I come across this a lot, and it is bugging me! However, I am sure one of you will come to my rescue. Having filled all the required fields requested including number, price, postage and all the photos, why do I get 1 error needs to be fixed.
1 Errors needs to be fixed
Item Description contains the following invalid characters:
Now, I wouldn’t mind so much if there was a list of 'invalid characters but there never is.
Are you copy / pasting the description from a note/ word processing app/ program into the description box? Note apps have invisible formatting characters (normally for double line breaks) and the description box can’t handle them. Because they are invisible formatting characters it also can’t show you them when it tells you there is an error.
No. However, the listing is in my shop, so now I’m totally flummoxed. But it’s there and that’s what is important. Thanks though for your reply your bit on the invisible formatting characters is definitely one I’ll keep in mind. Thanks Sasha.
As Sasha says, this normally happens when you copy and paste descriptions from elsewhere, and some formatting copies across as well. The error on the description should always show which characters are causing the issue, but unfortunately these just look like a space so it appears like nothing is there.
If you have a word processor (such as Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer) that you can copy the description into, then these will usually have the option to view ‘field shadings’, which will highlight the spaces that cause the issues in grey. Then you just need to delete the grey spaces and copy the description back to Folksy.
Same problem today. Nothing copy and pasted. Removed get-together. Doesn’t highlight what needs fixing (that’s the most annoying bit) so having to retype the whole description again. If the system would highlight the error, that would definitely help. Argh!
I often get this error when listing and it’s never obvious what is the invalid character. However, I’ve come to realise that when I copy and paste my description from a word document I’ve written it sometimes includes errors with spacing or little bits of back information which isn’t apparent at the time. If the error message keeps happening try just typing the description directly in the folksy item listing box.
I often get this error when listing and it’s never obvious what is the invalid character. However, I’ve come to realise that when I copy and paste my description from a word document I’ve written it sometimes includes errors with spacing or little bits of back information which isn’t apparent at the time. If the error message keeps happening try just typing the description directly in the folksy item listing box.
@MysticalWhimsy When you get the error does it show the invalid characters message with what appears to be no characters listed?
If it does this when you’re typing the description straight into Folksy, what device are you using when you do it?
We’d expect this when it’s not a regular space or new line, so if you’re not pasting it in sounds like your device is sometimes creating a different whitespace character with how you type.
Hi Kim, I will have to wait to list a new item and place something like an asterisk or something to see what clues I get, I can’t recall being informed which is the invalid character. I am currently using a chromebook. I will let you know