[Help] how to edit a zip file?

[theexile1]

how do i change a flashable rom so i can do tweaks and themeing and such.
i mean hours of googling is just not working for me.
btw i have Mac with adb, linux had adb, and windows no adb. i like using my mac laptop more than my desktop.

 

[rukin5197]

how do i change a flashable rom so i can do tweaks and themeing and such.
i mean hours of googling is just not working for me.
btw i have Mac with adb, linux had adb, and windows no adb. i like using my mac laptop more than my desktop.

Just go into the zip file and add all the apps you want into /system/app and what not.
You're going to need to decompile the framework-res.apk and systemui.apk to theme though. I'm sure you can google that to find info

 

[Paul627g]

First as noted above, you need 7zip or WinRAR to open and move files in and out of the ROM zip file. Never extract the ROM zip file and expect to zip it back up and it to flash properly. Have a second master copy that you modify and use but don't EXTRACT.


To decompile and recompile apks you have 2 common choices available.

1. Google APK Manager 5.0.2 (this was the latest version before the project was changed to a new name under a new dev.)

2. Using APK TOOL, you can decompile and recompile APKs using very simple commands. You can Google APK TOOL and get it from Google development.

Here is a guide I have referred to back from my Epic 4g days and still refer people to even if its not their personal device. It has alot of good tips, suggestions and general/common things across the board when it comes to themes and working with various tools.

[Guide] Learning To Theme: Putting the tools to use pt. 1

Best of luck.

 

[LeslieAnn]

You can actually associate APK files with Winrar and Winzip, they are actually just zip files too.

This will allow you to change files in them, but you won;t see everything in the APK unless you use a proper extracting tool alike mentioned above.

 

[Paul627g]

To add to what LeslieAnn said, you can use 7zip or Winrar/Winzip to move files in and out of a ROM zip but there are certain file types within these zips that you need to de compile to properly change/modify.

In order to properly edit and change the images or ".9.pngs" within these zips you need to de compile them using one of the two tools I posted earlier about. They are formatted with what is called "draw9patch" which is part of the Android SDK. Basically these files specially formatted to stretch the image.

The other files mentioned are .xml files. These have to be de compiled also in order to properly view them otherwise they are garbled mess if you open them in Notepad ++ to edit them.

Just a little heads up, insight to what is in store... Maybe you already knew these things. Either way this will hopefully help others going down this same path in the future.

 

[anthonycr]

Just saying right now... if you don't do it right (aka what Paul said) you will end up very frustrated. When I started theming my phone I tried editting xmls and .9.pngs without decompiling and I was so frustrated with my xmls looking like gibberish and my pngs stretching incorrectly :banghead:

I still haven't gotten around to doing it right, but at least I eventually figured out what needed to be done. I guarantee you will be frustrated so don't give up

Sent via the Postal Service

 

[theexile1]

Thanks everybody that realty helped I'll start right now

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