Develop Reference

Overriding Style XML for Component

im using Material IO and i want to Change the Text-Color of my Menu.
<resources>
...
<style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.MaterialComponents.Light">
...
<item name="android:textColorPrimary">#color/colorText</item>
</style>
...
<resources>
Does exactly that. But it changes every Text Color. But i just want to Change the Color of my Menu-Text.
So i tried to change only that:
<style name="ActionBarTheme" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/colorMenuText</item> //android.view
<item name="android:textColorPrimary">#color/colorMenuText</item>
<item name="android:actionMenuTextAppearance">#color/colorWhite</item>
<item name="android:background">#color/colorAccent</item>
<item name="popupTheme">#style/ActionBarPopupTheme</item>
<!-- backward compatibility -->
<item name="background">#color/colorAccent</item>
</style>
by writing some Thing like This.
I can change the Menu-Background this way, but i cant change the Menu-Text-Color this way. I tried everything i found on Stackoverflow but i couldnt fix this issue.
Whole Styles.xml
<resources>
<style name="ActionBarTheme" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/colorMenuText</item> //android.view
<item name="android:textColorPrimary">#color/colorMenuText</item>
<item name="android:actionMenuTextAppearance">#color/colorWhite</item>
<item name="android:background">#color/colorAccent</item>
<item name="popupTheme">#style/ActionBarPopupTheme</item>
<!-- backward compatibility -->
<item name="background">#color/colorAccent</item>
</style>
<style name="AlertDialogCustom" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.Dialog.Alert">
<item name="android:colorAccent">#0000FF</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarPopupTheme">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/colorMenuText</item>
<item name="android:background">#color/colorMenuBackground</item>
</style>
<!-- Base application theme. -->
<style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.MaterialComponents.Light">
<!-- MENU -->
<item name="android:actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBarTheme</item>
<item name="actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBarTheme</item>
<!-- DIALOG -->
<item name="md_color_title">#color/colorPrimary</item>
<item name="md_color_content">#color/colorPrimaryDark</item>
<item name="md_color_button_text">#color/colorAccent</item>
<!-- Customize your theme here. -->
<item name="colorPrimary">#color/colorTest2</item>
<item name="colorPrimaryDark">#color/colorTest3</item>
<item name="colorAccent">#color/colorAccent</item>
<item name="android:actionMenuTextColor">#color/colorMenuText</item>
<item name="android:textColor">#color/colorWhite</item>
<item name="color">#color/colorTest4</item>
<item name="colorSecondary">#FF0000</item>
<item name="android:colorBackground">#color/colorBackground</item>
<item name="colorError">#color/colorError</item>
<item name="colorPrimaryVariant">#color/colorAccent</item>
<item name="colorSecondaryVariant">#color/colorTest</item>
<item name="colorSurface">#313131</item>
<item name="colorOnPrimary">#00BCD4</item>
<item name="colorOnSecondary">#00BCD4</item>
<item name="colorOnBackground">#673AB7</item>
<item name="colorOnError">#2196F3</item>
<item name="colorOnSurface">#color/colorOnAccent</item> <!-- placeholder farbe -->
<item name="scrimBackground">#E607FF</item>
<item name="android:editTextColor">#color/colorText</item>
<item name="android:textColorPrimary">#color/colorText</item>
<item name="android:textColorSecondary">#color/colorText</item>
<item name="android:textColorTertiary">#color/colorText</item>
<item name="android:textColorPrimaryInverse">#color/colorText</item>
<item name="android:textColorSecondaryInverse">#color/colorText</item>
<item name="android:textColorTertiaryInverse">#color/colorText</item>
</style>
<style name="MyTheme" parent="#android:style/Theme.Holo.Light">
<item name="android:actionBarStyle">#style/MyTheme.ActionBarStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="MyTheme.ActionBarStyle" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar">
<item name="android:titleTextStyle">#style/MyTheme.ActionBar.TitleTextStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="MyTheme.ActionBar.TitleTextStyle" parent="#android:style/TextAppearance.Holo.Widget.ActionBar.Title">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/colorMenuText</item>
</style>
<style name="Theme.MyApp" parent="Theme.AppCompat">
<!-- DIALOG -->
<item name="md_color_title">#color/colorPrimary</item>
<item name="md_color_content">#color/colorPrimaryDark</item>
<item name="md_color_button_text">#color/colorAccent</item>
<!-- Original AppCompat attributes. -->
<item name="colorPrimary">#color/colorTest4</item>
<item name="colorSecondary">#color/colorTest5</item>
<item name="android:colorBackground">#color/colorBackground</item>
<item name="colorError">#color/colorError</item>
<!-- New MaterialComponents attributes. -->
<item name="colorPrimaryVariant">#color/colorAccent</item>
<item name="colorSecondaryVariant">#color/colorTest</item>
<item name="colorSurface">#313131</item>
<item name="colorOnPrimary">#9C27B0</item>
<item name="colorOnSecondary">#00BCD4</item>
<item name="colorOnBackground">#673AB7</item>
<item name="colorOnError">#2196F3</item>
<item name="colorOnSurface">#E91E63</item>
<item name="scrimBackground">#FFC107</item>
<item name="textAppearanceHeadline1">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Headline1</item>
<item name="textAppearanceHeadline2">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Headline2</item>
<item name="textAppearanceHeadline3">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Headline3</item>
<item name="textAppearanceHeadline4">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Headline4</item>
<item name="textAppearanceHeadline5">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Headline5</item>
<item name="textAppearanceHeadline6">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Headline6</item>
<item name="textAppearanceSubtitle1">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Subtitle1</item>
<item name="textAppearanceSubtitle2">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Subtitle2</item>
<item name="textAppearanceBody1">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Body1</item>
<item name="textAppearanceBody2">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Body2</item>
<item name="textAppearanceCaption">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Caption</item>
<item name="textAppearanceButton">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Button</item>
<item name="textAppearanceOverline">#style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Overline</item>
</style>
</resources>

I tried this minimum sample of your code and it gives me the desired behavior
I think there is a conflict with your styles
<!-- Base application theme. -->
<style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.MaterialComponents.Light">
<item name="colorPrimary">#color/colorPrimary</item>
<item name="colorPrimaryDark">#color/colorPrimaryDark</item>
<item name="colorAccent">#color/colorAccent</item>
<item name="actionBarTheme">#style/ActionBarTheme</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarTheme" parent="#style/ThemeOverlay.MaterialComponents.ActionBar">
<item name="android:textColorPrimary">#ffffff</item>//for title text color
<item name="colorPrimary">#D81B60</item>// for toolbar background
<item name="popupTheme">#style/ActionBarPopupTheme</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarPopupTheme">
<item name="android:textColor">#304FFE</item> // for option menu text color
</style>

Converting Existing App To New Material Design

i am trying to change the design of an existing app with a new design given by client, the app is none but Q-Municate from Quickblox, the exisitng design is old and using ActionBar, i want to replace everything with the latest Material Design, Adding AppCompact v7 Lib 23,causes affect and errors to some other libraries , so i am using AppCompact v7 19
A Good tutorial or step by step guideline would be appreciated. Thanks in advance
I am pasting my styles.xml
<style name="AppTheme" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="android:actionBarStyle">#style/MyActionBar</item>
<item name="android:actionModeStyle">#style/MyActionMode</item>
</style>
<!-- ActionBar styles -->
<style name="MyActionBar" parent="android:Widget.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#color/action_bar_background_color</item>
<item name="android:displayOptions">showTitle</item>
<item name="android:titleTextStyle">#style/MyActionBarTitleText</item>
<item name="android:indeterminateProgressStyle">#style/IndeterminateProgressStyle</item>
</style>
<!-- ActionBar title body -->
<style name="MyActionBarTitleText" parent="android:TextAppearance.Holo.Widget.ActionBar.Title">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
</style>
<style name="AppTheme.NoActionBar" parent="android:Theme.Holo.Light.NoActionBar">
<item name="android:windowNoTitle">true</item>
</style>
<style name="MyActionMode">
<item name="android:actionModeCloseDrawable">#drawable/badge_action_mode</item>
<item name="android:actionModeBackground">#drawable/badge_action_mode</item>
<item name="android:windowContentOverlay">#null</item>
<item name="android:titleTextStyle">#style/MyActionModeTitleText</item>
</style>
<style name="MyActionModeTitleText" parent="android:TextAppearance.Holo.Widget.ActionMode.Title">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
</style>
<style name="baseToggleBtn">
<item name="android:textOff"></item>
<item name="android:textOn"></item>
</style>
<!-- EmojiTabs styles -->
<style name="EmojiTabImageButton" parent="android:Widget.ImageButton">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/tab_emoji_selector</item>
<item name="android:layout_width">0dip</item>
<item name="android:layout_height">match_parent</item>
<item name="android:layout_weight">1</item>
</style>
<!-- Avatars ImageView style -->
<style name="AvatarImageView">
<item name="android:layout_width">#dimen/image_view_big_avatar_layout_width</item>
<item name="android:layout_height">#dimen/image_view_big_avatar_layout_height</item>
<item name="android:layout_gravity">center|top</item>
<item name="android:scaleType">centerCrop</item>
<item name="android:src">#drawable/placeholder_user</item>
</style>
<style name="IndeterminateProgressStyle" parent="#android:style/Widget.ProgressBar">
<item name="android:minHeight">24dp</item>
<item name="android:maxHeight">24dp</item>
<item name="android:minWidth">32dp</item>
<item name="android:maxWidth">32dp</item>
</style>
<style name="DoneCancelBar">
<item name="android:layout_width">match_parent</item>
<item name="android:layout_height">#dimen/action_bar_height</item>
<item name="android:orientation">horizontal</item>
<item name="android:divider">#drawable/ic_action_divider</item>
<item name="android:showDividers" tools:ignore="NewApi">middle</item>
<item name="android:dividerPadding" tools:ignore="NewApi">12dp</item>
<item name="android:background">#color/action_button_bar</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButton">
<item name="android:layout_width">0dp</item>
<item name="android:layout_height">match_parent</item>
<item name="android:layout_weight">1</item>
<item name="android:background">#drawable/action_selectable_background</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButtonText">
<item name="android:layout_width">wrap_content</item>
<item name="android:layout_height">wrap_content</item>
<item name="android:layout_gravity">center</item>
<item name="android:gravity">center_vertical</item>
<item name="android:paddingRight">20dp</item>
<!-- Offsets left drawable -->
<item name="android:drawablePadding">8dp</item>
<item name="android:textColor">#color/action_button_text</item>
<item name="android:textStyle">bold</item>
<item name="android:textSize">13sp</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButtonText.Done">
<item name="android:drawableLeft">#drawable/ic_action_done</item>
<item name="android:text">#string/dlg_done</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButtonText.Cancel">
<item name="android:drawableLeft">#drawable/ic_action_cancel</item>
<item name="android:text">#string/dlg_cancel</item>
</style>

On the previsualicer of the mobile phone, you can choose the theme here and choose material (dark or light)

Change text color and size of actionbar

I try to change text color and size of my actionbar through the style resources:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<style name="Theme.Example3" parent="#android:style/Theme.Holo.Light">
<item name="android:actionBarItemBackground">#drawable/selectable_background_example3</item>
<item name="android:popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Example3</item>
<item name="android:dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Example3</item>
<item name="android:actionBarTabStyle">#style/ActionBarTabStyle.Example3</item>
<item name="android:actionDropDownStyle">#style/DropDownNav.Example3</item>
<item name="android:actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.Example3</item>
<item name="android:actionModeBackground">#drawable/cab_background_top_example3</item>
<item name="android:actionModeSplitBackground">#drawable/cab_background_bottom_example3</item>
<item name="android:actionModeCloseButtonStyle">#style/ActionButton.CloseMode.Example3</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar.Solid">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_solid_example3</item>
<item name="android:backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_example3</item>
<item name="android:backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_example3</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Example3</item>
</style>
<style name="Theme.Example3.ActionBar.Solid.Example3.TitleTextStyle" parent="#android:style/TextAppearance.Medium">
<item name="android:textSize">20sp</item>
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Transparent.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_transparent_example3</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Example3</item>
</style>
<style name="PopupMenu.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ListPopupWindow">
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_example3</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownListView.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ListView.DropDown">
<item name="android:listSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_example3</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarTabStyle.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar.TabView">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/tab_indicator_ab_example3</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownNav.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.Spinner">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/spinner_background_ab_example3</item>
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_example3</item>
<item name="android:dropDownSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_example3</item>
</style>
<style name="ProgressBar.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ProgressBar.Horizontal">
<item name="android:progressDrawable">#drawable/progress_horizontal_example3</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButton.CloseMode.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionButton.CloseMode">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/btn_cab_done_example3</item>
</style>
<!-- this style is only referenced in a Light.DarkActionBar based theme -->
<style name="Theme.Example3.Widget" parent="#android:style/Theme.Holo">
<item name="android:popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Example3</item>
<item name="android:dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Example3</item>
</style>
</resources>
The above style.xml contains following code part, which should change text color and size, but it happens nothing on my actionbar:
<style name="Theme.Example3.ActionBar.Solid.Example3.TitleTextStyle" parent="#android:style/TextAppearance.Medium">
<item name="android:textSize">20sp</item>
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
</style>
What is wrong?
Thanks!!

<item name="android:titleTextStyle">#style/Theme.Example3.ActionBar.Solid.Example3.TitleTextStyle</item>
is missing in <style name="ActionBar.Solid.Example3">

The problem is that you need to link the third block of style from inside the second block of style:
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.Example3" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar.Solid">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_solid_example3</item>
<item name="android:backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_example3</item>
<item name="android:backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_example3</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Example3</item>
<item name="android:titleTextStyle">#style/Theme.Example3.ActionBar.Solid.Example3.TitleTextStyle</item>
</style>

Customizing up Button in android

I want to customize the up button, I am using appcompat library for my actionbar. I don't want the default up button which android provides. Because I am using actionbar that has produced by style generator. So that up button looks pale with the color of actionbar that I selected. Can someone please suggest me how to achieve it? I have searched lot but couldn't find.
I have prepared my own image for it. So I want to replace that with my image. I believe it is possible. Because googleplay displays the actionbar with up button in different color in the apps section.
Below is the styles.xml:
<style name="Theme.Customab" parent="#style/Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="actionBarItemBackground">#drawable/selectable_background_customab</item>
<item name="popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Customab</item>
<item name="dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Customab</item>
<item name="actionBarTabStyle">#style/ActionBarTabStyle.Customab</item>
<item name="actionDropDownStyle">#style/DropDownNav.Customab</item>
<item name="actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.Customab</item>
<item name="actionModeBackground">#drawable/cab_background_top_customab</item>
<item name="actionModeSplitBackground">#drawable/cab_background_bottom_customab</item>
<item name="actionModeCloseButtonStyle">#style/ActionButton.CloseMode.Customab</item>
<!-- Light.DarkActionBar specific -->
<item name="actionBarWidgetTheme">#style/Theme.Customab.Widget</item>
**<item name="android:homeAsUpIndicator">#drawable/customup</item>**
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.Light.ActionBar.Solid.Inverse">
<item name="background">#drawable/ab_solid_customab</item>
<item name="backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_customab</item>
<item name="backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_customab</item>
<item name="progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Customab</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Transparent.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar">
<item name="background">#drawable/ab_transparent_customab</item>
<item name="progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Customab</item>
</style>
<style name="PopupMenu.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.PopupMenu">
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_customab</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownListView.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ListView.DropDown">
<item name="android:listSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_customab</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarTabStyle.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar.TabView">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/tab_indicator_ab_customab</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownNav.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.Spinner.DropDown.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/spinner_background_ab_customab</item>
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_customab</item>
<item name="android:dropDownSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_customab</item>
</style>
<style name="ProgressBar.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ProgressBar.Horizontal">
<item name="android:progressDrawable">#drawable/progress_horizontal_customab</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButton.CloseMode.Customab" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionButton.CloseMode">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/btn_cab_done_customab</item>
</style>
<!-- this style is only referenced in a Light.DarkActionBar based theme -->
<style name="Theme.Customab.Widget" parent="#style/Theme.AppCompat">
<item name="popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Customab</item>
<item name="dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Customab</item>
</style>

Adding this item to your custom theme that is related with pre-Honeycomb will give an error because that attribute does not exist in the Android framework on older devices.
<item name="android:homeAsUpIndicator">#drawable/action_up_caret</item>
Instead of "android:homeAsUpIndicator" you should override "homeAsUpIndicator" attribute in your custom theme if you are using AppCompat library.
<item name="homeAsUpIndicator">#drawable/action_up_caret</item>
Note: Here's the AppCompat source if you're interested. https://github.com/android/platform_frameworks_support/tree/master/v7/appcompat or https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/support/+/master/v7/appcompat/
Here is some of the files of the my test project:
values\styles_example.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<style name="Theme.Example" parent="#style/Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="android:actionBarItemBackground">#drawable/selectable_background_example</item>
<item name="popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Example</item>
<item name="dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Example</item>
<item name="actionBarTabStyle">#style/ActionBarTabStyle.Example</item>
<item name="actionDropDownStyle">#style/DropDownNav.Example</item>
<item name="actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.Example</item>
<item name="actionModeBackground">#drawable/cab_background_top_example</item>
<item name="actionModeSplitBackground">#drawable/cab_background_bottom_example</item>
<item name="actionModeCloseButtonStyle">#style/ActionButton.CloseMode.Example</item>
<!-- Light.DarkActionBar specific -->
<item name="actionBarWidgetTheme">#style/Theme.Example.Widget</item>
<item name="homeAsUpIndicator">#drawable/ic_launcher</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.Light.ActionBar.Solid.Inverse">
<item name="background">#drawable/ab_solid_example</item>
<item name="backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_example</item>
<item name="backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_example</item>
<item name="progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Example</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Transparent.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar">
<item name="background">#drawable/ab_transparent_example</item>
<item name="progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Example</item>
</style>
<style name="PopupMenu.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.PopupMenu">
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_example</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownListView.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ListView.DropDown">
<item name="android:listSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_example</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarTabStyle.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar.TabView">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/tab_indicator_ab_example</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownNav.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.Spinner.DropDown.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/spinner_background_ab_example</item>
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_example</item>
<item name="android:dropDownSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_example</item>
</style>
<style name="ProgressBar.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ProgressBar.Horizontal">
<item name="android:progressDrawable">#drawable/progress_horizontal_example</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButton.CloseMode.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionButton.CloseMode">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/btn_cab_done_example</item>
</style>
<!-- this style is only referenced in a Light.DarkActionBar based theme -->
<style name="Theme.Example.Widget" parent="#style/Theme.AppCompat">
<item name="popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Example</item>
<item name="dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Example</item>
</style>
</resources>
values-v14\styles_example.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<style name="Theme.Example" parent="#style/Theme.AppCompat.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="android:actionBarItemBackground">#drawable/selectable_background_example</item>
<item name="android:popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Example</item>
<item name="android:dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Example</item>
<item name="android:actionBarTabStyle">#style/ActionBarTabStyle.Example</item>
<item name="android:actionDropDownStyle">#style/DropDownNav.Example</item>
<item name="android:actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.Example</item>
<item name="android:actionModeBackground">#drawable/cab_background_top_example</item>
<item name="android:actionModeSplitBackground">#drawable/cab_background_bottom_example</item>
<item name="android:actionModeCloseButtonStyle">#style/ActionButton.CloseMode.Example</item>
<!-- Light.DarkActionBar specific -->
<item name="android:actionBarWidgetTheme">#style/Theme.Example.Widget</item>
<item name="android:homeAsUpIndicator">#drawable/ic_launcher</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.Light.ActionBar.Solid.Inverse">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_solid_example</item>
<item name="android:backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_example</item>
<item name="android:backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_example</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Example</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Transparent.Example" parent="#style/Widget.AppCompat.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_transparent_example</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.Example</item>
</style>
<!-- this style is only referenced in a Light.DarkActionBar based theme -->
<style name="Theme.Example.Widget" parent="#style/Theme.AppCompat">
<item name="android:popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.Example</item>
<item name="android:dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.Example</item>
</style>
</resources>
This way should able to able to get a look like this in your activity.

Keep your image in drawable folder
specify attribute .
android:logo
Because ActionBar will use the android:logo attribute of your manifest, if one is provided. That lets you use separate drawable resources for the icon (Launcher) and the logo (ActionBar, among other things).

I've not used AppCompat, but it's pretty simple(but hard to find out) on Android 4.0.
You need to add the following item to your Application theme XML.
<item name="android:homeAsUpIndicator">#drawable/action_up_caret</item>

ActionBar has correct colors in Android 4.2, wrong colors in Android 2.3

I'm using ActionBarSherlock and HoloEverywhere in my app. I used the ActionBar Style Generator to generate my styles and then modified them a bit by hand for text colors, etc.
I'm having a problem where my ActionBar looks correct on my Android 4.2 device (that is, orange with white text), but on my Android 2.3 device the ActionBar is black with grey text.
Does anyone know what might cause this?
<style name="Theme.MyApp" parent="#style/Holo.Theme.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="android:actionBarItemBackground">#drawable/selectable_background_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionBarTabStyle">#style/ActionBarTabStyle.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionDropDownStyle">#style/DropDownNav.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionModeBackground">#drawable/cab_background_top_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionModeSplitBackground">#drawable/cab_background_bottom_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionModeCloseButtonStyle">#style/ActionButton.CloseMode.MyApp</item>
<!-- <item name="android:textColorPrimary">#FFFFFF</item> -->
<item name="android:spinnerDropDownItemStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:titleTextStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.TitleTextStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.DropDownItem.Spinner">
<item name="android:textAppearance">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle.TextStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle.TextStyle" parent="#android:style/Widget">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
<item name="android:textSize">18sp</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.TitleTextStyle" parent="#android:style/TextAppearance.Holo.Widget.ActionBar.Title">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
<item name="android:textSize">18sp</item>
<!-- <item name="android:fontFamily">sans-serif-medium</item> -->
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Transparent.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_transparent_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="PopupMenu.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ListPopupWindow">
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownListView.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ListView.DropDown">
<item name="android:listSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarTabStyle.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ActionBar.TabView">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/tab_indicator_ab_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownNav.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Spinner">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/spinner_background_ab_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:dropDownSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="ProgressBar.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ProgressBar.Horizontal">
<item name="android:progressDrawable">#drawable/progress_horizontal_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButton.CloseMode.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ActionButton.CloseMode">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/btn_cab_done_MyApp</item>
</style>
<!-- this style is only referenced in a Light.DarkActionBar based theme -->
<style name="Theme.MyApp.Widget" parent="#android:style/Theme.Holo">
<item name="android:popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.MyApp</item>
</style>
--------------- EDIT ----------------------
So I'm now having a problem where the action bar is taking up the entire screen on the Android 2.3 device (but works fine on Android 4.2). Do I need to remove the "android:" from the parent attributes?
parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ListPopupWindow"
When I tried this, Eclipse was unable to find the theme.
<resources xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<style name="Theme.MyApp" parent="#style/Holo.Theme.Light.DarkActionBar">
<item name="android:actionBarItemBackground">#drawable/selectable_background_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionBarTabStyle">#style/ActionBarTabStyle.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionDropDownStyle">#style/DropDownNav.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionModeBackground">#drawable/cab_background_top_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionModeSplitBackground">#drawable/cab_background_bottom_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:actionModeCloseButtonStyle">#style/ActionButton.CloseMode.MyApp</item>
<!-- <item name="android:textColorPrimary">#FFFFFF</item> -->
<item name="android:spinnerDropDownItemStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle</item>
<item name="actionBarItemBackground">#drawable/selectable_background_MyApp</item>
<item name="popupMenuStyle">#style/PopupMenu.MyApp</item>
<item name="dropDownListViewStyle">#style/DropDownListView.MyApp</item>
<item name="actionBarTabStyle">#style/ActionBarTabStyle.MyApp</item>
<item name="actionDropDownStyle">#style/DropDownNav.MyApp</item>
<item name="actionBarStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp</item>
<item name="actionModeBackground">#drawable/cab_background_top_MyApp</item>
<item name="actionModeSplitBackground">#drawable/cab_background_bottom_MyApp</item>
<item name="actionModeCloseButtonStyle">#style/ActionButton.CloseMode.MyApp</item>
<!-- <item name="textColorPrimary">#FFFFFF</item> -->
<item name="spinnerDropDownItemStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.MyApp</item>
<item name="android:titleTextStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.TitleTextStyle</item>
<item name="background">#drawable/ab_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="backgroundStacked">#drawable/ab_stacked_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="backgroundSplit">#drawable/ab_bottom_solid_MyApp</item>
<item name="progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.MyApp</item>
<item name="titleTextStyle">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.TitleTextStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.DropDownItem.Spinner">
<item name="android:textAppearance">#style/ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle.TextStyle</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.NavigationDropDownStyle.TextStyle" parent="#android:style/Widget">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
<item name="android:textSize">18sp</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Solid.MyApp.TitleTextStyle" parent="#android:style/TextAppearance.Holo.Widget.ActionBar.Title">
<item name="android:textColor">#color/white</item>
<item name="android:textSize">18sp</item>
<!-- <item name="android:fontFamily">sans-serif-medium</item> -->
</style>
<style name="ActionBar.Transparent.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ActionBar">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/ab_transparent_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.MyApp</item>
<item name="background">#drawable/ab_transparent_MyApp</item>
<item name="progressBarStyle">#style/ProgressBar.MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="PopupMenu.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ListPopupWindow">
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownListView.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ListView.DropDown">
<item name="android:listSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionBarTabStyle.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ActionBar.TabView">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/tab_indicator_ab_MyApp</item>
<item name="background">#drawable/tab_indicator_ab_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="DropDownNav.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.Spinner">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/spinner_background_ab_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:popupBackground">#drawable/menu_dropdown_panel_MyApp</item>
<item name="android:dropDownSelector">#drawable/selectable_background_MyApp</item>
<item name="background">#drawable/spinner_background_ab_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="ProgressBar.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ProgressBar.Horizontal">
<item name="android:progressDrawable">#drawable/progress_horizontal_MyApp</item>
</style>
<style name="ActionButton.CloseMode.MyApp" parent="#android:style/Widget.Holo.ActionButton.CloseMode">
<item name="android:background">#drawable/btn_cab_done_MyApp</item>
<item name="background">#drawable/btn_cab_done_MyApp</item>
</style>
</resources>

As per the official docs, you need to also declare the attributes without the android: namespace. In your case, those attributes are only getting applied to the native implementation.