How to fix invalid WordPress feed caused by quote?

Question

I have a WordPress site with custom taxonomies. I send newsletters automatically with Mailchimp for each taxonomy feed. Most feeds work, but those for which there is a quote in the title are invalid.

For example, you can see this feed which title is "Val d'Oise" is invalid : https://validator.w3.org/feed/check.cgi?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.verdi-immobilier.com%2Fdepartements%2F95-val-doise%2Ffeed%2F.

It returns the error XML parsing error: <unknown>:11:24: undefined entity. After testing, it's actually the quote which causes problem.

Here is the feed:

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
    xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
    xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
    xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
    xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
    xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
    xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
    >

<channel>
    <title>95 &#8211; Val-d&rsquo;oise &#8211; Verdi Immo</title>
    <atom:link href="https://www.verdi-immobilier.com/departements/95-val-doise/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <link>https://www.verdi-immobilier.com</link>
    <description>Le dernier recours des propriétaires</description>
    <lastBuildDate>2019-11-01 06:24:28</lastBuildDate>
    <language>fr-FR</language>
    <sy:updatePeriod>
    hourly  </sy:updatePeriod>
    <sy:updateFrequency>
    1   </sy:updateFrequency>
    
<image>
    <url>https://www.verdi-immobilier.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cropped-logo-ico-32x32.png</url>
    <title>95 &#8211; Val-d&rsquo;oise &#8211; Verdi Immo</title>
    <link>https://www.verdi-immobilier.com</link>
    <width>32</width>
    <height>32</height>
</image> 
</channel>
</rss>

The ’ does not seem to be interpreted. Do you guys know how to fix it?

Uklove · Accepted Answer · 2019-11-06T00:23:24.953

1

Wrong answer: This is not a quote:

&#8211;

It´s converted to a dash by wordpress

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dash

And a dash is not an UTF-8 character. Try this encoding:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>

Edit: Right Answer: You are right, the problem ist the ’ - which is invalid.

Can you try to replace the ’ in the title of your post to

&#8217;

(which is valid and the same character) On the Frontend the ’ is shown and i hope a valid encoded character in the xml output also.

replace:

Val-d’oise

with:

Val-d&#8217;oise

in the post-title.

It is dirty, but I hope this helps. I think WordPress had a similar bug years ago.

Regards Tom

edited Nov 06 '19 at 00:23

answered Nov 05 '19 at 11:49

Uklove

509
3
9

Hi Tom, the problem is ’ but i don't know how to solve it. – Loïc Delahais Nov 05 '19 at 20:15
I updated my post, you are right... the ’ is invalid. – Uklove Nov 05 '19 at 23:54
Tom, it works perfectly, i can add my feed to Mailchimp! It may not be the cleanest way but that should do. Thank you very much! – Loïc Delahais Nov 06 '19 at 08:01
Oh, great! I`m glad I could help. Can you accept my answer because "someone" voted it down? – Uklove Nov 06 '19 at 10:31
Yes, I agree the amended answer is correct. @TomUkelove - would you consider removing the original part of your answer that talks about the "-" and UTF-16? Thanks. – richb-hanover Nov 06 '19 at 20:22

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 05 '19 at 15:58

0

I don't think it's the – that's causing the problem - it's the ’ You can test this by pasting your XML text into the XML validator at https://xmlvalidation.com/

Substituting ’ for the ’ seems to pass the test on that validator page.

I don't know how to make your Wordpress feed emit the ’ That's your next project. Good luck!

answered Nov 05 '19 at 15:58

richb-hanover

1,015
2
12
23

Hi richb, thanks for your answer.Yep, ’ is the problem,that's what I was trying to say ^^. – Loïc Delahais Nov 05 '19 at 19:23

How to fix invalid WordPress feed caused by quote?

2 Answers2