PLEASE help with epub validation errors or point to where I can get help?

sallyember · 11-11-2013, 03:58 PM

PLEASE help with epub validation errors or point to where I can get help? New ebook sci fi author, here, trying to get my ebook accepted onto Smashwords. Passed autovetter perfectly, then received these 6 epubcheck errors and don't understand.

I am unemployed, can't pay anyone to do this. Not a programmer at all, but smart or competent or lucky enough to have done all my own formatting and passed autovetter, so not horrible at this.

Just don't know three things:
1) after I locate a line number and position in the word.doc version, how do I "See" the error to fix it? I tried deleting that letter and those around it, retyping in MS Word. Resubmitted, epub validation process again: same errors. What is the error, anyway? Looks fine to me. These letters are mid-word, mid-sentence, nothing weird going on around them. See below.

2) what do these errors mean (I only have 2 types of errors, but the second one occurs in five places, all around the same section of my doc, which is nothing unusual, just text).

They're both "attribute" errors ("type" and "start"). The last five are in the same position, just different lines. The first is almost in the same position, different line.

A) attribute "type" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang"
line 2891, position 31
B) attribute "start" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang"
lines 2462, 2471, 2480, 2491, 2498, position 32

3) I need to avoid the "nuclear method," since my book is 334 pages long and these are the ONLY errors. Please help?

Please email a link, or instructions/explanation, ssfember at gmail Or, if it's easier or better to SKYPE, use sally.ember and I'll accept (USA, CA PST, 12:40 PM now; online about 5 AM -about 6 PM PST).

THANKS!

Read more: http://smashwords-forum.proboards.co...#ixzz2kN4tj0rt

mrmikel · 11-11-2013, 08:41 PM

Don't use start or type. Find another way of doing things. Start is often used to autonumber a table. This works in web design but not in epubs.

pholy · 11-11-2013, 10:59 PM

@Sally - You don't say whether you uploaded a .doc file, or an epub file. The line numbers mentioned are for an epub file, not a doc file. Both the <start> and <type> tags are used in ordered lists, so it is likely that Word is using them in some ordered list you are using. Perhaps if you change that(them?) to unordered lists you may avoid the problem.

Good luck with the meatgrinder...

eschwartz · 11-12-2013, 12:03 AM

If you convert your .doc to an ePub, you can try posting the offending code here for analysis.

Hitch · 11-16-2013, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallyember

PLEASE help with epub validation errors or point to where I can get help? New ebook sci fi author, here, trying to get my ebook accepted onto Smashwords. Passed autovetter perfectly, then received these 6 epubcheck errors and don't understand.

I am unemployed, can't pay anyone to do this. Not a programmer at all, but smart or competent or lucky enough to have done all my own formatting and passed autovetter, so not horrible at this.

Just don't know three things:
1) after I locate a line number and position in the word.doc version, how do I "See" the error to fix it? I tried deleting that letter and those around it, retyping in MS Word. Resubmitted, epub validation process again: same errors. What is the error, anyway? Looks fine to me. These letters are mid-word, mid-sentence, nothing weird going on around them. See below.

2) what do these errors mean (I only have 2 types of errors, but the second one occurs in five places, all around the same section of my doc, which is nothing unusual, just text).

They're both "attribute" errors ("type" and "start"). The last five are in the same position, just different lines. The first is almost in the same position, different line.

A) attribute "type" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang"
line 2891, position 31
B) attribute "start" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang"
lines 2462, 2471, 2480, 2491, 2498, position 32

3) I need to avoid the "nuclear method," since my book is 334 pages long and these are the ONLY errors. Please help?

Please email a link, or instructions/explanation, ssfember at gmail Or, if it's easier or better to SKYPE, use sally.ember and I'll accept (USA, CA PST, 12:40 PM now; online about 5 AM -about 6 PM PST).

THANKS!

Read more: http://smashwords-forum.proboards.co...#ixzz2kN4tj0rt

Sally:

Somewhere, you have numbered lists, and in Word, you told the numbered list to start ("start") with a new number (for example, you had a list that went from 1-5, then you had outdented or regular margin paragraphs, then you tried to pick up numbering on a second list with 6). You cannot do that for ePUB, (this is more complicated than what I just said, but, for this purpose). You'll either have to hand-number your items, or live with each list starting with a 1.

I don't know what you did vis-a-vis the "type," but I'm 99% sure about the start error. If you can copy and paste the CODE section of the Meatgrinder's ePUB, say, 5 lines on either side of the offending line with the type error, it's 100% likely someone here can help you.

FWIW, Smashwords handles non-fiction or "more" formatted Word files very, very badly indeed. You'd be better off making your own ePUB and then submitting that instead, but if this is what you can do, fix the lists, and then show us the code for the type error. We'll try to help.

Hitch

mrmikel · 11-16-2013, 08:18 PM

Type controls whether the ordered list is numeric or alpha, but still doesn't work in epubs. As was said, you have to do it all by hand. This is a major pain for someone updating manuals, etc. But epub3 doesn't address this either, as far as I know.

Jellby · 11-17-2013, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmikel

Type controls whether the ordered list is numeric or alpha, but still doesn't work in epubs. As was said, you have to do it all by hand. This is a major pain for someone updating manuals, etc. But epub3 doesn't address this either, as far as I know.

ePub 2 has "list-style-type", but I don't know how's the support for that in actual readers.

Hitch · 11-17-2013, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmikel

Type controls whether the ordered list is numeric or alpha, but still doesn't work in epubs. As was said, you have to do it all by hand. This is a major pain for someone updating manuals, etc. But epub3 doesn't address this either, as far as I know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

ePub 2 has "list-style-type", but I don't know how's the support for that in actual readers.

mrmikel: Yes, but that shouldn't be pinging in ePUBcheck; we all use list styles, i.e., numeric or...oh, wait. No we don't. When I read this last night, I mis-read it as "numeric or bulleted." You're absolutely right. That's what's wrong, you cannot set that in any ePUB today, AFAIK.

Jellby: Dunno. I've not seen it work anywhere, but, n.b., I have not tried to make an ePUB that will work on ePUB3 readers. (Yes, I know you said ePUB2, but my experience so far is that for real reading devices, list-style-type doesn't work. It likely works, I'd suspect, in browser-based readers like ePUBReader. Haven't tested it, as we haven't ever made a book strictly for that market/reader.)

Hitch

DaleDe · 11-18-2013, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

ePub 2 has "list-style-type", but I don't know how's the support for that in actual readers.

I believe it is supported on most eReaders but you cannot set the start value for numbers. The start attribute is not supported. Bullets is supported as well but I do not believe you can define the shape of the bullet.

Dale

Hitch · 11-18-2013, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I believe it is supported on most eReaders but you cannot set the start value for numbers. The start attribute is not supported. Bullets is supported as well but I do not believe you can define the shape of the bullet.

Dale

Dale:

LOL, did you really just write that?

"List-style-type" is supported, but you can't set the starting number and you can't set the bullet style. Right? :-)

Hitch

DaleDe · 11-18-2013, 05:08 PM

Well there are other things you can control. Lists only can start with 1. I guess it was a bit humorous upon reflection.

Dale

DaleDe · 11-18-2013, 05:16 PM

The idpf does define what they support so they do have a limited number of bullets.
list-style-type 12.6.2
none
disc
circle
square
decimal
decimal-leading-zero
lower-roman
upper-roman
lower-greek Decimal
upper-greek Decimal
lower-alpha
lower-latin
upper-alpha
upper-latin
hebrew Decimal
armenian Decimal
georgian Decimal
cjk-ideographic Decimal
hiragana Decimal
katakana Decimal
hiragana-iroha Decimal
katakana-iroha Decimal
inherit
list-style-position 12.6.2
inside
outside
inherit
list-style [2]

Hitch · 11-18-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Well there are other things you can control. Lists only can start with 1. I guess it was a bit humorous upon reflection.

Dale

I enjoyed the chuckle, I really did. I do this, too--I get focused on the details of the question (my hubster calls this, "getting down in the weeds") and forget to say, "oh, yeah, well...you can do that, but you can't get there from here." LOL!

Hitch

sallyember · 11-22-2013, 05:36 PM

Really appreciate all the help. Yes, my problem were lists. Removed and put in symbols for bullets instead, as someone suggested. Passed second time through! YEAH! Best to you all and Happy Chanksgivinkah!

nikkie · 11-22-2013, 10:17 PM

Good job Sallyember and thanks to everyone!!

Others are right that the line numbers given are indeed in generated ePub doc, not in your word doc, so they don't really help you with your doc itself. Trying to figure out what the error actually means is a good way to go!

Another option would be to download the epub we created, unzip it, and then find those line numbers in the files it complains about.

11-11-2013, 03:58 PM	#1
sallyember Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Missouri, USA Device: Kindle and Desktop Dell	PLEASE help with epub validation errors or point to where I can get help? PLEASE help with epub validation errors or point to where I can get help? New ebook sci fi author, here, trying to get my ebook accepted onto Smashwords. Passed autovetter perfectly, then received these 6 epubcheck errors and don't understand. I am unemployed, can't pay anyone to do this. Not a programmer at all, but smart or competent or lucky enough to have done all my own formatting and passed autovetter, so not horrible at this. Just don't know three things: 1) after I locate a line number and position in the word.doc version, how do I "See" the error to fix it? I tried deleting that letter and those around it, retyping in MS Word. Resubmitted, epub validation process again: same errors. What is the error, anyway? Looks fine to me. These letters are mid-word, mid-sentence, nothing weird going on around them. See below. 2) what do these errors mean (I only have 2 types of errors, but the second one occurs in five places, all around the same section of my doc, which is nothing unusual, just text). They're both "attribute" errors ("type" and "start"). The last five are in the same position, just different lines. The first is almost in the same position, different line. A) attribute "type" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang" line 2891, position 31 B) attribute "start" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang" lines 2462, 2471, 2480, 2491, 2498, position 32 3) I need to avoid the "nuclear method," since my book is 334 pages long and these are the ONLY errors. Please help? Please email a link, or instructions/explanation, ssfember at gmail Or, if it's easier or better to SKYPE, use sally.ember and I'll accept (USA, CA PST, 12:40 PM now; online about 5 AM -about 6 PM PST). THANKS! Read more: http://smashwords-forum.proboards.co...#ixzz2kN4tj0rt

11-22-2013, 05:36 PM	#14
sallyember Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Missouri, USA Device: Kindle and Desktop Dell	Thanks, Everyone! Really appreciate all the help. Yes, my problem were lists. Removed and put in symbols for bullets instead, as someone suggested. Passed second time through! YEAH! Best to you all and Happy Chanksgivinkah!

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11-11-2013, 08:41 PM	#2
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	Don't use start or type. Find another way of doing things. Start is often used to autonumber a table. This works in web design but not in epubs.

11-11-2013, 10:59 PM	#3
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	@Sally - You don't say whether you uploaded a .doc file, or an epub file. The line numbers mentioned are for an epub file, not a doc file. Both the <start> and <type> tags are used in ordered lists, so it is likely that Word is using them in some ordered list you are using. Perhaps if you change that(them?) to unordered lists you may avoid the problem. Good luck with the meatgrinder...

11-12-2013, 12:03 AM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	If you convert your .doc to an ePub, you can try posting the offending code here for analysis.

11-16-2013, 08:18 PM	#6
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	Type controls whether the ordered list is numeric or alpha, but still doesn't work in epubs. As was said, you have to do it all by hand. This is a major pain for someone updating manuals, etc. But epub3 doesn't address this either, as far as I know.

11-18-2013, 05:08 PM	#11
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Well there are other things you can control. Lists only can start with 1. I guess it was a bit humorous upon reflection. Dale

11-18-2013, 05:16 PM	#12
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	The idpf does define what they support so they do have a limited number of bullets. list-style-type 12.6.2 none disc circle square decimal decimal-leading-zero lower-roman upper-roman lower-greek Decimal upper-greek Decimal lower-alpha lower-latin upper-alpha upper-latin hebrew Decimal armenian Decimal georgian Decimal cjk-ideographic Decimal hiragana Decimal katakana Decimal hiragana-iroha Decimal katakana-iroha Decimal inherit list-style-position 12.6.2 inside outside inherit list-style [2]

11-22-2013, 10:17 PM	#15
nikkie Guru Posts: 614 Karma: 73700 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: WA, USA Device: Android, Kindle Paperwhite, lots of ancient readers	Good job Sallyember and thanks to everyone!! Others are right that the line numbers given are indeed in generated ePub doc, not in your word doc, so they don't really help you with your doc itself. Trying to figure out what the error actually means is a good way to go! Another option would be to download the epub we created, unzip it, and then find those line numbers in the files it complains about.