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Invalid string value in attribute: description (3075 warnings)
The value that you entered for this attribute is not a valid string. Please enter a contiguous sequence of numbers, characters or symbols.
Examples: Examples:
| Item Nr. |
Line No |
| 1 |
11 |
| 2 |
53 |
| 5 |
107 |
| 6 |
125 |
| 8 |
161 |
|
|
This error type is only a warning, and wont result in you having any problems, but for your own search optimization reasons, you really should have this corrected.
This is the error code in the merchant account of one of my clients. So if I now open the XML in FireFox and then view the source code, it shows the XML code. Where ever you click on the code, it tells you the Line number and Col Number in the bottom status bar.
So here is the first bit of the of the XML, this is the top part with the title of the document etc in Green and the first product in Blue with the attributes this particular product exported.
1 - <?xml version = "1.0"?>
2 - <!-- generator="www.joomlagooglebase.com.com V6.X" -->
3 - <rss version="2.0" xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0">
4 - <channel>
5 - <title>Sample</title>
6 - <link><![CDATA[http://www.sample.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart]]></link>
7 - <description>product</description>
8 - <item>
9 - <title><![CDATA[A.C. Milan Badge]]></title>
10 - <link><![CDATA[http://www.sample.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&category_id=20&product_id=2539]] </link>
11 - <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
12 - <g:image_link><![CDATA[http://www.sample.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/resized/37pbacmsml.jpg]]></g:image_link>
13 - <g:brand><![CDATA[A.C.Milan]]></g:brand>
14 - <g:id>cat20prod2539</g:id>
15 - <g:currency>GBP</g:currency>
16 - <g:price>2.15</g:price>
17 - <g:product_type><![CDATA[Badges]]></g:product_type>
18 - <g:condition>New</g:condition>
19 - <g:payment_accepted>MasterCard</g:payment_accepted>
20 - <g:payment_accepted>AmericanExpress</g:payment_accepted>
21 - <g:payment_accepted>GoogleCheckout</g:payment_accepted>
22 - <g:payment_accepted>Visa</g:payment_accepted>
23 - <g:quantity>545</g:quantity>
24 - <g:payment_notes><![CDATA[+ PayPal]]></g:payment_notes>
25 - <g:weight>17.0000 grams</g:weight>
26 - <g:compatible_with>
27 - <g:title><![CDATA[A.C. Milan Jumbo Mug]]></g:title>
28 - <g:brand><![CDATA[A.C.Milan]]></g:brand></g:compatible_with>
29 - <g:compatible_with>
30 - <g:title><![CDATA[A.C. Milan Breakfast Bowl]]></g:title>
31 - <g:brand><![CDATA[A.C.Milan]]></g:brand></g:compatible_with>
32 - <g:compatible_with>
33 - <g:title><![CDATA[A.C. Milan Key Ring]]></g:title>
34 - <g:brand><![CDATA[A.C.Milan]]></g:brand></g:compatible_with>
35 - <g:compatible_with>
36 - </item>
So we can see that line 11 that is reported as a problem in the report, is the description tag, as it said in the title of the error
"Invalid string value in attribute: description".
This is because it is blank, it means the product has got nothing in the description.
<description><![CDATA[]]>description text goes here</description>
This is how it should look, it should have the description in here where the red writing is. By default Joomla Google Base uses the Short Description for this field, but there is an option to use the Long Description.
Joomla Google Base is also fitted with a field to enter in a general description text if it should have none in the short or long descriptions, so entering a default description there would cure this. Of course this is terrible for your SEO reasons, as it should have a description in here so Google Base and the normal Google search knows what the product is about. I know if you have a lot of products, like this client does, then it is a huge job... but that's the joy of having an online store :) |
