Structured Data Errors in Google Webmaster Tools: Missing required hCard "author" / field "updated"

skatmcb · December 2014

I'm not sure if anyone else has brought this up earlier.

After installing BeTheme, the 'Structured Data' section in Google Webmaster shows the following 2 errors for all category / tag / page number related URLs on the blog.

Error: Missing required field "updated".
Error: Missing required hCard "author".

Here's a screenshot: http://snag.gy/WqVgK.jpg

A quick Google search got me to this page that describes how to fix the issue by updating the theme pages.
http://www.acceleratormarketing.com/trench-report/google-analytics-errors-and-structured-data/

A few others have shared code snippets here:
https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-structured-data-missing-required-field-authorship-thumbnails-gone/page/2

I haven't seen this for regular posts and pages in BeTheme. Just for category/tag level pages. And I'm not sure if the links above fix it for category pages.

Would it be possible for your team to evaluate if it's a generic problem with the theme and if so, include a fix in the next release of BeTheme?

Albert · December 2014

Thanks for information. We'll have a look on it closer while future updates.

skatmcb · January 2015

@muffingroup: I've been able to fix the issue. Here's how the error curve moved over the last few days.

http://snag.gy/rh7wr.jpg

If it helps you fix it in the underlying code (and for the benefit of others who have this issue), here's what I did:

Updated in content-single.php

<?php the_author_meta( 'display_name' ); ?>

<?php echo get_the_date(); ?>

Updated in content-post.php

Added in footer (just before love button code)
'. get_the_author_meta( 'display_name' ) .'

Disclaimer: I'm not sure if this'll work for others, so use with caution.

Albert · January 2015

Thanks for the information. Of course we'll have a look on it closer while next updates.

jorgeaso82 · July 2015

Hi

I still have this issue (WordPress 4.2.3 + betheme 7.8)

I have a "Missing required field updated" on every entry I have.

I haven't tried the skatmcb fix, since I dont want to intriduce changes that I have to redo in every update of the theme.

Please tell me how to proceed.

Thank you.

stevenmichael · July 2015

I'm having the same issue, would like to know what I can do to fix it.

Albert · July 2015

Any urls to tools where you still got these issues?

lamuzica · July 2015

have the same:

http://www.proerudio.ro/playday-la-pro-erudio/

skatmcb · December 2016

Hello everyone,

Here's an update on the Structured Data issue that I had mentioned about in the original post 2 years back.

I've updated my site to the latest Betheme version.

The 'missing author' issue no longer exists. But the second one ' missing:updated' still does.

So, I've gone back into the code (content-single.php) like last time and made the same manual fix as described above in my second response.

I'll keep a watch on how the error graph moves in the Google Search Console and let you know if my earlier fix resolves the issue this time as well (or not).

shomix · December 2016

Hey Guys

Today I just notice I have many errors on Google web Master ( 240 erros )

Please check below links with Structured Data Testing Tools and let me know how I can fix this?

https://www.irandeliver.com/suggest/kharid-az-colins

https://www.irandeliver.com/kharid-sport-tools-az-ebay.html

Albert · December 2016

@skatmcb Could you provide us link to page where you have such error?

@shomix

https://www.irandeliver.com/suggest/kharid-az-colins - as you can see on http://pasteboard.co/7Fd1owBUI.png this page generates 3 errors only

https://www.irandeliver.com/kharid-sport-tools-az-ebay.html - this page has 2 errors only

It means there is 5 errors in total on both pages so we wonder where did you found 240 errors. Anyway we can see what you mean and we will have a look on those tags while future updates.

shomix · December 2016

muffingroup

I meant in Structured Data not each link

http://www.img.irandeliver.com/?di=31WF

and how to fix that warning ? https://www.irandeliver.com/suggest/kharid-az-colins

Albert · December 2016

Warnings are not errors but we took it into account as well and we will be working on it next week.

skatmcb · December 2016

Here's how it looks in Search Console:
http://pasteboard.co/7KVWNVToW.png

All blog single posts are listed in it.

And here's a sample link from the site. It has the updated code (with my manual fix):
http://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2016/08/10/company-sponsored-mba-pros-and-cons/

shomix · December 2016

@skatmcb

So you could fix the following errors manually ?

Error: Missing required field "updated".
Error: Missing required hCard "author".

skatmcb · December 2016

@shomix

Yes, I was able to fix them manually. I've explained how I did it in the earlier responses above.

But it'll be best if the Betheme team incorporates the changes directly. It'll save the manual changes for many users of this excellent theme.

Here's what I was able to do with the theme:
http://forum.muffingroup.com/betheme/discussion/23335/pingdom-performance-grade-100-perfect-score-for-betheme

shomix · December 2016

@skatmcb ;

Can you explain more about how to

Updated in content-single.php

<?php the_author_meta( 'display_name' ); ?>

<?php echo get_the_date(); ?>

Do I have to just add this code or I have to replace this code with another one?

and the other where love button code exactly ends

Albert · December 2016

Yes, these errors will be fixed with next theme update of course but this requires files customization and it's not an easy css fix.

shomix · December 2016

muffingroup

Well its just great to hear that,

Please consider fixing another error I got here as well and warnings

https://www.irandeliver.com/suggest/kharid-az-colins

shomix · December 2016

muffingroup

is this fixed in V.16 ? if no please explain how I can fix this

shomix · December 2016

@muffingroup

Thank you it seems the error are fixed but can you tell me how to fix warnings ?

https://www.irandeliver.com/most-consumers-trust-amazon.html

Albert · December 2016

Yes, these errors has been fixed with recent update.

shomix · December 2016

muffingroup

Please explain how to fix warnings too

Thanks

Albert · December 2016

Sorry but we didn't saw your recent message previously. Warnings has not been fixed yet because this requires much more modifications than we thought and we hope this would be fixed with next theme update.

shomix · December 2016

muffingroup

Thank you for your support and I look forward for it.

=D>

Umair_Hashmi · May 2017

I was getting following error on portfolio pages.

Missing: author

Missing: entry-title

Missing: updated

I updated the code in 'content-single-portfolio.php'. I tested this in structured data testing tool and it works fine now. You can update the following code in the future theme updates.

From line number 113 file content-single-portfolio.php in includes folder

<?php echo $translate['published']; ?>

<?php echo $translate['at']; ?>

<time class="entry-date updated" datetime="<?php the_date('c'); ?>" itemprop="datePublished" pubdate>

<?php echo get_the_date(); ?>

</time>

<?php if( mfn_opts_get( 'mfn-seo-schema-type' ) ): ?>

<img src="<?php mfn_opts_show( 'logo-img' ) ?>" itemprop="url" content="<?php mfn_opts_show( 'logo-img' ) ?>"/>

</div>

<?php endif; ?>

</div>

karim1301 · May 2017

Hi guys!

Any news about that?

Kind Regards

swarupa · September 2017

Hi, any new on this. We are facing the same problem and were waiting it to be fixed in the update as I dont want to play around with these files.

Bryan · September 2017

Hi,

What you ask for, requires files customization what in reference to Item Support Policy is not allowed. So if you want to modify files and don't know how, you should contact with your web developer. Item Policy clearly says:
Item support does not include services to modify or extend the item beyond the original features, style and functionality described on the item page. For customization services that will help you tailor the item to your specific requirements, we recommend contacting the author to see if they privately offer paid customisation services or checking out the great service providers on Envato Studio

thanks

Structured Data Errors in Google Webmaster Tools: Missing required hCard "author" / field "updated"

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