<meta> tag is deleted after execution of some commands

celiapgt · 05-07-2025, 12:48 AM

Hi, guys!

After executed these command (list automation), the

Code:

<meta charset="utf-8"/>

tag is deleted from every .xhtml in my book.

AutomatedList

Code:

automated02.txt


MendPrettifyHTML
GenerateTOC
UpdateManifestProperties
GenerateNCXGuideFromNav
Save

How can I prevent it from happening? Why is it happening? I do not want it nor is desirable.

DNSB · 05-07-2025, 02:55 AM

A quick test says that Mend and Prettify will remove that line. It will also remove the long form: <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />.

Since the ePub spec states the UTF-8 or UTF-16 MUST be used, that declaration is not needed though I used to see it all the time even as the first line of a CSS stylesheet. It will not trigger errors from epubcheck but a question about it years back stated that it is not needed and not recommended in either ePub2 or ePub3. Minor nit is that EPUB/A (archival) MUST use UTF-8.

See EPUB 3.3 specification (2025-Mar-27) for more information.

KevinH · 05-07-2025, 09:16 AM

And see the very first line of your file, you can see Sigil added the proper xml header that tells how that xhtml is encoded.

Sigil forces the conversion to utf-8 on first load, adds the proper xml header to indicate that and removes any existing meta tag that indicates any encoding info that might conflict. This is all per the epub spec. Remember this is an epub not an html file served by a webserver.

celiapgt · 05-09-2025, 02:56 PM

Thanks for the clarification on the specs! I must inform my collegues, who manage the template for ePUB3

celiapgt · 05-09-2025, 02:58 PM

Thanks, KevinH. All clear now.
I guess I stil mantain the mind framework of web pages ;D

05-07-2025, 12:48 AM	#1
celiapgt EBook-obsessive gal Posts: 47 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: La ciudad de la eterna primavera Device: Kobo Clara HD	<meta> tag is deleted after execution of some commands Hi, guys! After executed these command (list automation), the Code: <meta charset="utf-8"/> tag is deleted from every .xhtml in my book. AutomatedList Code: automated02.txt MendPrettifyHTML GenerateTOC UpdateManifestProperties GenerateNCXGuideFromNav Save How can I prevent it from happening? Why is it happening? I do not want it nor is desirable.

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05-07-2025, 02:55 AM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 44,822 Karma: 168802811 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	A quick test says that Mend and Prettify will remove that line. It will also remove the long form: <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />. Since the ePub spec states the UTF-8 or UTF-16 MUST be used, that declaration is not needed though I used to see it all the time even as the first line of a CSS stylesheet. It will not trigger errors from epubcheck but a question about it years back stated that it is not needed and not recommended in either ePub2 or ePub3. Minor nit is that EPUB/A (archival) MUST use UTF-8. See EPUB 3.3 specification (2025-Mar-27) for more information.

05-07-2025, 09:16 AM	#3
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5703586 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	And see the very first line of your file, you can see Sigil added the proper xml header that tells how that xhtml is encoded. Sigil forces the conversion to utf-8 on first load, adds the proper xml header to indicate that and removes any existing meta tag that indicates any encoding info that might conflict. This is all per the epub spec. Remember this is an epub not an html file served by a webserver.

05-09-2025, 02:56 PM	#4
celiapgt EBook-obsessive gal Posts: 47 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: La ciudad de la eterna primavera Device: Kobo Clara HD	Thanks for the clarification on the specs! I must inform my collegues, who manage the template for ePUB3

05-09-2025, 02:58 PM	#5
celiapgt EBook-obsessive gal Posts: 47 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: La ciudad de la eterna primavera Device: Kobo Clara HD	Thanks, KevinH. All clear now. I guess I stil mantain the mind framework of web pages ;D