xml format error with upload to google

[sbatterton]

I am new to uploading to Google Base or Merchant Center. Have not had a successful upload. Using Shopsite Manager Pro version 10.o. It seems to get the file but nothing is imported. Message will say 0 of 1651 items, for example. The drop down message is:

xml formatting error
line nr column nr
2 21
I am creating file automatically through ShopSite and let them do upload and also tried manually through Base or Merchant Center. Nothing seems to work .I know how to look at the file contents but where is line 2 column 21 for example. Is it second line of the header,21st characher or 2 product?? I don't know where to look or what is the problem.

Many thanks for whatever assistance you can give to help me get file uploaded.

[Jim]

More than likely it is the second line in the file. What does that contain? Why don't you post the first 10 lines here in the forum so we can look at them.

[sbatterton]

Jim,

thanks...here are first section of lines... There are actually several spaces between the 'feed' in second line and the 'xmlns 'but it doesn't show up that in the posted note to the forum.

<?xml version='1.0'?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0"
xmlns:batch="http://schemas.google.com/gdata/batch">
<title type="text">http://designingwomanjewelry.com/store/index.html Batch Feed</title>
<category scheme="http://base.google.com/categories/itemtypes" term="products"/>
<entry>
<g:id>PID#1</g:id>

[sbatterton]

jim,

I was told that my issue may be that the file shopsite creates is for API rather than xml. Initially I did set up API key but it never worked. On the configure screen in Shopsite, I changed to FTP radio button but the API key keeps appearing. I try to remove and save but it appears again.

At this point, do I need to have shopsite create a FTP format file? If so, how can I get it to do it? I don;t see in Google where I can have the APIkey removed from my account. I am using 10.0 version of Shopstie.

[Jim]

You don't need to remove the API key. JUst enable the ftp option and enter your ftp information. You also have to have setup the ftp method on the Google side.

[sbatterton]

I do have the ftp set up. The error is consistently the same at line2 column 21...no matter how much 'tweaking' I have tried to do..(removing some products,changing the heading, etc) I have file both manually and through system again and again but still get that same error.

[sbatterton]

Solved it...part way...I looked in other threads and saw that this is a problem in the file format that Shopsite Manager create. There are extra lines at the start of the file that need to be removed. See below.. I manually did what they suggested and it worked..for the first time after many many head-banging tries. I am using 10.0 verison and same for others having this issue. They have asked for a fix form Shopsite.

he error messages we get from Google when we try the "send feed" button are as follows:

1. XML tag mismatch
2. Invalid RSS/Atom document format

ShopSite says that the feed has been sent successfully - then we get the above error messages from Google. Then we download the file, remove the beginning spaces and manually upload it to Google and Google is happy.
_________________
roblem in the file itselft

[Jim]

I have checked the actual file created for the feed in ShopSite 10 r7 and Shopsite 10 sp1 on a Linux server and neither one has any blank space before the <?xml. . . line.

Exactly which version of ShopSite do you have and what operating system is your store on

[sbatterton]

Jim,

Shopsite Version 10.0,windows xp, Startlogic host system. When I open my file, here is the set up:
BLANK LINE
<?xml version='1.0'?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0"
xmlns:batch="http://schemas.google.com/gdata/batch">

(I wrote in the 'blank line' comment and the space at ' feed xlms' is exactly how it appears).

Here is part of the message from the user who was having the same issue):
Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 7
Location: Raymond, NH
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:14 am Post subject: Fix automated Google base file

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See this forum: http://support.shopsite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6586

The XML file automatically generated has spaces before the XML declaration line that causes Google to reject the file. At least this is happening on Windows servers - don't know about Linux or Unix servers.
The error messages we get from Google when we try the "send feed" button are as follows:

1. XML tag mismatch
2. Invalid RSS/Atom document format

ShopSite says that the feed has been sent successfully - then we get the above error messages from Google. Then we download the file, remove the beginning spaces and manually upload it to Google and Google is happy.
_________________

Thanks,

sue

[Jim]

What are you opening the file up in?

[sbatterton]

In Shopsite Manager, Merchandising,google,product search,send feed, then there is a link that shows the date/time of that or the last feed. If you click on that the file contents open up. What I sent in my last post is what appears at the beginning. That is where I do the copy paste to notepad and remove the spaces and save and then do upload in Google via manual. The Shopsite feed file has never been accepted. Always same error.

[sbatterton]

Also, I just did another (successful) upload via that manual cut and paste.

It is the top blank line that is causing the problem. Remove that and it works. The spaces on the second line between feed and lxlmns need stay that way.