How To Easily: decompile, translate, compile and sign an Android application

 This post is about to show you the method to use to translate an Android app easily and without any experience in programmation.

 Of course, your mobile must be Rooted (See how to do it easily using one click methods or advanced manually method)
 You must have a Java machine installed on your computer (JRE).

 To decompile and compile the apk we will need Apktool, download and install it.
 Download the archive that matches your system then unzip all in one folder.

 To sign the compiled application we will use Sign +. Download and install it.

 Framework:

 - On your mobile, get the file from your phone (using Es Explorer app for exemple):

framework-res.apk

From:

/system/framework

 - Copy it to the apktool folder.
 - By using a command line into the apktool folder, install the framework with this command:

apktool if framework-res.apk

 Decompilation:

 - Copy and past the app you want to translate into the apktool folder (eg. mms.apk)
 - In the command line type:

 apktool decode mms.apk

 - Now apktool show the following:

I: Baksmaling...
testI: Loading resource table...
I: Loaded.
I: Loading resource table from file: C:\Users\Fred\apktool\framework\1.apk
I: Loaded.
I: Decoding file-resources...
I: Decoding values*/* XMLs...
I: Done.
I: Copying assets and libs...

 - A file was created with the name of the app, it contains the decompiled code.

 Translation:

 - For the translation, we'll need an xml editor (eg. Notepad).
 - In mms / res we can found the folder:

 Values

 - And as many folders as languages installed eg for English:

Values-en

 - In each folder there is xml files with translations. To translate an app, create a folder:

Values-en

 - And copy all the xml files with translatable strings.
 - We translate only the text between the tags without affecting the rest, for example (the text in bold):

<string name="app_label">Messages</string>
<string name="new_message">New message</string>

 Compilation / Signature:

 - Once the translations are done, you have to recompile the application.

apktool build mms mms2.apk

 mms: folder name
 mms2.apk name of the created apk

Signature:
 - Run sign+ in administrator mode
 - Browse, select the new apk then "sign files"

Installation in the phone:
 - Copy the created app:

mms2.apk

 - Past it in:

/system/apk

 - Change permissions: rw-r-r (using Es Explorer).

 How to change permissions?

 Long press mms2.apk, scroll down and select properties from the list. A window will pop up then change it like this:
 User: check read, write and execute
 Group: check read and execute
 Other: check read and execute

 - Restart the launcheur.
 Done :)

Posted in: android, application, mobile