[TUTORIAL] How to easily THEMES .apk (for DEODEXED ROM only)

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

After few days surfing, asking & testing. I decide to make a easily tutorial for theming in Windows, I think as long you know to use computer, they is nothing much difficult to theming/modifying the .apk yourself.

My guide only cover:

De-compile & compile of .apk
changing the .png file inside .apk
Modifying tricky .9.png file.
Modifying .xml file.
Zip Align the .apk

What you need:

Your phone must be ROOT and DEODEXED.
CWM pre-install recommended, you can simply get this function by installing superatmos / Lucifr kernel.
7-zip - for replacing file inside .apk
JRE (Java Runtime Environment) - required to run the APKtool
Android-SDK - must install before APKtool & Zipalign work.
APKTool Download the apktool & also apktool-install-windows.

Before Start:

Always remember make a backup for any .apk file you plan to change or amend.
Recommended make a flash-able version of origin not amend .apk in-case something went wrong, you can always flash back the original file via CWM. Example if you did something wrong in your systemUI.apk (for statusbar) it will probably make your phone nearly impossible access any part due to unstop FC.

I also like to take this opportunity to THANKS the following user help, without them, all this is not possible.

ronhoover88
superatmos
tarunagg
Vertumus

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

De-compile & Compile of .apk

Why this step is required:

You need to de-compile the .apk before you can correctly modified the tricky .9.png and also to see a readable .xml for amending.

Step:

Install JRE (Java Runtime Environment) & Android-SDK.
Download the apktool & also apktool-install-windows, extract the file and put inside your Windows Folder.
Open command prompt (Start - Run - CMD)
Before de-compile the .apk, make sure you copy out your current phone framework-res.apk & twframework-res.apk, lidroid-res.apk only required if you using lidroid-res.apk in your framework.
Code:
```
[B]apktool if [location of .apk][/B]

Example:
apktool if D:\APK\framework-res.apk
apktool if D:\APK\twframework-res.apk
apktool if D:\APK\lidroid-res.apk
```

Now, De-compile the .apk

Code:

[B]apktool d [filename.apk] [directory][/B]

Example: apktool d D:\framework-res.apk D:\De-compile

If sucess, you will seen the following line in your CMD.
The De-compile folder will be generate as seen below.
Now you can amend whatever you like to amend, after done, proceed to following step.

Compile back:

Code:

[B]apktool b [directory][/B]

Example: apktool b D:\De-compile

Extra build folder will appear inside your De-compile folder, all file inside here already compile and can use later in your Android phone.

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

Changing/Replacing the .png file inside .apk

Amending normal .png no need to de-compile, just extract the file and modified using any photoshop tools or simply replace the .png
Just right click any .apk file and select 7-zip extract to, as seen below:
Now go to the extracted folder and amend / replace any .png file you like to replace. (Remember .9.png file cannot just simply replace, check following post for instruction.)

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

Modifying tricky .9.png file.

The .9.png cannot just simply amend using any photoshop and put back, because by doing so, either the amend .9.png won't appear or just simply give you FC in your phone when running it.

What to do:

De-compile the .apk.
Below showing the different between before and after de-compile of .9.png, as you can seen on right image,they is extra 4 black dot + 1 black bar and surrouding with transparent bar, all this area must be keep and not amend during photoshop. The de-compile image will auto increase 1 x pixel + 1 y Pixel.
Just amend without touching those area, save it and then put back to correct folder and compile back.

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

Modifying .xml file

After you have de-compile the .apk, now all inside .xml is readable where you can make some changes on the color selection, clock position and etc. by just simply open with notepad and modified.
Before de-compile, the .xml look like below which is not readable and understand by human.
After de-compile, now the .xml is readable and understand by human.
Now you can amend what ever you like, Google/Search XDA forum for which .XML to amend.
Use this color code checker site for getting your desire color code.
After done, don't forget, you must compile back the .xml before it is understandable by Android OS.
Screenshot below showing modifying the sub text .xml to ICS blue color.

Change all
Code:
```
from android:color="#ffffffff to [B]android:color="#ff3f9bbf[/B]
```
at zzz_tw_secondary_text_sub.xml

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

Zipalign the .apk

Why this step is required:

You need to align the .apk to let the Android phone run the modified .apk perform much smoother and better, if you have more not align .apk file in your phone, it will eventually drag down your entire phone performance.
This step is not necessary but recommended.

Step:

Open command prompt at your Android-SDK Tools folder

Type following command and run

Code:

[B]zipalign -fv 4 [filename.apk] [filename-new.apk][/B]

Example: zipalign -fv 4 framework-res.apk framework-res-new.apk

A new Zipalign .apk will be generate as seen below, highlight in blue.

Zipalign in batch, save following code in .bat and put in your folder that contains .apk file. It will batch running zipalign all .apk inside, this guide I found from user Grumpy Old Man post at RootWiki. Thanks for this easier method.

Code:

@echo off

REM Batch file to recursively zip align *.apk files in a directory

REM and its sub-directories. This is significantly easier and faster

REM than manually zip aligning them.

@echo Zip aligning now...

for /R %%X in (*.apk) do zipalign 4 "%%X" "%%~dpX%%~nX.new"

@echo Replacing non-aligned files with zip aligned files...

for /R %%X in (*.new) do move /Y "%%X" "%%~dpX%%~nX.apk"

@echo Zip aligning done, press any key to exit

pause

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

Final Step

OK, done everything? now you need to put back to your phone with 2 method

Flash via CWM - highly recommended
Root Explorer - not recommended as it may not properly change for Statusbar theming.

Using CWM

Make a flash-able .zip to flash at CWM
Not sure how to do, let use a easier way, take any flash-able .zip, use 7-zip and choose open archive as seen below:
Now just drag and drop all your modified .apk inside the .zip file, choose YES when ask "Confirm File Copy" as seen below:
Copy the modified .zip to your root SDCARD and restart to CWM and install. Done!

Using Root Explorer

Temporary copy your modified .apk to your /system/csc
Right click choose permission and set as below:
Move your current .apk to correct directory /system/app
Done! This method is not recommended for framework-res.apk & systemUI.apk, better way still flashing via CWM.

ENJOY HAPPY THEMES!

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

My Achievement

Below is what you can get after themes. Enjoy!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM BELOW, NOT RELATED TO S II - i9100G

CENTER CLOCK for SONY XPERIA Z phone.
De-compile the SystemUI.apk, then change some code at status_bar.xml in /res/layout

Step 1 - Find

Code:

<com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.Clock android:textAppearance="@style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.Clock" 

android:gravity="left|center" android:id="@id/clock" android:paddingLeft="6.0dip" 

android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:singleLine="true" />

Step 2 - Replace Step 1 code with

Code:

<com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.Clock android:id="@id/clock" android:layout_width="fill_parent" 

android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:gravity="center_horizontal|center" 

android:textAppearance="@style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.Clock" android:singleLine="true" />

Step 3 - Then search for

Code:

xmlns:systemui="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/com.android.systemui">

and now cut Step 2 code and paste in bottom Step 3 code.

Step 4 - Lastly find

Code:

<LinearLayout android:orientation="horizontal" android:id="@id/ticker"

and past following code beside it.

Code:

android:background="@drawable/status_bar_background"

Save the edited status_bar.xml

Sony Xperia Z Center Clock Screenshot.

fauzi_91 · Apr 14, 2012

Very nice tutorial!i'm too lazy to type/make a tutorial..lol its good for sharing the idea..

:thumbup:

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

fauzi_91 said:
Very nice tutorial!i'm too lazy to type/make a tutorial..lol its good for sharing the idea..:thumbup:

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

Thanks, I am still learning.

samyam2002000 · Apr 14, 2012

u forget to mention the deleting of edited xmls file and resources.arsc

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

samyam2002000 said:
u forget to mention the deleting of edited xmls file and resources.arsc

My final step is drag back and save using 7-zip, the file will automatic replace, no need manual delete.

By the way, thanks for highlighting removing of resources.arsc, add-in this step at final step now.

samyam2002000 · Apr 14, 2012

i dont know if i am doing it right what what exactly does a build folder contain a folder or .apk file

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

samyam2002000 said:
i dont know if i am doing it right what what exactly does a build folder contain a folder or .apk file

The build folder contain all the files you had de-compile just before but in compile format back.

samyam2002000 · Apr 14, 2012

Andrewtst said:
The build folder contain all the files you had de-compile just before but in compile format back.

so i just replace them or what on the original .apk

definnately apkmanager is easier

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

samyam2002000 said:
so i just replace them or what on the original .apk

definnately apkmanager is easier

Correct.

Just replace to your origin .apk and remember always do a backup for any .apk you want to amend.

harrisz · Apr 14, 2012

thanks for ur tutorial bro..

fauzi_91 · Apr 14, 2012

Mybe u can add a lil bit intro/tutor about uot kithen too if u want..can introduce to people out there who never used it b4..they also can get so many icons in there..

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

Andrewtst · Apr 14, 2012

fauzi_91 said:
Mybe u can add a lil bit intro/tutor about uot kithen too if u want..can introduce to people out there who never used it b4..they also can get so many icons in there..

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

Oh, I never try before that, wait I try first, before I can add-in.

fauzi_91 · Apr 14, 2012

Andrewtst said:
Oh, I never try before that, wait I try first, before I can add-in.

Uot kitchen is the easier way to make a theme as long as we know how to use it..there are a lot of option there..n we juz need to upload the systemui.apk n framework-res.apk..but for contact,phone etc will remain stock..that one we can use ur tutor to modify..

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

[TUTORIAL] How to easily THEMES .apk (for DEODEXED ROM only)

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