Apktool: metaresources.arsc

[AlexStrannik]

I have found in GoogleMaps package folder file named metaresources.arcs. I'm using the freshest apktool 2.2.2
Help me! This file could not be opened by any app

[iBotPeaches]

Interesting. I've never seen another arsc file in an application. It must unpack it separately. I assume by Google Maps you mean the regular Google Maps application I can download myself?

[bursoft-git]

Yes, its regular Google Maps app, latest version 9.48.2 have metaresources.arsc inside assets folder.
https://apkpure.com/maps-navigation-transit/com.google.android.apps.maps

[lol768]

Also seeing one of these in Google Play Services. Anyone managed to decode these?

[AlexStrannik]

I thought an aapt application can. But how to do this I do not know.
This file has structure, which is identical to resources.arsc.

[iBotPeaches]

Spent a solid amount of time looking into metaresources today. In short - no idea.

The header doesn't match that of resources.arsc. Aapt can't handle it. I will dig some more later.

[nfalliere]

metaresources.arsc files are not regular binary resources files, they are compressed resources container serving as a generator for localized resources.arsc. I reverse engineered the format using an older version of the com.android.vending app:

• Partial description of the binary format in the second part of this blog: https://www.pnfsoftware.com/blog/android-metaresources-arsc/
• In order to write your own decoder (JEB ships with one, but it's not open-sourced), also look at the annotated decompiled code stored in the JEB's JDB2 database linked in the blog.

[iBotPeaches]

Nice investigation! Was always curious what that file was for. Looks like a compact little trick to pack in those resources.

[iBotPeaches]

Adjusting this ticket to the Feature ticket for metaresources. It will probably take years at my current pace of work on Apktool :/