InDesign epub exports failing epub check

Question

Why are these errors and how do I find the place to amend them (all RSC-005)? I've used ID Styles for both text and objects and am not a coder.For content.opf error reads:(line 2, col 105):Error while parsing file: attribute "xml:lang" not allowed here; expected attribute "id" Line 2 = In the cover.xhtml lines 3–11 readCover

Cover of It's The Truth: Making The Only Ones by Simon Wright

And the errors are defined as1) (line 8, col 38)Error while parsing file: element "figure" not allowed anywhere; expected 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")2) (line 9, col 143):Error while parsing file: attribute "role" not allowed here; expected attribute "class", "dir", "height", "id", "ismap", "lang", "longdesc", "title", "usemap", "width" or "xml:lang"3) (line 11, col 9):Error while parsing file: element "body" incomplete; expected 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") While in the text.xhtml the file, lines 9–13 read:

And the 2 errors are: (line 10, col 69):Error while parsing file: element "figure" not allowed anywhere; expected the element end-tag, text or element "a", "abbr", "acronym", "address", "applet", "b", "bdo", "big", "blockquote", "br", "cite", "code", "del", "dfn", "div", "dl", "em", "h1", "h2", "h3", "h4", "h5", "h6", "hr", "i", "iframe", "img", "ins", "kbd", "map", "noscript", "ns:svg", "object", "ol", "p", "pre", "q", "samp", "script", "small", "span", "strong", "sub", "sup", "table", "tt", "ul" or "var" (with xmlns:ns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg") (line 11, col 95):Error while parsing file: element "figure" not allowed anywhere; expected the element end-tag, text or element "a", "abbr", "acronym", "address", "applet", "b", "bdo", "big", "blockquote", "br", "cite", "code", "del", "dfn", "div", "dl", "em", "h1", "h2", "h3", "h4", "h5", "h6", "hr", "i", "iframe", "img", "ins", "kbd", "map", "noscript", "ns:svg", "object", "ol", "p", "pre", "q", "samp", "script", "small", "span", "strong", "sub", "sup", "table", "tt", "ul" or "var" (with xmlns:ns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg")

Laura Brady · Accepted Answer

The issue is that you are exporting EPUB 2. If you switch to exporting EPUB 3, these validation errors will disappear.

Are you consciously choosing EPUB 2? If yes, may I ask why? There is no reason at all to stick to this older format.

James Gifford—NitroPress · Answer

Oh, fer frak's sake — I didn't see that coming. I did write a technical note here in the forum about the change, but in haste, ignorance or blind trust I asumed it was compliant with the implemented standards. We once again have InDesign jumping ahead on export changes and "compliance" that is not in step with the downstream EPUB world. The short take is that images are now exported in a

element, not a

. I have no idea who said what to whom or when about this change being 'compliant' or necessary; all I know is that the 2025 rush to accessiblity (for the EU, mainly) is creating something a lot like in the EPUB world. The only solutions are (1) ignore the errors and assume that any downstream sales portal or reader understands what to do with a

even if EPUBcheck is clueless so far; (2) manually edit all

elements to

(which may not work) or just wait until the reality end of EPUB catches up with the navel-gazing end of it.

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