Epub issues with Epubcheck

ematte · 10-19-2010, 01:18 PM

I've been using a combination of InDesign and Dreamweaver to output Epubs and get the following error from Epubcheck.

ERROR: test book: length of first filename in archive must be 8, but was 22

Is anyone familiar with what is the filename in question and where I might change it? I've loaded the file on my Ipad and everything looks fine. I also convert it to Mobi in Calibre and it also loads fine on my Kindle.

I also always get an error message with Epubcheck regarding the "date". If I delete the date from the content file, it goes away. Exactly where do I input the date to eliminate this problem.

Thanks

Steven Lake · 10-19-2010, 04:13 PM

Which "date" line are you talking about? I have two lines in my epub files, only because that's the way I was taught to do it. Here's the two I have.

<meta content="2010-05-15T13:41:36" name="calibre:timestamp"/>
<dc:date>2010-05-15 00:00:00-04:00</dc:date>

As for the first "filename", that's always going to be the "content.opf" file, as that's the file which tells the program reading it where to find everything and how it's labeled. As for the "must be 8, but was 22", I have no bleeding idea what that is. Is it 8kb vs 22kb, or 8 lines or what? I'm sorta wondering if this "epubcheck" needs some work on it. If nothing else the coder didn't do his work right in coding his error messages.

pholy · 10-19-2010, 05:25 PM

I got that error when I let zip include the directory information. Now I use the following two lines in a terminal shell:

zip book-file.epub -DX0 mimetype
zip book-file.epub -rDX9 *

That assumes that I'm creating the epub in the directory containing all the files.

K-Thom · 10-19-2010, 08:08 PM

@ ematte - Try it that way:

Install Sigil, open your ePub file with it and save it right away without doing anything else. Then run ePubcheck again.

Saved a lot of "date trouble" for me, might also help with your 22 character length problem.

James_Wilde · 10-20-2010, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ematte

I've been using a combination of InDesign and Dreamweaver to output Epubs and get the following error from Epubcheck.

ERROR: test book: length of first filename in archive must be 8, but was 22

Thanks

The first file in the epub zipfile must be called "mimetype", with no file type (txt, doc etc) which is 8 characters. This file must also be uncompressed. It informs the system that the rest of the file is an epub.

The content of this file is one line:

application/epub+zip

Absolutely nothing else.

Jellby · 10-20-2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ematte

I also always get an error message with Epubcheck regarding the "date". If I delete the date from the content file, it goes away. Exactly where do I input the date to eliminate this problem.

That could be a case of this bug. It has been fixed in version 1.1, which is a release candidate now.

CraigAtk · 10-28-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

The first file in the epub zipfile must be called "mimetype", with no file type (txt, doc etc) which is 8 characters. This file must also be uncompressed. It informs the system that the rest of the file is an epub.

The content of this file is one line:

application/epub+zip

Absolutely nothing else.

James_Wilde is absolutely correct about the manifest file. For more details on the required structure of the epub file, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPUB#OE...ner_Format_1.0

GeoffC · 10-28-2010, 01:05 PM

ematte & CraigAtk

Welcome to mobileread ....

Steven Lake · 10-28-2010, 09:33 PM

Yeah, I ran a file I had through epubcheck and was shocked to realize that silly old me forgot the stupid mimetype file. Thankfully I only did that in one file. ^_^;;

ematte · 10-29-2010, 07:39 AM

Thanks everyone. I believe that covered all my issues.

ematte · 10-29-2010, 07:43 AM

I forgot one thing. Even though epubcheck did not validate my file, I was still able to load it on my Ipad and Kindle with no apparent issues. What's up with that? Is Epubcheck too critical in it's validation?

Steven Lake · 10-29-2010, 08:12 AM

epubcheck is designed for 100% adherence to standard. Most device makers however know that not everyone is going to be able to be 100% adherent. So they develop their devices by the percentage rule. Some allow epubs that are only 70% compliant while others require 95%. Some even go so far as demanding 100% adherence on the core elements while overlooking files and things that don't affect navigation and display.

Adjust · 10-29-2010, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ematte

I forgot one thing. Even though epubcheck did not validate my file, I was still able to load it on my Ipad and Kindle with no apparent issues. What's up with that? Is Epubcheck too critical in it's validation?

Try looking at it in Adobe Digital editions (free download) I think this program is the strictest one... If there is something wrong with your epub you will see it here

Steven Lake · 10-30-2010, 07:48 AM

(goes to look at Adobe Digital editions) Argh. I hate Adobe. They have no love for Linux. They told me to go flog myself and get a "real" OS. So I guess it's back to loading this with Wine instead. *sigh* When is Adobe going to learn that there's more than just Apple and Microsoft in this world? But at least I'll give it a try and see how it does.

10-19-2010, 01:18 PM	#1
ematte Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	Epub issues with Epubcheck I've been using a combination of InDesign and Dreamweaver to output Epubs and get the following error from Epubcheck. ERROR: test book: length of first filename in archive must be 8, but was 22 Is anyone familiar with what is the filename in question and where I might change it? I've loaded the file on my Ipad and everything looks fine. I also convert it to Mobi in Calibre and it also loads fine on my Kindle. I also always get an error message with Epubcheck regarding the "date". If I delete the date from the content file, it goes away. Exactly where do I input the date to eliminate this problem. Thanks

10-19-2010, 08:08 PM	#4
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	@ ematte - Try it that way: Install Sigil, open your ePub file with it and save it right away without doing anything else. Then run ePubcheck again. Saved a lot of "date trouble" for me, might also help with your 22 character length problem. Last edited by K-Thom; 10-19-2010 at 08:13 PM.

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10-19-2010, 04:13 PM	#2
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Which "date" line are you talking about? I have two lines in my epub files, only because that's the way I was taught to do it. Here's the two I have. <meta content="2010-05-15T13:41:36" name="calibre:timestamp"/> <dc:date>2010-05-15 00:00:00-04:00</dc:date> As for the first "filename", that's always going to be the "content.opf" file, as that's the file which tells the program reading it where to find everything and how it's labeled. As for the "must be 8, but was 22", I have no bleeding idea what that is. Is it 8kb vs 22kb, or 8 lines or what? I'm sorta wondering if this "epubcheck" needs some work on it. If nothing else the coder didn't do his work right in coding his error messages.

10-19-2010, 05:25 PM	#3
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	I got that error when I let zip include the directory information. Now I use the following two lines in a terminal shell: zip book-file.epub -DX0 mimetype zip book-file.epub -rDX9 * That assumes that I'm creating the epub in the directory containing all the files.

10-28-2010, 01:05 PM	#8
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	ematte & CraigAtk Welcome to mobileread ....

10-28-2010, 09:33 PM	#9
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Yeah, I ran a file I had through epubcheck and was shocked to realize that silly old me forgot the stupid mimetype file. Thankfully I only did that in one file. ^_^;;

10-29-2010, 07:39 AM	#10
ematte Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	Thanks everyone. I believe that covered all my issues.

10-29-2010, 07:43 AM	#11
ematte Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	I forgot one thing. Even though epubcheck did not validate my file, I was still able to load it on my Ipad and Kindle with no apparent issues. What's up with that? Is Epubcheck too critical in it's validation?

10-29-2010, 08:12 AM	#12
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	epubcheck is designed for 100% adherence to standard. Most device makers however know that not everyone is going to be able to be 100% adherent. So they develop their devices by the percentage rule. Some allow epubs that are only 70% compliant while others require 95%. Some even go so far as demanding 100% adherence on the core elements while overlooking files and things that don't affect navigation and display.

10-30-2010, 07:48 AM	#14
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	(goes to look at Adobe Digital editions) Argh. I hate Adobe. They have no love for Linux. They told me to go flog myself and get a "real" OS. So I guess it's back to loading this with Wine instead. sigh When is Adobe going to learn that there's more than just Apple and Microsoft in this world? But at least I'll give it a try and see how it does.

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