[TUTORIAL] Where to find the colors for making a theme

[KBanause]

Hi,

after I switched my ROM from OpenDesire to Oxygen I had to find a way to change the text colors for the status bar and notification area as the theme I'm using has a dark status bar.

With the help of str355 I was (nearly) able to change the colors to the values I want to. The most tricky part will be the color of the clock for which I only know for non-CM-AOSP-ROMs (like Oxygen) for now and only the colors Black, White and Red. Feel free to provide hints and/or links for other colors/ROMs I will update this tutorial.

Always make a backup of the files you are about to edit or do a nandroid backup. If anything goes wrong you will get a bootloop.

It seems that apktool can change the brightness of some nine patch graphics while decompiling them. I had problems with the lockscreen files (jog_tab_*) where the files extracted from the original framework-res.apk were darker.

The guide in this post is for Android 2.2 (and maybe earlier versions). An updated version for Android 2.3 is in progress. You will find it in Post 62 when it's finished.

Tools, which are used in this tutorial:

• apkmanager. I highly recommend that you replace the apktool.jar from the apkmanager with version 1.3.1. Version 1.3.2 can create not working framework-res.apk files. Version 1.3.1 is creating *-v4 drawable-directory names. Be sure to remove the -v4 or add it to the directory names you want to keep
• text editor
• adb
• smali/baksmali
• ZIP-Tool of your choice
• Graphics editor

1. Date and notification ticker
Files that have to be edited:

• /system/framework/framework-res.apk
• DECOMPILED_DIR/res/layout/status_bar.xml

What you have to do:

1. Extract the framework-res.apk from your phone/rom zip file
2. Decompile your framework-res.apk using apkmanager
3. Edit the file DECOMPILED_DIR/res/layout/status_bar.xml
4. Search for <com.android.server.status.TickerView
5. As child nodes you will see TWO <TextView> tags. If not present, you must add android:textColor="#ffffffff" to the attributes. It will set your color. the four bytes mean: transparency, Red, Green, Blue (where transparency means: FF no transparency and 00 fully transparent). You have to set the color for both <TextView>s as Android will alternate between them when the notification ticker should show more than one line.
6. The color for the date will be in the <com.android.server.status.DateView>
7. Save the file
8. IN APKManager choose the option to compile your framework
9. Answer yes when you get asked if it is a system apk and if you want to copy files from the original framework. After the original framework has been extracted, change to your "keep"-Directory and delete the files resources.arsc and res/layout/status_bar.xml.
10. Let apkmanager continue its work.
11. now you have a new apk file in your place-here-for-modding directory, which you can push on your phone (DO IT IN RECOVERY): adb push unsignedframework.apk-filename /system/framework/framework-res.apk

2. Notifications
Files that have to be edited:

• /system/framework/framework-res.apk
• DECOMPILED_DIR/res/layout/status_bar_latest_event_content.xml

What you have to do:

1. Decompile your framework (see Point 1)
2. Edit the file DECOMPILED_DIR/res/layout/status_bar_latest_event_content.xml
3. Search for android:id="@id/title". This is the title of the notification
4. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
5. Search for android:id="@id/text". This is the description of the notification
6. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
7. Search for android:id="@id/time". This is the time of the notification
8. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
9. compile your framework (See Point 1, but now you have to delete the status_bar_latest_event_content.xml from the keep-directory) and push it to your phone.

3. Provider, Carrier, Ongoing-Title, Notifications-Title, Clear-Button, noNotificationsTitle
Files that have to be edited:

• /system/framework/framework-res.apk
• DECOMPILED_DIR/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml

What you have to do:

1. Decompile your framework (see Point 1)
2. Edit the file DECOMPILED_DIR/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml
3. Search for android:id="@id/plmnLabel". This is the Carrier name
4. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
5. Search for android:id="@id/spnLabel". This is the Provider name
6. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
7. Search for android:id="@id/ongoingTitle". This is the Ongoing-Title
8. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
9. Search for android:id="@id/latestTitle". This is the Notifications-Title
10. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
11. Search for android:id="@id/clear_all_button". This is the text of the Clear-Button
12. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
13. Search for android:id="@id/noNotificationsTitle". This is the text when no notification is displayed
14. Edit the android:textColor attribute to your likings (add it if it is missing)
15. compile your framework (See Point 1, but now you have to delete the status_bar_expanded.xml from the keep-directory) and push it to your phone.

4. Color of the progress bars (like the one the market is using)
Files that have to be edited:

• /system/framework/framework-res.apk
• DECOMPILED_DIR/res/drawable/progress_horizontal.xml

What you have to do:

1. Decompile your framework (see Point 1)
2. Edit the file DECOMPILED_DIR/res/layout/progress_horizontal.xml
3. The progress bar uses gradients to set the color which goes from top to bottom. You have to set three colors: start, end and middle.
4. <item android:id="@id/background"> is for the unused part of the progress bar.
5. <item android:id="@id/progress"> is for the used part of the progress bar.
6. compile your framework (See Point 1, but now you have to delete the progress_horizontal.xml from the keep-directory) and push it to your phone.

5. Color of selected text within text fields
Files that have to be edited:

• /system/framework/framework-res.apk
• DECOMPILED_DIR/res/values/styles.xml

What you have to do:

1. Decompile your framework (see Point 1)
2. Edit the file DECOMPILED_DIR/res/values/styles.xml
3. You will find the color value in the <style name="TextAppearance"> node. It's called textColorHighlight
4. compile your framework (See Point 1, but now you have to delete the styles.xml from the keep-directory) and push it to your phone.

6. Clock
6.1. Clock Color
As already stated, this only works for pure AOSP-ROMs (at least for Oxygen). It is NOT working for Sense Roms and those based on CM.

Files that have to be edited:

• /system/framework/services.jar

Tools you need to do the job:

• smali/baksmali
• text editor of your choice
• zip tool of your choice (WinRAR, 7zip, WinZIP, ...)

What you have to do:

1. Extract the services.jar from your phone/rom file to the same directory as your smali/baksmali jar files.
2. Extract the classes.dex out of the services.jar using a zip tool of your choice. Only extract it. Do not extract the whole file
3. Decompile classes.dex: java -jar baksmali.jar -o classout/ classes.dex
4. That will create a directory classout where your decompiled files are stored
5. move to the directory classout/com/android/server/status . There you will find a lot of .smali files
6. Open StatusBarIcon.smali in the text editor of your choice
7. Search for the text Landroid/widget/TextView;->setTextColor(I)V (there should be only one)
8. In the same line you will see somethink like invoke-virtual {v4, v6}. Note second v-Value (it can be another number) and search for it.
9. You will get something like const/high16 v6, -0x100. That's Black. To change the color to White, use const v6, -0x1, using const/high16 v6, -0x1 will turn it Red. You can use this format: const v6, 0xffRRGGBB. const v6, 0xff0000ff would turn it blue and const v6, 0xffff00ff will turn it pink
10. Save the file and move back to your directory, where you have saved the classes.dex
11. Rename it for having a backup file
12. Run this command: java -Xmx512M -jar smali.jar classout/ -o classes.dex
13. Replace the classes.dex INSIDE your services.jar with your newly created classed.dex
14. Push the new services.jar to your phone (/system/framework/) and reboot.
15. Don't get panic, this reboot can take several minutes.
16. Your clock should have the new color now.

7. Transparent background Notification Drawer
I only tested this only for a pure AOSP-ROM (Oxygen).
CyanogenMod based based already have this patch integrated.
It may work for Sense Roms. Feel free to test it and report your experience.

Files that have to be edited:

• /system/framework/services.jar

Tools you need to do the job:

• smali/baksmali
• text editor of your choice
• zip tool of your choice (WinRAR, 7zip, WinZIP, ...)

What you have to do:

1. Extract the services.jar from your phone/rom file to the same directory as your smali/baksmali jar files.
2. Extract the classes.dex out of the services.jar using a zip tool of your choice. Only extract it. Do not extract the whole file
3. Decompile classes.dex: java -jar baksmali.jar -o classout/ classes.dex
4. That will create a directory classout where your decompiled files are stored
5. move to the directory classout/com/android/server/status . There you will find a lot of .smali files
6. Open StatusBarService.smali in the text editor of your choice
7. Search for the text const/4 v5, 0x2 (there should be only one)
8. Change this to: const/4 v5, -0x3.
9. Save the file and move back to your directory, where you have saved the classes.dex
10. Rename it for having a backup file
11. Run this command: java -Xmx512M -jar smali.jar classout/ -o classes.dex
12. Replace the classes.dex INSIDE your services.jar with your newly created classed.dex
13. Push the new services.jar to your phone (/system/framework/) and reboot.
14. Don't get panic, this reboot can take several minutes..

8. Graphics
After you have decompiled your framework-res.apk you will end up with a lot of graphoc files in res/drawable-hdpi (or res/drawable-hdpi-v4 depending on your apktool.jar version).
This is the right place to edit notification icons, the notification bar und drawer, menu item background (list, grid, etc.), buttons, etc.
Some files will have .9.png. These are Nine-Patch-files. You will find more information on those files HERE and HERE

Let's begin with the status bar and notification drawer:

8.1. Status Bar
To get a new status bar background, you have to edit the file statusbar_background. Can be .png or .9.png

8.2. Notification Drawer
The notification drawer constists of several files.
8.2.1 Carrier/Provider area
To change the background for the Carrier/Provider area you have to edit the file status_bar_header_background. Can be .png or .9.png

8.2.2 Ongoing and Notifications
To change the background for the Ongoing and Notifications area you have to edit the file title_bar_portrait. Can be .png or .9.png

8.2.3 Notifications
To change the background for the notification area you have to edit the file status_bar_item_background_normal. This will be the background if you're just look at the notifications.
When focusing a notification it will be the file status_bar_item_background_focus and when you push/press it you have to edit the file status_bar_item_background_pressed.
The notifications are divided by the file divider_horizontal_bright. Can be .png or .9.png

8.2.4 Unused area
The area where no notification is displayed will get the background file status_bar_background. Depending on your ROM it will even display transparency. Can be .png or .9.png

8.2.5 Bottom
The bottom part of the expanded drawer is status_bar_close_on. This will use transparency too. Can be .png or .9.png

8.3. Animated notification icons
8.3.1 Battery (uncharging)
Depending on your ROM there will be more or less files for the battery gauge. They begin with stat_sys_battery_ followed by a number.
The order how they are get displayed is configured in the file res/drawable/stat_sys_battery.xml.

8.3.2 Battery (charging)
Depending on your ROM there will be more or less files for the battery charging gauge. They begin with stat_sys_battery_charge_anim followed by a number.
The order how they are get displayed is configured in the file res/drawable/stat_sys_battery_charge_anim.xml.

8.3.3 Download and upload animation
The files for the upload and download animation begin with stat_sys_download_anim and stat_sys_upload_anim followed by a number.
The order how they are get displayed is configured in the files res/drawable/stat_sys_download_anim.xml and res/drawable/stat_sys_upload_anim.xml.

8.4. Other files
8.4.1 Title for detailed view in call history
You will find the background for this in the file title_bar_tall.

8.4.2 Title for contacts
You will find the background for this in the file title_bar_medium.

8.4.3 Background for the grid menu
What I mean is the grid menu when you press the menu button within an application.
The following files are used:
menu_background: This the background for one grid element.
menu_background_fill_parent_width: the whole grid
To change the text color you have to set the color for the style TextAppearance.Widget.IconMenu.Item in the file res/values/styles.xml (thanks for SimonVT for this hint)
After pressing "More" you will find another menu. The text colors for this menu can be found in the style Theme.ExpandedMenu.

9. Applications
9.1. Ongoing downloads
You should have noticed that the text color of ongoing downloads in the notification area doesn't look like the text colors for normal notifications.
To change this color you have to change the file /system/app/DownloadProvider.apk. You'll find the color values in res/layout/status_bar_ongoing_event_progress_bar.xml. It uses the same names as the one in the framework-res.apk. After you have recompiled it you can flash it to your phone. You should see the new colors at the next download.

9.1. Notifications of music player
If you are using the default music player (/system/app/Music.apk) then you can change the colors it uses for notifications as well.
After you have decompiled it, open res/layout/statusbar.xml and edit the values of @id/artistalbum and @id/trackname.


* All tools mentioned here have links to the corresponding project or forum page. If you have problems with these tools ask the creators.
* I do not take any responsibilty for any bricked phone.
* Thanks to: str355 and ClassicalGas for providing me with hints on how to change additional colors, graphics, etc.
* Thanks to: one_love_420 for giving me the tip on how to set a real custom color for the clock in the status bar and for making THIS TUTORIAL to make the background of the contact list transparent.

 

[str355]

nice one mate

 

[cCeT]

i was looking for changing status bar of oxygen.but this is complicated for me.can anyone make an update.zip of this or do you know any status bar update compatible with this rom?

 

[str355]

do you know any status bar update compatible with this rom?

the one in my sig works with oxygen

 

[BumAround]

the one in my sig works with oxygen

This is nice and simple!

For Oxygen, just wondering if the battery indicator can be made box/rectangular with white percentage indicator inside and dark blue drain indicator? Everything else is perfect as it is.

 

[str355]

This is nice and simple!

For Oxygen, just wondering if the battery indicator can be made box/rectangular with white percentage indicator inside and dark blue drain indicator? Everything else is perfect as it is.

I'm only making the one bar nowadays, from version 0.2 the bar is black so you wont need to do all of this

Sent from my Fire using Smoke Signals

 

[KBanause]

I'm only making the one bar nowadays, from version 0.2 the bar is black so you wont need to do all of this

Sent from my Fire using Smoke Signals

No more messing up with the services.jar for us Oxygen users

 

[mendozinas]

For Oxygen, just wondering if the battery indicator can be made box/rectangular with white percentage indicator inside and dark blue drain indicator? Everything else is perfect as it is.

Use UOT Kitchen for different battery.

 

[KBanause]

I added a section. Now it's possible to use a transparent png as in the notification drawer.

 

[str355]

I added a section. Now it's possible to use a transparent png as in the notification drawer.

nice, shame it's in the service.jar though!

 

[KBanause]

This is nice and simple!

For Oxygen, just wondering if the battery indicator can be made box/rectangular with white percentage indicator inside and dark blue drain indicator? Everything else is perfect as it is.

I'm using this right now.

 

[sakai4eva]

Quick question. I like white notification bars... is there any way I can get it back? Kinda dig the white style coz it helps me differentiate from Sense ROMs.

 

[KBanause]

Quick question. I like white notification bars... is there any way I can get it back? Kinda dig the white style coz it helps me differentiate from Sense ROMs.

It is possible. Just follow steps 7,8,9 in the "Clock Color" section and set the color to the black value.

 

[KBanause]

I found out what I have to edit to change the color of the progress bars. As soon as I am at home again I will update the tutorial.

 

[str355]

any idea where to change the colour of the text for ongoing downloads?

i've updated the ongoing items in white in statusbarexpanded.xml which has changed the text colour for all ongoing items except for the downloads as far as i can see.

when the apps are installing (still under ongoing items) the text switches back to white etc..

there are references to the ongoing items in StatusBarService.smali so i may have to do the colour change in there unless anyone knows of a .xml entry i can edit.

EDIT: PowerAmp's ongoing music notification is also affected by this, although there is a setting to reverse the status text colour in poweramp's settings

 

[KBanause]

Right now I can't tell you where to find it.
But maybe you can help me:
When you press the menu button when you are on the homescreen I know which file I have to change for the background. But I can't find where I can change the color of the text. I would like to use the Gingerbread background for this but it ends up with a black text color on a black background

 

[str355]

sorry i've not changed anything in that menu yet.

i just had a quick play around with layout\menu_item.xml but it isnt any of the text in there

EDIT: that text isnt in the actual home application is it as the icons change if i switch from launcherpro to zeam

 

[KBanause]

EDIT: that text isnt in the actual home application is it as the icons change if i switch from launcherpro to zeam

It must be in the framework because in other applications it's the same (black text color on black background) while in the emulator running Gingerbread the text is white.

 

[SimonVT]

removed

 

[KBanause]

I believe you have to edit
TextAppearance.Widget.IconMenu.Item
in framework-res /values/styles.xml

That was the right one. Thanks