This guide is to help people start creating Themes for ADW and understand what they are doing.
Instead of just replacing images by unzipping an APK I will tell you how to create your own theme from scratch.
I had a real struggle to find all this and I now I want to share what I found out
I will provide you with links with content that you should read and write some things by myself.
How to : Setup your working environment
How to : Make your own theme
Where should I put my images/xml?
The drawables (images/xml) should be putted in the drawable folder as standard. If you want to have different images for different pixel density(xhdpi/hdpi/mdpi/ldpi) make the folders: drawable-xhdpi,drawable-hdpi,drawable-mdpi and drawable-ldpi.
the text behind the hyphen (-) is a configuration qualifier. Android looks for these and if it suits the specific device it will choose the drawables from that folder instead of from the default folder. If a resource android looks for isn't found in the special folder it will instead look in the default folder for it.
If you want different images for landscape mode you would need to create a folder called drawable-land and if you want different images when the device is both mdpi and in landscape you would create a folder called drawable-land-hdpi.
Find out more about resource qualifiers
How do I add my own icons?
Find the name of the icon you want to replace at Theme Icon Name Database
Place your own drawable in the right folder.
E.g. To change the icon for the Android stock browser in a hdpi device I would ad a file called com_android_browser_browseractivity.png in drawable-hdpi. If I want the same icon for all devices that uses my theme I could add the same icon in the folder drawable.
How do I export my theme for testing?
Right click on you project in Eclipse and select export. Click the Android folder and select Export Android Application. Press next and then next again. Choose "Use existing keystore". Press browse.
Alias: androiddebugkey
Password:android
Press next. Press browse and choose your destination of the apk. Click Finish and you are done.
Help! ADW force closes and I can't uninstall the theme!
Look here for sulution
If there is something that needs to be added send me a PM or write a comment.
I will add: program to use to create the images and eventually a complete sample theme with documentation.
If you find the tutorial good, please post to bump the thread.
Instead of just replacing images by unzipping an APK I will tell you how to create your own theme from scratch.
I had a real struggle to find all this and I now I want to share what I found out
I will provide you with links with content that you should read and write some things by myself.
How to : Setup your working environment
How to : Make your own theme
Where should I put my images/xml?
The drawables (images/xml) should be putted in the drawable folder as standard. If you want to have different images for different pixel density(xhdpi/hdpi/mdpi/ldpi) make the folders: drawable-xhdpi,drawable-hdpi,drawable-mdpi and drawable-ldpi.
the text behind the hyphen (-) is a configuration qualifier. Android looks for these and if it suits the specific device it will choose the drawables from that folder instead of from the default folder. If a resource android looks for isn't found in the special folder it will instead look in the default folder for it.
If you want different images for landscape mode you would need to create a folder called drawable-land and if you want different images when the device is both mdpi and in landscape you would create a folder called drawable-land-hdpi.
Find out more about resource qualifiers
How do I add my own icons?
Find the name of the icon you want to replace at Theme Icon Name Database
Place your own drawable in the right folder.
E.g. To change the icon for the Android stock browser in a hdpi device I would ad a file called com_android_browser_browseractivity.png in drawable-hdpi. If I want the same icon for all devices that uses my theme I could add the same icon in the folder drawable.
How do I export my theme for testing?
Right click on you project in Eclipse and select export. Click the Android folder and select Export Android Application. Press next and then next again. Choose "Use existing keystore". Press browse.
- In windows find C:\Users\ENTER YOUR USERNAME HERE\.android\debug.keystore
- In Linux and OS X I think it is in: ~/.android/debug.keystore
Alias: androiddebugkey
Password:android
Press next. Press browse and choose your destination of the apk. Click Finish and you are done.
Help! ADW force closes and I can't uninstall the theme!
Look here for sulution
If there is something that needs to be added send me a PM or write a comment.
I will add: program to use to create the images and eventually a complete sample theme with documentation.
If you find the tutorial good, please post to bump the thread.
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