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A while back I ventured into kernel programming when I tried to meddle with the kernel for my Samsung Galaxy S.  (although in reality, it’s more of modifying the kernel)  I thought I would have stopped my venturing but I guess (geek) habit dies hard. Having spent some time recently to modify the otherwise boring UI of my Galaxy Tablet, I had thought about doing a write up, on  how Android manages its UI resources, i.e. framework-res.apk.

However, time is not at my end, as recent office workload shifts have basically stolen all my  time from my hobby. So I am just going to share what I have created (only applicable for Samsung Galaxy Tablet), and if there is anybody who want to know I do it, I can always try to capture bits by bits of what I have learnt and share whatever I know.

It took me awhile to figure out the intricacies of the framework-res, so I hope you will appreciate/like the latest work!

The mod can be downloaded from this xda thread. The remaining of this article will be updated as and when I have the time, and questions I get about the resource framework.

Steps to modify Framework-res.apk

1. Decompile the Framework using APKTool.JAR. The command to execute a decompilation is     java -jar apktool.jar d framework-res.apk  <directory-where-decompiled-resources-reside>
   
2. Modify the XML resources and/or replace the PNG resource files as you wish
3. Compile the Framework using APKTool.JAR again. The command to  java -jar apktool.jar b <directory-where-decompiled-resources-reside>
   
4. Once the resource is compiled, the newly compiled APK can be found in the dist folder of the framework-res
5. Before replacing the framework-res.apk in your android device with the newly compiled apk, you need to make sure the newly compiled apk has the META-INF folder and that the AndroidManifest.xml is replaced with the original version. Failure to do so will result in “bootloop”!
6. For other system apps APK (e.g. Settings.apk), the steps are similiar (i.e. step 1 to 4), except that you do the reverse in step 5.  Instead of copying META-INF folder to your newly compiled APK, copy the res folder and file resource.arsc from the newly compiled APK to the source or original APK. Make sure you copy w/o compressing the files/folder  (i.e. using store mode if you are using WinRAR)

Structure of Res folder in Framework-res.apk

Drawable – controls how the graphics should be rendered under event such as an animation

•  progress_horizontal.xml – Modify all the color elements to reflect the progress bar
• stat_sys_battery – Modify the elements to reflect the battery level
• stat_sys_battery – Modify the elements to reflect the animation of the battery

Drawable-hdpi – Replace the PNGs accordingly for the desirable theme look and feel

• btn_check_* – for all check buttons design
• btn_* – for all other type of buttons design
• ic_* – for all icons used in system wide UI such as menu, etc.
• menu_* – for the theme design of the menu
• progressbar_* – to show the indeterminate state of the progress (e.g. in Market, trying to estimate the download size)
• spinner_* – for the animation of the wait cursor
• stat_sys_battery* – for the animation and status of battery level
• stat_sys_* – for icons used in status bar to show status of system services such as signal, wifi, etc
• stat_* – for all the other icons used in the status bar
• statusbar_background.9 – for the background theme of the status bar (it’s a .9 png, which means you need to have 1 px border around the original design)
• status_* – for the interface of the notification window (drop down from the status bar)
• zzzz_quickpanel_brightness* – for the design of the brightness setting in the quick panel
• zzzz_quickpanel_icon* – for the design of the icons on the quick panel shortcuts.

Layout – Controls the layout of the UI controls used in Android system wide.

• preference.xml – Modify the text color of the TextView control, particularly to address the theming needs of the Account Sync screen in “Account & Sync” Settings
• zzzz_quickpanel_brightness_settings.xml – Modify the text color of the CheckBox control

Values – Configures theme setting such as Colors, Styles, etc 

•  Styles.xml – Modify the styles to reflect the black theme
• Theme – “inverse” the color of text
• Theme.Icon – change the color of the divider (set to dark for dark background)
• Widget.IconMenu – change the color of the text
• Widget.TextView.ListSeparator – change the color of the text and background in the separator
• Theme.ExpandedMenu – change the color of the menu in “More”
• textColorTertiary – inverse the color

Structure of Res folder in Settings.apk

Drawable-hdpi – Replace the PNGs accordingly for the desirable theme look and feel 

• ic_settings* – Replace the icons in the setting window according to the desire theme look and feel.
• ic_wifi* – Replace the icons in the wifi setting window according to the desired theme look and feel

Layout – Controls the layout of the UI controls used in Android system wide.

• preference_dialog_brightness.xml – change the color of the text in the dialog box (for brightness, contrast and color density setting dialog box)

Values – Configures theme setting such as Colors, Styles, etc

• style.xml – Modify the whitestyle to use normal or Black theme.

Structure of Res folder in Phone.apk

Values – Configures theme setting such as Colors, Styles, etc

• style.xml – Modify the whitestyle to use normal or Black theme.

Structure of Res folder in AccountAndSyncSettings.apk

Drawable-hdpi – Replace the PNGs accordingly for the desirable theme look and feel

• ic_list* – Replace the icons in the setting window according to the desire theme look and feel.

Layout – Controls the layout of the UI controls used in Android system wide.

• title.xml – change the text color of the Account type and title in “Account Sync Screen”
• account_sync_screen.xml – change the background of the ListView control (background + colorhintcache)

Values – Configures theme setting such as Colors, Styles, etc

• style.xml – Modify the whitestyle to use normal or Black theme.