Google Analytics URLs won't validate

ccraig13 · 09-22-2011, 12:43 PM

I have the following url:

Code:

<a href="http://example.com/?utm_source=book%2Btitle&utm_medium=ebook&utm_content=other%2Bbook&utm_campaign=ebook%2Bclicks">example.com</a>

which generates this error:

Code:

The operation you requested cannot
be performed because book_split_007.xhtml
is not a well-formed XML document.

An error was found on line 412, column 111:
unterminated entity reference 'utm_medium'.

This URL is generated directly from Google's link generator

So it seems to not understand that the code is in an href.

susan_cassidy · 09-22-2011, 02:01 PM

It could possibly be because that is not an existing document, or because the slash at the end of the domain, followed directly by the question mark, is unusual. Normally, when parameters are passed, there is a program name after the slash, and before the question mark. Maybe the validation algorithm didn't expect that combination?

charleski · 09-22-2011, 03:52 PM

You need to change the '&'s to '&'s otherwise the XML parser thinks they are the start of entities.

ccraig13 · 09-22-2011, 04:05 PM

I forgot this is an xml document not an html. Thanks!

Leverpullr · 07-17-2012, 02:16 PM

Hi,
I am experiencing this same 'unterminated entity reference' when Sigil finds an '&' in an html link within my epub. It is like the above example, and I tried replacing the '&' with '&' but then this breaks my link (which is an affiliate link to a product at an online store).

Is there any work around to get Sigil to ignore this...or will I need to manually edit the xhtml outside of Sigil and then re-zip the files into an epub as the final step before publishing to Apple/B&N, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Toxaris · 07-17-2012, 02:32 PM

No, it should work. In which view are you making the change?

Leverpullr · 07-17-2012, 02:44 PM

I made the edit in 'code view' (see below)
<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=666470&b=358708&m=37742&afftra ck=rng&urllink=www%2Ebotachtactical%2Ecom%2Fta grho%2Ehtml">MR Grappling hook</a>

Sigil likes that..no error now, but if I then try the modified link in my browser it is broken at the link target's server end due to the & substitutions I think.

Toxaris · 07-18-2012, 02:52 AM

Do you know there is a space in the link? I don't know if that is on purpose or a copy/past error. Spaces can create an issue in links. You can replace it by %20 if I remember correctly.

Leverpullr · 07-18-2012, 04:17 PM

You are right, but yes I thick that was a paste error (it doesn't work even with it removed).
I did more tests and it seems that the issue is at the target server which doesn't like the XHTML-correct link. I work with other affiliate links that contain 'ampersand%;' and they do function correctly. Luckily this one had another option to create shortened "license plate" links, as favored by social network sites etc. When I did it that way is was a much shorter one with no ampersand headaches.

So this isn't an issue for me within Sigil anymore. Thanks again.

09-22-2011, 12:43 PM	#1
ccraig13 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: iPhone 3G	Google Analytics URLs won't validate I have the following url: Code: <a href="http://example.com/?utm_source=book%2Btitle&utm_medium=ebook&utm_content=other%2Bbook&utm_campaign=ebook%2Bclicks">example.com</a> which generates this error: Code: The operation you requested cannot be performed because book_split_007.xhtml is not a well-formed XML document. An error was found on line 412, column 111: unterminated entity reference 'utm_medium'. This URL is generated directly from Google's link generator So it seems to not understand that the code is in an href.

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09-22-2011, 02:01 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	It could possibly be because that is not an existing document, or because the slash at the end of the domain, followed directly by the question mark, is unusual. Normally, when parameters are passed, there is a program name after the slash, and before the question mark. Maybe the validation algorithm didn't expect that combination?

09-22-2011, 03:52 PM	#3
charleski Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 1281258 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505	You need to change the '&'s to '&'s otherwise the XML parser thinks they are the start of entities.

09-22-2011, 04:05 PM	#4
ccraig13 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: iPhone 3G	I forgot this is an xml document not an html. Thanks!

07-17-2012, 02:16 PM	#5
Leverpullr Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Left Coast Device: Kindle/generic android tablet	Hi, I am experiencing this same 'unterminated entity reference' when Sigil finds an '&' in an html link within my epub. It is like the above example, and I tried replacing the '&' with '&' but then this breaks my link (which is an affiliate link to a product at an online store). Is there any work around to get Sigil to ignore this...or will I need to manually edit the xhtml outside of Sigil and then re-zip the files into an epub as the final step before publishing to Apple/B&N, etc. Thanks in advance!

07-17-2012, 02:32 PM	#6
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	No, it should work. In which view are you making the change?

07-17-2012, 02:44 PM	#7
Leverpullr Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Left Coast Device: Kindle/generic android tablet	I made the edit in 'code view' (see below) <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=666470&b=358708&m=37742&afftra ck=rng&urllink=www%2Ebotachtactical%2Ecom%2Fta grho%2Ehtml">MR Grappling hook</a> Sigil likes that..no error now, but if I then try the modified link in my browser it is broken at the link target's server end due to the & substitutions I think.

07-18-2012, 02:52 AM	#8
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Do you know there is a space in the link? I don't know if that is on purpose or a copy/past error. Spaces can create an issue in links. You can replace it by %20 if I remember correctly.

07-18-2012, 04:17 PM	#9
Leverpullr Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Left Coast Device: Kindle/generic android tablet	You are right, but yes I thick that was a paste error (it doesn't work even with it removed). I did more tests and it seems that the issue is at the target server which doesn't like the XHTML-correct link. I work with other affiliate links that contain 'ampersand%;' and they do function correctly. Luckily this one had another option to create shortened "license plate" links, as favored by social network sites etc. When I did it that way is was a much shorter one with no ampersand headaches. So this isn't an issue for me within Sigil anymore. Thanks again.

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