I've finally decided to solve this by making a custom system for handling drawables, strings etc so now i have a custom class called "ResourceManager" that handles what needs to be loadad and how, and themes are distributed as a zip file which app downloads, extracts and later uses.
I had to compile nine patch images by myself before putting them in zip file, and I did that using "abrc" from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=785012
I've also created a simple bash script that goes recursively through custom folder and compiles all nine patch images with abrc.
I've also created a simple helper in the ResourceManager that checks and tells me the screen density so i can normally support images in hdpi, xhdpi etc densities, and finally i don't re-create the images every time i need them, i save them in a static list of HashMap so i can reuse the ones I've already created and that way i hope to prevent wasting too much phone's memory :).
OK that's all in short lines, if anyone has any questions please let me know, i'll be glad to share this experience with anyone.
Cheers!
============ EDIT ============
Here's the class I ended up writing for this purpose (it downloads the file, checks for it's version, loads strings from JSON file rather than strings.xml etc)
NOTE: This is not a full class so some parts are missing, but I think it's more than enough to get the idea how I solved all this :)
/**
* Created by bojank on 7/28/2014.
* Class that handles custom resources downloaded from server
*/
public class ResourceManager {
// List of ninePatchImages in the application
private static ArrayList<HashMap<String, NinePatchDrawable>> ninePatchHashMaps;
private static ArrayList<HashMap<String, Drawable>> imagesHashMaps;
private static ImageLoader imageLoader;
// Context for methods
public static Context ctx;
// JSONObject with all strings
private static JSONObject joString;
// JSONObject with all styles
private static JSONObject joStyles;
// String with current active lang code
private static String currentLanguage;
private static String sdcardPath;
// Private consturctor to prevent creating a class instance
private ResourceManager() {
}
/**
* Method that returns a translated string for given key
*
* @param key String
* @return String
*/
public static String getString(String module, String key) {
String output = ""; //String.format("[%s - %s]", module, key);
try {
if (getStringsFile() != null && getStringsFile().getJSONObject(module).has(key))
output = getStringsFile().getJSONObject(module).getString(key);
} catch (Exception e) {
// Force some default language if proper json file is missing for newly added language
currentLanguage = "en-US";
Helper.saveLocale(currentLanguage, ctx);
Helper.logError("ErrorFetchingString", e);
}
return output;
}
/**
* Method that returns JSONObject with string resources
* @return JSONObject
* @throws JSONException
*/
public static JSONObject getStringsFile() throws JSONException {
if (joString == null) {
String stringFileName = getResourcesPath() + "languages/" + getCurrentLanguage() + "/values.json";
String languageFile = Helper.readJsonFile(stringFileName);
if (languageFile != null) {
joString = new JSONObject(Helper.readJsonFile(stringFileName));
} else {
return null;
}
}
return joString.getJSONObject("strings");
}
/**
* Method that returns current language ("sr", "en"...)
* @return String
*/
public static String getCurrentLanguage() {
if (currentLanguage == null)
currentLanguage = Helper.getCurrentLanguage(ctx);
return currentLanguage;
}
/**
* Method that resets joString object and currentLanguage on language change
*/
public static void resetLanguage() {
joString = null;
currentLanguage = null;
}
/**
* Method that resets joStyles object on theme change
*/
public static void resetStyle() {
joStyles = null;
}
/**
* Method that deletes a directory from filesystem
* @param path File
* @return boolean
*/
public static boolean deleteDirectory(File path) {
if( path.exists() ) {
File[] files = path.listFiles();
for(int i=0; i<files.length; i++) {
if(files[i].isDirectory()) {
deleteDirectory(files[i]);
}
else {
files[i].delete();
}
}
}
return(path.delete());
}
/**
* Method that get's the version of assets file
* @param url String
*/
public static String getAssetsVersion(String url) throws IOException {
Helper.logInfo("REQUEST URL:", url);
OkHttpClient client = new OkHttpClient();
// set connection timeut to 5min
client.setConnectTimeout(1, TimeUnit.MINUTES);
Request request = new Request.Builder()
.url(url)
.build();
Response response = client.newCall(request).execute();
return response.body().string();
}
/**
* Method that downloads assets file from server
* @param url String
* @return String
* @throws IOException
*/
public static String getAssetsFile(String url) throws IOException {
Helper.logInfo("REQUEST URL:", url);
OkHttpClient client = new OkHttpClient();
// set connection timeut to 5min
client.setConnectTimeout(1, TimeUnit.MINUTES);
Request request = new Request.Builder()
.url(url)
.header("User-Agent", MyApplication.USER_AGENT)
.build();
Response response = client.newCall(request).execute();
InputStream inputStreamFile = response.body().byteStream();
try {
// Output stream
String outputFileName = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString() + "/assets.zip";
File deleteFile = new File(outputFileName);
deleteFile.delete();
OutputStream output = new FileOutputStream(outputFileName);
byte data[] = new byte[1024];
int count;
// writing data to file
while ((count = inputStreamFile.read(data)) != -1)
output.write(data, 0, count);
// flushing output
output.flush();
// closing streams
output.close();
inputStreamFile.close();
return outputFileName;
} catch (Exception e) {
Helper.logError("Download Resursa", e);
return "ERROR";
}
}
public static void setStyle(View v, String styleName) {
try {
if (styleName == null || styleName.equals("")) {
if (v instanceof EditText)
processStyle(v, getStylesFile().getJSONObject("EditText"));
} else
processStyle(v, getStylesFile().getJSONObject(styleName));
} catch (Exception e) {
Helper.logError("Setting Styles", e);
}
}
private static void setBackground(View v, Drawable d) {
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN) {
v.setBackgroundDrawable(d);
} else {
v.setBackground(d);
}
}
public static JSONObject getStylesFile() throws JSONException {
if (joStyles == null) {
String stylesFileName = getResourcesPath() + "styles/properties.json";
joStyles = new JSONObject(Helper.readJsonFile(stylesFileName));
}
return joStyles;
}
public static void processStyle(View v, JSONObject joStyle) {
if(joStyle != null) {
try {
// used for layout margins
LinearLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = null;
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "backgroundColor"))
v.setBackgroundColor(Color.parseColor(joStyle.getString("backgroundColor")));
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "backgroundImage"))
setBackground(v, loadNinePatchFromFilesystem(getImagesPath() + joStyle.getString("backgroundImage")));
if (v instanceof TextView) {
applyTextViewParameters(v, joStyle);
} else if (v instanceof ListView) {
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "dividerColor")) {
((ListView) v).setDivider(new ColorDrawable(Color.parseColor(joStyle.getString("dividerColor"))));
((ListView) v).setDividerHeight(Helper.convertDpToPixel(1));
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "dividerHeight")) {
((ListView) v).setDividerHeight(Helper.convertDpToPixel(joStyle.getInt("dividerHeight")));
}
} else if (v instanceof UnderlinePageIndicator) {
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "backgroundColor")) {
v.setBackgroundColor(Color.parseColor(joStyle.getString("backgroundColor")));
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "selectedColor")) {
((UnderlinePageIndicator) v).setSelectedColor(Color.parseColor(joStyle.getString("selectedColor")));
}
} else if (v instanceof StyleableBackground) {
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "backgroundColor")) {
View background = v.findViewById(R.id.llBackground);
if (background != null) {
background.setBackgroundColor(Color.parseColor(joStyle.getString("backgroundColor")));
}
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "borderTopColor")) {
View topBorder = v.findViewById(R.id.llTopBorder);
if (topBorder != null) {
topBorder.setBackgroundColor(Color.parseColor(joStyle.getString("borderTopColor")));
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "borderTopHeight")) {
topBorder.setMinimumHeight(Helper.convertDpToPixel(joStyle.getInt("borderTopHeight")));
}
}
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "borderBottomColor")) {
View bottomBorder = v.findViewById(R.id.llBottomBorder);
if (bottomBorder != null) {
bottomBorder.setBackgroundColor(Color.parseColor(joStyle.getString("borderBottomColor")));
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "borderBottomHeight")) {
bottomBorder.setMinimumHeight(Helper.convertDpToPixel(joStyle.getInt("borderBottomHeight")));
}
}
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "backgroundImage")) {
ImageView ivBackgroundImage = (ImageView) v.findViewById(R.id.ivBackgroundImage);
if (ivBackgroundImage != null) {
BitmapDrawable d = (BitmapDrawable) ResourceManager.loadImageFromFilesystem(ResourceManager.getImagesPath() + joStyle.getString("backgroundImage"));
d.setTileModeXY(Shader.TileMode.REPEAT, Shader.TileMode.REPEAT);
d.setGravity(Gravity.FILL_HORIZONTAL | Gravity.FILL_VERTICAL);
setBackground(ivBackgroundImage, d);
}
}
}
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "width"))
v.setMinimumWidth(joStyle.getInt("width"));
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "height"))
v.setMinimumHeight(joStyle.getInt("height"));
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "padding"))
v.setPadding(joStyle.getInt("padding"), joStyle.getInt("padding"), joStyle.getInt("padding"), joStyle.getInt("padding"));
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "paddingLeft"))
v.setPadding(joStyle.getInt("paddingLeft"), v.getPaddingTop(), v.getPaddingRight(), v.getPaddingBottom());
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "paddingTop"))
v.setPadding(v.getPaddingLeft(), joStyle.getInt("paddingTop"), v.getPaddingRight(), v.getPaddingBottom());
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "paddingRight"))
v.setPadding(v.getPaddingLeft(), v.getPaddingTop(), joStyle.getInt("paddingRight"), v.getPaddingBottom());
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "paddingBottom"))
v.setPadding(v.getPaddingLeft(), v.getPaddingTop(), v.getPaddingRight(), joStyle.getInt("paddingBottom"));
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "margin")) {
layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
layoutParams.setMargins(joStyle.getInt("margin"), joStyle.getInt("margin"), joStyle.getInt("margin"), joStyle.getInt("margin"));
}
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "marginLeft")) {
layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
layoutParams.setMargins(joStyle.getInt("marginLeft"), layoutParams.topMargin, layoutParams.rightMargin, layoutParams.bottomMargin);
}
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "marginTop")) {
layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
layoutParams.setMargins(layoutParams.leftMargin, joStyle.getInt("marginTop"), layoutParams.rightMargin, layoutParams.bottomMargin);
}
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "marginRight")) {
layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
layoutParams.setMargins(layoutParams.leftMargin, layoutParams.topMargin, joStyle.getInt("marginRight"), layoutParams.bottomMargin);
}
if(layoutParams != null)
v.setLayoutParams(layoutParams);
RelativeLayout.LayoutParams relativeLayoutParams = null;
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "alignParentTop") && joStyle.getBoolean("alignParentTop")) {
relativeLayoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
relativeLayoutParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_TOP);
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "alignParentLeft") && joStyle.getBoolean("alignParentLeft")) {
relativeLayoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
relativeLayoutParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_LEFT);
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "alignParentBottom") && joStyle.getBoolean("alignParentBottom")) {
relativeLayoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
relativeLayoutParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_BOTTOM);
}
if (Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "alignParentRight") && joStyle.getBoolean("alignParentRight")) {
relativeLayoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
relativeLayoutParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_RIGHT);
}
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "marginLeft")) {
relativeLayoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
relativeLayoutParams.setMargins(joStyle.getInt("marginLeft"), relativeLayoutParams.topMargin, relativeLayoutParams.rightMargin, relativeLayoutParams.bottomMargin);
}
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "marginTop")) {
relativeLayoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
relativeLayoutParams.setMargins(relativeLayoutParams.leftMargin, joStyle.getInt("marginTop"), relativeLayoutParams.rightMargin, relativeLayoutParams.bottomMargin);
}
if(Helper.isValidParameter(joStyle, "marginRight")) {
relativeLayoutParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(v.getLayoutParams());
relativeLayoutParams.setMargins(relativeLayoutParams.leftMargin, relativeLayoutParams.topMargin, joStyle.getInt("marginRight"), relativeLayoutParams.bottomMargin);
}
if (relativeLayoutParams != null) {
v.setLayoutParams(relativeLayoutParams);
}
} catch (Exception e) {
Helper.logError("", e);
}
}
}
public static String getSdcardPath() {
if(sdcardPath == null)
sdcardPath = ctx.getApplicationInfo().dataDir;
return sdcardPath;
}
public static String getResourcesPath() {
return getSdcardPath() + "/resources/";
}
public static String getCSSPath() {
return getResourcesPath() + "default.css";
}
public static String getImagesPath() {
return getResourcesPath() + "images/" + ResourceConstants.getScreenDPI(ctx) + "/";
}
public static String getImagesPathNoDpi() {
return getResourcesPath() + "images/";
}
public static NinePatchDrawable loadNinePatchFromFilesystem(String filename) {
if(ninePatchHashMaps == null)
ninePatchHashMaps = new ArrayList<HashMap<String, NinePatchDrawable>>();
// check if we already have this filename so we can reuse it
for (int i = 0; i < ninePatchHashMaps.size(); i++) {
HashMap<String, NinePatchDrawable> row = ninePatchHashMaps.get(i);
if(row.containsKey(filename))
return row.get(filename);
}
NinePatchDrawable patchy = null;
try {
BitmapFactory.Options options = new BitmapFactory.Options();
options.inPreferredConfig = Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888;
Bitmap bitmap = BitmapFactory.decodeFile(filename, options);
byte[] chunk = bitmap.getNinePatchChunk();
boolean result = NinePatch.isNinePatchChunk(chunk);
if (result)
patchy = new NinePatchDrawable(bitmap, chunk, new Rect(), null);
} catch (Exception e){
Helper.logError("NinePatchLoading",e);
}
if(patchy != null) {
HashMap<String, NinePatchDrawable> drawableImage = new HashMap<String, NinePatchDrawable>();
drawableImage.put(filename, patchy);
ninePatchHashMaps.add(drawableImage);
}
return patchy;
}
public static Drawable loadImageFromFilesystem(String filename) {
if(imagesHashMaps == null)
imagesHashMaps = new ArrayList<HashMap<String, Drawable>>();
// check if we already have this filename so we can reuse it
for (int i = 0; i < imagesHashMaps.size(); i++) {
HashMap<String, Drawable> row = imagesHashMaps.get(i);
if(row.containsKey(filename))
return row.get(filename);
}
Drawable image = null;
try {
BitmapFactory.Options options = new BitmapFactory.Options();
options.inPreferredConfig = Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888;
Bitmap bitmap = BitmapFactory.decodeFile(filename, options);
if(bitmap == null)
bitmap = BitmapFactory.decodeFile(filename.replace(ResourceConstants.getScreenDPI(ctx) + "/", ""), options);
image = new BitmapDrawable(bitmap);
} catch (Exception e){
Helper.logError("ImageLoadingError",e);
}
if(image != null) {
HashMap<String, Drawable> drawableImage = new HashMap<String, Drawable>();
drawableImage.put(filename, image);
imagesHashMaps.add(drawableImage);
}
return image;
}
}
