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EPUBCheck · Package document (OPF)

EPUBCheck OPF-017: empty rootfile full-path

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EPUBCheck OPF-017 is an error message: “The attribute "full-path" on element "rootfile" must not be empty.” A rootfile element in META-INF/container.xml has an empty full-path attribute. The attribute must hold the path to the package document; an empty value leaves reading apps with nothing to open.

The official message

The attribute "full-path" on element "rootfile" must not be empty.

Default severity
Error. The EPUB breaks a rule of the specification and is invalid. Stores and Send to Kindle may reject it, and EPUBCheck exits with status 1.
EPUBCheck version
5.4.0

Typical causes

  • A template container.xml whose path was never filled in.
  • A build script that writes the path from a variable that turned out empty.
  • A path deleted by mistake while editing the file.

How to fix it

  1. Open META-INF/container.xml.
  2. Write the package document's path from the root of the archive, for example full-path="OEBPS/content.opf".
  3. Check the path letter by letter against the real file, then rebuild the EPUB.

When it's not this

If the attribute is missing altogether, that is OPF-016.

Terms used here

Other OPF messages

  • OPF-016 The element "rootfile" is missing its required attribute "full-path".
  • OPF-018 The "remote-resources" property was declared in the Package Document, but no reference to remote resources has been found.
  • OPF-018b The "remote-resources" property was declared in the Package Document, but no reference to remote resources has been found; please check scripted content to make sure the property is legit.
  • OPF-015 The property "…" should not be declared in the OPF file.
  • OPF-014 The property "…" should be declared in the OPF file.
  • OPF-013 Resource "…" is declared with MIME type "…" in content, but has MIME type "…" in the package document.

Sources

Message text and severity from EPUBCheck 5.4.0 (W3C, BSD-3-Clause). Explanation by EpubCC.

FAQ

What does EPUBCheck OPF-017 mean?

EPUBCheck OPF-017 is an error message: “The attribute "full-path" on element "rootfile" must not be empty.” A rootfile element in META-INF/container.xml has an empty full-path attribute. The attribute must hold the path to the package document; an empty value leaves reading apps with nothing to open.

Is OPF-017 an error?

OPF-017 is reported as error by default. The EPUB breaks a rule of the specification and is invalid. Stores and Send to Kindle may reject it, and EPUBCheck exits with status 1.