Root Titanium Backup Folder on SD Card - Extracting APKs from these Files??

[scudder]

Hello...

I'm looking to start "fresh" with my Titanium Backupup Pro App...cleaning out allllll my backups and replacing with new data after cleaning out my phone and having some custom ROM issues. However, I don't just want to trash the Titanium Folder on my sd card and start new because there are a few apps that I have backed up that are important and/or NOT AVAILABLE any more. So I want to grab the APKs and keep them on my computer or otherwise and then trash the Titanium folder as needed.

I noticed in the TitaniumBackup folder on my sd card that there are three files created for each backup with the following extensions:

.properties
.tar.gz
.apk.gz

I know that the .gz and .tar.gz files are compression archives used by Titanium (for those of you that care, the .gz extension is the Gnu Zipped compression method and the tar.gz is a .tar (Consolidated Unix File Archive) package of data files compressed together with .gz)

The first two files above are very small. The ".properties" file seems to be just that: properties/info used by Titanium. The ".tar.gz" file decompresses into a "data" folder which, my assumption, is the data backup of the apk.

Now the last folder seems to simply decompress into the apps apk file. I was wondering if that is PRECISELY what it is and what I want in terms of keeping an apk file of the apps that I want??

There is a method within Titanium to email or otherwise transfer the apk file but to do that from the phone and through email blah blah blah is much MORE work than just decompressing the .apk.gz from the sd card and there's my apk!!

Can anyone confirm that the .apk.gz file is what I'm looking to use to extract the apk??

THANKS!!

 

[CapThrowback]

Hello...

I'm looking to start "fresh" with my Titanium Backupup Pro App...cleaning out allllll my backups and replacing with new data after cleaning out my phone and having some custom ROM issues. However, I don't just want to trash the Titanium Folder on my sd card and start new because there are a few apps that I have backed up that are important and/or NOT AVAILABLE any more. So I want to grab the APKs and keep them on my computer or otherwise and then trash the Titanium folder as needed.

I noticed in the TitaniumBackup folder on my sd card that there are three files created for each backup with the following extensions:

.properties
.tar.gz
.apk.gz

I know that the .gz and .tar.gz files are compression archives used by Titanium (for those of you that care, the .gz extension is the Gnu Zipped compression method and the tar.gz is a .tar (Consolidated Unix File Archive) package of data files compressed together with .gz)

The first two files above are very small. The ".properties" file seems to be just that: properties/info used by Titanium. The ".tar.gz" file decompresses into a "data" folder which, my assumption, is the data backup of the apk.

Now the last folder seems to simply decompress into the apps apk file. I was wondering if that is PRECISELY what it is and what I want in terms of keeping an apk file of the apps that I want??

There is a method within Titanium to email or otherwise transfer the apk file but to do that from the phone and through email blah blah blah is much MORE work than just decompressing the .apk.gz from the sd card and there's my apk!!

Can anyone confirm that the .apk.gz file is what I'm looking to use to extract the apk??

THANKS!!

But seriously, I've actually used Astro to install the APKs directly from the archive, so those are definitely it.

 

[scudder]

But seriously, I've actually used Astro to install the APKs directly from the archive, so those are definitely it.

Great...thanks there Cap. Mary Kate (Olsen)!

Follow up question...

The Titanium files are saved with the "com.developer.weirdname.apk" package name. It would obviously be EASIEST to be able to look through the folder and find the common names "1Weather" or "Astro" or "Weatherbug" or the like but often there is NO logical correspondence between the common name and the package apk name.

Do you know of any app that will provide a list of the common name and the com.apk name so I know whatthehell I'm looking it?? I don't recall at the moment but an app like AppBak or something like that I thought would provide you with a list of your installed apps and the package name as well...

THANKS!

 

[CapThrowback]

Great...thanks there Cap. Mary Kate (Olsen)!

Follow up question...

The Titanium files are saved with the "com.developer.weirdname.apk" package name. It would obviously be EASIEST to be able to look through the folder and find the common names "1Weather" or "Astro" or "Weatherbug" or the like but often there is NO logical correspondence between the common name and the package apk name.

Do you know of any app that will provide a list of the common name and the com.apk name so I know whatthehell I'm looking it?? I don't recall at the moment but an app like AppBak or something like that I thought would provide you with a list of your installed apps and the package name as well...

THANKS!

I *think* Astro's App Manager does that. Let me check.

EDIT: Nope, that won't even extract it.

EDIT 2: ES File Explorer will install the APK directly after extracting it, but it won't tell you the name until you try to install it. It might be easier to just delete all the backups you don't need from Titanium, and then you'll know that the APKs that remain are the ones you want, whatever they're named .

 

[dustwun77]

There is a free app named appsaver. Get it and use it to save just the apps you are cocerned with. You can reinstall it restore apps or do them
with s file msnager. They are easy to get to in its folder.

 

[scudder]

There is a free app named atppsaver. Get it and use it to save just the apps you are cocerned with. You can reinstall it restore apps or do them
with s file msnager. They are easy to get to in its folder.

I'll check it out. Problem I foresee, however, is that with my present situation (which you are aware of with MikG and starting "fresh") my apps are already archived in Titanium and not installed on the phone. I ASSume (without looking at the app you mentioned) that is saves the apps that are installed and "launch-able" and I was hoping to just find the apps I need, extract and be done since I already have the whole Titanium Backup folder on my computer with the archives.

Looks like something I'd want to use in the future though...thanks!

 

[argedion]

You could just opt to not restore data and then after the clean install zip up the titanium folder and move it to computer. Then start from scratch titanium will just create a new folder

 

[dustwun77]

You assumed correctly!

I assumed you had them up and running.

 

[scudder]

Here are three apps that provide the common name of the app and the package name:

AppBak: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.moparisthebest.appbak

App List: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elitenerds.applist

App List Backup: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.punsoftware.backup

The first two, AppBak and App List, export text files to your sd card that you use in a stand-alone text reader or use to create a link back to the Market to reinstall if they are missing. Problem with both of these two (for me) is that the list is exported sorta "randomly" and not alphabetically so bit of a pain to sort through and find what you're looking for. But if you export the file to your computer, you can alphabetize in Microsoft Word or other program.

The third app App List Backup has a REAL NICE looking UI...and it is ALPHABETICAL!:

However, the file that it creates is some sort of database file that cannot be read by a basic text editor. It is an ".alb" file that I am unfamiliar with. Maybe there is an easy way to work with it but all I was able to do was to import back into the app itself to read.

What you can do and what I have done in the past is take screenshots of the list shown above and just save them to your computer or wherever for reference. Nice and alphabetical that way AND added benefit that you have a PICTURE OF THE ICON to reference as well.

 

[scudder]

You could just opt to not restore data and then after the clean install zip up the titanium folder and move it to computer. Then start from scratch titanium will just create a new folder

Interesting point...DEFINITELY good idea for the future once I have reinstalled my apps. My plan is DEFINITELY to start FRESH with a new Titanium folder. At the moment I'm trying to get into my currently backed up Titanium folder on my computer to figure out what apps I want to save. I'm just trying to short cut having to load them into my phone to "read" what apps I have with the package names.

Also, that's a GREAT way to save the APKs, however, as before, I'll be only saving the package names which, in some case, aren't intuitively linked or suggestive of the common name so I still need that common name/package name association.

 

[scudder]

You assumed correctly!

I assumed you had them up and running.

Hey, hey, hey now...only been working on getting my MikG 3.11 stable...stable-"ish"..as best I can...EVERY DAY since MARCH 3!!! I can't go THAT FAST with getting my apps back!!

 

[dustwun77]

dude, just restore a nand that has the apps you are wanting in it, dl and install appsaver.

use it to save the apps you are wanting, it puts them in an Appsaver folder on sd card.

Restore your working nand, navigate to said folder with Astro, or whichever, restore the apps in question with the filemanager.

another assumption i am making is that it just saves the apps and not the data. Might ought to check on that.

 

[scudder]

dude, just restore a nand that has the apps you are wanting in it, dl and install appsaver.

use it to save the apps you are wanting, it puts them in an Appsaver folder on sd card.

Restore your working nand, navigate to said folder with Astro, or whichever, restore the apps in question with the filemanager.

another assumption i am making is that it just saves the apps and not the data. Might ought to check on that.

THAT is an interesting idea...especially in light of the fact that I just learned that one does not need to go through the whole data wipe and/or format process to hop from one nand to another!

Now all I got to do is figure out which Nand I need (and check the app/app+ data issue)....hmmm....thanks!!

 

[dustwun77]

Decisions decisions...

 

[argedion]

If it were me I would do one of two things, cause really all this downloading and saving and moving and deleting and Nandroiding have made me spin into a circle of confusion.

1. As stated earlier I would do a Restore with Titanium and choose each app I want and restore noting but the app.

2. If They are in a Nandroid I would use Unandroid and just move the apps out of that over to a folder named backup apps.

I have astro file manager that also has a backup utility built in. I use it with Titanium backup to backup apps. Some apps I have they haven't had in the market in a while and some I downloaded I don't care for and have deleted. However Titanium still has a copy because I have yet to clean it out.

 

[scudder]

Decisions decisions...

Ha, Dust!! I'm liking the ideas going forward...I like to have a few different ways I can do something.

So...these apk.gz files that I already have on my computer in a folder...I can just keep them right there is I want to save them right??

 

[scudder]

I have astro file manager that also has a backup utility built in. I use it with Titanium backup to backup apps. Some apps I have they haven't had in the market in a while and some I downloaded I don't care for and have deleted. However Titanium still has a copy because I have yet to clean it out.

I was wondering why you use both Astro and Titanium for your backups?? After using Astro then My Backup Pro and then Titanium I just kinda now rely on ONLY Titanium. Just wondering if relying on one app is better, not having to worry about other stuff, or if it might be more efficient if another app has a better function...

 

[dustwun77]

Ha, Dust!! I'm liking the ideas going forward...I like to have a few different ways I can do something.

So...these apk.gz files that I already have on my computer in a folder...I can just keep them right there is I want to save them right??

Hey Scudder,

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand the question?

 

[scudder]

Ha, Dust!! I'm liking the ideas going forward...I like to have a few different ways I can do something.

So...these apk.gz files that I already have on my computer in a folder...I can just keep them right there is I want to save them right??

Hey Scudder,

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand the question?

No, no, no! Don't apologize...I was making a little (and apparently bad) joke! The thread progressed in a way (which is just FINE) into ways to nand restore and reinstall apps then extract to the phone with one or two different apps to save to a folder to transfer to wherever one want or keep on the phone or put on the computer...WHEW huh??

Like I said, the thoughts and ideas are GREAT, especially as I go forward with ideas to backup an apk. I've just come "full circle" considering everything suggested realizing that the apks are already just simply sitting on my computer and I just need to reconcile the package names with the names of the apps I want and leave them sit!

 

[Rxpert83]

The thing is, they don't want you to be able to extract the apk or else it would he very easy to send it to someone else without them paying for the app

 

[scudder]

The thing is, they don't want you to be able to extract the apk or else it would he very easy to send it to someone else without them paying for the app

I understand the/"their" concern but now I'm confused. If I have these Titanium apk.gz archives and I decompress to the ".apk" file those are THE APK FILES that I would need to install in the future if I wanted to in the future right?? It's just as if I left them in Titanium where, paid or not, I'd be able to reinstall any app that I have uninstalled and kept archived in the Titanium folder.

Like I said, I understand "their" concern but it appears that once I'm rooted and using Titanium (or any other app mentioned above) I can backup JUST the apk and store it wherever to use at any time, right??

THANKS!!

 

[scudder]

Well, I find it pretty funny that I found an answer to my own question with something that I had all along but didn't think to check...

Apparently, Titanium Backup itself has a feature that will export the names of allllll your apps, either installed only or all of them, into a text file...alphabetically by the way!!....with the package name right there!!

Soooo, you can get a list of all your apps, common name and package name, and then, in my case, can keep whatever you want from the Titanium Backup folder of archived APKs on the sd card!! Those other apps like AppBak will do the same thing with propagating a list but funny that I didn't even think to check Titanium for this feature.

FYI...Titanium

 

[argedion]

I was wondering why you use both Astro and Titanium for your backups?? After using Astro then My Backup Pro and then Titanium I just kinda now rely on ONLY Titanium. Just wondering if relying on one app is better, not having to worry about other stuff, or if it might be more efficient if another app has a better function...

Titanium backup is my main backup program. I also use it to restore those backups. I us the Astro backup feature because I can atleast have a copy of the apk incase something goes wrong. The system works well for me. I have the best of both worlds this way

 

[CapThrowback]

The thing is, they don't want you to be able to extract the apk or else it would he very easy to send it to someone else without them paying for the app

This isn't really a concern, because almost all Play Store-purchased apps authenticate back to the Play Store to reconcile the app to the Gmail account on your device to ensure you actually purchased it. If you didn't, the app either typically won't work or will revert to a Trial or Free version.

Though I am a little curious about how effective this is - anybody got a paid app from Titanium Backup they want to PM me to test? (I'm obviously just kidding - I would never condone this type of behavior, as I strongly believe developers should be compensated for their hard work)

 

[scudder]

This isn't really a concern, because almost all Play Store-purchased apps authenticate back to the Play Store to reconcile the app to the Gmail account on your device to ensure you actually purchased it. If you didn't, the app either typically won't work or will revert to a Trial or Free version.

Though I am a little curious about how effective this is - anybody got a paid app from Titanium Backup they want to PM me to test? (I'm obviously just kidding - I would never condone this type of behavior, as I strongly believe developers should be compensated for their hard work)

I'm gonna guess what would happen would be what happens when I've launched an Amazon-linked app and haven't had my Amazon App Store running...you get the little popup that you have run the App Store on your phone.