FeedCheck Tool - Check iTunes Tags

[Patrick]

With the advent of iTunes 4.9 and all the hoopla about feeds and tags, I decided to make a little tool I use privately available to all the podcasters out there. I developed this over time, and today I spent hours and hours making it also spit out details about iTunes tags.

So visit the site, plug in your feed address and see exactly what your feed says about your show, in plain English, tag for tag. Then, use the information to get your feed right!

It's also fun to see what others are doing. It's amazing the popular podcasts with incomplete or crappy feeds!

Check it out:

http://www.nobodylikesonions.com/feedcheck

Report errors or give me suggestions at patrick@nobodylikesonions.com

I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this tool.

[Lifespring!]

Patrick! Very, very cool! Thanks for the work you've done here.

[Hittman]

Very cool!

[Patrick]

I really like this tool and what it helps you to see with your feed. Some things I've noticed:

Illinoise! has a broken iTunes image.

Dawn and Drew put things in the wrong fields, and there is not consistency.

The Bitterest Pill as a broken iTunes image and HTML in the iTunes summary tag, which isn't allowed.

A lot of people are using the same image for iTunes and standard RSS - this isn't allowed or valid. The maximum dimensions for a standard RSS image are 144x400, so using your 300x300 iTunes image is wrong.

I just found an error in my own feed with two iTunes tags belonging in the <item> level were at the <channel> level.

[Patrick]

There should be NO images that don't show up in your items or your channel. If so, you are using a relative path to the image instead of absolute, and it's a bad practice. Noticing lots of that too.

[Jellicle]

Patrick! Very, very cool! Thanks for the work you've done here.

Ditto :)

[no1slistening]

Hey Patrick,
Great tool.

Quick question: Have any thoughts on why feedvalidator.org gives me this error message for my <itunes:link> tags?

line 23, column 0: Undefined channel element: itunes:link [help]

<itunes:link rel="image" type="video/jpeg" href="http://www.no1slistening.co ...

Is this a common thing, or did I leave something out?

Here's what it looks like in my xml file:

<itunes:link rel="image" type="video/jpeg" href="http://www.no1slistening.com/blog-images/applelogo.jpg">No 1's Listening</itunes:link>

Thanks!

Update: I should say that other validators say my xml file is good. Just have a problem with Feedvalidator.org.

[Patrick]

FeedValidator.org just started catching iTunes stuff today. That tag is 100% correct. My feed gets the same error. I think the reason that it's erring may be because the validator is having trouble checking the namespace at apple, or someone didn't put it in the validator right, etc. It depends on how that validator works.

I get a ton of errors also about my itunes:subtitle field being over 255 characters, and as a result my feed doesn't validate, but it works everywhere. I just need to put something in my template to limit those fields to 255 characters.

Regardless, if the iTunes image shows up in my tool, the tag is correct to Apple's specs - no matter what the validator says.

[no1slistening]

FeedValidator.org just started catching iTunes stuff today. That tag is 100% correct.

Sweet!

Thanks, dude.

Great tool!

[celerityfm]

Patrick! Very, very cool! Thanks for the work you've done here.

Ditto :)

Ditto to the dittos! Also thanks for the feed tips sir :)

I've added a link to your utility on the iTunes Tips wiki (http://voxmedia.org/wiki/ITunes_Tips).

I also do not like onions, so I have subscribed to your feed to support your crusade. That is what your podcast is about right? :P

[Patrick]

That's just one of the many topics.

PS - K9cast has a RSS image that's too big - make it 144x144 to comply! OR ELSE!!!!!

[no1slistening]

Actually, I have one more question, if anybody knows the answer. I want to be listed in different categories. And I've seen people do the category tags differently. I checked out a few podcasts who are listed in different iTunes categories and I changed my rss feed to match theirs.

Does this look about right?

<category>Audio Blogs</category>
<itunes:category text="Audio Blogs"/>
<itunes:category text="Music"/>
<itunes:category text="Comedy"/>

Right now, I'm just listed in Audio Blogs, but I'd like to do some crossing over (like John Edwards).

Thanks,
JV

[Patrick]

That's the correct format - and the first will be your primary iTunes category yet. Seeing as iTunes isn't doing regular updates right now, don't expect it to happen immediately.

[no1slistening]

Cool.

Thanks.

[dcolanduno]

With the advent of iTunes 4.9 and all the hoopla about feeds and tags, I decided to make a little tool I use privately available to all the podcasters out there. I developed this over time, and today I spent hours and hours making it also spit out details about iTunes tags.

So visit the site, plug in your feed address and see exactly what your feed says about your show, in plain English, tag for tag. Then, use the information to get your feed right!

It's also fun to see what others are doing. It's amazing the popular podcasts with incomplete or crappy feeds!

Check it out:

http://www.nobodylikesonions.com/feedcheck

Report errors or give me suggestions at patrick@nobodylikesonions.com

I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this tool.

Thanks man... I didn't expect anyone to actually pop something like this out. You've done something good here for us all...

[Patrick]

Thanks to you, Derek. I never would have spiffied up and released it publicly if not for you suggesting it would be useful.

[dcolanduno]

Is the below tag system valid for an iTunes image? The NLO Feedcheck doesn't show it as valid. Can someone take a peek and confirm. It looks okay to me.

<itunes:image>
<url>http://www.skepticality.net/images/skepticalusitunes.jpg</url>
<title>skepticality - Science and Skeptic Thought</title>
<link>http://www.skepticality.com/</link>
</itunes:image>

[Patrick]

No, it's different for iTunes.

Take all that out and do this:

<itunes:link rel="image" type="video/jpeg" href="http://www.skepticality.net/images/skepticalusitunes.jpg">Skepticality</itunes:link>

I'm assuming the image there is 300x300.

You also need to shrink that down to 144x144 and use the small one for the regular RSS image - it doesn't support that big 300x300 one.

[dcolanduno]

Thanks to you, Derek. I never would have spiffied up and released it publicly if not for you suggesting it would be useful.

Super useful! I love your little 'last feeds checked'... You should keep track of how many tags are 'correct' in a feed and rank them. Keep a list of the best ones so people can look at them for reference. ;)

I'm just making work for you, don't listen to me!

[dcolanduno]

No, it's different for iTunes.

Take all that out and do this:

<itunes:link rel="image" type="video/jpeg" href="http://www.skepticality.net/images/skepticalusitunes.jpg">Skepticality</itunes:link>

I'm assuming the image there is 300x300.

You also need to shrink that down to 144x144 and use the small one for the regular RSS image - it doesn't support that big 300x300 one.

Yea, that's what I thought... I'm going to have to come up with a better way of maintaining my feed right now... Or, I'll just have to do the old fashioned hand-code madness for a while.

[Patrick]

It doesn't really look to see if they are correct or not. I just have it check for those displayed tags according to spec. It just shows the value there, and none if there isn't one. If I get bored I might go through and make it tell you that an image is too big, or the wrong file format, or you have HTML in this field and it isn't allowed, or this field is over 255 characters which is the max allowed.

For now I'm tired though. I put in almost 8 hours on the **** thing today!

[dcolanduno]

It doesn't really look to see if they are correct or not. I just have it check for those displayed tags according to spec. It just shows the value there, and none if there isn't one. If I get bored I might go through and make it tell you that an image is too big, or the wrong file format, or you have HTML in this field and it isn't allowed, or this field is over 255 characters which is the max allowed.

For now I'm tired though. I put in almost 8 hours on the **** thing today!

Oh, I don't think it needs any more work! I was just being like my clients, that keep asking for more stuff... they always seem unhappy!

This is great stuff Patrick, go get your sleep while I fix my feed.

[paulstory]

Thanks Patrick. That is one really useful tool.


Paul

[texafornia]

Wow, I can't tell you how much I needed this! My feed worked for a short while with iTunes and then died. Your checker gives me a strange message:
Xml Data error '80040002'
Unable to parse Xml: Invalid at the top level of the document.

What does this mean? The feed is at - http://triathlon.blankner.com/radio/mysite.xml

Thanks!

[Patrick]

You've got two space characters that are at the beginning of your XML file that are invalid and causing the parser to choke.

Just one problem you get from using the PodcastAlley Feed Tuner feed.

[rabbigarfinkel]

Hello,

Would somebody tell me what is wrong with this line of XML code:

<itunes:link rel="image" type="video/jpeg" href="http://homepage.mac.com/rabbigarfinkel1/mypodcast/myphoto.jpg">Rabbi Eli Garfinkel</itunes:link>

feedvalidator.org says that I have an undefined channel element no matter what I do.

The itunes JPG in question is exactly 300x300 according to nobodylikesonions.com.

Thank you!

Eli

[Patrick]

It's right. Feedvalidator.org is wrong. It will all get sorted out soon, I'm sure.

[jbisjim]

Thanks man that is really cool.

Your Validator says:
WIDTH: MISSING CHANNEL IMAGE/WIDTH TAG
HEIGHT: MISSING CHANNEL IMAGE/WIDTH TAG
and states 300 x 300

Understand that.
Does it have to be 300 x 300 mine is smaller and still shows up on itunes.

Your validator works reall well.

Thanks for all your hard work

[Patrick]

The Apple image doesn't have to be 300x300 - It's just a recommendation by Apple, so I count it as an error. I'm a perfectionist.

The other part with the missing tags for the RSS image - the image tag has 4 elements:

<image>
<url></url>
<title></title>
<width></width>
<height></height>
</image>

You seem to be missing the height and width tags there.

[Ian]

Now, if only apple would pick up my image...

[jbisjim]

The Apple image doesn't have to be 300x300 - It's just a recommendation by Apple, so I count it as an error. I'm a perfectionist.

The other part with the missing tags for the RSS image - the image tag has 4 elements:

<image>
<url></url>
<title></title>
<width></width>
<height></height>
</image>

You seem to be missing the height and width tags there.

I put in duration and key words in like your vlidator told me, however when i re validate it does not clear the error.

ps this works really nice...

[rabbigarfinkel]

Thanks, Patrick!

Here's another question for you (or anyone who has the answer): What itunes tag will put my name in the ITMS artist column. This code below puts my email address in that column but not my name.

<itunes:owner>
<itunes:name>Rabbi Eli Garfinkel</itunes:name>
<itunes:email>rabbigarfinkel1@mac.com</itunes:email>
</itunes:owner>

Thank you,

Eli

[Patrick]

jbisjim - it did remove the error and now that's 2 less tags your missing. until you get a 300x300 image for the itunes image that will still count as 2 errors though. you can have a different image for rss and itunes.

rabbi - there is an itunes:author tag too. try that.

[jbisjim]

jbisjim - it did remove the error and now that's 2 less tags your missing. until you get a 300x300 image for the itunes image that will still count as 2 errors though. you can have a different image for rss and itunes.

rabbi - there is an itunes:author tag too. try that.

You rock, part of it was my own stupidity i was not editing at the item level. I was in channel.

[RandomChatter]

Great tool, Patrick!

[rabbigarfinkel]

Thank you again, Patrick.

Now that I've made these changes to my feed, how long is it usually taking Apple to update what appears in the iTunes Music Store?

EG

[Patrick]

Usually? We have no idea what usual is yet.

I'm not in the **** store yet.

Tell me how this works - you can search for "onions" or "nobody likes onions" in iTunes and my shows comes up, but I'm not listed under any category.

[jbisjim]

.......Tell me how this works - you can search for "onions" or "nobody likes onions" in iTunes and my shows comes up, but I'm not listed under any category.

Same here, as of yesterday

[dorktones]

Patrick,

Thanks for making this fabulous feedcheck tool! It helped me bigtime in hacking both WP's rss code as my Mambo CMS rss code. I had some fun in trying to reduce some 80 errors in the beginning to 0 now :-)
Hope it works out well when we're listed in the iTunes store, if ever... :-(

[RandomChatter]

Hey Patrick, you're listed.

You're under "Comedy."

[Patrick]

Finally...it must have JUST happened. Sweet.

[Marilynfan]

Thanks, Patrick!

Here's another question for you (or anyone who has the answer): What itunes tag will put my name in the ITMS artist column. This code below puts my email address in that column but not my name.

<itunes:owner>
<itunes:name>Rabbi Eli Garfinkel</itunes:name>
<itunes:email>rabbigarfinkel1@mac.com</itunes:email>
</itunes:owner>

Thank you,

Eli

I had the same problem this worked for me

<itunes:author>Your name</itunes:author>

[RandomChatter]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and probably make an idiot of myself, since you're probably right and I'm probably wrong...

...but better I look like an idiot and know for sure than save face and wonder.

If that's the case (it being the "author" tag), then what about the "Album" column? There's no "Album" tag anywhere.

I can't imagine it'd get either of those from the ID3 tags on the MP3 files, but those are the only places either the words "Artist" or "Album" are referenced.

That makes me wonder.

One could easily assume it pulls "Album" from the "title" tag. But is this confirmed anywhere?

[Patrick]

It looks like it's just the title tag. My album names on my ID3 tags is "Sign My Podcast" but that doesn't show at all.

[RandomChatter]

Cool.

Like I said, I assumed that might be the case, but I feel much better now, knowing someone's tested it.

[Patrick]

I haven't tested it but just scrolling through, that looks like the case.

I'm so stoked to be part of the iTunes directory now. I take a nap and look what happens!

[eisnerguy1]

I have sooo many errors

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheUnofficialDmbPodcast

I have no idea on how to edit the feed. Please help, I'm a newb at this :cry:

[harryru]

Jeepers! I can't believe how messed up my feed it. Thanks for this nifty tool! You rock!

[owyn]

It looks like it's just the title tag. My album names on my ID3 tags is "Sign My Podcast" but that doesn't show at all.

Yep. See http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2768

And the ID3 tags in your enclosures are changed.

[harryru]

So I finally got around to adding itunes tags in my feed (except the image one). When I entered my test feed in the Feedchecker I got the following error:

"Xml Data error '80040002'

Unable to parse Xml: Reference to undeclared namespace prefix: 'itunes'.

/feedcheck/incRSS.asp, line 135"

As far as I can see all my tags look ok. Nothing looked open. I even looked at several itunes compliant feeds and compared them to my feed but can't seem to find any differences. Can anyone help?

my temporary feed: http://www.theviewfromhere.net/theviewfromheretest.xml

Thanks,

Harry

[harryru]

Ok, figure it out. I was defining the RSS TWICE. Once as 2.0 and the other as itunes and just realized they needed to be combined.

[Patrick]

Just by glancing too it looks like you've got a closing item itunes:subtitle tag without an opening one, and the category tag should just be:

<itunes:category text="Comedy" />

You don't need a closing tag.

[harryru]

Thanks Patrick. I appreciate your help. Taking care of that right now. Am I the only podcast out there who is completely technically challenged?

harry

[cybercooler]

Nice Job.
I use feedforall as I have multiple podcasts, and I used feedburner's option for itunes, and apparently both failed comepletely.

[RandomChatter]

I've been using Feedburner for both my podcasts, and it's working fine so far with iTunes.

[eisnerguy1]

Is there anyway anyone could check my feed out? I use blogger if that makes any difference

[texafornia]

My podcast was working the first day iTunes carried them, but it was missing the last few shows. I used the nlo tool (bitchin!) and it picked up the new shows for about an hour, then it broke again. Can anybody take a quick look at my feed and let me know if anything is obviously wrong and would stop it from working? http://triathlon.blankner.com/radio/mysite.xml

[podcastshuffle]

My podcast was working the first day iTunes carried them, but it was missing the last few shows. I used the nlo tool (bitchin!) and it picked up the new shows for about an hour, then it broke again. Can anybody take a quick look at my feed and let me know if anything is obviously wrong and would stop it from working? http://triathlon.blankner.com/radio/mysite.xml

I don't think this is breaking your feed but, take the commas out of your keywords element.

<itunes:keywords>
This tag allows users to search on text keywords
Limited to 255 characters or less, plain text, no HTML, words must be separated by spaces. This tag is applicable to the Item element only


Jeff