Missing XML tag error on Google Webmaster Tools

I have the same issue on Google webmaster tool:
Issue: Missing XML tag. This required tag is missing. Please add it and resubmit.
The issue happens on the following sitemap only:
https://www.roboticsae.com/sitemap-externals.xml
Parent tag: urlset
Tag: url

However, when I click on “https://www.roboticsae.com/sitemap-externals.xml”, it seems empty there.

Would any one help on this?

Thanks,
Monique

Arnee,

I understand that you may be busy with other issues now.
However, we have a project launch today. Would you please help or even give a hint for us to solve this issue.

Google Webmaster complain that there is a missing XML tag at
https://www.roboticsae.com/sitemap-externals.xml
Parent tag: urlset
Tag: url

Thanks,
Monique

see here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22601622/missing-xml-tag-error-in-google-webmaster-tools-using-sitemap-from-yoast-seo-t/23166446#23166446

I am using WP 3.8.3. and Google XML Sitemaps 4.0.3.

Since updating the Google XML Sitemap Plugin to 4.0.3. I have the same issue as reported above on Google webmaster tool:

Issue: Missing XML tag. This required tag is missing. Please add it and resubmit.

The issue happens on the following sitemap:
https://www.meincoach.at/sitemap-pt-page-2013-06.xml Line no.4
which apparently became part of the initially submitted sitemap
https://www.meincoach.at/sitemap.xml
Parent tag: urlset
Tag: url

Thanks in advance,
Leo

Addendum to my above post, approx. 1 hr ago:
The sitemap-subpage (or whatever that is)

https://www.meincoach.at/sitemap-pt-page-2013-06.xml

is empty, therefore there is no XML-tag in it. The problem is, I don’t see any possibility to get rid of that ‘sitemap-subpage’; there ist no “page” with this date 2013-06 included in the ensemble of my website and I have no idea why Google XML Sitemaps 4.0.3 does produce this empty sitemap-subpage. The sitemap produced by the previous version worked fine, without indicating any errors whatsoever.

There is just one other important difference: the last plugin version submittted (correctly) more than 180 pages and posts, while the new one only shows 160.

Please help,
Leo

Hi @faltinl have you tested version 4.0.4?

Thanks for the ino – this new version must have appeared last night. I have just installed and tested version 4.0.4.

Unfortunately however, the sub-sitemap https://www.meincoach.at/sitemap-pt-page-2013-06.xml still is an empty one and this again creates the same error message as before:

Issue: Missing XML tag. This required tag is missing. Please add it and resubmit.

Thanks nevertheless, mbrsolution!

I am still asking support for the problem how I can get rid of empty sub-sitemaps – please help!

Thanks,
Leo

Hi Leo did you delete the plugin and then reinstalled the plugin’s new version? Do you have a cache plugin installed? If you do can you delete the cache and also your browser cache as well.

Let me know if that helps you.

Kind regards

Hi,
thanks for advice, mbrsolution. Thus, I deactivated the existing plug-in, then deleted it, then cleared the browser cache, then re-installed v4.0.4 – the new sitemap didn’t change; there is still this one empty sub-sitemap.

What I cannot say is, whether I have a ‘cache plugin’ installed. How / where would I find that?

Thanks for your efforts!

Regards,
Leo

Can you provide a list of your plugins? What theme are you using?

Also do you know if you have any deleted pages or post that are still sitting in your website, just my curiosity although it should not affect the development of the sitemap.xml file.

I do suspect that it is picking up the content from an empty cache file.

Regards

Hi,

I am using the following (aktivated) plug-ins:

All in one Favicon, Version 4.3
Compact Audio Player, Version 1.8
Google Analytics Dashboard for WP, Version 4.2.18
Google XML Sitemaps, Version 4.0.4
NextGEN Gallery by Photocrati, Version 2.0.61
Print Friendly and PDF, Version 3.3.7
Safe Redirect Manager, Version 1.7.2
Steuere Widgets mit WP’s Bedingungs-Tags, Version 1.1.1
WordPress SEO, Version 1.5.2.7
WP-Twitter Retweet Button, Version 1.15
WPML CMS Nav, Version 1.3
WPML Multilingual CMS, Version 2.9
WPML Sticky Links, Version 1.3
WPML String Translation, Version 1.8
WPML Translation Management, Version 1.7

I am using the theme ADAPT.

I also suspect deleted pages or posts to be at the root of my present problem – but how/where would I find them?

Regards,
Leo

Hi Leo you are using WPML plugin and that could be creating some phantom file :), that is my suspicion for now.

Check and make sure that there is no empty file “page or post” created in either language. You currently have Deutsch and English.

Regards

OK, but HOW would I check that?
Regards
Leo

I am sorry Leo but I don’t use that plugin and therefore would not be able to point you in the right direction however I will suggest that you get in touch with the WPML developers and explain to them your situation. I am sure they will be able to provide a better solution than me.

Also remember this is just a theory of mine and it might be something else that is causing your phantom issue.

In any case you will find out how to manage both languages and make sure that there is no empty files created.

Kind regards

OK, of course, I understand that.
Thanks for your interest.

Best regards,
Leo