"White Spaces Are Required"...PLEASE HELP!

UntreedReads · 06-18-2010, 06:51 PM

I'm hoping somebody out there can give us an answer.

We've been running all of our current HTML through eCub and/or Calibre to create ePub files. We're actually getting less compiling errors through eCub, but the one error we are consistently getting from both is the following:

"White spaces are required between publicId and systemId."

I've been able to resolve all other issues EXCEPT this one, and Google searches aren't providing me with a solution. From what I can tell, there's a problem SOMEWHERE in the following string:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">

What I don't know is WHERE in that string the problem lies. Can anyone solve this? The ONLY thing keeping us from passing epubcheck (and thus allowing us to distribute in some new retail outlets) at this point is the above problem.

Thanks,
Jay Hartman
Editor-In-Chief
Untreed Reads Publishing
http://www.untreedreads.com

charleski · 06-18-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UntreedReads

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">

HTML 4.0????

That's your problem right there.

ePubs must be in xhtml, which is stricter than html, though it's quite similar.

UntreedReads · 06-18-2010, 10:18 PM

I'm doing a save in HTML format from OpenOffice, and all of our titles start out in DOC. Is there something else I should be saving them as for import into either Calibre or eCub?

Nate the great · 06-18-2010, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UntreedReads

I'm doing a save in HTML format from OpenOffice, and all of our titles start out in DOC. Is there something else I should be saving them as for import into either Calibre or eCub?

HTML from Open Office is fine for calibre. That's what i do a lot of the time.

UntreedReads · 06-18-2010, 10:36 PM

Unfortunately, HTML to Calibre is generating ePub but failing epubcheck due to the error message I've given. In my case, the file HAS to pass epubcheck.

UntreedReads · 06-18-2010, 11:08 PM

OK, so just realized there's an export as xhtml function from OpenOffice, but that'still generated a new error message. Here's the new line of code:

<!DOCTYPE html
PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1 plus MathML 2.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML2/dtd/xhtml-math11-f.dtd">

And here's the new error message:

Unresolved external XML entity 'http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML2/dtd/xhtml-math11-f.dtd'

Talk about frustrating!

Jay

Jellby · 06-19-2010, 04:12 AM

Try to find some way to disable the MathML thing.

If you can't, since I don't think you are using any MathML code anyway, it could be enough to just change te DOCTYPE line to the correct:

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">

AlexBell · 06-19-2010, 05:57 AM

The markup below is guaranteed to work with the W3C markup validation service and with ePubcheck.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE html
PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">

You might like to consider removing whatever you have now, and replacing it with the above - and then running the file through the W3C markup service anyway.

Regards, Alex

charleski · 06-19-2010, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UntreedReads

all of our titles start out in DOC

If you don't want to spend time familiarising yourself with all the issues involved in creating an epub I seriously recommend you just invest the $35 needed to get a copy of Atlantis and use that. Conversion tools like calibre and ecub are not a good choice as they're dependent on being fed with well-formed input.

UntreedReads · 06-19-2010, 01:17 PM

Jellby and AlexBell: I now officially have mad love for both of you. Changing the lines worked PERFECTLY. All my error messages are now clear. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

And Charleski, I will definitely take a look at Atlantis. Your input, too, is very much appreciated.

Jay

AlexBell · 06-20-2010, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UntreedReads

Jellby and AlexBell: I now officially have mad love for both of you. Changing the lines worked PERFECTLY. All my error messages are now clear. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

And Charleski, I will definitely take a look at Atlantis. Your input, too, is very much appreciated.

Jay

You're very welcome. Lots of people have helped me with my queries, and it's a real pleasure to be able to help someone else.

I too like Atlantis as a word processor, but as I have some web site design experience I prefer to make my own HTML.

Regards, Alex

ocoffey · 07-22-2010, 01:25 PM

I'm signing on because I appreciate this discussion.
Interesting how often the web has people who just want to help each other.
re: Ecub EPUB book validation:
I find that my e-pub book of '.txt' files - made by the E-cub programme -are accepted by Three Press validation. Not by E-Cub validation though.
I avoid HTML because I cannot make them acceptable to either validation service.
Yet Gutenburg e-books are accepted all round????
Am I lucky, or shouldd I expect this?
Many thanks
ocoffey

charleski · 07-22-2010, 03:47 PM

The epubcheck program supported by Threepress is the closest we have to an 'official' validation system, though it's not free from bugs. If it passes on the latest version (1.05) then I wouldn't worry about any complaints from ecub.

06-18-2010, 06:51 PM	#1
UntreedReads Addict Posts: 270 Karma: 500000 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belmont, CA Device: iPhone	"White Spaces Are Required"...PLEASE HELP! I'm hoping somebody out there can give us an answer. We've been running all of our current HTML through eCub and/or Calibre to create ePub files. We're actually getting less compiling errors through eCub, but the one error we are consistently getting from both is the following: "White spaces are required between publicId and systemId." I've been able to resolve all other issues EXCEPT this one, and Google searches aren't providing me with a solution. From what I can tell, there's a problem SOMEWHERE in the following string: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> What I don't know is WHERE in that string the problem lies. Can anyone solve this? The ONLY thing keeping us from passing epubcheck (and thus allowing us to distribute in some new retail outlets) at this point is the above problem. Thanks, Jay Hartman Editor-In-Chief Untreed Reads Publishing http://www.untreedreads.com

06-18-2010, 11:08 PM	#6
UntreedReads Addict Posts: 270 Karma: 500000 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belmont, CA Device: iPhone	OK, so just realized there's an export as xhtml function from OpenOffice, but that'still generated a new error message. Here's the new line of code: <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1 plus MathML 2.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML2/dtd/xhtml-math11-f.dtd"> And here's the new error message: Unresolved external XML entity 'http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML2/dtd/xhtml-math11-f.dtd' Talk about frustrating! Jay Last edited by UntreedReads; 06-18-2010 at 11:12 PM.

06-19-2010, 04:12 AM	#7
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,515 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Try to find some way to disable the MathML thing. If you can't, since I don't think you are using any MathML code anyway, it could be enough to just change te DOCTYPE line to the correct: Code: <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">

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06-18-2010, 10:18 PM	#3
UntreedReads Addict Posts: 270 Karma: 500000 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belmont, CA Device: iPhone	I'm doing a save in HTML format from OpenOffice, and all of our titles start out in DOC. Is there something else I should be saving them as for import into either Calibre or eCub?

06-18-2010, 10:36 PM	#5
UntreedReads Addict Posts: 270 Karma: 500000 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belmont, CA Device: iPhone	Unfortunately, HTML to Calibre is generating ePub but failing epubcheck due to the error message I've given. In my case, the file HAS to pass epubcheck.

06-19-2010, 05:57 AM	#8
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	The markup below is guaranteed to work with the W3C markup validation service and with ePubcheck. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> You might like to consider removing whatever you have now, and replacing it with the above - and then running the file through the W3C markup service anyway. Regards, Alex

06-19-2010, 01:17 PM	#10
UntreedReads Addict Posts: 270 Karma: 500000 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belmont, CA Device: iPhone	Jellby and AlexBell: I now officially have mad love for both of you. Changing the lines worked PERFECTLY. All my error messages are now clear. THANK YOU THANK YOU! And Charleski, I will definitely take a look at Atlantis. Your input, too, is very much appreciated. Jay

07-22-2010, 01:25 PM	#12
ocoffey Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	I'm signing on because I appreciate this discussion. Interesting how often the web has people who just want to help each other. re: Ecub EPUB book validation: I find that my e-pub book of '.txt' files - made by the E-cub programme -are accepted by Three Press validation. Not by E-Cub validation though. I avoid HTML because I cannot make them acceptable to either validation service. Yet Gutenburg e-books are accepted all round???? Am I lucky, or shouldd I expect this? Many thanks ocoffey

07-22-2010, 03:47 PM	#13
charleski Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 1281258 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505	The epubcheck program supported by Threepress is the closest we have to an 'official' validation system, though it's not free from bugs. If it passes on the latest version (1.05) then I wouldn't worry about any complaints from ecub.

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