In the RSS-feed resources, built on the WordPress platform, you can often find the following error: «Error on line 2: The processing instruction target matching” [xX] [mM] [lL] “is not allowed.». RSS-aggregators most popular browsers interpret a similar message as follows: «XML or text declaration not at start of entity» (Firefox) or «XML declaration not at beginning of document» (Opera)
Problem lies in the blank lines before and after XML declaration, which lead to incorrect work of the RSS-feed WordPress site. Usually, extra blank lines appear as a result of errors in those files, plugins, configuration files (usually “suffer” wp-rss2.php, wp-atom.php, wp-config.php, functions.php). The problem is compounded by the fact that some (but not all) programs-aggregators can automatically ignore blank lines before and after the Declaration of XML while generating RSS-stream, so the error is indicated for a long time may remain unnoticed.
Plug-in fix-rss-feed is intended to finally and completely resolve the problem of blank lines and resume the normal work of RSS-feed on your site.
Download Fix RSS Feed WordPress Plugin
Version: 1.03 Release date: 2009-05-24
The principle of the plugin is to verify all the php-files in the root directory of WordPress for the presence of empty rows at the beginning or the end of a file – extra blank lines will be removed.
Please note that the algorithm provides a plugin to ignore blank lines, standing inside the container <? Xml … ?>, so you do not have to worry for the code integrity and correctness of the script.
The amendments are easily controlled using the results list that appears after the operation “Fix wordpress rss feed“: opposite the name of the file containing extra blank line will display the status of the job (Successful, fix [file name.php] – refers to the successful implementation). If changes can not be made due to the fact that the file access mode was set to Read Only, you will receive a message. In this case, you should set write permissions which removing the attribute read-only, and repeat the operation for the specified file.
matt w
January 20, 2010 6:31 pmHi. I’ve ran your plugin through my website and it doesn’t seem to fix anything. I manually set all permissions so that it could fix them, then set them back. It cleaned all the reported errors, but my feed is still showing the same error when accessing it from the browser.
Any idea what could it be?
admin
January 20, 2010 6:50 pmPlease ensure that your feed content is not cached. It is possible that you see cached errors. In case of any questions regardless the plug-in, you can contact directly to author: flyaga@163.com
Andrew S.
January 20, 2010 11:47 amThank you for that great plug-in, it erased all errors in my RSS feeds. Suggesting you to make the option to list WP theme pages, CSS styles etc. with the same problem. This will speed-up the site loading…
Geoff Snyder
January 20, 2010 12:11 pmI just want to make sure to stop by and say thank you for your plugin. Your plugin fixed my RSS feed problem. Although I only had a few small errors…this tool fixed everything very quickly. Thank you again!
Geoff
warren
January 20, 2010 6:18 pmHi there,
Looks helpful. Your plug-in finds hundreds of issues, mostly tail issues but I’m nervous to change so many files on a functioning site.
The Feedburner form feed error says:
The URL does not appear to reference a valid XML file. We encountered the following problem: Error on line 3: The processing instruction target matching “[xX][mM][lL]” is not allowed.
I also see it in a validator [feedvalidator.org] :
This feed does not validate.
line 1, column 1: Blank line before XML declaration
Since there’s only 1 error, I’m curious to figure out which specific files is the problem and what I can do to remedy it? I notice there does not exist a directory in the domain called “feed”. Is that just an alias?
Any help is much appreciated!
-w
willo
January 20, 2010 7:26 pmWhat a lifesaver… that would have taken me hours. I donated… thank you!
leila
January 20, 2010 10:03 amhi
I have the same problem but your plugin did not fix it. This are the steps that I follow:
1. I run the “fix wordpress rss feed” process (I get the message: No found blank lines from your wordpress php files, now your feed is ok!)
2. click “Delete cache” on “WP Super Cache Manager” plugin
3. check the feed with feedvalidator and i get the same message: “line 1, column 1: Blank line before XML declaration” http://feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http://www.leila.ro/feed
4. also feedburner says: “The URL does not appear to reference a valid XML file. We encountered the following problem: Error on line 3: The processing instruction target matching “[xX][mM][lL]” is not allowed.”
where is the problem?
leila
January 20, 2010 10:14 ami found the problem: i removed the empy lines in my “functions.php”. it’s working now. thx all
Violet
January 20, 2010 12:41 amThe MOST lifesaving Plug In EVER! so happy I found it. An article here ->http://www.snilesh.com/resources/wordpress/fix-wordpress-feed-xml-parsing-errors-rss-feed-problem/
pointed me to you – I didnt see your plug in come up in google results for “finding xml error in wordpress feed”
I’ve spent all week looking for the dumb error, and your plug in found about 100 of them in a minute!
I just wish I had money to pay for your plug in :( but I promise Ill be spreading the word about it to my fellow bloggers!
Cheers
Violet xx
Daniel
January 20, 2010 12:05 pmHi! Your plug in solved my issue. It found near 300 files to repair ( probably not all of them causing the problem) and after I backed up my blog it was done in a second. I am not using any cash plugins. I am definitely donating as soon as I get my paypal fed and continue spreading the word as I see it is a common problem for many people. Thank a lot!
Robert McDonough
January 20, 2010 6:49 pmThis plugin rocks! Just set it up on my blog and it fixed A LOT of problems. Thank you!
Nine
January 20, 2010 12:44 pmThanks, awesome plugin. My feed is ok now..
Gerad
January 20, 2010 6:31 amYou know that your plugin was stolen by someone? They do the modified plugin and distribute it. I know that the original Fix RSS Feed Error plugin can be downloaded at your site, but many people do not know that. There is a lot of your plugin clones but your is only one that helps!
shivani
January 20, 2010 8:12 pmHi,
I installed it. does help me. :)
Владимир Сальников
January 20, 2010 11:25 amСпасибо, большое автору статьи и тем кто разработал, такой нужный палгин. Мне помогло сразу, хотя до этого мучался вопросом 2 недели, как устранить ошибку. Ответная статья с сылкой на этой пост гарантирую.
Виталий Никулин
January 20, 2010 6:43 amНа какие файлы необходимо установить права 777?
On which files I should set permissions 777?
Виталий Никулин
January 20, 2010 7:29 amУже разобрался. На все файлы темы.
Kavita
January 20, 2010 4:11 pmI faced similar problem. for me WP total cache was the problem. Please check cache plugins for correct settings. Also one more plugin was causing extra white spaces. So please careful while adding a new plugin
sunsoft
January 20, 2010 7:48 amXML Parsing Error: XML or text declaration not at start of entity
Location: http:// .me/feed/
Line Number 1, Column 3:
Jadson C Rodrigues
January 20, 2010 5:58 pmNossa cara que plugin espetacular, resolveu meu pronlema em 10s muito grato.
Pritesh Gupta
January 20, 2010 9:43 amWorked for me, thanks!
Tharik Ahamed
January 20, 2010 10:06 pmthanks pa ….. this plugin working….. Super
Stefan
January 20, 2010 9:13 amFixed my problems! Donation is on the way.
Thanks!!!
Glenn
January 20, 2010 7:29 pmWorked just fine for me!!
Many thanks, for taking the pain out of fixing something with WordPress.
Mehroze Ahmed
January 20, 2010 11:14 amI tried several methods but still getting these error
XML Parsing Error: XML or text declaration not at start of entity
Location: http://www.softales.com/
Line Number 8, Column 2:
Rhian
January 20, 2010 7:35 pmFinally, an easy-enough instruction to trouble shoot WordPress. Thanks. This is a real life-saver!
Marjorie Swan
January 20, 2010 4:34 pmAfter I installed your plugin my rss feed works just fine. I’ll spread the word around.
Naser @ Tech Blog
January 20, 2010 9:07 amMy feed error says this:
This page contains the following errors:
error on line 660 at column 30: Input is not proper UTF-8, indicate encoding !
Bytes: 0x1C 0x4F 0x70 0x65
Below is a rendering of the page up to the first error.
Please help me.
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jay
January 20, 2010 2:45 pmAny way i got this error The package could not be installed. PCLZIP_ERR_BAD_FORMAT (-10) : Unable to find End of Central Dir Record signature i think something wrong with rar package .Is this plugin is wp 3.x comapatible
admin
January 20, 2010 3:10 pmPlease don’t try to install RAR package. It can not be unpacked on the server. You should download the ZIP package instead. If nothing helps please check your server configuration. Plugin is capable to work at WP 3.
lem moigne
January 20, 2010 7:30 pmMerciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
matt
January 20, 2010 6:46 pmworked – note to anyone having problems: you may have to clear your browser cache to see if it worked. even refreshing the page didn’t work for me (using FF). Thanks!
Gabriel
January 20, 2010 8:31 amFantastic plugin! I have to donate because this is a lifesaver. I had to leave a comment as well – – – bravo fellas.