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This guide will teach you how to write an Edify script that replaces the Google market with a different version.
Big thanks to charlieb620 for posting the new market .apks with different color schemes, see the thread Here for more market colors.
The Google market is a great example for a guide on how to replace an app, because not only is it a system app but it's one with a lot of dependencies and will teach you how to deal with this. This is also an app you can't just install an .apk file for, you have to take specific steps to install it.
If you were going to just install a new Google market, you would have to:
Who want's to deal with all that, and still have it maybe not work right?
No, the right way to replace the market is while the system is down, so doing it as an update you flash through clockworkmod is really the correct answer.
I will assume a windows computer from here on out - that's what I have.
Let's walk through this, and start by listing what you need to begin:
1 - A program you can write the script in. notepad++ is preferred.
2 - A tool to sign your update package. This one is the one i've been using. XDA link. Must be in your main directory, C:
3 - The right update-binary file to work with the MT4GS. I attached the one i've been using to this thread. Thank computerkid23 for that. Go into your signing tool and go to:
/update/META-INF/com/google/android/
...and replace the update-binary with the new one. Here also:
Or you could hit post 10 of this thread for a flashable zip template file.
4 - Some knowledge of Edify scripting. I wrote up some notes that covers some of it, but also links to other threads around XDA with Edify script information. Read up on it, my link Here
5 - A new market .apk file to play with. Here is where ours came from, and it's called Dark.apk
6 - winrar
7 - A MT4GS phone to test your script on, before releasing it to the community.
Now that that we have that all taken care of, let's get started:
1 - Go to the flashable zip builder folder, go to the update folder, then system, and then make a new folder called app
2 - In this new folder, place the new market.apk and rename it to Vending.apk - the capital V is important.
3 - go back up 2 levels to the update folder, and then go to /META-INF/com/google/android/ and open updater-script in Notepad++
4 - Select all and then delete all the text in the updater-script file. Once done, move on to the next part of the guide.
Writing the script:
Since this is my tutorial, i'm going to pass on a concept that means a lot to me - which is formatting the printed output on the screen during installation to be useful. 23 lines down of 40 characters wide is our window to work with.
We will also be using the printed output to the screen to keep the user updated instead of using a progress bar, it's nice to keep them from thinking their phone froze.
Start out by typing these 3 lines of code:
The ui_print("") command will print to the screen anything between the quotes in the parenthesis. After about 40 characters it will split your text to a new line, wherever the break happens. Could be in the middle of a word.
The second line is the title of our script. When the script is done running, in clockworkmod 4.0.0.9, this will be at the very top of the screen on the phone.
The third line will print blank, just like the first, and seperates our text output to make it easier to read on the MT4GS screen.
The ; character tells the phone to read the next line of code.
Next, we'll type in this code:
The mount command will make a partition ready to do things to. Unmounted partitions can be formatted, for anything else they need to be mounted. The way this mount command is written mounts the /system partition specifically on the MT4GS phone.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to delete the old Vending.apk - this is the market app.
Then we unmount the /system partition, since we are done with it for now. This is a good practice to get into, in my opinion, because you won't forget to unmount the partition when you are done with it and you won't accidentally do something to it while you aren't using it.
Lastly, we print a blank line of text to keep things clean on the output screen. We are up to 5 lines of printed text so far.
Next, we'll type in this code:
Again, mounted the /data partition, called for specifically for the MT4GS phone.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to delete the old market /data directory located at /data/data/com.android.vending
Then we print a blank line of text, and another line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do the next thing, which is to wipe the dalvik cache. It's located at /data/dalvik-cache, so we are just going to delete the whole folder. A new one will be generated by Android on the next boot. This is the same as if you did it from the clockworkmod menu.
Then we unmount the /data partition, since we are done with it.
Lastly, we print a blank line. We are up to 9 printed lines so far.
Next, we'll type in this code:
Again, mounted the /cache partition, called for specifically for the MT4GS phone.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to wipe the /cache. We just wipe the whole partition with the delete recursive command, it's the same as if you did this from the clockworkmod menu.
Then we unmount the /cache partition, since we are done with it.
Lastly, we print a blank line. We are up to 11 printed lines so far.
Next, we'll type in this code:
Again, mounted the /system partition. Notice it's the second time we've mounted the same partition. This time, we are going to put on instead of taking away.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to copy the contents of the /system/app folder included in our script to the /system/app folder on the phone. This puts the new Vending.apk file where it is supposed to be.
Then we set the permissions for the new Vending.apk file, this is a very important step. This makes the permissions description on the file read rw-r--r-- like the rest of the files in the /system/app folder.
Then we unmount the /system partition.
Then we print a blank line, and then the last line which says we are done. This puts us at 14 lines, we still need 9 more.
Since we still ned 9 more lines to fill the output screen so that your script output is all the user sees when it's done, heres what I did:
I credited the person who provided the market .apk file, then told the user what to do next now that the script is done.
I am sure you could find a useful way of using any blank space you have, or managing the 23 lines of print you get when it's over.
Reading through my notes thread that I linked should get you set in the right directions for any further information you need about commands or their syntax.
The only thing not covered in-depth yet in any of my guides are permissions as far as this script is concerned, but that's coming. Meantime, you can find the information you need by browsing through XDA.
We have successfully removed the old market, cleared all the temporary files that had old market information, installed the new market in the correct location, and then set the proper permissions for the file.
This script is now a self contained update, where all the user has to do is run this script and then reboot their phone. No need to format this, wipe that, it's all done for them by the script itself.
The last steps in the process to make our zip is to save the file we just edited, which looks like this:
and then go back to the flashable zip builder folder, and then into the update folder. Select both META-INF and system folders, and zip in winrar. ZIP not RAR. Name your zip New_Market.zip
Now move this zip file up one level, to the main flashable zip folder. Drag it onto the DRAGandDROPsignONLY.bat file in the folder.
Wait until the dos prompt finishes and closes.
Go to the _out folder and get your new ready to install update, called New_Market_Signed.zip
That's it, just get that to the phone and flash in clockworkmod recovery.
Hope this was helpful!
*Unzip the update-binary to use.
*Go to charlieb620's Thread for ready-made install scripts for the rest of the market colors.
This guide will teach you how to write an Edify script that replaces the Google market with a different version.
Big thanks to charlieb620 for posting the new market .apks with different color schemes, see the thread Here for more market colors.
The Google market is a great example for a guide on how to replace an app, because not only is it a system app but it's one with a lot of dependencies and will teach you how to deal with this. This is also an app you can't just install an .apk file for, you have to take specific steps to install it.
If you were going to just install a new Google market, you would have to:
Who want's to deal with all that, and still have it maybe not work right?
No, the right way to replace the market is while the system is down, so doing it as an update you flash through clockworkmod is really the correct answer.
I will assume a windows computer from here on out - that's what I have.
Let's walk through this, and start by listing what you need to begin:
1 - A program you can write the script in. notepad++ is preferred.
2 - A tool to sign your update package. This one is the one i've been using. XDA link. Must be in your main directory, C:
3 - The right update-binary file to work with the MT4GS. I attached the one i've been using to this thread. Thank computerkid23 for that. Go into your signing tool and go to:
/update/META-INF/com/google/android/
...and replace the update-binary with the new one. Here also:
- update-binary
Download Link
MD5: f570141f6c8cf7273a58228d0241704d
Size: 190.04 KB
Or you could hit post 10 of this thread for a flashable zip template file.
4 - Some knowledge of Edify scripting. I wrote up some notes that covers some of it, but also links to other threads around XDA with Edify script information. Read up on it, my link Here
5 - A new market .apk file to play with. Here is where ours came from, and it's called Dark.apk
6 - winrar
7 - A MT4GS phone to test your script on, before releasing it to the community.
Now that that we have that all taken care of, let's get started:
1 - Go to the flashable zip builder folder, go to the update folder, then system, and then make a new folder called app
2 - In this new folder, place the new market.apk and rename it to Vending.apk - the capital V is important.
3 - go back up 2 levels to the update folder, and then go to /META-INF/com/google/android/ and open updater-script in Notepad++
4 - Select all and then delete all the text in the updater-script file. Once done, move on to the next part of the guide.
Writing the script:
Since this is my tutorial, i'm going to pass on a concept that means a lot to me - which is formatting the printed output on the screen during installation to be useful. 23 lines down of 40 characters wide is our window to work with.
We will also be using the printed output to the screen to keep the user updated instead of using a progress bar, it's nice to keep them from thinking their phone froze.
Start out by typing these 3 lines of code:
Code:
ui_print("");
ui_print("MT4GS - Market Update Install");
ui_print("");The second line is the title of our script. When the script is done running, in clockworkmod 4.0.0.9, this will be at the very top of the screen on the phone.
The third line will print blank, just like the first, and seperates our text output to make it easier to read on the MT4GS screen.
The ; character tells the phone to read the next line of code.
Next, we'll type in this code:
Code:
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p22", "/system");
ui_print("Removing old market ...");
delete("/system/app/Vending.apk");
unmount("/system");
ui_print("");The mount command will make a partition ready to do things to. Unmounted partitions can be formatted, for anything else they need to be mounted. The way this mount command is written mounts the /system partition specifically on the MT4GS phone.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to delete the old Vending.apk - this is the market app.
Then we unmount the /system partition, since we are done with it for now. This is a good practice to get into, in my opinion, because you won't forget to unmount the partition when you are done with it and you won't accidentally do something to it while you aren't using it.
Lastly, we print a blank line of text to keep things clean on the output screen. We are up to 5 lines of printed text so far.
Next, we'll type in this code:
Code:
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p23", "/data");
ui_print("Wiping old market data ...");
delete_recursive("/data/data/com.android.vending");
ui_print("");
ui_print("Wiping dalvik-cache ...");
delete_recursive("/data/dalvik-cache");
unmount("/data");
ui_print("");Again, mounted the /data partition, called for specifically for the MT4GS phone.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to delete the old market /data directory located at /data/data/com.android.vending
Then we print a blank line of text, and another line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do the next thing, which is to wipe the dalvik cache. It's located at /data/dalvik-cache, so we are just going to delete the whole folder. A new one will be generated by Android on the next boot. This is the same as if you did it from the clockworkmod menu.
Then we unmount the /data partition, since we are done with it.
Lastly, we print a blank line. We are up to 9 printed lines so far.
Next, we'll type in this code:
Code:
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p24", "/cache");
ui_print("Wiping cache ...");
delete_recursive("/cache");
unmount("/cache");
ui_print("");Again, mounted the /cache partition, called for specifically for the MT4GS phone.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to wipe the /cache. We just wipe the whole partition with the delete recursive command, it's the same as if you did this from the clockworkmod menu.
Then we unmount the /cache partition, since we are done with it.
Lastly, we print a blank line. We are up to 11 printed lines so far.
Next, we'll type in this code:
Code:
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p22", "/system");
ui_print("Installing new market ...");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
set_perm(0, 0, 0644, "/system/app/Vending.apk");
unmount("/system");
ui_print("");
ui_print("...Finished.");Again, mounted the /system partition. Notice it's the second time we've mounted the same partition. This time, we are going to put on instead of taking away.
Next we print a line saying what we are about to do.
Then we do it, which is to copy the contents of the /system/app folder included in our script to the /system/app folder on the phone. This puts the new Vending.apk file where it is supposed to be.
Then we set the permissions for the new Vending.apk file, this is a very important step. This makes the permissions description on the file read rw-r--r-- like the rest of the files in the /system/app folder.
Then we unmount the /system partition.
Then we print a blank line, and then the last line which says we are done. This puts us at 14 lines, we still need 9 more.
Since we still ned 9 more lines to fill the output screen so that your script output is all the user sees when it's done, heres what I did:
Code:
ui_print("");
ui_print("New Market application provided by:");
ui_print("");
ui_print("charlieb620 at XDA");
ui_print("");
ui_print("Press your hardware back button, then");
ui_print("select 'reboot system now' from the main");
ui_print("menu to continue.");
ui_print("");I credited the person who provided the market .apk file, then told the user what to do next now that the script is done.
I am sure you could find a useful way of using any blank space you have, or managing the 23 lines of print you get when it's over.
Reading through my notes thread that I linked should get you set in the right directions for any further information you need about commands or their syntax.
The only thing not covered in-depth yet in any of my guides are permissions as far as this script is concerned, but that's coming. Meantime, you can find the information you need by browsing through XDA.
We have successfully removed the old market, cleared all the temporary files that had old market information, installed the new market in the correct location, and then set the proper permissions for the file.
This script is now a self contained update, where all the user has to do is run this script and then reboot their phone. No need to format this, wipe that, it's all done for them by the script itself.
The last steps in the process to make our zip is to save the file we just edited, which looks like this:
Code:
ui_print("");
uiprint("MT4GS - Market Update Install");
ui_print("");
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p22", "/system");
ui_print("Removing old market ...");
delete("/system/app/Vending.apk");
unmount("/system");
ui_print("");
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p23", "/data");
ui_print("Wiping old market data ...");
delete_recursive("/data/data/com.android.vending");
ui_print("");
ui_print("Wiping dalvik-cache ...");
delete_recursive("/data/dalvik-cache");
unmount("/data");
ui_print("");
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p24", "/cache");
ui_print("Wiping cache ...");
delete_recursive("/cache");
unmount("/cache");
ui_print("");
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p22", "/system");
ui_print("Installing new market ...");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
set_perm(0, 0, 0644, "/system/app/Vending.apk");
unmount("/system");
ui_print("");
ui_print("...Finished.");
ui_print("");
ui_print("New Market application provided by:");
ui_print("");
ui_print("charlieb620 at XDA");
ui_print("");
ui_print("Press your hardware back button, then");
ui_print("select 'reboot system now' from the main");
ui_print("menu to continue.");
ui_print("");and then go back to the flashable zip builder folder, and then into the update folder. Select both META-INF and system folders, and zip in winrar. ZIP not RAR. Name your zip New_Market.zip
Now move this zip file up one level, to the main flashable zip folder. Drag it onto the DRAGandDROPsignONLY.bat file in the folder.
Wait until the dos prompt finishes and closes.
Go to the _out folder and get your new ready to install update, called New_Market_Signed.zip
That's it, just get that to the phone and flash in clockworkmod recovery.
Hope this was helpful!
*Unzip the update-binary to use.
*Go to charlieb620's Thread for ready-made install scripts for the rest of the market colors.
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