Error Notification when creating new listing

1

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.

Help!

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

1 Like
5

Thanks everybody. My problem seemed to be the double spaces after a full stop. That will be the legal secretary in me. :upside_down_face:

6

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!

7

Created a new listing with other wording and still the same problem. I’ve given up.