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twiztedmyrtle
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Q: Validated Feed processing as Error by iTunes - "Can't parse your feed"

Initial submission was validated and accepted by iTunes. I am now trying to submit an updated RSS feed with new episodes and iTunes says Error and hence, not updating. RSS feed has been validated by all other tools, but is not being accepted by iTunes.


Error Description -  Can’t parse your feed. Invalid XML: Error on line 1: Content is not allowed in prolog.


I've tried submitting the following feeds -


Both pop up with parse errors. Researched for days and unable to find a resolution. Any guidance and assistance would be GREATLY appreciated.

 


Thank you so much.

Posted on May 12, 2016 1:55 PM

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twiztedmyrtle

Q: Validated Feed processing as Error by iTunes - "Can't parse your feed"

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  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 May 12, 2016 2:21 PM in response to twiztedmyrtle
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    May 12, 2016 2:21 PM in response to twiztedmyrtle

    This sort of error usually means that there is some sort of character before the beginning of line 1, such as a word processing code, or even a return or a space. I can't see any evidence of this at all, and I can't find anything wrong with the feed, which works perfectly well when subscribing in iTunes but is not updating in the Store. No problems show up in Feedvalidator, FeedCast Validator, Terminal, or when examining the text in PageSpinner (which will show invisible characters).

     

    So I have no idea what is going on. As it's been going on for some time it's presumably not a temporary glitch. I can only suggest you contact Support, though on the whole they aren't much help when the problem appears to be at your end. You will need to emphasize that it's ben thoroughly checked out. Go to https://itunespartner.apple.com/en/podcasts/overview and click the 'Contact Us' link at the bottom of the page.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 May 12, 2016 3:19 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    May 12, 2016 3:19 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    OK, further investigation throws up a return at the end of the file, after </rss>. So much for 'line 1', and the first five validators. However although when I amended your feed and uploaded it to my own server to test, it passed on the validator that found the error, but still wouldn't validate at Podcasts Connect. So I can only suggest you remove the return at the end and try yourself.

  • by twiztedmyrtle,

    twiztedmyrtle twiztedmyrtle May 12, 2016 3:39 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1
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    May 12, 2016 3:39 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Hello Roger,

     

    You are AMAZING! Thank you for continuing to research and look into the matter. I will try your suggestion and fingers crossed. In the interim, per your first email, I reached out to apple support. They are reviewing the issue and working on assisting me. I will keep you posted.

     

    So appreciative of you. Thank you!

     

    Warm regards,

    Twizted Myrtle

  • by twiztedmyrtle,

    twiztedmyrtle twiztedmyrtle May 12, 2016 8:52 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1
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    May 12, 2016 8:52 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Roger, I tried your suggestion. It did not work. Back to square one.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 May 12, 2016 11:38 PM in response to twiztedmyrtle
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    May 12, 2016 11:38 PM in response to twiztedmyrtle

    Both your feeds still have the return at the end.

  • by Podcast_Fan,

    Podcast_Fan Podcast_Fan May 13, 2016 8:37 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 2 (161 points)
    May 13, 2016 8:37 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    It looks like you were able to submit your podcast- however, it was submitted twice:

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/twizted-myrtle/id1078991217?mt=2

    Feed: http://artist.twiztedmyrtle.com/static/assets/podcast/twizted_myrtle.xml

     

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/twizted-myrtle/id1104849358?mt=2

    Feed: http://artist.twiztedmyrtle.com/static/assets/podcast/twizted_myrtle.xml

     

    You probably want to click "Hide" in Podcasts Connect for one of the podcasts. (It doesn't matter which)

     

    -Fan

  • by twiztedmyrtle,

    twiztedmyrtle twiztedmyrtle May 13, 2016 8:40 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
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    May 13, 2016 8:40 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Roger, would you mind running a cache please?

  • by twiztedmyrtle,

    twiztedmyrtle twiztedmyrtle May 13, 2016 8:42 AM in response to Podcast_Fan
    Level 1 (9 points)
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    May 13, 2016 8:42 AM in response to Podcast_Fan

    Thanks for taking a peek. I am in transition from another Network that initiated my podcast using their ID. Apple can't transfer the account to me. So I had to create a new one. Apple is working on deleting the old one. It's in progress.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 May 13, 2016 8:44 AM in response to Podcast_Fan
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    May 13, 2016 8:44 AM in response to Podcast_Fan

    The problem wasn't with the submissions as such, but the Store hasn't updated either podcast since March 19th and there are several later episodes in the feed (which appear when subscribing). Attempting to validate the feeds in Podcasts Connect brings up the mysterious error, which originally said the error was in line 1 but now simply says 'failed'. There is still a redundant return at the end of the feeds and I can only guess that this is upsetting the Store (only one out of about five validators has picked this up).

     

    I can't think how he managed to get two version of the podcast up with the same title - this isn't supposed to be possible.

  • by twiztedmyrtle,

    twiztedmyrtle twiztedmyrtle May 13, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 1 (9 points)
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    May 13, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Will try Roger and let you know. Interesting to know that subscribers are able to see the additional episodes.

    2 podcasts with the same name - apple asked me to create a new podcast with a different name. Once approved, they asked me to update the new one with the same name. And then make the request to them to have them delete the old one / move subscribers over to the new one. That request is in progress with apple.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 May 13, 2016 8:53 AM in response to twiztedmyrtle
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    May 13, 2016 8:53 AM in response to twiztedmyrtle

    twiztedmyrtle wrote:

     

    Roger, would you mind running a cache please?

    I cleared the cache in Safari and re-downloaded the feed with the same result, though using curl in Terminal doesn't show the extra blank line. Possibly my ISP's caching is being a bit aggressive. I recommend you try for yourself the one validator which picked this up. Go to

     

    http://xmlgrid.net/validator.html

     

    and click the 'By URL' button. Paste your feed's URL into the field which appears and click 'Submit'. I got this result:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-05-13 at 16.52.22.jpg

    You can ignore the 'line 1', they seem to be referring to the additional return at the end (yesterday when I uploaded a copy of your feed to my server with that return removed this validator passed it, though I still couldn't get Podcasts Connect to validate it).