Develop Bugs

[WIP] Xoom Update Script

In the IRC channel, bigrushdog and myself have created an update script for the xoom. Its a WIP, but we have used it to install themes, apps, and even the current tiamat kernel. Just put the files/folders into the /data or /system folders inside the zip. Flash in recovery. Thanks to bigrushdog we now have a script that does not require busybox. This one will wipe cache and push whatever you put in data or system.
Wipes Cache and Dalvik Cache

Awesome, thanks!

Sorry but what can I do with this
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

ui_print("This is a generic Xoom Recovery Flasher");
ui_print("Developed by BWCorvus");
ui_print(" ");
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/data");
ui_print("Wiping Cache and Dalvik Cache in case you forgot.. ");
format("MTD", "cache");
delete_recursive("/data/dalvik-cache/");
delete_recursive("/data/boot-cache/");
ui_print("Extracting Data Files...");
package_extract_dir("data", "/data");
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "umount", "/data");
ui_print("Extracting System Files...");
show_progress(0.1, 0);
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/system");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
show_progress(0.1, 10);
show_progress(0.2, 0);
show_progress(0.2, 10);
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "umount", "/system");
ui_print("All done. Enjoy!");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Suggest adding the bolded just for convenience..

This would DEF help those who are not ADB savvy, cool!

fsunoles157 said:
Sorry but what can I do with this
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically this allows you to flash files, instead of pushing them. Good for kernels, themes, apps and one day roms.

do i just flash this zip in recovery? and then what?

fsunoles157 said:
do i just flash this zip in recovery? and then what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You add the files you want to flash, like say BIGDX theme files (framework and bootanimation). Then you flash this in recovery, and it will install the files, over writing the originals. You just need to make sure you put it in the right directory.

sorry and what directory would that be? trying to learn here and if i get you right i will be adding files to this zip?
bwcorvus said:
You add the files you want to flash, like say BIGDX theme files (framework and bootanimation). Then you flash this in recovery, and it will install the files, over writing the originals. You just need to make sure you put it in the right directory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

fsunoles157 said:
sorry and what directory would that be? trying to learn here and if i get you right i will be adding files to this zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it would depend on where you want the file to go, that is the directory you put it in. Yes inside the zip. Best thing i can do, is if you wanna pop by the irc channel #xoom on freenode, i could walk you through one.

ok definately how do i get there? i just use xoomforums and xda :-/
bwcorvus said:
Well it would depend on where you want the file to go, that is the directory you put it in. Yes inside the zip. Best thing i can do, is if you wanna pop by the irc channel #xoom on freenode, i could walk you through one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I guess this refer to:
http://webchat.freenode.net/
where it's self explanatory?

bwcorvus said:
In the IRC channel, bigrushdog and myself have created an update script for the xoom. Its a WIP, but we have used it to install themes, apps, and even the current tiamat kernel. Just put the files/folders into the /data or /system folders inside the zip. Flash in recovery. For this to work, you MUST have busybox installed on the xoom.
Original
Added stiffspliff data wipes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which zip should we be using? Is the only difference is that the wipe.zip will erase the original file during the flash process? So I need to place an apk file into the system folder within the update.zip to get it to flash.

TheBurgh said:
which zip should we be using? Is the only difference is that the wipe.zip will erase the original file during the flash process? So I need to place an apk file into the system folder within the update.zip to get it to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The wipe just has cache wipes, so you can use either. I'll edit it when I get home.
Sent from my PC36100

bwcorvus said:
The wipe just has cache wipes, so you can use either. I'll edit it when I get home.
Sent from my PC36100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just copy files/folders you want to install to the correct folders in the update.zip and flash?

TheBurgh said:
just copy files/folders you want to install to the correct folders in the update.zip and flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's it man.
Sent from my PC36100

bwcorvus said:
That's it man.
Sent from my PC36100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give it a shot. Thanks

Bump for update

so if your file is within a subfolder in system would you make the same subfolder in the update script (in the appropriate folder of course)? My guess is yes.
EDIT
Yes I got it. But what is the best way to zip it back up. I used winzip and my first try caused the install to abort? The 2nd time I tried it I just moved stuff around in the original update script using winrar and it worked. My guess is winzip f'd it up somehow.
Thanks

kev0153 said:
so if your file is within a subfolder in system would you make the same subfolder in the update script (in the appropriate folder of course)? My guess is yes.
EDIT
Yes I got it. But what is the best way to zip it back up. I used winzip and my first try caused the install to abort? The 2nd time I tried it I just moved stuff around in the original update script using winrar and it worked. My guess is winzip f'd it up somehow.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I usually just add stuff to the zip. Never actually unzip it. Do not try to rename stuff inside the zip though, always makes it fail.
Sent From My Evo

[Q] How to make a flashable zip from a set of apks?

In order to expedite my ROM flashes, I have downloaded apk files for all of the apps that I use that fit both of the following criteria:
Free
Don't contain any useful data requiring a proper backup
Usually, I just add these apks to the \system\app\ directory before flashing, but recently I thought that it might be easier to dump these all into a flashable zip so that I can just keep that on my SD card and don't need to mess with the ROM every single time.
Does anyone know of any step-by-step guides on how to do this?

So, I looked at the flashable zip for novalauncher for clues, and these are the steps I came up with...
Create the "system\app" structure
Put all the apk files inside "app"
Create a "META-INF\com\google\android\" structure
Create a blank file called "updater-script" in the "android" folder
Fill "updater-script" with the following
Code:
show_progress(0.500000, 0);
ui_print("Mounting /system");
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/system");
ui_print("Removing previous versions");
delete("/system/app/[filename1.apk]");
delete("/system/app/[filename2.apk]");
delete("/system/app/[filenameN.apk]");
ui_print("Installing APKs to /system");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
ui_print("Unmounting /system");
unmount("/system");
ui_print("Done");
show_progress(1.000000, 0);
(Inserting the real filenames for each apk, where appropriate)
DO SOMETHING WITH "update-binary" ???
Zip it up (the "system" and "META-INF" folders should be at the highest level)
Done. Flash it.
The bolded step above (#6) is where I'm lost. Anyone have any thoughts?

The flashable zip to restore apks
Guys, I've been entertaining the idea of getting an app developed that would do exactly what you describe. Pretty much automate the process with an GUI... select the apks/apps you want to build into the flashable zip file, generate the zip and sign it. I know this can be done.
Are there any devs out there that want to assist me with this project? Name your price on the development costs. email me at [email protected].
I'd like to get this developed.
Tobias

Tobias39 said:
Guys, I've been entertaining the idea of getting an app developed that would do exactly what you describe. Pretty much automate the process with an GUI... select the apks/apps you want to build into the flashable zip file, generate the zip and sign it. I know this can be done.
Are there any devs out there that want to assist me with this project? Name your price on the development costs. email me at [email protected].
I'd like to get this developed.
Tobias
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like someone beat you to it (haven't tested it out yet):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=scd.app2zip
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

In case anyone is interested, I got an answer to the original question over at AndroidPassions.com: http://androidpassions.com/forum/index.php/topic/109-how-to-make-a-flashable-zip-from-a-set-of-apks/
To summarize: My procedure I posed is essentially fine. You just have to get the "update-binary" from pretty much any other flashable you have, such as gapps. Also, the delete lines I have there aren't necessary if, like me, you don't actually expect there to be anything there. Or, you can also just use the zip that wildstang83 made for me (see his post)

I was looking into this as well and I had a question about the update-binary file.
I figured I could just pull one from any working flashable zip. But why are they different file sizes from one zip to the other? It has to be to different in some way.

Tobias39 said:
Guys, I've been entertaining the idea of getting an app developed that would do exactly what you describe. Pretty much automate the process with an GUI... select the apks/apps you want to build into the flashable zip file, generate the zip and sign it. I know this can be done.
Are there any devs out there that want to assist me with this project? Name your price on the development costs. email me at [email protected].
I'd like to get this developed.
Tobias
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw your name and i had to say hi!!! i have the same name! ive never met anyone with the same name!

create flashable zip question

I have 4 computers that I use and 2 of them have adb drivers installed, the other 2(work computers that i am not really allowed to install much on) does not. To be able to push files to my htc desire on the computers that i do not have adb drivers installed I need a flashable zip. I only want to push files such as ringtones, /system apps, bootanimation.zip files and such, i have no intention of changing the framework or the theme and so on. So could anyone point me in the direction of where could i find a ready empty zip file like this or a tutorial in how to make one?
P.S. one of the uses for this is when i am out on a business trip i do not have my personal computer with me, so if brut-maps gets updated i want to be able to push it to the phone without adb.

Hello.
I only have basic knowledge on the subject, so i'm just gonna explain what i do when i need to flash something via flashable .zip.
1) Get a simple flashable .zip used to flash files anywhere on the /system partition.
2) Open it with WinRAR or 7zip or whatever. Navigate to META-INF/com/google/android/. There you will find two files: update-binary and updater-script. You need not touch the binary, because it's the same for all flashable .zips. What you need to do is extract then edit the updater-script, as that tells the recovery what to do with the flashable .zip's contents.
3) Editing the updater-script: let's say we need to create a .zip to flash a new Mail.apk to /system/app. The updater-script's content would need to be:
Code:
show_progress(0.1, 0);
mount("MTD", "system", "/system");
delete("/system/app/Mail.apk");
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
show_progress(0.1, 10);
unmount("/system");
The "show_progress" lines are self-explanatory. The "mount" command tells the system to mount the /system partition. We then delete the old Mail.apk and tell the recovery where we want to extract the contents of the .zip. After everything's done, we unmount /system.
Add the edited updater-script to the archive, overwriting the original one. Be sure to set your archiver to "Normal" compression level.
4) Creating the proper directory structure: again, let's say we need to flash Mail.apk to /system/app and that we have properly configured the updater-script for this task. We now need to create a folder named "system" (anywhere on the PC), place a subfolder named "app" inside it, then place the new Mail.apk inside the "app" subfolder. We then add the whole structure to the flashable .zip (making sure that there are no other folders in it than "META-INF") and that's that! Again, make sure you use "Normal" compression.
5) Copy the .zip to your SD card, reboot into Recovery and flash the .zip.
6) Enjoy!

thank you very much, that was exactly the kind of information i was looking for.

You're welcome.
Here's a simple flashable .zip i used to replace media_profiles.xml in the /system/etc folder when i didn't have a PC handy and my phone wouldn't boot. You can edit it and use it for your own purpose.

[GUIDE] How to make a flashable zip for Sprint Galaxy S3

So this is a guide on how to make a flashable zip (a zip file you put on your SD and install it via a custom recovery). I'm going to assume if you want to make a flashable zip it's because you modified an app (or found one on the internet but it's not meant for our device) so I'm not going to explain how to modify an app or anything like that but I will post some resourceful links
*I own a laptop and use Windows so all the information is based on that, please adjust information if you have a different OS. You can also do all of this using a file explorer and text editor on your phone
So, I've attached a flashable zip that is meant for our devices and uses our mount points. I will go through some situations on where you can/should use it.
First, download the attached zip and extract it (7-Zip is free, use stock settings).
Within the extracted folder you will find data, system, and META-INF folder. Go to the base of the end of the META-INF folder structure and open up the updater-script file (I use Notepad++). This dictates what gets "flashed" and the text you see while in recovery. After you open it pay attention to these lines:
ui_print("");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-This will display text inside recovery, you want to enter text within the parenthesis and quotations, so if you wanted your text to say
Hey There
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your text in updater-script would look like
ui_print("Hey There");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And don't forget that semicolon!
OK so that's how you enter custom text that you would see in recovery. Next important lines you'll see are
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p14", "/system");
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p15", "/data");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This mounts your system (/system) and data (/data) partitions so whatever apps/jars/xml's/boot animations/fonts/etc you flash will end up where you want them to go (as long as you have the appropriate file structure; continue reading on that)
So you want to keep those within your updater-script, even if you are just flashing a system app it will not hurt anything on your set up if /data is mounted.
The next important lines are
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
package_extract_dir("data", "/data");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This now extracts whatever you have in your /system and /data folders within your zip into your system so it's important to make sure that you're satisfied with whatever you have in those folders prior to flashing
The last two lines,
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "umount", "/system");
run_program("/sbin/umount", "/data");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
simply unmounts the data and system partitions after everything is flashed
Just a note, this should not be used if you are flashing an entire ROM, I will update this with an updater script for this.
So after you modified your files and signed them correctly place them in their appropriate locations. For example, if it is a modified SystemUI.apk you will make a file structure like /system/app/SystemUI.apk, then select both the META-INF folder and system folder, right click and scroll to 7-Zip and select "Add to Archive", use stock settings and select OK. Place your zip on your internal or external SD and flash in recovery
This should be used for modified system files (apps, jars, files (init.d scripts, xmls), boot animations, apns, init.* files, etc), or data files (themed Facebook, Twitter, apps you download from Google Play)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
-If you are going to flash something, make sure the name of the apk's/jar's/files match the original apk's/jar's/files (example: if you are on a TW ROM and flashing a modified Messaging app you or someone else made, the correct name for that app is SecMms.apk). In that example, your apk would be in /system/app/SecMms.apk
-If you are flashing a modified Google Play, Gmail, YouTube, etc (themed, hacked, etc) make sure the app you flashed isn't in /data/app/ so make sure you delete apps that were automatically updated by going to /data/app/ (using a file explorer with root permissions) then flashing it.
-MAKE A BACKUP! Just in case. You can always make a backup of whatever apps your flashing by copy/pasting them onto your SD then make a flashable backup zip just in case something goes wrong
-It won't hurt your system if you have empty folders in your zip. If you're lazy just don't delete the empty /data or /system folders in my example
-Here are some general file locations of common apps that you may be flashing:
Google Play (/system/app/Phonesky.apk)
Messaging App (Touch Wiz) (/system/app/SecMms.apk)
SystemUI (statusbar) (/system/app/SystemUI.apk)
Framework-res (Android Framework) (/system/framework/framework-res.apk)
Gmail (/system/app/Gmail.apk)
Bootanimation (/system/media/bootanimation.zip)
LINKS:
apktool (make sure you Google how to set-up apktool in accordance with your OS)
-Notepad++ (what I use to modify xml's and updater-scripts)
-7-zip (I personally use WinRAR but this is free so...)
-File Explorer (FX) (what I use to create/extract zips on my phone)
**I will add more in the next few days, really late here so I'm going to crash

**reserved for morphs and whatnot

one more I guess

thanks fergie! Good Stuff!

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!
Been looking for something like this since I got my S3!

Thanks for the great tut.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

No problem. Any other tips or tutorials anyone want to suggest?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Install Google Talk (on Jelly King 2.0)

Hello!
I have installed Jelly King 2.0 on my Wildfire S (S-ON) and I really like it. But I miss the Google Talk app. I know that I could flash another GAPPS zip, but I think that would use too much space. So, how can I install just the Google Talk app without all the other gapps?
Here is what I already tried - and what didn't work:
0. Search for an solution in this Forum
1. Take the talk.apk from gapps and try to install
2. Put the talk.apk in /data/app
3. Put it in /system/app - couldn't move anything into that folder in spite of being root. I guess because of S-ON?
My next approach would be to create a flashable zip with just Google Talk - but I don't know how to do that. Or is there another way?

here you go.
i made zip of gtalk.
just boot to recovery and flash it.

Thanks!
Some more questions:
1. Shouldn't the Talk.apk be in the folder /system/app/ instead of just /app/? (I am comparing to a gapps zip in which it is located there)
2. How can I create such a zip-file myself? I don't know what the META-INF folder should content. Could I just copy this folder from any gapps.zip? And could I take the Talk.apk from there as well? (I would be more comfortable about using the app if I knew its source)
edit:
Okay, I took a look into the files in META-INF...and I think the answer to my first question is in this line of the file "updater-script":
package_extract_dir("app", "/system/app");
Anyway: Where did you get the "update-binary" file from? And I also can't see what the other three files (CERT.SF, CERT.RSA and MANIFEST:RSA) are for as the files they are providing a SHA1-checksum (?) for are not even in the zip-file.

vi!n said:
Thanks!
Some more questions:
1. Shouldn't the Talk.apk be in the folder /system/app/ instead of just /app/? (I am comparing to a gapps zip in which it is located there)
2. How can I create such a zip-file myself? I don't know what the META-INF folder should content. Could I just copy this folder from any gapps.zip? And could I take the Talk.apk from there as well? (I would be more comfortable about using the app if I knew its source)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first for your information.
s-on dosent mean you can't install apps in /system/app or anywhere else.i have s-on too.with s-on you can do alot of stuffs.you need s-off to just flashing some radios,dual-boot etc(mostly advanced stuff)
so,s-on isn't problem.probably mostly all people here has s-on.
1. yeah talk.apk is in /system/app & gapps also installed in /system/app.about your gapps zip i need to see it.but might you flashed wrong gapps.
2. you can make flashable zips easily.just you need to put apps,framework,scripts (anything you want in correct order)
then time for meta-inf file.all things in that file remained unchanged except updater-script.
you need to edit updater-script to make zip work..
e.g. you put talk.apk in zip then how phone know where to install and how to ?
so your updater script will like this:
Code:
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/system");
package_extract_dir("app", "/system/app");
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "umount", "/system");
first line for mount system.
then zip will install contains of app in /system/app
and third line for unmounting system.
i sent you PM which contains more detailes about making zip.
if you need any other help,feel free to tell.

Thanks, that helped a lot! The problem is solved for me now.
I was just editing my last post when you answered - so everything below "edit" can be ignored.

vi!n said:
Thanks, that helped a lot! The problem is solved for me now.
I was just editing my last post when you answered - so everything below "edit" can be ignored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah and about other files,they are common in every zip.
update binary is needed so phone can understand updater script.
all in one solution,when we make zip we just need to edit updater script all other files in meta-inf will be as it as.no change at all.just put whole folder in zip.