Database Develop

I Need Help Themeing on a MAC!!

can anyone sign this for me? i think i zipped everything correctly, but i use a mac so i am not sure, it has the notification bar i want (white with see through background) and a white launcher bar
http://www.zshare.net/download/75495216631b6c2e/

DrededStar87 said:
can anyone sign this for me? i think i zipped everything correctly, but i use a mac so i am not sure, it has the notification bar i want (white with see through background) and a white launcher bar
http://www.zshare.net/download/75495216631b6c2e/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this: http://www.darktremor.com/upload/changes-signed.zip

scratch that, i packaged it wrong, there is the main folder "Changes-signed" and inside of that there is a "changes" folder, then they system folder inside of that and the "framework-res.apk" folder is still a zip and not apk, it just has an alias apk file name fml

DrededStar87 said:
can anyone sign this for me? i think i zipped everything correctly, but i use a mac so i am not sure, it has the notification bar i want (white with see through background) and a white launcher bar
http://www.zshare.net/download/75495216631b6c2e/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use mac too. The way you zip it is go into the folder where it is, select the contents, right-click and hit compress. It should save into archive.zip. Now, to sign it, use this amazing tool. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=573498 Put the testsign.jar in Macintosh HD and put the app in the dock. Just drag the zip you want to sign onto the icon, and wait for the dot to go away under the sign app. Then, go to the folder where the original zip was, and there should be a Myzip-signed.zip. That should be a flashable zip as long as there's an update-script.

HeroMeng said:
I use mac too. The way you zip it is go into the folder where it is, select the contents, right-click and hit compress. It should save into archive.zip. Now, to sign it, use this amazing tool. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=573498 Put the testsign.jar in Macintosh HD and put the app in the dock. Just drag the zip you want to sign onto the icon, and wait for the dot to go away under the sign app. Then, go to the folder where the original zip was, and there should be a Myzip-signed.zip. That should be a flashable zip as long as there's an update-script.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so it does not have to be an apk file? im gonna try to sign it myself

DrededStar87 said:
so it does not have to be an apk file? im gonna try to sign it myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhh... that program is for your mac, not your phone.

HeroMeng said:
Uhh... that program is for your mac, not your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i meant the "framework-res.apk" file because i made it an alias of the original file, but it is still a zip, i have no clue how to make it back into an apk file after unzipping it
and i used the search button but the things i found were not much help....just to let people getting ready to yell at me for not using it

DrededStar87 said:
i meant the "framework-res.apk" file because i made it an alias of the original file, but it is still a zip, i have no clue how to make it back into an apk file after unzipping it
and i used the search button but the things i found were not much help....just to let people getting ready to yell at me for not using it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, you know what... just make a metamorph file. Metamorph is much easier.

Wait, what? You were trying to reinstall framework-res.apk? Nonononono. No. You need to write an update-script. It will put the apk in /data/app (or /sdext/app) if you install it as an apk.

HeroMeng said:
Ok, you know what... just make a metamorph file. Metamorph is much easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ummmmmm...i guess saying that i am extremely new to this is an understatement

the easiest way to do what you are talking about is to use something like 7zip or winzip to open , NOT UNZIP, the apk. Next, open up the zip you made. Now, drag the folder called res from YOUR zip into the open window of the apk. This should replace the old folder with your new one that contains all your edits. Now just close the opened apk, and you are done. Simple.

tejasrichard said:
the easiest way to do what you are talking about is to use something like 7zip or winzip to open , NOT UNZIP, the apk. Next, open up the zip you made. Now, drag the folder called res from YOUR zip into the open window of the apk. This should replace the old folder with your new one that contains all your edits. Now just close the opened apk, and you are done. Simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He has mac, like me. No 7zip.

HeroMeng said:
He has mac, like me. No 7zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But you have some sort of zip program, right?

tejasrichard said:
But you have some sort of zip program, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have Archive Utility, straight from apple, comes with the mac.

It doesn't allow you to open without unzipping? (obviously I know nothing about macs)

tejasrichard said:
It doesn't allow you to open without unzipping? (obviously I know nothing about macs)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. We can run Windows apps in WINE if we want....

so...what are my options people? cuz im still confused...

Re: i think i did this right...
bump.....anyone know anything?
Sent from my HERO200 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

So here's the issue: Drededstar has unzipped the framework apks, and changed the files...now he wants to know how to turn the .zip folder into actual apk files.
Macs don't have 7zip or ANY program that lets you look into apk contents without unzipping them all the way. So, you have to unzip them. Then once you're done making the changes, you need to change them back to apk files. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THEM BACK TO APK FILES?!!!
I have a mac too, but I do all my theming on my wife's computer...and she's probably tired of me kicking her off. If anyone knows how to do this one simple step could you please let us mac users know?!! Thanks!

as long as the file structure is right, you just have to rename the zip file to apk.

help modifing system/framework/framework-res.apk

Hi Everyone
I hope this is the right place for this posting.
I pulled system/framework/framework-res.apk from my phone. I was trying to find the launcher button images that my rom (Aloyuis) uses (turns out the images aren't in this particular apk nore are they in htc.com.resource) Any ways, I didn't like the direction the battery indicator was pointing in on the status bar so I rotated all the images. I then zipped the file back up keeping the name (framework-res.apk) and then pushed it back to phone (adb push <path to file on computer> /system/framework/framework-res.apk)
No problems occurred pushing the file to the phone. I then issued the reboot command from the sdk. The phone rebooted but I could not get past the HTC load screen. Any ideas on why this is and what I am doing wrong?

Don't re zip it. Use 7 zip, pull out the files you want to modify, while leaving the apk intact, modify, then use 7 zip to open (right click on the apk, go to 7 zip then open), navigate to the applicable res folder, drag and drop your modified files on top of the stock ones. Then push your modified apk. As for the launcher, look in system/app for launcher.apk (or he might be using adw)
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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

danaff37 said:
Don't re zip it. Use 7 zip, pull out the files you want to modify, while leaving the apk intact, modify, then use 7 zip to open (right click on the apk, go to 7 zip then open), navigate to the applicable res folder, drag and drop your modified files on top of the stock ones. Then push your modified apk. As for the launcher, look in system/app for launcher.apk (or he might be using adw)
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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dana I really want to thank you for your reply to my post. Since you were so awesome to help me out the first time maybe you can help me out a second time. I am not entirely sure what happened. I was able to modify the png files I wanted to and push the package back to the phone. All the changes were present last night. They were also present again this morning when I turned my phone on. Though here is the confusing part. I went to check my phone and something seemed different, after looking at my status bar more closely all the changes I made were gone. The battery indicatore had gone back to its original right facing image with a blue level metter. Do you know what could have caused this? Should I pull the package again to see of the png files reverted back some how (not sure how since I replaced them so not sure where they came from) and if so push the changes back?

BTW if its the sense launcher then the png's u want r in htcresources /Res/mdpi port. Also some r in Rosie app. If Modding the files open up app. Copy and paste Res file out to a place u can work on it. Mod the files. Drag and drop back into app. Either push files back to phone via adb or create a folder. Name it update inside folder create another folder...call it system. In that make another folder. Name it app the put the app or apps in there that u modded. Now back in update folder itself...go find a theme or mod someone else did and open it up with 7zip. Take the Meta file out of it and put it into the update folder. Zip up update folder via 7zip. Next find app on forum via a search called avabox. Dl it. If in a zip take out of zip. Open it. In there is a file called auto sign. Drag the update zip into the auto sign folder. Click on sign. Put new signed zip onto SF card(u can rename file now if u want). Go into recovery and flash the file. Reboot. LOL really it isn't hard

you may have to repush the file, then reboot to recovery and clear dalvik cache. It's reloading images from the cache

[GUIDE] How to make mymode themes

Well I haven't had much time lately to make themes but I figured i got enough time to explain how. This is how i do it in windows 7.
1) First thing i assume that you already have androidsdk on the root of your C drive. Lets go ahead and add it to your system path. If it's not called androidsdk go ahead and change it to that. Now open up your startmenu, right click computer, click properties, then click advanced system settings, in the advance system settings select environment variables. In the second box down look for path select it and choose edit. copy and paste this
Code:
;C:\androidsdk\tools
in there. Click okay.
2) download the jre and jdk from here and install them. Now you need to add them to your system path so copy paste this
Code:
;C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.6.0_20\bin
to your system path just like you did in the first step.
3) Download apk manager from here. Now run it and when it says clean out all current projects click yes. Now thats ready to go.
4) Download an image editing program. I use gimp. Also if you don't have it 7-zip
your all set to go now so lets start over with the numbers
1) choose a mymode apk and extract it with 7-zip. Open up the res folder select a png that you want to change and change it with the image editor you chose.
2) when you've changed the images you want open up the original apk as an archive with 7zip. Then place the res folder of the modified unzipped apk into the archive and close the archive.
3) Now open up apk manager and place the mymode apk into the place here for signing folder click script batch choose no then type 15.
4) Now put the newly signed apk into your androidsdk/tools folder and close apk manager.
5) open command prompt and type this
Code:
cd\
cd androidsdk/tools
adb install whatever.apk
I'll update this with pics a more thorough guide.
Thanks to everyone that made this easy

reserved for themes to come

Thanks been waiting for a thread like this.

thanks, if i ever get any free-time between jobs and kid and fiancee i will look into this a little more

This is an awesome guide! I messed around with theming mytouch/g1 back when I had one.. so this will be great to make some themes for the slide..
One question though.. let's say you pull the nest theme.. theme it and re install it.. will it just override the nest theme or in the theme listing will it appear as a new theme and still allow you to have the original theme?
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

ryanolson7 said:
One question though.. let's say you pull the nest theme.. theme it and re install it.. will it just override the nest theme or in the theme listing will it appear as a new theme and still allow you to have the original theme?
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The nest theme is in the framework, its not an .apk like the rest, its built into the system. The rest of the mymodes themes are .apks and if you edit those they will override the stock "nest" theme. The only way it will show up different in the theme chooser is if you edit the preview snapshot to be a preview of your theme. If you wanna keep the original theme, the nest theme is it and you should edit a different theme .apk...
-BMFC
Sent from my ROOTED MyTouch3G Slide

Okay so I got the next three days off and I already got two mymode themes pretty much done well their done but I just learned of a way to change the name so they are there own standalone apk instead of using another apk name. I've been using puppypride (which by the way isn't puppies those are full grown dogs) and switching out the pngs and you couldn't have the regular puppypride now you can have both

hope you don't mind but I did a mod of your themes and took out the bubbles since some people always create threads about it

Help with following guide
I am a newb at this so please don't attack me if I am doing something wrong. I have been struggling with following the guide posted to make mymode themes. I have successfully got up to the step of signing the apk file. I modified the files in the free_kick.apk. When I try to use APK Manager 4.8 and using the directions given the file just gets erased and nothing happens. My log file just shows errors. Any help with a more detailed directions one what to do in APK manager as I am trying different things and not getting anywhere. I use the option 15 like told in the guide. I can send my modified apk file to anyone if they can get this to work and get it installed that would be appreciated so much. I hope I can figure this out my own but thought I would try get help from the forums. Thanks in advance.

impimms said:
I am a newb at this so please don't attack me if I am doing something wrong. I have been struggling with following the guide posted to make mymode themes. I have successfully got up to the step of signing the apk file. I modified the files in the free_kick.apk. When I try to use APK Manager 4.8 and using the directions given the file just gets erased and nothing happens. My log file just shows errors. Any help with a more detailed directions one what to do in APK manager as I am trying different things and not getting anywhere. I use the option 15 like told in the guide. I can send my modified apk file to anyone if they can get this to work and get it installed that would be appreciated so much. I hope I can figure this out my own but thought I would try get help from the forums. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually the guide needs to be fixed a little because i'm guessing your getting compiling errors when using apk manager? But the best way to do this is to open up the mymode theme (using 7zip) as an archive delete meta-inf folder then replace the pngs with ones of your choice as long as they are the same scale. Then resign. and install

totally lost
I've followed these directions to a T and when it comes to using the apk manager i am getting nothing, please help

You guys that are having trouble with apk manager...its honestly not necessary to use Apk Manager for this. Mymodes themes are system .apks and shouldn't be re-signed. What you need to do is forget about apk manager (for now) and drop the UNsigned .apk into the ROM update you are using, and resign the whole ROM using the autosign tool created by jesusfreke. Or just adbpush the .apk. but don't resign the .apk.
Here's the link for the autosign tool to sign ROM updates. its in the THIRD POST and its auto-sign .zip, NOT the signing.zip in the first post. you can put it anywhere you want and you just drop (a copy of) your ROM update in the autosign folder, rename it update.zip, then run the sign.bat to sign. it will create another file, update-signed.zip. you shouldnt need to wipe when flashing the same ROM over itself, but i cant guarantee this is true for all ROMs.
you can also make an update that will only flash the .apk to /system/app, and nothing else will be changed. basically just make a copy of the update for the ROM youre using, then delete everything but the /system directory from the zip. then go into that /system directory and delete everything but the /app directory, then go into it and delete all the .apks and odex file or whatevers in there. ALL OF IT. when you are finished you should have an update with nothing in it but a /system/app directory. you put your modded .apk in there in /system/app, and thats it for that.
then you must edit the update script and remove MOST of its contents so that it only does what you want it to. THIS IS IMPORTANT! Go here to learn how to create an update script. what youll need is way simpler than the examples, youll want it to look basically like this...
Code:
assert compatible_with("0.2") == "true"
show_progress 0.1 0
copy_dir PACKAGE:system SYSTEM:
show_progress 0.1 10
this update script will copy ANYTHING in the /system directory to /system on your device, regardless of subdirectories. that means anything in /system will go in /system, anything in /system/app will go to /system/app, etc. but since you only have one .apk in there it wont mess with anything but what you put in there. this way, you have a NOWIPE update for...well, whatever you want to put in it.
so you just drop the new shortened update-script in /META-INF/com/google/android/
and then use the autosign tool to resign your new update then flash away! This also takes less time cus its only flashing one file instead of flashing a whole ROM just to replace that one file...
hope this helps...
-BMFC
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

So you cannot do this on t-mobile's rom which is 2.1 right now? I'm leery of rooting in case they ever release froyo

Tbrewer80 said:
So you cannot do this on t-mobile's rom which is 2.1 right now? I'm leery of rooting in case they ever release froyo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having issues with this as well... After I do the whole signing apk thing, it installs fine, but when I go to MyModes, the preview is black and when I select it, the MyModes app force closes. I don't get it.

Evdo icon to 3G

I have a (Sprint) HTC Hero rooted, running Fresh rom 2.3.3. I have read somewhere that people have managed to change the Ev-Do icon in the taskbar to say 3G. I know that it does not make a difference, but i would like to know if someone can post a step by step guide on how to do this.

It depends on the ROM. There is no other way of changing it unless there is a kernel out there that changes it. I have never heard of it.

Hi, I have managed to build a theme for this exact purpose. The attached file I posted is to be used with MetaMorph, which is downloaded from the Android Market, and you place the file onto your sd card, and choose new theme, and select it. Hit apply all and your EV-DO Icon will be changed to 3g, and the 6 Bars used to display signal will be reduced to 4 for a nicer appeal. I have tested it on Fresh 2.3.3 and it works great.

this should be in Q&A
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Thank you! Exactly what I needed. Had to install 3 times before it showed 3g icon but worth it. Can you show me exactly how you did it?
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Well I'm not much of a developer, but all I did was modify a metamorph theme for the sense taskbar. I made it into a zip file, and replaced the EvDo taskbar icons and the Status icons with the 3g ones, and then repacked it, so the 3g bars show up. Its pretty simple, glad I could help

jpp44345 said:
It depends on the ROM. There is no other way of changing it unless there is a kernel out there that changes it. I have never heard of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wut?
OP,
The icons are in com.htc.resources.apk in the res/mdpi folder. I also believe the 3G icons are in there as well, but you just have to pull them out and change the name. This also belongs in Q&A.

There is a metamorph on here in themes that will change nothing but the evdo to 3g. I can't upload the file from the phone but will try to upload it in a little while.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

VinceOB said:
Wut?
OP,
The icons are in com.htc.resources.apk in the res/mdpi folder. I also believe the 3G icons are in there as well, but you just have to pull them out and change the name. This also belongs in Q&A.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like vince said, that is where the icons are stored at. Once in there, all that's needed is a simple renaming. Rename the 3G icons to the EvDO icons, and the EvDO icons to the 3G icons. Now Android thinks it's displaying 3G icons, but it's really displaying the EvDO icons. Just think of it as fooling Android.
1. Unzip com.htc.resources.apk
2. Navigate into res/mdpi
3. Rename the 3G and EvDO icons as stated above
4. Drag them OUT of the unzipped folder.
5. Find the original, untouched com.htc.resources.apk (NOT unzipped)
6. Open com.htc.resources.apk as an ARCHIVE (not unzipping it!)
7. Navigate to res/mdpi inside of the archive
8. Drag the changed files into there
9. adb push the modified com.htc.resources.apk to your phone.

nilemann said:
There is a metamorph on here in themes that will change nothing but the evdo to 3g. I can't upload the file from the phone but will try to upload it in a little while.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you not see my post for that file already?

mrinehart93 said:
Like vince said, that is where the icons are stored at. Once in there, all that's needed is a simple renaming. Rename the 3G icons to the EvDO icons, and the EvDO icons to the 3G icons. Now Android thinks it's displaying 3G icons, but it's really displaying the EvDO icons. Just think of it as fooling Android.
1. Unzip com.htc.resources.apk
2. Navigate into res/mdpi
3. Rename the 3G and EvDO icons as stated above
4. Drag them OUT of the unzipped folder.
5. Find the original, untouched com.htc.resources.apk (NOT unzipped)
6. Open com.htc.resources.apk as an ARCHIVE (not unzipping it!)
7. Navigate to res/mdpi inside of the archive
8. Drag the changed files into there
9. adb push the modified com.htc.resources.apk to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could yall elaborate on how to execute the above instructions? Do I need something more than my phone and a computer? The instructions seem easy enough. Is it a matter of pulling files? Im new at that.
Id like to do this by the instructions above. Thank you.

tailsthecat3 said:
Could yall elaborate on how to execute the above instructions? Do I need something more than my phone and a computer? The instructions seem easy enough. Is it a matter of pulling files? Im new at that.
Id like to do this by the instructions above. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need sdk installed on your pc the open terminal go to where the androidb files are installed and type adb remount hit enter type adb pull system/framework/htc.resources. apk to where you want to file to go. Once you pulled the files you want to modify then follow the prior post steps.
Ex:
Adb remount
Adb pull system/framework/htc.resources.apk c:\desktop\themes\

chubbzlou said:
You need sdk installed on your pc the open terminal go to where the androidb files are installed and type adb remount hit enter type adb pull system/framework/htc.resources. apk to where you want to file to go. Once you pulled the files you want to modify then follow the prior post steps.
Ex:
Adb remount
Adb pull system/framework/htc.resources.apk c:\desktop\themes\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! How is easy is this?! Im gonna try this out as soon as I finish dl'ing some updates. Had to do my semi-annual xp pro reinstall...

tailsthecat3 said:
Thanks! How is easy is this?! Im gonna try this out as soon as I finish dl'ing some updates. Had to do my semi-annual xp pro reinstall...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could install xp or use a pc should be a piece of cake.
Check out how to create themes in the sticky should guide you better.

chubbzlou said:
If you could install xp or use a pc should be a piece of cake.
Check out how to create themes in the sticky should guide you better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, i pulled comhtcresources but thats as far as ive gotten...any help is appreciated, ill check that guide to see if the answer is there...thank you

tailsthecat3 said:
well, i pulled comhtcresources but thats as far as ive gotten...any help is appreciated, ill check that to see if the answer is there...thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All it takes is a basic knowledge and understanding of how to work with files.
Now that you've pulled it, I'd recommend downloading a program called 7zip. It is an EXTREMELY lightweight, fast, and flexible archive manager. It also integrates with Windows Explorer in the right-click menu (very useful).
With 7zip, extract the com.htc.resources.apk file just like you would a .zip file. Once inside, navigate to res/mdpi or similar folder (I'm not sure how HTC arranges their files... haven't used an HTC ROM in ages!). Once inside, look for the icons that you want to mess with. Copy the icons out, and then do your editing to them. Once they are edited, you need to find the ORIGINAL, unzipped com.htc.resources.apk file. Right click that, and then go to 7zip, then go to Open Archive. The file will now be OPEN, but not unzipped. Navigate in there to the folder location where you got the files that you modified from. Now drag the modified icons into that folder location. Congratulations, you just modified your phone by yourself!!
Now all that's left is to push the file back to your phone.
Code:
adb remount
adb push com.htc.resources.apk /system/framework
Some things to keep in mind, are that you must use the Open Archive method to modify the .apk itself, otherwise you will have to resign the file (pain in the ***). Every graphic -MUST- be a .png file. That's all I can really think of. Have fun

thank you veryvery much. im rebooting now. i hope i did it right. i have to go out now but ill be back for some more hacking. and questions if i messed it up. again, thanks all

Well, it worked. Thank you!
It really couldnt have been easier.
I prefer to change things like this within the system rather than having an app or something or other... what else can we change this way??

tailsthecat3 said:
Well, it worked. Thank you!
It really couldnt have been easier.
I prefer to change things like this within the system rather than having an app or something or other... what else can we change this way??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could create a whole new theme all the status bar icon, clocks, dialer ect. What ever you like to change just pull the apk's edit the png's and push them back. You can also pull all the apk's and edit them create a signed zip and load them via recovery.
Check out this Post it will help you out creating themes. Glad it worked out for you.
HAVE FUN

chubbzlou said:
You could create a whole new theme all the status bar icon, clocks, dialer ect. What ever you like to change just pull the apk's edit the png's and push them back. You can also pull all the apk's and edit them create a signed zip and load them via recovery.
Check out this Post it will help you out creating themes. Glad it worked out for you.
HAVE FUN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
another question... is there a way to change the signal bars to the fatter, fewer, shorter variety? is there the files already in there like the 3g files? thank you thank you

apks, zips, and hdpi - mdpi questions

Ok, just a few questions quick hdpi images for say a theme for bigger phone like the evo can they be tossed into a drawable-mdpi and be fine? Or do you have to go through them and resize them? My second question is regarding signing, I've got the htc kitchen running which seems to do fine so I'm using the AutoSign to sign my res folder which i zip'ed as framework-res.zip then signed using the AutoSign tool and renamed to framework-res.apk which I think is correct, but then I throw that into a presigned zip for a theme that I pulled apart using the htc kitchen and rebuild it and sign it and it should be good to go. It gave me some nonsense about an updater script and it can only make an update script. But when I tried flashing the rom it failed.
Basically I think I'm missing some parts of the puzzle if anyone who knows more about this than me could give me a pointer or two I'd be eternally grateful. Thanks.

I'm not sure if you have to resize the png images. I always do, however it takes a while so you may want to try doing it with the hdpi images. As far as signing goes some extract the apk and then edit the png's and then with 7zip use the open archive option and drop the png's into the zip. And then resign.
Here is what i do..
I extract the apk
Go in and make changes
Go back to the main folder where it has the META-INF, res, AndroidManifest, etc and select all of those and zip them. It should then name it (whatever_app_your changing).zip
I use the Auto-sign from Avabox and sign it. This should also change the extension to apk
When editiing an apk you want to make sure you keep everything as it is when rezipping and signing. Do not delete any folders.
To make a flashable zip you need an update script. If you pull apart a theme and look in it there should these folders META-INF\com\google\android. The update script is located in android. It tells it where to install everything and to show a progress bar. If you look in a theme you can easily see the strcuture and what needs to be zipped.

Thanks. Thats the missing step I think, I'm about to crash as I work nights and probably shouldn't be up yet lol, but when I get up I'm gonna test some more things out but I think thats what I needed to know. I've been trying to rezip everything so it fits back together when i should be pulling them out of the zip changing them and then putting them back in. I'll try it tomorrow lol when my brain works again. Thanks for the reply though.

ok first of all download 7zip
do not unzip the whole app
open the app with 7zip. take out the res file
edit the png files that you want
edit the .9 files that you want
use draw9patch that comes inside of android sdk folder
in draw9patch u put one dot on top one dot on left and full lines on bottom and right. thats the easy way. u can watch the right window to figure out what the results will be. play with it and you will get the hang of it.
download eclipse and set up eclipse and android sdk to work with android. there a number of instructions on how to do this. google in or search in xda
use eclipse to recompile the .9 files
if u r finding files in the hdmi files and want to use them u have to make sure they are the right size for our phones.
best guess is that if its from a different phone they are the wrong size. compare the size of the file to the mdmi folder and resize where needed.
when done editing the res file drag and drop it back into the app that is open in 7zip.
it can then be pushed via adb in the command promt by putting the apk in the tools folder of sdk and typing
make sure your in the directory of ur sdk/tools folder
adb remount
adb push (app name).apk system/app
(app name)=app for example facebook.apk
if u want to make it into a flashable update than you can put into a zipped file that im sure uve downloaded from here before. make sure its the only app in the folder and use avabox as described above.

Awesome thanks papasmurf, I think I figured out the big issue was having before and thats that I have to use 7zip to pull, edit, and replace files I want to change. the .9 stuff I haven't messed with yet but I've always known they are a bit of a pain in the ass. Gotta learn sooner or later lol. Thanks for the responses guys I'm gonna mess with this stuff and see where I get.
What are the rules on signing? Now if I'm in a framework-res.apk and pull and push some files do I need to sign it again?

PlagaDeRock said:
Awesome thanks papasmurf, I think I figured out the big issue was having before and thats that I have to use 7zip to pull, edit, and replace files I want to change. the .9 stuff I haven't messed with yet but I've always known they are a bit of a pain in the ass. Gotta learn sooner or later lol. Thanks for the responses guys I'm gonna mess with this stuff and see where I get.
What are the rules on signing? Now if I'm in a framework-res.apk and pull and push some files do I need to sign it again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While when building a rom it is sometimes but very rare to sign an app...when editing pngs and such there is no need to resign the app. ..also if u do have to resign an app u can't resign the Google ****s. They don't like work if u resign them cause the only way we have to resign with r with test keys. By resigning apps ur r messings with the manifest and there is about a 99.9% chance there is no need for it.
Its different if ur trying to flash an app via recovery. Then it has to be put into a zip file and signed. My suggestion is to find a basic mod that someone else already made a signed zip of and put ur app in it and take out the other mod. Just make sure u put it in the right folders. For example
Most apps go in /system/app
Framework and com.resources go in /system/framework
Uncanny make those folders and drop the app in there then drag to the zip or if those folders exist in the zip just drag the app in.
As long as its a mod zip the update script is prob just very basic and u don't have to mess with it. Just use avabox (search for it on xda) and drag the zip into to autosign folder inside of avabox. Rename it update and click k on the sign icon. After its done signing u delete the update file and can rename the update-signed file to what ever u like. Just remember if renaming that if u r using more than one word the u must add a _ between words rather than a space. For example
Gmail_signed.zip
Hope that helps a little
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Awesome. Just made my first flashable zip that worked. I'm almost finished porting over the sculpted theme from the evo section. Thanks for the help guys, its making way more sense now.

PlagaDeRock said:
Awesome. Just made my first flashable zip that worked. I'm almost finished porting over the sculpted theme from the evo section. Thanks for the help guys, its making way more sense now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anytime man. Just remember if ur changing even the size of a .9 file it has to be fixed as explained above. Only saying cause ur porting a theme from the evo and I'm sure there r .9 files in there
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Papa Smurf151 said:
Anytime man. Just remember if ur changing even the size of a .9 file it has to be fixed as explained above. Only saying cause ur porting a theme from the evo and I'm sure there r .9 files in there
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eclipse is intense. I think I downloaded the right one. I'm dead tired though so I'm gonna pick it up again tomorrow. I got enough of it together that it functions so I'm happy for now, but definitely going to have to work on the .9 files tomorrow lol.

PlagaDeRock said:
Eclipse is intense. I think I downloaded the right one. I'm dead tired though so I'm gonna pick it up again tomorrow. I got enough of it together that it functions so I'm happy for now, but definitely going to have to work on the .9 files tomorrow lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah eclipse is def overkill at times but when u get it set up its easy to just compile .9 files.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App