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[GUIDE][HOW TO][WIP] Easy Theming

StarScream2109

Extreme Android User
Feb 29, 2012
5,393
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Cybertron
okay guys i figured i would make this guide for more people can make some themes for ROMs and the whatnot. i am listing TWO(2) ways the first Ninjamorph the second UOT kitchen both easy :)
Before you begin to
A)Edit files and APKs with Ninjamorph and B)flash your UOT theme make sure to:
1)MAKE A BACKUP!!! this is VERY important incase you mess with the wrong thing and get a bootloop
2)Remember NEVER to mix APKs while using ninjamorph (i have never done this so DO NOT DO IT)

NINJAMORPH
okay first you will need a couple apps
1)Ninjamorph
2)root explorer (and xplore or solid explorer)
3)photo editor
these apps will be needed for both processes.

First Method-
  • Open Ninjamorph and allow root permissions select new project after it initializes this will create the Folder Androidthemes on your sd card
  • go to system/app(or Framework) and select your app (for this TUT i will use Frameworkres)
  • Allow the app to extract the apk (may take a few minutes)
  • once it has extracted on your SD inside the Androidthemes folder there will be a sub-folder called Workspace thats where all your extracted apks NEED to be
  • inside the extracted APK you will see
    android manifest.xml<-DONT TOUCH
    Assests<-DONT TOUCH
    META-INF<-DONT TOUCH
    res<-OPEN THIS
    resources.arsc<-DONT TOUCH
  • inside the res folder you will see drawable folders in those are the images you want to edit
  • there are several ways to theme from here you can: Switch and rename images from other ROMs, Long pressimage and click edit image(for basic colors), use Photo editor to change them
  • Once you got all images you want themed go to Ninjamorph home and press FINISH PROJECT
  • It will give you the options of Zipalign and Replace: Select YES to Both
  • Reboot and enjoy your theme

Second Method-
  • extract your desired APK with a file explorer AND locate the extracted APK
  • Rename to XXXXapk (framework-resapk)
  • move to AndroidThemes/workspace
  • inside the extracted APK you will see
    android manifest.xml<-DONT TOUCH
    Assests<-DONT TOUCH
    META-INF<-DONT TOUCH
    res<-OPEN THIS
    resources.arsc<-DONT TOUCH
  • inside the res folder you will see drawable folders in those are the images you want to edit
  • there are several ways to theme from here you can: Switch and rename images from other ROMs, Long pressimage and click edit image(for basic colors), use Photo editor to change them
  • Once you got all images you want themed go to Ninjamorph home and press FINISH PROJECT
  • It will give you the options of Zipalign and Replace: Select YES to Both
  • Reboot and enjoy your theme

BOTH of these methods ARE tested and BOTH work
You can also use Images from UOT themes by-
  • Create your UOT theme
  • extract UOT zip and APKs
  • use xplore to move desired images to AndroidThemes/workspace/XXXXAPK/res/Drawable-hdpi*
  • Once you got all images you want themed go to Ninjamorph home and press FINISH PROJECT
  • It will give you the options of Zipalign and Replace: Select YES to Both
  • Reboot and enjoy your theme
*varies with folder
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UOT Kitchen
okay so you want to make a theme for your favorite ROM huh? okay first go to http://uot.dakra.lt/
  • click on kitchen (this allows you to "cook" up your desired theme)
  • you can pick your battery icons, status bar icons,pull down icons along with all the colors there is a preview button so you can see what it will look like (im not going to give you a step by step on this just experiment)
  • okay so you finished your theme and your ready to cook it up you will need a couple things first
    Froyo rom: framework-res.apk
    Gingerbread rom: framework-res.apk and SystemUI.apk
    Gingerbread with sense rom: framework-res.apk, SystemUI.apk and com.htc.resources.apk
    Cyanogenmod7 rom: Cyanbread.apk or Androidian.apk or any theme for ThemeChooser (rename as you like it to apear in theme menu)
  • so depending on your device take what you need and upload it to the kitchen
  • once you have uploading the cooking will begin you will have to wait between 5-30 Minutes
  • okay so its ready now you have a zip folder UOT-10-17-12-12(just an example) you will need to put it on your SD card
  • now that you have your zip on your SD boot into recovery (youll have to find that out)
  • once in recovery wipe BOTH dalvik cache and system cache-DO NOT DO A FACTORY/DATA RESET!!!
  • go to install from SD locate your UOT zip and select YES
  • reboot and the changes should be there
its as simple as that :) so go on make some themes for all your favorite ROMs and share with the world :)
*WARNING! Flash UOT file after you have first boot.
If you flashed new rom, boot up your phone first time
and after that reboot into recovery to flash UOT file

*WORKAROUND if flashing doesn't change anything:
1. Reboot into recovery
2. Manually mount /system and /data from recovery menu
3. Flash the UOT file

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IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK i am happy to help anyone who wishes to theme
MIND YOU GUYS I AM IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR-
  • Bricking
  • exploding
  • data loss
  • loss of hair
  • or any other problems :)
ENJOY GUYS!!


If you would like to SEE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT<-Press the button :D
 
  • Will add more screenshots in coming days as im beginning work on StarScreamV2.0.1
    (screenshots are a sneek peek of it)
  • added links to all required apps (besides root explorer)
  • updating this section as I update this guide also I will be adding all alternative theming methods here too
  • add screenshots back
  • Added UOT kitchen TUT
 
Upvote 0
This is Compatible with EVERY single Android device there are requirements though
  • MUST be a ROOT user
  • Busybox must be installed
  • Basic knowledge of android
Different phones require different folders to be edited
Some phone are MDPI so edit the Drawable MDPI folder
Some are XHDPI so edit the drawable XHDPI folder
This method also works for XML files just switch the old for your edited XML files :)

NOTE-
when you reboot and it appears nothing has changed you may need to make the apps into flashable (you will need to ask a Dev for some assistance if you are unsure of how to make flashables)
 
Upvote 0
This is Compatible with EVERY single Android device there are requirements though
  • MUST be a ROOT user
  • Busybox must be installed
  • Basic knowledge of android
Different phones require different folders to be edited
Some phone are MDPI so edit the Drawable MDPI folder
Some are XHDPI so edit the drawable XHDPI folder
This method also works for XML files just switch the old for your edited XML files :)

.....but it must be reiterated that the Warp is HDPI so HDPI files are what must be edited
 
Upvote 0
Easiest method is just using ninjamorph (if busy box isn't installed correctly extracting apks won't work)
That's how I developed the second method by just extracting with a file explorer
Using method one saves time it extracts and places where it needs to be
Method two you have to extract rename then move
Both pretty easy though :)
 
Upvote 0
Download B08c and unzip and go to system/media
STOCK B08c&B08 Flashable ROMs - Android Forums

For what? I don't understand what you mean, apologies. BTW, I attempted photo editor and tried to access data/app to edit the image on an app not in system/app but photo editor said invalid file. Are there any instructions on the photo editor how-to somewhere? If not it's cool, you've done enough already! :D
 
Upvote 0
I suck. I figured I'd edit Wireless Tether app since it looks easy and isn't a system app (figured if I screwed up it's better to do it on a user app so I don't cause a bootloop while learning LOL). So in Ninjamorph I edited it to a blue tint and saved it. Zipaligned it. It then asked me a third question saying "do you want to delete/edit apk blah blah blah" after I already saved/zipaligned and I said yes. Rebooted and app somehow uninstalled. So I reinstalled figuring I shouldn't have said yes to that stop. Did it all again thru Ninjamorph and this time I said "no" on the "do you want to delete/edit apk blah blah blah" as the third question and rebooted again. Somehow, AGAIN, it uninstalled my app AGAIN on me! LOL, but Grrrrrr So I suck and give up haha I know it can be done because I know this is your tried and true method. It's totally my error somewhere.:rolleyes:
 
Upvote 0
No photo editor is simple was it a 9png?

I tried selecting all the options until I finally settled on Gallery option since it was the only option that would allow me to get into /data/app. When I tried file browser option and tried to select /data it says "Permission Denied". I never got to see what kind of file it was because it never let me get that far. When I select the apk to edit, it gives an Error - Invalid file format: file:///data/app/android.tether-1.apk. It's also weird that now I have a -1 and a -2 of that .apk.
 
Upvote 0

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