The purpose of this thread is not to pirate swiftkey 3, but to edit the keyboard to allow custom smilies and hotkeys. Using APKtool 1.5 HERE I can decompile with only 2 small errors, but cannot recompile. Ideally it would be nice to be able to just replace the applicative xml file that is customized into the app that will then be installed. However, recompiling fails, and replacing the xml does not allow the apk to be installed (even after resigned).
The underlying purpose here is to be able to convert xml from an apk to readable xml then reconvert into binary xml so that simple xml replacement can be achieved.
If it makes a difference, I downloaded swiftkey 3 from the amazon appstore. (I have a feeling that the amazon appstore has some sort of custom encrỳption)
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What does this do? Needs to be installed? Bionox V...thanks!
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framework-res.apk is the visual template for your phone's OS. It is not a universal app, it is typically different for each firmware/ROM. When you hear the words "theme" or "theming", its referring to changes made to framework-res.apk. It consists of a bunch of .pngs and .xmls that dictate your OS's appearance (i.e. notifications bar, progress bar, pulldown menu, etc.).
Your phone WILL NOT operate without this, nor will it operate if you make improper changes to your framework (i.e. install a theme that isnt compatible with a certain ROM). It does not need to be installed, because you already have it, otherwise your phone would not even turn on.
Cool. The reason I was asking is because I was wanting to change done png's. (specifically the color of the xda app icon) I wanted blue instead of orange. I'm just trying to figure out how to do this.
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"some" png's
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what you will have to do is extract the apk. you can use bitzipper or appmanager. (i would suggest bitzipper for simple .png edits, apk manager can be kind of buggy). simply open the .apk with bitzipper.....drag the "res" folder out onto your desktop. find the .png you want to edit. edit it. then drag the "res" folder back into framework-res.apk (it will automatically compress it for you.
once you make all of your changes, you will need to resign the app since its not a system app. you do this by first deleting the "meta-inf" folder. then you need to resign using any resigning tool.....i use this.......once you successfully sign it you can reinstall
Is it possible to use an APK decompiler and edit the UI of Spotify? I don't have an experience coding, but I'm sure I could figure it out.
Can anyone help?
Yes, the only problem is anytime you update the app, you will have to re apply any of the changes you make. Your simplest changes would be like any other app using the .png files, xml edits are a lot more complicated and more difficult to figure out with no/limited xml experience. I don't have that particular APK on hand at the movement, but open it up and look for the drawable folders in the res folder. These are going to be the simplest changes to make, you can swap or edit these .png files.
The purpose of this thread is not to pirate swiftkey 3, but to edit the keyboard to allow custom smilies and hotkeys. Using APKtool 1.5 HERE I can decompile with only 2 small errors, but cannot recompile. Ideally it would be nice to be able to just replace the applicative xml file that is customized into the app that will then be installed. However, recompiling fails, and replacing the xml does not allow the apk to be installed (even after resigned).
The underlying purpose here is to be able to convert xml from an apk to readable xml then reconvert into binary xml so that simple xml replacement can be achieved.
If it makes a difference, I downloaded swiftkey 3 from the amazon appstore. (I have a feeling that the amazon appstore has some sort of custom encrỳption)
Moved to Android General.
This question is to all the developers out there!
I am more of a graphics designer than a programmer.
I have very basic knowledge as far as programming and API's are concerned.
I know there are tools out there which can help you Compile and Recompile APKs, and I can do that without help,
but I was wondering if its possible to edit just the graphical elements of the app (say, change the app icon,or modify the typography, or color accents) without the need for changing a whole lot of the code?
If not, is it possible to learn how to do it in a short while?
I would love to modify to redesign a few open source apps and post it here for everyone else. ( Inspired by Android Design in Action )
shubhamsizzles said:
This question is to all the developers out there!
I am more of a graphics designer than a programmer.
I have very basic knowledge as far as programming and API's are concerned.
I know there are tools out there which can help you Compile and Recompile APKs, and I can do that without help,
but I was wondering if its possible to edit just the graphical elements of the app (say, change the app icon,or modify the typography, or color accents) without the need for changing a whole lot of the code?
If not, is it possible to learn how to do it in a short while?
I would love to modify to redesign a few open source apps and post it here for everyone else. ( Inspired by Android Design in Action )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is possible all you need this:
1 the app you wish to modify
2 an app called ninjamorph
A computer optional
And enough space on your phone to decompile on APK which isn't much
A way to save the app as an Apk on your phone ( ie titanium backup or the like)
Run ninjamorph I believe it has a tutorial with in and app if you need it very simple to use
It will decompile the APk of the app and then you can go into the product work space within ninjamorph and goto resources drawable depending on the app maybe drawable HPI just look through the folders then select the PNG you wish to modify and ninjamorph has ui to change right there on your phone or you can connect your phone to a computer and transfer the PNG file you wish to modify to the computer and modify it there then replace it and in the exact location you found it (with the same name names are I believe case sensitive) and use ninjamorph to recompile the apk, uninstall the old apk (if installed before hand) and install the new Apk and there you go should work
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moving to q&a
if u only need to modify image files open apk from winrar, edit it and save.
Can I also change stuff like screen margins, fonts etc. this way? I'm guessing no. Right?
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Is it really that tough? Any suggestions?
shubhamsizzles said:
Is it really that tough? Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you cant change the margins and fonts that way. You will have to edit the layout of the app by decompiling it and changing the XMLs and maybe some smali coding changes.
question in title. I mean things like the SMS app, dialer, etc. I love the work people are doing with them (dark themes and whatnot) and was just curious as to how they do it. Can be technical, I feel comfortable with all the "android jargon" lol
You'll need something to decompile your apps. If you are working on odex files you'll need to deodex first. Once you decompile your app it'll be broken into 2 folders project and project-smali. You'll focus on the project folder -or- where the folder "res" is.
In there is drawable folders in various DPIs. Those contain the picture files you can edit. Some of the background colors, text colors, and placement of items will be controlled inside of the various XML files.
While in there you could also look around at potential mods in the bools.xml and you COULD remove some of the extra languages if you want to lean it out.
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Dubbsy said:
You'll need something to decompile your apps. If you are working on odex files you'll need to deodex first. Once you decompile your app it'll be broken into 2 folders project and project-smali. You'll focus on the project folder -or- where the folder "res" is.
In there is drawable folders in various DPIs. Those contain the picture files you can edit. Some of the background colors, text colors, and placement of items will be controlled inside of the various XML files.
While in there you could also look around at potential mods in the bools.xml and you COULD remove some of the extra languages if you want to lean it out.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have sorta played around with them and whatnot and have seen the res folder. so when you go and replace the images and everything, how do you recompile so that they will install fine? I'm rooted of course so I can put them in system and set permissions
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I've found it works best to recompile it using whichever tool you prefer. If it doesn't install nicely you can open the apk with 7zip and pull the compiled images and xml files out to use in either a vrtheme installer or you can open up the stock apk with 7z and copy them in.
There are tons of ways to do things. :good:
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that is what I am starting to realize I may start playing around with it. thank you for the help, really! this is what makes XDA rule so much. :thumbup:
No problem buddy. Everyone has to start somewhere
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Dubbsy said:
No problem buddy. Everyone has to start somewhere
sent from my GE gs4
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one more question, might not pertain to you...what is the best/easiest way to sign an apk after editting it? i am using a macbook pro by the way
coltonwood said:
one more question, might not pertain to you...what is the best/easiest way to sign an apk after editting it? i am using a macbook pro by the way
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Click to collapse
I generally don't sign mine. If i themed something that wasn't mine and it could potentially be updated i would want the update to fail due to mismatching signatures in order to keep my theme.
But a way to keep the same signature is to recompile your work, open the new one with 7zip and copy the compiled pngs, xmls, and arsc file at root from the new one and over write the stock one's files using 7zip again. That'll change everything but leave the signature.
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Dubbsy said:
I generally don't sign mine. If i themed something that wasn't mine and it could potentially be updated i would want the update to fail due to mismatching signatures in order to keep my theme.
But a way to keep the same signature is to recompile your work, open the new one with 7zip and copy the compiled pngs, xmls, and arsc file at root from the new one and over write the stock one's files using 7zip again. That'll change everything but leave the signature.
sent from my GE gs4
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ohhhhhhhh okay that makes sense! okay here is a question that could be getting away from the theming, im not sure:
i was playing around with textra (the sms app) just changing the png's to look like ios 7 (lol just for testing). I decompiled, changed some png's, and then recompiled (using apktool). It created a new textra.apk that i then transferred to my phone. i deleted my current textra and installed my new one (successfully) and i can tell my theming worked from a test sms they send you. but when i try to compose a new message, Textra force closes. I rebooted and everything to make sure. Do you think this would be from my attempt at theming, or would it have to do with signing at all? this is where i am really lost lol, considering it installed and everything fine.