ID 2025: Error while parsing file: attribute target not allowed here

[kyle.denver]

Generating an ePub file with InDesign 2025 that contains footnotes, and subsequently passing through ePub-Checker, Google Play, or Apple Books multiples errors with footnotes:

• OEBPS/9781788946391.Xhtml:237, 664: Error while parsing file: attribute "target" not allowed here; expected attribute

If the same file is opened using ID 2024, there are no errors.

I've created a very simple file with little text and one reference/footnote using ID 2025.

[kyle.denver]

Forgot to add: ePub-Checker is the latest version, i.e., Version 2.0.10_0c4d1 (2.0.10).

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from cc desktop bugs">

[Abhishek Rao · Accepted solution]

Hi @kyle.denver,

Thanks for flagging this, and I really appreciate you including the files and details. Just to double-check, are you currently on InDesign version 20.3.1? Also, could you let me know which operating system you're using?

This looks like something that might have already been addressed in a more recent pre-release build (20.4). If you have access to the pre-release program, I'd recommend testing the export with the latest build to see if the error still occurs.

If you're not yet part of the pre-release program, you can join using the links below:

https://blog.developer.adobe.com/how-to-join-creative-cloud-prerelease-programs-ccecc10ae7d3
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/invitation-to-indesign-prerelease/td-p/12371924#....

Let me know how it goes once you’ve tested it. Looking forward ot hearing back. 

Abhishek 

[kyle.denver]

Hi @Abhishek Rao,

Thanks for the lines. I'm indeed running InDesign 20.3.1 (lastest) on macOS 15.5, on a M3 Max. I've just signed up for pre-release and it's downloading 20.4 now. Will let you know if it works once the download is over. I reverted back to ID 19.x for the time being, but if 20.4 already has that fixed it'd be handy.

[kyle.denver]

20.4 does fix it. ePub-Check doesn't show any such errors.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @kyle.denver,

Thanks so much for the confirmation! The product team has fixed this issue in InDesign version 20.4, which is soon to be rolled out publicly. Glad to hear it's working well for you in the pre-release.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or feedback.

Abhishek