iTunes Connect - Uploading A Revised Version of A Book

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Level 1

5 points

iTunes Connect - Uploading A Revised Version of A Book

Hello,

I have uploaded a new book to my iTunes Connect account. It was just sitting there with the yellow " Pending" notice below the *Manage Your Books* section. I then realized there were a couple typo's that were not a huge problem, but still worth fixing.

So, how do you do that?? I just wanted to upload a corrected version and overwrite the old one, but couldn't figure out how to do that. So, I deselected the "*Cleared For Sale*" feature, so it didn't post with the errors. It now says "*Publisher Removed From Sale*". I sent through a question on the iTunes Connect Question form - no response...

So what do I do? Do I upload a new one as if it is a new project? Wait to hear from Apple? Somehow delete this incorrect version? (I can't figure out how to delete it)

I found the below in the FAQ section, so it seems like you can upload a new version, but how?

*Cut & Paste from Apple's FAQ*

"...Minor updates such as fixing typos or updating images can be submitted at any time and will not require a new ISBN. In that case, all previous reviews will remain visible."

https://itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.woa/wo/25.0.0.9.1.7.1.1 .0.1

So, it seems that you can fix typos, but it beats me how, and I don't want the "previous" version available. Do I need to upload the corrected one as a new book and just keep the old one marked as Publisher Removed From Sale?

Any ideas from anyone who's gone through the iTunes Connect book process would be greatly appreciated.

IMac Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.2), 8 GB RAM / iPhone 8 Gb

Posted on Mar 23, 2011 1:35 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 25, 2011 12:43 AM in response to Deepsky06

As I'm in the dark as to how to do this myself, what I believe you do is open iTunes Producer and choose the 4th option "Lookup Metadata." Type in the Apple ID number you see in iTunes Connect for the book and let it find the info. It'll create a new file with your ISBN with a -1 after it in the filename and populate most of the itmsp package entries (sometimes with missing or mixed up fields). Fix some of that stuff (especially the price as it tends to be missing), add your cover and epub again and Deliver it.

I may be wrong on this, but I believe this is how you do it. Just loading up the original itmsp package and reDelivering it caused my yellow "Pending" book to instantly turn red and go "Removed from Sale," so call it a hunch. Not sure, though.

- Adam

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Answer 2

Deepsky06 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 25, 2011 5:51 AM in response to adam_omega

Adam,

I think I may have figured it out now. I just got a reply from the iBookstore.

"You can simply redeliver to overwrite the bad data. Then you can place it back on sale."

Best regards,
iBookstore Support

I opened iTunes Producer, and then chose "Open Package", then chose the corresponding itmsp file. You can then choose Assets and select the ePub file again, then deliver.

Are you saying by redelivering it in this way, it went to "Removed From Sale"? After you did this, did you choose the Right & Pricing again to activate it? This seems to be why mine was also indicating the red "Removed From Sale" status.

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Answer 3

Mar 25, 2011 9:39 AM in response to Deepsky06

For one of my books that had been Pending (yellow) for a week, yes. I opened the original package and added the new epub and when it finished uploading, it had become (red) "Removed From Sale" in iTunes Connect. (Note that I had checked iTunes Connect for the status prior to uploading the revised file.)

I reuploaded the book twice and couldn't get the status to change from Red. After several hours, I tried the look-up Metadata option and that still hasn't changed it from (red) "Removed From Sale."

I emailed support and got a reply six hours later that said, "Ticketed for review and return to the store on our internal number ####."

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Answer 4

Deepsky06 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 25, 2011 11:19 AM in response to adam_omega

I still have a few more modifications I want to make to mine, but will see what happens the next time I upload the file. If it sticks on Red, then I'll send in a question as you did.

So, a different question, do you have any idea what goes on in the review process? What are they looking for? Surely they don't read every story submitted. 🙂

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Answer 5

Mar 25, 2011 11:42 AM in response to Deepsky06

Not sure about their review process. Wondering that myself as I've only just started to submit books.

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Answer 6

Apr 28, 2011 9:27 PM in response to adam_omega

Hey Adam_omega,

This answer may just be the ticket I am looking for. I have been resubmitting on the original itmsp package and getting nowhere fast for six weeks (three uploads.) I'll bet the -1or -2 or -3 suffix is the signal to itunes Connect that something has changed and to relook at the file.

Page 19 and 20 of the UsingiTunesProducer2.3_Books.pdf seems to hint around that this might be the way to resubmit a package once the partial delivery light goes out. It talks about what information can be changed on a previous submission, but the text is vague and doesn't come right out and say this is how you re-submit after a rejection.

Now would be a really good time for an Apple tech to chime in and clarify the procedure.

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it this weekend and report back if it works.

Greg

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Answer 7

Apr 30, 2011 7:26 PM in response to gregory mfrommesa

I must report failure to remove the dreaded red light. I followed Adam_omega's suggestion and choose the Look Up Metadata option and proceeded to attach my latest epub file and cover art. Producer assigned a -2 to my package. I got the green checkmark on the upload but the Removed From Sale was still there. Then I went back and unchecked the Pre-sale Allowed button thinking that might somehow be the problem and delivered a -3 package. Still the red light....sigh.....

I have sent three iTunes Connect messages and one message to iTunesProducer@apple.com and have not received a reply. Has anyone else recently been successful?

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