Skinning How-to

[Stericson]

To create themes, or to edit themes to your liking, you will need a working knowledge of android, adb, how to resign apk's, knowledge of your own O/S.


Things you will need:

You will need JF's RC30, RC8, or ADP1 V1.3, depending on what version you intend to create for.

Here is the link to these: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=466174

You will also want to get the dev bootloader installed on your phone and to HIGHLY suggest everyone trying your theme to install it as well.

Link to dev bootloader: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=455860

Link to Java: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

Downloading SDK: http://code.google.com/android/intro/installing.html

You can also use any zipping archive to extract files from and to the update.zips. I believe there are links below to some of these.

You will also need to resign all the apks located in /system/app and framework-res.apk located in /system/framework.


However, the easiest way to do it, although not always the best and safest way, is to take another update and edit it to your liking.

You will however have to sign your update.zip files and you SHOULD get in the practice of signing every apk that you edit. Sometimes you can get away with not signing the apks.

JesusFreke was kind enough to build a custom signing tool for me that would allow me to right click on an apk and resign it from there. I am posting it here for others to use as well. Note that this is a courtesy of JF, so thank him for it. I cannot stress how much time this has saved me and will save you.


Automatic version!


Note, this will not work if your SDK or the path that you place this in has any spaces in the dir name!
An Example of this is c:\users\Nikki and Stephen\sdk\tools
Try to put the SDK and the contents of the zip in a dir where the names are all together and not like the one above.

I have made a batch file that will automate the entire process of setting up to use the signing tool made by JF. This batch file will set the CLASSPATH, set the PATH, install the registries, and will even allow you to sign files manually if you wish. I plan on building onto this batch file to include other things. However, for the moment, it will only include what you see here.

In order to use this you should have downloaded the sdk already. Simply extract all of the files into the tools dir of your sdk, and run autosign.bat follow the instructions and go through the options one by one, starting with 1 working through 4. You can however, put the contents of this zip anywhere on your computer and it will work. It is just better to put them into the tools dir of your SDK. Especially for the consideration of future versions.

Autosign .zip: http://www.fightforthepits.com/Androidstuff/signing.zip

Want to set up the signing tool manually?

Here is the link for the signing tool: Http://www.FightForthePits.com/testsign(2).zip

Before using this you need to know how to set this up:

Now you will need to add the tools dir of your sdk to the environment variable CLASSPATH.

FOR XP:

Right click on My Computer click properties, then choose the tab that says advanced.
Click the button that says environmental variables.
Go to system variables find the one that says CLASSPATH
double click it
go to the end of variable value.
There should be a semicolon ; at the end, type in the path to the testsign.jar located in the tools directory of your SDK

for example the path to my testsign.jar was c:\sdk\android-sdk-windows-1.0_r1\tools\testsign.jar

If CLASSPATH is not in your system variables then create it.
Secondly, Find the system variable called PATH and add to the end of it, the full path to your sdk directory.

For example, mine was c:\sdk\android-sdk-windows-1.0_r2\tools

FOR VISTA:

Open a cmd prompt.

Replace THEEXACTPATHTO-TESTSIGN with the path to the dir that holds the file testsign.jar.


Type:
echo %CLASSPATH%

If it is returns %CLASSPATH%
Type the following:
set CLASSPATH=THEXACTPATHTO-TESTSIGN\testsign.jar


If it comes back with something else then
Type the following:
set CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%;.;THEXACTPATHTO-TESTSIGN\testsign.jar


For Example, when I type this it looks like:
set CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%;.;c:\Android\SDK\tools\tests ign.jar

To set the PATH

Replace THEEXACTPATHTO-SDK with the path to the tools dir of your SDK.

Now type:

set PATH=%PATH%;.;THEXACTPATHTO-SDK\tools


For example, when I type this out it looks like this:

path-%PATH%;.;c:\Android\SDK\tools


Now through doing this you have done two things, first off you have made the resigning process extremely easy, secondly you will not have to cd to the tools dir of the sdk to use adb or any other tool in the sdk.


Signing the Files:

Now right click the reg file that you extracted and choose to install it, or merge.

Now, right click an apk, do you see an option that says ResignApk? That's how you will resign your .apks and .zips.

When you choose it a cmd window should open for a few seconds and then close. the file you signed will be overwritten with the new resigned file.

If you find the right click menu not working for some reason you can type the following in cmd to sign your files: java testsign whateverfiletosign


General Info:

You will need to be specific in addressing what version your theme is for, RC8, RC30, or ADP1. Make sure every file gets signed. Make sure you test the update.zip before you release it.



Every .apk contains the images relating to itself. However, every apk has the ability to use the images in framework-res.apk. The images for every apk is located inside of itself. To find these images open up the apk, you can rename it to .zip or open it with an archiver of your choice, winrar, winace, etc. Then after opening the apk open the folder called res and inside of that there are folders that are named Drawable, drawable-land, drawable-port, etc. This is where the images are stored.

There are some things you cannot edit unless you rebuild the entire apk from source, which we will not go into here.(another tutorial, another time) Just know that at this time you SHOULD NOT edit, or even open images with the extension .9.png.

If you do you can have serious problems...Trust me....if your still gonna do it, proceed with caution!

These are special images called ninepatch images and android resizes these images to fit wherever android, or any other apk, needs it to. if you do open them or edit them they will no longer render correctly when resized. I believe that in order to edit these you must do so and then put them into the source and rebuild the entire apk.

If your going to build your own update.zip from scratch:

Before getting started you must also realize that you cannot simply resign one or two apk's and stick them in your phone and expect them to work. You must resign every apk inside of /system/app and framework-res.apk and put them on your phone at the same time.

To simplify this process for you though, I have provided an empty update.zip which you can place all of your resigned apps into and use to update your phone to your custom theme. You can also download someonelses theme and use there files, since they are resigned already. It may also be easier to see what files do what and go where since they have already been edited and are easy to point out.


Now, your ready to start changing things up.

You will now need to open the apk, which you can do by adding .zip after .apk, effectively changing it to a zip. or you can use your favorite archive opener.

I dont use the archive process because it can lead to very aggravating problems such as things not getting signed correctly and have heard reports of it interfering with the signing tool above. Anyways I just add zip and it works great for me.

For those renaming the .apk's to .zips

Note that if you are using windows you will need to unhide known file extension types. you can also use your favorite archiver such as winrar, winzip, etc.

See here to unhide known file extension types for Xp: http://www.mediacollege.com/microsof...on-change.html

See here to unhide file extension types for Vista: http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-v...ile-extension/


Tips:

After opening the apk copy the folder called res.
Go to your desktop, or wherever, create a new folder called Images, or whatever.
Open the folder, paste the res in there.
Now you can see what the files look like without opening them, by using thumbnails to see what they are.
Btw, you may also want to add -frame, or -launcher, to the end of the res folder you copy over to keep them separated from others.

Almost Done

So now your theme is done and your ready to make an update.zip for others to install your theme.

I have created a template for you to make your own update.zip. Just download, add the system apps to app, and framework to framework. Zip it up, SIGN IT, TEST IT YOURSELF, and then distribute it!

Empty update.zip template: http://www.fightforthepits.com/Andro...date_empty.zip

Update script

The update script is in a Unix format, while you do not need linux you must save it in a Unix format. I suggest using Textpad to edit this script and saving it in the Unix format.

Link to Textpad: ftp://download.textpad.com/pub/textpad5.2/txpeng520.exe

Final Notes:

If anyone has any questions please try asking for help in this thread before emailing me for help Usually I will respond to questions in this forum.

I hope this Tutorial has been helpful. I will add on to it as needed.

Any questions can be directed to me at Stericson.G1@gmail.com

Stericson

Links of interest:

Using ADB: http://code.google.com/android/reference/adb.html
Last edited by Stericson; 24-01-2009 at 05:58 AM..

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[Salku]

This Should Be Placed In Sticky As Well

[Stericson]

this post is too short and no longer valid!

[smallz]

this really confuses me. I had someone jail break my phone for me so I am completely lost on how i get skin from computer to phone

[Stericson]

I updated my tutorial maybe it will help, or be easier to understand now.

[Manup456]

I updated my tutorial maybe it will help, or be easier to understand now.

So can you tell me what .apk files are lol....whats up bro.

[big nu]

[IMG]http://www.*****************/forums/attachments/google-g1-themes/15782d1232415880t-theme-vintage-war-ww2.jpg[/IMG]

[Stericson]

So can you tell me what .apk files are lol....whats up bro.

Even though I know your being funny Apk files are actually the resources for the program to use. It is a container. the actual program is the .odex files.

Stericson

[big nu]

Manup456, I tried to download a the wallpaper above fromt he vintage war theme, and it wouuldnt do it from the g1 so I had to do it from my pc which sucks I guess the actualpicture fro the motofans site is not the proper size and it doesn't look as crisp as should... any suggestions? I think the recomended size for the g1 is 640x480

[big nu]

So can you tell me what .apk files are lol....whats up bro.

well i experimented and got bit i installed the new jf1.41 rc33.. then tried to apply a custom theme and now the phone wont past the first bootup screen. whats a brother to do.. lol my noobism is killing me..

[jook]

well i experimented and got bit i installed the new jf1.41 rc33.. then tried to apply a custom theme and now the phone wont past the first bootup screen. whats a brother to do.. lol my noobism is killing me..

I figured this out last night - I had the same problem with my first skinning attempt. To see how I fixed it, check my post on the "help with applying new skins" thread. I'd give you a link, but I'm posting from my G1 and it isn't copy/pasting the way I want.

[tomhop]

i have the kila-user 1.1 plat-rc33 126986 ota-rel-keys,release-keys what does that mean and where can i find skins for it

[Bababooey]

There has to be a easier way,seriously.

[JHStarner]

Read highlighted section at bottom. I found my solution
just in case anyone else is having trouble.

Ok, I've been working on this since last night.

I have installed the Bootloader, Jailbreak, and even made a
custom Splash. So the issue isn't anything on the phone as far
as updates or software, I don't think. I have the JFv1.42_RC33
update, so I think this should be working just fine.

I have my files made up. Everything is good, I think.

All I'm doing is making a special Animated Splash (to replace the
"ANDROID" with the little flashing green droid). So I made my new
"android_320x480.png", boot_robot.png, and boot_robot_glow.png. So
I created those, and replaced the ones in framework-res/assets/images.
After that I packed the framework-res folder back into a zip, then
renamed the .zip to a .apk. I then resigned (right-click Resign APK)
the .apk with the quick signing program that was offered. Move out
to my "update_empty" file, then repack that into a zip again, sign that zip.

Just wanted to be descriptive, so when you guys see the issue, you
might tell me what I did that was stupid.

Problem: After I put the update.zip onto my phone, I do the Home+Power
to get to the recovery console, hit alt+s, and it starts the update.
I received two different errors while doing this. One is "cannot find update",
and the other is "unsigned files". So the update won't go through at
all...

Can anyone tell me what I be doin' wrong?


So it was something with Vista not copying files back correctly when I packed up the Zip or Apk.
Thanks to Brandenk over here I learned to use 7-zip
to keep the files intact. My new animated splash is working, so now, I just
need to tweak it, then I'll put it up for everyone. BTW I hope you can
read Arubesh.

[fldodger]

Does anyone have this Empty update.zip template