Fei Nan

I have asked a question "how is framework-res.apk loaded?"(http://
groups.google.com/group/android-porting/browse_thread/thread/
730a22ab62d76c24/b07c2e7d54e98f79#b07c2e7d54e98f79) and got some
suggestions from Dianne.

My colleague got the solution about how to make resource apk of our
own self and I am sharing it with others and want some expert can tell
me whether there is any risk. ( Dianne suggested on't do it)

1. Make an apk project for your resource: AppRes
   write Android.mk as others and add command below to it:
#tell aapt to generate resource ID from 0×20
LOCAL_AAPT_FLAGS := -x

LOCAL_EXPORT_PACKAGE_RESOURCES := true

2. create an apk to use resource apk APP1
add command below to its Android.mk
{{{
＃ include R.java of resource apk
LOCAL_INTERMEDIATE_SOURCES := $(framework-res-source-path)/my/own/
resource/apk/R.java

}}}

3. modify Android build script
modify build/target/product/core.mk like below:

PRODUCT_PACKAGES := \
    framework-res \
    AppRes \                  <– our resource apk name, created under
system/framework

 modify build/target/product/generic.mk

PRODUCT_PACKAGES := \
    AlarmClock \
    ……
    SyncProvider \
    App1                    <– apk to use resouce, created under
system/app

4. modify frameworks/base/libs/utils/AssetManager.cpp
let android load both frame-res.apk and our resource apk.

//our resource apk path
static const char* kMyAssets = "framework/appres.apk";

//修改下面的方法
bool AssetManager::addDefaultAssets()
{
    const char* root = getenv("ANDROID_ROOT");
    LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL_IF(root == NULL, "ANDROID_ROOT not set");
/* This is original code
    String8 path(root);
    path.appendPath(kSystemAssets);

    return addAssetPath(path, NULL);
*/
//add code below
        bool isOK1 = false;
        bool isOK2 = false;
        { // load framework-res.apk
                String8 path(root);
                path.appendPath(kSystemAssets);
                isOK1 = addAssetPath(path, NULL);
        }
        { // load our resource apk
                String8 path(root);
                path.appendPath(kMyAssets);
                isOK2 = addAssetPath(path, NULL);
        }
        return isOK1 && isOK2;
}
}}}

5. how to use it.

We can write code like below:

tv1 = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.tvWelcome1);
tv1.setText(my.own.resource.apk.R.string.welcome);

6. compile

>make clean
>make

if you got any error message complaining about needing resource apk,
do next:

>source build/envsetup.sh
>mmm packages/apps/AppRes/
>make

My colleague tell me we even can add class to resource apk to share
it.

Any suggestion and question is welcome.

James

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