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I was curious if anyone knows how to unencrypt(sp?) xml files. I am trying to build a theme and wanted to browse through some xml's to see if I could change the color of the digital clock on the status bar, among other things. I tried googling to no avail. Is this even possible at this time, or am I just going to have to wait until someone figures out how to unencrypt these files? Just some general advice on how this filetype behaves in android would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance...
Stericson is currently in the process of this. He'll let us know when he's got it.
Shoulda figured Stericson had a hand in this matter. He is extremely valuable in the development of our devices, in fact, I almost sent him a PM to ask him about this matter directly, but I wanted to gather some general info/advice from everyone. Thanks for the reply Phromik, and thanks be to Stericson too, for being such an indispensable asset to these forums.
Ahhh, many thanks....Unfortunetly, this is not easy in the least. As for right now the xmls can be decrypted, vis some tool online you can find by googling, but you can also see the xmls in plain text by downloading the source and looking through them. I am trying hard to get these done but it is not easy in the least. Much more difficult then what we are doing now.
We will get it though, no worries, just may take some time.
Stericson
A few changes:
Alright so first off after seeing that this actually got some response, I'm opening it up for other people to edit as well. Hopefully we can figure out a way to do this responsibly... But I figure a community effort on this is much more valuable (especially because my theming is a bit rusty)
Key Files Chart
I am also gonna start modelling this off of a Cyanogen build because those builds seem to be the most poplar now. Keep in mind that much of what works in one theme translates well to most others.
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Original Post:
Hey guys so here is what I've been working on.
(Use new Link Above)
Its pretty much a simple list of locations of files that are essential to theming and what they control. This is definitely meant to be simple and geared more towards beginners. I think the thing that was hardest thing for me to learn theming was finding out where specific files were. So hopefully this might help bring down the learning curve.
Plan is to keep on updating this as long as there is interest and questions that people raise. Most of this is from my, relatively, limited knowledge of theming so if anyone else wants to jump in on this, I would be more than happy to add you as a collaborator (thats right, YOU!).
Also, I have this written according to how I know Haykuro's Builds work (because thats the version I use). If things are similar enough to other builds, it shouldn't be too hard to compile a master list across all three 1.5 builds. Let me know. : )
what a great idea! I wish this would have been available to me when I started my first theme! good work
Haha thanks. I been lax bout it lately cuz it really doesnt seem to be catching on at all. Ill wait and see if anymore interest builds up before continuing to update.
Hi!
I would be interested in an update I have been wading through a ton of information, I want to make a theme myself and I have just finished setting everything up properly on my system. I have seen how many image files there are to sort through and the names would be a great help, and I think, a good idea for others too
RainCrow said:
Hey guys so here is what I've been working on.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r_ua-t_U23ci5_oxwQ4mGrg
Its pretty much a simple list of locations of files that are essential to theming and what they control. This is definitely meant to be simple and geared more towards beginners. I think the thing that was hardest thing for me to learn theming was finding out where specific files were. So hopefully this might help bring down the learning curve.
Plan is to keep on updating this as long as there is interest and questions that people raise. Most of this is from my, relatively, limited knowledge of theming so if anyone else wants to jump in on this, I would be more than happy to add you as a collaborator (thats right, YOU!).
Also, I have this written according to how I know Haykuro's Builds work (because thats the version I use). If things are similar enough to other builds, it shouldn't be too hard to compile a master list across all three 1.5 builds. Let me know. : )
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This is great; although I am new to Android themes, I have extensive experience with BB themes, although that is the "apples to oranges" scenario. Plazmic of course does the grunt work in those, but I have written svg's for animation, hidden docks etc. Hopefully that will help me catch on at a faster rate compared to never having done that sort of thing. So any info you can pass along is much appreciated!- Chris aka riffman
TY
Awesome work. You just simplified SO much of what I was not looking forward to.
I would like an update as well. I am lost sometimes. lol
I'm good on what most of the .png files control, but if you could make one for the .xml files in framework-res.apk/res/layout that would be killer.
Haha wow. Five months later I'm seeing this thread actually got some feedback (And linked on the "Helpful Threads" sticky to boot). I was considering making the document an open project and just working on maintaining the structure if that sounds helpful to people because there are plenty of things that I would like to know as well (like .xmls)
EDIT: Alright I just changed it to open system so that anyone can edit it. I should probably also change the name off from Haykuro seeing as how hes out of the running now...
ok so im trying to figure out how to edit the htc clock widget to open a different clock like desk clock. can this be done?
def's uncommon rom is the only one that i know of that does it. good luck getting him to tell you how. def is one of my favorite dev, i'm not calling him out. all the dev keep there findings to them selves really.
question... how come people don't share there tweeks and hacks anymore?
i remember full threads on reg edits, tweeks, and hacks, that people would share with the world. I actually had threads where i would take requests, and cab them up for people to be able to install easily.
big difference between the WM day to the current droid days.
cody
^be very nice if this were the case. As fully customisable, unique rom, suited to your needs.
Sent from my Droid Incredible using XDA App
i sent a pm to the owner of the rom and i am awaiting a reply back. im not trying to take credit for something i just dont want to have to run beautiful widgets when i spent all the time on making custom flip clocks.
codyppc said:
def's uncommon rom is the only one that i know of that does it. good luck getting him to tell you how. def is one of my favorite dev, i'm not calling him out. all the dev keep there findings to them selves really.
question... how come people don't share there tweeks and hacks anymore?
i remember full threads on reg edits, tweeks, and hacks, that people would share with the world. I actually had threads where i would take requests, and cab them up for people to be able to install easily.
big difference between the WM day to the current droid days.
cody
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That is a very ****-headed thing to say. I am MORE than willing to help anyone out with reproducing ANY of my mods. I keep nothing secret, and I literally JUST replied to the OP's PM, just before reading your completely asinine comment. My PM box is FULL of questions AND answers with guidance on duplicating mods. Truth be told, I do not POST these modifications and how-to in their own threads for one reason only. I do not have the time to support them.
ok so i can find where the activity is and change it but when i push to the phone nothing changes...
deficitism said:
That is a very ****-headed thing to say. I am MORE than willing to help anyone out with reproducing ANY of my mods. I keep nothing secret, and I literally JUST replied to the OP's PM, just before reading your completely asinine comment. My PM box is FULL of questions AND answers with guidance on duplicating mods. Truth be told, I do not POST these modifications and how-to in their own threads for one reason only. I do not have the time to support them.
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Def, I was not trying to be a **** head and don't see that my post directed anything negative towards you. I was iust stating that a few years ago, members in the Windows mobile forums shared everything. Infact, there were http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/windows-mobile-hacks-tweaks/ forums just for regedits and hacks. I don't find that on the 2010 Android forums.
I didnt mention the guy who posted a zip file that was able to put the 6 bar signal meter in the task bar. He clearly stated that he pulled it out of your Rom. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8758884&postcount=22 Then your reply saying something about you not liking what he did. To me that said the Android developers didn't want the secret out of the bag. It's not just you. I have ran quite a few roms and really liked certain parts, but didn't keep it for the fact that I didn't like other parts. I have searched for ways to get just the good hacks and tweeks, but there just not there.
For the record..... I am sorry Def. I was not saying that your bad for not posting everything you do. I was just trying to say that there's a good chance he will not get the information he seeks. That's just the way Android forums are going these days.
here is a couple thing i would like to add to my roms, but cant find information on them. correct me if i'm wrong, but people just dont share this stuff.
1. 6 bar signal
2. htc clock widget launching vanilla clock
3. app drawer 5 icons wide,
4. battery percentage in battery icon
yes, def's roms have all of these. that is why i run his rom. at least until he bans me from his roms due to this thread.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
codyppc said:
Def, I was not trying to be a **** head and don't see that my post directed anything negative towards you. I was iust stating that a few years ago, members in the Windows mobile forums shared everything. Infact, there were forums just for regedits and hacks. I don't find that on the 2010 Android forums.
I didnt mention the guy who posted a zip file that was able to put the 6 bar signal meter in the task bar. He clearly stated that he pulled it out of your Rom. Then your reply saying something about you not liking what he did. To me that said the Android developers didn't want the secret out of the bag. It's not just you. I have ran quite a few roms and really liked certain parts, but didn't keep it for the fact that I didn't like other parts. I have searched for ways to get just the good hacks and tweeks, but there just not there.
For the record..... I am sorry Def. I was not saying that your bad for not posting everything you do. I was just trying to say that there's a good chance he will not get the information he seeks. That's just the way Android forums are going these days.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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Well I would like to say he got me started and I found where the attribute is for opening world clock and I have changed it to deskclock but I think I'm doing something wrong with the apk tool because when I push it to the phone and launch it still opens world clock but in the files its self it says deskclock. I wish I knew more about the Android language but sadly I don't and I'm going to keep trying.
synisterwolf said:
Well I would like to say he got me started and I found where the attribute is for opening world clock and I have changed it to deskclock but I think I'm doing something wrong with the apk tool because when I push it to the phone and launch it still opens world clock but in the files its self it says deskclock. I wish I knew more about the Android language but sadly I don't and I'm going to keep trying.
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i am am really glad to see people like def who is trying to help others instead of just posting there roms.
I am 38 years old, married with 4 kids. i have been on the forums for a long time and know what and how they work. i was not trying to start anything, i love helping people and learning. that is why i like the forums.
i have made 2 apps for windows mobile and never thought of charging for them. one of the apps had over 20,000 downloads. my favorite thing to do was help people learn to make there own.
back on topic....
i would really like to have a zip to flash this htc clock mod. it is one of my favorite parts of def's uncommon rom. i dont have the time anymore to learn a lot of coding. at least i don't think so. kind of new to android so i dont know if it's easy or not. flashing zip files is easy. lol.
^ That would be pretty sweet! Wish everything was easy as flashing a zip.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
KGBxxx said:
^ That would be pretty sweet! Wish everything was easy as flashing a zip.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
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i use to cab up rededits for easy installs. i dont know if you know what red edits are or not, but many people wouldnt do them because they were tough. cab files were just like apk for android. zip files are just as easy really. maybe someday.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/windows-m...e-regedits-get-em-here-requests-welcomed.html
I was curious to what you the Developers of the awesome stuff we have for the Epic are using? Are you using the SDK tools we get from Google to make new things? Or are you using some other stuff? I kind of want to make some stuff but I don't know how?
Can you tell me what you used or are using to get where you are now? How do you do it? Can you tell me where or something?
Anything would be helpful.
And please no random "I want to know this too" or arguing to whats better? That would be saved for another post/thread. I do apologize if this is a repeat thread. I didn't see it on the front. I think this should be though.
I'm not at my computer at home right now, I'll update it later all of the apk tools.
1) Version control - I use subversion
2) Diff tool - I use beyond compare
3) Zip tool - I use 7zip
4) Issue tracking - I use Google code
5) Text editor - gVIM
6) Graphics - Photoshop CS5
I am curious as well.
Plapczyn, do you know of any tutorials on developing ROMs for the Epic? Does it require a lot of coding?
Source.google.com
Read it follow instructions to get and compile code. That lets you build a rom from source code where you can alter the os. The only source code that is released for the Epic is 2.1 As of now. If you have specific problems with doing any thing in their directions pm me.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
ryno502 said:
I am curious as well.
Plapczyn, do you know of any tutorials on developing ROMs for the Epic? Does it require a lot of coding?
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There are lots and lots and lots of tutorials. Google is your friend.
It doesn't require much coding, but you can do plenty of coding if you want.
Will check it out, thanks.
I was just curious because I am not much of a programmer. XHTML, CSS, and Basic PHP is about my limit lol.
These might help...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=667298
ryno502 said:
I am curious as well.
Plapczyn, do you know of any tutorials on developing ROMs for the Epic? Does it require a lot of coding?
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Click to collapse
If you want to make roms, check out the Chef Central forum here on XDA. There are threads with a lot of info on how to do things. Also, you should check out what is going on the other Galaxy S forums. If you want to do dev stuff, you first need to figure out what you want to do, and then go from there. Making a rom (actually any development really, agnostic of device or system), is more about making and pulling in small incremental changes and testing them.
That's the best advice I can give you...is to always break things down into small incremental changes that can be tested in between. Use source control and CHECK IN your changes. This goes for simply swapping out pngs in apks, or doing kernel mods. That way, you always know where your latest working copy is and you what changes caused your system to break...which it inevitably will. Nobody codes things correctly the first time every time. We all have the urge to just make a whole bunch of changes at once and see if it works. The thought is that we don't have enough time to test everything in between. Trust me, you will spent 5 times more time fixing bugs by doing it this way, over just doing it right the first time.
thats good advice plapczyn, thank you. I will evaluate what I want to do and go from there. my #1 priority is app developement, to better my resume and help with my career, but I am interested is possibly experimenting in ROMs too.
I will start off saying I am new to this as the title , so I will probably ask a lot of redundant questions and noobie questions, I hope that's ok.
What I want to do (for now):
I am attempting to do is modify the systemui.apk file. I would think that would be a fairly easy task, but with my VERY limited knowlege of things I'm not sure.
The file has a lot of icons for customizability, but I want to add some of my own, or rather this phones icons(samung epic 4g) default icons. I have the icons I grabbed from a stock rom, and saved them.
I have the toggles, and battery icons, which are what I want to add into the systemui.apk. Iwill probably call it something like Samsung default, since default name is already taken.
So all that said, how easy would it be for me, someone who has never even attempted this before, but has a small amount of knowledge of what stuff is, ie: difference between odex and deodex, where the files are located at, etc?
Stuff like what file/files to edit, what to put in the xml files as in what line coding or whatever they call it. Stuff like that.
I'm very simple in nature, so if there is a way to do what I want to do, please direct me in the right direction, and please, keep it simple if possible.
I do realize there are tutorials about how to theme and how to make or edit a systemui file but I can't seem to find a more specific way/thread to do what I want to do, not that I have found anyways.
My guess is I will have to edit some xml files and add some lines, I just an not sure what exactly to put in those lines, or what files to edit.
First of all: wrong section - this belongs to Q&A.
About modifying APKs, I'm also not much familiar, but I believe that apktool and those GUI tools that includes it can be fairly helpful. I personally use APKChanger to do all my APK-related mods.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM11
AndyYan said:
First of all: wrong section - this belongs to Q&A.
About modifying APKs, I'm also not much familiar, but I believe that apktool and those GUI tools that includes it can be fairly helpful. I personally use APKChanger to do all my APK-related mods.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM11
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Awesome it looks like a good start, I will give it a go, and report back.
Hope this works, as I am not really doing much to the systemUI file, all I am doing is adding in, what's not there, so the rest can stay in tact, just I want to add some preferred icons/png files I have on hand already. I'm not diescting to make a rom or anything, so I can't see this as being really hard thing to do.....for those that have done it could probably do this in about 5 mins work without breaking a sweat....me however it seems it's takeing awhile lol.
easyrider77 said:
Awesome it looks like a good start, I will give it a go, and report back.
Hope this works, as I am not really doing much to the systemUI file, all I am doing is adding in, what's not there, so the rest can stay in tact, just I want to add some preferred icons/png files I have on hand already. I'm not diescting to make a rom or anything, so I can't see this as being really hard thing to do.....for those that have done it could probably do this in about 5 mins work without breaking a sweat....me however it seems it's takeing awhile lol.
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Very cool program, thanyou for the info. I kinda messed around with it a bit, and it's vvery nice for those not so smart at heart people like me.
I still have a snag though. I know where the icons are, I'm just not sure how to activate them via the like settings and such.
Take the battery mod within 3mini for example, you open 3minit, and under the battery part it you select it and it has a bunch of icons you can pick, but the stock ones aren't there. I am wanting to add stock icons, which are in the res/label-dhpi folder, (I think that's what it's called), but it's the folder that has the icons in it. Now, to access those icons, you have xml file you have to point to to tell it to actually see the icons in said folder, via a code line as I call it.
There is my problem, I am not sure really WHAT code line to put in said xml file/files, so I'm running into a wall.
So I can extract/decompile the apk file fine, and I have a folder/files with some more folders and files under that. I have looked at the stuff but since I'm not a programmer at all, and not to get off on another rabit trail here, but I cannot even do simple plain html....yes I know it's a text thing, but if you don't understand the if's and waits and the language of it all, well it might as well be german.
People always say "what's the problem, it's easy" well I suppose it is, if you are savvy to that stuff, but for those that have a hard time with one thing, it comes oh so simple for another, but it doesn't mean someone is stupid, it just means it's not their thing. Some atre meant to be some things, some are not. Not everyone is meant to be a doctor, yet some are because they understand those sorts of things better.
Anyways, I am sorry for trailing off, in short I am saying if you have a hard time with what I call coding, and yes it is a coding in some form, just as html is, even though it's still text, it's still a code that tells things what to do, IE: code
In short, I am nt sure what file/files to edit,. and even then I am not sure what lines to put in them.
Here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2032614 is a good example of what I mean. While I appreciate this persons hard work and efforts, people like me it may as well be written in a foreign language of sorts, because while I understand editing a certain file, and I get the concept of CODE: that's where I end up getting lost. I have opened the said xml file, and see the code, but when they say code, well I have to ask things like what line to I edit, where do I cut/paste the lines in that post to, do I delete another line and replace it with that code, etc..etc..
I in NO way am trying to trash people for their posts and efforts, so I hope it's not taken that way, I just sometimes have to be drawn a picture for things, like a child. As hard as I might try, I just am not grasping what to do after the point of opening the file and editing it.
I suppose I will just give up this quest I have for what I want to do, unless I fin somone kind enough, and patient enough to go a little further into explanation of what I need to do to further go on. it can be hard for some people, especially if you are a programmer to explain a little more in depth about what a person needs to do, I have friends that have that mind set, and they to get irritated at people like me .....I guess it is what it is.
Thanks again for the info, I appreciate all that xda and the people here do, and all thier time and effort towards the mods.
Well I can't provide further help then... My ability stops at making navigation bar mods which only involves modifying 5 lines of xml. Good luck with learning from scratch :beer:
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM11