epub validation attribute errors: how to fix?

[sallyember]

PLEASE help with epub validation error or point to where I can get help? New ebook sci fi author, here, trying to get my ebook accepted onto Smashwords. Passed autovetter perfectly, then received these 6 epubcheck errors and don't understand.

I am unemployed, can't pay anyone to do this. Not a programmer at all, but smart and did my own formatting and passed autovetter, so not horrible at this.

Just don't know three things:
1) after I locate a line number and position in the word.doc version, how do I "See" the error to fix it?

2) what do these errors mean (I only have 2 types of errors, but the second one occurs in five places, all around the same section of my doc of the lines numbers cluster means proximity). They're both "attribute" errors, the last five are in the same position, just different lines, the first is almost in the same position, different line.

1) attribute "type" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang"
line 2891, position 31
2) attribute "start" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang"
lines 2462, 2471, 2480, 2491, 2498, position 32


Please email a link, or instructions/explanation, or call: REMOVED FOR PRIVACY REASONS. Or, if it's easier or better to SKYPE, use sally.ember and I'll accept (USA, CA PST, 10:40 AM now; online about 5 AM -about 6 PM PST).

THANKS!

[Ria Stone]

Sally, I just sent a Skype contact request from westrebecca. More later, m

[sallyember]

I didn't get any SKYPE request and the only SKYPE contact with that handle is in the Congo and didn't answer. ?

[sallyember]

I didn't get any SKYPE request and the only SKYPE contact with that handle is in the Congo and didn't answer. ?

[Ted]

Sally, what program did you use to create the ePub file? Did someone create the ePub for you?


Did you upload the file to Smashwords through your Dashboard?

Why, if you are not a programmer, are you uploading an ePub file instead of the MSWord .doc file? It might be better for you to upload the MSWord doc file and forget about the ePub file.

[Ria Stone]

I see that others are having problems with the autovetter. Wonder if the autovetter is having issues itself.

[Ted]

The epub upload method is still in beta stage and liable to have a few bugs. Also, Smashwords currently supports .epub 2 only so bear that in mind.

Autovetter messages relating to epub errors seem to be pretty exact, as shown by original post. It is interpreting those messages some authors are having difficulty with as doing so requires a little understanding of how software code is written - not much understanding mind you, but at least the experience of having looked at software code 7-9 times to see how it flows.

[sallyember]

Hi, Ted,

I uploaded MS Word doc to Smashwords, which converted it to epub, which I uploaded to the validation page and got those errors.

I got some help and fixed those errors, and now have only one left, which I believe is due to a deleted image that is somehow not fully, actually deleted. Code is below. I know where it is, but I can'd "SEE" anything. I cut the text all around the former image, pasted it into Wordpad, saved, cut from there and re-pasted it into MS Word and then reloaded to Smashwords. Epub still failed, same code. HELP?

tmp_c00d8a7e8e3c5502d920bb8967beeefb_cvRnR9.ch.fixed.fc.tidied.stylehacked.xfixed_split_003.html
line 133
position 31
attribute "type" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "id", "lang", "style", "title" or "xml:lang"

[jaydax]

If you haven't already got Sigil, I suggest you download it from code.google.com/p/sigil/ Load your epub file - not the Word.doc - into that. You can then go to the line numbers to make corrections. Quite often you can simply delete the attribute epubcheck doesn't like. Once you've corrected the errors save the file again and pass it through epubcheck again. I usually do that at validator.idpf.org/

I find the simplest way to create an epub file from a Word.doc or .docx file is to use Calibre - available from calibre-ebook.com/download_windows (beware of the large green download button - that's an advert for a program you DON'T want - use the blue 'Download Calibre' link.)

Both Calibre and Sigil are open source - free)

[Ted]

I've heard of problems pasting images into MSWord instead of using the Insert function. I wouldn't use cut/paste for images.

Also, the Smashwords Style Guide recommends the 'nuclear' method for clearing hidden MSWord coding messing up the proper function of a document.

You can download Sigil as jaydax suggests and see if that solves your problem, OR, use the nuclear method suggested by the Smashwords Style Guide and use the Insert function for all your images, making sure your image file is jpg or png.

The simplest way to nuke your work is to copy everything in the MSWord doc to Notepad, then create a New MSWord document, copy/paste Notepad content to new document, save new document as MSWord 97-2003 doc file. Once that is done you can begin replacing hyperlinks, replacing the copied images with Inserted images, and any formatting corrections like Bold or Italic.

Hope this helps.