Help I got stuck trying to convert my book into an epub file.

[Epiphany]

I used an online free conversion tool to convert my book into an epub file. After submitting my book in an epub file to an online self publisher they sent me back the following message based on the epub file I sent them.

BK00017692.epub/index_split_006.xhtml(15,40224): element "img" missing required attribute "alt"

Can anyone out there help me decode this error and figure out how to fix this so I can proceed to publishing?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Epiphany

I used an online free conversion tool to convert my book into an epub file. After submitting my book in an epub file to an online self publisher they sent me back the following message based on the epub file I sent them.

BK00017692.epub/index_split_006.xhtml(15,40224): element "img" missing required attribute "alt"

Can anyone out there help me decode this error and figure out how to fix this so I can proceed to publishing?

Yes.

When you embedded your image, you failed to use the alt tag. You can read about the alt tag at W3schools. Basically, the "alt" tag allows someone who is sight-impaired to "hear" the text of the alt tag instead of seeing the image that the alt tag describes.

So, you need to add the alt tag to the image tag in the ePUB. I'd recommend Sigil, if you have not previously used an ePUB editor.

Hitch

[theducks]

the alt tag needs to be there. It can be nil (alt="") which is what would be used with a purely decorative image.
For other images use a meaningful description:

alt="Image01" tells nothing informative about the picture
alt="Niagra Falls in winter" now they know what the picture is ABOUT.

alt="Chapter 1" would typically be used for Graphical chapter Numbers

[Epiphany]

You guys are great to offer me all this help. I did look at Sigil and unfortunately since I have no experience whatsoever with this sort of thing it looked so confusing. I will try again with the information you have given. Not sure if I will meet the deadline though. If only I could afford to pay someone to do it but will not be able to by the deadline of the publisher from which is only offering distribution and will not help me decipher or fix this problem unless I pay them for this service.

[Tex2002ans]

Originally Posted by Epiphany

You guys are great to offer me all this help. I did look at Sigil and unfortunately since I have no experience whatsoever with this sort of thing it looked so confusing.

This alt fix is simple stuff, it is exactly as Hitch/theducks stated... sadly, this is one of the downfalls of these automatic conversions (they will produce garbage code... causing you much more headaches in the long-run).

If you open up your file in Sigil, and do a search, you should be able to find an "img" tag:

<div><img src="../Images/pg025-TableII.png" /></div>

"src" just tells the HTML the location/filename of the image. As you can see, there is no "alt".

What you want to do is add in an alt:

<div><img alt="Table II. Momentum of World Population" src="../Images/pg025-TableII.png" /></div>

alt can also be completely blank:

<div><img alt="" src="../Images/pg025-TableII.png" /></div>

Originally Posted by Epiphany

Not sure if I will meet the deadline though. If only I could afford to pay someone to do it but will not be able to by the deadline of the publisher from which is only offering distribution and will not help me decipher or fix this problem unless I pay them for this service.

Preposterous! This is the tiniest of tiny fixes!!!! When is this deadline?

If you need any more help, feel free to post here, PM me, or email me directly (*insert my MobileRead username* at gmail dot com).

This situation shall be fixed!