This guide is intended to help get started on creating your own themes! This guide is only to cover the basic images. Other changes will be cover in future guides.
I know there is an updated version of this ( APK Manager 5.0.2), however I choose not to use it because of a common issue when decompiling.
I normally use photoshop and winrar. Free programs that do the same thing are GIMP and 7zip.
To install:
Extract the folder inside the zip and place on your hard drive. I will be placing on my desktop.
Download the rom you wish to modify, and choose the apk in which you wish to edit images.
Move this file into “place-apk-here-for-modding’
This is what your file should contain. Make sure you check the location.
Back out to the main directory
Click on Script.bat
Choose option 22
Then choose your project: Should be 1 is you have only added 1 file, then hit enter.
Now check the top right hand corner, make sure it has the correct apk listed.
Then choose option 9- This will decompile the apk. Be patient….
It should say decompiling…then when it’s finished it will return to the main screen
Now go back the APK Manager directory, and choose projects
You should have something like:
This is your decompile framework.
Navigate to framework-res.apk/res/drawable-hdpi
This is going to be all the images in the framework that you can change.
**Note- until you feel good about your skills I would stay away from .9.pngs These take special attention and I will discuss more on these at a later time.**
Change all the images you wish I use photoshop, GIMP would also be a great program to use. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
When you are finished editing the images, it’s time to compile them.
Go back to your Script.bat file
And choose option 11
It will build APK/ and then ask you a few questions:
Is this a system apk – type “y”
Also put “y” for the second questions when copying original information
This will do a lot of extracting……
When it’s finished It will ask you to delete any files you modify out of a keep folder. If you go to the apk manager folder you will see that a “keep” folder has been added.
Now if you navigate to the keep/res/drawable-hdmi folder you can delete every image that you changed….Or since you answer “y” to both questions earlier then you can take the easy way and delete the whole folder.
Once done return back to the Script.bat and press any key. It will compile if all your images are correct.
*This is also the part were it causes a lot of headaches, if you edit .9.pngs most likely it will not compile, if it does why are you still reading this J *
Once the compiling is complete the Script.bat will return to normal, and you will have a new apk in the modding folder. “unsignedframework-res.apk
Choose option 12 in Script.apk
This will sign the apk.
Congradulations!!! Your theme is now complete!
Now you can transfer to the phone by several ways….
Adb it by replacing frameworks
Replace the apk in the original rom and installing by CWR
Or steal one of my update zips and add your file in the correct location. ( same location as in the rom)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another option if you have having trouble..by DroidTh3ory
If you just download the 3 files(apktool, apktool.jar and aapt) and give them root permissions, you can use Terminal. Much easier. In terminal type
Apktool install framework framework-res.apk
Apktool install framework moto-res.apk
Apktool install framework blur-res.apk
You will now see a apktool folder with 3 folders in them 1 2 3.
Grab the apk you want to decompike, drop it in the /home folder and in terminal type.
Apktool d filename.apk out
It will be in /home/out
To recompile in terminal type
cd out
Apktool b
It will recompile.