Removing software volume buttons

[Robertnl]

This afternoon i did some tinkering with the M7 pro, i did remap my back button to beeing a volume +/- and made the bars go transparent when on the homescreen (both Xposed framework / gravity box mods).

Now that i have a hardware volume up / down i would like to hide the software buttons.
In addition to that i would love to remove/disable the hide navi/status-bar button (arrow down) as i have the weird habit of touching it instead of the hide keyboard button

So to make it a little more clear, the three buttons on the right here:


I am aware that changing ''ro.rk.systembar.tabletUI'=false'' to true wil solve the arrow part but it removes the quick toggles and transparency of the navigation bar. Next to that it does not fix my ''problem'' concerning the volume icons.

So, I am looking to find wich apk/file is for the volume +/- and the arrow to hide the bar(s). So far i did try to unpack the systemUI (APKtools) but so far i had no luck finding them. Next to this i could not find/think of another APK that could contain this.

So my question is, did i miss something obvious or am i looking in the wrong spot.
Any help / tips on how to get this done are appreciated (thanks in advance)

[rrileypm]

I think the file you are looking for is framework-res.apk in the system/framework folder. A bunch of UI magic is in there.

I'm not much for UI mods, but since you already have Xposed Framework installed, you may try looking for a module that works for this.

Also, I think there are some things in PimpMyROM.apk that may also do this....but it's been a while since I messed with it.

The only thing I use Xposed Framework is to run a circle battery mod I made on a site called UOT Kitchen http://uot.dakra.lt/ This mod doesn't work on KitKat, though.

[Finless]

Actually you want to take apart SystemUI.apk as that is where the bottom status bar stuff is.

Bob

[Robertnl]

I think the file you are looking for is framework-res.apk in the system/framework folder. A bunch of UI magic is in there.

I'm not much for UI mods, but since you already have Xposed Framework installed, you may try looking for a module that works for this.

Also, I think there are some things in PimpMyROM.apk that may also do this....but it's been a while since I messed with it.

The only thing I use Xposed Framework is to run a circle battery mod I made on a site called UOT Kitchen http://uot.dakra.lt/ This mod doesn't work on KitKat, though.

Alright, will look in to those things.
For some reason apktool did not want to take apart the framework-res.apk but i see that i am working with a older version, Will redownload and try it again with the framework if i can not find it in SystemUI.

Apps do not seem to offer this option. They mostly change the ''stock'' icons or turn the bar on/off (not parts of it).

Actually you want to take apart SystemUI.apk as that is where the bottom status bar stuff is.

Bob

Found the ''arrow'' in there as PNG,[s] but did not spot the volume buttons yet. [/s]
Found them, SystemUI it is. Now find where to disable them

Thanks for the help both

[Robertnl]

After digging a bit around its not as easy as it seems, for some reason Virtiuous Ten studio will not decomply the SystemUI.apk fully (gives an error) but its probably me doing something wrong, haha .

After this i did try APK-multi tool which did decomply it, so now i am in to editing the files.

now i did find that the add_normal and sub_normal (which are the volume up and down pictures names) are mentioned in the Navigation_bar.xml files in the folders Layout, Layout-sw480dp and layout-sw600dp

As it seems to easy to just remove those lines, save the XML's, recomply the app (following the instructions) and ctrl+c/v the changed XML and resource.arsc to the ''old'' APK or is this the correct way?

_{Did add one of the XML's if it helps to awnser the question , the sub_normal and add_normal are on the lines, 15, 16 and 31, 32}

Sorry, for asking for help again , Bits of the puzzle seems to be scattered around and i want to be sure that i'm doing it right .

[stevejc]

If you want to hide volume button, simply add this line to build.prop

ro.rk.systembar.voiceicon=false

[Robertnl]

If you want to hide volume button, simply add this line to build.prop

ro.rk.systembar.voiceicon=false

Ah, that line was in the build.prop twice (one true, one false), changed and fixed. Thanks.

Could/should i add another line for the arrow?
Thanks for the help

[stevejc]

Just a question : Why do you want to remap volume button ?

In fact, previously I was doing that, but now with my M8HD I discover that if you keep your finger 2 seconds on the menu button , you get Volume Down and two seconds on ESC, you get Volume Up

So with two hardware buttons, you get four actions

Don't know if it 's working on other tabs

Edit :

I have decompiled SystemUI.apk

I saw two properties that can go to build.prop

persist.sys.fullscreen.mode = normal or fullscreen

persist.sys.hide=false or true

I don't know the meaning of the last one

[Robertnl]

Just a question : Why do you want to remap volume button ?

In fact, previously I was doing that, but now with my M8HD I discover that if you keep your finger 2 seconds on the menu button , you get Volume Down and two seconds on ESC, you get Volume Up

So with two hardware buttons, you get four actions

Don't know if it 's working on other tabs

On the M7 pro you only have 2 buttons, back and power. They did not gave it multiple functions with the stock ROM.
Now the Back button just gives me up on a short and down on a long press Don't need a hardware back button

Edit :

I have decompiled SystemUI.apk

I saw two properties that can go to build.prop

persist.sys.fullscreen.mode = normal or fullscreen

persist.sys.hide=false or true

I don't know the meaning of the last one

Thanks, i did just fix it an hour ago (or so).

Decompiled the SystemUI, edited Navigation_bar.xml and changed the value for that button to zero:

android:layout_width="0.0dip"

Recompiled, copied the files over to the old APK, placed it back into the tablet and:


Happy camper here
Thanks a lot for your help!

[Tybalt39]

Don't mean to thread-jack, but....

...with my M8HD I discover that if you keep your finger 2 seconds on the menu button , you get Volume Down and two seconds on ESC, you get Volume Up

So with two hardware buttons, you get four actions

Don't know if it 's working on other tabs

Would you be able to get this functionality on the old M8PRO (RK3188)? I just tried mine and it doesn't work this way from the factory (stock ROM). This sounds like a good feature to have in a custom ROM....

[Robertnl]

Would you be able to get this functionality on the old M8PRO (RK3188)? I just tried mine and it doesn't work this way from the factory (stock ROM). This sounds like a good feature to have in a custom ROM....

You can do it yourself you need:
- Root
- Xposed framework (link)

Install Xposed framework, update it and reboot.
Then open Xposed framework again


Go to the download tab of Xposed framework and install: Xposed Additions
Now Enable Xposed Additions in modules tab of the Xposed app.
Reboot

Now open the Xposed Additions app
Klick on Re-map
Add new button and set it how you want .

Do a reboot, and done !