epub validation error:

[fflanders]

Hi. I am relatively new to this. I have created many epub files in the past for kindle, but there were no errors with the amazon kindle validation tool. However, now I am trying my hand at creating an epub for smashwords, using the same epub file with the EpubCheck version 4.0.2.

It generated the error below. It mentions the line and position, but unsure if this an actual visible error in that location that I can 'delete' or some invisible code there that must be omitted or corrected. I am perplexed and would appreciate any help in how to rectify this:


Type:ERROR
File:OEBPS/content.opf
Line:11
Position: 31


Message:

Date value 'September' is not valid as per http://www.w3.org/TR/NOTE-datetime:[For input string: "September"] is not an integer.

[DiapDealer]

A date on that particular line (or very close to it) is not in the correct format. Whether or not you can delete it depends on if it's part of a required element or not.

[fflanders]

Like I say, it's nothing visual that I can see to delete...

[jackie_w]

Do you have an entry around line 11 something like
<dc:date>*September*</dc:date>

If so, I think you need to change the date format to something that looks more like
<dc:date>2017-09-08T20:44:32.304000+00:00</dc:date>

[fflanders]

Thanks jackie_w for the response.

How would I see something like:
<dc:date>*September*</dc:date>

I understand that epub is essentially html(?) How would I gain access to see the bit of code to omit it and then resave it?

Is this something I can do within inDesign where I created the file or is there a freeware program I can download to see it, remove it, and resave it?

Thanks so much.

[Sarmat89]

Open in with an archive manager and look inside the content.opf file.

Alternatively, you can install Sigil, but it messes up the EPUB structure so not recommended.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Sarmat89

Alternatively, you can install Sigil, but it messes up the EPUB structure so not recommended.

Are you sure about it messing up the structure? If so please report it in the Sigil forum.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Sarmat89]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Are you sure about it messing up the structure?

Yes? Sigil makes folders like "Text", "Images", "Misc", and puts files there despite the original structure.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Sarmat89

Yes? Sigil makes folders like "Text", "Images", "Misc", and puts files there despite the original structure.

However the Epub is still one that works correctky

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by Sarmat89

Yes? Sigil makes folders like "Text", "Images", "Misc", and puts files there despite the original structure.

lol - that's called "organization". It can be different than what you have, so I would characterize it as "Sigil could change the structure" NOT messes it up. As PeterT mentions, it's still a perfectly valid and usable epub.

[fflanders]

The file has been perfectly usable for kindle as an epub. However, I am trying to ensure it is usable for smashwords (and smashwords suggests using the validator which found this error). Is this error something minor and/or insignificant that can be simply overlooked?

Or should I do as Sarmat89 suggested and open with an archive manager and look inside the content.opf file to find and make the correction?

If the latter, can someone suggest a freeware archive manger to do this with as I am unfamiliar with any of this.

thanks

[fflanders]

I have attempted to do what was suggested - looking inside the content.opf file
... but in all likelihood, did not go about it the correct file. I opened the file in dreamweaver and found the line:

<dc:date>*September*</dc:date>

And changed it as suggested. However, when you resave the file with dreamweaver it adds the suffix xhtml to .opf, so it reads: opf.xhtml

So I then renamed the file by omitting the .html
I then rezipped the contents and changed the file type from .zip to .epub

When I did this method and redid the validator, I now have this error:

[BobC]

The error messages seem to suggest you now have an epub file contained within the epub.

Start again and this time either use Sigil or Calibre's epub editor or use basic tools such as 7-zip to open the epub file and the editor in 7-Zip to make the edit to the opf file, then when you save the modified opf it should update the archive (epub)

BobC

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by fflanders

Date value 'September' is not valid as per http://www.w3.org/TR/NOTE-datetime:[For input string: "September"] is not an integer.

Simply open your epub with Calibre Editor and update the <dc:date> entry.
For example:

<dc:date>2017-09-01</dc:date>
<dc:date>2018-09-01</dc:date>

If you have a Windows machine and don't want to install Calibre:

1. Change the file extension from .epub to .zip.
2. Double-click the .zip file and extract the .opf file.
3. Update the .opf file.
4. Overwrite the .opf file in the .zip file with the updated version.
5. Close the .zip file.
6. Change the file extension to .epub.

[DiapDealer]

If you created this epub with InDesign, I'd be looking for a way to make sure it didn't generate invalid date metadata in the first place, myself.