[Q] Editing Gapps - Motorola Photon 4G

Hey guys im flashing joker's cm9 beta. With this you have to flash gapps. This is all working great with no complaints. However, I was wondering how I would edit the gapps file to so that I can add in some apps that I like to use ie Titanium back up, root explore....
I have tried unzipping the file and adding in the the apps to the /system/app folder. However after flashing the gapps while the app is there it will crash when i try to run it. If install from the apk over it, then the programs work fine.
Thanks for the help!

Bit_Reaper said:
Hey guys im flashing joker's cm9 beta. With this you have to flash gapps. This is all working great with no complaints. However, I was wondering how I would edit the gapps file to so that I can add in some apps that I like to use ie Titanium back up, root explore....
I have tried unzipping the file and adding in the the apps to the /system/app folder. However after flashing the gapps while the app is there it will crash when i try to run it. If install from the apk over it, then the programs work fine.
Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There will have to be some codework done in order for it to actually install, you cant just toss some apks in there. AFAIK atleast.. I personally would just backup all your apps with TI and then all you have to do is install TI and restore them all. Its how I personally do it. If your hellbent on having them there on your first flash you *might* be able to put them in the /system/apps folder of the actual rom before flashing. Not 100% sure that'd do the trick but ive installed a few apps that way myself.

w0lf215 said:
There will have to be some codework done in order for it to actually install, you cant just toss some apks in there. AFAIK atleast.. I personally would just backup all your apps with TI and then all you have to do is install TI and restore them all. Its how I personally do it. If your hellbent on having them there on your first flash you *might* be able to put them in the /system/apps folder of the actual rom before flashing. Not 100% sure that'd do the trick but ive installed a few apps that way myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edit: I tried this but with no luck. I even tried rebooting to see if that would help and it did not. Does anyone know of a guide how to create gapps or how to edit a build of one?
Yeah, that's what I have been doing with TI. It would just be faster if it was already there and I wouldn't have to navigate to it. Install and then have it install all my apps. I will try putting the apps in the rom and see if that works. I was hoping there was some tutorial on how to make your own gapps or how to edit an existing one. It would have been awesome if there was a program that made the gapps for you haha.

I'd like to know as well. I am about to try the rom thing myself, but it would be quite handy to add into the gapps file and use it instead of the rom, then I could switch roms and still have gapps file with my chosen installs without having to adjust each rom file and just adjusting a single file for all.
update:
I tried adding apps to the rom zip file and for whatever reason I can't add to it. I can remove from it, just not add to it.

That happens with certain zips. Extract the zip, add in the files you want and zip it again at the root folder level (select all the folders and send to compressed zip folder in Windows). That's how I always do it to avoid errors if I want to add anything to a zip.
Take a look here to learn how to make your own flashable zips - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=31624265
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

easyrider77 said:
I'd like to know as well. I am about to try the rom thing myself, but it would be quite handy to add into the gapps file and use it instead of the rom, then I could switch roms and still have gapps file with my chosen installs without having to adjust each rom file and just adjusting a single file for all.
update:
I tried adding apps to the rom zip file and for whatever reason I can't add to it. I can remove from it, just not add to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you have to do is open it with 7zip. Youll be able to drag/drop as you please.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium

Related

[Q] make custom app pack for flashing

So I'm pretty sure im not the only one who has asked but after searching i couldn't find a guide that helped explaind how to actually make one.
Is there a guide that helps me make a custom zip to flash favorite apps that i always install after a flash. That way i can flash my favorite apps with out the need of a data connection.
2nd follow up ?-
Can i flash user settings like wifi logins?
3rd?-
If i flash from Sense ROM to an AOSP can i still you backups like Titanium to restore apps and user settings or does it have to be Sense to Sense.
You should only restore data from sense to sense or asop to aosp. Not from one to the other. You can install apps with titanium with or without data. I highly recommend you never restore system data. It has a habit of screwing **** up sometimes. And as to your first question. It would be fairly straightforward to build a flashable zip with any apps you want. Actually what I did was use a cwm backup and used it to create a flashable zip that I can restore. I just named it update.zip and choose apply update.zip from recovery and I'm back up. If you build up a ROM how you like it. The way you want it to be on every flash I can convert it for you. Just need to zip up the backup and pm me a dl link for it. Then u can have your own flashable custom ROM.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Artanis said:
So I'm pretty sure im not the only one who has asked but after searching i couldn't find a guide that helped explaind how to actually make one.
Is there a guide that helps me make a custom zip to flash favorite apps that i always install after a flash. That way i can flash my favorite apps with out the need of a data connection.
2nd follow up ?-
Can i flash user settings like wifi logins?
3rd?-
If i flash from Sense ROM to an AOSP can i still you backups like Titanium to restore apps and user settings or does it have to be Sense to Sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) When I'm looking for Edify syntax to clarify I have it memorized correctly, I usually google the terms, Edify syntax android and you'll find there are tons of guides on how to write the Edify syntax which operates an update .zip file.
2) Good question. I'm sure you could copy this setting file to your sdcard. Whenever you needed to, you could probably copy the settings from your sdcard back to the /data partition. Be aware that going from Sense to AOSP there *might* be issues, but if everything works, you copy over one file and it stops working, should be easy to figure out what caused the issue.
3)If you're restoring 3rd party apps from one ROM to another, usually 3rd party apps will work. These are basically .apk files all stored in /data/app. You can also manually do this by copying the /data/app directory to your sdcard, switch ROMs and then copy the apk files back.
If you're also interested in keeping the 3rd party app settings, they are stored in /data/data . Copying back this directory is slightly different than copying back the .apk files as the Android package manager assigns user and group permissions to the /data/data directories which need to match the apk file.
If you modify the user/group permissions to match the new assigned permissions via the package manager, there shouldnt be any problems!
Hope that helps!

--(Tool)-- CustomSuperZipBuilder/Batch apk installer. Please post your requests.

Ok I'm building this out some more. I added to the bottom of this post with future changes and am asking for requests of what the community wants in a this. Please read entire op. It's not that long yet..... Yet. Lol. It will be I forgot to nab a couple for changelog. I will get on Ubuntu and format this for the site but I'm on tapatalk til that happens.
So..
How many times have you flashed a new ROM or an update and had to go through the hassle of reinstalling or restoring all your must have apps? I usually have about 60 to 80 apps that I was installing/restoring with titanium backup. It's a pain. You gotta sign into Google and go DL titanium backup or whatever app you use. Wait while it installs all your apps. That, I guess, is if you have TiBu pro, if not its one by one. A painstaking process to say the least.
Well I was sick of it so I did something about it. I made a flashable zip you can add your apps to and flash from recovery to bulk install as many apps as you like all at once.
Here is a simple but endlessly useful tool I whiped up. What this allows the user to do is take any amount of apk files that you want (granted you have enough room) and restore them in a painless onetime flash from recovery.
Simple to use. Just follow this quick guide to get started.
Step 1. Download the file at the bottom of this post. Save it to your SD card wherever you can remember where it is.
Step 2. Using root explorer extract the zip folder to wherever you want to, I recomend makeing a temp folder to work in.
Step 3. Using root explorer or astro file manager navigate to your data/app folder.
Step 4. Start a multiple selection and choose all apps that you would like from your data/app folder to be automatically flashed back to your device next time you need to do so.
Step 5 COPY don't MOVE your selections to the data/app folder of the bulk-installerV1 that you extracted earlier.
Step 5.5 At this time if you have other apks you want to use that are not in there already now is your chance to get them in there as well.
Step 6. Rezip with root explorer or astro. And if you so choose rename the zip to update.zip and place on the root of your sd card. Or leave the original name if you prefer.
That's all, now next time you flash a new ROM or wipe your data and want your base apps back all you need to do is flash it from recovery. Or if you renamed it to update.zip and put in sdcard root you can choose apply sdcard update.zip and it will do it thing.
I have tested this on my evo3d and it works great, I wrote it on my phone with root explorers file editor so I made sure to test it with both twrp and cwm5.
***Disclaimer***
As always if it makes your phone do crazy things or kicks your dog. Or steals your wallet. Well that sucks. Sorry.
***Disclaimer***
If you find it useful remember to hit the thanks button.
Hope you all enjoy it, and I hope it makes life a bit easier for you all.
Download link.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nwodh0grer1rdhf/bulk-installerV1.zip
FAQ..
alammori said:
Does that restore your apps and data or just the apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it will not save data of any sort. Next version I will see about writing some more to the updater to be able to add data to. That's more reading. This is my first albiet simple script, and ill add to it for sure. However you can put TiBu in the update folder and when you boot up it'll be a few seconds extra to restore just data for certain apps instead of the whole app.
Update...
I'm working on building my "superzip". I will update the op when I get there.
But expected additions are..
Incorporate init.d path for custom scripts.
system/app option.
Cleanup after flash (cache and dalvik)
Path for themes, add what you want.
Two versions also, one with system tweaks from our awesome devs. I'm currently building it and asking permissions to bake in stuff from certain developers and various mods and tweaks from various developers on xda. I want to add the stuff. But further, I would ask everyone what tweaks they might want written in. Please throw stuff out and ill get to putting this together.
Till then.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
nice bro ill have to give this a shot......
i was just thinking about this. this is really the only reason i'm not more flash happy. going through the hassle of restoring my apps has been the main reason i havent been trying out all the evo 3d roms lately. i will definitely give this a try. thank you.
Awesome!
Now if you could create something similar that would place all of my non-Sense Widgets back on my homescreens in their proper places I would be your friend forever
Thanks man I have been using it LOL I just rewrite the update script to show what it was and who made it. Decided to share it. I hope people find it useful
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
mitchellvii said:
Awesome!
Now if you could create something similar that would place all of my non-Sense Widgets back on my homescreens in their proper places I would be your friend forever
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish I new where to even start on that LOL. Sorry
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Thanks. Downloading now and will give it a try my next flash : )
Does that restore your apps and data or just the apps?
alammori said:
Does that restore your apps and data or just the apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Added a FAQ section to OP the answer is there.
Once you use this respond with your thoughts guys. Much appreciated.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Awesome, thanks for this. Seems to be the simplest way of restoring apps. My girlfriend on the other hand does not appreciate it bc your feeding my flashing addiction lol
I think i will create two of them, one for Sense roms and the other for AOSP. =)
I use the same setup for both but all my apps are pretty much compatible with both sense and aosp. Remember no data goes just fresh apps on a fresh ROM. Simple and as custom as you make it.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
mikedavis120 said:
I use the same setup for both but all my apps are pretty much compatible with both sense and aosp. Remember no data goes just fresh apps on a fresh ROM. Simple and as custom as you make it.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tend to use a lot more apks on aosp because of theme builder themes, go launcher and go sms themes, and certain apps to replace sense widgets.
It worked beautifully. Thanks. That temp file is still in the extracted section of root explorer. So in the future as I am adding more apps can I just put them in there and rezip? also I renamed the temp file to update and I had to flash it. Thats not a problem but it sounded like changing the name to update would give an easier way to install. How does that work? Either way I'll be using this from now on. It kind of reminds me of the sashimi days( I think that is what it was called) from windows mobile
mjcole2003 said:
It worked beautifully. Thanks. That temp file is still in the extracted section of root explorer. So in the future as I am adding more apps can I just put them in there and rezip? also I renamed the temp file to update and I had to flash it. Thats not a problem but it sounded like changing the name to update would give an easier way to install. How does that work? Either way I'll be using this from now on. It kind of reminds me of the sashimi days( I think that is what it was called) from windows mobile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I usually do. Just keep a working directory going. Glad it worked for you.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
DL link not working... thx !
vizionforever said:
DL link not working... thx !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Second thing I've tried to download from dropbox and it said 404. May be dropbox.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
vizionforever said:
DL link not working... thx !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
speedracerbubba said:
Second thing I've tried to download from dropbox and it said 404. May be dropbox.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here you go:
I actually did this with a gapps flashable... Remived all google apps and added root explorer and TiBu...
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
MFD00M said:
Awesome, thanks for this. Seems to be the simplest way of restoring apps. My girlfriend on the other hand does not appreciate it bc your feeding my flashing addiction lol
I think i will create two of them, one for Sense roms and the other for AOSP. =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The simplest way is just restoring the data partition from recovery. It restores both the apps and the associated data, so you don't lose anything.
btw, nice work, just not for me, too much work for such little return.
mikedavis120 said:
Ok I'm building this out some more. I added to the bottom of this post with future changes and am asking for requests of what the community wants in a this. Please read entire op. It's not that long yet..... Yet. Lol. It will be I forgot to nab a couple for changelog. I will get on Ubuntu and format this for the site but I'm on tapatalk til that happens.
So..
How many times have you flashed a new ROM or an update and had to go through the hassle of reinstalling or restoring all your must have apps? I usually have about 60 to 80 apps that I was installing/restoring with titanium backup. It's a pain. You gotta sign into Google and go DL titanium backup or whatever app you use. Wait while it installs all your apps. That, I guess, is if you have TiBu pro, if not its one by one. A painstaking process to say the least.
Well I was sick of it so I did something about it. I made a flashable zip you can add your apps to and flash from recovery to bulk install as many apps as you like all at once.
Here is a simple but endlessly useful tool I whiped up. What this allows the user to do is take any amount of apk files that you want (granted you have enough room) and restore them in a painless onetime flash from recovery.
Simple to use. Just follow this quick guide to get started.
Step 1. Download the file at the bottom of this post. Save it to your SD card wherever you can remember where it is.
Step 2. Using root explorer extract the zip folder to wherever you want to, I recomend makeing a temp folder to work in.
Step 3. Using root explorer or astro file manager navigate to your data/app folder.
Step 4. Start a multiple selection and choose all apps that you would like from your data/app folder to be automatically flashed back to your device next time you need to do so.
Step 5 COPY don't MOVE your selections to the data/app folder of the bulk-installerV1 that you extracted earlier.
Step 5.5 At this time if you have other apks you want to use that are not in there already now is your chance to get them in there as well.
Step 6. Rezip with root explorer or astro. And if you so choose rename the zip to update.zip and place on the root of your sd card. Or leave the original name if you prefer.
That's all, now next time you flash a new ROM or wipe your data and want your base apps back all you need to do is flash it from recovery. Or if you renamed it to update.zip and put in sdcard root you can choose apply sdcard update.zip and it will do it thing.
I have tested this on my evo3d and it works great, I wrote it on my phone with root explorers file editor so I made sure to test it with both twrp and cwm5.
***Disclaimer***
As always if it makes your phone do crazy things or kicks your dog. Or steals your wallet. Well that sucks. Sorry.
***Disclaimer***
If you find it useful remember to hit the thanks button.
Hope you all enjoy it, and I hope it makes life a bit easier for you all.
Download link.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nwodh0grer1rdhf/bulk-installerV1.zip
FAQ..
No it will not save data of any sort. Next version I will see about writing some more to the updater to be able to add data to. That's more reading. This is my first albiet simple script, and ill add to it for sure. However you can put TiBu in the update folder and when you boot up it'll be a few seconds extra to restore just data for certain apps instead of the whole app.
Update...
I'm working on building my "superzip". I will update the op when I get there.
But expected additions are..
Incorporate init.d path for custom scripts.
system/app option.
Cleanup after flash (cache and dalvik)
Path for themes, add what you want.
Two versions also, one with system tweaks from our awesome devs. I'm currently building it and asking permissions to bake in stuff from certain developers and various mods and tweaks from various developers on xda. I want to add the stuff. But further, I would ask everyone what tweaks they might want written in. Please throw stuff out and ill get to putting this together.
Till then.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the link down bro

[Q] Error when flashing

I'm not sure if this was asked before but, if so, please take your trolling elsewhere. Whenever I download a custom rom I always try to customize it to my needs, like remove apps I don't think are needed and add apps I want to be installed at the time of flashing. However, after I unziz the rom, remove/add the files, rezip and try to flash I ALWAYS get an 'Instillation Aborted' error. I just want to know if there are steps I'm missing when putting the file together that's causing it to be corrupted or something? :S
I believe there's a script in the zip that would need altering if you add/takeaway files, someone correct me if im wrong. Otherwise i'd do that after installing the rom with titanium backup.
frigers said:
I'm not sure if this was asked before but, if so, please take your trolling elsewhere. Whenever I download a custom rom I always try to customize it to my needs, like remove apps I don't think are needed and add apps I want to be installed at the time of flashing. However, after I unziz the rom, remove/add the files, rezip and try to flash I ALWAYS get an 'Instillation Aborted' error. I just want to know if there are steps I'm missing when putting the file together that's causing it to be corrupted or something? :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just use program 7zip to "open" archive. Delete from within and save on exit.
Do NOT "extract" or unzip.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Oh ok. I think the unzipping was my problem. Thank you. Hope this helps someone
No worries, if it works, just hit thanks when you have time. Happy flashing
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

[Q] Apps adding to ROM before flashing

Hello,
I would like to try one of the FishmanMod ROM but would like to add my own apps into the FishmanMod ROM. Can I just copy them into /system/app and they will get installed when I flash the ROM?
The_Toggle
Vibrant - Droid Razr - FishmanMod (for example)
The_Toggle said:
Hello,
I would like to try one of the FishmanMod ROM but would like to add my own apps into the FishmanMod ROM. Can I just copy them into /system/app and they will get installed when I flash the ROM?
The_Toggle
Vibrant - Droid Razr - FishmanMod (for example)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get 7zip if you don't have it. Use 7zip to "open" the rom, not extract it.
Copy the .apk's to /system/app or data/app whatever's appropriate, then close the zip. Be aware some apps have dependent files or are dependent on the framework so they might not work.
Thanks, will give it a spin!
So technically, I can use all the .apks from my titanium backup save, and put them into system/app and have it all flash pretty quick >10 minutes and be good?
Just curious seems like a better idea than
Flashing ROM
Waiting for first boot
setup wifi
going to market to find and install titanium backup
waiting for everything to finish restoring after 20 minutes
etc.
Not sure about that bc of some variables with the services.jar and framework-res files but for generic apps like Angry Birds or something like that it seems like it should work. Batch restore suck with TB and usually cause more problems than worth it, so this could be a better option for that.
I am piece some theme parts for a Froyo build and was thinking of trying this out.
Tip for you buddy. Make a flashable zip of Titanium and you can flash it right after your ROM as either a /system or /data app. Then when your ROM boots up, launch it, search for your back up folder, restore your pro key and away you go without ever logging into the market. I do this all the time.
Love your new signature btw.
I've been doing this for a while now, but I do it with root explorer. I extract the ROM onto my SD, replace the mms.apk, and add a few others in system/app, then rezip, and flash. Haven't tried putting anything like TB in data/app, but probably will now.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5

[Q] Customizing CyanogenMod 10.2 prior to installing

As the topic states, there are a bunch of prebundled apps that come with cyanogen I'd like to remove & replace (listed below); is it as simple as removing them from the .zip and adding the ones I want? Or is there more to it?
Also the apps I want to add, can I also include their backup data from the /data folder or does that have to be done after?
I think its just as simple as, extracting the zip files, removing the apks, and adding the ones I want, then repacking the zip?
Replace:
- Apollo with Poweramp
- Trebeck (or w/e it is) with Nova Prime
- AOSP Keyboard with SwiftKeyboard
- a custom kernel (just copy/replace the kernel zips files with whatever comes in cyanogens zip?)
- some others, but you get the gist
Remove:
- DSP Manager
- Exchange Services
- Email
- News & Weather
- some others (I know about the list(s) of safe apps to delete [1][2])
Add:
- Fonts
- Apps that I always install on a fresh install (Titanium Backup, Busybox, ROM Toolbox, etc)
I know about This Thread explaining how to build your own ROM, but I feel like that is more complicated process for (what seems simple) what I want to do.
BUMP
Bumping this question
I have done this with mr-cook's cooked ROM but have never tried it on a cm one. Sammy roms you just cut and paste the apk into the preload folder. I don't see why couldn't do that with the gapps zip. If it doesn't work you can just wipe and start over.
Also you can use titanium back up pro to do the same thing within the ROM
razen_kain said:
I have done this with mr-cook's cooked ROM but have never tried it on a cm one. Sammy roms you just cut and paste the apk into the preload folder. I don't see why couldn't do that with the gapps zip. If it doesn't work you can just wipe and start over.
Also you can use titanium back up pro to do the same thing within the ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would put them in the /preload folder? i thought i would put them with the other .apks (/system/app/)?
ksaul said:
i would put them in the /preload folder? i thought i would put them with the other .apks (/system/app/)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is if you were using a Samsung based ROM. I don't think cm will be the same but like i said you can try it.
On a Samsung ROM it would need to be placed in preload/symlink/system/app in the zip file before you flash it. I don't think cm has this file.
You could try putting it in the system app file But like i said if it doesn't work, the worst thing that could happen is the ROM doesn't flash, doesn't boot, or it boots and you get a bunch of fc of apps. All you have to do is wipe and start over.
ksaul said:
is it as simple as removing them from the .zip and adding the ones I want?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
ksaul said:
Also the apps I want to add, can I also include their backup data from the /data folder or does that have to be done after?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not as easy as the apps as it would require changes to the updater script. Plus it could cause issues.
ksaul said:
I think its just as simple as, extracting the zip files, removing the apks, and adding the ones I want, then repacking the zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually your better off if you just use 7zip or WinRAR and open the zip instead of extract it. Navigate to the system apps folder and delete or add what your need to. It's as simple as drag and drop.
ksaul said:
Add:
- Fonts
- Apps that I always install on a fresh install (Titanium Backup, Busybox, ROM Toolbox, etc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fonts I have no clue. These apps would require changes to the updater script to put them in data where they belong.
Sent from my SGH-S959G
mr-cook said:
Yes.
Not as easy as the apps as it would require changes to the updater script. Plus it could cause issues.
Actually your better off if you just use 7zip or WinRAR and open the zip instead of extract it. Navigate to the system apps folder and delete or add what your need to. It's as simple as drag and drop.
The fonts I have no clue. These apps would require changes to the updater script to put them in data where they belong.
Sent from my SGH-S959G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great thank you mr-cook!
and the .apks that i put in the system/app folder, (specifically Nova launcher), i put the install .apk correct, as thats the only .apk i have for it.
And I also want to replace Browser.apk with Chrome; same procedure as the rest?
I guess its really just a trial-and-run scenario instead of asking questions... best way to learn
for those curious, or come across the same question: it worked out perfectly.
As far as the fonts go, I just added them to the system/fonts folder- worked as planned!

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