ePub Help

[DiapDealer]

The ePub validation from ThreePress give very clear and useful messages. Maybe that can help you guys find the error.

Sigil also use pretty much the same validation. I found both those tools invaluable when I'm trying to get ePub right.

You're not understanding the problem. The users having these problems are not starting with an epub that they can validate on their own (or even plain html). They have a Word document and that's all. They upload that Word document to Smashwords (who then do their own in-house conversion to several different ebook formats via the "meatgrinder"). The error messages they are receiving are pointing to temporary files that the meatgrinder creates as an intermediate step in that conversion process. That's why the error messages are mostly useless. They have no html to validate... or epub to check. Just a Word document (which is the only source format Smashwords accepts for submission).

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by LaoTseu

The ePub validation from ThreePress give very clear and useful messages. Maybe that can help you guys find the error.

Sigil also use pretty much the same validation. I found both those tools invaluable when I'm trying to get ePub right.

Actually, the ePubCheck (which ThreePress uses) is known for its cryptic messages that doesn't make much sense.

The validation in Sigil (FlightCrew) does much more checks and gives better understandable messages.

Neither tool is without flaws though, but I would rather set my money on FlightCrew than ePubCheck.

[DrDln]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Actually, the ePubCheck (which ThreePress uses) is known for its cryptic messages that doesn't make much sense.
The validation in Sigil (FlightCrew) does much more checks and gives better understandable messages.
Neither tool is without flaws though, but I would rather set my money on FlightCrew than ePubCheck.

Toxaris, no words are good enough to appreciate your help. Your hint about sigil was great. It was sigil who helped me find the temp file that created the problem. ePub check did nothing but added to my frustrations. Thanks and hope it helps other authors who are frustrated with ePub errors.

I still have couple more to fix. But not bad to have 10 out of 12 passing ePub check. Thank you all for all your help. You guys were awesome. Every hint added to my understanding the problem. Thanks again. I will share how the other 2 books go.

[JSWolf]

I have an idea. Take the Word document, convert it to ePub using Calibre and the command line program ebook-convert. Then take the resulting ePub and run it through FlightCrew and see what happens. Maybe you'll get the same results and be able to see where they are and then maybe be able to fix things.

[DrDln]

Thanks for all your help folks. I am done with ePub right now. Hopefully some other authors can learn from valuable posts.

[Toxaris]

That is a shame, because it is not the fault of the ePUB format. The real culprit is Smashwords who delivers a totally crappy tool called MeatGrinder. The name is well choosen though, it makes a complete mess and chaos from what you put in...

[SandyHarper]

Originally Posted by SandyHarper

I am getting the following message during ePub validation with one of my guides. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I use msWord file to upload on smashwords. Thanks.
<<ERROR: entrepreneurs-guide-to-direct-mail-order.epub/tmp_168b13fbbdd602b440d2f02d1f5f87fb_RTNeh4.ch.fix ed.fc.tidied.stylehacked.xfixed_split_011.html(94) : text not allowed here; expected the element end-tag or element "address", "blockquote", "del", "div", "dl", "h1", "h2", "h3", "h4", "h5", "h6", "hr", "ins", "noscript", "ns:svg", "ol", "p", "pre", "script", "table" or "ul" (with xmlns:ns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg")>>

I appreciate you all for the hints to various messages. I already found someone who helped fix the problem and it passed ePUb check. If anyone else is struggling to pass ePub check and is frustrated with error messages; this person can help you fix it. He is professional. Thanks.