[THEME] The Ultimate Android Themeing Guide - Updated 4/26

[jairomeo]

Is this PDF document out of date? Some of the XDA url's are not going anywhere.

All of the XDA links worked for me. The Google Doc is a little more updated over the PDF. The only dead link is for Brandecks write up since it was before alldroid changed ownership.

I have some more info that people have given me to add in, Im just waiting to have the time to add it.

 

[castaway1]

hello, im making theme from basic android white to black.. im done with black bar notifications and ongoing all text colors in white on black background as i like. Only problem is that music,pandora,downloads notifi colors. Theres no way to do it globaly? becouse for example winamp has black notifi colors too..


if user download some other aplication that contain black notifi colors like winamp i need to change that apk for him?

its really i need to change notifi color for every(problemed) aplication?

 

[rori~]

...if user download some other aplication that contain black notifi colors like winamp i need to change that apk for him?

its really i need to change notifi color for every(problemed) aplication?

Unfortunately, you are right..

Sent from my Nexus One

 

[powder007]

Great info, thank you for taking the time to put it together. It's helped me immensely with my theming adventures.

One thing that i had a lot of trouble with is getting draw9patch running. I wanted a custom statusbar_background.9.png and needed to define the control lines. The method that was posted in a different thread about editing .9's was good info, it just didn't work for me at all. Eclipse kept giving me errors about the border, so i HAD to get draw9patch running (unless i just didn't understand the other method :shrug.

Anyways, the trouble i had was getting draw9patch running, like i said. The problem was the file "swing-worker.jar" was missing from Android/android-sdk-windows/tools/lib. I had to download it cuz the SDK was missing it completely. I hope this info helps someone cuz i wasted a lot of time trying to figure it out lol.

 

[mrhtml]

The link is dead, please reupload.

 

[jairomeo]

The link is dead, please reupload.

Not sure why it wasn't working, I went to edit the post and saved it and it started working again. Not sure why it was redirecting to xda

 

[TrailBlazer31]

Themeing on a Linux Machine

I am quite noobish when it comes to themeing, in fact I am just trying to pick it up. First timer really. Seems to me like a lot of the "Tools Needed" pertain to Windows. should this be telling me something? Is it recommended to use Windows to theme?

 

[ljbaumer]

Thank You Thank You Thank You!

I really appreciate this guide! It is helping my android theming team and I teach new recruits how to theme and XML. It is wonderful.

Thanks for your great work!

here is my team's website if anyone wants it: http://www.magnam0d.com

Blog

 

[catr8]

Since we know information for creating themes is spread out all over the place and sometimes hard to follow and understand, I have started compiling a guide using the information spread throughout XDA and other forums. Hopefully this can become a Sticky

I've sent this out to a few new themers and such and they have found the parts that are complete very helpful.

Initially I wanted to wait until it was complete before posting it anywhere, but I've hit a wall on being able to put my thoughts together. I am kind of busy and stressed out with work, therefore I am putting up this way users can review and other themers and maybe start compiling some of the missing information. I also hope for non themers to give feedback or post questions and ideas can be added and maybe get my creative juices flowing again.

The guide is a collaboration of information from many themers/users. I am making sure to provide credit for all individuals writings. I am writing it in word, but posted it in Google Docs to all can view.

If you are going to link to this, please link back to this thread and not the document, this way we can keep the conversation in one spot and work together as a community, to have a document that isn't tool and utility based, but one that teaches people how to edit themselves, and teach with potential of finding more things we can control.

I will update the copy on Google Docs until it's completion.

Link to the guide:
The Ultimate Themeing Guide

Im not sure why the link isn't working in the popup but its https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AcdxIJRSH9ypZGZzc2pxNDlfMjdnazk4OHNxZA&hl=en

Soon additions (red have been added):

• 
  Add smail edit for Gmail LED by brtioso http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6165700#post6165700

• Add a section on signing update.zip files

• Suggestion from Stericson, include the write up explaining the detail of the xml's and what 0800001C means.

• Add link for AXMLPrinter GUI http://android.modaco.com/content/t...m/304547/android-xml-decompiler/#entry1217176 as recommended by deanesn

• Add information from MontAlbert on un'odexing,

• Add information to be able to theme market apps from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=503007

• Add zipalign information

• Add 08 00 00 1D code and xml from amac25, time to start researching where else this is and what it does

• Create a reference table listing the stock apps, and the xml's known to edit inside

• Look at http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r_ua-t_U23ci5_oxwQ4mGrg and see what needs to be modified/added and add to the document

• Add Ted417's tip on editing indexed images, would have helped me if he told me this a long time ago, stingy bastard

• Possibly add Ted's signing tool http://alldroid.org/threads/16103-Send-To-APK-for-Windows?highlight=Ted417

• Add in some of the information from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3385304#post3385304

• Add Beyond Compare as a software tool to get started with (recommended by bgill)

• Add http://markcarson.com/markcarson/ColorCalc.html or another site that does color conversion codes

I'll add to the to do as things come in. If you want to ask questions or faster feedback, follow me on Twitter.

Thank you I appreciate this.

 

[jairomeo]

a few of us are currently working on updating the guide, and adding adw and theme engine details as well.

 

[y3mita]

Thanks to djdarknight for this link, I am gonna try some themeing and see if I can be successful... thanks for such great resources~