reiterate. tar command does not need root permissions. Not sure where you got that.

Edit. But you do need superuser permissions to write to /usr. Here is your command set.

cd $HOME/Desktop

sudo tar -C /usr/local/bin/ -xvf apktool1.4.1.tar.bz2

The reason we use Sudo is because you need to put apktool inside /usr/local/bin, not because we use the tar command.

tapatalk signature here. lovely.
[Android Themes] Oxirane:
Forgive my noobish question, but wouldn't it have been easier to just drag and drop the apktool files into /usr/local/bin?

sudo moved it fine, but then I tried the sudo tar command and now I'm getting this error:

tar: Error opening archive: Failed to open 'apktool1.4.1.tar.bz2': No such file or directory

I navigated with my finder to /usr/local/bin, and I can see the file.
[Android Themes] tommytomatoe:
Depends on who you ask. I prefer to do my work in the terminal, but that's me.

The apktool files are inside the apktool.1.4.1.tar.bz file. That is an archive. Command Tar unarchives it....

I'm not sure what files are in your /usr/local/bin. If it is the tar.bz file then you are not done.

Download my android-utility tool. It's in my signature. It installs apktool for you. :-)

tapatalk signature here. lovely.
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
hey im sorry if this has been asked already, but im stuck on compiling my framework-res.apk... trying to use apk mnager to re compile after making some changes for white date text, but i cannot get it to work its been stressing me for days lol
[Android Themes] decalex:
What kind of errors are you getting?

. . NS4G . . CM7 . .
[Android Themes] rel500:
Question see pics below

glacier!? no its a mytouch 4G
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
uhhhmmm i forgot what it said ill tr again, but it just wont add the changes when it does compile..

will post error soon

this is log,

http://dev-host.org/2dr7mmgc7toy/log.txt
[Android Themes] R3D X:
there is a problem with \framework-res.apk\res\drawable-mdpi\statusbar_background.9.png

check for pixel errors in the border with draw9patch tool

also delete Public.xml in (it makes another when recompiling)

\res\values\
[Android Themes] vergil1991:
Very helpfull thank you!
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
shouldn't be any errors with the png i didn't do anything to it while decompiling, but ill get that tool you mentioned and check it out :D thanks for reply
[Android Themes] R3D X:
alright the tool is in the android sdk :p And also try deleting the public xml and compiling first to see if yyour error free. It should work. APK compilers tend to make up png 9 errors if there are errors in any xml
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
k well thanks for your help guys, i got it to work by using the old original framework-res.apk with no img edits, it recompiled fine without any errors, then i just made the png changes later with 7zip and everything worked fine, but now im having an issue when i edit the strings and public xml files lol im using the original apk so there minimum errors but it still wont compile

sorry for lack of details i will get a log for this error now, but i remember it saying it either couldn't find the strings.xml file or it just didn't like my changes lol

ps. (so basically the first error was what you said R3D X, because my png's weren't patched correctly, but they do work... just cant properly compile the apk with those images in it... so i compiled first with original png files and my edits to xml files, then added customized images later via 7zip) thank you!!
[Android Themes] ShotMe:
Guys how to make flashable zip for roms that don't support t mobile theme chooser?
[Android Themes] dully79:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1248486
[Android Themes] SXUsr:
Hi.

I've had this issue before and revisiting it because I'd like to find the permanent solution. As you can see in the screen shot PowerAmp notification text is black...

​

...despite having successfully changed the font for StatusBar.EventContent.Title and StatusBar.EventContent. Any ideas?
[Android Themes] Wuxz:
Thanks for all your help!
[Android Themes] nitinvaid:
how to make changes in cm7 theme png's

n earlier android 2.3.4

i use apk_manager_4.9

to extract apk option 1

make changes in the desired png which i want to change with mine

and then

to Zip apk apk option 3

and option 1 under menu 3 if it is system apk

that's how i make theme for my device

Now in CM7

theme what to do

take example of MIui Theme For Cm7 apk

i have extracted it done some changes in png's

and then zip it but after installing it theme chooser not opening

(used both option to sign apk system apk and regular apk nothing works)

HOW TO MOD THE THEME IN CM7
[Android Themes] Aristostasdad:
thnks. it can be very useful.
[Android Themes] Tantalin:
Howdy,

I'm wondering if this guide (impressive as it is) remains somewhat accurate for Gingerbread?

I'm a noob on here & a noob to theme creation, so before I begin the process of even trying to understand this I would like to know I'm headed down a path which still somewhat resembles what currently works.

Thank you.
[Android Themes] Smokem_I:
Well Gingerbread does have its own twists and turns but this guide is great for the basics and tools needed. When you do encounter something from Gingerbread that you can't figure out just search it and you will find a fix.

Sent from my BluMagic CM7 Glacier using the Blu Premium App
[Android Themes] TeamROU:
Thanks for the great guide. I'm sure it'll help out a lot of new themes :)
[Android Themes] s2d4:
This guide enables to get everything looking the way I want!! Many thanks...
[Android Themes] thyultimate:
thanks!

Useful, interesting and well compiled....you have my thanks :D
[Android Themes] Teddyk:
thx, learned a lot :)
[Android Themes] Modus Pwnenz:
Excellent guide, informative and easy to use. Thanks.
[Android Themes] VaiO1080:
Fantastic Guide!! Congratulations.
[Android Themes] pspCaracas:
Excellent guide!! I hope i can make a theme soon!
[Android Themes] nipun1110:
Need help

Man, can u help me out to find the file for which MIUI has shadow effect under every icon and one more thing, which file is responsible for the background of the app drawer in sense based roms?
[Android Themes] Eilkh:
Thank you for this guide! :D
[Android Themes] HackitZ:
Great guide, thanks for putting this together.

I have a question if you don't mind.

I have changed the hue of every colored .9 image using ImageMagick, and do so using a command prompt.

Do you have an idea why some of the .9 images stretch funny after i put them in my framework.apk.

I have also read that i should remove the .9 from the image name and after i change the hue, put the .9 back into the name.

is this what you have to do?

I will now try the same thing using the paint program you linked to and see if the affect is the same.

Thanks again for the guide.

it's the search boxes that are most noticeable.

Here's a screen shot of what i mean.
[Android Themes] theimpaler747:
That is an improperly compiled .9png.
[Android Themes] topbasework:
will try...:):):)
[Android Themes] MercMode:
=]

ty for this. if i have any questions ill be sure to ask.
[Android Themes] xavierjohn22:
Just an FYI, my sig

i just stumbled on this thread whilesearching,

There is also a feature like this in:

[1] commandline automation

- (drag folder containing .pngs)

or

[2] windows version of xdaautotool

- (click folder, apply hue and saturation)

- create 360 themes with HUE variations

- create 360 themes with saturation variation

- Build one set flashable themes

- automatically choose which apks to sign

- automatically create flashables zip (upto 360 one time, good when leaving laptop open, lol)

+ more to come....
[Android Themes] nbeebe24:
From what I understand, changing .9 PNG files is not easy work. I used to rename the file to a normal PNG, change the color, save, use draw9patch to redraw the stretch points, save as .9, import into eclipse, then export to an unsigned apk. That was the only way I got my .9 pngs to work correctly

Sent from my illuminated black thing
[Android Themes] theimpaler747:
That works, but if you just decompile an app with apktool or apk manager, the .9s can be edited just like pngs, so long as you leave the black border on the edge the exact same. Then, after you recompile the app, they're all good and ready to go.
[Android Themes] nbeebe24:
Really? I always decompile with apktool and every time I edited a .9 PNG it always gave me errors when recompiling. Do you think gimp might be the culprit?

Sent from my illuminated black thing
[Android Themes] theimpaler747:
Possibly, if you change the .9png name or the black border.
[Android Themes] s2d4:
it's definitely not GIMP, the type of image can throw you off too as well as the border as suggested...

set as RGB rather than index... or even gray scale if you are into different shades of white to black :)

ps. Be mindful that you should specifically set it even if it loads RBG pallet. .
[Android Themes] decalex:
To have as a backup, Paint.net is a good, free, lightweight editor that deals nicely with .9 pngs. But recommendations above this post are prob better to try first.

. . NS4G . . CM7 . .
[Android Themes] DaRk_dOg:
Hello everyone,

Did anyone managed to decompile the latest market (3.3.11) properly? I tried with a variety of different aapt/apktool version combinations, but no luck till now :confused:

Regards, D_d
[Android Themes] oroo708:
does any of u guys know how to port keyboard theme from one CM7 theme to another CM7 theme?:confused::confused:

can u give a guide for it??

hav been try porting, edit xml.

but so far,no success. :(:(:(
[Android Themes] theimpaler747:
Just install the keyboard you like......
[Android Themes] nbeebe24:
I never change the name or the borders, only the colors of objects I want. I'll try again and see if what's been suggested works

Sent from my illuminated black thing
[Android Themes] decalex:
I'm looking around too. Also tried various apktool versions.. I'll post here if I have any success or find anyone who has.

. . NS4G . . CM7 . .
[Android Themes] oroo708:
yea,u right. but i just want to learn how to mod keyboard theme.

is there any guide for this??

can't find it in this guide..

:(
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
basically the keyboard consists of 'LatinIME.apk' and alib file, so to theme a keyboard you can just use 7zip to open the apk and pull out drawable-mdpi/hdpi (whichever you need) from the res directory, edit the photos with your chosen photo editing program, than place the drawable folder back in the apk via 7zip and you are good to go... works for me everytime!!!

---------- Post added at 09:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 AM ----------

the easiest way to get this working correctly 'for me' is:

if you are going to edit any png files from a framework-res.apk ALWAYS KEEP THE ORIGINALS

copy the whole drawable-mdpi/hdpi folder that you are going to make any changes to and keep it safe lol

now that you have a backup, you can modify the originals... and you do not need to decompile it, just use 7zip to pull the png's, then go edit them with something, then push them back in the apk with 7zip

you can safely use that apk in your rom with no issues

BUT WAIT!! the reason you have a copy of the originals is very important, in case you ever need to decompile the apk to edit any xml files or whatever, place your backup of the originals in it first so it will decompile and recompile with no issues,

then when you finish recompiling, just place your modded png's back into the apk before placing it in your rom :D

i promise this works with 0 issues, you dont need to rename any .9 png's or anything crazy... if you have any questions PM me because i rarely check this thread...

i hope this helps you guys
[Android Themes] decalex:
when you say 'push back into 7zip' -- are u using another method besides dragging them back in to the 7zip opened apk? 99% of the tiime, when I edit .9.pngs, i need to recompile the apk with the new ones added, else they get that funny shape most of us probably recognize ;)
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
na no other method, just dragging it into the apk via 7zip... delete the one inside first... but i haven't gotten any funny shapes, i even use windows paint for most of my editing, use gimp for ones with transparency :D but yeah if its only png or png.9 edits, than you should be able to pull and push with 7zip, not needing to decompile or recompile... bcause when you try to recompile with changed pnd files you get an a** load of errors lol
[Android Themes] xavierjohn22:
xdaautotool does this in one shot, no sweat

put apk in input themes apk

put images in input themes

build apk theme

you can even have like 360 combinations

run draw9patch compiler on images

run hue and saturation

build flashable zip

and many more

Sent from SGT running MIUI
[Android Themes] s2d4:
there is a difference between compiled and decompiled pngs. you kinda need to understand this as well as patch9, that way you wont get any errors for sure.. pull and push using 7zip? You mean copy and paste? Or drag drop?
[Android Themes] silverxbv2:
Have you ever tried to decompile an app that you've done this with? I'm guessing it will be error city.

From the mobile command center
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
na i know, i do understand... im not putting this out as a guide... im just saying its what i did, it worked perfect for me with no issues... so i thought it may help you guys out... im not going to write out any themeing guide because i know for a fact that there are many things i dont know... but i am just saying that i KNOW for a fact that doing it this way works fine, never had any issues... so i just always use the stock png's for decompiling and recompiling any apk... instead of trying to convert my edited png's to the proper format... it is not the proffessional way to do it, but it works... never had an issue...

---------- Post added at 02:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:14 PM ----------

yes, thats why you need to put the stock png's back into apk before decompiling the apk... look guys, i just put the comment to help, i know its not the correct way and im not asking to be corrected... if you dont want to use my method than dont... figure it out the hard way... im jus trying to help...

sorry if thats came off a lil rude, i promise im not trying to be ignorant to anybody, i love xda and everyone from here :D i just put in my 2 cents to help those who needed it... so if what i wrote doesn't look/sound good to you than just please ignore it

---------- Post added at 02:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------

those are basically the same thing... except copy and paste gives you a backup... which you dont need to do because when you drag something through 7zip it only copy's the file into it anyway, it doesn't move the original from your desktop into the apk (via 7zip) sooooo basically its both lol your dragging it over but it is copying it anyway... so just be sure to remove the one from the apk before placing the new (edited) one inside :D
[Android Themes] SXUsr:
If I'm just editing a standard png that's all I do but I use WinRar, as you yourself know, if you're not editing a .9 or xml there is no need to decompile.
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
well the thing is... i also edit .9 png's without decompiling... and of coarse it will be 'error city' if i ever tried to decompile with edited .9 png file inside the apk (which is why i keep the originals backed up), but editing a .9png without decompiling will flash properly on your device just by pushing it into the apk via 7zip or winrar...

now here's the thing... im stuck in the 32b days lol all i have is a few G1's i play around with after work... G1 uses mdpi, so im not exactly sure how different hpdi devices are, but the png's or framework itself may be diffirent in a small way or the device may read them differently in a small enough way to cause issues... such as png's not looking the way they should.. im not an expert on this, like i said its just something i did and it worked for me lol and i do it often... here is a link to my work incase you were curious...

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1248485

every theme on here, i did allll the png work without decompiling. I only decmpiled the stock framework and edited the xml files than recompiled... added my theme modified png's (drawable-mdpi folder) later on using 7zip :D
[Android Themes] SXUsr:
I decompile .9s so I can see the image borders, how do you get around that?
[Android Themes] ldrifta:
windows paint with zoom lol, or gimp
[Android Themes] s2d4:
Lol, was just wondering what pull and push has anything to do with 7zip since this is the first time I am seeing someone referring it as copy and paste (drag ad drop)

now adb push and pull is another case ;)

talk about trying to make things sounds more complicated than it should :D
[Android Themes] oroo708:
hey~

i got myself a problem here.

i was trying to edit and add up some theme on cm7 theme(theme chooser)

my problem:

when i used decompile & compile, always get error on incorrect compile.

try drop & drop dos not make any change..

anyone know how to solve this??:confused::confused:
[Android Themes] SXUsr:
I'll stick with decompiling for .9s then as it's easier to edit them when you can see the image borders.

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 PM ----------

Not without know what you're using to decompile or what you're trying to edit.