Hey all,
I was wondering whats the process to modify the stock multi-touch keyboard for the Droid 2? I was able to do it with the multi-touch keyboard that Punk.Kaos ported to the Eris, using some Windows batch files for extracting the apk source, compiling, signing, etc. I just can't remember for the life of me what that little program was called. Any ideas?
Thanks!
it would be nice since the space bar is soooo small i keep pressing . instead of space 70% of the times
Alright, I was able to get the program I was thinking of, it is called APK Manager. But the keyboard is a odex file... Which I don't know how to extract the XML files from... Yet.
I'd de-odex before you try to extract. It will be a lot easier. There's the method I used here.
What exactly is de-odex'ing? How will it affect my phone?
Deodexing just means that all of the stray .odex files will be put back into the correct .apk files this is done mostly for theme purposes in order to edit the services.jar file which has to be de-odexed before it can be edited. It won't corrupt anything if you do it right nothing should change on the outside the phone devs leave the .odex files out for loading reasons but nothing significant should change but you might experience a slightly slower boot up process but like I said nothing significant. Most ROM's now are de-odexed though.
So I deodexed my phone so I could work on the LatinIME.apk package. Using the APK-Manager for Linux, I was able to (0) pull the APK from my phone. Then I (9) decompiled the APK, edited the XML files as I wanted.
Now, from here I'm not entirely sure which direction to take. I tried running (13) Compile APK / Sign APK / Install APK, but I got an error saying something on how the signatures didn't match up. Then I tried running (3) ZIP APK (5) Zipalign APK then (8) ADB push, but now I don't even have the keyboard on my phone anymore.
How can I go about doing the correct way to compile my modified code and install it on my phone?
Here are the options I can do, if you're not familiar with APK Manager:
Code:
------------------Simple Tasks Such As Image Editing----------------------
0 Adb pull
1 Extract apk
2 Optimize images inside (Only if "Extract Apk" was selected)
3 Zip apk
4 Sign apk (Dont do this if its a system apk)
5 Zipalign apk (Do once apk is created/signed)
6 Install apk (Dont do this if system apk, do adb push)
7 Zip / Sign / Install apk (All in one step)
8 Adb push (Only for system apk)
-----------------Advanced Tasks Such As Code Editing-----------------------
9 Decompile apk
10 Compile apk
11 Sign apk
12 Install apk
13 Compile apk / Sign apk / Install apk (All in one step)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 Batch Optimize Apk (inside place-apk-here-to-batch-optimize only)
15 Sign an apk (inside place-apk-here-for-signing folder only)
16 Batch optimize ogg files (inside place-ogg-here only)
17 Quit
****************************************************************************
Anyone? I would love to get my stock keyboard back!
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
Hi,
I use apktool and have a problem.
I sucessful decompile apk and get direcrory with app name.
When compile this directory (without change) I get apk file.
But apk file cannot install on phone!
What I do wrong?
I just decompile and compile without change and apk cannot install...
Help..
atlantisu21 said:
Hi,
I use apktool and have a problem.
I sucessful decompile apk and get direcrory with app name.
When compile this directory (without change) I get apk file.
But apk file cannot install on phone!
What I do wrong?
I just decompile and compile without change and apk cannot install...
Help..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What apk is it?
Some .apk's just will not install. I had an apk that compiled 1MB smaller, without change. Its not a perfect system.
Name is not important, but original file size is 1,376 MB
and compiled file size now is 1,372 MB
Where is 4KB?
Well I only asked the name incase it was one I myself had issues with or someone else had.
Now I just think you're doing something suspicious by answering.like that
4KB not as bad as 1MB. But you're still losing size which will be why it won't install.
Can't help any more than that I'm afraid. Except to say I have seen the issue before and never resolved it
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
Suspicious
I tried more apk without sucess..beacause I dont tell a name.
Actual apk is BeoGSP-6.apk and there I lost 18KB...
I dont understand this compiler!?
Is there any another compiler with more working chance?
Can I export resource to Eclipse and make apk from here?
There is also APK manager. its pretty similar as far as I can tell.
There's APK Manager or APK Multi Tool which I use and both do the job quite well. I need APK Multi to decompile ICS or newer APK's and I use APK Manager 4.9 to decompile the APK's from the oxygen ROM.
If it decompiles and recompiles without errors then the only thing you might need to do is sign the APK. It won't install if it's a non-system APK and you haven't signed it.
APK Manager 4.9 option 16 signs the APK's so I just use that and if there're no errors it will sign and install fine.
Thanx! Works with APK Manager. This is a great thing!
I signed apk and now work
May be this not a right place to ask, but I have this problem with recompiling an apk with apkmanager.
I'm trying to mod settings.apk and had done few modding in strings.xml. Since I have edited an xml I delete the resources.arsc file from the keep folder and also sign it after recombiling. But when I install the apk in my phone it never opens and force closes.
I've tried again by not deleting that file but that time no modifications where shown, And the next time, I didn't sign it and tried again to install the unsigned apk. But that too fails.
Anyone know why this happn?
Before modifying the APKManager, make sure the framework-res.apk and twframework.apk been set, and don't forget to delete the file resource.arsc and the file you have modified, then enter at apkmanager windows, don't forget to rename Unsigned to system file that you modified
I been having serious problems trying to replace a few statusbar images from my recently rooted Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900F International Version. Rooting is already done (with CF Auto root). Evertyhing is ok and functional.
The problem is that I want to replace some signal images (only two PNG files) and I've tried 2 times and I always end up with black screen and statusbar gone. The only thing that fix it is restoring original systemUI.apk.
This is what I've done so far:
Copy the systemUI.apk to computer.
Extract it with WinRAR
Replace all the images
Create new systemUI.apk from WinRAR with no compression.
Put systemUI.apk back to original location /system/priv-apps/systemUI folder.
Reboot
But always I get black background and no statusbar e.g. systemUI is GONE.
I've noticed that now apps are no longer individual, they are stored in folders and, for example systemUI, it shows:
Ignore the apk4, it's mine I was just testing.
Any idea how to modify it?
See this thread.....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=54852717
The OP takes stock SystemUI apks and modifies them to produce '3D' toggles.
If anybody can help, it'll be him.
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
keithross39 said:
See this thread.....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=54852717
The OP takes stock SystemUI apks and modifies them to produce '3D' toggles.
If anybody can help, it'll be him.
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've read that thread but it seems too old and 4.4 oriented.
I tried also APKTool but nothing, I just break the whole system and need to do factory reset.
Yeah there is a lot of mention of kitkat in that thread, but the OP does help other members with lollipop. It wouldn't hurt to leave a comment in that thread and see where it gets you.....
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Labs
keithross39 said:
Yeah there is a lot of mention of kitkat in that thread, but the OP does help other members with lollipop. It wouldn't hurt to leave a comment in that thread and see where it gets you.....
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will do that! Thank you.
One thing.
I was messing around and testing other system APK.
I edited one small APK (VoiceNote.APK) then did a wipe cache from stock factory and now I only enter to "Process system isn't responding" and nothing else. Do you believe a system wipe data/factoryreset would fix this? I replaced the APK with mine and left the original one inside with different name. Could I use ADB to rename it back? Or nothing and reinstall the whole ROM? I'm kinda soft bricked now.
Manimecker said:
I will do that! Thank you.
One thing.
I was messing around and testing other system APK.
I edited one small APK (VoiceNote.APK) then did a wipe cache from stock factory and now I only enter to "Process system isn't responding" and nothing else. Do you believe a system wipe data/factoryreset would fix this? I replaced the APK with mine and left the original one inside with different name. Could I use ADB to rename it back? Or nothing and reinstall the whole ROM? I'm kinda soft bricked now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update:
I made a factory reset. Up and running. Just fine. But the app I replaced "VoiceNote" is gone. Any ideas how to recover it? I still have original backup on both S5 and computer.
If you can't get into Android, your choices are fairly limited......even more limited if you have stock recovery.......
With those conditions all you can do is
1) cache wipe
2) data wipe/factory reset
3) start again with a firmware flash
but I have a feeling that you need to replace that app with a working version before you get a successful boot.....which means option 3.
Edit...ah Ok, your comment was posted before I finished my reply.....
If you go to my profile and look for threads I've started, you'll see one which deals with system apps and systen-priv apps. Basically I ripped copies of these from my 4.4.2 firmware. I'm not sure if there will be compatibility issues between apks ripped from 4.4.2 when pushed to a 5.0 firmware, but they're available if you want to try it....
If you *do* try it, remember to change permissions and reboot.....
Edit 2.....
If you still have the original, it's a simple case of copying it to it's original location, deleting the modified version and it's associated odex file (in the same folder as the apk) then setting the permissions of the 'freshly copied apk to rw- r-- r-- and rebooting....
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Labs
keithross39 said:
If you can't get into Android, your choices are fairly limited......even more limited if you have stock recovery.......
With those conditions all you can do is
1) cache wipe
2) data wipe/factory reset
3) start again with a firmware flash
but I have a feeling that you need to replace that app with a working version before you get a successful boot.....which means option 3.
Edit...ah Ok, your comment was posted before I finished my reply.....
If you go to my profile and look for threads I've started, you'll see one which deals with system apps and systen-priv apps. Basically I ripped copies of these from my 4.4.2 firmware. I'm not sure if there will be compatibility issues between apks ripped from 4.4.2 when pushed to a 5.0 firmware, but they're available if you want to try it....
If you *do* try it, remember to change permissions and reboot.....
Edit 2.....
If you still have the original, it's a simple case of copying it to it's original location, deleting the modified version and it's associated odex file (in the same folder as the apk) then setting the permissions of the 'freshly copied apk to rw- r-- r-- and rebooting....
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically I did the replacing, same file, permissions and everything, but still have no app. Voice Note is gone. I'll try a factory wipe reset if that works but I don't think so. What can I do now? Android is still running up and good.
Update:
Did factory reset and everything is good and running. App is back. So I guess I'm same as I started. I won't mess up with system files again until I know a good way to edit the SystemUI.apk. Is there any App I can use? Like Xposed or something? I really just want to replace my data connected icons (3G, H+, 4G, LTE).
Is this the sort of thing you mean?......
If it is, then Android Theme Engine module with xposed.......
That is assuming you can get it working on LP.....
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Labs
keithross39 said:
Is this the sort of thing you mean?......
If it is, then Android Theme Engine module with xposed.......
That is assuming you can get it working on LP.....
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically something like that, but I want to replace the PNG with ones I've created. For example you have your 4G icon there, I want to change it with another PNG I created.
Manimecker said:
Basically something like that, but I want to replace the PNG with ones I've created. For example you have your 4G icon there, I want to change it with another PNG I created.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that Android Theme Engine module can change the 'theme' of those icons too. Might it be possible to decompile that, insert your images, recompile it and flash.....that way, if it goes wrong, it should be easier to recover than when you changed that system apk.....
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Labs
You can just use apktool, just make sure to get your framework-res and then when done open original systemui in 7zip and drag the META-INF folder and drag it to the new systemui apk you made with apktool, works every time for me.
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
@Rakuu OP says he's already tried using apktool and it didn't work.....
You obviously know more about this than me, so I guess you're gonna have to take over here fella......
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
keithross39 said:
@Rakuu OP says he's already tried using apktool and it didn't work.....
You obviously know more about this than me, so I guess you're gonna have to take over here fella......
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sound like he didn't do last part would be my guess.
keithross39 said:
@Rakuu OP says he's already tried using apktool and it didn't work.....
You obviously know more about this than me, so I guess you're gonna have to take over here fella......
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
where did he said that he used apktool? he used winrar to extract the systemui.
you have to use apktool in order to replace/modify anything within the apk.
i guess you have to read something about decompiling and recompiling (and signing) apps before you can do your changes. just replacing anything inside the .apk's is not the right way my friend
keithross39 said:
@Rakuu OP says he's already tried using apktool and it didn't work.....
You obviously know more about this than me, so I guess you're gonna have to take over here fella......
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I did use APKTool BUT I didn't do all the other steps here mentioned.
Rakuu said:
Sound like he didn't do last part would be my guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, I didn't do anything about framework-res or META-INF files. I just unpacked, replaced PNG inside and repack.
mcdachpappe said:
where did he said that he used apktool? he used winrar to extract the systemui.
you have to use apktool in order to replace/modify anything within the apk.
i guess you have to read something about decompiling and recompiling (and signing) apps before you can do your changes. just replacing anything inside the .apk's is not the right way my friend
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I'm starting to learn how things work inside an 5.0 Android Device. Any more ideas (manual, PDF, guide or something) I can follow from here?
Rakuu said:
You can just use apktool, just make sure to get your framework-res and then when done open original systemui in 7zip and drag the META-INF folder and drag it to the new systemui apk you made with apktool, works every time for me.
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand what to do with the framework-res apk file, I do however know where to find it but nothing else. I already have APKTool on Windows up and running, but I can't tell what to do next.
Manimecker said:
I don't understand what to do with the framework-res apk file, I do however know where to find it but nothing else. I already have APKTool on Windows up and running, but I can't tell what to do next.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Extract the framework-res and twframework-res apks and put them in the folder with the SystemUI.apk
Open a command prompt in the folder and type apktool if framework-res.apk and hit return, then do the same for the twframework-res.apk file, this will generate the resource files needed.
To unpack an apk type apktool d SystemUI..apk for example hit the return key, to repack type apktool b SystemUI (usually the decompiled apk folder doesn't have the .apk after it), this will generate a new apk
Copy the Meta.inf, Android Manifest.xml and resources.arsc files from the original apk to the new apk , make sure the apk is titled exactly the same as the original apk so SystemUI.apk not systemui.apk and the new apk should work.
One thing you can do if you are just changing the png files is extract the png files from the folders direct from the apk to a working folder, create your new png files so they are the same size and exactly the same name as the originals, drag and drop them from the folder directly back into the folder location in the apk then reinstall the apk on the phone, this just replaces the png's, you only really need to decompile the apk if you are making changes to the xml files.
Use 7zip its better for these than winrar (personal opinion), if you want to male changes to the xml files then use Notepad++
Always keep a copy of your original apk's as a backup unless you want to install the firmware again should something go wrong.
EDIT:-
Thought you should have a bit more info about apktool, the red text is the apktool commands you would type in the CMD window from your working folder
Decompiling should look similar to this
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>apktool d SystemUI.apk
I: Using Apktool 2.1.1 on SystemUI.apk
I: Loading resource table...
I: Decoding AndroidManifest.xml with resources...
I: Loading resource table from file: C:\Users\apktool\framework\1.apk
I: Regular manifest package...
I: Decoding file-resources...
I: Decoding values */* XMLs...
I: Copying assets and libs...
I: Copying unknown files...
I: Copying original files...
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>
When you recompile an APK it will be located in apk folder your compiling from so you decompile the SystemUI.apk which will become a folder called SystemUI when you re-compile the SystemUI folder to make a new apk then the new apk will be located in your SystemUi folder in a folder called dist.
When you recompile an apk it should look similar to this you can see here also a warning message you can ignore these they wont affect how the apk works provided you copy across the original files from the old to the new apk as mentioned below
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>apktool b SystemUI
I: Using Apktool 2.1.1
W: Could not find sources
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
W: warning: string 'tw_screen_pinning_negative' has no default translation.
I: Building apk file...
I: Copying unknown files/dir...
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>
Using 7zip open this apk and open the original apk and simply drag the META.INF, respources.arsc and Android Manifest.xml from the original apk to your new apk close both apk's, put the new apk on your phone.
If you ever make any changes in the decompiled values folder then when you recompile your apk and copy across the above files from the old apk don't replace the resources.arsc file as thats where the values folders are just replace the Android Manifest and META.INF files.
ag4751 said:
Extract the framework-res and twframework-res apks and put them in the folder with the SystemUI.apk
Open a command prompt in the folder and type apktool if framework-res.apk and hit return, then do the same for the twframework-res.apk file, this will generate the resource files needed.
To unpack an apk type apktool d SystemUI..apk for example hit the return key, to repack type apktool b SystemUI (usually the decompiled apk folder doesn't have the .apk after it), this will generate a new apk
Copy the Meta.inf, Android Manifest.xml and resources.arsc files from the original apk to the new apk , make sure the apk is titled exactly the same as the original apk so SystemUI.apk not systemui.apk and the new apk should work.
One thing you can do if you are just changing the png files is extract the png files from the folders direct from the apk to a working folder, create your new png files so they are the same size and exactly the same name as the originals, drag and drop them from the folder directly back into the folder location in the apk then reinstall the apk on the phone, this just replaces the png's, you only really need to decompile the apk if you are making changes to the xml files.
Use 7zip its better for these than winrar (personal opinion), if you want to male changes to the xml files then use Notepad++
Always keep a copy of your original apk's as a backup unless you want to install the firmware again should something go wrong.
EDIT:-
Thought you should have a bit more info about apktool, the red text is the apktool commands you would type in the CMD window from your working folder
Decompiling should look similar to this
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>apktool d SystemUI.apk
I: Using Apktool 2.1.1 on SystemUI.apk
I: Loading resource table...
I: Decoding AndroidManifest.xml with resources...
I: Loading resource table from file: C:\Users\apktool\framework\1.apk
I: Regular manifest package...
I: Decoding file-resources...
I: Decoding values */* XMLs...
I: Copying assets and libs...
I: Copying unknown files...
I: Copying original files...
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>
When you recompile an APK it will be located in apk folder your compiling from so you decompile the SystemUI.apk which will become a folder called SystemUI when you re-compile the SystemUI folder to make a new apk then the new apk will be located in your SystemUi folder in a folder called dist.
When you recompile an apk it should look similar to this you can see here also a warning message you can ignore these they wont affect how the apk works provided you copy across the original files from the old to the new apk as mentioned below
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>apktool b SystemUI
I: Using Apktool 2.1.1
W: Could not find sources
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
W: warning: string 'tw_screen_pinning_negative' has no default translation.
I: Building apk file...
I: Copying unknown files/dir...
C:\Samsung S7\APKs>
Using 7zip open this apk and open the original apk and simply drag the META.INF, respources.arsc and Android Manifest.xml from the original apk to your new apk close both apk's, put the new apk on your phone.
If you ever make any changes in the decompiled values folder then when you recompile your apk and copy across the above files from the old apk don't replace the resources.arsc file as thats where the values folders are just replace the Android Manifest and META.INF files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try that! I'm gonna get back with update.
Just one question. Do I need to odex or deodex my APK? Should I edit the SystemUI.odex.xz and SystemUI.odex.art.xz, both inside the ARM folder?
Manimecker said:
I will try that! I'm gonna get back with update.
Just one question. Do I need to odex or deodex my APK? Should I edit the SystemUI.odex.xz and SystemUI.odex.art.xz, both inside the ARM folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No clue on that, always used deodexed roms cause messing with odexed stuff is a pain in the rear, if you deodexed your rom this will be about 5x easier.
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
Manimecker said:
I will try that! I'm gonna get back with update.
Just one question. Do I need to odex or deodex my APK? Should I edit the SystemUI.odex.xz and SystemUI.odex.art.xz, both inside the ARM folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As @Rakuu says themeing with deodexed roms is preferred by most people although I never themed with deodexed roms myself, when I used to theme stock roms I just removed the apk made the changes to the png and xml files and replaced the apk, never changed anything with the odex.apk just the apk itself, as you want to do the systemui then just pull that from the rom make a copy of the apk, make the changes in your copy and push that back to the phone., keep an original unchanged version of the apk as a backup.
Do you have a custom recovery like TWRP on your phone and Android SDK installed on your computer as it makes pulling and pushing the apk's much safer than what you appear to be doing as it looks like your just doing copy and paste, although it works its not the ideal or safest way to do it.
The apk should be in the system/priv-app/SystemUI folder