# EPUBCheck OPF-017: empty rootfile full-path, how to fix it

Source: https://epubcc.com/epubcheck/opf-017/ (updated 2026-11-04)

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.

- Official message (EPUBCheck 5.4.0): The attribute "full-path" on element "rootfile" must not be empty.
- Default severity: Error

## 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.

## Sources

- EPUB 3.3, §4.2.6.3.1.3 The rootfile element: https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-33/#sec-container.xml-rootfile-elem (read 2026-11-04)

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